Kiwi1 Loc: New Zealand

I recently watched Morse Peterson on You Tube demo his end of day cleaning techniques the product he used was 'Lens Clens'. After he cleaned the lens in the usual way with a couple of drops put on a suitable cloth he then proceeded to clean the lens body contacts and camera body with the same product, he commented that he had been using the same product for many years and his camera and lens body all looked like new. I noticed on the list of viewer comments later that the 'Lens Clens' manufacturer had said they do not recommend the product be used on camera and lens plastics. I have have a 70-200 which is a few years old now and the plastic / rubber type product on the focus and zoom rings could do with a good clean and revive. I was thinking along the lines of the motor vehicle products used on dash boards such as Armor All as far as I know it is an International brand.
Clearly you would have to take care it did not get into the lens or on to the glass. I did see a Leica lens wipe product that perhaps could be used but to date I have not been able to determine if it is suitable for body/lens parts as well. Any suggestions?

blackest Loc: Ireland

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rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

I would not recommend anything like Armor All on a camera body or lens. It has oils and surfactants that would be a baaaaaaaaaaad mix with lens and camera bodies. You touch the focus ring, pick up some oils, next thing you know your viewfinder glass is cloudy. Besides, that isn't dirt, it's a patina of hard dedicated use.

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

This is a very good question for me, not that I am the biggest “maven” of camera maintenance but I do have some kinda unique experience. My first “professional job” in photography was the studio janitor/gofer but part of my duties was looking after the camera and equipment cleaning chores- 12 4x5 press cameras, 24 flash units and 3 large format studio cameras. For a number of years I ran a side-business specializing in electronic flash repair and customization where I shared a building with a camera repair guy. Frequently we would run into each others shops exclaiming something like “you would not believe what this photographer did to his camera/flash etc...”! Many serious damages were caused by using household and automotive cleaning and lubricating products and/or tools on cameras, lenses and flash equipment.

Problem is, that many of theses cleaning and cosmetic polishing products may contain ingredients that are corrosive to certain metals, plastics, polymers and fabrics. Some may contain propellants, solvents or other chemicals that can dissolve or break down glues, cements, gaskets, seals and other camera and lens components. Certain cleaners lubricants and polishes may leave behind excessive residues and some oils and lubricants tend to migrate or penetrate to places where they they can be harmful and simply gum up the works. Products lie WD-40 should never be used on any camera parts- the “WD” stands for water displacement- great for rusty locks and hinges but that stuff will penetrate into everything and is not suitable for precision mechanisms! Some electronic contact cleaners harbor solvents that are too strong for precision contacts or lubricants that remain behind and cause the aforementioned issues.

I use ARMOR ALL on my dashboard and interior trim in my car but I won't put it on my steering wheel, gear-shift or other levers or the pedals because it leaves a residual film that makes the surfaces slippery and reduces traction a grip and presents a safety issue- I do no want that on my camera bodies or lenses. I also find that sometimes theses residues become sticky and begin to attract and retain dust and dirt.

I am not worried about cosmetics of my working cameras. I would rather have that looking a bit scruffy but clean, as long as the are operating properly and smoothly, than risking that problems that can be caused my many cosmetic treatments or an inadvertent or ill advised harmfully cleaning procedure. I have already detailed my “hands-off” approach to lens cleaning in the thread on that subject in this section. I seldom if ever use any fluids or liquids on lenses unless there is smudges or fingerprints and only use specialized lens cleaning fluids in very minute quantities with extremely soft and pure lens tissue.

If there is dirt or build up of dust or grime on the lens barrel or other external camera parts or trim, a slightly dampened cloth or gauze pad should be sufficient. A very small quantity of 99% Isopropyl Alcohol on a gauze pad should dissolve any stubborn deposits. This kind of alcohol has less water content and evaporates quickly so it won't run or remain on the surface. If there is dirt in the lens mount, a simple cotton swab or a gentle brush should be used to dislodge it. Gentle air blowing will help but high pressure air flow can blow particles further into lens's helical system. Same goes for the camera's lens mount and exposed innards. If any of theses “nooks and crannies” are really gungy, it is best to get the gear in for professional service. If you detect any resistance in focusing or sort crunchy sounds when zooming or operating any lens part, definitely bring or send it in in for repairs- do not attempt to clean or lubricate the internal camera or lenses mechanisms. NEVER attempt to clean a front surface mirror. I am even nervous about sensor cleaning!

For electronic contacts, just cleaning them with a soft lint free cloth should be sufficient. If they are very dirty, the only cleaner I recommend is a product called ELECTRA XL. It is formulated for precision electronic circuitry and leaves no residue and won't attack plastics, rubbers, most other materials or metals. Do not, however, spray this stuff on or apply it directly to you lens's or camera's contacts- just apply it sparingly and carefully with a soft cloth or gauze pad with gentle pressure. It evaporates quickly- then I just wipe the contacts gently to remove any traces of dirt that may have been dissolved.

There are other products, basically volatile solvents, like
carbon tetrachloride, that work efficiently but they are extremely toxic and should be avoided in household or office environments.

I have seen too many problems caused by silicone and similar lubricants like white grease when used on cameras and lenses. They are suitable for enlarger mechanisms, sheet film magazines, tripod and light stand and other support equipment parts, but keep them off of cameras.

Many photographers and camera collectors have there own “lotions and potions” for camera cosmetic issues- floor wax, shoe polish and dyes, furniture polish, cooking oils and shortenings, nail polish, soap, candle wax and paints. Some of this stuff may end up looking good but will come off on you hands and clothing when using the equipment. That's OK of you are a collect and just display the gear. Much of it can just make matters worse and cause more harm than remedy.

Oh- y'all know about those newfangled super powered vacuum cleaners that are so powerful that they have been know to suck in house pets or parts thereof. Do not use them on your cameras or lenses. Yup, that happened and goes down in my annals of “you won't believe what this photographer did to his...”

Personally, I consider myself a pretty handy guy and have been known to take apart and clean and fix stuff like washing machines, lawn mowers and sewing machines and I do some minor car repairs. Cameras? Besides keeping them clean and tidy- they go to the repair guy for major cleaning!

Kiwi1 Loc: New Zealand

Hi E. L... Best answer I could have wished for and thank you so much for your considerable time and effort. Yes I had read your previous article on lens cleaning and you are right I also get nervous about the idea of sensor cleaning. I have 2 very low use bodies so will run a photo test first then probably have them done by service agents. I have only recently been active on this site so I will follow all your articles with interest in future. Cheers and enjoy the rest of your evening in Canada.

Kiwi1 Loc: New Zealand

Hi rgrenaderphoto,
Thank you also for your comments I have been spotting your distinctive picture in other articles and your knowledge is spot on and points of view always well considered. This site is becoming rather addicting there are just so many good people prepared to help others.

flyboy61 Loc: The Great American Desert

Even though this post is 4 or more years old, it contains some good advice! I also use a microfiber cloth slightly dampened with
lens cleaning fluid...I don't know if it makes any difference, but Zeiss offers a lens fluid, and I figure...it's inexpen$ive, and Zeiss knows lenses.
I keep a clear or UV filter on my lenses , so don't have to clean front elements very often...usually, a puff of air or three from my blower gets rid of the odd speck of dust. I don't clean my sensors often, but find it is a fairly simple and worthwhile effort. Always, always, GENTLY! If bodies or lens exteriors need cleaning, again, the microfiber cloth dampened with water has always done the trick. For the rare anointing of electrical contacts, I use minimum amounts of Deoxit. Again, container to microfiber, gently applied.
Probably everybody has their own set of products and procedures, and, they all work!