cleaning your lens
Jun 18, 2019 21:08:06 #
[quote=Gatorcoach][quote=billnikon]Zeiss wipes. The reason I like these is that they go into the field nicely. It is the only thing I use.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1081868-REG/zeiss_2096_687_microfiber_cleaning_cloths.html?sts=pi[/quot
Definitely Zeiss wipes, but I get them at WalMart - 100 wipes for $5.00![/quote]
What I use also......
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1081868-REG/zeiss_2096_687_microfiber_cleaning_cloths.html?sts=pi[/quot
Definitely Zeiss wipes, but I get them at WalMart - 100 wipes for $5.00![/quote]
What I use also......
Jun 18, 2019 22:39:10 #
dwmoar
Loc: Oregon, Willamette Valley
frankraney wrote:
What I use also......
What I use also......
Walmart would be a good bonus as the B&H link shows
This pack of 20 Moist Cleaning Wipes from ZEISS provides an effective way to clean and preserve valuable optics.
For $6.99
Jun 18, 2019 23:15:42 #
DaveyDitzer
Loc: Western PA
Canisdirus wrote:
Forget lens solution ... not required.
Distilled water only.
Forget microfiber cloths (which retain everything)
Use cotton Qtips.
Dip the Q in the H2O ... not too much.
Do gentle tight knit swirls on the glass..... only about a 1/4 of the lens at a time. Use a dry tip to do the same after done with first 1/4. Rinse ... repeat.
And that's it .... works very well.
Distilled water only.
Forget microfiber cloths (which retain everything)
Use cotton Qtips.
Dip the Q in the H2O ... not too much.
Do gentle tight knit swirls on the glass..... only about a 1/4 of the lens at a time. Use a dry tip to do the same after done with first 1/4. Rinse ... repeat.
And that's it .... works very well.
Not sure how water will remove any oily residue - fingerprints, etc.
Jun 19, 2019 01:23:35 #
DaveyDitzer: Not sure how water will remove any oily residue - fingerprints, etc.”
It might lift up a little oil, but with my fingerprints, cleaning with distilled water only streaks the fingerprint when I look at the filter or lens on an angle with back light. Maybe my finger oils are more tenacious than others, but I need to use lens cleaner after accidentally touching the glass or with water spots. My cleaning steps when I get home are:
1. Meticulously get any dust off the lens with a Gitzo blower and a Nikon brush. I usually brush dust off of the focus and zoom rings at the same time.
2. With smaller lens I will use a Zeiss lens cleaner wipe that I pick up at Costco in a hundred box
3. Larger lenses take too many wipes so I use Zeiss lens cleaner solution with Kimtech Kim-wipes (about $5 for 280) The Kimwipes are a great product made for safely cleaning scientific instruments, microscopes, etc. worth $$$$$.
4. If a stain or spot remains, I use a Nikon lens pen and then clean again with one of the Zeiss products
In the field or when traveling I take a small blower, a Nikon lens pen with a retractable brush on the end, Zeiss lens wipes and a microfiber cloth or two that are newly washed or never opened. There is very little that will entice me to clean a lens in the field. Traveling, I clean any dirty lenses/filters every night, charge my batteries, and check my memory cards.
It might lift up a little oil, but with my fingerprints, cleaning with distilled water only streaks the fingerprint when I look at the filter or lens on an angle with back light. Maybe my finger oils are more tenacious than others, but I need to use lens cleaner after accidentally touching the glass or with water spots. My cleaning steps when I get home are:
1. Meticulously get any dust off the lens with a Gitzo blower and a Nikon brush. I usually brush dust off of the focus and zoom rings at the same time.
2. With smaller lens I will use a Zeiss lens cleaner wipe that I pick up at Costco in a hundred box
3. Larger lenses take too many wipes so I use Zeiss lens cleaner solution with Kimtech Kim-wipes (about $5 for 280) The Kimwipes are a great product made for safely cleaning scientific instruments, microscopes, etc. worth $$$$$.
4. If a stain or spot remains, I use a Nikon lens pen and then clean again with one of the Zeiss products
In the field or when traveling I take a small blower, a Nikon lens pen with a retractable brush on the end, Zeiss lens wipes and a microfiber cloth or two that are newly washed or never opened. There is very little that will entice me to clean a lens in the field. Traveling, I clean any dirty lenses/filters every night, charge my batteries, and check my memory cards.
Jun 19, 2019 01:46:37 #
Jeez, none of you guys ever gotten a spot of major proportions in the field and wiped it off with a shirt tail with no resulting damage?
Jun 19, 2019 02:09:03 #
DaveyDitzer wrote:
Not sure how water will remove any oily residue - fingerprints, etc.
Distilled water and q-tips is actually wants it recommended. but who in the heck carries a bottle of distilled water around the little lens wipes fit right in your pocket, and we're great In s pinch.....some say that the alcohol in a lens wipes will degrade the coatings on the lens.
Jun 19, 2019 03:13:06 #
haren wrote:
i have had my lens for years what would be the proper method to give them a good cleaning. I keep them covered when not in use but there must be build up on them over the years.
Found that using distilled water and Alcohol (Isopropyl ) applied with cotton buds gives great results. Take care not to saturate the buds. “Angry Photographer” gives a good demo on you tube. Worth watching.
Jun 19, 2019 05:25:02 #
haren wrote:
i have had my lens for years what would be the proper method to give them a good cleaning. I keep them covered when not in use but there must be build up on them over the years.
first thing would be to gently blow away every last speck of dust and debris. DO NOT USE DUSTOFF OR ANY PROPELLANT-BASED COMPRESSED AIR! These WILL damage your lens because they do not use filtered air and can send tiny abrasive particles at high speed across the lens surface. Use a hand blower (Ghiottos Rocket or equal), followed by a very light brushing with a soft brush. The last thing you want is to grind small particles into the lens coating, especially older lenses which had less durable coatings. Then you'd use a new lens cleaning cloth (microfiber) well saturated with pure (reagent grade) isopropyl alcohol. It can usually be ordered at a pharmacy. Drag the saturated cloth across the lens surface to gently remove any remaining particles. Use a second cloth with a drop or two of alcohol to polish the lens using a soft touch and wiping in concentric circles starting at the beginning. Lastly a q-tip can be used to remove any junk that the previous step may have moved to the edge of the glass.
Dust, debris and smudges on rear elements will negatively impact image quality the most. Dust inside or on the front elements will have little to no impact, unless you are pointing the lens at a light source, in which case light hitting the dust will cause flare.
Routinely wash your front and rear lens caps. They are dust magnets. Dirty rear lens caps are a primary source of mirror and sensor dust, in addition to rear-element dust.
Jun 19, 2019 05:27:37 #
frankraney wrote:
Distilled water and q-tips is actually wants it recommended. but who in the heck carries a bottle of distilled water around the little lens wipes fit right in your pocket, and we're great In s pinch.....some say that the alcohol in a lens wipes will degrade the coatings on the lens.
No wonder my camera bag feels heavy
Jun 19, 2019 06:40:39 #
Be Very Careful using cleaning solution. We tend to spray too much on the lens to start with. If it gets down around and under the edges of your lens the edges will start getting a haloing affect, turns the edges purplish in color, I know, been there done that. If I use any solution, I now use a lens wipe, but mostly only distilled water and quality Qtips.
Jun 19, 2019 09:48:11 #
Hammer wrote:
No wonder my camera bag feels heavy
Hehehe. You saw my humor.
Jun 19, 2019 22:52:34 #
scooter1
Loc: Yacolt, Wa.
Interesting until the false Trump dig. Try keeping on subject, it will give you more credibility.
Jun 20, 2019 00:02:27 #
scooter1 wrote:
Interesting until the false Trump dig. Try keeping on subject, it will give you more credibility.
Scooter, what/who are talking about. You did not use the quote, and I haven't seen Trump till now.
Jun 20, 2019 16:35:54 #
dpullum wrote:
I purchased a 70-300mm Macro classic Minolta 5 co... (show quote)
Here's your quote. Sometimes people just cannot leave it alone and stay focused on the subject.
Jun 20, 2019 16:48:25 #
scooter1
Loc: Yacolt, Wa.
frankraney wrote:
Scooter, what/who are talking about. You did not use the quote, and I haven't seen Trump till now.
Sorry my comment was for dpullum and his anti Trump comment in the middle of his post.
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