LENS CLEANER QUESTION: I was wondering... Is Lens Cleaner only Alcohol or does it have other ingrediencies? Why not just pure alcohol? Or that's not the thing to do.

charles tabb Loc: Richmond VA.

I was wondering...
Is Lens Cleaner only Alcohol or does it have other ingrediencies?
Why not just pure alcohol?
Or that's not the thing to do.

JD750 Loc: SoCal

The lens cleaners I have seen are not alcohol. Sometimes you can use alcohol but you want to avoid the stuff that is 30% water. Be sure to check the manufacturer’s recommendation first. Sometimes the coatings on the lens can be damaged by solvents like alcohol.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

JD750 wrote:

The lens cleaners I have seen are not alcohol. Sometimes you can use alcohol but you want to avoid the stuff that is 30% water. Be sure to check the manufacturer’s recommendation first. Sometimes the coatings on the lens can be damaged by solvents like alcohol.

Yep. Zeiss lens wipes seem to be available at most big box stores. They are safe and effective.

twowindsbear

It's really simple. Go to a camera store, or a camera store's web site. BUY a bottle of photographic lens cleaning fluid and a pack of photographic lens tissue. Do not screw around with other products or various liquids around the house. Protect your expen$ive photo 'toys.'

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

burkphoto wrote:

Yep. Zeiss lens wipes seem to be available at most big box stores. They are safe and effective.

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

burkphoto wrote:

Yep. Zeiss lens wipes seem to be available at most big box stores. They are safe and effective.

I also use pre-packaged lens wipes and they work great and eliminate any guessing and, are quite convenient.

zug55 Loc: Naivasha, Kenya, and Austin, Texas

twowindsbear wrote:

It's really simple. Go to a camera store, or a camera store's web site. BUY a bottle of photographic lens cleaning fluid and a pack of photographic lens tissue. Do not screw around with other products or various liquids around the house. Protect your expen$ive photo 'toys.'

That is what I do as well.

Drbobcameraguy Loc: Eaton Ohio

I have both ziess and Nikon wipes. They appear to be made out of the same liquid but the ziess seem to have more of it. Alcohol leaves a film if used full strength. Then after it dries you have to wipe the film off. If you use it and turn the rag while you are wiping you may not notice the film. I would not use it on my lenses personally. A large box of Nikon wipes will last several years for most of us.

cambriaman Loc: Central CA Coast

burkphoto wrote:

Yep. Zeiss lens wipes seem to be available at most big box stores. They are safe and effective.

I use only the Zeiss lenswipes. Never a problem.

Bill_de Loc: US

burkphoto wrote:

Yep. Zeiss lens wipes seem to be available at most big box stores. They are safe and effective.

I use Zeiss or Nikon wipes which seem to be the same product.

I gave up using bottled cleaners years ago.

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Alphabravo2020

I don't touch the glass with anything (lens paper, q-tip, lens pen) until oil or grit has been blown away, washed away, or mobilized.

1. Use combo blower/brush to remove loose particles.
2. Spray lens with 99.9% isopropyl atomizer until grit or oil is removed or softened or mobilized.
3. Blot the lens to pick up mobilized particles and oil.
4. Wipe the glass with isopropyl and wipes.

I keep a tiny kit of blower/brush, atomizer, kim wipes, q-tips in my bag.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

I use Zeiss wipes on my trifocals too. I keep a really big supply! WalMart seems to be the best place to get them near me. Check the optometrist department.

John N Loc: HP14 3QF Stokenchurch, UK

I've been impressed with URTH (formerly GOBE) lens cleaner.
http://uk.urth.co/collections/accessories/products/glass-cleaning-spray

(U.K. site, but I'm sure there is a U.S. site.)

medphotog Loc: Witness protection land

Sooo, I'm guessin' that the ol' exhale and wiping with the end of your t-shirt has gone out of favor now?

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

charles tabb wrote:

I was wondering...
Is Lens Cleaner only Alcohol or does it have other ingrediencies?
Why not just pure alcohol?
Or that's not the thing to do.

Lenses are expensive. Use this one, and relax.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1350132-REG/zeiss_2203_468_pre_moistened_cleaning_cloths_box.html?sts=pi&pim=Y