47greyfox Loc: on the edge of the Colorado front range

Alphabravo2020

I don't think this is true in the sense that the film you see after using isopropyl is actually oil or other foreign material on the lens that has been mobilized by the alcohol. Isopropyl is more of a solvent then a cleaner so it will pick up oil trapped at the edge of the lens, dissolve salt, float dust, and soften mystery gunk. Iso evaporates quickly so anything it dissolves or mobilizes will be left behind evenly distributed over the lens effectively leaving an atomic sheen. You do have to pick up the isopropyl with a dry or wet wipe in order to remove the foreign material. Only in this sense is it a cleaner.

JBRIII

We don't know the alcohol conc. on wipes, so they may be designed to avoild dissolving some greases, but then might also be less effective also. Pure isopropyl alcohol is 100% and would act the most like an organic solvent. Isopropyl alcohol purchased as rubbing alcohol is 70% in bottle I have. I thought some was 88, I purchased 100% reagent grade off either Amazon or Ebay. As you say, oils or greases could be a problem, but I think lens coatings would be fine. Filters, at least some specialty ones, could be an entirely different issue where I would check with maker.

SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA

Exactly! Lenses and monitor screens are completely different.

KindaSpikey Loc: English living in San Diego

What an odd question, no offense intended, but I really don't know why you're asking! The answer, as it seems everyone here agrees on, is to only use a purpose made lens cleaner (specifically made for cleaning lenses). You can follow some other advice given here, or not, (blowing /vacuuming /etc), but only clean it with something made for the job.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

The OLD, blue, dry paper lens wipes from the 1960s contained silica. They were awful on all optics other than uncoated cheap glass eyeglasses.

The NEW Zeiss lens wipes are made for lens cleaning. The exact fluid used seems to vary, as there are several MSDS sheets in circulation, all with different formulas on them. MOST contain isopropyl, but in low concentrations. As Zeiss makes some of the finest optics in the world (used on Sony cameras and other fine brands), I doubt they sell anything likely to harm them.

As with all cleaning products, there is a right way to use them, and many wrong ways. Removing as much surface dust and dirt as possible with a blower bulb is a good pre-cleaning practice.

Another good source for photographic cleaning supplies is https://photosol.com

They make excellent sensor cleaning fluids and swabs, and pre-moistened pads used for cleaning other optics. Their PEC 12 film cleaner is a go-to in most professional labs that still process, scan, or print film. I've used their products for decades, and cleaned many sensors with Sensor Swabs and Eclipse fluid.

Dwiggy Loc: Dunedin, FL

You can buy them cheaper at Walmart...near or in their optical centers.

Dwiggy Loc: Dunedin, FL

What are your thoughts of this kind of lens cleaner?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0081ER9KG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

birdman12 Loc: Pinopolis, SC

I have very poor vision. Only one eye and about half vision corrected in the other. I was wiping very hard with the Zeiis paper cleaner to clean the lens. They were sold by WalMart and still are. I finally figured out what was the cause of the damage -horizontal streaks- I always wiped horizontally. I now use a microfiber cloth and still wipe very hard with ablolutely no damage. I am not addressing the cleaning solution - just the material used. I acknowlege that wiping gently with the paper ones would probably never damage a lens, at least any damage that you could see. It took me a long time to discover the damage. As I indicated, I see that Zeiis is now also selling cloth wipes in packages. I feel that these would be fine and not damage a lens even with hard wiping. I have not tried them yet. My advice to Zeiis would be to discontinue the paper wipes. They may be doing damage to lens that is not apparent.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

The only answer that makes sense!

I know a few techs that use to use ether to clean lenses. But ether can stratify along the floor and create an explosion hazard, so it should only be used in an extremely well ventilated space or not at all. I vote for the second option.

KTJohnson Loc: Northern Michigan

Zeiss Lens Wipes - Ingredients : Water, isopropyl alcohol, proprietary detergents and preservatives.

Jack 13088 Loc: Central NY

Based on recommendations by a gaggle of Opticians I clean my eyeglasses by first flooding with tap water, spraying with an primarily alcohol based spray, flooding with water again and then drying with a clean microfiber cloth. Or if “in the field” with the Zeiss cleaning wipes, or equivalent. A drop of dish washing detergents a safe and effective substitute for the spray.

I clean my glasses usually 3 times or more a day with no problems. Camera lenses cannot safely be flooded with water and are cleaned less frequently so I use only the lens cleaning wipes. If possible I blow off the sand and gravel or diamond dust with dry air.

Some other observations:
Never but never use paper towels they are much too abrasive nor glass cleansers like Windex which chemically damage coatings.

You can wash microfiber cloths just don’t use fabric softeners or dryer sheets when washing then, or anything else for that matter. They gunk up the fibers with coatings.

I wouldn’t buy the $20 Apple microfiber screen cleaning cloth. The ones you get from your local optician are free!

Alphabravo2020

This is exactly what I discovered. Flood with warm water and blot/dry with a kim wipe. I've had the same pair of glasses 10 years with no scratches on the lenses (Only my eyebrows and face oils eat away at the coating at the top corners 🤪)

I do something similar with a camera lens by pointing it downward and using an atomizer to mist isopropyl up at the lens. Use a lot. Let it drip off. This flushes all the loose material off the lens before touching it with anything.

If the lens has ever been exposed to the environment you have to assume there is foreign material and abrasives on the lens: bugs, fingerprints, pollen, rain drops, salt, sand, dust, oil, condensation. If you touch it with anything before removing abrasives you have basically turned your Zeiss wipe into 80 grit sandpaper.

tcthome Loc: NJ

I use both but when using a Zeiss spray bottle I just dampen the lens cloth.

tcthome Loc: NJ