ronichas Loc: Long Island

I have been using Hoodman Lens Cleanse Natural Lens Cleaning Kit for years. It is specifically made for camera lens. It comes with one wet wipe and one dry wipe. Works great. I tend to use it on several lens at a time.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?A=details&O=&Q=&ap=y&c3api=1876%2C%7Bcreative%7D%2C%7Bkeyword%7D&gclid=CjwKCAjw3_HOBRBaEiwAvLBbouI7xa20L4ba8e7TnCASS4QWH0ToEKYP_p0vnR4bSaca3lwH3-rlUhoCQ2UQAvD_BwE&is=REG&m=Y&sku=872587

Jimmy T Loc: Virginia

Neil Barry

I once asked Alistair McCrone, the guru of microscopy, what he used to clean his microscope lenses. Did he use Lens Tissue, which is rather expensive. He told me he uses napkins from the largest selling fast food chain in America, and water with a drop or two of dish detergent. So much for all the expensive, hyped cleaners!

Notorious T.O.D. Loc: Harrisburg, North Carolina

I like the LensPen...

Best,
Todd Ferguson

wapiti Loc: round rock, texas

relie Loc: Western Massachusetts

Here's another one for Zeiss and LensPen. All I need and they work great. I get the wipes from WalMart.

Dave

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

The big thing is making sure you blow dust, dirt and other particulate off the lens before you wipe. If you do not, you can scratch the lens and any coatings.

Dug E Pi

I read a photo magazine in the 80's about making your own cleaning solution. It stated 1 part Isopropyl alcohol to one part distilled water. Being an optician I have learned since then this is not great for coatings. To strong of an alcohol will "dry" out the coatings making them brittle and easy to scratch. Straight alcohol is worse. I have found 1 part Isopropyl to 4 parts distilled water works well. The water does the cleaning and the alcohol helps with drying the water quickly so it doesn't leave streaks or water spots.

Tomcat5133 Loc: Gladwyne PA

Bill de is right on. I have been buying these Nikon wipes from Amazon for a long time. I use them for my eyeglasses
lens etc etc. Solvents scare me on tech stuff. I carry these wipes everywhere. And they are cheap.
Great recommendation.

Tomcat5133 Loc: Gladwyne PA

iPads and cell phones get so dirty so fast. I have tried wipes etc.
I now wet a towel (not much a little water) and wipe straight up and down.
No circular motions and not to many wipes and it works.

jeryh Loc: Oxfordshire UK

Many years ago, I was acquainted with a very venerated gentleman from the Leica company; he was held in very grat esteem by his colleagues.
I asked him once what he used for cleaning those special Leica lenses he was so proud of. He replied " My dear chap, all you ever need Is a leca lens cloth, and gently breathe on the glass, NOTHING more ". I took him at his word. I have never needed anything else, over 50 odd years.
How right he was !

Pochon53

I just breathe on my lens and wipe with an old pair of jockey type shorts.

jeryh Loc: Oxfordshire UK

Many years ago, I was acquainted with a very venerated gentleman from the Leica company; he was held in very great esteem by his colleagues.
I asked him once what he used for cleaning those special Leica lenses he was so proud of. He replied " My dear chap, all you ever need Is a leica lens cloth, and gently breathe on the glass, NOTHING more ". I took him at his word. I have never needed anything else, over 50 odd years.
How right he was !

Notorious T.O.D. Loc: Harrisburg, North Carolina

The cat's tongue licking it gets the chunky stuff off. Then follow up with the more wet and smoother dog's tongue to finish up.
Same thing I do with the dinner dishes... Clean as a whistle. I don't think breathing on it is probably the best idea, but we all have done it I bet...


Best,
Todd Ferguson

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

I second the suggestion to breathe on the glass if you need a little moisture. While condensate from the breath is not completely pure, it tends not to contain a lot of stuff which can act as a solvent or lubricant. As for where "mystery" contamination comes from on lenses (or filters)...there are a couple of unsuspected sources.

Those of us who sometimes use random cloths to clean our lenses (I've used a 100% cotton handkerchief in an emergency) need to remember that any form of fabric softener that we use in our laundry, whether liquid in the washing machine or sheets in the dryer, work by transferring chemicals into the fabric being laundered. These chemicals provide electrical conductivity to reduce static charge and lubricant to make the fabric smooth and soft. They will also transfer to anything being wiped or cleaned as an annoying film that can be difficult to remove.

Also...almost all plastics will, over time, outgas some of the petroleum materials from which they are made. These vapors can then condense or settle on surfaces with which they come in contact, producing a film that can be difficult to remove. Sources for these materials can be lens caps, plastic filter rings, plastic filter mount rings on the front of lenses, and others.

Isopropyl alcohol is a good cleaner. I use it all the time to remove painted notations and identification markings from used radio equipment that I have purchased to be refurbished. But remember...it is a good cleaner. It will remove acrylic paint and a lot of other markers. And lens coatings. As noted above, if you use it, dilute it at least 4:1 (maybe even as much as 10:1), and don't use it very often. Also remember that isopropyl alcohol evaporates quite a bit more slowly than other forms of alcohol available at the grocery store or pharmacy, so make sure it is really dry before covering the surface.