I want to clean my prime lens, is this product ok?

How do you guys go about cleaning your lenses?

Also, can somebody please recommend a high quality UV filter?
 
I always carry a microfiber cloth with me and one of those small lens cleaning kits just in case I get some kind of smudge. Canned air can be useful too, but I find the microfiber cloth works just as well and you don't risk getting some kind of liquid shot out like you would with canned air.
 
shaocaholica said:
Rubbing alcohol and cotton swabs. It leaves a residue which I remove with a lenspen.
Click to expand...

Huge risk in taking the coating thats on your lens. Cotton swabs can have good amounts of dust on them as well. Possible even further scratching your lens.

natxbrotha said:
I always carry a microfiber cloth with me and one of those small lens cleaning kits just in case I get some kind of smudge. Canned air can be useful too, but I find the microfiber cloth works just as well and you don't risk getting some kind of liquid shot out like you would with canned air.
Click to expand...

Canned air is too much pressure to be blowing into glass. Your most likely blowing more dust into slim openings of your glass.

Both of these are a big no no. I would suggest actual cleaning kits for your lenses and a Rocket Blower for your dust issue.
 
Sil3ntp8nd8 said:
Huge risk in taking the coating thats on your lens. Cotton swabs can have good amounts of dust on them as well. Possible even further scratching your lens.
Click to expand...

Cotton swabs aren't as abrasive as you think. They can be dusty but when wet they leave almost zero particles compared to cloths and cleaning papers. Check one out up close and try it with just water. Also, I was worried about alcohol affecting the coating as well but if you look at all the lens cleaning solutions out there they are just alcohol based anyway. Also, I've never managed to damage coatings in my life with alcohol including super modern bleeding edge lenses and 40-60 year old German, Swiss and Japanese lenses.
 
on many old manual lenses, after rocketblowing the dust, i used a gentle wipe from microfiber with a quick vaporisation of regular industrial premium solution for glass cleaning and never had trouble with the coatings. smudge & residue would get off easily leaving no marks.
i too believe the front glass really can handle much more beating than we'd think before it gets visible for video.
i've tested ebay bargains with cracked elements, dust and spots often working fine unless some backlight catches some huge scratches. it's much more the rear element that needs the most care. the real trouble comes from fungus affecting clarity and developping further inside the barrel unless you can clean it which is not much of a hobby...
i would never use canned air for blowing on the lens or sensor cavity as it may spit out some sticky propelling fluid randmoly that is a pain to remove and may cause more damage than being helpfull.
 
i use a tshirt
your front element doesnt really matter anyways unless its like water spots or thick residue
its so far off the focal plane
 
i have an old prime lens and there is some dust on the inside of the lens. Would it be safe to use a vacuum on the back of the lens to suck the dust out? Read it online but can't really trust the internet...
 
Sil3ntp8nd8 said:
Cotton swabs can have good amounts of dust on them as well. Possible even further scratching your lens.

Canned air is too much pressure to be blowing into glass. Your most likely blowing more dust into slim openings of your glass.

Both of these are a big no no. I would suggest actual cleaning kits for your lenses and a Rocket Blower for your dust issue.
Click to expand...


This is all good advice.

The less you touch the glass the better.

Any liquids that leave residue on the glass that requires a 2nd step to remove, is obviously not a good move. Liquids can also creep inside the lens elements through surface tension when swabbing the edges.

Compressed air seems great, but WILL absolutely force the dust on the outside of the lens inside.

Cotton may or may not be abrasive depending on the grade, but all cotton is not the same and may contain dust or other abrasives you can't see.

Get a high quality cleaning kit with a bulb type blower that is low pressure and will gently blow off loose dust. Try to clean your lenses in a CLEAN environment before going in the field.(If they need cleaning, If they don't need cleaning after closely examining them, better just lightly blow them off only)

I have a few loops that I can get a close look at the surface with.
If you want to see how much damage cotton, and other abrasives can cause, get a loop, you will be surprised how scratched they look close up. Also a good way to examine lenses you are about to put money into.

If someone tells you that scratches don't show up in your shots, don't believe it. They may not show all the time, but if any light strikes the damages element you will start to see spots on you footage dark an light .

Learn how to take care of your glass and it will take care of you for a long time.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top