Cleaning lenses

[martinrosol]

My lenses are getting smudged and I want to know the best way to clean them. I use neutral and UV filters now, which will minimize the problem going forward. A few lenses have finger prints and some fog on the surface. I've read/heard that the lenses are coated. Does this affect the way they should be cleaned?

I'd appreciate any advice.

 

[wergin]

Hi Martin,
there is a special solution made by Zeiss for the T-Coated lenses that doesn't affect the coating. It is sold by Foto Huppert in Germany who ships also to other parts of the world. His website:

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Yours Clemens

 

[gjames52]

Martin:

It is called L solution and it is the same solution Zeiss uses during lens manufacture and it will not harm T* coatings.

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Regards

Gilbert

 

[vishalvora]

Hello,

Surely just a good quality lens cloth and breathing on the glass will do the trick? I have been using these T* lenses for 5 years without any problems. I think that if the coating is so fragile, the makers would build lens covers within the lens. I think that UV filters are good but not essential.

Vishal.

 

[garth]

Zeiss Lens Cleaner (item # 97532) is available in 85 ml (3 oz.) pump spray bottles in the USA for $4.95 from a number of sources - just stuff Zeiss Lens Cleaner into Google's search engine. It is labelled for use on Zeiss anti-reflective, multi-coated lenses. I've used it without difficulty on my camera lenses and my plastic-lensed eyeglasses. The solution is made by Nanofilm in Cleveland, OH under license from Zeiss. I guess this explains it's relatively low selling price v. imported solutions.

Dave

 

[wilsonlaidlaw]

On a related matter, I have been getting up early for the last few mornings to take "misty morning" early spring photos. I have been using various Cokin P filters, (graduated blue, soft focus, center spot, etc) and I have come across a problem. Since I have about 30 different filters, I keep them in a CD wallet. When I withdraw a filter from its sleeve, it charges up electrostatically and attracts every bit of dust/fluff in the neighbourhood. If I try to clean the filter with a lens cloth, it then turns into a mini Van de Graff generator and one can even hear the sparks. I assume this is because the filters are made from polycarbonate, which is an excellent insulator. A lens brush/puffer does not work either. Can I get a metallised lens cloth or has anyone else any other ideas? Wilson

 

[esko_ppo]

Thanks Wilson,after your experience I give up searching any compact holder to my Cokins.I'll continue to carry them with me in their original boxes.They take some unavoidable space,but do we have any other choice?

 

[spluff]

For your info, Cokin make their own filter holder - it holds 7 filters and adaptor rings and does look like a cd holder. It costs around £10 - not as cost effective as a cd holder, but it may be what you are looking for. You could also buy an anti-static cloth - I have seen those for around £5.

Good luck, Saras

 

[mike_nunan]

Hi Martin,

There is a product called OptiClean that I would recommend using before any polishing with a cloth. It is a fluid polymer, packaged in a bottle similar to those used for nail varnish, and you apply the stuff to the lens surface with the brush. It dries quite quickly then you remove it with a piece of tape. The whole layer comes off as a single sheet, which looks very much like a circular piece of clingfilm.

OptiClean will remove some greasy marks but more importantly it will pick up any specs of grit or grime, including some which won't shift with a blast from the aerosol. I've made this a part of my cleaning procedure ever since I put a nice scratch in the rear element of my 35/1.4 Distagon, just shortly after acquiring it.

Also, regarding canned air, I've switched over to the small CO2 canisters, since with the regular aerosol cans I find you have the choice of either holding them too far away to be fully effective, or else holding them close enough and getting propellant on the glass.

Wilson, have you tried one of the Ilford anti-static cloths? Sounds like just what you need.

Regards to all,

-= mike =-

 

[gjames52]

Wilson:

There is an excellent product by the name of Staticmaster. It has a fine camel hair brush and a radio active pellet that removes the static. It was designed for lens and slides. They recommend replacing the pellet every six months but my 25 and 30 year old ones still work extremely well. They are available in a variety of widths.

Good Luck

Gilbert

 

[rickd]

Staticmasters are great. Another possibility from the HiFi world is the Zerostat anti-static "gun." They seem to have come back as part of the vinyl resurgence.

-Rick

 

[son]

Actually, there is quite a number of applicable possibilites from the hi-fi world.

Probably the best thing out there from hifi world to be brought to photo department would be Furutech PC-2 cd clening-demagnetizing fluid (comes with very nice microfiber cloth). This thing really not only cleans but removes static electricity as well (and does it very, very good!)

Although it is completely neutral (actually, I use it to clean lens on a VERY expensive cd transport, eventhough it's not it's intended use) I wouldn't use it on Zeiss optics (for the sake of that T* thing) but on anything less than that, absolutely.

Sead}}

 

[wilsonlaidlaw]

I have tried various cleaning fluids e.g. Zeiss, Laptop Screen Fluid, etc and they all seem to smear on the polycarbonate Cokin filters. I am using a Pentax microfibre cloth that is supposedly anti static. It works beautifully on glass lenses but not on the polycarbonate. I have emailed Staticmaster to ask if they have a UK agent, as, if I try to get something mailed to me from the USA that contains a Polonium radioactive capsule, I would probably have the UK equivalent of a SWAT team arriving at my front door. I will have to look in my attic as there may well be an old Zerostat gun up there along with the Thorens TD165 record deck. Wilson

 

[mike_nunan]

Hi Wilson,

If you do have any luck finding a UK supplier for the Staticmaster, please let me know, it sounds like a useful addition to the cleaning kit.

Thanks,

-= mike =-

 

[benwang]

Vishal:

I used to wripe my lenses with soft leather and "my breath", and there was no problem. However, recently, my brother gave me a box of that zeiss cleaner, and I tell you what, it does make a different! My lenses are like new now and am very happy!

 

[toyomayu]

Hi,
I have a silly question to ask.
I need to clean the rear side of my CZ lense.
Can we use those solution on both side of the lense? I have no idea about those anti-reflective, multi-coating stuff. So, I'm curious if the lense is coated the same way on both side.
BTW, I found that zeiss cleaner set on ebay, for 26.00USD plus shipping.
Thanks