How to clean 14-24?

[jeanie]

Hi guys.. How would you clean those stubborn dusts on the front lens element of 14-24 lens? I tried blower to blow and cannot clear them.

stubborn dust?
get a pressurised canned air blower.
it's more powerful than a blower, but you can use it to blow away dust not only from your lens, but your camera body.

for oil, water stains, i always carry lens tissue, and a bottle of lens cleaner.

from the day i own the lens till now, i have only clean the front elements once.and it's because i shot near sea.

 

[psychobiologist]

stubborn dust?
get a pressurised canned air blower.
it's more powerful than a blower, but you can use it to blow away dust not only from your lens, but your camera body.

for oil, water stains, i always carry lens tissue, and a bottle of lens cleaner.

from the day i own the lens till now, i have only clean the front elements once.and it's because i shot near sea.

which brand of lens tissue is recommended?

i've tried a few brands.. whatman lens tissue.. some unknown brand called crystal brite and.. the usual kimwipes.. but the kimwipes are no longer as lint free as before.. (i've like 20+ boxes -_-)

 

[iankwa]

stubborn dust?
get a pressurised canned air blower.
it's more powerful than a blower, but you can use it to blow away dust not only from your lens, but your camera body.

for oil, water stains, i always carry lens tissue, and a bottle of lens cleaner.

from the day i own the lens till now, i have only clean the front elements once.and it's because i shot near sea.

I would also like to know what lens tissue you use and how much is a pressurised canned air blower?

 

[iankwa]

Thanks to everyone who share their comments or recommendation to this thread. I appreciate them alot. This would not be posted if I use a filter but since it cannot fit one, therefore I do not want to risk myself before getting other feedback/recommendations. I know lens are to be used and not to show off but also knowing how to maintain them is essential. Also, I believe this thread would benefit other people and gain more confidence in cleaning lens without filter :angel:.

 

[jeanie]

which brand of lens tissue is recommended?

i've tried a few brands.. whatman lens tissue.. some unknown brand called crystal brite and.. the usual kimwipes.. but the kimwipes are no longer as lint free as before.. (i've like 20+ boxes -_-)

kim wipes?

you are in science field aint you?
yes...for sometime yawns ago, i was using kimwipes too.lint it ok lah.
just use blower to blow them off once you're done.

as for lens tissue, i really dont know what brand.i usually just walk into cp and ask for it.i dont even bother to see what brand they were.

i was also using kodak ones sometimes back, but i heard they have discontinued it.

 

[Alliance]

CP sells Kodak lens tissue paper. Lint free and specifically formulated for cleaning lenses. Have been using it for years. No fear of scratches etc. It costs only a few dollars a pack. A pack lasts a long long time. Roll a single sheet up like a cigarette and its great for cleaning hard to reach places like the inside of a viewfinder, focussing screen holders, reflex mirror etc etc etc. My two cents worth.

 

[chanjyj]

kim wipes?

you are in science field aint you?
yes...for sometime yawns ago, i was using kimwipes too.lint it ok lah.
just use blower to blow them off once you're done.

as for lens tissue, i really dont know what brand.i usually just walk into cp and ask for it.i dont even bother to see what brand they were.

i was also using kodak ones sometimes back, but i heard they have discontinued it.

I think CP only sells Kodak lens tissue. Reliable brand anyway.

 

[jeanie]

I think CP only sells Kodak lens tissue. Reliable brand anyway.

oh!:bigeyes:
i didnt even realise they are kodak.

see?that's why i dont even bother with the brand.

but i remember kodak is orange packaging right?
i could have sworn the one i gotten recently(i.e about 1 year back) is not orange packaging...
hmmm...:dunno:

 

[jeanie]

I would also like to know what lens tissue you use and how much is a pressurised canned air blower?

sorry i missed out your question.

the pressurized canned blower is about $10+ IIRC.

my friend bought it for me from SLS.
they even have pocket sized ones that's suitable for travelling.

 

[chanjyj]

oh!:bigeyes:
i didnt even realise they are kodak.

see?that's why i dont even bother with the brand.

but i remember kodak is orange packaging right?
i could have sworn the one i gotten recently(i.e about 1 year back) is not orange packaging...
hmmm...:dunno:

Yah. If I remember correctly the lens tissues are enclosed in a hard paper (paper bag kind of paper) orange envelope.

 

[An drew]

I use Eclipse solution and pads. Can get at CP too.

http://www.calumetphoto.com/item/PZ1040 /

Unless you are a press photographer, otherwise I would not recommend toilet paper.

 

[nightwolf75]

Hiyah. Just take tissue paper and clean it. Then remove the extra pieces of "tissue dust" by blower. If there is oil on the lens and the tissue sticks just rub gently again to remove the the "tissue dust". But the best medium is kitchen towels (paper kind, disposal kind). If you pass by Macs take their napkins too. I find tissue too delicate.


Lens is far harder and coating 20x better than filter. What you are scared of doing to filter you wont be afraid of doing to lens.

And btw, for B+W filters, a tip. If it's really dirty, bring home, use household soap (for cleaning plates, forks, spoons etc), wash with water, leave it to dry and wipe with kitchen towel to remove any water marks and you are good to go.

i hope you are kidding abt using tissue paper.

tissue paper is much rougher than lens tissue even tho you might not feel it. using such a rough material to clean your lens is not recommended unless you got money to burn by changing lens elements at NSC every year.

for dust, the usual blower/lint-free lens cloth/lenspen/lens tissue (in order my preference) is the most common way of cleaning the usual surface dust.

 

[sodoff]

haha nice... tissue paper. we all know photojournalist treat their camera equipment like dirt. so no surprise there... but hes got a point lah. just wipe with tissue lorh anyway spoil already just buy a new one right???:thumbsup:

 

[vince123123]

I agree with nightwolf, tissue has been known and tested and I have personally experienced, to have scratching properties.

 

[jeanie]

I agree with nightwolf, tissue has been known and tested and I have personally experienced, to have scratching properties.

i use tissue paper on my oakleys....
sigh....
wouldnt want to do that anymore anytime anywhere again.:cry:

 

[Shin Howard]

How abt a micro-fibre cleaning cloth?

 

[chanjyj]

I agree with nightwolf, tissue has been known and tested and I have personally experienced, to have scratching properties.

If it is the soft face tissue which you use to blow the nose I agree. Maybe I have mislead quite a few people here, I am not really referring to tissue paper. I've just discovered the "real name" for it.

The "tissue" I am referring to is:

 

[nightwolf75]

If it is the soft face tissue which you use to blow the nose I agree. Maybe I have mislead quite a few people here, I am not really referring to tissue paper. I've just discovered the "real name" for it.

The "tissue" I am referring to is:

this is kitchen paper towels... wat my wife uses to soak up sauces from plates and pots. u really want to use this on lenses? :think:

 

[chanjyj]

this is kitchen paper towels... wat my wife uses to soak up sauces from plates and pots. u really want to use this on lenses? :think:

Yep, I use this.
Absorbent... really. Even with oil. Won't scratch if you use it carefully, and also provided your dust is really dust and not coarse dirt.

Anyway to each his own lah.. Aiyoh ;p

 

[woofmy]

Anyway to each his own lah.. Aiyoh ;p

totally agreed. each person has his/her own ways or methods. There is no single solution to it. Even you use the best lint free tissue/cloth with the right cleaning solution, if you have a grain of sand, you can still badly scratch the front element.

net, do what you are comfortable with it and live with the decision. 1 tiny scratch is not the end of the lens :sweat: