Reader's Comments - Index of - Free

Cleaning Cameras
I have noticed that often the humidity of finger soils the lens surface through the thin lens
cleaning paper that I use. So I use it loosely wadded. Or I use it,sheet-wise, but I take 2-3
sheet at a time.
-- Alessandro Mattiacci, July 13, 2001
I use double tipped cotton q-tips, and blow (hard) the dust off (and any gritty stuff that
might happen to be there) then I use the 100% cotton q tip to clean off my breath from the
glass. No scratches or problems. Cotton.
-- Nathan Wynn, November 20, 2001
I know lots of purists are concerned about the optical imperfections of UV filters. Instead
of using one to protect the front element, I recomend a rigid lens hood to protect the front
element from fingers, bangs, etc.
-- Mike Barnhart, December 13, 2001
Three cheers for ROR. I managed to clean an old lens that I thought would never come
clean. It is a great thing to have in the bag.
-- Roger Shrader, February 2, 2002
Using a UV filter as lense protection is a double edged sword. Although a previous poster
relates a number of "saves", I had a Nikkor 35-70 hit linoleum after a 30 inch fall - landing
on the front end. The UV filter broke, scratching the front element. New front element from
Nikon service = $200. It comes down to a question of luck...
As for lense cleaning - 3M makes an excellent microfiber cloth specifically for optical
cleaning. If you can locate a supplier, please post it - I was lucky enough to get a sample
from a 3M rep but have been unabale to locate a dealer.
-- Jason Monfort, March 1, 2002
I'm a photographer by hobby only, but professionally I'm an optical engineer and have
worked with all sorts of critical (and less critical) optics (infrared, visible, and ultraviolet
lenses, mirrors, coated, uncoated, etc), and thought I'd throw in my two cents.
Probably the most important thing to consider when cleaning optics: beware of SAND! I
know that everyone recommends using those cleaning cloths in a circular motion, but that it
is really an *incredibly* risky thing to do. If there is even one tiny bit of sand or glass or
other hard material under that cloth, you just made a whole bunch of pretty *permanent*
circles on your lens. This is also the reason why doing what you can to minimize how often
http://www.photo.net/learn/cleaning-cameras (17 of 19) [5/15/2002 7:15:53 PM]