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With lenses, it's pretty straightforward - assuming you mean dust and marks on the lens glass surfaces? Invest in a small spray bottle of lens cleaning solution (you can get this from Jessops or most good camera stores for a few quid), plus a specialist camera lens cleaning cloth. I find the cloths supplied with spectacles too small in general and often not truly lint-free; what tou need to aim for is a microfibre cloth, which is made from very small and soft fibres tightly weaved together, into a size around that of a small hanky.
If the lens is simply dusty, use a blower brush (I usually remove the brush). If there are any stubborn particles or actual greasy marks on the lens, apply a small amount of lens cleaning fluid to dislodge and remove the particles, then use a clean section of the cloth to spread the remaining fluid across the lens surface evenly and with a reasonably amount of pressure polish the surface until the fluid has evaporated and there are no marks remaining. The blower to deal with any remaining lint, and you are done!
The main thing is to remove as much dust/grit as possible before finishing the polishing off as you don't want to be rubbing grit into the surface of the lens and scratching it.
I do find lens pens quite effective too.
If you have dust on the camera's mirror or sensor, you can try using the blower, but you should NOT polish either of these with a cloth. If you can't blow the dust away, I would recommend a specialist cleaning service although there are DIY kits available. I'm fortunate in that the anti-dust measures in the Olympus gear I mainly use is so effective I have never needed to clean the sensor in any of my cameras.
It's also good practice to minimise the time that a lens is off the camera, and to avoid changing lenses in dusty conditions if at all possible.
DON'T use your breath to blow onto the mirror or sensor! A blower is the safest method. Compressed air canisters are not easily recommended as they can spray residue from inside the can onto delicate surface and these residues can be very difficult to remove.
I'd go along with all that, as always Ian gives sound advice. Personally I have never used the cleaning fluid. However I can recommend the Lenspen. If you check out their website there is a video showing how to use it.
As for sensors, there are loads of products supplied by Visible Dust I have their Arctic Butterfly system, which has given very good results, but there are other things for more stubborn marks.
If you are just removing dust, no liquids at all will hopefully be required. But if there is a fingerprint or other smudge on the lens, you do need some kind of liquid solvent to shift it and to dilute it. Breathing on the lens is actually quite effective if done with the care, the moisture from condensation working well with a clean lens cloth, but it's safer to use an alcohol based lens cleaning solution, and excess evaporates quickly even in cold conditions, leaving little if any residue.
The carbon coated pad of the lenspen gets rid of finger marks easily and without the need for fluids. I Promise, I have no shares in Lenspen
I like lenspens too I have several!
But they are best for localised smudges. I wouldn't use one if the entire surface of a larger lens required cleaning. They can also sometimes leave some dusty debris that is occasionally difficult to shift with a blower, so you are back to square one with a lens cloth again
But they are best for localised smudges. I wouldn't use one if the entire surface of a larger lens required cleaning. They can also sometimes leave some dusty debris that is occasionally difficult to shift with a blower, so you are back to square one with a lens cloth again
Ian
We use lenspens here too - also blowers and micro cloths.
I've never use lens cleaning fluid though so I've just asked David about it and he says he's never used it either. So which fluid do you use and do you have a link?
The carbon coated pad of the lenspen gets rid of finger marks easily and without the need for fluids. I Promise, I have no shares in Lenspen
Agreed. The lenspens are very good imho. 7dayshop sells various sizes at very good price so we carry them in the bags and also have a couple of spare ones in the glove compartment.
I still fancy a look/see and maybe a try of lens fluid though. It can be a tad tedious trying to clean a large surface with a pen after being blown about at the coast.
We use lenspens here too - also blowers and micro cloths.
I've never use lens cleaning fluid though so I've just asked David about it and he says he's never used it either. So which fluid do you use and do you have a link?
Pol
I use Jessops own brand. It is probably just isopropyl alcohol. I use it occasionally if a lens has been smudged. Of course I have a large number of lenses because of the http://e-group.uk.net/hire lens hire service we run for Olympus users.
I use Jessops own brand. It is probably just isopropyl alcohol. I use it occasionally if a lens has been smudged. Of course I have a large number of lenses because of the http://e-group.uk.net/hire lens hire service we run for Olympus users.
Ian
Thanks. I'll have a look.
I don't envy you having all those lenses to clean.
I've just been looking at the lens cleaning fluids and note that Eclipse is used for cleaning lenses as well as sensors. So I suppose I could use what's left of mine. I used to use it to wet clean the sensor on the *istD and it did a good job.
I've just been looking at the lens cleaning fluids and note that Eclipse is used for cleaning lenses as well as sensors. So I suppose I could use what's left of mine. I used to use it to wet clean the sensor on the *istD and it did a good job.
Pol
A sensor cleaning fluid would have a much higher anti-residue specification than lens cleaner so would be ideal of lens cleaning, although I suspect it's much more expensive than ordinary lens cleaning fluid in a little spray canister.
A sensor cleaning fluid would have a much higher anti-residue specification than lens cleaner so would be ideal of lens cleaning, although I suspect it's much more expensive than ordinary lens cleaning fluid in a little spray canister.
Ian
Aye. The Eclipse does cost quite bit more than the ordinary lens cleaning fluid but I already have most of the Eclipe left in the bottle so I may as well use that if I ever find the lenspen inadequate for the job.
Eclipse certainly did a brilliant job on the *istD sensor. It cleaned it up better than it was when the camera was delivered new - though it took me a while to pluck up the courage to have a go at it.
Rocket blower for the sensor, dont get cheap alternatives as they dont have a filter in.
Lens pens are ok if you buy new often, all that shite you wipe off with the pen, where does it go? it does not go anywhere, it stays on the pen.
Lens tissue and good quality alcohol solution is best for lenses.
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