Lens/Filter Cleaning

[tunnacliffe]

What do you use to clean your lenses or filters?
I don't have anything at the moment except a cloth that came with some glasses but I don't want to use that in case it leaves smudges behind on the lens!

Is a LensPen and Rocket Blower the only 2 things I would really need? What if there are marks on the filter or lens, does the LensPen remove these well?

Thanks

[timr]

I use a lenspen - brush off the lens of any grit, and then use the pen end to clean sumdges - works brilliantly!

[SprocketRocket]

I was in the same boat till about 2 weeks ago and i bought a lens pen. I've got to say I have been very impressed with it for what it is.
I also used it to clean my UV filter (which I don't use anymore but just wanted to use my pen and it seems to be fine to me).

[tunnacliffe]

Thanks! I've found them for £10 in the highstreet but are they cheaper online anywhere?

[SprocketRocket]

It was 4.99 in jessops about 2 weeks ago, online and instore.

[timr]

Jessops for £8.80 Highstreet price

Edit: Yeah, it was half price in Jessops last week - not anymore!

[tunnacliffe]

Jessops online is £15 and Jacobs have it for £9.98

Typical that I miss the half price deal!!

[D-an-W]

I just cleaned my Neice's new camera (Covered in fingerprints!) LCD and Lens with the LensPen's I bought about 5 years ago. They look like new again, she is going to get herself one now too.

[tunnacliffe]

Grabbed an official one off eBay for £8.50. Every penny helps !
Can get them for about £6 from HK on eBay but not worth the wait and if its a dodgy one it might not work as well

[Pirate!!]

If you have an LCD TV at home and it came with one of those magic blue cloths to clean the screen, try it on you lens. Smear free and crystal clean. Works for me!

As for filtes, I picked up a product in the Florida Mall, Orlando (purple liquid in a spray bottle) for cleaning glass etc called Razzle Dazzle. Leaves a smear free finish and no finger prints. All natural ingredients. Brilliant!

[tunnacliffe]

Got the lenspen a few days ago. Only took 48hours from eBay!

Anyone thats thinking about it, get one! Cleaned my lenses right up! I think theres some dust inside the lens though, do I have to take it to a specialist to get cleaned or is there no point if it doesnt show up on images?

[onefivenine]

None of the glass in my lenses has ever been touched... with anything... they just get a blow with the Giotto rocket now and again

There's nothing you can do about dust in the lens. But it shouldn't show in your images.
Cheaper lenses aren't very well sealed compared to say Canon L glass, so are prone to getting dust in them.

[snmichaels]

I found this, but haven't tried it yet; haven't needed to. Lots of people have said it's been great.

http://www.pbase.com/lightrules/drp

[Stinja]

Originally Posted by Pirate!!

If you have an LCD TV at home and it came with one of those magic blue cloths to clean the screen, try it on you lens. Smear free and crystal clean. Works for me!

Yeah they're called MicroFibre Cloths, i pulled an old Minolta lens out, not used for years and was filthy, a careful wipe and its very clean and no (visible) scratches.