I would be leery about using a Q-tip. They feel a bit abrasive to my touch. I generally use only a camel hair brush, and I use that very gently. It's rare that the brush is not sufficient. But if there is any residue, I use a lens cleaning cloth with a dab of Kodak lens cleaning fluid applied to one corner. I use the wet corner to wipe the lens, then dry it gently with the cloth. The cloth is extremely soft and non-abrasive. Unfortunately, I can't recall the manufacturer. Paul Stenquist
Keith Whaley wrote: > > I've always considered myself a good cleaner, but have a couple of questions. > I use Q-tips, moistened with water, and after breathing moist, warm > breath on the glass, I lightly apply the tip, starting at the lens > center, and spiralling outward to the filter ring threads. Throw the > tip away. > Breathe on lens, moisten (almost dry) Q-tip with H20 and do it again. > NEVER using the same tip again. NEVER clean a lens without using a > light camel hair's brush to remove all surface lint and firt particles first. > If that doesn't remove everything, I'll dip the very tip of the Q-tip > in a good single malt scotch, and with it so moistened, do the light > spiralling technique again. > I finish with moist breath again, and it's all dry and clean. Usually... > > Question? Any other liquids okay with SMC-coated lenses? Even if it's > a commercial preparation of some sort, no problem, but some dirt does > require a mild solvent. What do YOU use? > 1:1000 V/V mild dishwashing liquid soap in water, maybe? > > keith whaley > > Dr E D F Williams wrote: > > > > Generally speaking people who scrub lenses (aaaaargh!) to clean them do it > > round and round and not radially. Radial marks are quite unusual and bear > > investigation merely because they are such. Lens cleaning is an art and > > should only be carried out by someone who is a master of that art. One very > > good way to really _clean_ a lens element is to take it from the mount and > > wash it in soapy water, Fairy Liquid is good, rinse it in deionised triple > > distilled water and dry in on edge in a completely dust free atmosphere. > > There are other ways, but they are rather special. Washing in a reflux > > chamber with propanol vapour for example. Not easily done by someone outside > > a laboratory. > > > > Don > > > > Dr E D F Williams > > > > http://personal.inet.fi/cool/don.williams > > Author's Web Site and Photo Gallery > > Updated: March 30, 2002 > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Keith Whaley" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > Sent: Sunday, December 01, 2002 3:24 PM > > Subject: Re: Basic rule you can take to the bank > > > > > Marks that are in a circular pattern are called circumferential, and > > > marks that start in or about the center of the lens and traverse the > > > lens surface to the outside are called radial marks. > > > > > > keith whaley > > > > > > Mike Johnston wrote: > > > > > > > > > Interesting. The marks in my lens are radial, ie they go around the > > lens > > > > > in a circular pattern and cover basically the whole area of the > > element. > > > > > > > > Pretty much Universally, lens elements should not have marks on them. > > > > > > > > --Mike > > > > > > > > P.S. I'm hoping this will prove an uncontroversial statement. <g> > > > > > >
