topic Re: Lens cleaning in EF & RF Lenses

Lens cleaning

Kalea — Wed, 19 Jun 2019 16:57:38 GMT

Hi All,

Took my camera to the beach & now the lens is cloudy. Would love to know best way to clean it with out scratching it.

Thanks for your help

Karen

Re: Lens cleaning

kvbarkley — Wed, 19 Jun 2019 17:36:47 GMT

What lens? Cloudy on the *inside* or *outside*.

https://cpn.canon-europe.com/content/education/infobank/care_and_maintenance/camera_and_lens_care.do

Re: Lens cleaning

ebiggs1 — Wed, 19 Jun 2019 22:03:38 GMT

I am guessing you mean the glass part? You can wipe off the plastic tube part with a micro fiber cloth with a little Windex on it.

You really need to buy a filter to protect the glass if the beach is one of your preferred spots. However, I like eyeglasses cleaning stuff, special cloth and solution, for the lens when I have to clean it. That is very rare though as I protect mine as much as possible.

I have some, many actually, lenses that have never been cleaned. And my gear gets used, I mean used!

Re: Lens cleaning

Kalea — Wed, 19 Jun 2019 17:50:07 GMT

Its my 18 - 55, & cloudy the outside. I will check out the link. Yank you.

Karen

Re: Lens cleaning

Kalea — Wed, 19 Jun 2019 17:55:37 GMT

yes the glass part, unfortunately didn't have a filter on it. Wasn't sure if glass cleaner was a good option, considerating it might have sand on it.

Thank you

Re: Lens cleaning

Stephen — Wed, 19 Jun 2019 17:57:37 GMT

Kalea,

Take a look at THIS YouTube Video as well. It might be a little easier to understand since Holly shows you exactly how to clean your gear.

We hope this helps!

Re: Lens cleaning

Waddizzle — Wed, 19 Jun 2019 21:51:53 GMT

Beware of Windex. It is not recommended for eyeglasses. Because it contains stuff like ammonia, Windex will attack and destroy lens coatings.

Keep Windex away coated glass.

Re: Lens cleaning

Tronhard — Fri, 21 Jun 2019 20:11:41 GMT

@Waddizzle wrote:
Beware of Windex. It is not recommended for eyeglasses. Because it contains stuff like ammonia, Windex will attack and destroy lens coatings.

Keep Windex away coated glass.

Totally agree with Waddizzle. I would use a blower and a lens brush to gently remove the sand particles and then use generous amounts of an optical lens cleaner - available from opticians and camera stores to wash the front of the lens - holding the lens downwards to avoid the liquid from flowing into the lens. For cleaning I would use a proper lens cleaning cloth - again from opticians and camera stores. I avoid anything with lint or microfibre as they leave materials on the glass.

Definitely I would recommend a protective filter. ALL of my lenses have one.

Re: Lens cleaning

ebiggs1 — Sat, 22 Jun 2019 12:07:01 GMT

You guys should read more carefully. No one suggested using Windex on the glass.

Re: Lens cleaning

Waddizzle — Sat, 22 Jun 2019 14:05:07 GMT

@ebiggs1 wrote:
You guys should read more carefully. No one suggested using Windex on the glass.

We know that. No one suggested you did. I simply pointed out that you need to keep it away from the glass. If you are using it to clean the lens body, then the temptation is there to use it clean the glass.

Re: Lens cleaning

TCampbell — Mon, 24 Jun 2019 17:27:15 GMT

It isn't so much the actual "glass" that you need to worry about ... it's the coatings on the surface of the glass ... you don't want to use anything so harsh that it damages or removes those coatings.

And of course... you don't necessarily want to use something that leaves any residue behind.

A speck of dirt of dust on a lens wont show up in the image (the dust would have to be at a focus point in order to show up.) So I'm not so obsessed about grabbing a cleaning cloth every 10 seconds if I see a spec of dust (if you can't see with your eyes from a few feet away... then it probably doesn't need to be cleaned.)

UV filters are redudant (there's a UV filter inside your camera) -- but are sometimes used to protect the lens from dirt or smudges (or sometimes "clear" filters). These are, of course, optional. But keep in mind that even these may have anti-reflective coatings (the good ones do). If it doesn't have anti-reflective coatings, that flat "glass" filter can create reflections or 'ghosting' in your image. Even filters that do have coatings will have ghosting ... but usually just require brighter points of light before the problem shows up. The main point is ... in some circumstances the filter will degrade the quality of your image. So while I "own" filters that can attach to any of my lenses, I generally don't leave them on the lens all the time. I only put it on if it's a situation where I think the filter will be beneficial.

Re: Lens cleaning

ebiggs1 — Mon, 24 Jun 2019 20:14:13 GMT

" I only put it on if it's a situation where I think the filter will be beneficial."

Like keeping the front lens element clean! Plus some considerable protection from natural 'elements' like rain.

High quality protecto filters rarely cause disagreeable reflections. If it should, remove and replace it when done. Simple, no?

Re: Lens cleaning

Tronhard — Mon, 24 Jun 2019 20:30:39 GMT

@TCampbell wrote:
It isn't so much the actual "glass" that you need to worry about ... it's the coatings on the surface of the glass ... you don't want to use anything so harsh that it damages or removes those coatings.

And of course... you don't necessarily want to use something that leaves any residue behind.

A speck of dirt of dust on a lens wont show up in the image (the dust would have to be at a focus point in order to show up.) So I'm not so obsessed about grabbing a cleaning cloth every 10 seconds if I see a spec of dust (if you can't see with your eyes from a few feet away... then it probably doesn't need to be cleaned.)

UV filters are redudant (there's a UV filter inside your camera) -- but are sometimes used to protect the lens from dirt or smudges (or sometimes "clear" filters). These are, of course, optional. But keep in mind that even these may have anti-reflective coatings (the good ones do). If it doesn't have anti-reflective coatings, that flat "glass" filter can create reflections or 'ghosting' in your image. Even filters that do have coatings will have ghosting ... but usually just require brighter points of light before the problem shows up. The main point is ... in some circumstances the filter will degrade the quality of your image. So while I "own" filters that can attach to any of my lenses, I generally don't leave them on the lens all the time. I only put it on if it's a situation where I think the filter will be beneficial.

We are going down the much-travelled path of when and how to use filters as protection. Like anything else there is a cost (both financial and performace)/benefit relationship here, thus to quite a degree it depends on how you use your cameras. If, for examply you did most of your photography under controlled conditions then a filter may be rarely or not used at all. On the other hand if there is a greater risk of damage to the front element by being used in challenging conditions, then a filter is a much cheaper solution to having the front element of a likely expensive lens replaced. Actually, I don't know of any lens repair that could be considered cheap...

In terms of being knocked or dropped it is often suggested that a lens hood will provide protection and there is certainly an argument for that, but I have had an expensive lens dropped when, during transit through airport security, in a bag (with the hood reversed for storage), the filter was shattered but the front element was OK. I also go outdoors for most of my shooting, so my lens may have to cope with rain, dust and potential impact. I also like the idea that a filter may, to some degree, slow down the passage of dust through a lens that extends and retracts.

So, I think protection is important, especially if one has invested a significant sum on the lens(es). I use both hoods and decent protective filters and I am fastidious about keeping them clean and do so properly. So far I am happy that my images have not suffered by doing so, and certainly I consider the cost of the filters a good insurance against paying out for a damaged lens.

Re: Lens cleaning

ebiggs1 — Mon, 24 Jun 2019 21:11:04 GMT

The pro guys and the con guys will never meet and it seems common sense is also a victim. You need it when you need it. You don't when you don't. I use them and hoods on all my lenses but I am down to all "L" glass from Canon. Some of the few off brands I still have don't get an expensive B+W filter but they do get hoods.

BTW, hoods are no where as protective as protecto filters are. Not even close. Ever been a child photographer? Been there, done that! Besides some of Canon's own "L" lenses "require" a protecto filter to be fully protected. Hard to dispute that one!

Re: Lens cleaning

Waddizzle — Tue, 25 Jun 2019 00:10:07 GMT

@Tronhard wrote:
@TCampbell wrote:

In terms of being knocked or dropped it is often suggested that a lens hood will provide protection and there is certainly an argument for that, but I have had an expensive lens dropped when, during transit through airport security, in a bag (with the hood reversed for storage), the filter was shattered but the front element was OK.

I also go outdoors for most of my shooting, so my lens may have to cope with rain, dust and potential impact. I also like the idea that a filter may, to some degree, slow down the passage of dust through a lens that extends and retracts.

So, I think protection is important, especially if one has invested a significant sum on the lens(es). I use both hoods and decent protective filters and I am fastidious about keeping them clean and do so properly. So far I am happy that my images have not suffered by doing so, and certainly I consider the cost of the filters a good insurance against paying out for a damaged lens.

Exactly. Hoods offer no protection when reversed in your camera bag. I go outdoors a lot, too. My lens filter collects dust, smoke and pollen. I use clear filters on all of my lenses now. I have not found reason to take one off, except for cleaning.

If the clear filter degrades my images, then I say it is a good trade off. Shot with 6D and EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM.