Zeiss Cleaning Cloths at DVinfo.net

Christopher Go · June 3rd, 2003, 03:24 AM

From what I understand you shouldn't clean camera equipment with the same products used to clean eyeglasses (I'll see this in photography books for example). This seems like a general rule. However I was wondering about products that apparently serve both purposes. For example, B&H Photo sells a Zeiss Cleaning Kit, which contains pre-moistened lens cloths. I purchased a few of these along with a lens cleaning pen a while back. Would you trust these lens cloths with your camera equipment? Click here for the Zeiss website on the cloths themselves.

Alex Taylor · June 3rd, 2003, 09:33 AM

I think I would trust anything made by Zeiss :)

Adrian Douglas · June 3rd, 2003, 11:05 AM

I woudl look around for a similar product somewhere else. It's highly likely that the cleaning cloths are not made by Zeiss but just lisenced by them and priced accordingly. You will probably find the same thing with XYZ brand name on it at half the price. Have a close look at the packaging, it probably says "Product of Mexico"!!

Christopher Go · June 8th, 2003, 05:59 AM

Did some quick research. Some eyeglass cleaners contain silicon, which is the reason why they should not be used with filters or camcorder lenses.

You're right, Adrian. Zeiss does not make these cleaning products but they are "especially formulated for Carl Zeiss Optical, Inc. by nanoFILM LTD Cleveland, OH" according to the packaging.

Here's the actual NanoFILM website with their cleaning products called Ultra Clarity. I think this is good stuff - its touted as one of the better cleaning materials. Trust Zeiss, I have to agree Alex.

Here's a random news article on the Zeiss and NanoFILM partnership.

Adrian Seah · June 8th, 2003, 06:48 AM

Constantly not having 'proper' cleaning cloths with me at the right time, I almost always just use an old worn out cotton t- shirt, works great, gentle on the glass too.

Andrew Petrie · June 8th, 2003, 08:04 AM

My pack includes:
2 fibreclothes
cleaning solution
cleaning paper
lens pen /w brush

I think I've got it covered! Nothing like a spec of dirt to ruin a great shot. Especially when it can't be reshot.

Vladimir Koifman · June 8th, 2003, 08:46 AM

Sorry for my ignorance, but why eyeglasses cleaners do not work for lens?
What's bad if they contain silicon?

Christopher Go · June 8th, 2003, 09:58 AM

Hello Vladimir. That was my original question too. Although I'm not 100% certain, apparently some eyeglass cleaners can harm camera lenses. I thought at first that this was simply a way for manufacturers to sell more products (still true to a degree I bet), but I'll see this written in photography books as well as on manufacturer websites. One photography book I saw this written in is "Photography, 7th Edition" edited by Barbara London, et. al. It simply states to avoid using eyeglass cleaners.

Of course Kodak recommends against doing so on this website along with this website under the Cleaning supplies section.

The silicon information I received from a cinematography book I borrowed from a friend. It also recommends against using eyeglass cleaners "because they may contain silicon." I'd still very much appreciate a better explanation just as much as you though, which is the reason why I started this thread.

June 3rd, 2003, 03:24 AM	#1
Christopher Go Major Player Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Honolulu, HI Posts: 429	Zeiss Cleaning Cloths From what I understand you shouldn't clean camera equipment with the same products used to clean eyeglasses (I'll see this in photography books for example). This seems like a general rule. However I was wondering about products that apparently serve both purposes. For example, B&H Photo sells a Zeiss Cleaning Kit, which contains pre-moistened lens cloths. I purchased a few of these along with a lens cleaning pen a while back. Would you trust these lens cloths with your camera equipment? Click here for the Zeiss website on the cloths themselves.

June 3rd, 2003, 09:33 AM	#2
Alex Taylor Major Player Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 390	I think I would trust anything made by Zeiss :) __________________ alextaylor.org

June 3rd, 2003, 11:05 AM	#3
Adrian Douglas Trustee Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Chigasaki, Japan. Posts: 1,660	I woudl look around for a similar product somewhere else. It's highly likely that the cleaning cloths are not made by Zeiss but just lisenced by them and priced accordingly. You will probably find the same thing with XYZ brand name on it at half the price. Have a close look at the packaging, it probably says "Product of Mexico"!! __________________ Adrian DVInfo.net Search for quick answers Where to buy? From the best in the business...DVInfo.net sponsors

June 8th, 2003, 08:04 AM	#6
Andrew Petrie Major Player Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: London, Ontario, Canada Posts: 484	My pack includes: 2 fibreclothes cleaning solution cleaning paper lens pen /w brush I think I've got it covered! Nothing like a spec of dirt to ruin a great shot. Especially when it can't be reshot. __________________ Andrew \| Canon XL1s, ME66, Vinten Vision 3, GlideCam V16 (for sale!)

June 8th, 2003, 05:59 AM	#4
Christopher Go Major Player Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Honolulu, HI Posts: 429	Did some quick research. Some eyeglass cleaners contain silicon, which is the reason why they should not be used with filters or camcorder lenses. You're right, Adrian. Zeiss does not make these cleaning products but they are "especially formulated for Carl Zeiss Optical, Inc. by nanoFILM LTD Cleveland, OH" according to the packaging. Here's the actual NanoFILM website with their cleaning products called Ultra Clarity. I think this is good stuff - its touted as one of the better cleaning materials. Trust Zeiss, I have to agree Alex. Here's a random news article on the Zeiss and NanoFILM partnership.

June 8th, 2003, 06:48 AM	#5
Adrian Seah Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: London, England Posts: 87	Constantly not having 'proper' cleaning cloths with me at the right time, I almost always just use an old worn out cotton t- shirt, works great, gentle on the glass too.

June 8th, 2003, 08:46 AM	#7
Vladimir Koifman Regular Crew Join Date: May 2003 Location: Israel Posts: 115	Sorry for my ignorance, but why eyeglasses cleaners do not work for lens? What's bad if they contain silicon?

June 8th, 2003, 09:58 AM	#8
Christopher Go Major Player Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Honolulu, HI Posts: 429	Hello Vladimir. That was my original question too. Although I'm not 100% certain, apparently some eyeglass cleaners can harm camera lenses. I thought at first that this was simply a way for manufacturers to sell more products (still true to a degree I bet), but I'll see this written in photography books as well as on manufacturer websites. One photography book I saw this written in is "Photography, 7th Edition" edited by Barbara London, et. al. It simply states to avoid using eyeglass cleaners. Of course Kodak recommends against doing so on this website along with this website under the Cleaning supplies section. The silicon information I received from a cinematography book I borrowed from a friend. It also recommends against using eyeglass cleaners "because they may contain silicon." I'd still very much appreciate a better explanation just as much as you though, which is the reason why I started this thread.