Panasonic camcorder cleaning at DVinfo.net

Richard Longman · December 6th, 2003, 03:46 AM

How do you wash your digital camcorder? I use a light water bottle spray, the kind you use for moistening plants. This does not take the hand grease off and I was thinking about using Windex, spraying it on the casing lightly.

Frank Granovski · December 6th, 2003, 04:39 AM

I wouldn't spray the cam. Use a cleaning cloth and gently wipe the housing so that any lodged dirt won't scratch the cam.

Dave Largent · December 6th, 2003, 07:28 PM

Spray Windex on a wash clothe, and then wipe the cam
with the wash clothe.

Frank Granovski · December 6th, 2003, 08:35 PM

I wonder if a little Windex can be harmful to the cam's plastic. Just a thought.

Tommy Haupfear · December 6th, 2003, 09:32 PM

I always Endust for Electronics spray which does wonders for LCD screens (no streaking) and puts a deep shine to the plastic. I also use Kensington lint-free wipes to apply the Endust.

Keep that Windex away from my coated lenses! :)

Off topic but don't ever clean a Sony Trinitron computer monitor with something as abrasive as Windex. I've seen way too many monitors destroyed by having their coatings completely taken off.

Nick Kerpchar · December 7th, 2003, 07:10 AM

I believe that Windex has ammonia in it, and most other cleaners have equally strong or stronger chemicals in them. I have not looked at my instruction manual in a while but I believe it said something about wipe with a "damp cloth" (that would just be water).

To remove oil from fingers/hands and light soil from daily use off of my camcorder body, I periodically use a very mild soapy solution on a "damp" cloth being certain not to get water/moisture into the camcorder. I then wipe off the camcorder body with a "damp" cloth that only has plain water to get rid of any residue. That seems to work O.K. and has not harmed the body nor washed away any of the labels printed on the body.

Hope this helps, Nick

Yow Cheong Hoe · December 7th, 2003, 09:24 AM

To have a 'professional' look, grease, dirt and oil on the cam is a must. Professionals are too busy doing the right stuff (like shooting videos) and no time for side stuff (like cleaning the cam body). :) :) :)

Lens and deck should be clean all the time, of course! For issues on cleaning the lens, please refer to any decent photography or lens site. For teh deck, run the head-cleaner tape sometimes, and blow the mechanisms with a blower (or spray compressed air).

Dave Largent · December 7th, 2003, 11:34 AM

Tommy,
I always use Windex on my Trinitron. What would you advise instead? Is there a coating on the monitor surface?
I thought it was just glass.

Tommy Haupfear · December 7th, 2003, 02:03 PM

Dave,

Its not all Trinitron monitors that have the special silica based anti-relfective coating. I've seen the coating on most all of the Dell/Sony Trinitron CRT computer monitors since 1999. I have never seen this on a TV or other flat computer monitors. Sony claims it reduces eye fatigue and keeps your monitor looking new. I see it as a nuisance because anything other than Endust for Electronics or plain old water will damage this fragile coating and permanently scar the monitor.

The company KlearScreen even has a huge notice to Dell and Sony Trinitron owners on the front page of their website.

http://www.klearscreen.com/

Dave Largent · December 7th, 2003, 02:15 PM

I have a 2001 Dell Trinitron CRT! Wonder if I've already damaged it. Would the Endust be good for it? Does it have the same effect as Windex? Where is it sold?

December 6th, 2003, 03:46 AM	#1
Richard Longman Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Sault Ste Marie, Ontario Posts: 17	Panasonic camcorder cleaning How do you wash your digital camcorder? I use a light water bottle spray, the kind you use for moistening plants. This does not take the hand grease off and I was thinking about using Windex, spraying it on the casing lightly.

December 6th, 2003, 04:39 AM	#2
Frank Granovski Outer Circle Join Date: May 2002 Location: Hope, BC Posts: 7,524	I wouldn't spray the cam. Use a cleaning cloth and gently wipe the housing so that any lodged dirt won't scratch the cam.

December 6th, 2003, 07:28 PM	#3
Dave Largent Trustee Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,483	Spray Windex on a wash clothe, and then wipe the cam with the wash clothe.

December 6th, 2003, 08:35 PM	#4
Frank Granovski Outer Circle Join Date: May 2002 Location: Hope, BC Posts: 7,524	I wonder if a little Windex can be harmful to the cam's plastic. Just a thought.

December 6th, 2003, 09:32 PM	#5
Tommy Haupfear Wrangler Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 1,415	I always Endust for Electronics spray which does wonders for LCD screens (no streaking) and puts a deep shine to the plastic. I also use Kensington lint-free wipes to apply the Endust. Keep that Windex away from my coated lenses! :) Off topic but don't ever clean a Sony Trinitron computer monitor with something as abrasive as Windex. I've seen way too many monitors destroyed by having their coatings completely taken off.

December 7th, 2003, 07:10 AM	#6
Nick Kerpchar Major Player Join Date: May 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 211	I believe that Windex has ammonia in it, and most other cleaners have equally strong or stronger chemicals in them. I have not looked at my instruction manual in a while but I believe it said something about wipe with a "damp cloth" (that would just be water). To remove oil from fingers/hands and light soil from daily use off of my camcorder body, I periodically use a very mild soapy solution on a "damp" cloth being certain not to get water/moisture into the camcorder. I then wipe off the camcorder body with a "damp" cloth that only has plain water to get rid of any residue. That seems to work O.K. and has not harmed the body nor washed away any of the labels printed on the body. Hope this helps, Nick

December 7th, 2003, 09:24 AM	#7
Yow Cheong Hoe Major Player Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Singapore, Passport: Malaysia Posts: 407	To have a 'professional' look, grease, dirt and oil on the cam is a must. Professionals are too busy doing the right stuff (like shooting videos) and no time for side stuff (like cleaning the cam body). :) :) :) Lens and deck should be clean all the time, of course! For issues on cleaning the lens, please refer to any decent photography or lens site. For teh deck, run the head-cleaner tape sometimes, and blow the mechanisms with a blower (or spray compressed air).

December 7th, 2003, 11:34 AM	#8
Dave Largent Trustee Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,483	Tommy, I always use Windex on my Trinitron. What would you advise instead? Is there a coating on the monitor surface? I thought it was just glass.

December 7th, 2003, 02:03 PM	#9
Tommy Haupfear Wrangler Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 1,415	Dave, Its not all Trinitron monitors that have the special silica based anti-relfective coating. I've seen the coating on most all of the Dell/Sony Trinitron CRT computer monitors since 1999. I have never seen this on a TV or other flat computer monitors. Sony claims it reduces eye fatigue and keeps your monitor looking new. I see it as a nuisance because anything other than Endust for Electronics or plain old water will damage this fragile coating and permanently scar the monitor. The company KlearScreen even has a huge notice to Dell and Sony Trinitron owners on the front page of their website. http://www.klearscreen.com/

December 7th, 2003, 02:15 PM	#10
Dave Largent Trustee Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,483	I have a 2001 Dell Trinitron CRT! Wonder if I've already damaged it. Would the Endust be good for it? Does it have the same effect as Windex? Where is it sold?