What do you use to clean your lens? Lens Cleaning Tissue?

[Kevin Cates]

Originally Posted by Keith Moreau

Are there any techniques or fluids that would neutralize what I believe is a static charge which makes this dust clingy?

Could be a static issue with glass, camera or you. Tried grounding yourself and/or camera? Touching a metal part of an electrical device that is plugged in to a grounded circuit - or the good old cold water sink pipe can safely discharge static.

Glass atoms tend to give up negative electrons and become positively charged. Flowing water generates negative ions - short of spraying your filter with water -have you tried a few good misty breath shots on the filter?

When I filmed on a Coast Guard boat with sea spray issues - clear water in a spray bottle - followed by Kodak tissues - was the only solution to getting salt water residue off the filter. Salt water is not only salt but has oily, filmy residue that most lens cleaners will not remove.

[Paul Inglis]

Originally Posted by Vincent Oliver

I use a Hoya 77mm UV filter and leave it on my EX3 all the time. The lens hood still fits and other features work OK.

Thanks! At least I know now! Been meaning to actually try it for quite sometime - it only took this thread to do it - go figure!

[Ted OMalley]

I returned my tiffen 77mm because I couldn't get the hood back on my EX3 afterwards. Others have told me that it is possible and I just had to fiddle with it more, but I tried pretty hard for while and it didn't seem to want to work. Perhaps I'll test this with the Hoya version.

[Leonard Levy]

I'm with Alister. I love a photo quality chamois as it pulls oil and and any smudgy stuff off immediately. You can spend hours with lens paper and only move the stuff around.

To be honest I was told that only difference between photo quality chamois and the cheap auto parts store stuff was that the latter was washed to remove the oils in the original chamois, So i just buy a big piece at the auto store wash it and cut it up into pieces. Haven't hurt a lens yet but it sure does sound heretical and i do scare myself a touch.

NO ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL. ROR is very good.

[Paul Inglis]

Originally Posted by Ted OMalley

I returned my tiffen 77mm because I couldn't get the hood back on my EX3 afterwards. Others have told me that it is possible and I just had to fiddle with it more, but I tried pretty hard for while and it didn't seem to want to work. Perhaps I'll test this with the Hoya version.

I have been looking at various filters and will be ordering the
Hoya 77mm SHMC PRO1-D UV as it has a Low Profile Frame so will be a filter that’ll most likely allow the lens hood to be fitted back on.

[Ted OMalley]

Please report back - if it works for you, I'll get one as well.

[Ted OMalley]

I've been using the Ziess individually packaged pre-moistened lens cloths. It says it is specifically for multi-layer coatings, it's ammonia free, contains isopropyl alcohol, and is for a single use.

I'm not ecstatic about them, as sometimes they streak, but overall they seem to do a nice job.

[Leonard Levy]

Hmm, well if Zeiss OK's isopropyl alcohol maybe I'm wrong.

[Joe Lawry]

I wonder how much is in them, straight isopropyl streaks for a second and then evaporates leaving no residue. Its awesome.

[Ben Chiu]

It looks like highly recommended Pancro contains isopropyl too.

On a related note, I found optical lens cleaning fluid for eyeglasses, etc., at Walmart.

Walmart.com: Wipe N Clear: Anti-Static Eyeglass Lens Cleaner, 8 fl oz: Medicine Cabinet

It smells like it contains isopropyl alcohol as well, but the ingredients are not listed on the bottle. I'm tempted to try it (it's cheap enough), but wonder if anyone thinks it might be dangerous for use on the EX1 lens?

[Paul Inglis]

Originally Posted by Ted OMalley

Please report back - if it works for you, I'll get one as well.

Will do! Have one on back-order with my regular supplier as they are temporarily out of stock! Hopefully will have some in next week!

[Vincent Oliver]

Originally Posted by Ted OMalley

Please report back - if it works for you, I'll get one as well.

It does work, I have it fitted to my EX3 - no problems.

[Paul Inglis]

Hi Vincent,

Good to hear it works! So it's just a matter of waiting for mine to arrive then!

[Ted OMalley]

Great! I've ordered one as well. So, once it arrives, and after a good critical cleaning, I'll only be cleaning the filter in the future! (Except for when I have to take it off for reflections, wide adapter, etc.)

[Alister Chapman]

The problem with Isopropyl (IPA) is that it is almost never neat. It is almost always dilluted to some degree and the dilluent is often water which can cause problems, especially with cheap or unknown brands.

I buy large, good quality automotive chamois leathers, cut them into smaller squares and wash them. They last for years, can be washed from time to time to bring them back to good as new. As Vincent said they will wipe off grease, water, oils, salt spray etc. No need for chemicals and they still work even when soaking wet. Great for filming in the rain when your constantly having to wipe the lens between shots. I've been using them for 20+ years and have still to find anything better.

I hate lens tissues, as it only takes one bit of grit to scratch the lens. Because a chamois is quite thick any dirt can squash into the cloth reducing the risk of scratching the lens. Lens tissues won't work in the wet, they just smear the water all over the place.