Clean camera lens?

[Nikki2291]

I was just wondering how I can effectivley clean my camera lens, I have a low budget, I didn't think it was a good idea to start taking windex or anything to my "baby" before I sought some advice. :D

[kiley9806]

most camera stores carry safe lens cleaner & the super soft clothes you MUST use (the cloth could do more damage than the cleaner, i think) and its relatively cheap... i use 'monster screen clean' and the micro-fibre cloth that came with it - i got it at future shop, seems to work great..

[tirediron]

Any good-quality, lint-free lens cloth (esp. the microfibre type) will work just fine, as will lens tissue. Avoid using liquid cleaners of any sort if you can; if you must use one, then make sure it's a proper photographic lens cleaner, but99% of the time a 'huff' of breath is all you need. Regular household chemicals may do some really unpleasant things to the coatings on your front lens element.

[Nikki2291]

Ok, thanks guys.

[tegan]

I am tending to have a Pro 1 polarizer on my camera lenses most of the time which prevents dirt from getting to the camera lens as well as accomplishes other function.
Used with flash, I have discovered that they tone down the harshness of the light and give a natural look at regular distances. Outside of course, they reduce glare, controll reflections and seem to help with detail in some lighting situations.

Tegan

[staticnine]

definitely a microfiber cloth. i also grabbed a lens pen a couple weeks back, just to brush dust off, and to clean while switching the lens.. it was like $8 and it works awesome.

[Marko]

I'm a huffer and I use a microfiber cloth.

If you do use a huff of breath (NICE expression tirediron) make sure you haven't recently eaten chips or popcorn :D

[scorpio_e]

I am a huffer too !!!
I use lens cleaning tissue. I would also recommend blowing off the lens with a rocket blower of something else before huffing.
If you use any type of spray cleaner, do not spray it directly on the lens. It may works its way insiide the lens.

[Marko]

podcast 51 is dedicated to this topic just in case anyone wants to take a listen. http://www.photography.ca/blog/?p=105

thx
marko

[aophoto]

O boy, when it comes to lenses you got to use the softest cloth you can and I also dust it off with light air blow before wiping. Scratching my lens while cleaning is my worst fear, since I can not remove lens from my cheap Kodak Z740.
Some times my wife gets upset with me saying that I take care of my lens more then her.
Not true.:D