Lens Cleaner

[Flying Solo]

How do people clean their lenses, i recently got a D40 and have got a smudge on the lens which is the best way to clean it

And secondly how often do people get their cameras serviced if ever?

sophie

[HowlinWolf]

This guy knows what he's talking about:

It's Lens Cleaning Time - Photo Tips @ Earthbound Light

As far as servicing goes, prevention is better than cure. I send my cameras to Nikon every year to 18 months for adjustments and cleaning. They come back like new.

HW

[RobSutton]

Originally Posted by Flying Solo

How do people clean their lenses, i recently got a D40 and have got a smudge on the lens which is the best way to clean it

And secondly how often do people get their cameras serviced if ever?

sophie

I always keep a UV filter on the front so that you minimise any risk of scratching the lens. To clean it I use disposable optical lens tissues rather than cleaning clothes - you can probably get them from any camera shop. When I'm away camping I often use a clean pair of underpants. Working on the basis that if they're soft enough for my nether regions then they will not scratch the filter. Must admit I've never had a camera serviced - and thats in 34 years of photography.

[eeyore]

I also go the UV filter on the front route and for cleaning i first use a blower to blow all the dust off (note a bulb blower not compressed air which has a nassty tendency to spray proppelant all over the shop) then i use a micropore lens cleaning cloth in a spiral action from the centre of the lense out

in the field you can breathe gently on the front element then use any soft clean lint free cloth - i must admit i sometimes use my t shirt - but you need to very careful to get rid of any grit first or you will scratch your filter/lens

i've never had any of my cameras serviced (except after accidents) tho i do use a proffesional sensor cleaning service once a year -or more often if it is warranted.

[Interpreter]

I also use a UV filter to protect and seal the lens. To clean it, I give it a good blow and then huff on it and gently wipe it with a soft (unused!) handkerchief, or if I have one handy a selvyt cloth. I would advise every one to get hold of a selvyt cloth. They really are magic.

With regard to camera servicing, I don't give them enough use to require servicing unless they fail in use. I suppose that regular servicing is a good idea to make sure that the shutter speeds are correct and that seals are intact, but with the rapid advancement of technology, replacement is often better than repair. Not long ago I was quite happy with my 2.1Mp Fuji camera, now I am looking at 39Mp. There was an awful lot of kidology with film cameras and I expect the same applies to digital cameras now, but that is another story.

[Flying Solo]

Thanks very much guys

cheers sophie

[Oy]

No UV filters here. I protect my lens with care and a big lens hood. Nikon have invested millions into developing the lenses I use and I'll be darned if I'm going to stick another piece of glass in the way.

For cleaning I use a rocket blower followed by hot breath and disposable lens tissues.

[HowlinWolf]

I concur with Oy here re: filters. I avoid cleaning front lens elements as much as possible. A few specks of dust here and there does not affect image quality, and the use of a good lens hood will protect and help keep the glass clean. You'd be surprised at what you would need on the front element of a telephoto lens before it becomes obvious it needs cleaning.

HW

[kshotton45]

I'm neutral on the UV issue. I don't use filters to protect my lenses, but I do use a hood.
The purist wouldn't touch a UV filter with a barge pole ! But in all honesty, I've taken some pin sharp pictures through the kitchen window! So if the two layers of glass in the double glazing don't affect the image quality, I doubt if a photographic filter will cause any problems.
It's a certain fact that a UV filter is not needed on modern DSLR's for filtering UV light, but using them to protect a lens from damage is a valid point.

Keith.