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Senior Member
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Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: east sussex
Posts: 3,484
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Cleaning lens filters
Like most people I have lens filters to protect the actual lens, the huge problem is keeping them clean ie fingerprints etc. infact anything that would leave a smear on them if looked at across the lens face not straight on.
Having tried the Eclipse optic cleaner, it may be ok for sensor cleaning but definately no good for filter lens glass cleaning.
So my thoughts went back to original meths( metholated spirit). Yippee it works.
OK method, In the sensor cleaning kit you get long cotton bud type of sticks (havn't tried cotton buds, think they may leave fluff ). So I put a small amount of meths on the bud of the stick and wiped it over one side of the lens filter.
Now (here is the clever part,well I think so) KITCHEN PAPER TOWELS. Yes the humble kitchen paper towel, its fantastic for wiping of the meths off the lens filter and leaving the lens filter smear free. Even the lint free wipe pads don't work that come with the kit.
I just can't believe that the filters have come up like new, like everything to do with camera glass don't rush the job and do one side at a time.
Have to admit I havn't tried it on the actual camera lens as they are already protected by the filters , but a cannot see why the above should not produce the same results.
Anyway thats what Idid and for me it worked far better than I hoped.
Bazza
Having tried the Eclipse optic cleaner, it may be ok for sensor cleaning but definately no good for filter lens glass cleaning.
So my thoughts went back to original meths( metholated spirit). Yippee it works.
OK method, In the sensor cleaning kit you get long cotton bud type of sticks (havn't tried cotton buds, think they may leave fluff ). So I put a small amount of meths on the bud of the stick and wiped it over one side of the lens filter.
Now (here is the clever part,well I think so) KITCHEN PAPER TOWELS. Yes the humble kitchen paper towel, its fantastic for wiping of the meths off the lens filter and leaving the lens filter smear free. Even the lint free wipe pads don't work that come with the kit.
I just can't believe that the filters have come up like new, like everything to do with camera glass don't rush the job and do one side at a time.
Have to admit I havn't tried it on the actual camera lens as they are already protected by the filters , but a cannot see why the above should not produce the same results.
Anyway thats what Idid and for me it worked far better than I hoped.
Bazza
 Senior Member
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Join Date: May 2008
Location: Birmingham, UK
Posts: 365
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senser cleaning, mine seems to be covered in dust etc, especially through the view finder, easy to remedy?
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Kit 1 Canon 7D Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Canon Speedlite 430ex II |
Other Kit View my profile to see my other kit! |
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My Compact/P&S: Nokia N95 8gb - 5.0mpx |
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: east sussex
Posts: 3,484
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DanH
Dust on the senser is one of the most common problems and usually a rocket air blower is the cheapest answer. Failing that those Artic brushes that you spin first to produce static then pass over the sensor would be my next option, but expensive bit of kit to buy.
At the very last I would use the senser kit with the pads and cleaning fluid, I have done it in the past sucessfully but it is not something to try unless you have patience,time and REALLY is the last resort before sending the camera away to have the job done professionally.
As I said previously I havn't used meths on the sensor so cannot recommend using/trying it. The risk would be yours to take.
Its not actually the senser your cleaning but the protective screen infront of it.
Nikon and Canon have recognised and addressed the problem with a self dust cleaning system on some of their more upmarket cameras.
If you have dust showing through the viewfinder but NOT on the picture then more than lightly its on the mirror so you would need to do the above on that first. Always remember to keep the camera pointing downwards if possible when doing this.
I am presuming that the problem occurs on whichever lens is fitted to the camera and not on the actual lens.
Tip
Use a clean A4 sheet of plain white paper to use as a test. What I do is rest the paper on the computer monitor and take a photo of that paper using an exposure that produces a white photo.( keep camera still whilst taking photo)
Then bring up that white picture on the computer screen like you would with a normal photo.
By increasing the image and moving the up/down picture sliders you can examine in great detail for any dust that the camera/lens has, usually shows up as grey faint dots. Great thing doing it this way is that it can be done in the evening when you have time. Repeat this using different lens just to check the dust is in the camera and not on the lens.
The photo of the white paper should be clear of any dust spots, if not the camera could need a cleanout. using this method proves if you have dust on the sensor or only on the viewfinder mirror.
Bazza
Dust on the senser is one of the most common problems and usually a rocket air blower is the cheapest answer. Failing that those Artic brushes that you spin first to produce static then pass over the sensor would be my next option, but expensive bit of kit to buy.
At the very last I would use the senser kit with the pads and cleaning fluid, I have done it in the past sucessfully but it is not something to try unless you have patience,time and REALLY is the last resort before sending the camera away to have the job done professionally.
As I said previously I havn't used meths on the sensor so cannot recommend using/trying it. The risk would be yours to take.
Its not actually the senser your cleaning but the protective screen infront of it.
Nikon and Canon have recognised and addressed the problem with a self dust cleaning system on some of their more upmarket cameras.
If you have dust showing through the viewfinder but NOT on the picture then more than lightly its on the mirror so you would need to do the above on that first. Always remember to keep the camera pointing downwards if possible when doing this.
I am presuming that the problem occurs on whichever lens is fitted to the camera and not on the actual lens.
Tip
Use a clean A4 sheet of plain white paper to use as a test. What I do is rest the paper on the computer monitor and take a photo of that paper using an exposure that produces a white photo.( keep camera still whilst taking photo)
Then bring up that white picture on the computer screen like you would with a normal photo.
By increasing the image and moving the up/down picture sliders you can examine in great detail for any dust that the camera/lens has, usually shows up as grey faint dots. Great thing doing it this way is that it can be done in the evening when you have time. Repeat this using different lens just to check the dust is in the camera and not on the lens.
The photo of the white paper should be clear of any dust spots, if not the camera could need a cleanout. using this method proves if you have dust on the sensor or only on the viewfinder mirror.
Bazza
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Senior Member
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Join Date: May 2008
Location: Birmingham, UK
Posts: 365
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thankyou, I did attempt this briefly last night, I did (upon reducing levels) see about 3/4 circular blobs so I placed the camera into cleaning mode and had a look, the sensor looked perfectly clean as regards to naked eye examination.
whats the best method to clean the mirror/viewfinder?
whats the best method to clean the mirror/viewfinder?
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Kit 1 Canon 7D Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Canon Speedlite 430ex II |
Other Kit View my profile to see my other kit! |
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My Compact/P&S: Nokia N95 8gb - 5.0mpx |
 Admin Team
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Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: South Wales, UK
Posts: 15,385
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I normally just use a lint free cloth and breathe on it 
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Kit 1 Nikon D300 Nikon 55-200mm VR |
Kit 2 Nikon D40 Nikon 18-55mm |
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My Compact/P&S: Panasonic Lumix TZ7 |
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: east sussex
Posts: 3,484
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Dan
It is almost impossible to see dust with the naked eye either on the mirror or sensor, hence the above tip. As Azz says a lint free cloth . Don't use the normal cotton buds as they leave hairs. the cleaning kit such as the link below is the type of thing you should be looking at or similar near the bottom which has the cleaning pads and buds
http://www.cameraclean.co.uk/acatalog/Kits.html.
http://www.cameraclean.co.uk/acatalog/info_JU0533.html
I would only use that on the mirror, irrespective of their claims be wary about using it on the sensor. Always best to test anything on a small section of say a hall mirror first to see the result before diving into a camera. Check for smear marks
Bazza
It is almost impossible to see dust with the naked eye either on the mirror or sensor, hence the above tip. As Azz says a lint free cloth . Don't use the normal cotton buds as they leave hairs. the cleaning kit such as the link below is the type of thing you should be looking at or similar near the bottom which has the cleaning pads and buds
http://www.cameraclean.co.uk/acatalog/Kits.html.
http://www.cameraclean.co.uk/acatalog/info_JU0533.html
I would only use that on the mirror, irrespective of their claims be wary about using it on the sensor. Always best to test anything on a small section of say a hall mirror first to see the result before diving into a camera. Check for smear marks
Bazza