A client's sharp comment about my lens cleaning method made me rethink my whole process.

They said, 'You're just moving the dust around with that cloth,' and pointed to a streak under their loupe. I switched to using a two-step air blower and static brush system before any wipe now. Anyone have a better method for stubborn particles on coated elements?

3 comments

3 Comments

julia_miller2422d ago

Okay, but what about the cloth itself? I had a similar wake-up call. I was using a standard microfiber, but it turned out some of them can actually shed tiny fibers or have leftover detergent that just smears. I switched to a dedicated lens cleaning cloth, the kind that comes sealed in a little pouch. Made a huge difference. Are you using any old microfiber or something meant for optics?

gavin_moore22d ago

Wait, the cloth quality is a huge point. Julia's right about the fibers. But what about the cleaning fluid? I've seen people use a tiny drop of something like isopropyl alcohol, but I've also heard that can damage some coatings over time. Are you using a proper lens cleaning solution, or just breathing on the glass? That adds oils and can make streaks way worse.

seth21821d ago

Man, all this talk about cloths and fluids is giving me flashbacks. I had this old pair of sunglasses with some fancy anti-glare coating. Used a basic eyeglass spray and a random cloth for years. One day I noticed the coating was coming off in a weird patch right where I always wiped. Totally my fault, was probably using something too harsh. Now I just use the little pre-moistened wipes they sell for screens and glasses. Seems safer.