Using Alcohol Swabs To Clean a Lens

[neuroanatomist]

Isopropyl alcohol is safe to use on optical glass with or without multispectral/antireflective coatings. I'd stay away from the pre-soaked swabs, though, unless they are specifically for optical lenses. For example, this Zeiss lens cleaner is pure isopropyl alcohol (100%, as opposed to the 70% isopropyl alcohol you find in a drug store). Note that for salt (e.g. dried spray from the ocean), distilled water is appropriate - alcohol is intended for removing oil-based residue, e.g. fingerprints.


That should really be all you'd ever need. There are stronger solvents that are also safe for use on multicoated lenses, but they're overkill for cleaning camera lenses. For example, the Zeiss cleaning fluid that I use on my 'other' lenses (to remove immersion oil from microscope objectives that cost more than theEF 800mm f/5.6 L IS USM) is made from a petroleum distillate one fraction lighter (more volatile) than aviation fuel.

[elmo_2006]

LOL....molecular level....that's too funny! Whenever friction is involved, there will always be some sort of damage doneat the molecular level.


[H]

[wickerprints]

LOL....molecular level....that's too funny! Whenever friction is involved, there will always be some sort of damage doneat the molecular level.


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Why is this funny? Coatings, especially multicoatings, are made of precise and extremely thin vapor-deposited layers. Rubbing away the coating at a molecular level can indeed be very harmful.


I also pointed out that to basically rub this coating off, you would have to apply a lot of abrasive pressure or clean the lens obsessively over many years. Lens designers do not use the more delicate coatings on the accessible surfaces of a lens, because there is an expectation that these surfaces will be cleaned repeatedly over its lifetime.

[elmo_2006]

Hi wickerprints....


I just have a strange sense of humour, please accept my apologies. I was not expecting tosee this amount of granularity but it's also greatas it shows the wealth of knowledge in these forums.


Keep up the great opinions/comments.


[}]

[musickna]

Interesting discussion here. Personally - because I can - I wash my lenses with Milli-Q ultra-distilled water (18.2 ohm resistance) with approximately 0.1% Nonidet P-40, a very mild non-ionic detergent, applied using a Pec Pad. I then rinse with pure Mill-Q water. I usually do this in a cell culture filtered-air hood to keep any dust out.


Of course, this is absurd overkill, but it amuses me and it is a pleasure to see the glass shining as good as new. Naturally, once out in the real world, the glass collects the usual atmospheric clutter that has absolutely no discernible effect whatsoever on my images. []

[Showtime]

Thank you neuroanatomist