cleaning filters

[RJS]

I am about to commit filtercide! I have some very nice (expensive) filters - a number of Hoya HMC among others. Cleaning has always been somewhatof a problem but it now has become exponentially worse. A smudge on my most-used HMC Hoya (G) made methink of cleaning. I tried some ROR (very expensive) I purchased from B&H thinking if I paid a lot and since the salseman said it was wonderful, it would do the trick. Wrong! I now have terrific smearing all over my filter, and nothing I have tried seems to help. Distilled water with Photo-flo. Detergent in distilled water. Micro-fiber cloth. You name it - I've probably tried it.

Does anyone out there have any idea how to clean filters without leaving smearing all over? I'm not sure how much this effects image quality, if at all. One would think it would be not a good thing. I would very much appreciat any and all help!

 

[Markok765]

I clean my Hoya HMC green filter with Kodak lens cleaning cloths, and a breath for moisture.
Works well for me.

 

[resummerfield]

I don't know if this is the best way, but I've had success cleaning them under very warm running tap water with a few drops of Dawn dish washing liquid. The warm water evaporates quickly, and I blow them off with compressed air and then polish with a micro-fiber cloth.

 

[Dave Parker]

I don't know if this is the best way, but I've had success cleaning them under very warm running tap water with a few drops of Dawn dish washing liquid. The warm water evaporates quickly, and I blow them off with compressed air and then polish with a micro-fiber cloth.

Yeppers,

That is the way I clean any of my glass, the dawn cuts the grease and the warm water helps soften it, cleaning anything glass is really not that hard...now of course if your smudge has penetrated the coating, you may have to get a new filter..

Dave

 

[bob01721]

I don't know if this is the best way, but I've had success cleaning them under very warm running tap water with a few drops of Dawn dish washing liquid. The warm water evaporates quickly, and I blow them off with compressed air and then polish with a micro-fiber cloth.

Same here.

 

[StreetShooter]

RJ,

Water on the warmer side with dish soap "usually" does the trick... but, in your case, it'll depend more on what the smudge material is. Any ideas as to what the smudge material is? For example, if it's dried water droplets... breathing on it and wiping it with a soft cloth might be enough. If it's a greasy material... you might use some type of solvent cleaner.

And, I would imagine it would make a difference depending on how long the material has been sitting on the glass.

Good luck... hope you manage to get the filter cleaned!

Cheers

 

[Roger Hicks]

I am about to commit filtercide! I have some very nice (expensive) filters - a number of Hoya HMC among others. Cleaning has always been somewhatof a problem but it now has become exponentially worse. A smudge on my most-used HMC Hoya (G) made methink of cleaning. I tried some ROR (very expensive) I purchased from B&H thinking if I paid a lot and since the salseman said it was wonderful, it would do the trick. Wrong! I now have terrific smearing all over my filter, and nothing I have tried seems to help. Distilled water with Photo-flo. Detergent in distilled water. Micro-fiber cloth. You name it - I've probably tried it.

Does anyone out there have any idea how to clean filters without leaving smearing all over? I'm not sure how much this effects image quality, if at all. One would think it would be not a good thing. I would very much appreciat any and all help!

OptiClean. Paint it on (following the instructions carefully); let it dry; peel it off. Although the polymer itself is made in the USA, OptiClean is hard to find there. When I first tried it years ago I recommended it unreservedly in Shutterbug magazine but another and more influential journalist reckoned it was too difficult for Americans to use. This sounded like a bit of an insult to me, but may explain why it is not available there. Then again, he is American, and was not therefore accused of anti-Americanism. Check www.caliope.co.uk for more information

It's expensive (probably $20 for a small bottle shipped to the USA) but worth it.

Cheers,

R.

 

[batesga]

This can sound unusual but you might try vodka if you are still smudged. I once accuired a good bit of insect replent on a filter. without lens cleaner but never without vodka..it cleaned well.