Could ROR Fluid Damage B+W Multicoated Filters? Could Cooking Oil?

[Certain Exposures]

Do you use ROR fluid on your B+W MRC filters without any issues?

Some grease found its way onto my B+W MRC Yellow filter. I sprayed a liberal dose of ROR fluid onto it, gently rubbed it in a circular motion with a clean microfiber cloth, and watched in horror as the filter developed a greasy haze on its surface that would not go away. Also, some of the filter's coating looks spotty or less yellow now.

The grease could be cooking oil. I think a wayward or curious finger touched the filter's surface during the holidays. I am thankful the same grease is not on the lens.

This is difficult to show in photographs:





P.s. I've used B+W's contact page to ask a technical question a few times over the years. They've never replied. Have you ever heard back from them?

 

[mshchem]

I use a clean cotton undershirt, apply the ROR to the cloth. Then clean your optic. You have liberated assembly oil from the internal threads of the filter. Be careful to use least amount. You shouldn't have trouble cleaning up your filter, those are the best and most durable.

 

[wiltw]

ROR ingrediants:

• ammonia
• sodium chloride (essentially table salt)
• Isopropyl alcohol
• liquid soap
• distilled water

in short, No

 

[Dan Daniel]

Depending on the oil type, you might use a specific solvent to dissolve it initially. Fat and skin oils, alcohol. Petroleum based oil, naphtha. After this, then do a final cleaning with something like ROR.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

filters can indeed bedamaged by cleaning fluids,especially those which are manufactured by sandwiching a coloredgelatin layerbetween two sheets of glas. The capillary action will allow the fluid to come into contact with the gelatin and harm it. the multicoated glas surfaces,on the other hand, are not sensitive to optical cleaning fluids. Having said that, your technique may need improvement. Never spray cleaning fluid directly on lenses or filters! Use a clean cotton rag andpray a little cleaning fluid on that and then clean the filter or lens with that!

 

[loccdor]

The Zeiss lens tissues work well for final touches on filters.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

I'm sure it does also.

 

[Milpool]

ROR won’t do damage - especially to the MRC coating.

 

[Certain Exposures]

Thanks everyone. Dan's response was the solution here:

Depending on the oil type, you might use a specific solvent to dissolve it initially. Fat and skin oils, alcohol. Petroleum based oil, naphtha. After this, then do a final cleaning with something like ROR.

I rubbed 70% isopropyl first aid antiseptic alcohol on the filter's surfaces with a Kimtech wipe. Then I rubbed ROR fluid on each surface with a fresh Kimtech wipe after that.

It looks much better. I do not see grease tracks anymore no matter what angle I view the lens filter from. I do not feel bold enough to try putting 70% alcohol on my lens' surface, though. The white/light patch you see is just a reflection of a lamp.

By the way, why are Kimtech wipes so messy? They litter my lenses and filters with their fibers every time I use them. Just curious.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

Thanks everyone. Dan's response was the solution here:



I rubbed 70% isopropyl first aid antiseptic alcohol on the filter's surfaces with a Kimtech wipe. Then I rubbed ROR fluid on each surface with a fresh Kimtech wipe after that.

It looks much better. I do not see grease tracks anymore no matter what angle I view the lens filter from. I do not feel bold enough to try putting 70% alcohol on my lens' surface, though. The white/light patch you see is just a reflection of a lamp.


View attachment 412485


By the way, why are Kimtech wipes so messy? They litter my lenses and filters with their fibers every time I use them. Just curious.

It will work on the lens surface too, but never spray it directly on the lenses. Spray it on the cleaning cloth but not on the lens, and what helps me is washing my hands first to prevent transferring skin oils to the fabric and then to the lens.

 

[Certain Exposures]

It will work on the lens surface too, but never spray it directly on the lenses. Spray it on the cleaning cloth but not on the lens, and what helps me is washing my hands first to prevent transferring skin oils to the fabric and then to the lens.

Okay, thank you .

 

[Taylor Nankervis]

What is ROR fluid??
And just how does cooking oil find its way onto a filter??

The only fluid I use on all of my B+W and Hoya MC filters is isopropyl alcohol in a pen-shaped micro-atomiser. This should also be used to remove whatever that smudge is on the lens. B+W filter coatings (even on their polarisers) are very durable and clean up with consummate ease — doesn't matter if it's a smudge, a fingerprint, a booger or bird poop — easy off!

Bare lens surfaces should rarely, if ever require cleaning, and certainly when they do, never aggressively. Again, IPA (100%), and in the case of cleaning the front or rear element, a microfibre cloth. The purpose of a filter on the front (other than colour correction, polarisation or ND etc.) is to provide some protection form sideways bumps; spray, dirt, dust and even the damaging effects of mottling caused by salt-spray in ocean environments.

B+W filters are made by Schneider-Kreuznach; they communicate fluently with distributors, but pretty much not at all with members of the photographic community.

 

[Dan Daniel]

What is ROR fluid??
And just how does cooking oil find its way onto a filter??

ROR stands for 'residual oil remover.' It's a commercial lens cleaner that has pretty much taken over the (rather small) market in the US. I think that the ammonia addition is the secret sauce to your isopropyl alcohol, the standard.

Screen Cleaner | Lens Cleaner | LCD Screen Cleaner

www.ror.net

As to how cooking oil gets somewhere, probably best to not ask. You might not want to know!