Lens pens

[pentaxuser]

7day shop in Guernsey( Channel Islands, vaguely part of UK) are advertising lens pens. These are pen shaped lens cleaners with a soft brush at one end and a cap at the other which on removal reveals a 7mm tip and releases a small quantity of lens cleaner which is spread over the lens in a circular motion. The price is particularly good at under £7.

Currently all I have ever done is to use a soft blow brush and an occasional wipe with a lens cloth. My lens are all some 5-6 years old now and although they look OK, it struck me that it may be time for a better clean.

Anyone had any experience of using a lens pens or have any tips on cleaning lenses which are effective without damaging or wearing out the delicate surfaces.

While on the subject of cleaning, what should I do about the mirror? I notice that there are small black specks in the viewfinder but which are not on the lens as nothing shows on the negs.The mirror seems fairly clean as well but the specks are clearly there somewhere.

Where might the specks actually be and is it worth trying to get rid of them? The local camera shop owner was of the view that as they weren't affecting the negs then leave well alone but since getting his view the number of specks have been increasing. Mind you he was a leave well alone kind of guy. I mentioned I had seen a lens cleaner that you brush on to the lens and it forms a skin which when peeled off allegedly transforms the lens back to new condition. He was strongly against this product. Presumably he felt that removing the skin carried the real danger of removing the coating.

The camera in question is a Pentax MZ7.

Thanks all in anticipation of your responses.

 

[Andy K]

If you see no specks on the front or rear of the lens, and none on the mirror, they must on either the focusing screen or the prism somewhere. Do NOT attempt to clean the prism!

 

[Dave Parker]

I have two of them that I have used at various times over the years, the brushes are great as they are retractable, keeping them out of harms way, on the other hand, the cup shaped end that they advertise you can clean stubborn dirt off of the surface of the lens, can and does become a landmine, it is a imitation piece of chamois, that will allow dirt particles to become embedded in it and can cause scratches in the coating of the lens, if shooting in a sandy area, it could capture sand particles and cause a scratch in the actual element of the lens. As far as your mirror,the only thing I do on mine is use a blow brush, I never touch the surface of the mirror and I never use canned air, I saw the mirror in an F5 ruined resulting in a $400 repair bill to replace it..

Dave

 

[John Koehrer]

pentaxuser
If the spots are visible and bothering you, they're probably on the prism or focusing screen. The best way I've found to clean either surface has been to use a goose feather or = cleaned with alcohol.
The alcohol remove the oils found in the feaather and allow a clean implement that you cannot apply a lot of pressure with.
Normally you can't get to the surface of the prism without removing the prism from the camera.
If the spots are visible when you're looking through the camera they aren't going to have any effect on the image since the mirror is raised when you make the exposure.

 

[Christopher Walrath]

Satinsnow has got it right. they work great for about 15-20 uses on a pristine lens. After that they start to gather lint and debris. I would still clean it your good old tried and true way and sparingly follow that with the pen. It should last longer.