What oil to use for lenses?

[brainmonster]

I've heard some people recommend Moebius watch oil. I recently cleaned a lens and want to lubricate the threads/focus mechanism/aperture ring. I'm actually thinking of just leaving the threads except for the focus mechanism threads dry.


However the kind they sell on amazon is all very expensive except for the natural oil, and I'm thinking this may be more prone to develop fungus/degrade faster than synthetic oil. I've had problems with lens fungus so I'm wondering if there's any oil which would have anti-bacterial properties. So I was looking at this oil with needle application "liberty oil".

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AZMGFI4

There's also this more expensive oil, which I'm thinking might be worth the investment since it claims to be "tested"

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08294ZBSD/

I also have some bike chain "Tri-Flow" oil with "Added Teflon" which I'm wondering if I could use in a pinch. Not sure if having teflon in there would be a good idea.

Tri-flow claims to contain some additives including "petroleum oils, corrosion inhibitors, moisture displacers and cleaner to provide optimum lubrication under extreme temperatures and humidity". So I'm wondering if this might be a good idea for general use since it claims to protect against corrosion/moisture.

 

[NB23]

What do you mean by “lens”?

shutter? I’d go with moebius synthetic 9010

Regular slr lens? You need grease, with no oil nor grease in the aperture mechanism at all.

Please note I am not an expert but I believe this is basic knowledge.

 

[Aviv]

This page from Richard Haw regarding lubricants for lenses might be useful to you. You will need grease, not oil, for lubricating parts like the focus helicoids.

https://richardhaw.com/2015/12/30/best-practices-part-2/

 

[brainmonster]

Perfect, it looks like I need grease for helicoids. Just ordered some "Helimax-XP" helicoid grease from amazon since I couldn't find the FC-4 grease richard haw recommended:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00D0HOLO6/

 

[Nodda Duma]

Not just grease, but no-creep damping grease is the preference for focus threads.

 

[David Lyga]

For DECADES I have used a tiny bit of Vaseline on the helicoid threads. Also, I use Vaseline on the much finer threads that allow the helioid (usually) to screw into the body of the lens.

The real trick here is to be careful with how much you add. The fine threads need very little; otherwise, focusing in cold weather will be stiff. On the helicoid, itself, also use it sparingly, but use a bit more than on the thin threads. It might also be productive to add a tiny dab into the focus guides, in order to avoid any 'play' as the lens is focused.

And, to those who would counter this choice of lubricant, I say to you this: Why have lenses which I did this to decades ago not suffered at a result? What works, works. - David Lyga