I used to clean every lens with a microfiber cloth and breath mist

For years I was that guy breathing on glass and wiping it down with whatever cheap cloth was nearby. Last year I had a customer bring in a Leica with a scratched front element that almost certainly came from grit trapped in a cloth. Now I only use a air blower first, then a lens brush, and only if stuff is still there do I hit it with a proper cleaning fluid and Kimwipes. Who else has had to fix damage from other people's quick wipes?

2 comments

2 Comments

gibson.robert8d ago

yeah I had a buddy who used to wipe his glasses with his t-shirt and then tried the same thing on his camera lens. Ended up with these tiny little scratches you could only see in the right light. I mean it's one of those things you dont think about until you see the damage yourself. Now I'm all about that air blower first and barely touching the glass at all unless I really have to.

angelas787d ago

That whole thing reminds me of how people treat their everyday stuff... you know, like wiping a phone screen with a rough towel or using paper towels on eyeglasses. It's funny how we find out the hard way what works and what doesn't with all these delicate surfaces. Once you mess up one nice thing you start treating everything like it's made of glass.