Oily Finger Print On Lens Question

[krusty]

Hi all. I was wondering if anyone might be able to provide a little clarification on this issue. In my telescope community the consensus seems to be that if you get a finger print on your lens, you leave it. You don't try to clean it as this will damage the lens' coating and unless the print is a large smear, it likely won't affect your view through the eyepiece. Yet, when I read some photography books discussing camera lenses and how to deal with an accidental finger print, the advice is the opposite: remove the print as soon as possible because the acid in the finger print will eat away at the lens' coating.

Can anyone provide some good advice (other than the obvious: 'don't get the finger print on the lens in the first place')? Thanks much.

[cowsled]

I've gotten fingerprints on my lens before. Whipped it off with my glasses cleaning cloth and never noticed a difference.

[Elmo]

I suggest you get a cleaning fluid especally designed to remove oil and grease. Most camera stores carry it. It is generally a once in a ife time purchase.

[SoxAddict]

My lens cleaning cloth takes care of most things like this for me.

[ressalg]

In my astronomy club it's highly recommended to clean finger prints off of any glass optics as soon as possible. The biggest thing to remember is to use a bulb blower* to remove any dust or other particles before you use anything (micro-fibre cloth, lens tissues, etc.) that will come in contact with your lenses/eyepieces. This was one of the first topics covered in my astronomy club's beginner meetings. As mentioned in other posts, there are cleaners available which are specifically designed for cleaning optics and I've used a couple different ones. I currently have a pre-packaged kit which has the cleaning solution, cotton swabs, lens tissues, micro-fibre cloth and a blower which I use when needed on both my astronomy and camera equipment.


*It is not recommended to use the cans of compressed air that you get for your computer... something about concerns that they occasionally spit out some liquid that could have a negitive effect on the optics.

[inkista]

Lenspen. Most convenient method for cleaning and safe for the coatings. Graphite dry compound to clean, so no volatile liquids you can't take on an airplane. Has a brush on the back end, so you can clean the dust like you would with a blower. These things are safe for cleaning off your sensor (and it's reported that they're what the Canon Service Centers use). Love these things.

[ressalg]

Originally Posted by inkista

Lenspen. Most convenient method for cleaning and safe for the coatings. Graphite dry compound to clean, so no volatile liquids you can't take on an airplane. Has a brush on the back end, so you can clean the dust like you would with a blower. These things are safe for cleaning off your sensor (and it's reported that they're what the Canon Service Centers use). Love these things.

Totally forgot about those. I've got a couple different sizes that I mostly use to clean dew off of my eyepieces.

[krusty]

Thanks all. The consensus seems to be to remove the finger print right away - interesting. I will look into one of those lenspens. I don't think I would use a cleaning solution on a $3000.00 camera lens, but a dry alternative sounds like the ticket. Thanks again.