Lens Pens

[nemesis256]

I just came back from the local camera shop looking to buy a lens pen. But then the guy there showed me that it leaves a black residue. Why is this? Is it part of the cleaning system or does it need to be removed? He then suggested I use a microfiber cloth for cleaning lenses. Do you agree?

[inkista]

The lens pen uses a carbon-based cleaning compound. That's the black stuff. It shows up when you use it on a porous surface. We like it because it's a dry cleaner, rather than a wet one. If you use it on a non-porous surface, like, say, a lens the compound doesn't show up, and if any compound is left behind you can blow it off with a blower or the built-in brush. The compound absorbs stuff like fingerprint oils, etc., without scratching the lens surface or any coatings. It's safe enough to be used on sensors, let alone lenses.

I far prefer lenspens to just about any other method of cleaning, because it's safe and portable and you can take it on airplanes without anybody freaking out about volatile liquids. The only thing you have to be careful of is that the tips can get dirty after you use them a lot (or you don't take care in covering them), so you occasionally need to get a new one. But because the compound is what absorbs the crap and is blown away, the tip itself should stay clean for a long time. I usually only get a new lenspen ever other year or so.

Some folks would prefer not to reuse a cleaning surface, because of possible contamination. But I've never had a problem with a lenspen, and it's always worked well for me. I've never bothered with pecpads and cleaning solutions (but then, I live somewhere dry and I've never had to get the sensor cleaned beyond a rocketblower), and I'm one of those who believes in putting UV filters on lenses to protect the front elements. I use a lenspen to clean both my filters and my lens front and back elements.

[nemesis256]

Thanks, that was very useful. How can you tell when it's time to get a new lens pen? Does the tip look different? Also is it safe to use this for removing rain drops from the lens?

[inkista]

I can't tell--I just get a new one on principle. No idea about the raindrops, though. I'm mostly just removing fingerprints.... I think it'll work. But to get damp off a lens, a microfiber cloth might be better. The lenspen is for stuff you get off the lens by rubbing--like marks left by evaporated water. It's not really for absorbing moisture.

[OsmosisStudios]

I use both a microfibre cloth and a lenspen for general maintenance on the fornt element and filters. I find the cloths work best on filters before and after the pens, but a lenspen is unmatched for lens element cleaning.