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Best way of cleaning G1 lens

Moe Ron

Moe Ron

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Greetings,

I am looking for the most efficient quality/cost way in cleaning a G1 lens. Any form of alcohol normally leaves a film. I have looked at the lens pen and seems like that gets a good rating it just seems to me it would be difficult at best using it to clean the very small G1 lens. Have also looked at first contact which looks to be a great cleaning fluid, it is just a bit expensive.

What is the best option in keeping the lenses clean ?

Thanks
Moe
 





InfinitusEquitas

InfinitusEquitas

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Idk, personally I've been pleased with the results of 91% isopropyl alcohol, and microfiber cloth.

I do wipe the lens off, as opposed to just letting it dry, and repeat the process 2-3 times.
 
djQUAN

djQUAN

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Warning: Thread necro since I didn't want to add another "lens cleaning" topic again.

My G2 ended up having a lot of splash around the dot after something stuck on the surface then vaporized after powering up my 1.7W laser when I didn't notice there was something on it.

I used those lens cleaning fluids for eyeglasses/camera lenses. Removed the lens from the holder, put it on the microfiber cloth. Put a drop of fluid on the lens and folded the cloth over it. Put it in between the fingers and move in a circular fashion like making a ball of booger (for lack of a better description :p ).

Put it back on the lens holder and it worked. No lines, no splash, just a clean dot. Except mine now has a dark spot when unfocused since the dirt burned a hole on the AR coating. I've yet to measure the power loss due to the dot.
 
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Shakenawake

Shakenawake

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I have had, and have, good results with vinigar and q-tips, though I don't know if my lenses are AR coated. if so it doesn't hurt it
 
Tmack

Tmack

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Even 91% iso seems to leave a streaky dot when I've tried. Wiping, airdry doesn't matter.
 
djQUAN

djQUAN

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I have tried 99% and it still leaves streaks. Best to use is those cleaning fluids for eye glasses. I've always had good results with those. Doesn't leave any residue.
 
Shakenawake

Shakenawake

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I'm tellin' you guys, dip a q-tip in distilled white vinigar. then lighty press a different q-tip's end to the soaked end of the first one, so as to lightly saturate it. use this end to clean, the dry end to finish. sometimes tweezers come in handy to pick any fine cotton fibers the lens' edges catch. don't use rubbing alcohol, I personally ruined a lens with the stuff. I may be mistaken but I think it's bad
 
djQUAN

djQUAN

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Yes, rubbing alcohol is no good for lenses. I'm not too sure about vinegar on coated lenses since it contains acetic acid which *may* corrode the coating off. Not sure though.

I already have access to the lens cleaning fluid so I use that :)
 
Pi R Squared

Pi R Squared

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Also if possible keep a lens cap on your lens when the laser is not in use so the lens will seldom ever need cleaning.
 
crazyspaz

crazyspaz

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I just tried glasses cleaning fluid on my G lens which had some pretty bad dot splash as well as wings- and something kinda odd happened. The first time, the wings went away, but the splash got a little worse. Second time, I didn't get it dry enough, so the whole thing was fuzzy. Third time, wings are worse than before the first cleaning, but the splash is nearly all gone. I feel like my lens is playing a joke on me lol

If you are wondering, to clean it, i took the lens out of the holder, dripped a little lens cleaner on each side, then patted it dry with paper towel.
 
djQUAN

djQUAN

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You should wipe it but only very lightly so you remove the stains but don't damage the AR coating.

IMO (I may be wrong though) having clear wings on the dot means the lens is good but only for G lenses. so what I think happened to you was that 1st cleaning: it was still fuzzy due to the fluid residue, 2nd try was more fuzzy with a bit more residue left on the lens since you didn't wipe it dry and then you got it clean and clear on the 3rd try.
 
ultimatekaiser

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I always clean my optics with pure acetone and a lens cloth...it works great for glass. plastic lenses are a bit more complicated...
 
Pi R Squared

Pi R Squared

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I just thought of something. Has anyone ever tried one of those ultrasonic cleaners that women use to clean their jewelry? Many of them are advertised as being able to clean Jewelry, Optics, Eyeglass, CD's, DVD's, Dentures, etc. and many are priced about $25 - $30, maybe someone should try this and report back here.

Alan
 
LarryDFW

LarryDFW

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ultimatekaiser said:
I always clean my optics with pure acetone and a lens cloth...it works great for glass. plastic lenses are a bit more complicated...
Click to expand...

I agree. I have sold hundreds of aspheric lenses in the past.

I used an ultrasonic cleaner with acetone,

and finished with a microfiber cloth.

The AR coating on a good lens is durable.

LarryDFW
 
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