camera care starter kit

[lilin menyala]

as i'm getting back into (film) photography and have recently dug out my old cameras (the oly 35RC and a nikon fm2) as well as bought a 'new' one (the yashica GSN) i'm wondering whether i should also buy some stuff to care for the cameras. i've never really spent much time on camera care and maintenance, so don't know whether it's ok to use normal consumer products or rather specialist stuff.

for example, what should i use to clean the fronts and backs of my lenses (i have one that already has significant cleaning marks, i want to avoid worsening that). what's best to use to clean the interior of the bodies? liquids? bottled air? fine brushes?

thanks.

 

[KoNickon]

If you can find a product called (here in the U.S., anyway) a LensPen, it's a handy thing to have. It has a retractable brush for cleaning dust particles on one end, and the other end has a disc infused with some dry cleaning solution that will remove the stuff the brush won't. I would not rely on this as your sole lens cleaner -- fluid and a microfiber cloth is needed also -- but it's a good thing to carry with you.

The lens is the most important thing to keep clean; the rest of the camera isn't so critical. But if you want to remove crud, fingerprints etc. from the camera, an ammonia-based cleaner, like household window cleaner, works well.

Be careful with bottled air, particularly in pointing it at delicate mechanisms like shutters and apertures.

 

[lilin menyala]

thanks nick.

i see also that one of my lenses has some finger marks on the inside glass. what fluid should i use to wipe it?

 

[John Rountree]

Here is my cleaning kit: First, get a good brush with soft bristles about 2 inches (5 cm) long. The brush must be constructed well so the bristles will not fall out. I use a Lancome cosmetics brush. Next, a good quality micro fiber cloth. I use the Anti-staticum cloth sold by Ilford. This is really all you should ever need to take care of the camera body and the lens barrel. To clean the lens elements, always use the brush to lightly wipe away any dust, then use your breath to fog the lens and either use the micro fiber cloth or a Q-tip. If you must use a stronger cleaner to remove fingerprints, grease, etc. use a very pure, clear grain alcohol like Patron tequila or Grey Goose vodka. But, use any liquid very sparingly and NEVER apply the liquid directly to the lens surface. Always moisten the Q-tip or the cloth, then clean. It is better to clean lightly, (even if you have to do it more than once) than to bear down hard on the lens surface. BTW, scrtches , fingerprints, dust, etc on the rear element of the lens is a far worse problem than scratches, fingerprints, etc. on the front element. If you want to use air to help get rid of dust, go to the drug store and buy an ear syringe or a baby nasal asperator. Do not use canned air, it puts out a blast that is too powerful. Always be careful not to blow dust into the body cavities or anywhere around the shutter curtain track.

 

[Xmas]

Dust on the lens wont get on the photos, a finger print will soften the photos, like a diffuser.

Get a lens hood for each, e-bay or google for dealers. the hood will keep fingers away, and if you drop the camera, you will only need a new hood not a new lens or filter ring.

Noel
Cleaning a lens is a sure way of scratching a lens... dont

Noel

 

[lilin menyala]

noel - are you saying i should just leave the cleaning marks on the front and finger print on the rear of my lens? i find it really agitating knowing they are there.

i shot the first roll with that lens today and i guess i will know how bad it is when i get the prints back from the lab.

 

[gavinlg]

Just clean it lightly with a good microfiber cloth. If it has residual dirt or any lumpy crap on it, brush it off with a cosmetics brush or a "lenspen"


Make sure you clean it lightly, and if you want to be really anal do it in circular motions (this is how the factory polishes the glass)

I clean all my gear this way - even my very expensive canon L stuff and my old yashicas/oly OMs. Usually I have a filter in front of the glass, but somtimes I dont.

 

[Xmas]

The cleaning marks are there to stay. You can remove the finger print from the rear once, dont make a habit or the rear will have cleaning marks the optical glass is not like window glass.

Ive seen s member here clean a filter with a neck tie, more sutable for soup, no names no pack drill.

A hood will help reduce the effect of the cleaning marks.

Noel

If the cleaning marks are a white deposit try cotton buds damp not moist with Malvern Water, dab dont rub, if the marks are going to lift off they will lift off without rubbing, some people spit on lenses or similar, I dont jest. But only seen this twice. Got both lenses real cheap.

 

[lilin menyala]

yeah i got my lens real cheap and i do still have the option of returning it. but if the marks don't have an adverse effect on the picture quality i will keep it because i can't really afford anything more expensive right now.

i will try the cotton bud.

 

[RML]

yeah i got my lens real cheap and i do still have the option of returning it. but if the marks don't have an adverse effect on the picture quality i will keep it because i can't really afford anything more expensive right now.

i will try the cotton bud.

Anna, even scratches usually have negligible effect. Only when they catch the light they could cause some flare. So, dust and finger prints aren't really going to do much harm. The only thing is that the acids of a finger print could etch into the lens. Still, no harm.

 

[John Rountree]

I forgot to add; when you get a brush, never touch the bristiles with your fingers. You will get oil on the bristles that will leave a film on everything you brush.