Lenspen
One way to keep fingerprints off of a quality lens is to keep a filter on the lens at all times. If you prefer not to, or get a print on a lens while changing filters, this small tool will come in handy. The Lenspen offers two cleaning options. On one end, there’s a retractable dust brush. I just extend the brush, and sweep away any visible dust particles. I also use the brush every time I replace the lens. Dust particles almost always appear around the area where the lens and camera body meet. I make sure to clean up this area before removing and changing lenses, thus reducing the chance of getting dust on the sensor.
The Lenspen’s other end, has "a special non-liquid cleaning element" that can be used for more aggressive cleaning. Wipe it over the lens and magically watch fingerprints disappear. The manufacturer explains that there’s a carbon compound under the cap that cleans lenses much like the ink in newspaper works to clean glass. It does work. It can be used many times over, as long as every time you put the cap back on and rotate it, to clean and recharge the pad.
This has become my most used cleaning tool, second only to the Giottos Rocket Blaster. And the two complement each other: while the Lenspen works to clean the glass surfaces of the lens and the camera’s lens mount, I use the Rocket to remove dust from the sensor.
[Some users may be more familiar with Nikon’s Lens Pen, which is the same product under a different name. Note the difference in Amazon customer reviews between the Lenspen and Nikon’s rebadged identical twin. –es]
Available from Amazon
Manufactured by International Parkside Products
Favorite (15)
Gene Hotz
These do work quite well. Watch some of the deal sites like slickdeals.com or techbargains.com and you can get them for as little as $2 with free shipping.
Bruce Horn
I have been using these for many years and they work very well.
I use them in a two or three step process rather than just one end at a time. Using the polishing end of this or any other lens cleaning cloth or paper there is always the danger that a piece of grit on the lens will get caught under the cleaner and scratch the lens.
So, if I have a rocket blower with me I will first blow the dust off the front of the lens.
Then I will use the brush end and wipe from the center of the lens towards the edge. That way any grit that remains will be at the very edge of the lens where it is less likely to get wiped around and is less detrimental to the image if the lens gets scratched there.
Lastly I will use the polishing end starting in the center of the lens and moving in a circle towards the outer edge.
These are also good for cleaning the view screen on the back of your camera.
They come in different sizes so look for one that is suitable for your camera, especially if you have a pocket camera with a very small lens.
Amy
I love my lenspen - it is great on the go. It is perfect for cleaning fingerprints off every lens I have tried.
Tom DiStefano
And this carbon stuff you are rubbing on your lens does not damage the multi-coating?
elon
@ Tom: This from the manufacturer's site: "Independent lab tests confirm that LensPen is safe for all lenses and lens coatings even after prolonged use."
Which is what it is, from the manufacturer's site.
How would someone who'd damaged a lens coating know he/she had?
--es
Ralph
Also works well for cleaning binocular lenses. A lot of birders I know carry these in the field and use them to whisk off the dust and clean a smudged lens.
chudez
completely agree with Bruce Horn's cleaning procedure. the only difference with how i do it is that sometimes i take the extra step of wiping the lens with a microfiber cloth (like those available from 3M) or a sheet of Pec-pads before using the polishing pad. i find the cloth or Pec-pad does a good job of absorbing any oils that collect on the lens surface (usually because i can't seem to stop myself from touching the lens).
Bruce Horn
That seems like a good idea. The lenspen seems to get rid of grease marks but I don't know if it actually removes the grease from the lens or just the fingerprint pattern. I would caution readers who do that not to use the same microfiber cloth that they use on their glasses if they do that. Glasses get much more body oil on them which gets transferred to the lens along with whatever grit is suspended in them on the cloth. They also should probably wash their microfiber cloths occasionally. For most people the Pec-pad sounds like a safer route to me than the cloth. That way you always know that it is perfectly clean.
tdh
Do these work as well for eyeglasses?