Lens element cleaning

Hi,

I'm interested in hearing other people's experience of using Eclipse fluid
and pec pads for cleaning the front element on their lenses. I recently
bought some Eclipse and sensor swabs, because I need to clean my sensor. I
also bought some pec pads for my lenses.

This is the first time I've ever used Eclipse so I thought I would try it on
an old Sigma lens first, before letting it near my sensor or my L glass.
Anyway, I wasn't entirely happy with the result - I'm noticing a definite
streak mark after two goes at cleaning. I applied a few drops of Eclipse to
the pec pad, cleaned the lens element in a circular motion, reveresed the
pec pad and wiped the lens over once more.

My understand is that Eclipse should most definitely NOT leave any
streaking. Maybe there was a particularly greasy fingermark on the lens
that's just been spread by the cleaning? Anyway, before I use Eclipse on
anything else, has anybody had any bad experiences?

Thanks

embee wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I'm interested in hearing other people's experience of using Eclipse fluid
> and pec pads for cleaning the front element on their lenses. I recently
> bought some Eclipse and sensor swabs, because I need to clean my sensor. I
> also bought some pec pads for my lenses.
>
> This is the first time I've ever used Eclipse so I thought I would try it on
> an old Sigma lens first, before letting it near my sensor or my L glass.
> Anyway, I wasn't entirely happy with the result - I'm noticing a definite
> streak mark after two goes at cleaning. I applied a few drops of Eclipse to
> the pec pad, cleaned the lens element in a circular motion, reveresed the
> pec pad and wiped the lens over once more.
>
> My understand is that Eclipse should most definitely NOT leave any
> streaking. Maybe there was a particularly greasy fingermark on the lens
> that's just been spread by the cleaning? Anyway, before I use Eclipse on
> anything else, has anybody had any bad experiences?
>
> Thanks
>
>
>
I use isopropyl alcohol the same way as eclipse. Another problem is
greasy residue at the edges that ends up on the pad, and ends up smeared
a few molecules thick on the lens surface, visible as the streaks that
you see. Getting all the grease from a fingerprint off in one go might
not be possible.
After blowing any dust off, try using eclipse on a pad to clean the
edges first, then for final cleaning of the glass, careful wiping with
just enough alcohol on the pad/wand so that you can see a trace of
liquid evaporating only for a second or so as you draw it across the
lens - still avoiding the extreme edges as much as possible.
Works really well for me.