Lens Cleaning

[ATANOVIC <ATANOVIC@genre.com>]

What's your opinion of the best way to clean a lens?

Of course as a rule I try to never let anything ever get on the lens in the 
first place, keeping a filter on, only occasionally using a blower to get rid 
of dust.  But inevitably, if you use the lens a lot, things do get on the 
actual lens surfaces, even if it's only the accumulation of general grunge 
floating in the air.

Interestingly, in its literature, Leica doesn't recommend the use of filters 
simply to protect the lens, saying firstly that the extra glass could under 
some circumstances impair image quality, and secondly that a lens hood is 
protection enough from rain and fingerprints.  Also it says "a soft cotton 
handkerchief" can be used to clean the lens surface.  Sounds a bit cavalier, 
but there it is.  What say you?

Adrian