[Leica] Lens caps

[hoppyman at bigpond.net.au (G Hopkinson)]

Yes Marc, I understand. Most likely you may well get away with it.
However there is increased risk with any ad hoc material that could have
grit or similar on it, as we all agree.
I'm not familiar with ROR (a glass cleaner?) I use a routine recommended by
Zeiss (sold in various groovy little kits):
soft clean brush, some exotic rocket fuel "Optikputzmishung L" and a CLEAN
microfibre cloth
Now how can it not be good when it has the Zeiss logo on the side and
instructions in German ;-)
Of course you probably can't take it on an airplane any more and /or it
causes sterility in socialist dolphins or some-such.

Since becoming Zeiss and Leica-ised, I have stopped routinely fitting a UV
filter for protection. I do understand the pros and cons regarding a
sacrificial surface vs theoretical possible image degradation. Actually I
think Erwin is fairly cogent on this subject.

Two comments to finish:
Since 1972, I have never marked a lens that I can detect (I did drop a
Yashica TLR the other day and KILLED it)

I never consider paying for a lens with marked elements, however cheap it
may be and irrespective of whether the results may not be significantly
affected.

Cheers
Hoppy
Amateur enthusiast

-----Original Message-----
From: lug-bounces+hoppyman=bigpond.net.au@leica-users.org
[mailto:lug-bounces+hoppyman=bigpond.net.au@leica-users.org] On Behalf Of
Marc James Small
Sent: Wednesday, 16 August 2006 09:41
To: Leica Users Group
Subject: RE: Re: [Leica] Lens caps

At 09:19 AM 8/16/06 +1000, G Hopkinson wrote:
>Don't do it Adam!
>I'm sure that Walt, Ted and many others are fearless enough to get away
with
>this and bring back the great pictures.
>
>Here's the litmus test, are you:
>a. a serious hard hitting photojournalist for whom the gear is just a tool
>(If it dies, it dies, it's just a stinkin' camera) or
>b: an enthusiast  photographer who also enjoys the ownership and pleasure
of
>having fine Leica equipment
>(how many sales have you passed on because the seller says, some wipe marks
>on the glass)

Hoppy

Modern glasses are REALLY tough.  I was shocked, ten or fifteen years back,
to be working a camera show with the Zeiss Maven, Charlie Barringer, who
started cleaning a $4,500 lens with a shirt-tail.  I spluttered in protest,
and he simply reminded me that the Gnomes of Jena knew what they were doing
when they made the lens and also that HE knew what he was doing, and would
I mind my own washing?  

He was absolutely correct.  When I have walked across a sandstorm-driven
wind across an arid desert, then I avoid using my shirt-tail, as I probably
have some grit in the cloth.  But, beyond that, I go for it.  I clean my
lenses with ROR when they need it and use a Kleenex as the medium -- but,
in the field, I'll pull out a handkerchief to do the job, and have used
spit on occasion when that was the only lubricant on hand.

Avoid grit on the lens.  Beyond that, modern lens glasses and coatings are
really tough.

And avoid filters.  Erwin Puts disagrees with me on this, but the addition
of another layer of glass degrades the final image.

Marc

msmall@infi.net  Home Phone 540-345-5012
Cha robh b?s fir gun ghr?s fir!



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