[Leica] Lens caps

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

Jeffery, I absolutely agree regarding keep the caps on, not using a filter
and no spit. I do have the Zeiss alcohol wipes as well (got a bulk lot on
eBay somewhere). I don?t know whether the agent is the same as in their
bottled cleaner. However I don't get streaking when using a second dry clean
microfibre cloth to polish gently after the first.

For what it's worth, when I was working in retail a long time back my
routine was:
Clean blower brush, hold the lens above your mouth if you need to fog it (to
have larger droplets fall away) clean in a circular motion from centre to
outside. For lens tissue, fold a couple of pieces and tear horizontally then
roll so that the torn edge forms a stub, then use that stub as the contact
surface.
I do have the Kodak fluid on hand and it seems to work fine.
However using the Zeiss routine results in a sparkling surface, subjectively
the best result I have ever seen.
Zeiss claim that this is the method used in the factory during lens
assembly.

Cheers
Hoppy
Shooting BW with the new to me Tele Elmar 135 today.

-----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
Jeffery Smith
Sent: Wednesday, 16 August 2006 10:06
To: 'Leica Users Group'
Subject: RE: Re: [Leica] Lens caps

I have to side with Marc on this. DO use a lens cap when you aren't
shooting. DON'T use a filter (light hitting anything will cause some
degradation), and DON'T USE SPIT!!!! If you want to breathe on the lens to
fog it, have your mouth OPEN so spittle doesn't go from your lips to the
glass. I have tried some of the Zeiss alcohol lens wipes, and they do seem
to leave some streaking and residue. So I'm back to Kodak lens cleaner and
Kodak lens tissue. I tend to treat the front elements of my lenses like they
are my cornea.

Jeffery Smith
New Orleans, LA
http://www.400tx.com
http://400tx.blogspot.com/



-----Original Message-----
From: lug-bounces+jsmith342=cox.net@leica-users.org
[mailto:lug-bounces+jsmith342=cox.net@leica-users.org] On Behalf Of Marc
James Small
Sent: Tuesday, August 15, 2006 6:41 PM
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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