Steve'sDigicams

Morag2 · Jun 16, 2006, 3:40 PM

Hey all, I'm a new photographer with a Kodak P850 and I've noticed that my lens will occasionally get a little bit of dust or a small hair on it, and I'm wondering how to clean it. I assume that just wiping the lens off with a finger is a very bad way to do it, so are there any camera cleaning kits or something like that I should consider buying?

JohnG · Jun 17, 2006, 9:53 AM

Yep - buy a $15 cleaning kit with a blower, cloth, lens tissue and cleaning solution. Use them in that order - stop when it's clean (i.e. if the blower works, don't use the cloth).

Morag2 · Jun 17, 2006, 11:46 AM

Where can I buy a camera kit like that? Are there any good online stores in Canada for cameras? (If I buy from the states, a $15 camera kit will cost me $40 after shipping and taxes)

JohnG · Jun 17, 2006, 12:31 PM

Any camera store will sell them.

toshi43 · Jun 18, 2006, 1:04 AM

Try London Drugs or Future Shop. Failing that, any decent camera store can sell you a good cleaning kit, but it'll probably cost more.

Morag2 · Jun 19, 2006, 4:40 PM

I think I'm getting one from future shop. Called Giottos Camera Cleaning Kit and has some sort of Rocket Air Blower thing... (if those are known horrible products, let me know)

toshi43 · Jun 21, 2006, 12:02 AM

Giotto is a name associated with high-quality tripods as far as I know. If it's the same company, the product's probably a pretty good one.

phalanx · Jun 21, 2006, 3:27 PM

in a slight attempt to high jack the thread

I have rather stupidly got a fingerprint mark on the lens, then cleaned it off as lighly yet unprofessionally as I can

...there is a purple haze residue

will a proper cleaning kit resolve this or have I killed the camera?

Morag2 · Jun 21, 2006, 3:28 PM

I would suggest using a cleaning kit, I'm pretty sure that just a fingerprint wouldn't kill a camera for good. I'm not sure though.

toshi43 · Jun 22, 2006, 12:30 AM

Phalanx, what did you use to clean your lens? The surfaces of modern lenses are very delicate. They have very thin coatings that increase the transmission of light, reduce chromatic abberations, reflections, etc., and they can be easily damaged. The 'purple haze' you describe, if it can't be removed with a good cleaning kit, might be a sign that some damage has occured. Good luck - hopefully, it's just some oil from the fingerprint. Keep us posted.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

Steve'sDigicams

Recent Camera Reviews

Most Active Forums

Most Popular Deals

Latest Feature Articles

Jun 16, 2006, 3:40 PM	#1
Morag2 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 820	Hey all, I'm a new photographer with a Kodak P850 and I've noticed that my lens will occasionally get a little bit of dust or a small hair on it, and I'm wondering how to clean it. I assume that just wiping the lens off with a finger is a very bad way to do it, so are there any camera cleaning kits or something like that I should consider buying?

Jun 17, 2006, 9:53 AM	#2
JohnG Moderator Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 8,529	Yep - buy a $15 cleaning kit with a blower, cloth, lens tissue and cleaning solution. Use them in that order - stop when it's clean (i.e. if the blower works, don't use the cloth).

Jun 17, 2006, 11:46 AM	#3
Morag2 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 820	Where can I buy a camera kit like that? Are there any good online stores in Canada for cameras? (If I buy from the states, a $15 camera kit will cost me $40 after shipping and taxes)

Jun 17, 2006, 12:31 PM	#4
JohnG Moderator Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 8,529	Any camera store will sell them.

Jun 18, 2006, 1:04 AM	#5
toshi43 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Vernon BC Canada Posts: 1,618	Try London Drugs or Future Shop. Failing that, any decent camera store can sell you a good cleaning kit, but it'll probably cost more.

Jun 19, 2006, 4:40 PM	#6
Morag2 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 820	I think I'm getting one from future shop. Called Giottos Camera Cleaning Kit and has some sort of Rocket Air Blower thing... (if those are known horrible products, let me know)

Jun 21, 2006, 12:02 AM	#7
toshi43 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Vernon BC Canada Posts: 1,618	Giotto is a name associated with high-quality tripods as far as I know. If it's the same company, the product's probably a pretty good one.

Jun 21, 2006, 3:27 PM	#8
phalanx Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 1	in a slight attempt to high jack the thread I have rather stupidly got a fingerprint mark on the lens, then cleaned it off as lighly yet unprofessionally as I can ...there is a purple haze residue will a proper cleaning kit resolve this or have I killed the camera?

Jun 21, 2006, 3:28 PM	#9
Morag2 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 820	I would suggest using a cleaning kit, I'm pretty sure that just a fingerprint wouldn't kill a camera for good. I'm not sure though.

Jun 22, 2006, 12:30 AM	#10
toshi43 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Vernon BC Canada Posts: 1,618	Phalanx, what did you use to clean your lens? The surfaces of modern lenses are very delicate. They have very thin coatings that increase the transmission of light, reduce chromatic abberations, reflections, etc., and they can be easily damaged. The 'purple haze' you describe, if it can't be removed with a good cleaning kit, might be a sign that some damage has occured. Good luck - hopefully, it's just some oil from the fingerprint. Keep us posted.