Heard a client say they cleaned their lens with rubbing alcohol

They were trying to fix a smudge on their 50mm f/1.8. That stuff can wreck coatings. Anyone else have a go-to safe cleaner they recommend to customers?

3 comments

3 Comments

alice_barnes356d ago

A buddy of mine tried that once on his old 50mm. He grabbed a bottle of 91% isopropyl from under the sink because he was in a hurry. The smudge came off but the coating started flaking around the edges a few days later. He said it looked like the glass was peeling. Ended up having to send the lens in for a full recoating job which cost more than the lens was worth. Now he just tells everyone to stick with a microfiber cloth and a little breath fog if they need to clean it.

rowan_anderson2mo ago

My old Nikon manual actually recommended a 70% isopropyl solution for cleaning.

amy_reed792mo ago

Totally get that. I still have my old F3 manual and it says the same thing. Makes you wonder why the advice changed so much over the years. Do you still use that method or have you switched to something else?