Microfiber cloth from an autoparts store

09/18/2008 03:00:32 PM · #1

Anyone suggest not using them? i have an unopened pack of 3 sitting here.

How safe are they on lenses? The material seems a bit different from the lens cleaning cloth... Then again the canon yellow microfiber cloth i had was HORRIBLE.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

09/18/2008 03:05:15 PM · #2

Originally posted by Focus-Industries:

Guess it depends on the quality of MF cloth. There are some cloths I'd not even use on my car! I have some that I use on my body (cam body that is) and have a couple of expensive MF clothes that I have used on the filters protecting my lenses. Most of the time I use LEE filter clothes.

DrAchoo

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

09/18/2008 03:13:17 PM · #3

I once read a question that I thought was really interesting. "Have you ever seen a scratched lens?" They are harder than you think and I doubt any cloth, if clean, will scratch it. Now if you are rubbing a bunch of quartz sand into the lens with your cloth, we may have some issues.

The only problem I tend to have with MF cloths or similar is they don't soak up water at all, just spread it around. I'm most often wiping my lens when it has mist or raindrops on it.

09/18/2008 03:13:37 PM · #4

I was just looking for an alternative most of the camera stores around here dont carry anything but CHEAP quantaray stuff i do not really trust.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

09/18/2008 03:28:01 PM · #5

Originally posted by DrAchoo:

The only problem I tend to have with MF cloths or similar is they don't soak up water at all, just spread it around. I'm most often wiping my lens when it has mist or raindrops on it.

Guess you use cheap MF clothes then Dr, mine are water magnets and will mop up anything, then turn to polish :)

DrAchoo

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

09/18/2008 03:28:05 PM · #6

Originally posted by Focus-Industries:

I was just looking for an alternative most of the camera stores around here dont carry anything but CHEAP quantaray stuff i do not really trust.

I'm usually fairly sucessful with whatever I'm wearing that day. ;)

DrAchoo

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

09/18/2008 03:29:02 PM · #7

Originally posted by Ecce Signum:

Originally posted by DrAchoo:

The only problem I tend to have with MF cloths or similar is they don't soak up water at all, just spread it around. I'm most often wiping my lens when it has mist or raindrops on it.

Guess you use cheap MF clothes then Dr, mine are water magnets and will mop up anything, then turn to polish :)

It's possible they aren't even MF and I'm talking out of my butt. Whatever stuff that gets sold as "safe for lenses" in the stores I don't like.

09/18/2008 03:35:37 PM · #8

Originally posted by DrAchoo:

Originally posted by Ecce Signum:

Originally posted by DrAchoo:

The only problem I tend to have with MF cloths or similar is they don't soak up water at all, just spread it around. I'm most often wiping my lens when it has mist or raindrops on it.

Guess you use cheap MF clothes then Dr, mine are water magnets and will mop up anything, then turn to polish :)

It's possible they aren't even MF and I'm talking out of my butt. Whatever stuff that gets sold as "safe for lenses" in the stores I don't like.

Being an MF junky my decent cloths cost around Â£10 ($20) each and mainly used on the car, the cheaper ones are used on the wheels. I have a couple of MF (drying) cloths maybe 2 foot square and could dry myself with one after showering.

09/18/2008 03:41:23 PM · #9

Originally posted by Ecce Signum:

Originally posted by DrAchoo:

Originally posted by Ecce Signum:

Originally posted by DrAchoo:

The only problem I tend to have with MF cloths or similar is they don't soak up water at all, just spread it around. I'm most often wiping my lens when it has mist or raindrops on it.

Guess you use cheap MF clothes then Dr, mine are water magnets and will mop up anything, then turn to polish :)

It's possible they aren't even MF and I'm talking out of my butt. Whatever stuff that gets sold as "safe for lenses" in the stores I don't like.

Being an MF junky my decent cloths cost around Â£10 ($20) each and mainly used on the car, the cheaper ones are used on the wheels. I have a couple of MF (drying) cloths maybe 2 foot square and could dry myself with one after showering.

Sounds like what the price of a Chamois cloth cost but the seem super soft.

09/18/2008 03:45:12 PM · #10

Originally posted by Focus-Industries:

Sounds like what the price of a Chamois cloth cost but the seem super soft.

A decent MF cloth is miles ahead of a Chamois imho and much more versatile, plus, I'd never use a Chamois on a lens as they are only effective when wet and tend to drag.

Nikon AF Micro-Nikkor 60mm f2.8D

09/18/2008 04:32:07 PM · #11

Was just asking, I honestly don't think i have ever seen a microfiber cloth at an auto parts store for more than $5.00

David Ey

Nikon D80

09/18/2008 04:34:14 PM · #12

I get mine at walmart.....8 for $5

Shutter-For-Hire

Nikon D90

Nikon AF Nikkor 24mm f/2.8D

09/18/2008 04:51:38 PM · #13

For cleaning lenses I just use throwaway Kodak lens cleaning paper... i bought a cleaning cloth from a camera store, used it once, then looked at it and realized that it was now a bit dirty... so, if i use it again, i might scuff my lens with the dirt i wiped off last time... so i chucked it... i just use the throwaway ones... new one every time... always clean... 50 sheets is like $3... someone also told me that a camera lens is glass so it is very hard to scratch... umm yea... glass is hard to scratch... but the mulit-coating on the glass is VERY easy to scuff and scratch... i have seen someone take out a $3000 lens and clean the front element with an old ratty lens cleaning cloth they pulled out of the bottom of their bag... sure... maybe it won't scratch the lens... but i'm not willing to take that chance =)

09/18/2008 04:52:25 PM · #14

And one more question ... without starting a new thread. I was looking at the Lens hood Canon Offers for the kit lens for the XSI and couldnt believe it was 30.00 for nearly nothing ... does anyone else make good quality hoods?

Nikon AF Micro-Nikkor 60mm f2.8D

09/18/2008 04:54:48 PM · #15

Originally posted by Shutter-For-Hire:

One super nice things about the Microfiber clothes ... at least for me doing body work and painting cars, motorcycles etc. Was them in a bucket or alone in the washer with warm water and a detergant with no fabric softener. Dry on low and they are good as new.

David Ey

Nikon D80

09/18/2008 04:58:04 PM · #16

Thats right. And about eyeglasses....rinse them in water and dry with microfiber and thats all they need.

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

09/18/2008 10:26:23 PM · #17

Sorry to keep bringing the thread up, but i find a lens pen at Best Buy today made by Memorex which actually works quite well and has replaceable microfiber tips unlike any of the other lens pens i have saw.

dacrazyrn

Nikon D300

09/18/2008 10:50:21 PM · #18

Are you people kidding me...you haven't seen the commercial?!?
SHAMWOW!