Hit 50th lens cleaning this week and something just clicked

Ngl I used to just wipe elements with a microfiber and call it good. But after dealing with a scratched front element on a customer's vintage Canon FD lens, I finally bought a proper ultrasonic cleaner from a shop in Portland. Has anyone else noticed fewer coating defects since switching to ultrasonic?

3 comments

3 Comments

olivia_murphy1mo ago

Ha! I feel this so hard. I was the same way - cleaning lenses with my t-shirt until I found a mystery scratch on a 50mm f1.4 I was selling. Admittedly, that scratch might've been from a rogue button on my jacket pocket, not my cleaning habits. But still, the ultrasonic cleaner makes me feel like a pro even if I'm just as clumsy as ever. My cat knocked over my microfiber cloth mid-cleaning last week, and I'm pretty sure I just sent a tiny fiber tumbleweed across the living room. So yeah, ultrasonic for the win, even if I still manage to find new ways to mess things up.

drew_patel571mo ago

Wait, are we sure ultrasonic cleaners aren't causing more coating issues long term? I've been fixing vintage lenses for years and honestly I stick to the old lens cleaning tissue and fluid method. The vibrations in those cleaners can loosen elements in older lenses, especially if the cement between elements is already drying out. Had a customer bring in a Jupiter-9 that came out of an ultrasonic with separation that wasn't there before. Plus most of those cheap home units don't even have the right frequency for delicate coatings. I think people get too caught up in the gear when a simple microfiber and a steady hand still works better for 90% of lenses.

jessica_miller16d ago

Dude same, I switched to ultrasonic last month after ruining a vintage Takumar and never looked back.

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