Jeronimo Cruz
super member
Reged: 09/01/08
Posts: 141
Loc: Tucson, AZ
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Hi all,
I just finished cleaning all the lenses of my Pentax WPII 10x50's and I realized that it had been the first time since I bought them about two years ago. They just didn't seem to need it until someone recently wiped a finger on the right lens. I've yet to clean some of my other binos.
My philosophy is that one should clean lenses as infrequently as possible so as to avoid inadvertant lens damage while cleaning. Unless there is a blatant fingerprint or finger oil smudge, I'd be happy cleaning cleaning my bino lenses perhaps once a year.
So, how often do you clean your binocular lenses?
Thanks for your responses!
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Jeronimo
TeleVue 101 + Gibralter
Celestron NS11 GPS/wedge + Hyperstar
Photon Instruments 127mm + SV F50W2
Lunt Solar Systems LS60DS Ha + Celestron CG-5
Naglers, Panoptics, Radians, Nikon binoviewer
Fujinon 10x70 FMT-SX, 7x42 CD; Canon 15x50IS;
Pentax 7x50 PCF WP, 10x50 PCF WPII, 10x50 DCF SP
Work
20" R/C RCOS on Paramount + Tak FSQ
16" R/C RCOS on Paramount + TEC 140
16" Meade LX200 SCT + TV 76
Ethos, Naglers, Panoptics
Coronado Solarmax 90mm Ha
Coronado Solarmax 70mm Ca
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Mark9473
Post Laureate
Reged: 07/21/05
Posts: 3216
Loc: 51°N 4°E
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I clean mine only when I get a stain or fingerprint on them. Maybe once a year for the objectives, a bit more often for the eyepieces due to eyelash residue. The bins that see less or no use, get less or no cleaning of course.
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Mark
Leica 8x20; Vixen 8x42; Swift 8.5x44, 10x50 and 20x80; TS 7x50; Orion 15x63; Docter 15x60
WO Megrez II 80 FD + Baader 90° T2 Amici
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RichD
professor emeritus
Reged: 11/08/07
Posts: 566
Loc: Derbyshire, UK
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Like you, I try to clean them as infrequently as possible. I don't worry about dust or fibres so much, but fingerprints have to be cleaned ASAP as the oils will damage coatings. It's incredible how much dust can be on a lens or mirror before the images are compromised - I've never cleaned my dob mirror in about 8 years. It's filthy, but gives great views!
To answer your question, probably about 3-5 times a year per bino.
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Clear skies
Rich
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Jeronimo Cruz
super member
Reged: 09/01/08
Posts: 141
Loc: Tucson, AZ
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Hi RichD,
I wasn't aware that finger oil could damage coatings if left for prolonged periods! Does this apply to telescope eyepieces as well? Thanks for the advice.
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Jeronimo
TeleVue 101 + Gibralter
Celestron NS11 GPS/wedge + Hyperstar
Photon Instruments 127mm + SV F50W2
Lunt Solar Systems LS60DS Ha + Celestron CG-5
Naglers, Panoptics, Radians, Nikon binoviewer
Fujinon 10x70 FMT-SX, 7x42 CD; Canon 15x50IS;
Pentax 7x50 PCF WP, 10x50 PCF WPII, 10x50 DCF SP
Work
20" R/C RCOS on Paramount + Tak FSQ
16" R/C RCOS on Paramount + TEC 140
16" Meade LX200 SCT + TV 76
Ethos, Naglers, Panoptics
Coronado Solarmax 90mm Ha
Coronado Solarmax 70mm Ca
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KennyJ
Reged: 04/27/03
Posts: 12908
Loc: Lancashire UK
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It depends upon circumstances .
One day a couple of winters ago I was out in a snow blizzard looking through my 7 x 50 and had to keep cleaning off the snow every 10 seconds or so just to be able to see anything at all .
Kenny
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RichD
professor emeritus
Reged: 11/08/07
Posts: 566
Loc: Derbyshire, UK
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I assume that any lens coated with an anti-reflective coating could be affected by the oils and grease in a fingerprint. I remember reading once that problems occur when they become "baked on" by strong sunlight. Probably more of a problem in binos than scope eyepieces.
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Clear skies
Rich
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F.Meiresonne
Post Laureate
Reged: 12/22/03
Posts: 3374
Loc: Eeklo,Belgium
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When they become to dirty. As others say from fingerprints or eyelash residue. I have my 20x80 stellar for over 7 years. The objectives have been never cleaned so far, the eyepieces more often. But i don't use the bino much.
My TS Marine is more extensively used, have it since Juin, not cleaned anything for now...
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Freddy Meiresonne
Obsession 18 inch #1638
Orion Optics 8 inch F/4.5 -1/8 wave optics -Vixen GP-E
20x80 Helios Stellar Binos
15x70 TS Marine (=Obie Ultra)
10x60 Helios Quantum 4(= Obie Mariner)
10x50 Helios Nature sport plus
8x40 Helios Nature sport plus
Eyepieces in use :Pan 35,24,19, N13T6, Pentax 10 XW, N9T6, Ultrascopic 7.5, TV2, baader ortho 12.5 and 9 mm
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DJB
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 02/23/05
Posts: 1590
Loc: Lisle NY
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Hi Rich,
Yor are absolutely correct. If a fingerprint imprints on any of our modern, multicoated lenses, then the fingerprint leaves an impression on the surface. The FMC are so very fragile!
Over time, this "bakes" onto the coating. I've never found a solution for fixing this type of problem completely.
The best one can do, as has been pointed out, is to clean the lens surface as soon as possible. I find the original Kodak lens cleaning solutions as effective as any.
Best regards,
Dave.
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Tony Flanders
Post Laureate
Reged: 05/18/06
Posts: 3469
Loc: Cambridge, MA, USA
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With the great majority of my binoculars, I've never cleaned either the objective or the eye lens. And I've owned most of them for more than a decade, and one for several decades.
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Tony Flanders
First and foremost observing love: naked eye.
Second, binoculars.
Last but not least, telescopes.
And I sometimes dabble with cameras.
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edwincjones
Postmaster
Reged: 04/10/04
Posts: 5669
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I currently have 8 binoculars,
have sold/given away another 6 since 1996,
and have cleaned two or three binos during that time.
edj
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n w arkansas
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richtea
sage
Reged: 02/01/05
Posts: 241
Loc: UK Yorkshire
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I tend to clean my bins rarely and usually only when anything specific lands up on the objectives
IMHO eyepieces with shorter eye relief do merit cleaning from time to time mainly due to eyelash marks
I think fingerprints are always worth removing swiftly if possible from objectives
I generally use cotton wool swabs lightly moistened with a mix of ionised water/isopropyl alcohol
This seems to be really good for taking grease etc off and leaves a nice finish once the remainder is very gently cleaned off
Regards
RichT
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Carl Zeiss MC Jenoptem 10 x 50 Nikon SE 10 x 42 Nikon E11 8 x 30/10 x 35 Meade 10 x 50 (40) Pentax Papilo 6.5 x 21 Minolta Activa WPFP 8 x 40 Praktica WA Lanthanum (x 2) 8 x 25 Swift Audubon 804 FMC 8.5 x 44 Fujinon CDPC Roof 7 x 42 Opticron Minerva Porro 9 x 35 Smith Wesson PC MC Roof 8 x 32 Bushnell Discoverer PC3XTR 8 x 42 Swift 10 x 42 Ultralite Hawke WP 10 x 42 porro
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Luigi
Post Laureate
Reged: 07/03/07
Posts: 4947
Loc: MA
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I've used bins frequently on hunting trips in inclement weather, salty marshes, etc.. They accumulated dust, dirt, mud etc., mostly on the EPs, and were cleaned many times a day, sometimes, out of expedience, with a dirty shirt tail and spit, although most often by rinsing with water from a Camelback and wiping with a not too clean microfiber lens cloth. There's been no discernible damage to optics or coatings to date. Naturally, I wouldn't recommend this treatment in general but it illustrates that the coatings are not excessively fragile.
My astro bins get treated more respectfully.
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17.5" f/5 Dob. IM-715 MCT. 120ED. Lunt 60mm Ha.
Zeiss, Leica, Fujinon, Nikon, Pentax, Bushnell bins
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RichD
professor emeritus
Reged: 11/08/07
Posts: 566
Loc: Derbyshire, UK
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Living in the UK, I often observe at night in very dewy conditions or in winter the bins may get very cold and covered in condensation when bought inside. How do you guys feel about water marks that come from use like this? I appreciate it's only distilled water but I like to clean this kind of residue.
Better to leave it maybe.
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Clear skies
Rich
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medinabrit
professor emeritus
Reged: 10/27/04
Posts: 648
Loc: medina ohio USA.
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Some of you guys must live in a hospital clean vacuum.
I clean mine any time they need it ,Which is quite a bit more than 1 or 2 times a year.
A couple of them cost me nearly a months pension but ive never been worried about cleaning them using Zeiss lens cloths or the stuff i get from Costcos for my glasses with a micri fiber cloth.
Never done them any harm .
They are not as fragile as people seem to think.
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EdZ
Professor EdZ
Reged: 02/15/02
Posts: 14732
Loc: Cumberland, R I , USA42N71.4W
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AR Coatings are not fragile at all, however it is correctly stated above that skin oils, if left on AR coatings, will cause harm. Skin oils should be cleaned off promptly. Common sense dictates that care should be used.
I end up cleaning mine a lot in spring as they often get deposits of sap falling from tree leaves. There is literally no place in my yard, from where I do 95% of my observing, where I can get away from trees.
edz
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Teach a kid something today. The feeling you'll get is one of life's greatest rewards.
member#21
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Tony Flanders
Post Laureate
Reged: 05/18/06
Posts: 3469
Loc: Cambridge, MA, USA
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Quote:
Living in the UK, I often observe at night in very dewy conditions or in winter the bins may get very cold and covered in condensation when bought inside. How do you guys feel about water marks that come from use like this? I appreciate it's only distilled water but I like to clean this kind of residue.
It is, alas, *not* distilled water. Those water droplets are ideal sponges for any impurities in the air -- hydrocarbons, salt, dust, pollen, etc. Inside air tends to be particularly dirty, so the rule of thumb is to minimize any condensation that might form when bringing cold optics indoors. A blast with an electric heater or hairdrier works wonders. Or seal them so that the condensation comes from outdoor air.
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Tony Flanders
First and foremost observing love: naked eye.
Second, binoculars.
Last but not least, telescopes.
And I sometimes dabble with cameras.
Edited by Tony Flanders (10/24/09 09:45 PM)
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Swedpat
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 02/18/05
Posts: 1120
Loc: Boden, Sweden, Scandinavia
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I clean the lenses as seldom as possible. That does mean only when it's much dust or fingerprints/eyelash marks.
Regards, Patric
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*2,3x40 Constellation View Wide-Bino
*Leupold 6x30 Yosemite
*Leupold Katmai 6x32
*Nikon Sporter I 8x36
*Swarovski SLCNew 7x42B
*Bresser (Lidl) 10x50
*Oberwerk 11x70
*Meade 5000 26mm Plössl, Vixen LV 10/5mm
Psalm 19:2
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zanti-misfit
member
Reged: 08/17/09
Posts: 88
Loc: SE United States
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I've had to wipe my EPs a few times already, very lightly. I did notice a little of the coating seemed to have been disturbed, though not an actual scratch on the glass. The views have not been compromised so I'm thankful for that.
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GlennLeDrew
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 06/18/08
Posts: 1296
Loc: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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I couldn't even to begin to hazard a guess as to how frequently I clean lenses. Suffice it to say, whenever needed. As many others seem to do, skin oils are removed promptly. I've read in the past that the danger from this source has to with acidity, which over sufficient time will 'etch' a coating, no matter if it's a single- or multi-layer job. Even if this is an overly cautious approach, oils are certainly a far more nefarious source of diffuse scattering and diffraction than is dust.
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Home-made 11X50 right angle bino, 8.1 deg. FOV
Modified 26X100 bino, 3.5 deg. FOV
Home-made Mk II RA bino, using interchangeable objectives and eyepieces
My Gallery
Mediocre minds discuss people. Good minds discuss events. Great minds discuss ideas.
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Simon S
sage
Reged: 01/07/07
Posts: 391
Loc: Crawley West Sussex UK
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I own many pairs of binoculars and tend to only clean a pair that have been stored iay for some time in ther old case. I also feel there is little point in cleaning their objectives if they have dust on them as this does not effect the image.
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My binocular collection recent first
http://www.flickr.com/photos/binoculars/
My binoculars in Alphabetical order http://www.flickr.com/photos/binoculars/sets/72157613812824211/detail/
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