Is there a particular way that I should be cleaning a flourite lens, as opposed to a standard non-L series lens?

My camera dealer told me I shouldn't really use a compressed air cleaner on a flourite element as it can damage the coating. He suggested using a cloth and/or a blower brush instead.

Is this reasonable advice to follow?

Also, how should I clean the mirror and underside of the focussing screen on my EOS 30/Elan7E?

-- canonlover (canoneosd60@aol.com), April 04, 2002

Answers

The flourite and UD elements are inside the lens. I have never used compressed air on any photo equipment. I clean lenses using this stuff, in this order (depending on how dirty it got): (1) blower brush (2) micro cloth (3) breath on lens then micro cloth (4) lens cleaning fluid (residual oil remover or formular MC) and micro cloth.

Use only the brush on the focusing screen. Don't touch the mirror!

-- Kenneth Katz (socks@bestweb.net), April 04, 2002.

I don't use compressed air on my lenses, though I don't know if it's supposed to be bad or not. I'd agree with the suggestions of the previous response.

Like the first response said, the fluorite element is not exposed - every lens model that has a fluorite element as the first real element has a piece of protective glass in front of it. Unless you're disassembling the lens to clean it (not recommended unless you know what you're doing :-), you'll never come in contact with the fluorite.

-- Steve Dunn (steved@ussinc.com), April 04, 2002.

I just purchased a 70-200f4L and I noticed your comment on not skimping on the filter. What would you recommend as a filter for this lense?

-- David O'Neill (dontiki@hotmail.com), April 18, 2002.

B+W Filters are generally regarded as superior:

http://www.schneideroptics.com/filters/filters_for_still_photography/

I use them and am happy with them.

-- Preston Merchant (merchant@speakeasy.org), April 18, 2002.