lens cleaning

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital.slr-systems (More info?)

I made a newbie mistake and stored my Canon EF-S 18-55mm kit lens
without the cap on it. Now, when I mount it on my camera, the
viewfinder has a look to it that I can only describe as grainy.

Is there anything I can do about this myself? Should I take the
lens to a camera store, or a specialized repair shop? (I have easy
access to Adorama.) If I have to have it cleaned professionally,
what is it likely to cost me? It is not an expensive lens, and I
wonder if a professional cleaning will even be cost-effective.

Thanks in advance for any advice you can offer. If you prefer to
respond by email, please feel free.

--
Ben Rosengart (212) 741-4400 x215
Sometimes it only makes sense to focus our attention on those
questions that are equal parts trivial and intriguing.
--Josh Micah Marshall

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital.slr-systems (More info?)

"Ben Rosengart" <br+rpdss@panix.com> wrote in message
news:slrnd1nkc0.o0t.br@panix5.panix.com...
>I made a newbie mistake and stored my Canon EF-S 18-55mm kit lens
> without the cap on it. Now, when I mount it on my camera, the
> viewfinder has a look to it that I can only describe as grainy.
>
> Is there anything I can do about this myself? Should I take the
> lens to a camera store, or a specialized repair shop? (I have easy
> access to Adorama.) If I have to have it cleaned professionally,
> what is it likely to cost me? It is not an expensive lens, and I
> wonder if a professional cleaning will even be cost-effective.
>
> Thanks in advance for any advice you can offer. If you prefer to
> respond by email, please feel free.
>

1. Is the dust on the lens or did it get into the camera?
2. If it's just on the lens start by using a blower and see how much dust
and dirt you can remove.
3. If that won't do it you can try a soft lens brush.
4. If that still won't do it use some lens tissue and lens cleaner,
available at any photo store.
5. If the dust is in the viewfinder (focusing screen), you should be able
to blow and brush that out.
6. If it's on the mirror you can clean that, too, but be very careful.
It's a surface coated mirror and is easily scratched.
7. If you've cleaned everything else, and you still see spots, you've got
dust on the sensor. Try using a blower first. A hand blower, and not
canned air. That will often do it. (Look in your manual as to how to expose
the sensor for cleaning).
8. If not, you have three choices. You can try one of those brushes made
for cleaning the image sensor. You can use one of those kits for cleaning
the image sensor. You can send it to the factory.

Cleaning lenses should be something you learn to do yourself. Lenses get
dirty all the time. Buy some lens tissue and cleaner and the person in the
photo store who sells it to you should be able to show you how to clean a
lens. Just don't spit on it and use your shirt.

If you have to go inside the camera you must have the confidence to go for
it, or just take it in. Gone are the days when you could just open the
camera, set the shutter to bulb, and blow the hell out of it with a can of
air. It is a gamble to go in there and do anything beyond what the owner's
manual tells you.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital.slr-systems (More info?)

No, don't attempt to clean the inside of the lens glass. That needs to
be done by a technican. . If the glass looks clean and clear when you
hold the lens up to the light then it's something else that's wrong. I
don't own this lens but it could be something set wrong on the lens or
camera body? Take a picture with it and see how it turns out.

Art

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital.slr-systems (More info?)

You say you "stored" the lens without the cap on it. Where was it stored,
and for how long? Might give us a clue as to what the problem is, assuming
the rear and front elements are clean. I assume if you put a different lens
on the camera you don't have this problem, based on your last answer.

Sheldon

 

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Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital.slr-systems (More info?)

On Tue, 22 Feb 2005 22:02:10 -0700, Sheldon <sheldon@XXXXXXXXsopris.net> wrote:
>
> "Ben Rosengart" <br+rpdss@panix.com> wrote in message
> news:slrnd1nkc0.o0t.br@panix5.panix.com...
>> I made a newbie mistake and stored my Canon EF-S 18-55mm kit lens
>> without the cap on it. Now, when I mount it on my camera, the
>> viewfinder has a look to it that I can only describe as grainy.
>
> 1. Is the dust on the lens or did it get into the camera?

The body is fine. I only mention the camera body because so far,
looking through the viewfinder has been the only way I've been able
to see the problem. If I just look at the lens, it looks fine.
But I'm quite sure the problem is with the lens because other lenses
do not exhibit the problem.

> Cleaning lenses should be something you learn to do yourself. Lenses get
> dirty all the time.

Including the insides?

--
Ben Rosengart (212) 741-4400 x215
Sometimes it only makes sense to focus our attention on those
questions that are equal parts trivial and intriguing.
--Josh Micah Marshall

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital.slr-systems (More info?)

On Wed, 23 Feb 2005 13:25:26 -0700, Sheldon <sheldon@XXXXXXXXsopris.net> wrote:
> You say you "stored" the lens without the cap on it. Where was it stored,
> and for how long?

In a plastic shopping bag on my desk, for maybe a month, month and a half.

> Might give us a clue as to what the problem is, assuming
> the rear and front elements are clean. I assume if you put a different lens
> on the camera you don't have this problem, based on your last answer.

That's right.

I took the lens to Adorama today. The guy there didn't see the
problem -- I don't think he was trying very hard -- but he was
plenty willing to sell me a $16 lens cleaning kit.

I haven't yet tried to spot the problem in an image. Maybe it won't
show up. If that's the case, then I'll probably just live with it.
Otherwise, I'll give this cleaning kit a shot.

--
Ben Rosengart (212) 741-4400 x215
Sometimes it only makes sense to focus our attention on those
questions that are equal parts trivial and intriguing.
--Josh Micah Marshall

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital.slr-systems (More info?)

"Ben Rosengart" <br+rpdss@panix.com> wrote in message
news:slrnd1pt1f.pg0.br@panix5.panix.com...
> On Wed, 23 Feb 2005 13:25:26 -0700, Sheldon <sheldon@XXXXXXXXsopris.net>
> wrote:
>> You say you "stored" the lens without the cap on it. Where was it
>> stored,
>> and for how long?
>
> In a plastic shopping bag on my desk, for maybe a month, month and a half.

I assume you don't work at a saw mill.

>
>> Might give us a clue as to what the problem is, assuming
>> the rear and front elements are clean. I assume if you put a different
>> lens
>> on the camera you don't have this problem, based on your last answer.
>
> That's right.
>
> I took the lens to Adorama today. The guy there didn't see the
> problem -- I don't think he was trying very hard -- but he was
> plenty willing to sell me a $16 lens cleaning kit.

Couldn't you point it out to him?

>
> I haven't yet tried to spot the problem in an image. Maybe it won't
> show up. If that's the case, then I'll probably just live with it.
> Otherwise, I'll give this cleaning kit a shot.

I would definitely clean the lens, just the parts you can easily see and
clean. See if that helps. I also doubt you'll see the problem in a photo.
With digital, and film, you probably won't see a spot of dust unless it's
very close to the film or right on the image sensor. I took a whole role of
film once with a hair hanging down in front of the film plane.

Also, I don't know about today's new lenses, but we used to see bubbles in
high quality lens glass and it never made any difference in the image
quality.

Keep us posted.
>
> --
> Ben Rosengart (212) 741-4400
> x215
> Sometimes it only makes sense to focus our attention on those
> questions that are equal parts trivial and intriguing.
> --Josh Micah Marshall

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital.slr-systems (More info?)

Ben Rosengart wrote:
> I made a newbie mistake and stored my Canon EF-S 18-55mm kit lens
> without the cap on it. Now, when I mount it on my camera, the
> viewfinder has a look to it that I can only describe as grainy.
>
> Is there anything I can do about this myself? Should I take the
> lens to a camera store, or a specialized repair shop? (I have easy
> access to Adorama.) If I have to have it cleaned professionally,
> what is it likely to cost me? It is not an expensive lens, and I
> wonder if a professional cleaning will even be cost-effective.
>
> Thanks in advance for any advice you can offer. If you prefer to
> respond by email, please feel free.
>
> --
> Ben Rosengart (212)
741-4400 x215
> Sometimes it only makes sense to focus our attention on those
> questions that are equal parts trivial and intriguing.
> --Josh Micah Marshall

Ben,
Actually a plastic bag is not a bad place for the lens to be, generally
clean, and plastic generally has an electronic charge that catches
dust. Anyway, graininess when you look through the view finder comes
from a lack of light at the ground glass, the lens would have to be
filthy to cause this. Did your camera get set to stop down the lens,
this would cause this or have you been using a large aperture lens on
the camera and then switch to the slow kit lens? Again it would really
be a discusting film on the lens to cause the syptoms you describe.
Clean the lens with a blower or use isopropyl alcohol on a cotton ball,
make certain it is cotton, an gently wipe off with a dry cotton ball.

good luck
Tom

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital.slr-systems (More info?)

On 27 Feb 2005 18:28:59 -0800, tomm101 <monego@valley.net> wrote:
>
> this would cause this or have you been using a large aperture lens on
> the camera and then switch to the slow kit lens?

DING!

I've been running around with a couple of different 1.8 fixed lenses.

Thanks.

--
Ben Rosengart (212) 741-4400 x215
Sometimes it only makes sense to focus our attention on those
questions that are equal parts trivial and intriguing.
--Josh Micah Marshall

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital.slr-systems (More info?)

"tomm101" <monego@valley.net> wrote:

>
> Ben Rosengart wrote:
>> I made a newbie mistake and stored my Canon EF-S 18-55mm kit lens
>> without the cap on it. Now, when I mount it on my camera, the
>> viewfinder has a look to it that I can only describe as grainy.
>>
>> Is there anything I can do about this myself? Should I take the
>> lens to a camera store, or a specialized repair shop? (I have easy
>> access to Adorama.) If I have to have it cleaned professionally,
>> what is it likely to cost me? It is not an expensive lens, and I
>> wonder if a professional cleaning will even be cost-effective.
>>
>> Thanks in advance for any advice you can offer. If you prefer to
>> respond by email, please feel free.
>>
>> --
>> Ben Rosengart (212)
> 741-4400 x215
>> Sometimes it only makes sense to focus our attention on those
>> questions that are equal parts trivial and intriguing.
>> --Josh Micah Marshall
>
> Ben,
> Actually a plastic bag is not a bad place for the lens to be, generally
> clean, and plastic generally has an electronic charge that catches
> dust. Anyway, graininess when you look through the view finder comes
> from a lack of light at the ground glass, the lens would have to be
> filthy to cause this. Did your camera get set to stop down the lens,
> this would cause this or have you been using a large aperture lens on
> the camera and then switch to the slow kit lens? Again it would really
> be a discusting film on the lens to cause the syptoms you describe.
> Clean the lens with a blower or use isopropyl alcohol on a cotton ball,
> make certain it is cotton, an gently wipe off with a dry cotton ball.
>
> good luck
> Tom
>
>

Plastic bags (some of them) outgas plasticizers. It sounds like that's
what happened to yours. I find ROR lens cleaner works better than
isopropyl for removing this sort of thing. Many camera stores stock it.