MarkyGee wrote:.

What's the story here, do I need to buy a special lens cleaning kit?.

Get some Eclipse juice and Pec-Pads ....

Http://www.photosol.com/eclipseproduct.htm.

Http://www.photosol.com/padproduct.htm..

You need to distinguish between cleaning the SENSOR and cleaning the lens. For the front element of the lens you do not need pec pads etc. Try breathing on it and then wiping with a lens cloth (lint free soft cloth). That normally does the trick..

The front of lenses is usually protected with a strong layer which is not that easy to damage..

Cleaning the sensor is a whole different story but my understanding is that is not what you asked about...

Ajax wrote:.

You need to distinguish between cleaning the SENSOR and cleaning thelens. For the front element of the lens you do not need pec pads etc.Try breathing on it and then wiping with a lens cloth (lint free softcloth). That normally does the trick..

That may be true, but I'm not 100% sure it's 100% good advice. On theother hand, the Eclipse fluid et Pec-Pads are certainly a safe bet..

I hope we won't go back and forth too long on this. I've given my opinion,and you've given your's ... can we just leave it at that ? .

And maybe you're right ... but the Eclipse fluid and Pec-Pads, that's the safe,safe bet, I'd say...

Thanks for all your replies..

For the record I was wondering about cleaning the lens..

So far the sensor seems fine...but on that note how often should you clean your sensor?..

MarkyGee wrote:.

So far the sensor seems fine...but on that note how often should youclean your sensor?.

When it needs to be..

Typically people notice it needs to be after they've taken a few photos ona day with a totally blue sky..

There will be little black dots in the sky ... on the image..

But there are other instances when you'll notice the need ... in cases wherethe image is one color ... like a white wall, for example...

If I may add my two cents worth..

You are going to get numerous, and differing opinions i.r.o. lens cleaning..

I use a Pentax microfibre cloth, after wiping the lens surface in a circular movement - centre to outer edge - with a wetted (lens-cleaning fluid) lens-cleaning tissue..

Clear as mud !.

Dave.

PS. If it's just a few specks of dust then I blow them off with the bellows of a blower-brush...

MarkyGee wrote:.

So far the sensor seems fine...but on that note how often should youclean your sensor?.

The answer is NEVER if you do not need to. The less you fiddle about inside the camera the better. You will know you need to when you notice dust spots on your images..

When you DO need to, you will once again encounter a host of different opinions. Some use the Pec Pads mentioned by Mazeau; other like me and Art Morris (not in that order!) prefer a lens pen. Others p!ss in the body and then sluice it out in a toilet bowl.... there is no limit to the variety of opinions in photogprahy.......

Brilliant...thanx all for yer help..

My lens is now clean!.

My sensor seems fine. fingers crossed it stays that way..

Many thanx.

Mg..