Stubborn grease on lens!!!

I use compressed air from a can, Zeiss lens cleaning solution, Lumicon optical tissue and my breath.

I start with the compressed air. Then dip a q-tip or optical tissue in the cleaning solution (you want it barely wet -- Bart's problem with fluid seeping into cracks and between the lenses is very real). I also found that the solution tends to smear the oils around, so once it's had a chance to disolve the oils a bit, I fog the lens a couple of times with my breath and wipe gently with a dry lens cleaning tissue. For whatever reason, this seems to clear it away after two or three goes.

-- Jeff.

Cheers Dave,
What's this IPA stuff?

IsoPropyl Alcohol.

This the same stuff I used to use to clean the casette decks on my ghetto-blaster? :lol:

Oh, well that's a relief. I thought you guys were using India Pale Ale to clean your optics. :shock:

-- Jeff.

Can pick up that Zeiss cleaning fluid for a fiver on the web. I'll order a bottle. In the meantime my sis works in a chemist so I'm sure I can get my hands on some IPA. The hot air won't be a problem :lol:

Thanks guys!

Use the coated lens cleaner spray from specsavers at about 4 Euro, great value - spray it on the cloth though always, not on the lens, and gently wipe with a coated lens cloth.

Keith..

Be careful with some lens cleaning cloths, some contain a form of teflon which can damage optic coatings over time.
Others can contain perfumes which can lead to light smearing.
AND be very carefull with compressed air, if you get propellent on the glass, an oily mark will be the least of your problems.

I go to a chemist and get isopropyl alcohol, the chemist was very suspicious at first and wanted to know what I wanted it for.

I go to a chemist and get isopropyl alcohol, the chemist was very suspicious at first and wanted to know what I wanted it for.

Yeah, know what you mean! I also ordered a bottle of IPA at my local pharmacy and it took about 3 days to arrive, and the pharmacist did need some convincing that it was for lens cleaning.
(500ml for a tenner). I then did a 50-50 mix with filtered/distilled water, and then add about 5-6 drops of wash up liquid. A a result I've ended up with a litre of cleaning solution (it'll take a couple of lifetimes to use that much).
For removing stubborn particles I use a product called SpecGrabber, which you can pick up at most camera shops, it's suitable for use even on CCD chips.