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Windex on filter? Do I 'shoot' my friend?

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Philly Wood

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I just got my new Canon UV filter for my Sony 707. And a friend 'cleaned' it with windex (Actually it was "Cinch" which lists isopropanol, perfume and water as ingredents and states it contains no phosporous)

Did he damage the coatings on the filter?

My fault in a way. I let him borrow the 707. I told him he couldnt make a mistake. (I was referring to bad pictures....meaning he could take pictures without worrying and retake them if he didnt like them) Sheesh I never thought I would have to clarify my statments so thoroughly.

I am in sense relieved that he didnt do me any favors by cleaning the lens. :) (see those filters really DO protect the lens)

Tia, photoave

Ps: I tried a search with no luck. Also posted on STF though this was a more appropriate forum.
 
photoave said:
I just got my new Canon UV filter for my Sony 707. And a friend
'cleaned' it with windex (Actually it was "Cinch" which lists
isopropanol, perfume and water as ingredents and states it contains
no phosporous)

Did he damage the coatings on the filter?
Click to expand...
None of those chemicals should damage the coatings on a filter.
Coatings are usually harder than the glass itself. The risk from cleaning
any coated lens is usually a small scratch. It's better not to clean a
lens or filter unless it has been smudged with fingerprints, etc.

If you see any variation in the color of the coatings on the surface, simply
clean it again carefully with a good lens cleaner. Any variation in color
could mean that the cleaner used left a slight bit of oil on the surface.

Darrell
 
photoave said:
I just got my new Canon UV filter for my Sony 707. And a friend
'cleaned' it with windex (Actually it was "Cinch" which lists
isopropanol, perfume and water as ingredents and states it contains
no phosporous)

Did he damage the coatings on the filter?
Click to expand...
The biggest danger from using fluids on lenses is having the fluid seep somewhere it doesn't belong. I don't know if it's still as bad these days, but a few years ago, something like alcohol could damage the cement between lens elements and cause separation along the edges.

Good thing you had a filter on that time.

You almost never need any real liquid on your lenses or filters. The best thing these days is the microfiber cloth made for cleaning lenses, or those liquid-free pads. Tissues can be dangerous because those made for eyeglasses can damage the coating, if not trap grit and scratch it.

Blow grit and dust off, then use a tissue or brush made for camera lenses. I prefer, if brushing, to roll up a piece of lens tissue and tear the end off to form a little brush--and be sure not to touch the brush end with your (oily) fingertips. Then I breath on the lens to put just that much moisture on it, and brush it.

If there is oil on the lens (the reason you should have a hood on the lens is to keep your fingers off of it), use a microfiber cloth. It gets the oil off.

Niever, ever spray or drip any liquid directly on the lens. If absolutely necessary, slightly dampen a lens tissue and use that to gently rub the lens. Use a fluid made for lenses that has no perfumes or other things lenses don't need.

You can use isoprophyl rubbing alcohol, but be sure it doesn't have any colors or perfumes. Just don't drip it on the lens.--RDKirk'It's always socially unacceptable to be right too soon.' -Fuji FP6900Z Owner
 
Terrific information RD.
I've always had problems cleaning filters and avoid it for as long as possible.

A question though: the microfibre cloth, could you expand on that a little and give a brand or something? I haven't seen any over here that I'm aware of. Perhaps I'm looking in the wrong place.
regards
Ian
RDKirk said:
photoave said:
I just got my new Canon UV filter for my Sony 707. And a friend
'cleaned' it with windex (Actually it was "Cinch" which lists
isopropanol, perfume and water as ingredents and states it contains
no phosporous)

Did he damage the coatings on the filter?
Click to expand...
The biggest danger from using fluids on lenses is having the fluid
seep somewhere it doesn't belong. I don't know if it's still as
bad these days, but a few years ago, something like alcohol could
damage the cement between lens elements and cause separation along
the edges.

Good thing you had a filter on that time.

You almost never need any real liquid on your lenses or filters.
The best thing these days is the microfiber cloth made for cleaning
lenses, or those liquid-free pads. Tissues can be dangerous
because those made for eyeglasses can damage the coating, if not
trap grit and scratch it.

Blow grit and dust off, then use a tissue or brush made for camera
lenses. I prefer, if brushing, to roll up a piece of lens tissue
and tear the end off to form a little brush--and be sure not to
touch the brush end with your (oily) fingertips. Then I breath on
the lens to put just that much moisture on it, and brush it.

If there is oil on the lens (the reason you should have a hood on
the lens is to keep your fingers off of it), use a microfiber
cloth. It gets the oil off.

Niever, ever spray or drip any liquid directly on the lens. If
absolutely necessary, slightly dampen a lens tissue and use that to
gently rub the lens. Use a fluid made for lenses that has no
perfumes or other things lenses don't need.

You can use isoprophyl rubbing alcohol, but be sure it doesn't have
any colors or perfumes. Just don't drip it on the lens.
--
RDKirk
'It's always socially unacceptable to be right too soon.' -Fuji
FP6900Z Owner
Click to expand...
 
You have had the very best of technical advice, now, should you shoot your friend? If you kill him you cannot benefit from his estate; if you wound him he could sue you for far more than the cost of the filter, so no, spare him any violence and tell him he owes you at least apacket of lens cleaning tissues and a drink. In future don't lend precious things to fiends--you could lose both.
ianR said:
RDKirk said:
photoave said:
I just got my new Canon UV filter for my Sony 707. And a friend
'cleaned' it with windex (Actually it was "Cinch" which lists
isopropanol, perfume and water as ingredents and states it contains
no phosporous)

Did he damage the coatings on the filter?
Click to expand...
The biggest danger from using fluids on lenses is having the fluid
seep somewhere it doesn't belong. I don't know if it's still as
bad these days, but a few years ago, something like alcohol could
damage the cement between lens elements and cause separation along
the edges.

Good thing you had a filter on that time.

You almost never need any real liquid on your lenses or filters.
The best thing these days is the microfiber cloth made for cleaning
lenses, or those liquid-free pads. Tissues can be dangerous
because those made for eyeglasses can damage the coating, if not
trap grit and scratch it.

Blow grit and dust off, then use a tissue or brush made for camera
lenses. I prefer, if brushing, to roll up a piece of lens tissue
and tear the end off to form a little brush--and be sure not to
touch the brush end with your (oily) fingertips. Then I breath on
the lens to put just that much moisture on it, and brush it.

If there is oil on the lens (the reason you should have a hood on
the lens is to keep your fingers off of it), use a microfiber
cloth. It gets the oil off.

Niever, ever spray or drip any liquid directly on the lens. If
absolutely necessary, slightly dampen a lens tissue and use that to
gently rub the lens. Use a fluid made for lenses that has no
perfumes or other things lenses don't need.

You can use isoprophyl rubbing alcohol, but be sure it doesn't have
any colors or perfumes. Just don't drip it on the lens.
--
RDKirk
'It's always socially unacceptable to be right too soon.' -Fuji
FP6900Z Owner
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
--John.
 
Well some of them can be fiends but Imeant friends.
john orchard said:
ianR said:
RDKirk said:
photoave said:
I just got my new Canon UV filter for my Sony 707. And a friend
'cleaned' it with windex (Actually it was "Cinch" which lists
isopropanol, perfume and water as ingredents and states it contains
no phosporous)

Did he damage the coatings on the filter?
Click to expand...
The biggest danger from using fluids on lenses is having the fluid
seep somewhere it doesn't belong. I don't know if it's still as
bad these days, but a few years ago, something like alcohol could
damage the cement between lens elements and cause separation along
the edges.

Good thing you had a filter on that time.

You almost never need any real liquid on your lenses or filters.
The best thing these days is the microfiber cloth made for cleaning
lenses, or those liquid-free pads. Tissues can be dangerous
because those made for eyeglasses can damage the coating, if not
trap grit and scratch it.

Blow grit and dust off, then use a tissue or brush made for camera
lenses. I prefer, if brushing, to roll up a piece of lens tissue
and tear the end off to form a little brush--and be sure not to
touch the brush end with your (oily) fingertips. Then I breath on
the lens to put just that much moisture on it, and brush it.

If there is oil on the lens (the reason you should have a hood on
the lens is to keep your fingers off of it), use a microfiber
cloth. It gets the oil off.

Niever, ever spray or drip any liquid directly on the lens. If
absolutely necessary, slightly dampen a lens tissue and use that to
gently rub the lens. Use a fluid made for lenses that has no
perfumes or other things lenses don't need.

You can use isoprophyl rubbing alcohol, but be sure it doesn't have
any colors or perfumes. Just don't drip it on the lens.
--
RDKirk
'It's always socially unacceptable to be right too soon.' -Fuji
FP6900Z Owner
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
--
John.
Click to expand...
--John.
 
Hi John,

I am sort of new to this board and recognize that each have their own tone and mannerisms. I have gotten politely chastised for using the word 'damn' (even though I meant it as a positive complimentary exclamation) and now receiving another mild chastizng for my use of term 'shoot'.

If you thought after reading the thread (let alone the quoted subject header) that I had any animosity towards my friend, you clearly missed my atempt at a pun.

Regards, photoave

BTW I agree that the technical advice was excellent.
johno61299 said:
john orchard said:
You have had the very best of technical advice, now, should you
shoot your friend? If you kill him you cannot benefit from his
estate; if you wound him he could sue you for far more than the
cost of the filter, so no, spare him any violence and tell him he
owes you at least apacket of lens cleaning tissues and a drink. In
future don't lend precious things to fiends--you could lose both.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Photo:

I just wanted to add, that using Windex or other similar glass cleaning solvents CAN indeed be harmful to products such as Trinitron monitor screens or other such screens where a non-glare coating is used. Especially any alcohol based fluids are concerned. It can eat this coating away, forever destroying it.
D.
photoave said:
If you thought after reading the thread (let alone the quoted
subject header) that I had any animosity towards my friend, you
clearly missed my atempt at a pun.

Regards, photoave

BTW I agree that the technical advice was excellent.
Philly Wood said:
john orchard said:
You have had the very best of technical advice, now, should you
shoot your friend? If you kill him you cannot benefit from his
estate; if you wound him he could sue you for far more than the
cost of the filter, so no, spare him any violence and tell him he
owes you at least apacket of lens cleaning tissues and a drink. In
future don't lend precious things to fiends--you could lose both.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Dear Photoave,

I think you also clearly missed John's attempt at a lighthearted humorous reply. As a fine, please return one of those excellent technical replys.
-Uncle Walt

Maybe a :) would have helped? Newbie advice: most folks here are having fun and sharing information. When you encounter a grouch, don't respond (like junk email), just keep moving. Some folks just have bad moments, others have bad days, others are just unhappy - you figure them all out - don't worry. Enjoy the forums!!
-Uncle Walt
photoave said:
If you thought after reading the thread (let alone the quoted
subject header) that I had any animosity towards my friend, you
clearly missed my atempt at a pun.

Regards, photoave

BTW I agree that the technical advice was excellent.
Philly Wood said:
john orchard said:
You have had the very best of technical advice, now, should you
shoot your friend? If you kill him you cannot benefit from his
estate; if you wound him he could sue you for far more than the
cost of the filter, so no, spare him any violence and tell him he
owes you at least apacket of lens cleaning tissues and a drink. In
future don't lend precious things to fiends--you could lose both.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
ianR said:
Terrific information RD.
I've always had problems cleaning filters and avoid it for as long
as possible.
A question though: the microfibre cloth, could you expand on that a
little and give a brand or something? I haven't seen any over here
that I'm aware of. Perhaps I'm looking in the wrong place.
regards
Ian
Click to expand...
HI Ian, many brands are available eg Calotherm, Pentax, Jessops and many more. These cloths suck up dirt and grease and are washable. When washing use a mild cleaning product but don't put in the washing machine with fabric conditioner as it adheres to the fibres and clogs up the holes that hold the dirt.--regards, Mark: ) http://www.pbase.com/mark_allen/galleries
 
If I recall correctly multi-coated filters show a whole spectrum of colors when you reflect a light in them. So variability in color of the filter has to be considered carefully.

I think http://www.2filter.com has some information on this effect of multicoated filters.
Darrell Spreen said:
photoave said:
I just got my new Canon UV filter for my Sony 707. And a friend
'cleaned' it with windex (Actually it was "Cinch" which lists
isopropanol, perfume and water as ingredents and states it contains
no phosporous)

Did he damage the coatings on the filter?
Click to expand...
None of those chemicals should damage the coatings on a filter.
Coatings are usually harder than the glass itself. The risk from
cleaning
any coated lens is usually a small scratch. It's better not to
clean a
lens or filter unless it has been smudged with fingerprints, etc.

If you see any variation in the color of the coatings on the
surface, simply
clean it again carefully with a good lens cleaner. Any variation
in color
could mean that the cleaner used left a slight bit of oil on the
surface.

Darrell
Click to expand...
 
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