What is the best lens cleaning cloth?

[Atho]

Until very recently I used filters to protect the lenses and never worried much about cleaning the uv filters as they were easily enough replaced.

Now I am using my lenses without said filters I’m wondering what is the best cloth, products or process for clean those precious elements.

Any recommendations?

 

[Interceptor121]

1. Zeiss single use wet wipes

2. dust blower

3. Hama micro fiber cloth (2 versions one good for the field)

Is what I use I tend to use the wet occasionally only if I have something stuck

 

[Atho]

Thanks for taking the time

 

[ahaslett]

Blower to remove sharp and loose debris. Lens pen to clean surface. Blower again.

If still dirty, dry wipe with microfibre, wet wipe, dry wipe, lens pen, blower.

Andrew

 

[Danielvr]

Dust and sand contain particles that are harder than glass and lens coatings, and rubbing with a cloth of any kind will cause tiny scratches (micro abrasions). If you make a habit of cleaning the front element that way, the accumulated scratches can cause flare and loss of contrast and sharpness. You might as well put those filters back on.

 

[stubob]

Blower to remove sharp and loose debris. Lens pen to clean surface. Blower again.

If still dirty, dry wipe with microfibre, wet wipe, dry wipe, lens pen, blower.

Andrew

That seems like great advice!

I may have been lucky so far, but in practice, I've been amazed at how effective a good Lens Pen is.

 

[Interceptor121]

Dust and sand contain particles that are harder than glass and lens coatings, and rubbing with a cloth of any kind will cause tiny scratches (micro abrasions). If you make a habit of cleaning the front element that way, the accumulated scratches can cause flare and loss of contrast and sharpness. You might as well put those filters back on.

It is always the first step to blow the dust

I use cloths gently and never a lens pen as it may rub off the coating

the zeiss wet wipes are very occasional and do not damage the coating unless you are brutal

I would agree you need to be gentle but you can keep your stuff clean

 

[Impulses]

I've never used a lens pen so I might be ignorant of it's advantage, I rarely bother cleaning slight specks and whatnot in the field but if it's worrying me or looks smudged I do carry the wet single Zeiss wipes... Tho the last batch I bought has been drying out on me faster than usual, maybe they sold me really old stock or something. Generally they work well tho. I do carry a small blower in my travel bag (just not my camera bag) and I start with that if I've got it near.

I carry a microfiber just in case too, I'll use lens cleaner fluid on it at home if needed in lieu of the wipes. I think any decent microfiber will do tbh, it's probably more important than you clean it sometimes and/or only use one side if your hands aren't very clean. The Pearstone ones with the grippy dots on one side almost seem like a bad idea since you get less usable area but at least I always know what's the side I wanna use on the lens, heh. Zeiss sells some huge ones.

The freebies I've gotten from Sunway, Altura / Goja, etc. seem to work about as well tho. The single use Zeiss wipes are the most convenient thing to carry around, just be wary of buying the largest box possible if you live in a hot climate.

I still use a clear filter on my more expensive and/or weather sealed lenses tho, but that's just me. I'd still rather not scratch it needlessly tho... I've noticed filters have gotten a ton more expensive even within the last couple years, the 67mm filters I might've paid <$40 for at one point are now like $80 and CPLs have doubled in price too (B+W's), yikes.

 

[glassoholic]

If you want and can see the difference between a perfect clean or not, with lenses you have struggled to clean perfectly, use the first product.


THIS is the one to get. Smaller packs are available.





The "Zeiss Pre-Moistened Lens Cleaning Cloths" is the only product I have found to flawlessly clean three of my most difficult lens surfaces without leaving any streaking or spots behind that remain even after buffing with a microfibre cloth. It is not alcohol based. Its quite a large cloth which is convenient for handling. It's usually found only in camera shops.

There is a Zeiss "Lens Wipes" product that is commonly found in even supermarkets... it is alcohol based like most. The afore mentioned "problem" lenses still have cleaning artefacts left behind before or after buffing with a micro fibre cloth. I use a Zeiss micro fibre cloth.

As always, brushing off with a lens brush and blower before cleaning is important.

The preferred "Pre Moistened Cleaning Cloths" is a new formulation of cleaning solution from Zeiss. Previous products work well on most lenses, but if you want your lens that always was difficult to get to look like it just came from the factory, you now know what to get.

In case you're interested, the three surfaces I have always battled to get back to like new condition are:

Rear element of a Voigtlander Super Nokton 29mm f0.8 (impossible without the "right" product).

Front element of an Olympus 300mm Pro f4.0 (almost impossible without the "right" product).

Rear element of an Olympus 75mm f1.8 (very hard without the "right" product).

--
Addicted To Glass
M43 equivalence: "Twice the fun with half the weight"
"You are a long time dead" -
Credit to whoever said that first and my wife for saying it to me... Make the best you can of every day!

 

[Interceptor121]

If you want and can see the difference between a perfect clean or not, with lenses you have struggled to clean perfectly, use the first product.


THIS is the one to get. Smaller packs are available.



The "Zeiss Pre-Moistened Lens Cleaning Cloths" is the only product I have found to flawlessly clean three of my most difficult lens surfaces without leaving any streaking or spots behind that remain even after buffing with a microfibre cloth. It is not alcohol based. Its quite a large cloth which is convenient for handling. It's usually found only in camera shops.

Not available in UK and many other markets only found it in some Polish sites and US on BH

There is a Zeiss "Lens Wipes" product that is commonly found in even supermarkets... it is alcohol based like most. The afore mentioned "problem" lenses still have cleaning artefacts left behind before or after buffing with a micro fibre cloth. I use a Zeiss micro fibre cloth.

I do not see artefacts sometimes the wipes give too much humidity and without ventilation streaks appear but this can be avoided.

As always, brushing off with a lens brush and blower before cleaning is important.

The preferred "Pre Moistened Cleaning Cloths" is a new formulation of cleaning solution from Zeiss. Previous products work well on most lenses, but if you want your lens that always was difficult to get to look like it just came from the factory, you now know what to get.

In case you're interested, the three surfaces I have always battled to get back to like new condition are:

Rear element of a Voigtlander Super Nokton 29mm f0.8 (impossible without the "right" product).

Front element of an Olympus 300mm Pro f4.0 (almost impossible without the "right" product).

Rear element of an Olympus 75mm f1.8 (very hard without the "right" product).

--
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Deer Photography workshops https://interceptor121.com/2021/09/26/2021-22-deer-photography-workshops-in-woburn/

 

[Lifesucks]

Your own breath and a quick wipe with your shirt or a specific cloth i have in my pocket is the one you get when you buy new spectacles, and thats all i carry......never been a problem

 

[glassoholic]

Your own breath and a quick wipe with your shirt or a specific cloth i have in my pocket is the one you get when you buy new spectacles, and thats all i carry......never been a problem

That's my "in the field" method (minus the "shirt" unless its a nice soft t-shirt) I use on the protective filter I have on every lens. There is no other practical way when in full flight during for example wedding photography and I accidentally put a fingerprint on a lens protective filter.

It's also why I've had to replace a few filters over the years because of an accumulation of micro scratches after hundreds of "cleans". Mind you, one of those filters I kept as it gave the nicest "glow" to the highlights on brides tiaras I could ever achieve.

 

[Impulses]

If you want and can see the difference between a perfect clean or not, with lenses you have struggled to clean perfectly, use the first product.


THIS is the one to get. Smaller packs are available.



The "Zeiss Pre-Moistened Lens Cleaning Cloths" is the only product I have found to flawlessly clean three of my most difficult lens surfaces without leaving any streaking or spots behind that remain even after buffing with a microfibre cloth. It is not alcohol based. Its quite a large cloth which is convenient for handling. It's usually found only in camera shops.

There is a Zeiss "Lens Wipes" product that is commonly found in even supermarkets... it is alcohol based like most. The afore mentioned "problem" lenses still have cleaning artefacts left behind before or after buffing with a micro fibre cloth. I use a Zeiss micro fibre cloth.

As always, brushing off with a lens brush and blower before cleaning is important.

The preferred "Pre Moistened Cleaning Cloths" is a new formulation of cleaning solution from Zeiss. Previous products work well on most lenses, but if you want your lens that always was difficult to get to look like it just came from the factory, you now know what to get.

In case you're interested, the three surfaces I have always battled to get back to like new condition are:

Rear element of a Voigtlander Super Nokton 29mm f0.8 (impossible without the "right" product).

Front element of an Olympus 300mm Pro f4.0 (almost impossible without the "right" product).

Rear element of an Olympus 75mm f1.8 (very hard without the "right" product).

Hmm, last box I bought looked more like the latter but I could've sworn I checked that it wasn't alcohol based, might need to recheck it, does Zeiss have a site anywhere explaining the different SKUs?

Second to last pack I bought was like a 20 pack w/some micro fibers and I think the individual packets there looked like the ones in the first box you pictured (I think I re-bought it 2 times actually), my last pack looked more like the second one you pictured tho it was a 60 pack rather than a 50 (and I've actually only used it on Rx glasses so far, but noticed they were dry-ish out of the box).

https://www.adorama.com/zs05353.html

I'm looking at Adorama right now, that 60 pack I last got is actually sold out right now (above), the earlier 20 pack w/micro fibers and the 200 pack of cleaning cloths are both in stock (below). Might grab one of the latter but I'm still weary of them drying out here... Checking Amazon is even more confusing since all sorts of sellers and other random packs show up.

https://www.adorama.com/zicc.html

https://www.adorama.com/zipmc200.html

I don't think I've needed to clean the rear element of my 75/1.8 yet btw, what makes it so tricky? Most annoying lens I remember having to clean was my fisheye after getting some salt water spray on it, never taking it near the beach again tbh.

Edit: Now that I remember, the first batch of Zeiss cloths I went thru were the ones that come with the brush and the little blower (it's small and looks less conspicuous for travel than the Giottos, half the reason I got that pack) and I think those were definitely the same type as that 200 box you pictured.

All the other boxes I see without that blower/brush/etc or without the microfibers look more like your second box and tend to say wipes rather than cloths...

 

[Impulses]

If you want and can see the difference between a perfect clean or not, with lenses you have struggled to clean perfectly, use the first product.


THIS is the one to get. Smaller packs are available.



The "Zeiss Pre-Moistened Lens Cleaning Cloths" is the only product I have found to flawlessly clean three of my most difficult lens surfaces without leaving any streaking or spots behind that remain even after buffing with a microfibre cloth. It is not alcohol based. Its quite a large cloth which is convenient for handling. It's usually found only in camera shops.

There is a Zeiss "Lens Wipes" product that is commonly found in even supermarkets... it is alcohol based like most. The afore mentioned "problem" lenses still have cleaning artefacts left behind before or after buffing with a micro fibre cloth. I use a Zeiss micro fibre cloth.

As always, brushing off with a lens brush and blower before cleaning is important.

The preferred "Pre Moistened Cleaning Cloths" is a new formulation of cleaning solution from Zeiss. Previous products work well on most lenses, but if you want your lens that always was difficult to get to look like it just came from the factory, you now know what to get.

In case you're interested, the three surfaces I have always battled to get back to like new condition are:

Rear element of a Voigtlander Super Nokton 29mm f0.8 (impossible without the "right" product).

Front element of an Olympus 300mm Pro f4.0 (almost impossible without the "right" product).

Rear element of an Olympus 75mm f1.8 (very hard without the "right" product).

Hmm, last box I bought looked more like the latter but I could've sworn I checked that it wasn't alcohol based, might need to recheck it, does Zeiss have a site anywhere explaining the different SKUs?

Second to last pack I bought was like a 20 pack w/some micro fibers and I think the individual packets there looked like the ones in the first box you pictured (I think I re-bought it 2 times actually), my last pack looked more like the second one you pictured tho it was a 60 pack rather than a 50 (and I've actually only used it on Rx glasses so far, but noticed they were dry-ish out of the box).

https://www.adorama.com/zs05353.html

I'm looking at Adorama right now, that 60 pack I last got is actually sold out right now (above), the earlier 20 pack w/micro fibers and the 200 pack of cleaning cloths are both in stock (below). Might grab one of the latter but I'm still weary of them drying out here... Checking Amazon is even more confusing since all sorts of sellers and other random packs show up.

https://www.adorama.com/zicc.html

https://www.adorama.com/zipmc200.html

I don't think I've needed to clean the rear element of my 75/1.8 yet btw, what makes it so tricky? Most annoying lens I remember having to clean was my fisheye after getting some salt water spray on it, never taking it near the beach again tbh.

Edit: Now that I remember, the first batch of Zeiss cloths I went thru were the ones that come with the brush and the little blower (it's small and looks less conspicuous for travel than the Giottos, half the reason I got that pack) and I think those were definitely the same type as that 200 box you pictured.

All the other boxes I see without that blower/brush/etc or without the microfibers look more like your second box and tend to say wipes rather than cloths...

Well darn, I confused the heck out of myself, turns out I haven't even cracked open the the 60 pack I ordered (that says wipes and has the binos, Rx glasses, etc. on the box); tho they might be the wrong ones.

The 20 pack I last ordered before that looks like the "right" ones and the individual packets do indeed look the same as that 200 pack or the ones I'd bought earlier with microfiber wipes or with the blower / brush / pouch, but these are also the ones that arrived kinda dried out.

Hence why I remembered being leery of trying the 200 pack... So these are the ones that I've used just fine in the past but also the ones where the last pack I bought seemed like a dud, at least it was only $7 and I got a microfiber out of it.





Not sure whether to try a 200 pack or keep trying the 20 packs or try and find them on Amazon rather than Adorama, sigh...

 

[glassoholic]

If you want and can see the difference between a perfect clean or not, with lenses you have struggled to clean perfectly, use the first product.


THIS is the one to get. Smaller packs are available.



The "Zeiss Pre-Moistened Lens Cleaning Cloths" is the only product I have found to flawlessly clean three of my most difficult lens surfaces without leaving any streaking or spots behind that remain even after buffing with a microfibre cloth. It is not alcohol based. Its quite a large cloth which is convenient for handling. It's usually found only in camera shops.

There is a Zeiss "Lens Wipes" product that is commonly found in even supermarkets... it is alcohol based like most. The afore mentioned "problem" lenses still have cleaning artefacts left behind before or after buffing with a micro fibre cloth. I use a Zeiss micro fibre cloth.

As always, brushing off with a lens brush and blower before cleaning is important.

The preferred "Pre Moistened Cleaning Cloths" is a new formulation of cleaning solution from Zeiss. Previous products work well on most lenses, but if you want your lens that always was difficult to get to look like it just came from the factory, you now know what to get.

In case you're interested, the three surfaces I have always battled to get back to like new condition are:

Rear element of a Voigtlander Super Nokton 29mm f0.8 (impossible without the "right" product).

Front element of an Olympus 300mm Pro f4.0 (almost impossible without the "right" product).

Rear element of an Olympus 75mm f1.8 (very hard without the "right" product).

Hmm, last box I bought looked more like the latter but I could've sworn I checked that it wasn't alcohol based, might need to recheck it, does Zeiss have a site anywhere explaining the different SKUs?

Second to last pack I bought was like a 20 pack w/some micro fibers and I think the individual packets there looked like the ones in the first box you pictured (I think I re-bought it 2 times actually), my last pack looked more like the second one you pictured tho it was a 60 pack rather than a 50 (and I've actually only used it on Rx glasses so far, but noticed they were dry-ish out of the box).

https://www.adorama.com/zs05353.html

I'm looking at Adorama right now, that 60 pack I last got is actually sold out right now (above), the earlier 20 pack w/micro fibers and the 200 pack of cleaning cloths are both in stock (below). Might grab one of the latter but I'm still weary of them drying out here... Checking Amazon is even more confusing since all sorts of sellers and other random packs show up.

https://www.adorama.com/zicc.html

https://www.adorama.com/zipmc200.html

I don't think I've needed to clean the rear element of my 75/1.8 yet btw, what makes it so tricky? Most annoying lens I remember having to clean was my fisheye after getting some salt water spray on it, never taking it near the beach again tbh.

Edit: Now that I remember, the first batch of Zeiss cloths I went thru were the ones that come with the brush and the little blower (it's small and looks less conspicuous for travel than the Giottos, half the reason I got that pack) and I think those were definitely the same type as that 200 box you pictured.

All the other boxes I see without that blower/brush/etc or without the microfibers look more like your second box and tend to say wipes rather than cloths...

Well darn, I confused the heck out of myself, turns out I haven't even cracked open the the 60 pack I ordered (that says wipes and has the binos, Rx glasses, etc. on the box); tho they might be the wrong ones.

The 20 pack I last ordered before that looks like the "right" ones and the individual packets do indeed look the same as that 200 pack or the ones I'd bought earlier with microfiber wipes or with the blower / brush / pouch, but these are also the ones that arrived kinda dried out.

Hence why I remembered being leery of trying the 200 pack... So these are the ones that I've used just fine in the past but also the ones where the last pack I bought seemed like a dud, at least it was only $7 and I got a microfiber out of it.





Not sure whether to try a 200 pack or keep trying the 20 packs or try and find them on Amazon rather than Adorama, sigh...

Those you pictured look right. They are not wet like the "wipes"... those you can squeeze a drop of alcohol out of. I think the "damp" cloths work better because they have just enough moisture. If you are organised, you can clean at least 5 or maybe 10 lens surfaces with one of them. Good things they are.

--
Addicted To Glass
M43 equivalence: "Twice the fun with half the weight"
"You are a long time dead" -
Credit to whoever said that first and my wife for saying it to me... Make the best you can of every day!

 

[Impulses]

If you want and can see the difference between a perfect clean or not, with lenses you have struggled to clean perfectly, use the first product.


THIS is the one to get. Smaller packs are available.



The "Zeiss Pre-Moistened Lens Cleaning Cloths" is the only product I have found to flawlessly clean three of my most difficult lens surfaces without leaving any streaking or spots behind that remain even after buffing with a microfibre cloth. It is not alcohol based. Its quite a large cloth which is convenient for handling. It's usually found only in camera shops.

There is a Zeiss "Lens Wipes" product that is commonly found in even supermarkets... it is alcohol based like most. The afore mentioned "problem" lenses still have cleaning artefacts left behind before or after buffing with a micro fibre cloth. I use a Zeiss micro fibre cloth.

As always, brushing off with a lens brush and blower before cleaning is important.

The preferred "Pre Moistened Cleaning Cloths" is a new formulation of cleaning solution from Zeiss. Previous products work well on most lenses, but if you want your lens that always was difficult to get to look like it just came from the factory, you now know what to get.

In case you're interested, the three surfaces I have always battled to get back to like new condition are:

Rear element of a Voigtlander Super Nokton 29mm f0.8 (impossible without the "right" product).

Front element of an Olympus 300mm Pro f4.0 (almost impossible without the "right" product).

Rear element of an Olympus 75mm f1.8 (very hard without the "right" product).

Hmm, last box I bought looked more like the latter but I could've sworn I checked that it wasn't alcohol based, might need to recheck it, does Zeiss have a site anywhere explaining the different SKUs?

Second to last pack I bought was like a 20 pack w/some micro fibers and I think the individual packets there looked like the ones in the first box you pictured (I think I re-bought it 2 times actually), my last pack looked more like the second one you pictured tho it was a 60 pack rather than a 50 (and I've actually only used it on Rx glasses so far, but noticed they were dry-ish out of the box).

https://www.adorama.com/zs05353.html

I'm looking at Adorama right now, that 60 pack I last got is actually sold out right now (above), the earlier 20 pack w/micro fibers and the 200 pack of cleaning cloths are both in stock (below). Might grab one of the latter but I'm still weary of them drying out here... Checking Amazon is even more confusing since all sorts of sellers and other random packs show up.

https://www.adorama.com/zicc.html

https://www.adorama.com/zipmc200.html

I don't think I've needed to clean the rear element of my 75/1.8 yet btw, what makes it so tricky? Most annoying lens I remember having to clean was my fisheye after getting some salt water spray on it, never taking it near the beach again tbh.

Edit: Now that I remember, the first batch of Zeiss cloths I went thru were the ones that come with the brush and the little blower (it's small and looks less conspicuous for travel than the Giottos, half the reason I got that pack) and I think those were definitely the same type as that 200 box you pictured.

All the other boxes I see without that blower/brush/etc or without the microfibers look more like your second box and tend to say wipes rather than cloths...

Well darn, I confused the heck out of myself, turns out I haven't even cracked open the the 60 pack I ordered (that says wipes and has the binos, Rx glasses, etc. on the box); tho they might be the wrong ones.

The 20 pack I last ordered before that looks like the "right" ones and the individual packets do indeed look the same as that 200 pack or the ones I'd bought earlier with microfiber wipes or with the blower / brush / pouch, but these are also the ones that arrived kinda dried out.

Hence why I remembered being leery of trying the 200 pack... So these are the ones that I've used just fine in the past but also the ones where the last pack I bought seemed like a dud, at least it was only $7 and I got a microfiber out of it.





Not sure whether to try a 200 pack or keep trying the 20 packs or try and find them on Amazon rather than Adorama, sigh...

Those you pictured look right. They are not wet like the "wipes"... those you can squeeze a drop of alcohol out of. I think the "damp" cloths work better because they have just enough moisture. If you are organised, you can clean at least 5 or maybe 10 lens surfaces with one of them. Good things they are.

Yeah the ones I remember using in years past are like that (and look like these) and they were very effective indeed. I'd had like 2x20 + 10 stored for a while and they hadn't dried out but I've lost track of how long it was. These in the photo seem like a lemon of a pack tho, they're barely moist and less than a minute later they're basically bone dry. Tried them on my Rx glasses and they basically did nothing, hrm.

The other wipes do definitely say they're alcohol based, the cloths/tissues don't seem to be in stock at Amazon so I guess I'll try my luck later at B&H with another 20 pack or gamble on the 200 pack. Hopefully they haven't been sitting as long there as at Adorama.

The oldest cloth/tissue + microfiber pack I'd bought must've been an earlier iteration because those came in a clear plastic box rather than this cardboard one, gonna see if I can hunt down the model # on those to see if it's the same or what, I vaguely recall blue microfibers rather than the current white ones in this pictured pack.

 

[Trolleyman]

My daughter is an Optometrist and uses one of these to clean her sight trial lenses. Works very nicely on my lenses too https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B004PY99HW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

 

[Interceptor121]

If you want and can see the difference between a perfect clean or not, with lenses you have struggled to clean perfectly, use the first product.


THIS is the one to get. Smaller packs are available.



The "Zeiss Pre-Moistened Lens Cleaning Cloths" is the only product I have found to flawlessly clean three of my most difficult lens surfaces without leaving any streaking or spots behind that remain even after buffing with a microfibre cloth. It is not alcohol based. Its quite a large cloth which is convenient for handling. It's usually found only in camera shops.

There is a Zeiss "Lens Wipes" product that is commonly found in even supermarkets... it is alcohol based like most. The afore mentioned "problem" lenses still have cleaning artefacts left behind before or after buffing with a micro fibre cloth. I use a Zeiss micro fibre cloth.

As always, brushing off with a lens brush and blower before cleaning is important.

The preferred "Pre Moistened Cleaning Cloths" is a new formulation of cleaning solution from Zeiss. Previous products work well on most lenses, but if you want your lens that always was difficult to get to look like it just came from the factory, you now know what to get.

In case you're interested, the three surfaces I have always battled to get back to like new condition are:

Rear element of a Voigtlander Super Nokton 29mm f0.8 (impossible without the "right" product).

Front element of an Olympus 300mm Pro f4.0 (almost impossible without the "right" product).

Rear element of an Olympus 75mm f1.8 (very hard without the "right" product).

I just looked at the composition of those products they both have the same active ingredients inside

5-chloro-2-methyl-2H-isothiazol-3-one

2-methyl-2H-isothiazol-3-one

Both are fatal if inhaled and on the dangerous goods websites

https://echa.europa.eu/substance-information/-/substanceinfo/100.043.167

https://echa.europa.eu/substance-information/-/substanceinfo/100.018.399

In terms of cleaning agent there is no difference between those two products both contain a bio acid

The only difference is possibly the media one is paper and the other is cloth so they will have different level of moisture but ultimately it won't make any material difference to the effectiveness of the cleaning agent but just on the mechanical side

As the wet wipes are paper based I suspect they are easier to dispose and manage than cloths and therefore we are not talking about new or old product

The only product in UK on sale are wet wipes paper based

--
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Youtube channel http://www.youtube.com/interceptor121
Underwater Photo and Video Blog http://interceptor121.com
Deer Photography workshops https://interceptor121.com/2021/09/26/2021-22-deer-photography-workshops-in-woburn/

 

[Peter Heckert2]

For finish I use the black ones from Olympus that where delivered with my 40-150 f/2.8.
These are not cheap but longlife.
I have other ones that where delivered with my Zeiss spotting scope, but I prefer the Olympus ones, because they have a somewhat fluffy velvet surface and work best for me.

The other thing is, when I do not use the lens, I always put the caps on it, even if it is stored in a clean safe environment at home.

I learned this after I had my 100-400 brandnew for seven days, it looked perfectly clean and pristine like new, but cleaning the front lens had a strong effect on test photos that I made.
In the meantime I also cleaned the rear lens, and I have the impression this improved micro contrast a little bit.

This does not mean I clean every day. I make test photos at home, always the same object with sharp and high contrasts in same short distance, so they are comparable.

Only when I see a reason or feel the need, I clean.

BTW, I have to (wet) clean my glasses more than once a day. This are plastic lenses with a hard-coating and not cheap. I see no cleaning traces on my glasses and have done so for years.

 

[rich_cx139]

A blower brush in the field if there is lot of dust on it but this rarely, in my experience, makes any difference to image quality.

In really hostile environments I might use a protection filter

I rarely clean front elements unless there is obviously some sticky nasty there and even then I leave it till I get indoors when I can use isoprop and a cotton swab to gently lift the stuff away.

Have been taking snaps for decades - no lens that I have owned has shown any hint of cleaning marks.

On the other hand - I have picked up the odd lens from eBay which has looked as if it has been “cleaned” regularly - they got sent back.

In an emergency I might use a Zeiss wet wipe but I haven’t needed to yet - I just pick up a new box every few years just in case.