Replacement Lenses?

[Mike Null]

Check your lenses frequently. Depending on what you are doing you may have to clean them multiple times in a day, or, just once a week. The point is, checking takes less than a minute and can save in lens cost and ruined materials. In 20 years I've never replaced a lens. (I am the only operator of the machine so that helps)

Do not use Windex or whatever is handy.

[Kev Williams]

Yes, you can use Windex...

MSDS sheets

Zeiss lens cleaner
Isopropyl Alcohol, 4-6%
Water, 94-96%

Uvex lens cleaner:
2-Butoxyethanol, less than 6% (a form of ethylene glycol)
no other ingredients listed, likely water

Leader lens cleaning fluid
Water, 88-95%
secret ingredient, 5-10% (likely alcohol)
2nd secret ingredient, less than .1%
sodium bicarb, less than .1%
anti static & fog additives less than 1%...

Windex
.5 to 1.5% 2-Butoxyethanol, .5 to 1.5%
.5 to 1.5% Ethylene glycol hexyl ether
1 to 5% Isopropyl alcohol
60-100% water

Fantastik
1 to 5% of each:
Benzyl alcohol
Sodium C14-17 Alkyl Sec Sulfonate
Diisopropanolamine
Ethyleneglycol Monohexylether

--Notice there's nothing different about Windex than 'lens cleaners'. And Zeiss gets away with charging good money for an ounce of water with a couple of drops of rubbing alcohol in it?
Fantastik's 'C14-17' ingredient is a foaming surfactant, most of the word "Diisopropanalamine" is 'isopropal', and of course, it contains antifreeze...

According to Taryn Williford, (apartmenttherapyc.com) as to what to /not to use on camera lenses-
WRONG: Soapy Solutions
RIGHT: Alcohol-Based Lens Cleaner or a huff of your breath.
When you need a bit of moisture, don't turn to a soapy lens cleaner. It takes too long to dry, attracting even more dust in the process. Instead use a fast-drying alcohol-based cleaner (always applied first to a cloth and not directly to your lens). Or try the proven method many pro photogs stick with: Give it a good huff of breath across the lens.

So it's okay to use you're own breath too. And how bad can a soft, clean 100% cotton swab be to use?
Fantastik's only 'bad' ingredient is the foaming surfactant, and according to the above, only because it doesn't dry as fast...

The funny thing is, I can melt acrylic with alcohol, yet it's thee recommended cleaner for lenses.

I rest my case.

[Mike Null]

Kev

You shouldn't even use Windex on your eyeglasses.

[Gary Hair]

--Notice there's nothing different about Windex than 'lens cleaners'.

I know that Windex leaves a residue on glass that makes sandblast resist difficult to stick. I have no idea what it is, but there is something in it that leaves this residue. I'll continue to use the "expensive" cleaner - over the 10 years I've been doing this, I have spent a whopping $30 on lens cleaner and tissues, that's much cheaper than one lens, even a cheap Chinese lens.

[Mike Null]

I just bought new eyeglasses and they specifically advised against using Windex as it removes a coating on the lens. I'll take their word for it. No new lenses in 20 years indicates that I must be doing something right.

[Raphael Weil]

Zeiss lens cleaner
Isopropyl Alcohol, 4-6%
Water, 94-96%

Is that really all that is? Can easily make that ourselves than. so 99% Isopropyl diluted to 4-6% of the solution? No problem.

Btw when one of these websites sells you a lens to replace a Trotec, how hard is it to fit it in Trotec's little holder? Just glued in there?

[Bert Kemp]

All this stuff about alcohol to clean lens I thought acetone was the recommended cleaner and thats pretty cheap.

[Keith Winter]

All this stuff about alcohol to clean lens I thought acetone was the recommended cleaner and thats pretty cheap.

Acetone can destroy your lens coating if allowed to soak for a long time. Only use sparingly if you have a very bad spot you cannot get off with other less agressive cleaners.