How do I remove fog or haze from an optical photographic glass lens?

March 3, 2021 12:52 PM

I have tried alcohol, windex, peroxide, all regular glass cleaners. What product or method can you suggest? Or is there someone who would specialize with this? I'm a photographer and I'm concerned to damage the lens.
posted by Tziv to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (1 answer total)

Best answer: Oof. Trying to clean camera lenses with those kinds of products can potentially damage the exterior coating. (ROR Cleaning Fluid is usually your best option if breathing and wiping gently with a lens cloth doesn't suffice.) But often, the haze is on the inside from evaporated lubricants.

If there's a local camera repair place that does CLA work (clean-lubricate-adjust) then that's a decent first option to see whether the lens can be unfogged. Otherwise, you might have to send it away. (If you're in the US, Crystal Camera is a repairer local to me with an incredible reputation.) Either way, a repair might cost more than the lens itself is worth.
posted by holgate at 1:27 PM on March 3, 2021 [6 favorites]