Anyone got any advice on cleaning. I have a pentax microfibre cloth but don't really like using even that on the fella. Anyone?

I typically use a microfibre cloth on my lenses, when a rocket blower won't shift the dust/muck... any reason why you wouldn't want to use it?

Just that you can't fit a filter so I don't want to damage the glass by rubbing it too much on a weekly basis.

I share your paranoia! I have just bought a 'Lenspen' which seems to get greasy marks off the lens without too much rubbing. So now my technique (for the fisheye, at least) is:

1, Blower brush to get the loose muck off;
2, Lenspen for any greasy spots;
3, A light rub with a CLEAN microfibre cloth to finish.

Then whack the cap back on - pronto!

I tend to wash my microfibre cloths after 5 or so uses, as if you leave them much more than that, all they seem to do is spread greasy marks around (they soak up grese and sweat from your fingers too). After I have washed them a few times, I chuck them out.

Don't be too paranoid about rubbing though - the coating is usually quite hard (just so long as there's no solid dirt trapped in the cloth). What you really, really want to avoid is leaving a greasy mark on the front element for any length of time. Sometimes the muck can eat into the coating, leaving a permanent mark which, on a fisheye, you WILL see.

Yes, might be time for a new cloth. Thanks, Dr. Ming.

Spit on lens, polish with T Shirt. Easy. :)

Seriously, I have lenses I've used for years and they have come to no harm using a shirt tail occasionally. However, Boots do some nice lens clothes for glasses wearers. I buy a few of these at a time and then just bin them after a month or so of use. More often in the summer as they suck the grease out of your fingers.

Cheers

Ian

You joke, but I saw my father-in-law do pretty much as you describe with his 100-400mm L IS lens (that he has never bothered to buy a protection filter for). More money than sense. Unfortunately, not much of it comes my way (the money, that is).

Ever tried Opticlean fluid? Good stuff but not for daily / weekly use.

You paint the stuff onto the lens surface and put in a small tab before it sets to allow you to lift the film off once it's cured - brings all the muck & fingerprints off :thumb:

A bit nerve-wracking the first time you use it but OK after that :D