Cleaning Housing Ports

Hi All:

I've noticed what appears to be some "oil" or "grease" (from fingers or the like) on my glass port that in certain situations appears in my video. I use a Fathom port with an optical coating.

Any good suggestions on how to clean these without damaging the lens or coating?

THANKS...

Andy

Hi Andy

I just use a dry, clean lens cloth (or a t-shirt if desperate although i know i shouldn't). Be very careful using lens cleaning fluids - best to check with Fathoms and see what they sell or recommend.

Cheers

Andy

I have Fathom ports and only use the cleaning solution they recommend. Optimax cleaner and they have special wipes rather than a T-shirt etc.. Its great stuff and you can use it on your monitor and camera lens. Hope that helps.

http://www.opti-max.net/

-Scott

Hi Andy

 

I just use a dry, clean lens cloth (or a t-shirt if desperate although i know i shouldn't). Be very careful using lens cleaning fluids - best to check with Fathoms and see what they sell or recommend.

 

Cheers

I spoke with Paul Remjan (Fathom Imaging) about this very subject at DEMA this year. Mainly because I am also shooting with the SWP44 and wanted to make sure I hadn't been doing anything that would damage the coating either.

Couple of points he made very clear.

NEVER touch the glass with a dry cloth/rag. If the cloth/rag has any dried particles embedded in the fabric, it could damage the coating. The coating is very durable, but this was something he was very clear about.

It is also best to spray the cleaner on the cloth and then apply it to the glass, rather than spray the lens.

There are several "optical grade" cleaners on the market, Gates now recommends Purosol.

I hope that helps.

NEVER touch the glass with a dry cloth/rag. If the cloth/rag has any dried particles embedded in the fabric, it could damage the coating.

ooops... I think I'm guilty of that my fathoms port...

Anyone know if purosol or opti-max is sold out in Asia?

Modern hard coatings on good quality glass lenses (UW or terrestrial) are very durable and can be gently cleaned with a special lens cleaning cloth that most camera stores sell (eg Inca "Magic Fibre" is one of many brands). They are cheap and can be washed and reused for years.

One important thing I've found with any UW lens is to quickly rinse at least the lens with fresh water right after a dive and gently dry the glass/acrylic with such a cloth. NEVER let the water (even after a fresh water rinse) dry by itself...this could end up leaving salt and/or mineral deposits that are a real pain to remove.

With a glass port or water contact lens it should generally be OK to remove grease or other blemishes by using any good photo-optical lens cleaner (as sold by every camera store)...although try to keep the stuff away from O-rings, just in case.

Cheers,

George

thanks George, but I'm likely to listen to the advise of the manufacturer on this one (my port is a Fathoms).

BTW, your Seadragon port is quite interesting.. 110degree FOV on a HC1? Nice...