Just figured out I was cleaning lenses with my microfiber cloth backwards

I've been repairing cameras for about 8 years now. Last week I was wiping down a Canon 50mm f1.4 that had some smudges. I always grab my microfiber cloth and do this little circular motion thing. This old timer who's been doing this since the 70s was looking over my shoulder and just goes "you know that cloth has a right side and a wrong side, right?" I thought he was messing with me. But apparently the tighter weave on one side is for the glass and the looser side is for the body. I've been using the wrong side on lenses this whole time. No wonder I always had to buff out tiny streaks. Anyone else ever miss something this basic for way too long?

2 comments

2 Comments

angelacooper23d ago

wait actually the tighter weave isn't necessarily the "right" side for glass, it's usually recommended to use the looser weave for optical surfaces because the tighter weave can be more abrasive and trap particles. i learned that the hard way after scratching a filter once, not a fun realization.

nelson.gavin23d ago

Well now @angelacooper, you're telling me this after I spent the last year polishing my lenses with the tight weave side and wondering why they always looked worse than before. I feel like I've been living a lie. That's actually really helpful to know, though I'm a bit mad nobody told me sooner. I guess the microfiber cloth companies should put a little tag on there that says "loose side for glass, tight side for dusting your TV." Live and learn, I suppose. At least I can save my remaining filters from my own ignorance. Appreciate you sharing that hard lesson so the rest of us don't have to scratch our gear learning it ourselves.