Best way to clean a scope lens?

[Borty77]

I have two leupolds, vxII 3x9x50 on my abolt 708 vxI 4x12x40 on my model 77 .30-06 they both have spots all over the lenses, looks like it may be rem oil. Will a damp clean cloth work or lense pen?

[texhookem]

use a make up brush or those cloth that come with nice sunglasses to clean the lenses, also a bottle of lens cleaner might do the trick

[texhookem]

using a cloth may scrath the lens (ive been told)

[minnesotahunter]

An old soft flannel shirt works if you don't have the cloth that came in the Leupold box.

[Ruger-Redhawk]

Any Photography store sell Camera Lens cleaning kit's.Special tissues, a blower brush and lens cleaning solution.

Ruger Redhawk

[brother hal]

If you use a lens pen, only use the brush end. I have had two scope manufacturers tell me the other end will collect trash/particles, etc and eventually grind those in to the lens. I brush the lens, then a drop or two of commercial lens cleaner, then that soft cloth that comes with the Leupolds. Works well for me.

[JsmesB67]

I use isopropyl rubbing alcohol and Q-tips. I dip the Q-tip in the alcohol and thouroughly clean the lens surface. I then repeat with several dry Q-tips.
Jim B.

[eldeguello]

ORIGINAL: Borty77
I have two leupolds, vxII 3x9x50 on my abolt 708 vxI 4x12x40 on my model 77 .30-06 they both have spots all over the lenses, looks like it may be rem oil. Will a damp clean cloth work or lense pen?

Borty: Blow, then brush all possible abrasives/grit off the lenses with a camera lens brush. Then clean all remaining stuff, like fingerprints or oil, etc., off with lens cleaning fluid and lens cleaning tissues you get at a good camera shop.

[Solitary Man]

I use canned compressed air (you can get it at Walmart in the electronics section) to blow dust and grit off the lenses and then I use Zeiss lens cleaning solution on a cotton eyeglass lens cloth. I think the key, though, is not to clean your scope lenses too often. Less is better because no matter what care you take, you're going to scratch the surface to some degree every time you clean.

[zekeskar]

Your scope is an expensive piece of coated optical equipment. You should treat the lenses with the same care you'd give to a pair of coated eyeglasses or camera lense. Just my opinion - but after f&*^ing up both, I decided not to take shortcuts with any of this stuff.

Go to a decent (not big box) camera store and buy the stuff they sell to clean camera lenses. This includes - liquid, cleaning tissues (or cloth) and a blower brush. This is not a big deal to buy or carry. It is tiny, light weight and cheap.

Having said that, the principle is: remove any grit (with blower brush) then clean with appropriate solution and tissue/cloth. Knowing this, you can improvise as long as you follow the principle - get the grit off by blowing or gently brushing with a clean soft cloth, then cleaning with an appropriate liquid and appropriate cloth. Breath fog and a clean soft cotton shirt tail will do. Don't use any paper product not designed for lenses as they could scratch.

If you have oil spots, I'd get some lense cleaning solution and try it. If it doesn't work, I'd ask at a camera shop (again, one with expertise, not a big box).