martyn_bannister
Joined: 23 May 2010
Posts: 1151
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 Posted: Sun Jul 25, 2010 9:16 am Post subject: Re: Ultrasonic cleaner to clean lens elements? |
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martyn_bannister wrote:
| autotak wrote: |
I was thinking about using an ultrasonic cleaner to clean my 50/1.4's elements in soap/water solution, just wondering if anyone has done anything like this before.
I'll probably stick to lighter fluid, but curious if this has been attempted.
Thank you.
autotak |
I have a big ultrasonic bath which I have often thought about using on camera bits. I used to use it to clean clock parts. Worrying thing is, in order to test if it's working, the recommended method is to hang a sheet of aluminium foil in plain water, switch in on for a couple of minutes and see how many tiny holes it's put in the foil. This has stopped me using it on lenses, because I hate to think what it might do with the coatings 
Be very interested in other's opinions |
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visualopsins
Joined: 05 Mar 2009
Posts: 10539
Location: California
Expire: 2025-04-11
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| Posted: Sun Jul 25, 2010 1:47 pm Post subject: |
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visualopsins wrote:
Wikipedia article http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultrasonic_cleaning gives a pretty good overview imho. One of the wikipedia references is quite good: http://www.ctgclean.com/technology-library/articles/
These work by generating non-inertial cavitation; tiny oscillating bubbles in a fluid. Bubbles are regions where pressure has been forced to less than the liquid's vapor pressure. Not the same as propeller cavitation, which is inertial. In fact inertial cavitation is used by some advanced submarines to travel through water at speeds otherwise unattainable; the sub actually travels through a generated air bubble in front.
With the right combination solvent and stimulus frequency a lens could be reduced to powder  (no worries, it can be done, but probability of nailing the specific parameters in the application at hand is extremely low) A consumer ultrasonic cleaner using soapy water is probably safe for lenses and coatings, however, I would beware using a high-power industrial ultrasonic cleaner.
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Cameras: Sony ILCE-7RM2, Spotmatics II, F, and ESII, Nikon P4
Lenses:
M42 Asahi Optical Co., Takumar 1:4 f=35mm, 1:2 f=58mm (Sonnar), 1:2.4 f=58mm (Heliar), 1:2.2 f=55mm (Gaussian), 1:2.8 f=105mm (Model I), 1:2.8/105 (Model II), 1:5.6/200, Tele-Takumar 1:5.6/200, 1:6.3/300, Macro-Takumar 1:4/50, Auto-Takumar 1:2.3 f=35, 1:1.8 f=55mm, 1:2.2 f=55mm, Super-TAKUMAR 1:3.5/28 (fat), 1:2/35 (Fat), 1:1.4/50 (8-element), Super-Multi-Coated Fisheye-TAKUMAR 1:4/17, Super-Multi-Coated TAKUMAR 1:4.5/20, 1:3.5/24, 1:3.5/28, 1:2/35, 1:3.5/35, 1:1.8/85, 1:1.9/85 1:2.8/105, 1:3.5/135, 1:2.5/135 (II), 1:4/150, 1:4/200, 1:4/300, 1:4.5/500, Super-Multi-Coated Macro-TAKUMAR 1:4/50, 1:4/100, Super-Multi-Coated Bellows-TAKUMAR 1:4/100, SMC TAKUMAR 1:1.4/50, 1:1.8/55
M42 Carl Zeiss Jena Flektogon 2.4/35
Contax Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 28-70mm F3.5-4.5
Pentax K-mount SMC PENTAX ZOOM 1:3.5 35~105mm, SMC PENTAX ZOOM 1:4 45~125mm
Nikon Micro-NIKKOR-P-C Auto 1:3.5 f=55mm, NIKKOR-P Auto 105mm f/2.5 Pre-AI (Sonnar), Micro-NIKKOR 105mm 1:4 AI, NIKKOR AI-S 35-135mm f/3,5-4,5
Tamron SP 17mm f/3.5 (51B), Tamron SP 17mm f/3.5 (51BB), SP 500mm f/8 (55BB), SP 70-210mm f/3.5 (19AH)
Vivitar 100mm 1:2.8 MC 1:1 Macro Telephoto (Kiron)
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