Cleaned my lens stupidly, now am worried it's damaged

[Thalin]

Feel free to call me stupid, but I am relatively new to the camera world and whilst out walking earlier, I used saliva on my glove finger to wipe the lens of my new a610. At the time I didn't realise this was such a stupid thing to do, and now I realise that that's the one thing to be avoided and it should be cleaned with special solutions.

Using advice, I just breathed onto the lens and cleaned it with a cotton bud, and managed to get it clean, but when I do breath on it it feels strange, as if it gets harder and sticky, whether this is just the stuff that's put on the lens to protect it I don't know.

Basically i'm worried that I may have damaged to lens, possibly removing the protective things that are apparently put on them whilst they are being made. The camera itself seems to be working fine picture wise, i'm just concerned I did more damage than I can see. Is this possible or am I just being paranoid.

[cdifoto]

Go to your local camera shop and buy a bottle of lens cleaner and some pec-pads.

Lenses aren't THAT sensitive. :)

[coldrain]

They are if your saliva contains phosphorus acid:eek:

[cdifoto]

They are if your saliva contains phosphorus acid:eek:

I could be wrong but I highly doubt a P&S lens has all those coatings that a high end SLR optic does. P&S cameras are usually put through hell by owners that don't know any better. If he/she cleans it off correctly this time I think all will be well.

[coldrain]

Just being silly, i think phosphoric acid eats away at glass

[cdifoto]

Just being silly, i think phosphoric acid eats away at glass

I dunno. I failed chemistry. heh. I thought saliva really did have phosphoric acid when you posted that. See how dumb I am.

[TampaJim]

Actually you are a "super genius". Most American saliva contains phosphoric acid off and on throughout the day - it is a primary ingredient in soda pop.

It is a primary contributor to enamel damage and also depletes calcium in your entire body. Even diet sodas contain this wonderful chemical.

Now ... who knows if the lens if goofed or not, but at least we have cleared your name!

[cdifoto]

Actually you are a "super genius". Most American saliva contains phosphoric acid off and on throughout the day - it is a primary ingredient in soda pop.

It is a primary contributor to enamel damage and also depletes calcium in your entire body. Even diet sodas contain this wonderful chemical.

Now ... who knows if the lens if goofed or not, but at least we have cleared your name!

I knew that. I was just uhh...testing you guys. Yeah. Something.

Don't worry...you passed.

[umbalito99]

Hello,

I have just purchased a Canon S2. Well, when I accidentally touched the lens earlier, I've taken pix within and it looks fine, so far. However if I look at the lens my fingerprint can still be seen.

I'm scared of wiping it using my shirt so Im gonna go down to the camera store later to grab one of those cheap cloth wipes.

Is the quality of all the cloth lens wipes the same? Does it really mater which one I get? Will even one of those really cheap ones do?

Or am I worrying too much about it?

Thanks.

[cdifoto]

Hello,

I have just purchased a Canon S2. Well, when I accidentally touched the lens earlier, I've taken pix within and it looks fine, so far. However if I look at the lens my fingerprint can still be seen.

I'm scared of wiping it using my shirt so Im gonna go down to the camera store later to grab one of those cheap cloth wipes.

Is the quality of all the cloth lens wipes the same? Does it really mater which one I get? Will even one of those really cheap ones do?

Or am I worrying too much about it?

Thanks.

I don't think it would matter as long as it's soft. Scratching the lens is the biggest concern.

[insertnamehere]

Phosphoric acid shouldn't corrode glass - it's only a very weak acid (in saliva). Glass can only be corroded by a strong base, so if you spilled industrial toilet cleaner, then yes the glass would dissolve. Anyway, I thought that what most people worried about was scratching a lens...

[fizbin]

I thought pop had Nitric Acid not Phosphoric, as it is C02 based for carbination. Either way your saliva would have to be as strong as the Alien monster's to really cause harm. It just is not an effective cleaning agent to say the least. In a pinch you can use eye glass cleaner.

[Rhys]

I'm used to using a cotten handkerchief and my breath for cleaning a lens. When it gets grease on it tehn I'll use a proprietry cleaner but only then.