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Got told my lens cleaning was too aggressive, changed my whole approach
A guy at a camera swap meet in Portland last summer watched me scrub a front element with a microfiber and some solution. He just shook his head and said 'you're gonna rub the coating right off that thing'. I thought he was being dramatic until I looked closer at an old lens I had cleaned a few times and noticed some weird hazing. Now I barely touch the glass, just blow off dust first then use a drop of fluid on a swab and let it sit for a second before wiping. Wish someone had called me out sooner. Anyone else had to relearn something basic like that?
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ryanm601mo ago
idk this kind of thing happens in so many parts of life honestly. Like how people scrub their cast iron pans with soap or throw knives in the dishwasher until someone tells them different. It's just one of those things where you think you're doing it right because that's how everybody else seems to do it too. The camera community is weirdly good at catching small mistakes though, just because there's so many tiny details that matter. I think the real lesson is that sometimes being gentle and taking your time actually saves you from having to fix bigger problems later. Feels like that applies to a lot more than just lens cleaning.
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gavin3651mo ago
Oh wait until you see how people store their cast iron pans too, right? Some folks stack them with other pans and scratch the seasoning off, or they leave them sitting wet in the sink. I've known guys who scrub their carbon steel woks with steel wool and then wonder why the patina is ruined. It's wild how much unnecessary damage gets done just because nobody stops to ask the person who's been doing it for years. Got any other cleaning habits you've had to unlearn?
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margaretramirez1mo ago
Laughing because I used to be that person who threw my non-stick pans in the dishwasher and wondered why they got all scratched up. Turns out hand washing isnt that hard when you stop being lazy about it. Still catch myself putting a knife in the sink now and then though, old habits die hard.
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