stupid optics cleaning question

[gjk5]

lenses I know, I wipe them with the little Zeiss wipe packets or the cloth that came with them.

One of my pet peeves is dust in the moving parts, especially the eyecups. Cannot stand the grinding feeling.

Is it OK to blow them out with compressed air? Can the eyecups be oiled a little?

 

[Bullet bumper]

lenses I know, I wipe them with the little Zeiss wipe packets or the cloth that came with them.

One of my pet peeves is dust in the moving parts, especially the eyecups. Cannot stand the grinding feeling.

Is it OK to blow them out with compressed air? Can the eyecups be oiled a little?

You should not wipe a lens without removing any dust and grit first.
Get one of those womans makeup brushes that have a sliding protective cover and use that first . MAC Makeup Brush MAC Brush 016
Flick any dust and grit away . most of it you will not even see. Then use lens cleaner a few drops on a clean cloth or patch , don't drop the cleaner directly on the lens. If you are using treated lens wipes then the liquid cleaner should not be necessary but the preliminary brushing is.
I don't like the idea of using compressed air as the speed of the air could blast grit against the glass but I guess with care and keep the pressure low and the nozzle far away from the glass it could work ok , you don't want any strong jet of air pushing grit into the lens seals or getting around the lens edge .
I have never found it necessary , just a good flick off with a makeup brush and then some optical lens cleaner on clean cloth works for me.
Don't use facial tissues as some have moisturising additives that make the lens greasy.
I would not put oil to near any lens.
Get a smaller slightly stiffer brush to clean out any threads.

 

[Greyfox]

I have found that the the Lens Pens with the retractable brush and lens cleaning cup work well. They available from most shooting supply stores. I agree with Bullet Bumper that no oil should be used on the moving parts of a scope. I use the Butler Creek style scope covers my scopes and make sure that the scopes with the adjustable eye pieces are covered so the threads are covered and the cover fits in such a way that the adjustment will be held in position. This solves the problem of both dust getting in the threads and inadvertently knocking it out of focus.

 

[gjk5]

I keep one of those camera "pufferbrushes" with my wipes and dust with those before wiping, I think I have the lens part handled fine.

It is the twist up eyecups on the binoculars and rangefinder that drive me nuts, just cannot get that grit out of the little grooves the eyecups ride in to twist. Never had an issue with scopes, should have clarified that.

 

[Greyfox]

I keep one of those camera "pufferbrushes" with my wipes and dust with those before wiping, I think I have the lens part handled fine.

It is the twist up eyecups on the binoculars and rangefinder that drive me nuts, just cannot get that grit out of the little grooves the eyecups ride in to twist. Never had an issue with scopes, should have clarified that.

I just rinse the eye ups out with a light squirt of water when it gets bad...they are waterproof/resistant.

 

[gjk5]

you know, as dumb as it sounds that never occurred to me.