LensPEN Lens Cleaning System
by LensPen
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List Price: Our Price: $3.99 You Save: $16.00 (80%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $3.98 (click here) Category: Digital Camera See more product details |
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of LensPEN Lens Cleaning System
Customer Review: The best option for fingerprints, dust or any smudges.
Summary: 5 Stars
If you have a camera, you've probably at some point needed (or wanted) to clean the lens. Whether you were trying to focus and touched the lens by accident or just needed to clean gathered dust off of it, the LensPen system is the best out there.
It's basically a pen-looking object (go figure!) with cleaning tools on both sides. The main part is a little cleaning pad - the near thing is that you put the cap on, twist it a few times to "rejuvenate" the pad and then just wipe fingerprints away. The crazy thing is that it just works! I've tried cleaning cloths (microfiber) and have always had trouble (a lot of the time, at least for any not-brand-new ones) they just smudge the entire lens area.. you try to wipe off a small bit of dust and end up with a lens covered in greasy smudges. The Lenspen doesn't do that - it simply wipes it clean without leaving any trace. It's actually really neat and works amazingly well.
The opposite end has a brush (you slide a little piece on the side to pop it out or retract it). This is great for removing dust or small little objects that get stuck to your lens/filter.
For the cheap price they come in, they're easily affordable. You'll want to replace them every year or so as they tend to lose effectiveness (but again, at this price thats not a problem).
They make 2 versions - the normal and a "mini" (for smaller digital cameras) - the standard lenspen is probably too big for point and shoot cameras.
There are also several different branded versions.. all are made by the same company so pick whichever brand is cheapest (I shoot canon but bought a Nikon Lenspen as it was a few bucks less than the others).
Customer Review: Make sure you get a genuine LENSPEN - be careful what seller you order from
Summary: 3 Stars
My introduction into lens pens was with the genuine LENSPEN, given to me as a free gift in a retail store. I bought my second one in a camera store soon after my first one wore out. Both worked quite well, and removed dust and grime without much effort. They *may* have been responsible for fogging up one of my pairs of binoculars, due to excessive use, however this is just speculation and I had no such problem using it on my other pair of binoculars and on my camera lenses.
The LENSPEN is quite expensive, so when my second one wore out I looked into ways to acquire them for a lower price. I was fooled by the product picture for this "lens pen" (the one I am reviewing here), thinking this was a genuine LENSPEN for a much better price than usual. So I ordered three of these. Unfortunately, the product I received was a generic knock-off, and doesn't even work one fifth as well as the genuine. Also, the bristles of this generic one feel hard, not something I'd want to let anywhere near my lenses, whereas the genuine LENSPEN's bristles felt quite soft.
It may just be that I ordered this from the wrong seller. So be careful.
(My rating of "3 stars" reflects an average between 5 stars for the genuine article, and 1 star for the knockoff.)
Customer Review: Very portable. Works great.
Summary: 4 Stars
I don't really have a tool for cleaning my camera lens which made me to think to purchase one that is portable (I hate bringing something bulky in my already stuffed bag). It also has a pocket clip if you want to hang it with you instead. I usually just blow breath on it and wipe it with a microfiber cloth (which is a no-no). I chose this one as it looks very portable and already has a bunch of great reviews with it.
It has 2 main components, the rounded felt tip and the brush. It doesn't have an air blower with it like other lens cleaner tools. The brush is retractable when you are not using which helps preventing dust from accumulating into it. You would think to use the felt tip first but that is not a good idea. If you have some hard debris on it, it may scratch the lens. So, always brush it off first and then use the pen afterwards, then use the brush again.
Something to think about before you buy this is it is primarily for cameras with bigger lenses mainly DSLRs. Forget about your iPhones, or your super compact video cams like Flips. You can use it with a Creative Vado as the lens is flat unlike the Flips which is drawn inside.
Overall, it cleans the smudges really well. Super portable and handy.
Customer Review: Really Does Work!
Summary: 5 Stars
I decided to use my Canon HFS-20 camcorder (has a 58mm lens) to shoot a sunset by a beach up in Cambria, CA. The video came out great, but my lens ended up with salt spray all over it. I was worried that the LensPen would smudge things up worse or scratch the lens, but it completely removed the residue and the lens was as good as new! It did take two cleanings (after the first attempt, I put the cap back on and gave it a quarter turn twist to renew the carbon as per the instructions) to get the lens completely clean.
Since my sea spray experience, I bought a UV filter to protect the lens. I've used the LensPen to clean this filter as well, and it works well for that.
I also accidentally got a fingerprint on the lens of my Canon XS Kit 58mm lens, and the LensPen again got rid of it in just a few rubs of the carbon tip. The brush end is great for getting rid of loose dust/dirt and it's nice that it stays clean by retracting into the body of the pen. It fits easily in a side pocket of cases (and is very light) and is a convenient way to safely clean your lenses.
Customer Review: I'm completely sold on the Lenspen
Summary: 5 Stars
Get yourself a lenspen. I went through three types of cleaning solutions, 2 kinds of tissue papers and 3 brands of microfiber cloth (even certified Leica cloths) and no combination of that mess managed to make a perfectly cleans lens on my new Panasonic LX3 camera. I think that small lenses like those of compact cameras are especially hard to clean. If you had a big 52mm lens you'd be satisfied with leaving a few pinpoint smudges around the edges. But on compact cameras, those really bug you and are next to impossible to remove. Fortunately, a $5 lenspen gave me a sparkling lens in about 7 seconds! And its nice thin edges let you clean right up to the lens barrel. I will never look back! It really is the best gift to photographer in recent years. I'm a convert. I also did my reading and extensive testing shows the lenspen to be safe on coated lenses. I was really worried about that with my new Leica lens. But a quick swipe with a lenspen gets it sparkling and its certainly better than repeatedly trying to remove a fingerprint any other way.