For Methanol I did mean Methanol rather than Methylated spirit.

We use laboratory graded at less than 0.05% impurities.

IPA or Isopropyl alcohol is also a useful substitute. (The other type of IPA is a useful substitute for ESB!!)

As for silvered mirrors - the best advice is no contact at all. The mirrored surface of turning mirrors and beam shaping masks cannot be touched even with gloved hands - unless a replacement is available.

Compressed N2 or filtered/dry/clean air is all I have used on 1st surface mirrors.

I will add that the first thing I when cleaning an optic - camera lenses too, is to try to remove as much as possible by blowing and then very gently wipe and blow. the last thing the you want to do is trap a dirt or grit particle under the tissue and then scrub away at the glass surface.

Cheerz

MZ

Has anyone used Microglobe?

Some of their prices seem very good - if not too good to be true - A DA15 is £509.62!

Cheerz

MZ

In my work I have regularly clean the very exotic optics optics of a range extremely expensive excimer lasers. To improve efficiency.

The method recommended by the manufacturer to maintain maximum transmission is to take a folded (to a width of 1cm approx) lens tissue moistened with with alcohol (methanol) and firstly wipe the entire optic, vertically, then horizontally, repeated 5 times, blowing the optic with nitrogen between each series of wipes. (canned air + lens fluid will do at home)

The improvement in transmission is actually measurable in terms of increased fluence and the life of the optics is increased too.

I use a similar technique on my camera optics only paying more attention to the periphery of the lens.

I use my Silver Slims for "Other" purposes! In fact I may see what I can conjure up before the footy starts

Cheerz

MZ (Come on you blues!)

Thanks for the reminder Flossie, it also explains why my K7 is a little neurotic at times. Pentax obviously are still using the prototype GPP in their cameras!

Cheerz

MZ

Earlier I was demonstrating (showing off?) my A50 f1.7 to a friend who has never used a MF lens and got some surprising results.

When shooting using the focus indicator/trap in focus techniques the images seemed out-of-focus.

However, when I took the same shot focusing using my eyes/matt screen (normal method) the images were in focus.

So...

Do MF lenses need AF adjustment when using the camera to confirm focus? I can't think of a reason why they would be spared but I have never thought about it before.

Cheerz

MZ

When I wanted to start making artistic visual images (without any talent) I started taking photographs, I used colour film and Boots!
Then I collected together the equipment for a darkroom and moved to B&W - I felt liberated!! I was in control.

I see the digital camera & PC as a modern extension of this.

I didn't at first. I resisted until curiosity and need took over.

The same happened in music.

Again no talent, so I bought a drum kit and joined a Punk Band. I later added a guitar and a 4 track tape machine. I added a synth.

I had my darkroom.

One day I connected that synth to my PC added a thing called Cubase and moved into the digital music world.

I still had my darkroom.

I built a studio in my front room based around a few synths samplers and outboard FX, retired the drums.

I still had a darkroom.

I sold all of my studio kit and used a USB keyboard and the massive processing power afforded my by Intel on my PC.

I still used my darkroom occasionally.

Then came the K100D and PS.

Gone is the darkroom now the PC is both my music and Photography studio in one.

I am truly liberated!

It’s called technology and it moves with the times....and more than often at a pace faster than I do.

MZ

Then I bought a digital SLR.

I got to play with my son's Buzz Lightyear!

Any photo stuff will have to wait till the end of Jan at the earliest!!
(sob)

MZ

If you are prepare to wait seconds for the exposure you don't need to fiddle with your DSLR at all - just slap your IR filter on the front and away you go.

I got some good results with my Cokin A IR filter and the kit lens on my K100!

Cheerz

MZ

It's that time of year when the lists come out.

The top ten.

Video games, hit records, films, celebrity plastic surgery enhancements!

You could draw a list for the top ten lists.

One I haven't seen.... top ten cameras, ever, well, I'll restrict it to SLR's.

I want your lists because I don't know, I don't have that kind of knowledge or experience. I have only ever owned 4 SLR's and in reverse order.

My first ever and in at No.4 Pentax ME Super
3rd, Nikon FA
2nd, Pentax K100D,
1st, Pentax K7

That's all I know about! But you lot! surely What are the best 10 SLR's of all time.................

MZ

2010,

Friends lost and new friends made, old job lost new job found.

My new job means I now have to commute 150 miles a day, so 2.5litre swapped for 1.4, and 75 mile of Essex/Cambridgeshire country side to photograph. oh the opportunity...

I have taken precisely 1 set of pictures!! link

2011 I will take more!

MZ