Vent: I spent $300 on a 'pro' lens cleaning kit that was just junk

So I got this fancy looking lens cleaning kit online, the one with the UV light and the special fluid. It was supposed to be the best for cleaning old fungus and haze. Cost me over three hundred bucks. The fluid left streaks on every single element I tried it on, worse than the haze it was meant to fix. The UV light was so weak it did nothing. I ended up having to redo three jobs with my old, simple method of isopropyl and lens tissue, which I should have just stuck with. I feel like a total sucker for falling for the marketing. Has anyone else been burned by a specific tool or kit that promised way more than it delivered? What's your go-to for tough haze now?

3 comments

3 Comments

patricia3224d ago

Ugh, I dropped serious cash on a "deluxe" air blower that was just a weak, noisy toy. What's your worst gear letdown?

blair_chen8124d ago

My own "pro" kit moment was a $150 sensor cleaning swab set that left more lint than my cat sheds. I had to explain to a client why their brand new camera had what looked like tiny hairs on every photo. I stick to Eclipse fluid and pec pads now, the boring stuff that actually works.

elliot_roberts24d ago

Man, that's rough. I bought a lens spanner wrench set that was supposed to be for delicate work, but the tips were so soft they stripped the slots on an old Helios. Had to hunt down a replacement name ring for weeks.