Hi, since i bought my first flashlight, i always had huge problems with cleaning the lens. My friend theory is that the AR coating wear off with time, and heating of the glass, so it gets kinda fogy and on top of that its very very HARD to clean it, the chemicals from the AR coating are greasy, impossible to clean if you remove the lens for dedoming for example, and put it back on.
Now i know that AR lens get you around 5% more OTF lumens, but when the lens get fogy and smeared that 5% are easily gone. So what i think is getting regular glass, which can be cleaned VERY EASY, and get the same results while not having to get frustrated about cleaning the lens….its almost impossible, i treid EVERYTHING.
Pure alcohol, tiny amounts of detergent, special towers, distilled water , 100% microfiber/cotton materials, nothing helps, its just getting worst and worst in the process of cleaning, and the AR coating gets off even more (a tiny bits) but i think it does, so it creates mists and smudges which are UN removable
I wonder why manufacturers, don’t use regular but good quality glass, it would be so much easier.
When I pull the lights apart I usually do it upside down and unscrew the lens cap leaving the lens in the cap and put it aside with a piece of plastic covering it so no dust etc gets in.
Haven’t had to clean the lens of a light I have pulled apart yet.
In saying that, I had to clean the outside of my TN31 ages ago because someone touched it and left a big fingerprint which I hate. I found cleaning spray from reading glasses with a new glasses cleaning microfiber worked well. Wiped the spray around and then used the dry section of the cloth to wipe off any residue.
Glass reflects most when light comes at an angle.
From the reflector the light comes at 0°, so most of it passes through.
So I’m not so sure about actual benefits from AR coating.
It should be double sided though i.m.o., so it can also suppress internal reflection in the glass itself.
I understand the difference is measurable, but not visible…
But it’s a nice touch, to have that blue-ish shine on the lens.
www.flashlightlens.com is the home of the Ultra Clear Lens for flashlights. Very nice lens, I don’t have any issue cleaning mine, but then I’m a photographer and am used to handling glass in such a manner as to not get it printed up in the first place. Like LSX, I usually leave the lens in the bezel and place the reflector on it as it goes in the light.
I modded an MAXToch SN6X-2X from 96Kcd to 348Kcd. When I put an UCLp (acrylic or plastic instead of glass) it went up to 365Kcd. I’ll take 17Kcd from a lens change anyday!
That site is selling only 55mm lens max size, i need 90mm +
Also the increase of throw, is only during the lens are new, when they get dirty, and you get to the point like mine are, that 5% advantage is easily gone.
If you don’t see what you are looking for, send em a message, he can custom cut the acrylic lenses.
That’s right Jerommel, acrylic instead of glass. It works very well for me in my HD2010’s, the SupFire M6 with it’s 4900 lumens, and a few others that have oddball sizes not found in the high transmission glass.
I like the idea of the non-glass lens in a working light…it can take a beating, dropping it won’t shatter the lens, even though you do have to pay attention towards not getting it scratched. By now though, it should be second nature to most everyone here to not allow anything to touch the lens.
If you simply never you touch it, you also never clean it.
I know, that’s why i think they are overrated. Even Fenix use average quality AR….not high quality, so yea regular glass > AR coating (which is used in flashlight world) imho.
AR coated lenses make a difference for me and I haven’t noticed an issue cleaning them yet. I just fog them with my breath and gently wipe with a soft microfiber cloth. AR coating does have a slight negative in that they reveal defects in the reflector which is evidenced by more artifacts appearing in the beam. I guess because less light is bouncing around in the reflector and diffusing the beam. Generally only visible on flat walls though. ” Here’s a thread with some crude AR lens measurements”:AR Lenses - Lets Measure Improvement.
Yes there is benefit, until the coating start to wear off, or you start the cycle of hell (trying to clean them) then the smudges/foging make that 5-8% improvement 0.
Why do you want to clean it ? I’m also a perfectionist but trying to clean it will only get worst.
The reflectors are also a nightmare to clean; even the softest material will leave a visible mark, but its usually only visible when you watch the reflector and turn the LED on. That why IMO you should never attempt to clean a reflector unless with compressed air.
Try measuring the light output with luxmeter, even with a very fogy lens I doubt you loose very much light and can tell the difference.
I never cease to be amazed at the amount of effort numbers of people can put into provenance, for one to come along and denounce the results so easily.
Life is compromise. Everything we do, everything we are, is a variable. If something works for you, by all means enjoy it! That’s what we all do, strive to find perfection and adjust our idea of same along the route.
Me? I don’t really care if an AR lens is more efficient. I don’t care if it’s more expensive. I don’t even care if it’s more fragile. I LIKE the way the reflector and emitter LOOK sitting under a high quality AR lens. And that’s all it takes for me. To be able to see my $21 MT-G2 as though there were no lens, to see the $62 Luminus SBT-70 clearly, like you could put a nice oily fingerprint right on it’s window pane, unencumbered by reflection from the overhead lights or whatever. That’s enough to make me buy em.
I’ve had some success with liquid dish washing soap and the tip of my finger.
Rub without force, finger will ‘float’ on the soap, but it will get rid of any grease or dust.
Rinse with warm water and it’s clean(er).
Probly wise to do final rinse with demi- / distilled water…
