I was wondering if anyone had any tips for cleaning lenses. Is there a proper technique? Are there any types of cleaners that one would reccomend?

I use a microfiber cloth mostly, blowing off dust first with a blower bulb if it's handy. Keep the cloth clean - I keep mine in 35mm film canisters. Occasionally I'll use the Eclipse system - two drops put on one of their cleaning pads (not directly on the lens). Here's some links:

Cloth: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=71128&is=REG

Blower: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=318545&is=REG

Eclipse: http://www.calumetphoto.com/ctl?PAGE=Controller&ac.ui.pn=cat.CatItemDetail&ac.item.itemNo=PZ1040&ac.cat.CatTreeSearch.detail=y&type=SPDSEARCH

Some people use that pressurized air stuff.
High pressure. Works pretty well

Any updates on the type of cleaner fluid people recommend?

I have a neat little unit called a LensPEN and it works well for me. I also have a blower bulb to remove the larger stuff, if necessary. HTH.

Cheers,

WesternGuy

I also use a lenspen .. and it works fine. Every now and then I clean the front element of my lenses with a lens fluid - a drop or two on a proper lens tissue to remove the gunk of the city - followed by a cleaning with a fresh tissue. Apart from that, I only use a microfible cloth.

Mike

Most of the time one or two specks of dust does not matter. What matters is a large finger print, or lots of junk on the lens. Just remember you are not cleaning a piece of window glass, but a little window cleaner will help if it's dirty and use a link free cloth, or lens tissue. Do not apply allot of pressure as you can damage the lens.

I use a lenspen, it is a god send. www.lenspen.com , I got mine at a local photography shop have had it a couple of years and use it almost everyday, I'm compulsive when it comes to keeping my camera clean, and the lens pen is the best thing that I have gotten.

I also have Kintronics speckGrabber Pro Kit, it works great if you have a piece of dust that is on an sensor. http://www.kinetronics.com/cgi-local/SoftCart.100.exe/online-store/scstore/photoproducts.html?E+scstore

I found the lens pen when I was looking for something else and also love it. So easy to carry and seems to work very well.

Looks like I'll be picking up a lens pen then :)

Used to use the spray with micro fiber and will always have it handy while shooting sports, but my new best friend is LensPen. It's a wonder. I got mine on eBay.