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Hi Stephen,
Been there, done that (:!
Don't worry too much about scratching the coatings, they are pretty hard and you have to do a LOT of damage to them to interfere with IQ.
But to be on the safe side:
Blow as much of the salt away with some clean form of compressed air. Next carefully dislodge any remaining crystals with a lens brush or Sable paint brush. This applies to the housing as well as the lens.
Don't freak out now!
Fill a plastic bowl or pan with demineralised water, (do not use chemical solvents) up-end the lens so the glass is facing down, dip it in the water only as far as you need to immerse the glass. Swish it around for about 10 seconds. Repeat twice with fresh water. Stand the lens at a 30-60* angle and allow to dry or gently blow-dry on 'low' heat.
You're main goal is to wash away as much salt as possible, while not allowing moisture into the lens housing.
Modern lens glass is pretty robust, its really the body and seals that will be most adverseley affected over time.
Good luck, and if anyone has a less complicated way to do it, please chime - in!
Peter
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