Dirt seen through viewfinder

[2.8photography]

I've recently noticed some dirt (which includes a small hair, which i thought would be easy to remove) when looking through my viewfinder.

It appears regardless of which lens i mount, so im certain the problem doesnt lie in the lens. I've tried to clean my mirror by using a blower, but the dirt still remains there. Also, it doesnt seem to be on the outer surface of the viewfinder.

Where else could the dirt be that i can clean? Although, (of course) it doesnt affect the picture quality, it can get irritating at times considering that it is of a significant size.

Thanks in advance.

 

[rendition]

If you're a Canon xxD or xD user, you can try to remove the focusing screen and use a dust blower and blow that area, the pentaprism area... well, that's what I do to mine occasionally. It could be resting on the focusing screen actually.

 

[chalib]

My friend uses vacuum cleaner at a certain distance from the mount

U dare? I dare not :bsmilie:

Do it at ur own risk.....

 

[night86mare]

Where else could the dirt be that i can clean? Although, (of course) it doesnt affect the picture quality, it can get irritating at times considering that it is of a significant size.

Thanks in advance.

might be on focusing screen

my advice is, bring to servicing centre, they can try cleaning for you.

if not, just live with it, i dare to clean my sensor, but i don't dare to touch my mirror/focusing screen.

 

[smtan24]

You can get it clean a the service centre. But trust me it will come back again. I suggest you get use to it. After a while you won't notice it.

 

[jaRv1s]

most probably the mirror... just use blower to blow it... if still there then you need to go back to service center...

 

[egnaro]

whatever you do, I suggest you never remove your focusing screen and try cleaning yourself. prism and focusing screen will get scratch easily or thing might get worst. As for myself, I ignore those dirt since it doesnt affect my picture!

 

[JacePhoto]

i spoke to the people at service centre before. They say that dirt can stick to the inner side of the view finder or the penta prism. To clean it, got to leave overnight where they will dismantle and clean. Nevertheless its hard to clean.

 

[rendition]

whatever you do, I suggest you never remove your focusing screen and try cleaning yourself. prism and focusing screen will get scratch easily or thing might get worst. As for myself, I ignore those dirt since it doesnt affect my picture!

Although the surface of the focusing screen is very fragile, if you have the right tools, it shouldn't do much harm. For me, I use the tweezers that come with my other focusing screen. Thing is, never touch it with anything, not even with your lint-free cloth etc, nothing, cuz the lazer etching is very fragile just dust blow it. Works fine for me ever since.

if not, just live with it, i dare to clean my sensor, but i don't dare to touch my mirror/focusing screen.

You're definitely the hero. Sensor to me is way harder to clean and costs.... wayyyy loads more and if anything goes wrong, it can affect your image too as opposed to focusing screen.

 

[Ah Pao]

I hope I've seen this thread earlier.
I also had a piece of dirt stuck somewhere in the viewfinder and I removed the focusing screen to clean it. Not only it was an unsuccessful attempt (the dirt is still there somewhere), I also got a (lightly) scratched focusing screen...

 

[2.8photography]

thanks for all the replies, its a Nikon D70s

im not so sure im confident enough to remove the focusing screen and clean it

night86mare - how come you dont dare to clean your mirror/focusing screen? is it more fragile and easily damaged compared to the sensor?

i guess sending it to be NSC would be one of my options, but would it cost quite a bit? id rather live with the dirt than make the trip to nikon and fork out 50 bucks if it costs something like that

 

[2evans]

thanks for all the replies, its a Nikon D70s

im not so sure im confident enough to remove the focusing screen and clean it

night86mare - how come you dont dare to clean your mirror/focusing screen? is it more fragile and easily damaged compared to the sensor?

i guess sending it to be NSC would be one of my options, but would it cost quite a bit? id rather live with the dirt than make the trip to nikon and fork out 50 bucks if it costs something like that

Got some dirt in mine but since it doesn't affect the image, haven't bothered to get it cleaned. Actually, don't really notice it much anymore when looking through the view finder.

 

[boonsong]

use a blower and blow the "ceiling" of your internal assembly after you dismount the lens.

 

[2.8photography]

use a blower and blow the "ceiling" of your internal assembly after you dismount the lens.

hmm i just tried that - doesn't seem to work. maybe the dust is welded and damp because of the humidity

anyway i think i'll just live with it until i get a new camera

thanks for your help!

 

[night86mare]

night86mare - how come you dont dare to clean your mirror/focusing screen? is it more fragile and easily damaged compared to the sensor?

i guess sending it to be NSC would be one of my options, but would it cost quite a bit? id rather live with the dirt than make the trip to nikon and fork out 50 bucks if it costs something like that

because there is information easily available on sensor cleaning as well as video for demonstration.. etc

and i have done it for long enough, plus, it is so ley chey to send it in (travelling + costs notwithstanding)..

i'm sure with the right knowledge, the mirror/focusing screen can be easily cleaned.. it is just like a car with a mechanic compared to layman. both may be equally intelligent with equal ability, but technical knowledge about the layout of the car, how to go about doing the dismantling.. the layman lacks it, the mechanic has it. hope you get what i mean.

 

[night86mare]

You're definitely the hero. Sensor to me is way harder to clean and costs.... wayyyy loads more and if anything goes wrong, it can affect your image too as opposed to focusing screen.

lol.. the thing is, the sensor has an aa filter on it, i always wonder why people are worried about scratching it.

i have only heard one horror story where some winning photographer used an end of screwdriver wrapped in pec pad to rub his sensor.. i think, with sufficient common sense.. a sensor is just as easy to clean as anything else.. and of course, at the right time.

trying to clean your sensor in the middle of a sandstorm , for example, is not a good idea. :bsmilie: