Dirt where it's not wanted!

[jagman]

Out snapping today I noticed a speck of dirt through the viewfinder, so when I got home I set about a clean up.
However it appears to be on the 'wrong' side of the fresnel screen and much more than a fleck of dust.
As a professional clean cost an arm and a leg it looks as if I will have to live with it, but at least it's not on the photos.
Just how does dust and muck get where it shouldn't?

 

[chphoto]

That's like coming back from a day at the beach and thinking "Sand got in THERE?!" whilst in the shower It happens, but there's no logical explanation as to why...

 

[ChrisH]

Have a look on Youtube there will be a video on how to remove the fresnel screen. If done carefully you'll be able to unclip it and blow the dust of with a rocket blower.

It's not too hard to do

 

[Mark_C]

I cleaned my viewfinder out, albeit not a Nikon one. It was a nerve wracking experience and I'd never do it again!

It was great once cleaned but then a few days later I got another spec of dust in the viewfinder, greeted by a few more the following few weeks. Needless to say, I've just learnt to live with them now.

 

[jagman]

I've ummed and aaahed for a while as to whether or not to have a go myself at removing the focus screen to clean the splodge from it's 'wrong' side. I Googled and read up on the process and today I ventured forth.
With a pair of plastic tweezers, a tooth pick and a cotton bud I tackled the job on my old but trustee 350D. A bit fiddly but holding my breath to steady myself i carefully unhooked the retaining clip with the tooth pick, removed the screen and gasket with the plastic tweezers.
I then carefully stroked the splodge away with the cotton bud and a good blast of rocket air before reassembly.
With baited breath I rechecked everything then tested it out.
Good news, no splodge and everything working as it should.

By the way it was a splodge and not a speck of dust otherwise I wouldn't have bothered!

 

[Nod]

The Katzeye site ( http://www.katzeyeoptics.com/ ) often has decent instructions as to how to remove the focussing screen in your DSLR but always be aware that there are loads of delicate mechanisms and parts in the mirror box and a slight error can screw up a camera all too easily (fortunately not speaking from personal experience), so be careful out there...