Help please.

soupdragon

soupdragon

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Tony
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Hello.

I have a spot visible through the viewfinder of my camera.
It is not in or on the viewfinder eyepiece and does not show up in pictures.

Does this mean it's on the mirror or the matte screen?

Either way, any tips on how to safely remove it? Cotton buds, blower brush, Dyson...................

My thanks in advance.
 
If i remember correctly the mirror is easy to damage so dont rush, wait for advice
 
If this is a DSLR the spot may be as you guess on the focus screen.

Maybe a blast with a rocket blower might shift it but sadly this is quite common with SLR's and DSLR's.

Some screens can be removed very easily, for example the one in my 5D came out easily.

I personally wouldn't worry too much about cleaning the mirror. I must have cleaned SLR/DSLR mirrors many many times without a problem.
 
Leave it, you will disturb all sorts of crap if you go blasting about inside the camera box.
Focus screens are very fragile, not easy to clean and need the special tool to get them out without damage.

If it doesn't show on the photo don't worry, every chance you will get more stuff in there straight after spending ages looking for this one.
My cameras always had bits visible in the viewfinder, pretty sure most others on here with DSLR's do as well
 
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Thanks guys.

It is a dslr but it's really annoying smack bang in the middle of the frame.
 
I disagree that focus screens are very fragile and not easy to clean. Yes they can be damaged if you treat them roughly but having said that I used to take my 5D screen out and clean it regularly with never an issue. However, that camera had a screen which was very easy to remove and designed to be removed by the user and I've fixed "stuff" all my life, that may not be the case with the OP and his camera.

I do agree that anyone who's a bit ham fisted probably shouldn't try :D
 
If I only had one spot on my focus screen I'd be happy, as it is I have lots. I just put up with them. I used to have a hair on one in an old camera (probably from the cat), now that was annoying :D
 
If I only had one spot on my focus screen I'd be happy, as it is I have lots. I just put up with them. I used to have a hair on one in an old camera (probably from the cat), now that was annoying :D
 
The focus screen is not a smooth surface, it’s has micro ridges and because of that if you risk blowing and trapping a some more dust if you are not careful. I’ve changed focus screens before in 5D2 so if it bugs you that much, you can change it for a fresh one. It depends what camera it is, some can’t be swapped out.
 
Raymond Lin said:
The focus screen is not a smooth surface, it’s has micro ridges and because of that if you risk blowing and trapping a some more dust if you are not careful. I’ve changed focus screens before in 5D2 so if it bugs you that much, you can change it for a fresh one. It depends what camera it is, some can’t be swapped out.
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Without reading the manual (I'm at work) I don't know if the 1DX2 screen is user changeable.
I don't believe it's damage but just a big spec of something. Although "Big" and "Spec" seem in contradiction.

My plan was to mount the camera to a tripod, remove the lens and have a root around with a dry cotton wool bud.
 
soupdragon said:
My plan was to mount the camera to a tripod, remove the lens and have a root around with a dry cotton wool bud.
Click to expand...

No cotton wool buds ever inside cameras, they shed loads of fibres and will get everywhere.
I have one of those little vacuum things you attach to a compressed air aerosol, that might work if you are really that bothered
 
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soupdragon said:
Without reading the manual (I'm at work) I don't know if the 1DX2 screen is user changeable.
I don't believe it's damage but just a big spec of something. Although "Big" and "Spec" seem in contradiction.

My plan was to mount the camera to a tripod, remove the lens and have a root around with a dry cotton wool bud.
Click to expand...

You'll end up with about 20 micro hairs stuck on the focus screen.
 
Looks like they are user replaceable.

Chinese one from eBay is around £24.

Whether it's any good......................
 
GreenNinja67 said:
Looks like they are user replaceable.

Chinese one from eBay is around £24.

Whether it's any good......................
Click to expand...

Just get a Canon made one....why would you even bother with a 3rd party one....It's the focus screen, not a strap.
 
woof woof said:
I disagree that focus screens are very fragile and not easy to clean. Yes they can be damaged if you treat them roughly but having said that I used to take my 5D screen out and clean it regularly with never an issue. However, that camera had a screen which was very easy to remove and designed to be removed by the user and I've fixed "stuff" all my life, that may not be the case with the OP and his camera.

I do agree that anyone who's a bit ham fisted probably shouldn't try :D
Click to expand...

I gently tried to clean my focus screen with a soft brush and scratched it. Had to buy a replacement. So yes, they are fragile and the etchings are easily damaged.
 
If you can see the spot in the viewfinder but not in images then it's either on the viewfinder glass, the focusing screen, or the main mirror. You've ruled out the first so that means it must be one if the other two.

Whether it's on the focusing screen or the mirror, a rocket blower stands a good chance of removing it. Hold the camera with the mount facing downwards, make sure the blower doesn't touch either the mirror or the screen (they are delicate), and a couple of sharp puffs should do it.
 
tijuana taxi said:
No cotton wool buds ever inside cameras, they shed loads of fibres and will get everywhere.
I have one of those little vacuum things you attach to a compressed air aerosol, that might work if you are really that bothered
Click to expand...
Believe me, I'm bothered by it. Grrrrrrrrrrrr!
 
StewartR said:
If you can see the spot in the viewfinder but not in images then it's either on the viewfinder glass, the focusing screen, or the main mirror. You've ruled out the first so that means it must be one if the other two.

Whether it's on the focusing screen or the mirror, a rocket blower stands a good chance of removing it. Hold the camera with the mount facing downwards, make sure the blower doesn't touch either the mirror or the screen (they are delicate), and a couple of sharp puffs should do it.
Click to expand...
Where does it go after rocket blasting it?
 
Cameras are dust magnets, think yourself lucky you haven't got the original Canon 5D, forever cleaning the sensor

Afraid you have to just accept these things otherwise you will send yourself bonkers.
Really would leave well alone, these cleaning attempts have a tendency to make matters worse
 
tijuana taxi said:
Really would leave well alone, these cleaning attempts have a tendency to make matters worse
Click to expand...
I disagree. I have dozens of cameras, they're used by all sorts of people in all sorts of environments, and I see a lot of cruddy viewfinders. It's quite rare that they're not easily cleaned.
 
StewartR said:
I disagree. I have dozens of cameras, they're used by all sorts of people in all sorts of environments, and I see a lot of cruddy viewfinders. It's quite rare that they're not easily cleaned.
Click to expand...

Yes, but you know how to go about it which is a whole different kettle of fish to the OP.
When poking about with a cotton bud is mentioned I stand by my advice.
 
tijuana taxi said:
Yes, but you know how to go about it which is a whole different kettle of fish to the OP.
When poking about with a cotton bud is mentioned I stand by my advice.
Click to expand...
Fair point. If the OP had poked around with a cotton bud, as he intimated, he could easily have caused damage costing >£100 to repair.

I think we can agree that these cleaning attempts have a tendency to make matters worse if you don't know what you're doing.
 
I think anyone who knows what they are doing wouldn’t start a thread like this.
 
Raymond Lin said:
It’s not you specifically, or this thread but the forum or internet or life as a whole, anyone asking surely by definition wouldn’t know how to, otherwise why ask?
Click to expand...
Well, I'm sure I could figure it out being an aerospace engineer, but, I find it's often prudent to ask as it's a racing certainty someone has done it before, thus eliminating some of the potential risk from things I had not considered..
 
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