Please help, Nikon D3100 viewfinder servicing.

N

nathan1

Suspended / Banned
Messages
8
Edit My Images
Yes
Hello,

I'm new here and to photography and all ready I have made a huge mistake.
I have had my D3100 for around a year and started to notice dust on my focus screen. My OCD would not let it lie and I followed an online guide how to clean IT.

First, I will never, ever do that again! My wife has also agreed never, ever to let me do that again! I am ashamed and didn't respect just how sensitive cameras are.

The issue I have now is the dust problem in my viewfinder is ridiculous. Luckily I can still use it and the focus is good but it is very visible and very distracting. The silver lining is my sensor is pristine, small mercy.

How much do you think this would cost to repair with Nikon? My warranty has elapsed by 6 days and I dare say I've invalidated it anyway. I'm guessing my focus screen needs replacing and viewfinder needs a damn good clean.

So that's my question, what do you think this will cost me?

Nathan
 
Last edited:
In really don't know what went wrong. I was so careful (so I thought) and used lint free lens tissues and a blower (small one). Not sure whether to try again but my gut says no as don't want to make it worse again.
 
The focus screen itself is very easy to mark and would probably only have a go at it with sensor cleaning swabs/fluid. The specks you see are not usually on the focus screen, more likely on the mirror or above it

Did you start blowing about inside the camera when you had removed the focus screen?

Lots of crud lives inside the camera and that would get it moving about into places you don't want it
 
Yeah, I blew and cleaned the screen above and then the focus screen and then blew again before replacing the screen. I blew around the mirror to no avail.
 
Last edited:
Iis the dust on the pics? If not then its on the mirror in focus screen wh8ch isnt hard to sort... I feel like I dont know all the info. You say is so bad well explain. You havent broken anything. Its hard to unless you touch the sensor.. so what exactly have to done
 
Yeah, I blew and cleaned the screen above and then the focus screen and then blew again before replacing the screen. I blew around the mirror to no avail.
Click to expand...

As I suspected and reckon you have dislodged a whole heap of crap making matters worse than before
Might be best to send it away for a service which should hopefully get some of the muck removed

Unless it's got on the sensor it shouldn't show on your photos, but do agree it can be very annoying seeing it through the viewfinder
 
The viewfinder has an awful lot of dust and fibres that don't seem to budge whatever I do. I'm worried they are somewhere unreachable or ingrained into the focus screen. A couple are going across the focus points which is what causes the irritation. I'm probably being naive and it's simpler than I think but just want a solution that works. Any advice is gratefully received.
 
tijuana taxi said:
As I suspected and reckon you have dislodged a whole heap of crap making matters worse than before
Might be best to send it away for a service which should hopefully get some of the muck removed

Unless it's got on the sensor it shouldn't show on your photos, but do agree it can be very annoying seeing it through the viewfinder
Click to expand...

Thank you, that does makes sense. Any idea of a ball park figure of the cost?
 
nathan1 said:
The viewfinder has an awful lot of dust and fibres that don't seem to budge whatever I do. I'm worried they are somewhere unreachable or ingrained into the focus screen. A couple are going across the focus points which is what causes the irritation. I'm probably being naive and it's simpler than I think but just want a solution that works. Any advice is gratefully received.
Click to expand...

Sorry have you actually removed the focus screen?
 
Sorry, no idea for a Nikon, but sure someone can help with a recommendation
 
nathan1 said:
Yes, flipped it down.
Click to expand...

Remove it fully its just 2 spring clips and the glass. The mirror will protect the sensor. There are videos on youtube to show you how. Use an air blower and blow out the body.
 
Nikon charge about £70 an hour for labour. (Fixation are roughly the same and if you don't have NPS can often turn around quicker).

Assuming you didn't break anything they could probably easily clean it in an hour. They might even charge by the half hour. "Full service" would probably be around £150 + parts.
 
Why not just drop in at the nearest camera store? They'll probably do it for next to nothing... if it's only a cleaning job...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top