Speckles in Viewfinder on 1D MKIII

Paulmack

Paulmack

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Can anyone help me out here please?

When I look through the viewfinder I can see what seem to be speckles, either dust or water marks, so I have cleaned the viewfinder thoroughly and still there but when I shoot a plain white background they dont show up on the images so I am guessing its not on the mirror.....so what next then?

Obviously its not too bad as they dont affect images but on a personal note its bugging the life out of me now. Is this something I need to pay someone to clean it to sort out?

Thanks
 
They'll be on your focusing screen for sure. The screen is user removable on the 1DMK3 and easily cleaned, but just beware if you're the sort of person with two thumbs on each hand, you could end up putting it back a lot worse than it came out.

Annoying as they are, they have no effect on your images, and are probably best ignored as they can re-appear as fast as you clean them off. Dust in cameras is a fact of life. ;)
 
Paulmack said:
Can anyone help me out here please?

When I look through the viewfinder I can see what seem to be speckles, either dust or water marks, so I have cleaned the viewfinder thoroughly and still there but when I shoot a plain white background they dont show up on the images so I am guessing its not on the mirror.....so what next then?

Obviously its not too bad as they dont affect images but on a personal note its bugging the life out of me now. Is this something I need to pay someone to clean it to sort out?

Thanks
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I would think that if they show through the viewfinder but not on the images, and you have cleaned the viewfinder, then the mirror is the likely culprit. Don't forget the mirror lifts when you take the images.
 
CT said:
They'll be on your focusing screen for sure. The screen is user removable on the 1DMK3 and easily cleaned, but just beware if you're the sort of person with two thumbs on each hand, you could end up putting it back a lot worse than it came out.

Annoying as they are, they have no effect on your images, and are probably best ignored as they can re-appear as fast as you clean them off. Dust in cameras is a fact of life. ;)
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No its not the focusing screen, cleaned that already. I am guessing it must be somewhere between the screen and the mirror??

Like I said images are fine but it is a little annoying to see it on the viewfinder when looking through it.
 
Caledonia said:
I would think that if they show through the viewfinder but not on the images, and you have cleaned the viewfinder, then the mirror is the likely culprit. Don't forget the mirror lifts when you take the images.
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Oh well if thats the case then its definately in need of a proper clean as I dont fancy touching the mirror myself!!

Cheers
 
Could be mirror or focusing screen. When you shoot the mirror moves out of the way so it wouldn't show up in pictures.
 
Have a look into it when you are in the manual sensor cleaning mode.

You should then be able to see the sensor, mirror (when back to normal), and hte focus screen, and also (not teaching you to suck eggs) but check the actual viewfinder.
 
Paulmack said:
No its not the focusing screen, cleaned that already. I am guessing it must be somewhere between the screen and the mirror??

Like I said images are fine but it is a little annoying to see it on the viewfinder when looking through it.
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Hmm. OK. It's unlikely to be the mirror IMHO, but you should be able to check that out by looking at the mirror. Just be aware that unlike conventional mirrors, camera mirrors are surface mirrored and it's easy to permanently mark the surface.

Are these speckles sharp or blurry?
 
FetchMeMyTools said:
Have a look into it when you are in the manual sensor cleaning mode.

You should then be able to see the sensor, mirror (when back to normal), and hte focus screen, and also (not teaching you to suck eggs) but check the actual viewfinder.
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Will give it a go later thanks. And yeah I have checked the viewfinder and cleaned it numerous times so its safe to say that one has been ruled out.
 
I have taken the lens off and shone a torch directly ahead and on the frosted glass I can just about make out the speckles I can see so it is just dust.

Would you have a go at cleaning this yourself or take the safer option of paying someone to do it?
 
Don't forget there are two sides to the focusing screen - the side you can get at - try a blower brush, and the side you can't get at which is inside the prism where any dust will ge trapped unless you remove the screen.

Have a look at your user manual for screen removal, but as I said earlier, it's really best ignored.
 
Paulmack said:
Would you have a go at cleaning this yourself or take the safer option of paying someone to do it?
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If its on the focus screen it will not effect the images. Under the 2 year warranty you get with the Mk3 you get a free Sensor clean from Canon - get them to clean the Focus screen at that time.
 
erding said:
If its on the focus screen it will not effect the images. Under the 2 year warranty you get with the Mk3 you get a free Sensor clean from Canon - get them to clean the Focus screen at that time.
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Free sensor clean? Any idea how you go about getting this done??
 
The focusing screen is a dust trap :(

If you feel comfortable getting it out (fnarr fnarr) hold it by the corners wearing gloves etc., and blast each side with a rocket blower or canned air.

If the specks are sharp, they'll be on the focusing screen. Dust on the mirror will be out-of-focus.

Agree with previous posters that it's best to live with it. Mine has a tiny hair on it that won't budge, but it doesn't affect the pics.

A.
 
I'm inclined to agree with CT. If the dust is on the mirror it's unlikely you will see it. It's too out of focus to be clearly defined.

It's more than likely on the inside of the focusing screen. A blower brush won't get it out, you need to drop the screen to do it. Not a difficult thing to do if you have the right tool. ( They come free with replacement screens, but I don't know how you go about getting one any other way).

Provided they are not to prominent leave them alone and use the camera normally. You could try contacting Calumet in Liverpool. I know they have sensor cleaning clinics in Manchester, but don't know about Liverpool. They aren't free though, but perhapes they'll do it for a small fee.
 
Paulmack said:
Free sensor clean? Any idea how you go about getting this done??
Click to expand...

Contact Canon UK. You have the option of either sending it to them at Elstree, London, or one of their service agents.
 
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