Pentax K 3 Focuisng Screen dust

giselag · 03-31-2016, 03:00 PM

Starting to see a couple of dust particles on my Pentax K3 focusing screen. I have a Giotto blower but hesitant to use it because I fear it would possible make things worse. Any suggestions out there. I know the dust does not affect the shot, however they are quite annoying to see through the view finder.

Advice please.

KiloHotelphoto · 03-31-2016, 03:26 PM

I have a piece of dust on my K-3 sensor that is driving me crazy! It's easy to remove from images but I still want it gone. I have never cleaned a sensor and I'm a little nervous about trying myself, need to find a place close by that can do it.

Penumbra · 03-31-2016, 03:28 PM

Ah, the proverbial speck of dust. I understand, went through that a few weeks back. Trying to clear it is a bit risky. What i did could be considered stupid:

With a Giotto (i think medium) with the puffing tip of the rocket blower a bit sideways towards the edge of the focusing screen, touching that edge, i puffed and i puffed. First i introduced new, uglier specks of dust and panicked and cursed myself. Then after some more puffing it all cleared. I vowed i'd never touch the inside of the camera in that manner ever again.

If the speck is rather smallish and not a black dot that really punches your eye through the viewfinder, i would learn to live with it, to see it as a sign of normal camera use.

Driline · 03-31-2016, 04:21 PM

And worse...sometimes it's not the screen but i believe behind the mirror were you can't get to. It's a long and windy road I don't want to go down again.....

KiloHotelphoto · 03-31-2016, 07:50 PM - **2 Likes**

I was looking at the K-1 and the first thing I thought of when I saw the led light on the front to help you see when changing lenses at night is that it will attract bugs and with my luck I would end up with a firefly inside my camera and lens. A little spec of dust drives me crazy a bug with a light on its butt crawling around in my DA560 would drive me insane.

Unregistered User · 04-01-2016, 01:45 AM - **1 Like**

Be very careful with the focusing screen. If you put a fingerprint on it you will not be able to clean it without scratching it. I have tried... Only touch it with a pair of tweezers on the protruding thingy.

akshay869 · 04-02-2016, 10:41 PM

Originally posted by Tjompen1968

Be very careful with the focusing screen. If you put a fingerprint on it you will not be able to clean it without scratching it. I have tried... Only touch it with a pair of tweezers on the protruding thingy.

I tried the same thing. Foolish me.

Well, I ended up scrubbing some of those fine laser patterns using a soft cotton cloth (for cleaning lens) and some more dust and unremovable scratches.
So far, the best tactic I have come up with is using a pair of tweezers and using a lens brush really gently. One doesn't even need to get the focusing screen out if they can brush that carefully.

Unregistered User · 04-03-2016, 07:41 AM

It is made out of some kind of plastic. I would never use anything that touches it. Just rinse with destilled water. Nothing else... I had to buy a new one.

giselag · 04-04-2016, 02:58 PM

Originally posted by Tjompen1968

It is made out of some kind of plastic. I would never use anything that touches it. Just rinse with destilled water. Nothing else... I had to buy a new one.

Was it easy to replace?

**niceshot** · 04-04-2016, 03:21 PM

Very simply just use a screw driver to unlatch the screen letting it drop down. The carefully blow it clean right there and with gentle puffs of air. AFTER PUSH IT BACK UP ,JOB DONE

rfg · 04-04-2016, 06:51 PM

I had a pretty ugly dust particle on my focus screen. Just held the camera facing down and blew with a rocket blower and the dust was gone. That would definitely be my first option

Unregistered User · 04-05-2016, 12:27 AM

Originally posted by giselag

Was it easy to replace?

Yes, I find it easy.

03-31-2016, 03:00 PM	#1
giselag Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Photos: Gallery Posts: 58	Pentax K 3 Focuisng Screen dust Starting to see a couple of dust particles on my Pentax K3 focusing screen. I have a Giotto blower but hesitant to use it because I fear it would possible make things worse. Any suggestions out there. I know the dust does not affect the shot, however they are quite annoying to see through the view finder. Advice please.

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03-31-2016, 03:26 PM	#2
KiloHotelphoto Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Glen Mills, PA Photos: Albums Posts: 1,030	I have a piece of dust on my K-3 sensor that is driving me crazy! It's easy to remove from images but I still want it gone. I have never cleaned a sensor and I'm a little nervous about trying myself, need to find a place close by that can do it.

03-31-2016, 03:28 PM	#3
Penumbra Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Suceava, Romania Photos: Albums Posts: 139	Ah, the proverbial speck of dust. I understand, went through that a few weeks back. Trying to clear it is a bit risky. What i did could be considered stupid: With a Giotto (i think medium) with the puffing tip of the rocket blower a bit sideways towards the edge of the focusing screen, touching that edge, i puffed and i puffed. First i introduced new, uglier specks of dust and panicked and cursed myself. Then after some more puffing it all cleared. I vowed i'd never touch the inside of the camera in that manner ever again. If the speck is rather smallish and not a black dot that really punches your eye through the viewfinder, i would learn to live with it, to see it as a sign of normal camera use.

03-31-2016, 04:21 PM	#4
Driline Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: IOWA Where the Tall Corn Grows Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,697	And worse...sometimes it's not the screen but i believe behind the mirror were you can't get to. It's a long and windy road I don't want to go down again.....

03-31-2016, 07:50 PM - 2 Likes	#5
KiloHotelphoto Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Glen Mills, PA Photos: Albums Posts: 1,030	I was looking at the K-1 and the first thing I thought of when I saw the led light on the front to help you see when changing lenses at night is that it will attract bugs and with my luck I would end up with a firefly inside my camera and lens. A little spec of dust drives me crazy a bug with a light on its butt crawling around in my DA560 would drive me insane.

04-01-2016, 01:45 AM - 1 Like	#6
Unregistered User Guest	Be very careful with the focusing screen. If you put a fingerprint on it you will not be able to clean it without scratching it. I have tried... Only touch it with a pair of tweezers on the protruding thingy.

04-02-2016, 10:41 PM	#7
akshay869 Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Pune Posts: 49	Originally posted by Tjompen1968 Be very careful with the focusing screen. If you put a fingerprint on it you will not be able to clean it without scratching it. I have tried... Only touch it with a pair of tweezers on the protruding thingy. I tried the same thing. Foolish me. Well, I ended up scrubbing some of those fine laser patterns using a soft cotton cloth (for cleaning lens) and some more dust and unremovable scratches. So far, the best tactic I have come up with is using a pair of tweezers and using a lens brush really gently. One doesn't even need to get the focusing screen out if they can brush that carefully.

04-03-2016, 07:41 AM	#8
Unregistered User Guest	It is made out of some kind of plastic. I would never use anything that touches it. Just rinse with destilled water. Nothing else... I had to buy a new one.

04-04-2016, 02:58 PM	#9
giselag Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Photos: Gallery Posts: 58 Original Poster	Originally posted by Tjompen1968 It is made out of some kind of plastic. I would never use anything that touches it. Just rinse with destilled water. Nothing else... I had to buy a new one. Was it easy to replace?

04-04-2016, 03:21 PM	#10
niceshot Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,564	Very simply just use a screw driver to unlatch the screen letting it drop down. The carefully blow it clean right there and with gentle puffs of air. AFTER PUSH IT BACK UP ,JOB DONE

04-04-2016, 06:51 PM	#11
rfg Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Sydney Posts: 139	I had a pretty ugly dust particle on my focus screen. Just held the camera facing down and blew with a rocket blower and the dust was gone. That would definitely be my first option

04-05-2016, 12:27 AM	#12
Unregistered User Guest	Originally posted by giselag Was it easy to replace? Yes, I find it easy.