Mirror Cleaning

Kx-Rick · 08-09-2011, 12:36 AM

What's the best way to clean the mirror in my Kx?

**Ash** · 08-09-2011, 12:57 AM

Rocket blowing.
By far and away the best, least invasive and most effective method for dusty mirrors.
Soiled mirrors will require wet cleaning, and I'd personally suggest it be cleaned professionally. Even though it is not involved in image fidelity, it is still a part of the precision instrumentation of the camera, which if damaged will render the camera useless.

Vranx · 08-09-2011, 01:34 AM

Dust should be blown out with a blower, but hold the kamera with the bayonet pointing downwards to avoid the dust falling on the sensor.

If you have grease or solidly attached specks on the mirror, you could use isopropylene - but use the blower anyway first!!! The alcohol leaves a white layer on the mirror that you can get off using minimal quantities of distilled water. At the very end you can aspirate on the mirror and swab the moist away gently.

But generally, a mirror cleaning is not necessary unless you risk to bring sticky dirt up to the focussing screen or the viewfinder is completely fogged (which it rarely is...). Don't overrate dust on the mirror! It doesn't affect the pictures.

JohnX · 08-09-2011, 04:20 AM

I was told never to clean a mirror, other than using a blower, simply because the silvering is on the surface of the glass and easily damaged.

08-09-2011, 12:36 AM	#1
Kx-Rick Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: San Francisco Bay Area Photos: Albums Posts: 31	Mirror Cleaning What's the best way to clean the mirror in my Kx?

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08-09-2011, 12:57 AM	#2
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920	Rocket blowing. By far and away the best, least invasive and most effective method for dusty mirrors. Soiled mirrors will require wet cleaning, and I'd personally suggest it be cleaned professionally. Even though it is not involved in image fidelity, it is still a part of the precision instrumentation of the camera, which if damaged will render the camera useless.

08-09-2011, 01:34 AM	#3
Vranx Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Beautiful Bavaria :-) Posts: 123	Dust should be blown out with a blower, but hold the kamera with the bayonet pointing downwards to avoid the dust falling on the sensor. If you have grease or solidly attached specks on the mirror, you could use isopropylene - but use the blower anyway first!!! The alcohol leaves a white layer on the mirror that you can get off using minimal quantities of distilled water. At the very end you can aspirate on the mirror and swab the moist away gently. But generally, a mirror cleaning is not necessary unless you risk to bring sticky dirt up to the focussing screen or the viewfinder is completely fogged (which it rarely is...). Don't overrate dust on the mirror! It doesn't affect the pictures.

08-09-2011, 04:20 AM	#4
JohnX Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: London Posts: 1,116	I was told never to clean a mirror, other than using a blower, simply because the silvering is on the surface of the glass and easily damaged.