Black thing in viewfinder

Laci.4400 · 11-25-2020, 02:14 PM

Hi all,

I just got a Spotmatic and all is fine except that there is this thing in the viewfinder. If I turn the body upside down it moves though not always and not much but still.
Does anyone know what is this and how it got there and will it affect anything and how to get rid of it?

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**Apet-Sure** · 11-25-2020, 02:35 PM

It might be dust or some kind of particle on the focusing screen inside the camera. Remove the lens and look inside at the focusing screen under the pentaprism. If you have a lens cleaning brush/air blower you can use it to dislodge anything on the screen. Use caution; some screens scratch easily.

**Michail_P** · 11-25-2020, 02:36 PM

Originally posted by Laci.4400

Hi all,

I just got a Spotmatic and all is fine except that there is this thing in the viewfinder. If I turn the body upside down it moves though not always and not much but still.
Does anyone know what is this and how it got there and will it affect anything and how to get rid of it?

If it moves then you should be able to get it off with a blower. It probably won’t affect your photos , I would guess it’s on the screen or the mirror. I have a similar little black spot in my film camera. As annoying as it has been, I never had any issues.

**othar** · 11-25-2020, 03:08 PM

It is somewhere between the mirror and the viewfinder, so it won't show up in your pictures and you don't necessarily have to remove it.

It might be some part from the sealing against light leaks or from the end stop of the mirror and probably got there via the mirror movement when taking a picture.

Laci.4400 · 11-25-2020, 03:46 PM

Sorry, my original post wasn’t clear. I mean the black big thing at the bottom of the screen. The rectangle at the mid-bottom of the screen. If I turn the camera it moves and if I turn it upside down it can move as far as the centre of the screen.

Not a Number · 11-25-2020, 04:47 PM

What ever it is it's between the focus screen and the prism. You would have to remove the top plate and prism to get at it as the focus screen isn't removable from the mirror box.

**DWS1** · 11-25-2020, 05:50 PM

Looks like it's on the focus screen. Shouldn't affect picture any.

Not a Number · 11-25-2020, 06:01 PM

Originally posted by DWS1

Looks like it's on the focus screen. Shouldn't affect picture any.

But depending on where it is at any given moment it could affect the meter reading.

**BigDave** · 11-25-2020, 08:44 PM

It may be a piece of the seal/frame between the focus screen and prism. They were most likely plastic or rubber and over time dry out. A piece probably broke off somewhere along the line. If you want to invest in a deep cleaning of the camera body then that would eliminate it.

Astro-Baby · 11-26-2020, 12:35 AM

In ant see it being a seal, its too clearly defined. You would have to get the top off and the prism out to find out what it is. Not familiar with the spottie so no idea what could be that shape inside.

Silent Street · 11-26-2020, 01:52 AM

From the clear edged definition, it resembles a shim or mask that has come adrift through the passage of time -- the age of the Spotmatic is... ?

Give the camera a shake (not a bang!) and if it moves, you will have a clearer view of what it is, and importantly, have established the need to have the prism area disassembled to deal with it.

35mmfilmfan · 11-26-2020, 06:25 AM

You could always take it to your local branch of London Camera Exchange (no connection other than satisfied customer) - they could offer advice and possibly point you to a repairer. After the current House Arrest ends, obviously.

Laci.4400 · 11-26-2020, 11:25 AM

So if I shake it it moves but just if I really give it a proper one and it only moves a bit and I can shake it back where it was.

I don’t want to touch it and dismantle it in any way so if you guys say it won’t affect the outcome then I think I leave it where it is and if it would bother me or would move somewhere where it would bother me in framing the photo and wouldn’t want to move when shaking then I’ll ask for help from a camera repair.

**othar** · 11-26-2020, 11:35 AM

Originally posted by Laci.4400

So if I shake it it moves but just if I really give it a proper one and it only moves a bit and I can shake it back where it was.I don’t want to touch it and dismantle it in any way so if you guys say it won’t affect the outcome then I think I leave it where it is and if it would bother me or would move somewhere where it would bother me in framing the photo and wouldn’t want to move when shaking then I’ll ask for help from a camera repair.

Sounds like a plan. Enjoy

Laci.4400 · 11-26-2020, 12:24 PM

Originally posted by othar

Sounds like a plan. Enjoy

I’ll be on it!

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11-25-2020, 02:35 PM	#2
Apet-Sure Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: Goldsboro North Carolina Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,861	It might be dust or some kind of particle on the focusing screen inside the camera. Remove the lens and look inside at the focusing screen under the pentaprism. If you have a lens cleaning brush/air blower you can use it to dislodge anything on the screen. Use caution; some screens scratch easily.

11-25-2020, 02:36 PM	#3
Michail_P Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2019 Location: Kalymnos Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,006	Originally posted by Laci.4400 Hi all, I just got a Spotmatic and all is fine except that there is this thing in the viewfinder. If I turn the body upside down it moves though not always and not much but still. Does anyone know what is this and how it got there and will it affect anything and how to get rid of it? If it moves then you should be able to get it off with a blower. It probably won’t affect your photos , I would guess it’s on the screen or the mirror. I have a similar little black spot in my film camera. As annoying as it has been, I never had any issues.

11-25-2020, 03:08 PM	#4
othar Site Supporter Join Date: May 2014 Location: Linz Photos: Albums Posts: 3,098	It is somewhere between the mirror and the viewfinder, so it won't show up in your pictures and you don't necessarily have to remove it. It might be some part from the sealing against light leaks or from the end stop of the mirror and probably got there via the mirror movement when taking a picture.

11-25-2020, 03:46 PM	#5
Laci.4400 Junior Member Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 27 Original Poster	Sorry, my original post wasn’t clear. I mean the black big thing at the bottom of the screen. The rectangle at the mid-bottom of the screen. If I turn the camera it moves and if I turn it upside down it can move as far as the centre of the screen.

11-25-2020, 04:47 PM	#6
Not a Number Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Venice, CA Posts: 10,526	What ever it is it's between the focus screen and the prism. You would have to remove the top plate and prism to get at it as the focus screen isn't removable from the mirror box.

11-25-2020, 05:50 PM	#7
DWS1 Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: Arkansas, USA Posts: 1,169	Looks like it's on the focus screen. Shouldn't affect picture any.

11-25-2020, 06:01 PM	#8
Not a Number Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Venice, CA Posts: 10,526	Originally posted by DWS1 Looks like it's on the focus screen. Shouldn't affect picture any. But depending on where it is at any given moment it could affect the meter reading.

11-25-2020, 08:44 PM	#9
BigDave Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Hudson Valley, NY Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,626	It may be a piece of the seal/frame between the focus screen and prism. They were most likely plastic or rubber and over time dry out. A piece probably broke off somewhere along the line. If you want to invest in a deep cleaning of the camera body then that would eliminate it.

11-26-2020, 12:35 AM	#10
Astro-Baby Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: Reigate, Surrey Posts: 764	In ant see it being a seal, its too clearly defined. You would have to get the top off and the prism out to find out what it is. Not familiar with the spottie so no idea what could be that shape inside.

11-26-2020, 01:52 AM	#11
Silent Street Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Castlemaine, Victoria, AUS Photos: Albums Posts: 1,151	From the clear edged definition, it resembles a shim or mask that has come adrift through the passage of time -- the age of the Spotmatic is... ? Give the camera a shake (not a bang!) and if it moves, you will have a clearer view of what it is, and importantly, have established the need to have the prism area disassembled to deal with it.

11-26-2020, 06:25 AM	#12
35mmfilmfan Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Norfolk, UK Posts: 4,329	You could always take it to your local branch of London Camera Exchange (no connection other than satisfied customer) - they could offer advice and possibly point you to a repairer. After the current House Arrest ends, obviously.

11-26-2020, 11:25 AM	#13
Laci.4400 Junior Member Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 27 Original Poster	So if I shake it it moves but just if I really give it a proper one and it only moves a bit and I can shake it back where it was. I don’t want to touch it and dismantle it in any way so if you guys say it won’t affect the outcome then I think I leave it where it is and if it would bother me or would move somewhere where it would bother me in framing the photo and wouldn’t want to move when shaking then I’ll ask for help from a camera repair.

11-26-2020, 11:35 AM	#14
othar Site Supporter Join Date: May 2014 Location: Linz Photos: Albums Posts: 3,098	Originally posted by Laci.4400 So if I shake it it moves but just if I really give it a proper one and it only moves a bit and I can shake it back where it was.I don’t want to touch it and dismantle it in any way so if you guys say it won’t affect the outcome then I think I leave it where it is and if it would bother me or would move somewhere where it would bother me in framing the photo and wouldn’t want to move when shaking then I’ll ask for help from a camera repair. Sounds like a plan. Enjoy

11-26-2020, 12:24 PM	#15
Laci.4400 Junior Member Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 27 Original Poster	Originally posted by othar Sounds like a plan. Enjoy I’ll be on it!