Dirty viewfinder

kent · 07-12-2009, 03:22 AM

Hi there,

Everytime I look through viewfinder I see some small hair and few spots. It does not affect image quality anyway but still I want my camera to be clean. As I understand dust and hair is on matte plate , right? So how can I clean it? What is more I see some dust on mirror. Curiously enough sensor seems to be fine.
Thank you

Manel Brand · 07-12-2009, 04:19 AM

I would advise you to not bother too much with dirt in the viewfinder, but if you want to clean it anyway, you should try to blow the dirt using a rubber blower; don´t use anything else. Same for the mirror.

First, gently blow the external surface of the viewfinder and see if the dirt has gone away; if not, the dirt is on the other surface and you have to release the lock of the viewfinder frame to access it. Take a look at this video clip to get an idea on to do this (the movie is about replacing the focusing screen but the procedure is similar as to the required for cleaning):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqZCjT-jr1s&feature=PlayList&p=D15A94962D5225...rom=PL&index=5

Also look here for instructions about unlocking the viewfinder frame:

http://www.focusingscreen.com/work/kmen.htm

Please, be careful; not a difficult op. but consider that you may damage the viewfinder or the frame because of some insignificant dirt spots that don't affect your photos or focusing procedures.

Marc Sabatella · 07-13-2009, 09:52 AM

I agree. A simple blow to the uinderside of the focus screen is fine, but anything beyond that is likely to do more harm than good. Viewfinder dust is a fact of life with SLR's - always has been.

res3567 · 07-13-2009, 08:40 PM

Originally posted by Marc Sabatella

I agree. A simple blow to the uinderside of the focus screen is fine, but anything beyond that is likely to do more harm than good. Viewfinder dust is a fact of life with SLR's - always has been.

You got that rite! I just put a new jinfinace focusing screen in my K10D and I got some specs. I tried very hard to take extra care and used a blower on top of that and I still got dust!

Now I don't feel so bad!

**Canada_Rockies** · 07-13-2009, 08:49 PM

I gave up attempting to clean the viewfinder two bodies ago. Every time I cleaned it, it was worse, and when I scratched the new grid screen I put in the SF-1, I stopped doing more than blowing the dust around.

res3567 · 07-13-2009, 10:49 PM

Originally posted by Canada_Rockies

I gave up attempting to clean the viewfinder two bodies ago. Every time I cleaned it, it was worse, and when I scratched the new grid screen I put in the SF-1, I stopped doing more than blowing the dust around.

What is the SF-1?

Manel Brand · 07-13-2009, 11:43 PM

Originally posted by res3567

What is the SF-1?

I would say that's the Pentax SF1 also known as Pentax SFX.

Marc Sabatella · 07-14-2009, 09:14 AM

Which is to say, a 1980's era film camera.

Mann · 07-15-2009, 03:17 PM

I don't even see the dust in my viewfinder, even though it's there. I guess my brain filters it out

khardur · 07-15-2009, 06:11 PM

Originally posted by Marc Sabatella

I agree. A simple blow to the uinderside of the focus screen is fine, but anything beyond that is likely to do more harm than good. Viewfinder dust is a fact of life with SLR's - always has been.

I had the carcass of a tiny little spider inside my K110D viewfinder. Little f-er. At least it could have died on one of the autofocus points.

LOL.

res3567 · 07-18-2009, 12:18 AM

Originally posted by Marc Sabatella

Which is to say, a 1980's era film camera.

Thank you Marc.

07-12-2009, 03:22 AM	#1
kent Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Lithuania Photos: Gallery Posts: 344	Dirty viewfinder Hi there, Everytime I look through viewfinder I see some small hair and few spots. It does not affect image quality anyway but still I want my camera to be clean. As I understand dust and hair is on matte plate , right? So how can I clean it? What is more I see some dust on mirror. Curiously enough sensor seems to be fine. Thank you

07-12-2009, 04:19 AM	#2
Manel Brand Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Porto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 853	I would advise you to not bother too much with dirt in the viewfinder, but if you want to clean it anyway, you should try to blow the dirt using a rubber blower; don´t use anything else. Same for the mirror. First, gently blow the external surface of the viewfinder and see if the dirt has gone away; if not, the dirt is on the other surface and you have to release the lock of the viewfinder frame to access it. Take a look at this video clip to get an idea on to do this (the movie is about replacing the focusing screen but the procedure is similar as to the required for cleaning): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqZCjT-jr1s&feature=PlayList&p=D15A94962D5225...rom=PL&index=5 Also look here for instructions about unlocking the viewfinder frame: http://www.focusingscreen.com/work/kmen.htm Please, be careful; not a difficult op. but consider that you may damage the viewfinder or the frame because of some insignificant dirt spots that don't affect your photos or focusing procedures. Last edited by Manel Brand; 07-12-2009 at 04:35 AM.

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07-13-2009, 09:52 AM	#3
Marc Sabatella Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Denver, CO Photos: Gallery Posts: 10,685	I agree. A simple blow to the uinderside of the focus screen is fine, but anything beyond that is likely to do more harm than good. Viewfinder dust is a fact of life with SLR's - always has been.

07-13-2009, 08:40 PM	#4
res3567 Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Houston Tx. Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,876	Originally posted by Marc Sabatella I agree. A simple blow to the uinderside of the focus screen is fine, but anything beyond that is likely to do more harm than good. Viewfinder dust is a fact of life with SLR's - always has been. You got that rite! I just put a new jinfinace focusing screen in my K10D and I got some specs. I tried very hard to take extra care and used a blower on top of that and I still got dust! Now I don't feel so bad!

07-13-2009, 08:49 PM	#5
Canada_Rockies Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Sparwood, BC, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,385	I gave up attempting to clean the viewfinder two bodies ago. Every time I cleaned it, it was worse, and when I scratched the new grid screen I put in the SF-1, I stopped doing more than blowing the dust around.

07-13-2009, 10:49 PM	#6
res3567 Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Houston Tx. Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,876	Originally posted by Canada_Rockies I gave up attempting to clean the viewfinder two bodies ago. Every time I cleaned it, it was worse, and when I scratched the new grid screen I put in the SF-1, I stopped doing more than blowing the dust around. What is the SF-1?

07-13-2009, 11:43 PM	#7
Manel Brand Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Porto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 853	Originally posted by res3567 What is the SF-1? I would say that's the Pentax SF1 also known as Pentax SFX.

07-14-2009, 09:14 AM	#8
Marc Sabatella Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Denver, CO Photos: Gallery Posts: 10,685	Which is to say, a 1980's era film camera.

07-15-2009, 03:17 PM	#9
Mann Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 124	I don't even see the dust in my viewfinder, even though it's there. I guess my brain filters it out

07-15-2009, 06:11 PM	#10
khardur Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: NW Massachusetts Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,560	Originally posted by Marc Sabatella I agree. A simple blow to the uinderside of the focus screen is fine, but anything beyond that is likely to do more harm than good. Viewfinder dust is a fact of life with SLR's - always has been. I had the carcass of a tiny little spider inside my K110D viewfinder. Little f-er. At least it could have died on one of the autofocus points. LOL.

07-18-2009, 12:18 AM	#11
res3567 Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Houston Tx. Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,876	Originally posted by Marc Sabatella Which is to say, a 1980's era film camera. Thank you Marc.