Small piece of dust while viewing through the Viewfinder

brosen · 08-28-2010, 07:36 AM

While viewing through the Viewfinder I was able to see a small piece of dust through, I did not want to return it and also I did not have enough time to take it to service, so I took the risk (I know it's not the best or more professional solution) and I removed the Body Mount Cover and using a Compressed Gas Duster I blow it away, I think the piece of dust was in one of the mirrors. Is it safe to do this to clean the mirrors ?, or is better a more professional treatment at a photo shop ?, I know maybe I did wrong, but it was only 1 time

mickeyobe · 08-28-2010, 07:45 AM

"I know maybe I did wrong, but it was only 1 time "

Said Jack the Ripper about his first victim.

Mickey

JeffJS · 08-28-2010, 08:18 AM

What was the result of your cleaning?

brosen · 08-28-2010, 08:27 AM

Problem solved, do you know if what I did was too bad and can cause other collateral damages ?, thanks

Marc Sabatella · 08-28-2010, 09:49 AM

If the camera still works, you didn't damage it. But I'd be reluctant to repeat the experiment. It's quite easy to make it worse rather than better, and to damage the focus screen in the process. Viewfinder dust is a fact of life with DSLR's - see the many, many, many previous threads on the topic.

tibbitts · 08-28-2010, 10:09 AM

I wouldn't have worried about dust. I have a lot of dirt in the viewfinders of all my slrs. Once I even had a tiny insect crawling across the screen. Hopefully it didn't find anything to eat in there - or worse yet reproduce - and has since moved on.

Paul

JohnX · 08-28-2010, 10:30 AM

DON'T use compressed gas to clean inside your camera. The gas canister may contain oily residue from the compressor used to fill it; this could get blown out with the gas and onto your mirror, etc.

brosen · 08-28-2010, 10:30 AM

It's working fine, good I did not cause more problems

brosen · 08-28-2010, 11:05 AM

Attached are some hand held test's shoots (Green Mode - fully Auto) I took with the camera (K-7 and the 100mm Macro WR).

Based on my super basic photography knowledge and experience, I think they are OK, what do you think ?

Somebody mentioned potential problems with the focus system after what I did, I think for hand held pictures with a macro lens, the focus is fine, experts opinion ?

http://picasaweb.google.com/Logicito/TestMacroPhotos?authkey=Gv1sRgCPPnuNXv2...eat=directlink

Thanks a lot

JeffJS · 08-28-2010, 11:48 AM

It's hard to go wrong with that lens, believe me, I've tried. Your photos look fine as far as focus is concerned.

brosen · 08-28-2010, 11:53 AM

Originally posted by JeffJS

It's hard to go wrong with that lens, believe me, I've tried. Your photos look fine as far as focus is concerned.

So you don't think I've created a permanent damage to the camera ?, thanks

JeffJS · 08-28-2010, 12:06 PM

Originally posted by brosen

So you don't think I've created a permanent damage to the camera ?, thanks

From what I can see in the small picasa pictures, no. In spite of what many will tell you, these cameras are actually pretty tough and will stand Some abuse. There are a few here who even use the canned air to clean their sensors. That is against general advice on the subject but they swear by it. If a blast of air had hurt anything, you would know it. Let your camera autofocus on something (like your plants) and check the viewfinder. If what you see is in focus, you're likely good to go. If the photos look focused, you're good to go. Just put that wonderful lens on, and go out and snap some more photos. Worry about damage when it actually happens.

Here's some from my same combo..

Pentax DFA 100mm f2.8 WR - a set on Flickr

brosen · 08-28-2010, 12:39 PM - **1 Like**

WOW, your pictures are really good, I am a beginner

I just did what you said, took some pictures to test the AF system, after pressing the shutter half way, focus was OK in the Viewfinder and after that focus was also OK in the photos as well (checked in a big monitor 24 inch), so I will assume I am safe

with the camera, no damage was created.

I have added more photos at the end, please check attached link:

Picasa Web Albums - Family Album - Test Macro Ph...

JeffJS · 08-28-2010, 01:19 PM

Thank you. I'm still a bit of a beginner too, with macros anyway.. There are people around here who get a lot more out of their macro setups than I do.

Macro Photography - PentaxForums.com

08-28-2010, 07:36 AM	#1
brosen Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: US Posts: 183	Small piece of dust while viewing through the Viewfinder While viewing through the Viewfinder I was able to see a small piece of dust through, I did not want to return it and also I did not have enough time to take it to service, so I took the risk (I know it's not the best or more professional solution) and I removed the Body Mount Cover and using a Compressed Gas Duster I blow it away, I think the piece of dust was in one of the mirrors. Is it safe to do this to clean the mirrors ?, or is better a more professional treatment at a photo shop ?, I know maybe I did wrong, but it was only 1 time

08-28-2010, 11:05 AM	#9
brosen Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: US Posts: 183 Original Poster	Attached are some hand held test's shoots (Green Mode - fully Auto) I took with the camera (K-7 and the 100mm Macro WR). Based on my super basic photography knowledge and experience, I think they are OK, what do you think ? Somebody mentioned potential problems with the focus system after what I did, I think for hand held pictures with a macro lens, the focus is fine, experts opinion ? http://picasaweb.google.com/Logicito/TestMacroPhotos?authkey=Gv1sRgCPPnuNXv2...eat=directlink Thanks a lot Last edited by brosen; 08-28-2010 at 11:34 AM.

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08-28-2010, 07:45 AM	#2
mickeyobe Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,759	"I know maybe I did wrong, but it was only 1 time " Said Jack the Ripper about his first victim. Mickey

08-28-2010, 08:18 AM	#3
JeffJS Inactive Account Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Michigan, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,484	What was the result of your cleaning?

08-28-2010, 08:27 AM	#4
brosen Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: US Posts: 183 Original Poster	Problem solved, do you know if what I did was too bad and can cause other collateral damages ?, thanks

08-28-2010, 09:49 AM	#5
Marc Sabatella Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Denver, CO Photos: Gallery Posts: 10,685	If the camera still works, you didn't damage it. But I'd be reluctant to repeat the experiment. It's quite easy to make it worse rather than better, and to damage the focus screen in the process. Viewfinder dust is a fact of life with DSLR's - see the many, many, many previous threads on the topic.

08-28-2010, 10:09 AM	#6
tibbitts Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Oklahoma USA Posts: 2,196	I wouldn't have worried about dust. I have a lot of dirt in the viewfinders of all my slrs. Once I even had a tiny insect crawling across the screen. Hopefully it didn't find anything to eat in there - or worse yet reproduce - and has since moved on. Paul

08-28-2010, 10:30 AM	#7
JohnX Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: London Posts: 1,116	DON'T use compressed gas to clean inside your camera. The gas canister may contain oily residue from the compressor used to fill it; this could get blown out with the gas and onto your mirror, etc.

08-28-2010, 11:48 AM	#10
JeffJS Inactive Account Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Michigan, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,484	It's hard to go wrong with that lens, believe me, I've tried. Your photos look fine as far as focus is concerned.

08-28-2010, 11:53 AM	#11
brosen Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: US Posts: 183 Original Poster	Originally posted by JeffJS It's hard to go wrong with that lens, believe me, I've tried. Your photos look fine as far as focus is concerned. So you don't think I've created a permanent damage to the camera ?, thanks

08-28-2010, 12:06 PM	#12
JeffJS Inactive Account Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Michigan, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,484	Originally posted by brosen So you don't think I've created a permanent damage to the camera ?, thanks From what I can see in the small picasa pictures, no. In spite of what many will tell you, these cameras are actually pretty tough and will stand Some abuse. There are a few here who even use the canned air to clean their sensors. That is against general advice on the subject but they swear by it. If a blast of air had hurt anything, you would know it. Let your camera autofocus on something (like your plants) and check the viewfinder. If what you see is in focus, you're likely good to go. If the photos look focused, you're good to go. Just put that wonderful lens on, and go out and snap some more photos. Worry about damage when it actually happens. Here's some from my same combo.. Pentax DFA 100mm f2.8 WR - a set on Flickr

08-28-2010, 12:39 PM - 1 Like	#13
brosen Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: US Posts: 183 Original Poster	WOW, your pictures are really good, I am a beginner I just did what you said, took some pictures to test the AF system, after pressing the shutter half way, focus was OK in the Viewfinder and after that focus was also OK in the photos as well (checked in a big monitor 24 inch), so I will assume I am safe with the camera, no damage was created. I have added more photos at the end, please check attached link: Picasa Web Albums - Family Album - Test Macro Ph...

08-28-2010, 01:19 PM	#14
JeffJS Inactive Account Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Michigan, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,484	Thank you. I'm still a bit of a beginner too, with macros anyway.. There are people around here who get a lot more out of their macro setups than I do. Macro Photography - PentaxForums.com