[mjp29]

I'm curious as to how many of you have some dust in the viewfinder area if you point your camera at a white wall.
I've had 4 Pentax cameras over the years (two k2000's, one k-x, and now a k-r), and 3/4th of them had some dust or small black plastic spec in the viewfinder or focussing screen.

This video shows how to clean the focussing screen, if you dare. I have not tried it.

You Tube

You Tube

[elliott]

I do, both in my K-5 and K100D, I ignore it. Though I have changed the focusing screens in both and am definitely not afraid, the dust doesn't hurt anything and I know it always comes back, it is just a losing battle trying to keep one clean.

[Eric Auer]

Got it in many cameras, And in my K-5 IIs. Doesnt bother me at all.

[Canada_Rockies]

The last time I tried to clean the viewfinder it got worse.

[Bernie_Rain]

The last time I tried to clean the viewfinder it got worse.

Sadly this happens often - when trying to "make" things better, they'll get worse...

[jamarley]

Yes, my K-5 exhibits this nemesis. Some days it bothers me, other days I can ignore it. Ah, if only I knew how to harness the good-feeling days.

Btw, anyone out there know of a technique to improve this condition other than cleaning?

[pixie]

The last time I tried to clean the viewfinder it got worse.

Same here, I've given up on trying to clean it.

[Canada_Rockies]

Btw, anyone out there know of a technique to improve this condition other than cleaning?

The only one I know of is to change the diopter setting on the eyepiece so it's too blurry to see the dust. This does have one or two disadvantages ...

[stevebrot]

I don't know that I have a single camera on my shelf* that has an entirely dust-free finder.


Steve


* There are quite a few

[elliott]

I don't know that I have a single camera on my shelf* that has an entirely dust-free finder.

Steve

* There are quite a few

The old film bodies are likely the worst, they usually have chunks of foam in them.

[calculator01]

None in my well used Kr, a few stubborn spots in the not as well used K100d. You could be shooting a black cat in a coal mine and still notice them

[Action Jackson]

Specs of dust annoy me. I usually use a blower on the mirror and the front of the focussing screen. If that didn't work, I'd tilt the camera LCD side down, drop the focussing screen holder and use the blower gently on the back of the focussing screen. Usually by then the dust is gone.

[calsan]

Having been fairly annoyed with this on my K10d, I decided to try not cleaning the sensor on my K-7 with a rocket blower.

I have only cleaned my K7 sensor with the official Pentax gummy wand. Result: I haven't had any dust in the viewfinder on this camera.
QED: dust must get inadvertently pushed into the viewfinder when cleaning with a blower.

[stevebrot]

The old film bodies are likely the worst, they usually have chunks of foam in them.

No foam...just dust on mine.


Steve

[DogLover]

I've used a specialty sensor brush on my screen before with no ill-effects. When properly "charged" electrostatically it's safe and quite effective without blowing crud elsewhere in your camera. I usually remove the screen to do this so you can hold it up to a light source and better see what you're doing. If you do need to use a blower up into the VF, do that first then wait a while and remove/clean the screen. It's extremely important to keep your brush properly cleaned, and they usually come with instructions on how to do this. A grain of dirt embedded in your brush can ruin your screen, mirror, or sensor.