Cleaning the mirrors

RussellW · 03-25-2007, 06:05 AM

I would like to seek some advise on how to remove some fine hairs off the mirrors. I have tried cleaning cloth only this seems to make it worse.

I thought of a small can of compressed air, but I'm not sure.

Camera DS

Cheers

-=JoN=- · 03-25-2007, 06:14 AM

no compressed air! it will ruin the meter (good chance of anyway)

get a rocket blower to try and get rid of it.

altho albeit old, this was still very helpful for me

How To Clean SLR Finder Systems - - PopPhotoOctober 1998

Alvin · 03-25-2007, 06:22 AM

Russell - I second what Jon has said - NO COMPRESSED AIR CANS!

If the liquid from inside the can gets sprayed onto parts inside the camera, it may potentially void your warranty. Jon posted the SLR cleaning info a while back and I've kept it as a bookmark for myself. Give it a read because a lot of the stuff still applies to our cameras.

EDIT - then I realized you have a DS. The liquid, if sprayed on the right surface will ruin a lot of stuff. I ruined a keyboard on my laptop once years back, and had to pay for the part ($100 USD!) because the repair depot found a chemical had been sprayed on the circuit board.

pentaxuser · 03-25-2007, 08:51 AM

Are you sure those are hairs, and not scratches? The mirror is front surface silvered/aluminized, and can be scratched easily. If the hairs aren't visible in your viewfinder, it may be better to leave them alone since they will not affect the image. Otherwise, the rocket blower is your best bet.

benjikan · 03-25-2007, 10:00 AM

Originally posted by RussellW

I would like to seek some advise on how to remove some fine hairs off the mirrors. I have tried cleaning cloth only this seems to make it worse.

I thought of a small can of compressed air, but I'm not sure.

Camera DS

Cheers

Do NOT use a blower with a brush...Not a good idea. I went to the pharmacy and purchased something that looks exactly like a blower that is used to clean baby's noses. It is a huge bulb that is normally used with water and produces a huge amount of air pressure when used like a blower. Here is a photo of the product.

bdavis · 03-25-2007, 12:17 PM

A bulb aspirator like the one Ben posted will work.

I like my rocket blower: Giottos Rocket Air Blower - (Large) 7.5"
(Mostly because I like that it's shaped like a rocket ship.)

RussellW · 03-25-2007, 04:32 PM

Thank you all, I will go and get a rocket blower, I did try a smaller blower like Benjikan recommended however it didn't work.

**LeoTaylor** · 03-26-2007, 01:58 PM

Originally posted by RussellW

Thank you all, I will go and get a rocket blower, I did try a smaller blower like Benjikan recommended however it didn't work.

I believe Benji said "huge bulb", perhaps only the picture is small. I bought a Giotto Rocket based on this forum, and it works fine.

benjikan · 03-26-2007, 03:19 PM

Originally posted by LeoTaylor

I believe Benji said "huge bulb", perhaps only the picture is small. I bought a Giotto Rocket based on this forum, and it works fine.

The bulb shown is quite big, in fact the bulb itself is about the size of the palm of my hand or the size of my .... 's You Know!

RussellW · 03-26-2007, 04:19 PM

If you do not have a rocket or a larger blower, GET ONE, it does work well.

I did notice a fine hair and dust spot still there, I took a couple of photo's of a white wall and and found that they do not sure up.

I think I will just send it to Pentax and get it clean properly, as I know they are there and that's a personal issue.

Rolly · 03-26-2007, 05:18 PM

Originally posted by benjikan

The bulb shown is quite big, in fact the bulb itself is about the size of the palm of my hand or the size of my .... 's You Know!

Bragging again!!!!!

HelenEdith · 04-01-2007, 02:06 PM

I've got a rocket blower, which I use to clean my sensor. I must try it on my mirror, which I think I attempted to clean with something else before getting the rocket blower. My other half looked through my viewfinder recently and was disgusted, but I've got used to ignoring all the dirt and was afraid that I'd only make it worse if I tried any further cleaning.

As RussellW says, the dirt on the mirror won't be in your photos.

Alvin · 04-01-2007, 02:25 PM

Originally posted by HelenEdith

I've got a rocket blower, which I use to clean my sensor. I must try it on my mirror, which I think I attempted to clean with something else before getting the rocket blower. My other half looked through my viewfinder recently and was disgusted, but I've got used to ignoring all the dirt and was afraid that I'd only make it worse if I tried any further cleaning.

As RussellW says, the dirt on the mirror won't be in your photos.

Hmmm...I don't think we had the chance to welcome you here

Hello!

HelenEdith · 04-01-2007, 03:58 PM

Hello Alvin

No, I don't think I got a welcome. I snuck in here quietly a while back, but I've been getting some board emails and decided to post some March 25 pictures, and that inspired me to post a bit in here.

Hopefully my visits will be regular rather than sporadic, but we'll just have to wait and see. I've gone and volunteered to play part of a bassoon concerto later this year at a local music society concert, so I'm going to have to spend some time practising rather than posting in here. I've also got loads of photos on my hard drive which haven't found their way onto my website yet, including a whole business trip to India where I had two free weekends that I tried to make the most of photographically. They're edited, and I've just got to try and make my travel diary fit in with my pictures when I craft my HTML.

The camera hasn't had much use this year for one reason or another. The big one is probably that my job got relocated. I used to love taking pictures along the Thames, but alas, I no longer work in central London, but have instead been banished to Basildon, a place I have yet to point my camera at.

So thanks for noticing that I'd snuck in and posting a welcome, and I'll try to put up the occasional post in here.

03-25-2007, 06:05 AM	#1
RussellW Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Sydney, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 198	Cleaning the mirrors I would like to seek some advise on how to remove some fine hairs off the mirrors. I have tried cleaning cloth only this seems to make it worse. I thought of a small can of compressed air, but I'm not sure. Camera DS Cheers

03-25-2007, 06:22 AM	#3
Alvin Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Mississauga, Ontario, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,530	Russell - I second what Jon has said - NO COMPRESSED AIR CANS! If the liquid from inside the can gets sprayed onto parts inside the camera, it may potentially void your warranty. Jon posted the SLR cleaning info a while back and I've kept it as a bookmark for myself. Give it a read because a lot of the stuff still applies to our cameras. EDIT - then I realized you have a DS. The liquid, if sprayed on the right surface will ruin a lot of stuff. I ruined a keyboard on my laptop once years back, and had to pay for the part ($100 USD!) because the repair depot found a chemical had been sprayed on the circuit board. Last edited by Alvin; 03-25-2007 at 06:28 AM.

03-25-2007, 10:00 AM	#5
benjikan Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Paris, France Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,310	Sencor Dust Originally posted by RussellW I would like to seek some advise on how to remove some fine hairs off the mirrors. I have tried cleaning cloth only this seems to make it worse. I thought of a small can of compressed air, but I'm not sure. Camera DS Cheers Do NOT use a blower with a brush...Not a good idea. I went to the pharmacy and purchased something that looks exactly like a blower that is used to clean baby's noses. It is a huge bulb that is normally used with water and produces a huge amount of air pressure when used like a blower. Here is a photo of the product. Last edited by benjikan; 04-15-2007 at 05:57 AM.

03-26-2007, 03:19 PM	#9
benjikan Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Paris, France Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,310	Huge Bulb Originally posted by LeoTaylor I believe Benji said "huge bulb", perhaps only the picture is small. I bought a Giotto Rocket based on this forum, and it works fine. The bulb shown is quite big, in fact the bulb itself is about the size of the palm of my hand or the size of my .... 's You Know!

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03-25-2007, 06:14 AM	#2
-=JoN=- Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: NYC Posts: 1,000	no compressed air! it will ruin the meter (good chance of anyway) get a rocket blower to try and get rid of it. altho albeit old, this was still very helpful for me How To Clean SLR Finder Systems - - PopPhotoOctober 1998

03-25-2007, 08:51 AM	#4
pentaxuser Guest	Are you sure those are hairs, and not scratches? The mirror is front surface silvered/aluminized, and can be scratched easily. If the hairs aren't visible in your viewfinder, it may be better to leave them alone since they will not affect the image. Otherwise, the rocket blower is your best bet.

03-25-2007, 12:17 PM	#6
bdavis Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: 'Burque, NM Posts: 309	A bulb aspirator like the one Ben posted will work. I like my rocket blower: Giottos Rocket Air Blower - (Large) 7.5" (Mostly because I like that it's shaped like a rocket ship.)

03-25-2007, 04:32 PM	#7
RussellW Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Sydney, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 198 Original Poster	Thank you all, I will go and get a rocket blower, I did try a smaller blower like Benjikan recommended however it didn't work.

03-26-2007, 01:58 PM	#8
LeoTaylor Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Connecticut Photos: Gallery Posts: 679	Originally posted by RussellW Thank you all, I will go and get a rocket blower, I did try a smaller blower like Benjikan recommended however it didn't work. I believe Benji said "huge bulb", perhaps only the picture is small. I bought a Giotto Rocket based on this forum, and it works fine.

03-26-2007, 04:19 PM	#10
RussellW Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Sydney, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 198 Original Poster	If you do not have a rocket or a larger blower, GET ONE, it does work well. I did notice a fine hair and dust spot still there, I took a couple of photo's of a white wall and and found that they do not sure up. I think I will just send it to Pentax and get it clean properly, as I know they are there and that's a personal issue.

03-26-2007, 05:18 PM	#11
Rolly Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 295	Originally posted by benjikan The bulb shown is quite big, in fact the bulb itself is about the size of the palm of my hand or the size of my .... 's You Know! Bragging again!!!!!

04-01-2007, 02:06 PM	#12
HelenEdith Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: London, UK Photos: Gallery Posts: 35	I've got a rocket blower, which I use to clean my sensor. I must try it on my mirror, which I think I attempted to clean with something else before getting the rocket blower. My other half looked through my viewfinder recently and was disgusted, but I've got used to ignoring all the dirt and was afraid that I'd only make it worse if I tried any further cleaning. As RussellW says, the dirt on the mirror won't be in your photos.

04-01-2007, 02:25 PM	#13
Alvin Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Mississauga, Ontario, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,530	Originally posted by HelenEdith I've got a rocket blower, which I use to clean my sensor. I must try it on my mirror, which I think I attempted to clean with something else before getting the rocket blower. My other half looked through my viewfinder recently and was disgusted, but I've got used to ignoring all the dirt and was afraid that I'd only make it worse if I tried any further cleaning. As RussellW says, the dirt on the mirror won't be in your photos. Hmmm...I don't think we had the chance to welcome you here Hello!

04-01-2007, 03:58 PM	#14
HelenEdith Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: London, UK Photos: Gallery Posts: 35	Hello Alvin No, I don't think I got a welcome. I snuck in here quietly a while back, but I've been getting some board emails and decided to post some March 25 pictures, and that inspired me to post a bit in here. Hopefully my visits will be regular rather than sporadic, but we'll just have to wait and see. I've gone and volunteered to play part of a bassoon concerto later this year at a local music society concert, so I'm going to have to spend some time practising rather than posting in here. I've also got loads of photos on my hard drive which haven't found their way onto my website yet, including a whole business trip to India where I had two free weekends that I tried to make the most of photographically. They're edited, and I've just got to try and make my travel diary fit in with my pictures when I craft my HTML. The camera hasn't had much use this year for one reason or another. The big one is probably that my job got relocated. I used to love taking pictures along the Thames, but alas, I no longer work in central London, but have instead been banished to Basildon, a place I have yet to point my camera at. So thanks for noticing that I'd snuck in and posting a welcome, and I'll try to put up the occasional post in here.

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