Piece of lint on 20D Mirror

[sugar_babygirli]

How would I be able to get it off? It's on the mirror and you can see it (you know how when you switch lenses the mirror is right there?) and it's for sure not on the sensor as I've cleaned that and I see it sticking on the mirror part. :p

Would a very very soft brush or soft cloth be ok to swipe it off? It's driving me NUTS to see it in my viewfinder (it goes across and entire side!) but it never shoes up in my photos thankfully.

I'd appreciate your advice! ;)

[Andy_T]

I'd try with a rocket blower first.
I've hear that the mirror is rather delicate.

Best regards,
Andy

[robertwgross]

I'm not sure how you missed the facts.

If the spot shows up on your images, then it is likely on the sensor (behind the shutter).

If the spot only shows up in the viewfinder, then it is NOT on the mirror. It is either on the focus screen or on the eyeball side of the viewfinder.

If you can see the lint on the mirror, then it is neither of the above two cases. Simply pluck it off with a cotton swab or blow it with a camera-type blower brush. As has been stated before, the mirror is rather delicate, so do not rub it with anything.

---Bob Gross---

[sugar_babygirli]

But I've tried blowing it with a blower and it blows around on one end, but the other end seems to be stuck down somehow? Lol! I can see the same piece of lint that's on one corner of the mirror ALSO on the corner in the viewfinder. Hmm...

[SkipD]

The mirror is extremely delicate. The reflective surface is on the face of the mirror, not behind the glass like any normal household mirrors. You risk damaging the surface if you touch it.

Try a good blast of air from a large squeeze bulb, but NOT FROM A CAN OF "AIR" (which is never actually air but liquid solvent that vaporizes) or an air compressor.

If nothing else works, get a VERY SOFT brush and with a very light touch try to remove the lint.

I might try to grab a loose end of the piece of lint with a very fine tweezer, but then I have a very steady hand and wouldn't touch the mirror with the tweezer.

[crc_408]

Would a corner end of a piece of paper or post-it work?

[SkipD]

Would a corner end of a piece of paper or post-it work?I wouldn't risk using something as stiff as that. Find a small and VERY soft brush. You might find one in either an art store or possibly in the women's makeup department at a local store. Make sure it is absolutely clean. If you wash it with soap, make sure that all the soap is out before you touch it to the mirror. I would check the brush for cleanliness first on a clean glass surface that you can easily clean if you streak it with the brush.

[pierrot]

Don't need to be that precautious!

Yes, on such a mirror the silvering is on the outer (visible) side ot the glass (to avoid diffraction through the glass blade) but this silvering is not that all fragile.

It's as resistant as the coating of your sun glasses. You will never damage it in wiping it gently, rubbing it with a corner end of a paper (but not a sticky post-it), brushing it with a lens pen, using a lens cleaning tissue or even lens or sensor cleaning pad and fluid.

The lesser the better, anyway: begin trying the less "invasive" method according to what you think of the way the dust is stuck.

You might just need a strong blow or a dry contact (paper, swab) or need a "wet" approach. Up to you.

[Persian-Rice]

The the mirror is not as fragile as you think, its not like its just a flake of material. I have even tried eclipse on my 10D mirror with no problems. I have quite a bit of "crap" on the focus screens on my Canons. I have an upgraded screen for the 1D and can easily clean it too, since I have the removal tool. I havent bothered trying to take the 10D screen out, just in case its not the same.

I would not blow on it though, all you will do is blow it backwards on to the sensor. The mirror wont reflect anything noticeable as far as I have tested. So its on the focus screen, so you might want to learn to live with it.

[tim]

I use eclipse on my mirror with no problems. If a blower doesn't remove the lint try tweezers.