Cleaning question

[swatcop169]

When I look through my veiwfinder on my 20D it looks dirty, you can see dirt spots looking through it. I'm wondering if this is from the sensor being dirty. My copperhill ultimate dSLR kit will be here friday, I'm just wondering if somehow dirt has gotten up into the viewfinder or if I'm just seeing the dirty sensor?

[cheme]

I think if you can see it, then the debris is either on/in the viewfinder or the mirror. An air rocket might be able to help out in this case. In my experience, a dirty sensor will show up in your photos, not in the viewfinder.

[tonytony]

Swatcop I think you have a dirty mirror that you can clean easily. This doesn't affect your images as the mirror goes up when the shutter is pressed to let the light expose the sensor.

Cheers,
Tony

[swatcop169]

Swatcop I think you have a dirty mirror that you can clean easily. This doesn't affect your images as the mirror goes up when the shutter is pressed to let the light expose the sensor.

Cheers,
Tony

Thanks Tony, I was hoping it was something pretty simple, any hints or tricks to clean this thing?

[tim]

A hand held air pump, or if you're very very careful you can use the same thing you use to clean a sensor.

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=81042

[tonytony]

I would first try to gently remove the dirty with pressurized air from a spray cna, if it doesn't help you may try to use an air brush (the one you use to clean the lenses). In any case don't worry, it's not a big issue ( I had the same problem with my 30V).

Cheers,
Tony

[wolf]

Use a bulb blower.

If you use canned air and some propellent gets on your mirror you will have a lot bigger problem than just a few dust particles.

The dust is more than likely on your focus screen if you can see it in the viewfinder. Use a bulb blower to give the focus screen a blast and a q-tip with a drop of lens cleaner for the outside of the viewfinder.

[tim]

I would first try to gently remove the dirty with pressurized air from a spray cna, if it doesn't help you may try to use an air brush (the one you use to clean the lenses). In any case don't worry, it's not a big issue ( I had the same problem with my 30V).

Cheers,
Tony

This is bad advice, I strongly recommend you don't take it, it can damage the camera. Tony, it's probably better to let other people answer questions if you're not sure of the answer.

[robertwgross]

If you see spots through the viewfinder, then the dust will be on the eyeball side of the viewfinder or else on the focus screen, not the mirror. You really do not want to fool around much with either the focus screen or the mirror.

The prevailing wisdom is that if you suspect you have dust on the focus screen, then first try a puff of air from a blower-brush. If you hit it with compressed air, you don't know exactly what is in the can, which may include propellant.

---Bob Gross---

[swatcop169]

This is coming with my copperhill cleaning kit. Would it work without causing any trouble?

http://k41.pbase.com/u29/copperhill/upload/42963246.SensorSweep.jpg

**Thanks to copperhill for the image**

[condyk]

Why bother ... is it doing any harm as it is? Could it do any harm if you start blowing and 'cleaning' around inside?

Sure you're not just looking to try out that new Copperhill kit :p You can't be bored with all that other gear already? :lol: :lol:

[tonytony]

This is bad advice, I strongly recommend you don't take it, it can damage the camera. Tony, it's probably better to let other people answer questions if you're not sure of the answer.

Hi Tim,
I am sorry to have provided him with a bad advice, it wasn't my intention and I apologize. I usually answer to question to add something to the thread. The fact is that I just had the same issue with the 30V and resolved with an air can (by the way a Jessops assistant adviced me about this method). Sorry, again.

Cheers,
Tony

[condyk]

... by the way a Jessops assistant adviced me about this method.

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Bad, bad boy :p

[tonytony]

LOL

[KennyG]

You can use air cans to your hearts content with film cameras, but not with digital. I am starting to get worried about some of the advice given here, which if taken could mean the owner is faced with an expensive repair bill.

Never touch the mirror of focussing screen with brushes, pads or anything similar. The focus screen is etched and very easily damaged. The mirror coating is on the surface and also easily damaged. The answer is a blower, like the Rocket and don't use anything else.

If you can't shift the debris then the likelyhood is that it is behind the focus screen, and unless you really know what you are doing, have it cleaned professionally or learn to live with it.

[swatcop169]

Well I took a blower and blowed the mirror and teh focus screen and I can see still the dust so my next option is sending it back to have it cleaned. I can't get over the face of looking in the viewfinder and seeing spots of dust.

[lancea]

swatcop - good choice. Bob Gross's advice is really sound. There's a bit of conflicting advice being given to you about cleaning the mirror. It is very delicate. I wouldn't use my sensor cleaning kit on it. The sensor is actually less delicate than the mirror. You still need to be careful, but those kits are made for that job at least.