My 7D has a bug...literally.

So I see a small insect crawling around in my viewfinder.

Not sure how it got there, since the 7D is pretty well sealed. I guess a few hours at the beach with a 40mm pancake (unsealed) will do it....

Anyway, I thought it was just under the focusing screen, so I figured I'd just follow a replacement guide to remove it (http://www.katzeyeopti​cs.com/files/install_1​2.pdf), and give it a clean.

However, once I removed it, I realised it wasn't on the screen at all. I *THINK* I saw the bug, but it seemed to be INSIDE the glass. How can this be?

Is there a pane of glass above the focusing screen? Or is it directly the the pentaprism? Is it possible the bug is on another area of the penta prism and it's just projected onto the face that I can see once I removed the screen?

I'm still curious as to how a bug got up in there any way...I guess it could've entered the mirror chamber via the lens, and then crawled it's way into the prism box.

Is sending it in to a Canon centre my only hope? I really can't afford a repair/service at the moment...

Oh one last question for those that have removed focus screens, in general, or more specifically for the 7D: there's a gold shim frame that acts as a spacer I imagine that sits with the focus screen. I swear I saw two of them when the focus screen dropped down. According to the above link, it seems there's only one? Does anyone know if I'm just mistaken, and I only saw a backing plus the shim? Or if there are two shims, that one should lie on each side of the focus screen, or the metal wire clip pins the screen directly and the shim sits *above* the focus screen?

wow, this is new...I doubt it got in there through the lens...I think it's much more likely that it got in during a lens CHANGE.

I'm pretty sure it's directly to the pentaprism after the screen (some guy just posted a thread about his 1D, which was missing the focusing screen, and the shot appeared to show right through the prism)...

LowriderS10 wrote in post #15430191
wow, this is new...I doubt it got in there through the lens...I think it's much more likely that it got in during a lens CHANGE.

I'm pretty sure it's directly to the pentaprism after the screen (some guy just posted a thread about his 1D, which was missing the focusing screen, and the shot appeared to show right through the prism)...

Thanks, your info is very helpful.

I have rarely changed lenses, but I was outdoors yesterday. I guess we'll never know. The bug doesn't seem to have anywhere to go except wander around the viewfinder. I don't want to send it in for repairs, for the bug to get hidden elsewhere and not actually cleaned...

I used a pec pad cloth to try and remove what I thought was the bug, but it seemed on the OTHER side of the glass. I was being quick and rough, so maybe I'll go back in when I have some more time and be more intricate.

It's called a......

Shutterbug.

Well, someone had to.

philwillmedia wrote in post #15430229
It's called a......

Shutterbug.

Well, someone had to.

:p I guess "Viewfinderbug" doesn't quite have the same ring...

The 7d has a transmissive LCD under the pentaprism, I'm afraid you won't be able to get in there without doing some damage.

http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/E7D​/ZPOLYNETLCD.JPG

any ID on the bug? Presume something tiny like a Springtail....

You could just put the camera in a plastic bag and stuff it in the freezer for a few hours. That should stop his running around. Don't know if it will also stop the camera from ever working again, but your bug problem will be gone.

Maybe not the freezer, but a fridge will do no harm.

Had this many years ago in a camera with a fabric shutter. Apparently they survived by eating the fabric. The fridge and a sealed plastic bag finished them off.

Regarding where this thing might be, there has to be space around the pentaprism, so removing the mirror may not achieve anything. Certainly there is also the focusing screen up there as well, not sure what an LCD would be doing inside the body.

How about trying to blow the little dude out with a RocketBlower?

Remove the lens, face the body downwards to avoid dust and leave it for a few hours, with any luck the bug will find its own way out.

Yup
The bug should move toward a light source.
With a lens on your viewfinder is the light.
Pull the lens off and cover the viewfinder with a dark rag. That will make the
Lens hole the only light source.

Put it face down with cap off and stick a couple crackers next to the camera. bug's gotta eat right?

Oh wow in all my years never heard or run into this one.

Some interesting suggestions , thanks.

If there is an LCD in the way (the 7D has that fancy light up AF point screen - but I'm not sure where it is), that would make it tough, but also more curious as to how a bug got in there. Maybe leaving the lens off for a while is a good idea.

Anyway, any info on how the gold shim should sit, for those that gave replaced focus screens?