Canon 5D Mirror Severely Scratched

Do you not feel confident about changing it yourself?

I guess I wouldn't be opposed to it if I knew exactly what part was needed - I did find one user on Flickr who replaced their mirror with super glue and had no issues 12,000 or so actuations later.

Anyone have an idea of the part number? Doesthis look correct?

I don't want to screw up my chances of Canon reinforcing the mirror assembly under recall, so I wouldn't do anything until I've heard back from them.

I fugged up a mirror on a Yashica FX-2 in about 1977. I used that camera until the shutter died in 2011. Metering was fine. Viewfinder image was a nightmare, but the camera worked just fine. A scratched mirror, not disclosed by the seller, is grounds for refund. Photographically, it is meaningless.

You can tell if the mirror fix has been done just by looking. Take off the lens. If the mirror bracket is 'stepped', the fix has been done, if not - not.

Thanks GeoKras. Found an image on Google that showed Canon's reinforcement - that and an email I JUST received from Canon (while typing this response) indicates that neither my, nor my girlfriend's 5Ds have had the mirror serviced.

Looks like they're both going in to Canon in the next couple of weeks while there's a lull in our professional gigs. They may test it/mention it, they may not. Either way it's sounding like the potential for negative effect on images is pretty low and that's really my main concern - there are no visual issues through the viewfinder.

CiaranC wrote in post #17275537
Thanks GeoKras. Found an image on Google that showed Canon's reinforcement - that and an email I JUST received from Canon (while typing this response) indicates that neither my, nor my girlfriend's 5Ds have had the mirror serviced.

Looks like they're both going in to Canon in the next couple of weeks while there's a lull in our professional gigs. They may test it/mention it, they may not. Either way it's sounding like the potential for negative effect on images is pretty low and that's really my main concern - there are no visual issues through the viewfinder.

I don't think it would hurt to mention the scratch. The recall is free. Maybe Canon will replace the mirror for the price of the part. It can't hurt to ask.

You may have a point - I mean I can only imagine that they had a fairly high rate of replacement from mirrors that got scratched during displacement, and I know for a fact that some people shattered their mirrors when they took their lens of to inspect what had happened. Maybe I'll just include a note with the shipment asking them to inspect the mirror for any damage - worst they can do is say they won't replace it I suppose?

The mirror is not quite a fragile as some say. Clearly it can be scratched but it does take a bit of doing. I would try wet cleaning it using the same technique as cleaning a sensor. It might be a smudge and not a scratch.

CiaranC wrote in post #17275392
Is it weird that I prefer the IQ of the classic to later iterations of the 5D?

Absolutely not. Even till this date, there are people out there who believe IQ, signal to noise, color saturation and render of 5DC is by far the best of any Canon body has ever delivered.

Yes for the price you got it, please don't do anything to camera but to enjoy good picture taking with it.

In first place, marking on mirror to me is one hundred percent smudge and possibly impression of an oily finger on the mirror that you should be able to remove it very easily with a cotton swap soaked gently in rubbing alcohol. And in case I am wrong, I would not touch it and use the camera as is. "It will not show effect, by any means on your images." If you are to be worry about anything, it is the shutter box that can fail like any other used camera (No exceptions) and that probably will cost you about $350 (If authorized Canon is still repairing it, and I guess they should).

Cheers.

Anybody who says the seller needs to supply a return offer is clueless. Ask the seller to provide a refund on return of it. If they don't agree, open a case with eBay for an item not as described and eBay will force the seller to refund once proof of tracking has been provided to them. Don't listen to idiots on here who have no real knowledge.

Gimpinator wrote in post #17275771
Anybody who says the seller needs to supply a return offer is clueless. Ask the seller to provide a refund on return of it. If they don't agree, open a case with eBay for an item not as described and eBay will force the seller to refund once proof of tracking has been provided to them. Don't listen to idiots on here who have no real knowledge.

I agree, but not quite so adamantly. E-bay and Paypal both know they go out of business without buyers. They are on your side.

CiaranC wrote in post #17275485
I guess I wouldn't be opposed to it if I knew exactly what part was needed - I did find one user on Flickr who replaced their mirror with super glue and had no issues 12,000 or so actuations later.

Anyone have an idea of the part number? Doesthis look correct?

I don't want to screw up my chances of Canon reinforcing the mirror assembly under recall, so I wouldn't do anything until I've heard back from them.

I wouldn't think so but I haven't seen a 5d mirror to compare.
Canon doesn't list the mirror as a separate part - it's part of the mirror box assembly which is Canon part number CY3-1519-000 if it helps any...

I don't see how an SLR with a scratched mirror could ever be described as being in "good" condition. I have a couple of 30 year old SLRs in the cupboard with semi-silvered mirrors, both having been used in quite rough conditions, and they don't have scratches.

You can clean at least some semi-silvered SLR mirrors - carefully. I've done it twice, but not with this particular model.

melcat wrote in post #17276602
I don't see how an SLR with a scratched mirror could ever be described as being in "good" condition. I have a couple of 30 year old SLRs in the cupboard with semi-silvered mirrors, both having been used in quite rough conditions, and they don't have scratches.

You can clean at least some semi-silvered SLR mirrors - carefully. I've done it twice, but not with this particular model.

Probably depends who you ask. Going by Adorama used categories, "good" is

"Appears to have been used heavily, showing multiple dings, scrapes/scratches, cracks and heavy brassing but functions correctly."

and is only one grade above:

"Item works with certain malfunctions. Read comments for exact details."

So at least going by them, I think "good" is a fair term.

Your image of the mirror suggests it has been wiped with a finger. This will probably show up as fine scratches after careful cleaning with q tip moistened with isopropyl alcohol. This could be attempted in the corner of the mirror initially.
I would have expected such an obvious "defect" to be noted in description of article.

I too feel your pain and don't think you are being anal.

I guess bottom line for me would be the viewfinder - if it wasn't bad or didn't bug me I'd forgo the hassle of returning and finding another one.

Since that is OK, I suspect the AF will be fine - that's what I'd worry about more than metering. Check the outer points well and in dim light. Since you have had 5D's before you should have a feel of what to expect.