Clean outside viewfinder

How do you clean the outside plastic of the viewfinder that you put your eye up against?

Cotton bud, think they call them Q Tips in the US. One of those, kind of fluffed up a bit will usually get in the corners.

Alan

Cotton swabs or buds. QTIP is a brand name.

BigAl007 wrote in post #18509320
Cotton bud, think they call them Q Tips in the US. One of those, kind of fluffed up a bit will usually get in the corners.

Alan

Evil things, do not use them. Where do all those little plastic sticks end up? In the sea, that's where.
Wooden cocktail sticks and a bit of lint free rag is all that's needed.

https://www.google.co.​uk …Hw&biw=1554&bih​=996&dpr=1

Ours are not plastic, they are biodegradable fibers, and are Qtips. Other brands might employ plastic however.

BigAl007 wrote in post #18509320
Cotton bud, think they call them Q Tips...

Q-Tips or, more generically, "cotton buds" are probably safe to clean the viewfinder eyeport area.

But NEVER, EVER use them anywhwhere inside a camera... to clean sensors, focus screens, etc. Cotton buds shed tough, tiny fibers that can get into and jam camera mechanisms.... shutters, mirror movements, etc. VERY risky to use and have the potential to cause a VERY expensive repair.

Use "optical swabs" such as Pec Pads and for sensor cleanings and such. (I don't recommend do-it-yourself cleanings of focus screen and mirrors... They are just too easily damaged, to leave those to a professional camera repair tech. Anything on the focus screen or mirror of a DSLR is just a minor nuisance, anyway... won't show up in images.)

TeamSpeed wrote in post #18509416
Ours are not plastic, they are biodegradable fibers, and are Qtips. Other brands might employ plastic however.

Qtips have always been what looks like rolled paper. Johnson & Johnson uses the blue plastic but I think they too have switched over to some bio-degradable material.

The cotton swabs currently on hand at our house, a generic brand, have paper sticks. These are compostable.

Looks like you lot are all well ahead with your paper/composting sticks. Feel free to clean whatever bits you like with those bad boys!

Frodge wrote in post #18507581
How do you clean the outside plastic of the viewfinder that you put your eye up against?

Armor All Matte Finish Protectant. Cleans the rubbery material and keeps it pliable.

Frodge wrote in post #18507581
How do you clean the outside plastic of the viewfinder that you put your eye up against?

The inside of my under shirt.

Very best,

MalVeauX wrote in post #18509969
The inside of my under shirt.

Very best,

Yes that seems to work well, and I too use it in the field, but even with my relatively small fingers I struggle to get it into the corners. That's when the cotton bud comes in useful.

Alan

Whatever you use don't apply alcohol to it. I did this years ago and the viewfinder lens came unglued and fell out.

rrblint wrote in post #18510452
Whatever you use don't apply alcohol to it. I did this years ago and the viewfinder lens came unglued and fell out.

What camera and what kind of solvent? The eye piece is a pretty beefy hunk of plastic.

ur supposed to clean those things?