5D Dirt Specs In Viewfinder Cleaning?

Ok.. When I look through the viewfinder, there's specks all over the place. A few big ones too. I've tried blowing it out, but it didn't do anything but move them around. I know my screen is removable, but I'm not sure how to do it.

I did a sensor test, and it's unbelievably clean! I'm afraid to mess around with it too much and move any of it to the sensor! I've never had to deal with this before, so any advice would be appreciated.

My 20D could just be blown out, but it never really gets that dirty. The 5's on the other hand is removable, so I'm wondering if that means it's easier for it to get dirty? I hate this, cause I'm SO worried about getting the sensor dirty!!

Thanks so much in advance!


P.S. I hope this is the right place for this thread??

Jonathan Consiglio wrote in post #2457212
Ok.. When I look through the viewfinder, there's specks all over the place. A few big ones too. I've tried blowing it out, but it didn't do anything but move them around. I know my screen is removable, but I'm not sure how to do it.

I did a sensor test, and it's unbelievably clean! I'm afraid to mess around with it too much and move any of it to the sensor! I've never had to deal with this before, so any advice would be appreciated.

My 20D could just be blown out, but it never really gets that dirty. The 5's on the other hand is removable, so I'm wondering if that means it's easier for it to get dirty? I hate this, cause I'm SO worried about getting the sensor dirty!!

Thanks so much in advance!


P.S. I hope this is the right place for this thread??

Firstly, why use bold? It doesn't convey your message any clearer than normal type.

OK, SLR fundamentals. You know about the mirror right? You know about how the light from the lens Reflects off the mirror into the prism and eventually you can see the image in the view finder. Then, when you squeeze the shutter button, the mirror moves out of the way and the light from the lens goes to the sensor, and hey presto, the image is captured.

What dust you see through the view finder can only be in one of two places. The mirror or the viewfinder itself (You could argue that it could also appear in the focus screen, etc.) Dust that appears in these two places dont' affect the final image that is taken.

Any dust you see in a captured image is either on the lens or on the sensor itself.

Gettting dust on the sensor is part and parcel of SLR photography I'm afraid. There's no getting around it...yet...not properly anyway.

I haven't experienced this yet with my 5D but got it sometimes with my old 300D. Just get a rocket blower and give the mirror and the pentaprism area a blast, 9 times out of 10 that'll clear it. Just be careful not to actually touch any of the camera with the tip of the blower.

Jonathan,

I have the same problem with the focus screen on my 5D. I have been told by several to live with it as more damage then good will happen. I have even thought of buying a new focus screen and then trying to clean the old one. They say the screen is very delicate, but can be taken out and cleaned. I will be watching your post to see if any one has a recomendation. And just to let you know, I have ask the same question on this site before.

They say it does not harm anything, but it sure bugs the heck out of you.

John

Ephemeral wrote in post #2458428
What dust you see through the view finder can only be in one of two places. The mirror or the viewfinder itself (You could argue that it could also appear in the focus screen, etc.) Dust that appears in these two places dont' affect the final image that is taken.

Any dust you see in a captured image is either on the lens or on the sensor itself.

The above statements indication 'could be' but not necessarily 'likely' places for dust to occur, but might or might NOT be visible at all! Here is a post about the locations, and which you will see and which need to be bothered with, for anyone else reading this thread...

https://photography-on-the.net …php?p=2382857&p​ostcount=1

To supplement that post with some more comments...

Counter to what Ephemeral said, any dust on the back of the lens will almost never be visible in the photo or in the viewfinder!

With a removeable focusing screen, one can remove it can blow off its surfaces with a bulb blower, but do NOT try to wipe it as its surface is very delicate and easily marred.

jbartlett wrote in post #2458570
They say it does not harm anything, but it sure bugs the heck out of you.

Exactly! Thank you.

I know it doesn't harm the final image.. I think I even mentioned that?? I've blown out the sensor, the mirrorr and the inside of the viewfinder, and that's not the problem.

My 20D is pretty old, and there's nothing in the viewfinder. Once or twice there was a speck or two, but it was gone right away!

It's not a big deal and I know it doesn't affect the image, but when you spend that much money you want it right!

Oh, I used bold because I like it! Sorry!

Nice illustration, Wilt. I learned a few things myself. I've never noticed significant dust, but blow out the sensors whenever I am going to a big shoot. Never had a problem. There are always precautions to take, like putting the lens on with the camera face down, etc. But I have a motto about dust, "If it doesn't show up on the final capture, don't worry about it!" If it really bothers you, send it in to Canon, they'll clean it completely and send it back to you, for a fee, of course.

Thanks guys. It's not that big of deal. It's not something that in any way affects my photos. I clean the sensors maybe once every 2 or 3 months, and I've gotten pretty good at that. But this is just irritating when I'm shooting against a light background or outdoors before dark. I'll try removing the screen. I've blown it out a few times, but like I said, it just moves around! It seems to be on top of the focusing screen..

Thanks....

P.S. I said at the start... It's a viewfinder problem, not sensor dust... I'm afraid of cleaning the focusing screen and getting the senso dirty, though!

Check out visibledust website and get their Sensor Brush set.......you get a thick one, and 2 smaller ones.......I'd keep the 2 smaller ones for the sensor (work a charm for me) and keep the bigger one for general dusting of the outside of the camera....

Just pince the sides of the viewfinder and pull upwards to remove......then it's a simple job to dust. Problem over.

Like having a nice car that's your pride and joy.....it's gonna get dirty when you dive it, and so to the camera, it will get dusty and you do have to clean it.....pain, and for me only downside to photography !!!

I have the sensor brush set, swabs and Eclipse solution... Not to mention the blower. The problem is that I still can't get the specs off of the inside of my viewfinder's removable screen (inside the body, not the viewfinder or mirrorr or sensor)! Thank you, though!