5D: Exchange or Have Canon Clean

I'm new to the forum, thank you for having me as a member.

I just got a new 5D and 24-70. Great camera, but a few days out of the box a few small black dots in sharp focus have appeared in my viewfinder. I cleaned off the focusing screen, but alas these particles seem out of reach behind the SI glass (the one with the focusing targets). Dust on the focusing screen is usually blurry anyway. (I know, you've heard it all before.)

Yes, it doesn't affect my shots, but something like this on a new camera out of reach for me to clean is mildly bothersome. B+H will gladly take it back for an exchange. I might luck out. Of course, I could wind up with a viewfinder with more gunk, or something worse. Or, I could drive down to Canon Services in Irvine and have them clean it I'm sure for free I would imagine (maybe calibrate the camera and lens while they are at it). I'll have to ask them if you only get 1 free cleaning under warranty (unless someone knows the answer to that here).

Anyhow, if it was you... (well, if you are the type to be bothered by it would you exchange it for another while in the dealer's return window or wait it out and bring it to Canon for cleaning.
Many thanks.....

Gett'er done while under warranty. If you dont want to be without, take the drive. I had something like that in my old nikon fe2, and it doesn't affect the photo, but it sure irritated me. Just my 2 cents worth. Oh yea the other option, I will trade one of my 20d's for it.

I would take it to canon... clean, check, and adjust when its under warranty.

Better than hoping for another clean one. I usually take my new canon gear and lenses to the service center for the hell of it... just because Im local. I just get my lenses calibrated that way I dont have to play the guessing game "is it sharp"

I also get my sensor cleaned every 2-4 months because its free... even if its out of warranty.

StealthLude wrote in post #2600769
I would take it to canon... clean, check, and adjust when its under warranty.

Better than hoping for another clean one. I usually take my new canon gear and lenses to the service center for the hell of it... just because Im local. I just get my lenses calibrated that way I dont have to play the guessing game "is it sharp"

I also get my sensor cleaned every 2-4 months because its free... even if its out of warranty.

Thanks guys. I'll need to decide tonight, but I am leaning toward a clean & calibration in Irvine rather than swapping it out with B+H. Calibration couldn't hurt anyway. I know dust on the sensor and focusing screen is going to be a way of life, but at least I can clean that myself and I know it's part of the dSLR experience. Gunk above the SI plate/prism is another story.

Do you need to be a CPS member to have free out of warranty cleanings?

Is Irvine pretty good with walk-ins? (Although, I doubt same day service

Thats where I go, Canon in Irvine, CA (off Alton Parkway)

Walk in service is excellent, the express service facility was very nice.

You dont have to be a member of canon profesional services, and sensor cleanings are free while you wait (1 hour turn around) only cleanings are same day service... everything else like lens calibration is a week. I took in my 70-200 got it back in 4 days... and they paid for shipping. I just dropped it off.

I think they do a basic diagnostic of the camera as well.

I'd probably take it to Canon and get it back rather than pay for shipping with the waiting. There is no guarantee that the camera you get back won't have dust on the viewfinder either.

StealthLude wrote in post #2600892
Thats where I go, Canon in Irvine, CA (off Alton Parkway)

Walk in service is excellent, the express service facility was very nice.

You dont have to be a member of canon profesional services, and sensor cleanings are free while you wait (1 hour turn around) only cleanings are same day service... everything else like lens calibration is a week. I took in my 70-200 got it back in 4 days... and they paid for shipping. I just dropped it off.

I think they do a basic diagnostic of the camera as well.

Sounds pretty reasonable, as I wouldn't want them to rush through a lens calibration while I wait in the lobby They are probably about an hour for me if I leave early in the morning (live by LAX) Regarding my lens, it seems decent, but having them calibrate it would eliminate any what-ifs.

Tee --B+H would pay for the shipping to have it sent back to them. If anyone was hesitant about returning it to them, it was me. They were more like "if not at all happy, send it back". However, I would then have to pay out the insurance to mail it. And there just seems like there are a lot of folks who have this "black specks above the SI plate issue" ... not sure if the odds are good enough for mailing it away.

StealthLude wrote in post #2600892
Thats where I go, Canon in Irvine, CA (off Alton Parkway)

Walk in service is excellent, the express service facility was very nice.

You dont have to be a member of canon profesional services, and sensor cleanings are free while you wait (1 hour turn around) only cleanings are same day service... everything else like lens calibration is a week. I took in my 70-200 got it back in 4 days... and they paid for shipping. I just dropped it off.

I think they do a basic diagnostic of the camera as well.

Dang... the benefits of life in a big city!!

So, sensor cleanings are free... even after the first free one under warranty, and even after the 1 year warranty runs out?

I must know more!!!!!!!!!!!