Cleaning Sensor, view finder, and the focusing screen

ElFenix

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Mar 20, 2000
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i'm not sure how to clean a focusing screen. you're not supposed to touch them.
 

alfa147x

Lifer
Jul 14, 2005
29,307
106
106
Originally posted by: ElFenix
i'm not sure how to clean a focusing screen. you're not supposed to touch them.

Im not sure if it the focusing screen, it actually might just be the viewfinder
 

jpeyton

Moderator in SFF, Notebooks, Pre-Built/Barebones
Moderator
Aug 23, 2003
25,375
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FYI, that's not really much sensor dust...I've seen much worse.

Always clean with air first, from a Rocket blower. You can probably blow some of that dust off.

If you see dust when you look through the viewfinder, that is either 1) in the viewfinder eyepiece, 2) on the focusing screen or 3) on the mirror. None of this dust will affect your picture, so it's not mission critical to remove it. But you can always take a Rocket blower and try to blow off any dust on your mirror or focusing screen first. It's pretty easy to remove your focusing screen, but there is also a chance you could scratch it during the removal process if you're not careful...worth the risk?
 

idiotekniQues

Platinum Member
Jan 4, 2007
2,572
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you need to get a painter's brush but one that has been washed of the chemical residue they use to keep all the bristles together for display. there are places that sell just the brushes already cleaned of these chemicals. ill try to dig up the link to where i got mine for my 30d.

use a rocket blower to blow air over the bristles to get a static charge going - that static charge will pick up the dust. put your camera in sensor cleaning mode and go for it.
 

Muse

Lifer
Jul 11, 2001
40,875
10,222
136
Originally posted by: idiotekniQues
you need to get a painter's brush but one that has been washed of the chemical residue they use to keep all the bristles together for display. there are places that sell just the brushes already cleaned of these chemicals. ill try to dig up the link to where i got mine for my 30d.

use a rocket blower to blow air over the bristles to get a static charge going - that static charge will pick up the dust. put your camera in sensor cleaning mode and go for it.

Interesting, I didn't know about chemicals on brush bristles. I frequently use brushes to remove dust, dust that isn't dislodged by blasts of gas. Follow a light dusting with a brush with gas blasts. I do this for computer monitors, lenses too. I don't often resort to applying and wiping off liquids. On a rare occasion, I'll clean a lens with lens tissue and lens cleaning fluid. Cleaning sensors and other internal camera parts is something I've never done, however.

You might try a clean camel hair brush, I think the kind they use for haiku. ;)