SLR cleaning

[otispunkmeyer]

i had little strands of cotton or fabric or something in my view finder, they werent on the bit where you put your eye, but the bit that sits above the mirror, so they must of floated up there when changing a lens.

now, i tried to get rid of these with a cotton swab.... in hindsight i should of used a small paint brush. i couldnt really get them to shift and so i dampened the the swab very slightly just to make it less fluffy and more tacky.

well that got the fibres off.

but then left streaks/smears! lol

from the sounds of it the glass here has lots tiny grooves (u can hear when you run something over it) so i think the smears were kinda stuck in the grooves. i was like oh sh*t! but then remembered that a grubby print on the viewfinder wont do anything to my photos.

anyway i managed to remove the smears almost completely with a micro-fibre cloth and over time they seem to of just dried out, also managed to get a greasy finger mark off the mirror by lightly running a microfibre cloth over it a couple of dozen times...didnt wanna push on that thing! but i do not wanna have that happen again! next time ill use canned air and a fine brush.

cameras working perfectly so i havent bust anything! thankgod

but just in case, whats the best way to clean something like streaks/smears off that part of the view finding assembly?

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

What you were trying to clean was the focusing screen, which is the part with grooves. There are times when dust gets caught BEHIND this focusing screen, and this necessitates removing the focus screen for cleaning and using a bulb blower to blow dust out of the recess that is uncovered once the focus screen is removed.

http://www.katzeyeoptics.com/

They offer instructions on how to remove the focusing screen.

http://www.camerahacker.com/To...ing_Haoda_Screen.shtml

More detailed and with pictures of a 300D (same concept for all Canon models).

 

[corkyg]

Fuzzy's right - I changed my focusing screen recently, and it is a very delicate process. Canon provides a tool with the focusing screen. I have put the entire illustrated instructions in a PDF file which I can send you privately.

The major caveat with the focusing screen is - don't touch with fingers! It is very sensitive and difficult to clean.

 

[corkyg]

OK - Here's the text from the Canon Focusing Screen Kit. Note - it only applies exactly to the 1D, 1Ds, and 5D. But, generally speaking, the procedure applies to the other Canon SLRs even though they don't have changeable screens:
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Focusing Screen - Ec/Ee - Instruction Manual

Always use the special tool provided when removing or replacing the focusing screen. Never touch the screen with your fingers or hold the screen in your hand. If the screen becomes smudged with a fingerprint or a foreign substance, the smudge will be very difficult to remove. Also be careful not to smudge the mirror or other parts of the camera when changing the focusing screen. Refer to your camera's instruction manual for details of the focusing screens you are able to use. The Ec series (EOS 1D & 1 Ds) and the Ee (5D) series differ in the position of the mounting tab. When removing the screen from the camera, the tab is on the left on Ec series screens, and it is on the right on Ee series screens. The illustrations in this manual show an Ec series focusing screen, with the tab on the left.

Removing the Screen from the Camera 1. Place the camera on a flat surface with the lens mount facing up to avoid dropping the focusing screen.
2. Using the special tool supplied with the focusing screen, gently pull the attachment hook to release the focusing screen holder from the hook (Fig. 4).
3. Clamp the mounting tab of the focusing screen with the supplied tool and gently lift the screen out of the camera (Fig. 5 ).
? Stand the focusing screen against the side of the storage case so as not to damage it (Fig. 6).

Attaching the Screen to the Camera
1. Clamp the mounting tab of the screen you wish to use with the supplied tool and gently place it into the focusing screen holder.
2. Make sure the focusing screen is seated properly in the holder. Gently press up on the screen holder with the supplied tool until it locks in place (Fig. 7). During this procedure, be especially careful that the supplied tool does not accidentally slip and scratch the focusing screen.
? Clamp the mounting tab of the screen you removed and stood against the storage case with the supplied tool and place it in the case in the correct position.

Differentiating between Focusing Screens Focusing screens look similar but have different characteristics.
? The mounting tab of the super precision matte is marked with an "S" logo.
? The mounting tab of the Ec-CIII is marked with a "CIII" logo to differentiate it from the Ec-N.

O When the focusing screen is changed, it might be necessary to change the standard settings for obtaining correct exposure,. with.tbe Custom Function (C. Fn-00). Refer to the instruction manual of the camera for detail.

O Only use Ec series super precision matte focusing screens (identifiable by the suffix ."S': Ec-S, etc.) with cameras on which the Custom Function (C.Fn-00) can set the exposure correction to match the superprecision matte.,On other cameras, it will not be possible to achieve correct exposure.

 

[Deadtrees]

Washing it with soap and water worked well.

 

[otispunkmeyer]

corkyg, i wouldnt mind that pdf! YGPM

 

[corkyg]

Got it - and the file is on the way.

 

[otispunkmeyer]

cheers dude!