What's the best way to clean a D-SLR mirror and lens mount?

[NFS4]

I've got some dust on my mirror and some dust on the glass on my lens (the end which mounts into the body).

I've got one of those little brush-lookin' things that you squeeze to blow air out that I use to clean the glass on the other end (well, actually the filter), but I wasn't sure if I should use that to clean the mirror

 

[SVT Cobra]

I have always used a plain simple CLEAN microfiber cloth...has always worked for me

EDIT: oops didn't realize what you were talking about...

yes never touch the lens or anything, compressed air or a very sft brush made from mink or somehting will work

 

[Anubis]

for teh lens some compressed air works just fine, just6 keep the canm upright so you dont blow out any of those chemicals,

works for the lens also

 

[PricklyPete]

I have been doing regular SLR photography for years, but recently purchased a 20D. I have yet to clean it, but checking out the manual and looking on Online Forums have generally told me this:

1) never physically touch the sensor with anything. A light squirrel hair brush (what you most likely are describing) should be fine for the mirror, but don't use it on your sensor.

2) the camera should have some setting for locking up the mirror for cleaning the sensor (at least the 20D does). Position the camera with the mount opening facing down, use this setting to lock up the mirror, and then use as powerful a hand blower as you can buy to blow off any dust. If this does not fix your problems, send the camera to Nikon to be cleaned.

That is what I would do. I wouldnt' take chances screwing up a 1K+ camera for cleaning purposes...I'd gladly pay $100 for a cleaning if it affected my pictures that much.

 

[Czar]

go to the pharmacy and get those tiny rubbery blowers used to clean children's ears, cheaper than cleaning kits and basicly does the same thing

 

[Anubis]

i have one of these also
http://www.2filter.com/prices/products/rocket.html

works greatm basically a giant hand bulb blower use it for sensor cleaning as well as lens and miror

 

[JulesMaximus]

Why do you need to clean the mirror? I'd just blow it off with one of those bulb blowers.

 

[Czar]

Originally posted by: Anubis
i have one of these also
http://www.2filter.com/prices/products/rocket.html

works greatm basically a giant hand bulb blower use it for sensor cleaning as well as lens and miror

talking about something exactly like this one except costs probably 2 bucks

 

[PricklyPete]

Originally posted by: Anubis
i have one of these also
http://www.2filter.com/prices/products/rocket.html

works greatm basically a giant hand bulb blower use it for sensor cleaning as well as lens and miror

Yes, I've heard this works very well...I've been meaning to order one...will probably do so from 2filter.com next time I need to purchase a new filter. I have a crappy one like what Czar is referring to which works alright...but I could use the extra throughput of the rocket blower.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I had a couple specs on the prism on my DSLR and just used a bulb blower to blow the specs off. Unless you can see them through the viewfinder I wouldn't worry about it. It won't affect your pictures at all.

Edit-Use a lens cleaner on the back of the lens or one of those lens pens.

 

[Anubis]

Originally posted by: Czar

Originally posted by: Anubis
i have one of these also
http://www.2filter.com/prices/products/rocket.html

works greatm basically a giant hand bulb blower use it for sensor cleaning as well as lens and miror

talking about something exactly like this one except costs probably 2 bucks

those things you are refering to are nowhere that big

 

[Czar]

Originally posted by: Anubis

Originally posted by: Czar

Originally posted by: Anubis
i have one of these also
http://www.2filter.com/prices/products/rocket.html

works greatm basically a giant hand bulb blower use it for sensor cleaning as well as lens and miror

talking about something exactly like this one except costs probably 2 bucks

those things you are refering to are nowhere that big

ahok , never seen either of those just read what other people have recomended

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Why do you need to clean the mirror? I'd just blow it off with one of those bulb blowers.

I saw some dust on there and saw these specs in my pictures:

http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/NFS4/dust1.jpg
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/NFS4/dust2.jpg
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/NFS4/dust3.jpg

 

[virtuamike]

Clean the lens first. If you're shooting at the beach you'll prob get spray. Air won't work on spray - wet cleaning is your best solution. Some Pec Pads and Eclipse will clean it right up.

Dust on the mirror won't show up on pictures. You'll only see it through the viewfinder so if it doesn't bother you then leave it alone. If the lens cleaning doesn't get rid of the spots on your pics then that means the dust is on the sensor. Use a blower or compressed air (can upright, keep your distance) with the mirror up and that should get your sensor clean.

Another way to check and see if the dust is on sensor is to set the shutter to like 1/2 sec or whatever and shoot without a lens indoors. If you see specks then it's for sure on the sensor.

On the D70, set shutter to bulb and hold the release down to keep the mirror up.

 

[MeanMeosh]

use your teeshirt =P

 

[Anubis]

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Why do you need to clean the mirror? I'd just blow it off with one of those bulb blowers.

I saw some dust on there and saw these specs in my pictures:

http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/NFS4/dust1.jpg
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/NFS4/dust2.jpg
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/NFS4/dust3.jpg

dust on the mirror has nothing to do with dust on the images themselfs, the reason you have that dust spot is because there is dust on the sensor itself

 

[JonTom]

I remember reading about someone (Tom Hogan?) who used a Wendy's plastic fork... It was just the right size.

 

[GTaudiophile]

Might help.

 

[GTaudiophile]

Dust aside, nice PICS for a DSLR n00b with a D70! :thumbsup:

 

[toekramp]

buy a canon

 

[GTaudiophile]

Originally posted by: toekramp
buy a canon

:thumbsup: :heart:

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
Dust aside, nice PICS for a DSLR n00b with a D70! :thumbsup:

I was just playing around with my Sigma 70-300 with those pics

 

[edro]

Take it to a camera store. Cord Camera charges like $15 to do a cleaning. Well worth it in my opinion.

 

[GTaudiophile]

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
Dust aside, nice PICS for a DSLR n00b with a D70! :thumbsup:

I was just playing around with my Sigma 70-300 with those pics

Ah ha. I knew it wasn't the kit lens!

How are you liking the Sigma?

The peeps at the Canon Lens Forum at DPR are such snobs. They crap on anything that is not a Canon "L" lens.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: edro13
Take it to a camera store. Cord Camera charges like $15 to do a cleaning. Well worth it in my opinion.

Hmm, I like that idea. I don't mind spending $15 to let a professional do it. I'd probably spend that much buying sh!t to clean it then end up screwing up something.