Dust in camera - help!

[NiceCupOfTea]

Noticed a couple of specks of dust through the viewfinder of my D70S. I think they're on the prism, but using a brush / blower I just seem to have made it a whole lot worse - now lots of specs covering the whole view

They don't seem to come out in the pic (mirror is down) but it's still really annoying.

I have cotton buds / alcohol spray and stuff but don't want to risk making it worse.

Advice?

[MonkeyHanger]

I've always found the blower works quite well with a wet clean only needed once or twice a year.

I'd keep trying with the blower.

[NiceCupOfTea]

wet clean??

I have used a cotton bud with some cleaning fluid which I have left to dry - seemed to be showing some weird concentric circles through the viewfinder though Hopefully some kind of polarisation effect while it dries...

Just had a look - most of the dust has gone but can see tiny swirls like fingerprints (although it hasn't been touched except with duster brush and cotton bud). the top corners have those concentric marks too (it's tricky to get the bud into that (forward) edge of the prism).

Should never have taken the thing apart

Edited by NiceCupOfTea on Friday 8th August 18:15

[MonkeyHanger]

Don't use cotton buds. They will fall apart and leave more rubbish than you had at the start.
You need proper sensor swabs and fluid (Eclipse E2) if you're going to attempt a wet clean.

Have a read of this http://www.cleaningdigitalcameras.com/

Edited by MonkeyHanger on Friday 8th August 18:40

[horacethefrog]

Monkeyhanger I think it might help if you read the OP - the dust does not appear in the pics

[NiceCupOfTea]

Yes, it's not on the CCD, it's on the bottom of the prism I think. Mirror is clean.

[NiceCupOfTea]

Ordering Hama lens pen, Eclipse E2 fluid, and some PEC-PADs from warehouseexpress.com - anything else I should add?

[touching cloth]

Four leaf clover and a rabbit's foot

[Simpo Two]

touching cloth said:

Four leaf clover and a rabbit's foot

Nonsense, you'll get fur everywhere!

[MonkeyHanger]

horacethefrog said:

Monkeyhanger I think it might help if you read the OP - the dust does not appear in the pics

Maybe not, but if it's in there it will get to the sensor eventually
And as he's ordered a bunch of cleaning gear it seems he found the link useful.

The advice re cotton buds still stands. They will leave bits inside the chamber.

[flat-planedCrank]

Personally, unless its a load of marks in the viewfinder that has become distracting, i'd just leave it...



Cheers.

[r1ot]

when using the blower hold the camera so that it is pointing downwards so that any dust that is dislodged falls out of the camera.

Using cotton buds is a no no.

[Ordinary Bloke]

I did exactly the same on my EOS 300D, what started as a tiny spec in the corner is now a big blob in the centre of the viewfinder. I used an airduster can, still regretting it. Live with it, learn from your experiences and don't do it with your next camera. Or pay half what the camera's worth to get it cleaned...

[rustyspit]

NiceCupOfTea said:

Noticed a couple of specks of dust through the viewfinder of my D70S. I think they're on the prism......

The D70s doesn't have a prism, but rather a (cheaper) penta-mirror. If you've got dust inside the penta-mirror, I'm afraid you may be stuffed - you might be able to blow/tap the dust around inside but you probably won't get it out, and you may just blow more in.

It is also possible that the dust could be on your main mirror or the focusing screen. Don't try to wipe it off the mirror!! The mirror is (I think) front-silvered and can be very easily scratched. You may be able to gently clean the focusing screen with a sensor brush?

Unless it is particularly bad I'd be inclined to ignore it, or investigate getting it cleaned professionally - there is a chance that you might just make things worse, or damage something if you're not careful.

[Simpo Two]

I bet it's on the ground glass screen. Dust sticks to that and I tend to leave it, because otherwise you can grind it in irretrievably, or maybe blow it somewhere worse. At least if it's stuck on the screen, it's not harming the image.

[NiceCupOfTea]

It's the screen below the pentamirror that the 45o mirror reflects the image up onto.

Don't reckon I'll have any joy with the little lot I have ordered from warehouseexpress then?

[rustyspit]

This guy seems to recommend taking the screen out to clean it:
http://deanmalandris.com/D70_technical/Cleaning%20...
Not sure I'd want to risk it myself...

[NiceCupOfTea]

rustyspit said:

This guy seems to recommend taking the screen out to clean it:
http://deanmalandris.com/D70_technical/Cleaning%20...
Not sure I'd want to risk it myself...

Interesting.

I won't be doing that myself, but the dust/smears are on the focussing screen (which doesn't seem to be critical) and not under it. I will try a lens wipe or something when the stuff turns up.