Mark on viewfinder

[Jez O]

I've spotted a small mark when looking through my viewfinder, just outside the ring of focus points. It's not the lense as it's in an identical position after I swapped lenses and it doesn't seem to make it's way onto the image itself (that I can see anyway). Is it likely to be in the viewfinder and can it be easily removed if it's just dust?

ETA- Canon 550D

[jr502]

Could be dust on the mirror.

[itsnotarace]

jr502 said:

Could be dust on the mirror.

It must be a big-ass dust bunny if you can see it on the viewfinder lol

[LongQ]

Take the lens off and look above the mirror where the incoming light is reflected upwards. There you will see a screen onto which the image is focused before the light is bounced around in the pentaprism and presented to you in the viewfinder. The mark is more than likely something on that 'screen'. If it is mirror side - which it probably is - it will likely shift using a hand operated airblower (carefully). If it's in the pentaprism (unlikely but possible) you will either have to have it serviced or just live with it. Most people live with such things unless they become really intrusive.

Don't use anything except an air blower (hand operated) without getting additional advice. It's not that things are difficult, just that it is best to have some prior knowledge of what to watch out for when messing around in the guts of a camera.

[andy-xr]

I have the same on my ageing D40 and most of my film cameras. Apart from taking them to bits (which will always leave me with a random spare part after putting back together) I've just lived with it. Not in the photos, more of an irritation than anything

[minky monkey]

Does the 550 have a removable focus screen? I had a really bad case of this on a 40d, and removed and cleaned the fs. word of caution, you really need to be careful and can easily end up with it worse than when you started!

Loads of guides on the net.

[Jez O]

Thanks all. I'll take a closer look but I'm not confident enough to go poking. I guess as it's not in the images, I should live with it, but you know how it is, wanting things to be perfect!