Dust on SLR Mirror
 

We all know we may need to remove dust from a DSLR sensor but what do you do if dust or larger particles are found on the mirror and seen in viewfinder?

For any dust removal I remove lens, lock up mirror and very carefully put the vacuum nozzleto the lens housing for a few seconds and this seems to work fine.

Ian

If it stays on the mirror and does not transfer to the sensor then it has no effect other than being annoying. I had this problem with my film SLR and in my ignorance just wiped the marks off with a lens cleaning cloth with no harm done. I would be a little more gentle now but if it annoys (which it would me) then I see no reason not to clean the mirror like a sensor. Marks can also become apparant on the screen that is above the mirror that the mirror comes up against when it flips up during an exposure. These marks will be more in focus than the ones on the mirror itself and are more likely I would have thought to be the ones you are seeing. Again they will not effect the photo and just carefully remove.

I used to use a blower brush, but found the silvering to be very fragile. The silvering is on the front surface of an SLR mirror, not onthe back, protected by a layer of glass. Since making a problem much worse on a film SLR, I've given the body to a repair shop whenever I've needed dust removing.

I was very saddened to see my local camera repair shop had closed down recently. I don't know who I'll use next time I need a spruce up.

Guess I was really lucky but mainly its been the fresnel screen I've had to clean which is probably a bit more robust than the mirror.

Duncan has said it about the silvering on the mirror. VERY VERY delicate. The most I have ever done is to sweep with a very fine brush. I would NOT advise using any form of liquid cleaning.

I think you are more likely to find dust that is visible in the viewfinder to be on the focussing screen itself. If the spots you see are sharp then they are on the screen and not the mirror. Just dirtied my F2 to prove accuracy of that statement. ( lunatic :rolleyes: )
The fresnal part is very finely etched onto the underside and can attract dust. The top of the screen is a polished surface.

On the older F2 and F3 cameras with a removeable/interchangeable viewfinder dust on the screen was a regular hazard. No worries about changing lenses in dodgy conditions in those days, as the screens were removable and could be cleaned with a blower.

So first thing is to determine if dust is on the screen. Fairly sharp or sharp when looking through viewfinder. If looking at the mirror and you cannot grow spuds on it then most likely on the screen.

Don

A link on this Forum to Intemos.com proved very helful.They sell swabs and fluid which are very east to use,they provide very easy directions as to how to use.I clean all my sensors when they show lots of dark spots.I used to send my cams off to be cleaned,but if I can clean them,anyone can.
I did try with a blower,but made things worse.So now do a wipe clean with the swabs,and yes,it does work.

Of course, if you've got a Pentax dSLR, you still can change the focusing screens. ;)

Focus screens can be changed on D1 and D2 series DSLR's from Nikon. I have a large particle on the focus screen but thats no problem, I can remove and clean or employ a spec grabber. When cleaning the sensor I noticed dust on mirror also.

I recently purchased a used Nikon D2Hs as a second body, it remains a second body so I after reading advise here I am more inclined to leave the little dust on the mirror but remove the particle on focus screen.

Should it require service in future I shall stipulate its is cleaned, properly.

Apart from delicate coating of mirror, I never trust myself to play around a moving part in camera or for that mater in most compact electronic devices.
No wonder my solution for mirror dust is "To tolerate".

Interesting thread although some of the anatomy has left me lost.
I'm currently reading David D. Busch's Dummies book and in it he recommneds cleaning sensors using a blower, cleaning swab and cleaning liquid. I was under the impression that sensors were so delicate that they shouldn't be touched just blown on using a hand blower to remove dust. I always seem to be having dust problems and haven't found the blower technique very effective so the use of cleaning swabs sounds very interesting. Using a vacuum also sounds useful. Any thoughts/recommnedations on the subject?
If I ordered swabs, are there brands that are recommneded? My camera is a 20D.

Dan I use a sensor brush. I don't like the thought of using the wet method. All I have to do is charge the brush and sweep the sensor. I will have to do a search on the net and find the website from whom I bought the kit from. I had a computer crash last week and have lost all my bookmarks.

Thanks, Christine. I'll watch for your post and meanwhile I'll do a search for a sensor brush.

Dan I found it.

http://www.pbase.com/copperhill/image/46319755

Sensor dust, what's that? Olympus user.

Ive got an obvious dust spot on my senso that shows up on my photos in the same place on them all. Ive tried a blower and then a swab but it wont shift, does anyone have any more suggestions or should i send it back to Nikon.

Ollie,how old is your cam.With Canon,one is allowed 1 free clean within the 1st year and the company do an auto firmware update.One just pays the postage one way.I use H Leyhman (think that is spelt correctly!!) from Stoke.they are very good.one just includes a copy of ones invoice with date of purchase etc.

Its a Nikon. Ive had it just over a year now.

H Leyhman are also an approved Nikon service centre!

This lot seem to be well thought of:-

Fixation
Suite 508
71 Bondway
London
SW8 1SQ
Tel 020 7582 3294
Fax 020 7582 9050
[email protected]

Not by me!

I sent a Nikon 80-400VR for internal cleaning and general service, their turnaround was suggested to be a couple of days from acceptance of quote. I shipped the lens and received a quote after a week. Go-ahead given but no lens for three weeks. I called and asked what the problem was and I was told 'Oh we had to send it to Nikon only they can service VR modules' This was supposed to explain the delay. If I was told it would be six weeks until I got the lens back I would not have minded and planned around it but to be told initially - no problem just a few days I was stuck without a lens for airshows!

On balance the lens did come back spotless and provided better contrast than before, unfortunately I had to buy a new lens to cover 400mm so subsequently sold the 80-400VR at top price!

Try to get all information before you agree to Fixation doing work. I know Fixation are popular and many Nikon dealers send their repairs to them instead of Nikon.

I still have a few items of debris on the mirror of my D2Hs and need a speck grabber from Jessops to remove. Its a job when next in town (unlikely!)

Dust on mirror, sensors, or fresnel screens?
Use a rocket blower (Giotto do the best one, priced at around £7 depending on where you look)
If the blower method doesn't work, or you end up simply blowing the dust around inside the camera body, try the opti-clean sensor cleaning system. the green kit comes in at approximately £55...very expensive, but to does work very well. comes with vacuum system and swabs. A way better method than the old Jessops branded mini vacs, which are no longer sold, which were (quite frankly) crap!

Incidentally, sensor, mirror and focus screen related problems are some of the most common reasons behind many of the repairs we take in at our shop.

I would personally not recommend using any wet cleaning methods on sensors, or mirrors.....unless in a do or die situation!....I wouldn't even entertain cleaning a fresnel screen by wetting it!...I wrecked enough of my own Nikon Contax and Bronica screens to learn the hard way!

As a footnote, when atempting to clean this items, point the open body mount throat opening downwards (ie viewfinder up) so that anything loosened falls out rather than back onto the shutter or sensor assemblies.

Good luck!

Ive tried air blower, and swabs and it is still there.

then check your warranty repair prtection plan or insurance, and use a wet method....you have nothing to loose before taking it to a repairers!

What do you mean a wet method? Im going to check the warranty.

Ollie, have a look at the sensor brush the link is in post 14

Ollie,

This thread shows the commonly used sensor cleaning methods.

http://www.worldphotographyforum.com...read.php?t=160

Wet methods involve using a cleaning fluid and soft swab directly applied to the sensor.

I have cleaned 4 cam sensors this afternoon,using the Intemos wet/dry cleaning system.On their website there is a video link showing the exact method.It does work.

It's H Lehmann

http://www.lehmannsdirect.co.uk/

Sorry to hear about your problems with Fixation, I've always found that they've given me excellent service but I always visit and sort things out in person, perhaps that helps?

Ollie, the Intemos cleaning tools and fluid are pretty good at shifting stubborn blobs and it's not difficult to do.

Thank you. I will buy some and have a crack at it. Thank you all for your help.

Ollie,if you do have a try with the Intemos stuff,be prepared to do clean the sensor twice.I do it once then take a few shots,check the photos,and then quite often have to clean a second time.It does work.So if you do order some swabs etc,make sure you order sufficient swabs,they must only be used ONCE.The first time I tried,I did re -use the cleaning swabs,a total disaster.
My hand joints are quite stiff,and I do find it difficult,but I can manage,so if I can do it then so can anyone else.I used to send off to Lehmanns,a very good company,highly recommended,but it is cheaper to do it yourself,esp after the warranty has expired.

Christine, the first (and only, so far) time I've used the Intemos kit I used an overly large drop (perhaps more) of fluid on the tool and found it impossible to mop it all up with the reverse side once I'd scrubbed the stubborn blob off. A repeat swabbing cleared up the mess and left me with a clean sensor.

I've not used this method as a primary cleaning method and I'm rather sceptical of my chances of successfully removing all of the liquid with a single tool (and at a couple of quid a shot and with me being as tight as a gnat's chuff....). However, as a backup for shifting stubborn marks it's excellent.

You're a bit hard on yourself there, I've seen you get out one of those big white fivers in the past. Unfortunately Victoria complained too much about the bright lights and you returned it to whence it came. :)