Something in my Viewfinder? I have a Canon T1i and have just noticed something that looks like a squiggly piece of lint, or hair, or something when I look through the viewfinder.

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Something in my Viewfinder?

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Sep 18, 2013 08:56:51 #

Sarah in PA Loc: Breinigsville, PA

I have a Canon T1i and have just noticed something that looks like a squiggly piece of lint, or hair, or something when I look through the viewfinder. Always in the same place. I took off my lens hood, protective UV filter and cleaned everything. The squiggle is still there. I changed my lens (which I very rarely do) and since the problem still exists, I know it's not the lens.

I took several test photographs, and the images are clean, no squiggles, so that would seem to eliminate something on my sensor. So that leaves only the viewfinder, right? What do I need to do other than obviously cleaning the exterior, which I've done. Any ideas will be appreciated.

Sarah

Sep 18, 2013 08:59:56 #

andrew.haysom Loc: Melbourne, Australia

Sarah in PA wrote:

I have a Canon T1i and have just noticed something... (show quote)

Sarah, could be on the mirror that reflects the image from the lens up into the viewfinder. If you remove the lens you should be able to carefully clean it.

Sep 18, 2013 09:02:54 #

pounder35 Loc: "Southeast of Disorder"

Sarah in PA wrote:

I have a Canon T1i and have just noticed something... (show quote)

What you are seeing is on the focus screen. If it's sharply defined is on top of the screen. If it's a little fuzzy its on the bottom and should blow off with a bit of Dust-Off carefully applied. The canned air stuff. It will not effect pics as you have noticed. :thumbup:

Sep 18, 2013 09:03:56 #

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

Sarah in PA wrote:

I have a Canon T1i and have just noticed something... (show quote)

Yes, it most definitely could be in that whole gobbledygook of stuff around your view finder. It's easy to get stuff in there.

Do you have a rocket blower?

Sep 18, 2013 09:07:39 #

winterrose Loc: Kyneton, Victoria, Australia

andrew.haysom wrote:

Sarah, could be on the mirror that reflects the image from the lens up into the viewfinder. If you remove the lens you should be able to carefully clean it.

Can also be on the focusing screen which is a piece of flat glass fixed horizontally above the mirror. Use a blower to dislodge it, nothing sharp. Be aware that it might well be very small and difficult to see. Rob.

Sep 18, 2013 09:30:21 #

Sarah in PA Loc: Breinigsville, PA

Thank you all so much for your suggestions. Yes, I have a rocket blower, just not with me right now - we are traveling. I'll try to take care of it this weekend when we are home.

I just wonder how it got there, as I haven't even had my lens off in months. And if the camera isn't in my hands, it's in my bag! (I've been lagging in my photography lately)

I'm just relieved that it's nothing serious, just a bit disconcerting.

Again, thanks for your help.

Sarah

Sep 18, 2013 10:04:02 #

Jay Pat Loc: Round Rock, Texas, USA

Another couple of hundred images and you will be so used to it, you even notice it........
It would drive me crazy!!....
Pat

Sep 18, 2013 10:18:33 #

Sarah in PA Loc: Breinigsville, PA

Jay Pat wrote:

Another couple of hundred images and you will be so used to it, you even notice it........
It would drive me crazy!!....
Pat

Kind of like floaters, right? Uh oh, I just gave away my age!

Actually, since my last post, I got very brave, took my lens off and gently blew across the mirror. Squiggly gone!

You've all saved me a trip to the camera store and a cleaning bill!

Sarah

Sep 18, 2013 10:22:08 #

haroldross Loc: Walthill, Nebraska

pounder35 wrote:

Don't use any of the canned air products for this! They will probably leave a cloudy film on the surface from the propellant.

I would recommend something like Giottos Rocket Air Blower.

Sep 18, 2013 10:29:31 #

Sarah in PA Loc: Breinigsville, PA

haroldross wrote:

Don't use any of the canned air products for this! They will probably leave a cloudy film on the surface from the propellant.

I would recommend something like Giottos Rocket Air Blower.

Good point! Thanks!

Sep 18, 2013 10:32:21 #

pounder35 Loc: "Southeast of Disorder"

haroldross wrote:

Don't use any of the canned air products for this! They will probably leave a cloudy film on the surface from the propellant.

I would recommend something like Giottos Rocket Air Blower.

With a new can it's sometimes a problem. Also I make sure the can is held level and not inverted. I give a quick blast into the air before using it on the focus screen. One drawback is sometimes you blow more dust in that you got out. A lot of cameras have removable screens but I don't recommend people taking them out. It can be tricky and they are easy to scratch. Dust on a focus screen is part of living with an SLR especially if you change lenses often. I tend to just ignore it knowing it won't show up on the pics. :thumbup: A duck feather shaped properly is good for plucking dust from a screen. Strip the feather down to where there is bit left on the tip. It'll look like a toothbrush shape. Stop laughing. I learned this from a former Pentax factory tech. It works great. If I can find mine I'll post a pic.

Sep 19, 2013 03:01:47 #

jdubu Loc: San Jose, CA

Whatever method you use to dislodge errant hitchhikers in your camera, make sure you are holding the body so the lens opening is face down.

Evict those hitchhikers to the ground, not relocate them within the camera.

Sep 19, 2013 07:07:26 #