Something in my Viewfinder? (Page 2): Um. Y'might try reading through the thread. The lady sez she's fixed the problem already.

JaiGieEse Loc: Foxworth, MS

cthahn wrote:

Take it to a camera repair shop.

Um. Y'might try reading through the thread. The lady sez she's fixed the problem already.

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

If the spec is on the mirror I just don't worry about it It does not affect the picture

Marilyng Loc: Lorain,Oh.

Sarah in PA wrote:

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

We get use to those floaters don't we Sarah,lol.

Capn_Dave

She said it's fixed.
Never used canned air in or around your sensor. There is stuff in that can of air. Not chunky stuff I am saying it is not compressed air. There are chemicals add to it because people have been known to inhale the stuff because of the stuff they use to pressurize the can.

Dave B Loc: Ramsey,Cambridgeshire UK

Sarah in PA wrote:

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

Don't "clean" the mirror-they are very delicate, only use a blower. As has been said it's probably on the focussing screen. Best of luck-it's very irritating when this happens but at least it's not the sensor.

David Kay Loc: Arlington Heights IL

pounder35 wrote:

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:

Do not use the canned air to blow out dust etc from inside your camera. The canned air produces water, which can land inside your camera and on the sensor. Use an air bulb, or sometimes called an air blaster.

boncrayon

I agree, it's on the mirror or the or glass above the mirror. Be very careful in cleaning the inside parts of the camera. A very soft lens brush should do the trick.

OddJobber Loc: Portland, OR

Now that you've solved your problems and have good suggestions, let me add some "why". Your mirror is even more sensitive than the sensor. When you clean your sensor, you're cleaning a filter in front of it. The mirror is a "front surface mirror". The reflective coating is on the exposed side so you're not looking through another piece of glass to see the reflection, and is very easy to scratch and is susceptible to chemical damage. Then you'll have permanent squigglies in the viewfinder.

Kingmapix Loc: Mesa, Arizona

What you have is a Camera Grimmie. These little fellars sneak in at night when no one is watching and try to foul up the works.
They can be removed by a gentle blow of air or tear gas. Sometimes placing a little bit of ripe cheese next to your camera and night will entice them out. If that doesn't work a short dunk of the camera into your backyard pool should do the trick.

Good luck. (I think the suggestions by other will also work).

pounder35 Loc: "Southeast of Disorder"

Kingmapix wrote:

What you have is a Camera Grimmie. These little fellars sneak in at night when no one is watching and try to foul up the works.
They can be removed by a gentle blow of air or tear gas. Sometimes placing a little bit of ripe cheese next to your camera and night will entice them out. If that doesn't work a short dunk of the camera into your backyard pool should do the trick.

Good luck. (I think the suggestions by other will also work).

You forgot the gentle cycle in the dishwasher. :lol: But to follow up, yes both the mirror surface and the focus screen are very delicate. As I used to tell customers in my days of doing camera repair "If you can see it through the viewfinder, it won't show up on the picture". Live with it. :thumbup:

OddJobber Loc: Portland, OR

Sorry, but advice from both Kingmapix and pounder35 is not only wrong but extremely dangerous. Water makes gremlins MUTIPLY!!!

For the real scoop:
http://christalawler.com/2010/06/05/bits-how-to-kill-a-gremlin-as-seen-in-gremlins/

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

OddJobber wrote:

Sorry, but advice from both Kingmapix and pounder35 is not only wrong but extremely dangerous. Water makes gremlins MUTIPLY!!!

For the real scoop:
http://christalawler.com/2010/06/05/bits-how-to-kill-a-gremlin-as-seen-in-gremlins/

Most excellent suggestions :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

pounder35 Loc: "Southeast of Disorder"

OddJobber wrote:

Sorry, but advice from both Kingmapix and pounder35 is not only wrong but extremely dangerous. Water makes gremlins MUTIPLY!!!

For the real scoop:
http://christalawler.com/2010/06/05/bits-how-to-kill-a-gremlin-as-seen-in-gremlins/

Do you not know humor when you read it. Of course a dunk in the pool or the gentle cycle in a dishwasher is wrong.Any fool would know that. The problem has been discussed in detail and the OP says problem solved. I, as well as a few others, narrowed it down quickly to the focus screen. I also mentioned how delicate focus screens are and I believe you cautioned about cleaning the mirror surface. Good advice. Any minor particles of dust on the mirror surface is not going to be visible through the VF. If it's visible through the VF it's on the focus screen or bottom of the prism. And as I recommended just live with it. It will not appear on the pics. It's in the viewing system which with a reflex type camera is removed from the loop during exposure. Unless it's a fixed mirror and light is transmitted through the mirror to the sensor. Still not a problem. :thumbup:

OK, I'm amending the above but leaving it posted as is since it does clarify a few things. I didn't look at the link first. Now I'm laughing with you. :thumbup:

Kingmapix Loc: Mesa, Arizona

mborn wrote:

Most excellent suggestions :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

Your article on ridding yourself of gremlins is right on!

ScottK Loc: Trophy Club, TX

If you go to a photo shop they may blow out the inside for you for free or sell you a blower/cleaner for around $20. Or you can ignore it. It is likely just debris on the focusing screen and will be annoying, but not affect the sensor/images.

Another option to consider, every once in a long while, you may consider (at much greater cost, so consider that!), you can send in to Canon for check up, adjustment, etc., but this sounds like overkill.