Dirt in viewfinder: I’ve had my Nikon D3400 for about 6 months. I noticed the other day a dirt speck and what might be a dust particle when looking through the viewfinder. I’ve...

AllenDpics Loc: Williamsburg Virginia

I’ve had my Nikon D3400 for about 6 months. I noticed the other day a dirt speck and what might be a dust particle when looking through the viewfinder. I’ve determined that is is inside the viewfinder. Images are fine and I can look up through the prism and can see the particle. I tried blowing air around the prism but to no avail.
Don’t know how it’s possible that anything can get inside there but it has.
The large particle is right next to the center focus point. Very distracting.

Is there a way to clean it outside of sending it back to Nikon?

Jim Bob

AllenDpics wrote:

I’ve had my Nikon D3400 for about 6 months. I noti... (show quote)

How did you "determine" that it is "inside the viewfinder"?

AllenDpics Loc: Williamsburg Virginia

Jim Bob wrote:

How did you "determine" that it is "inside the viewfinder"?

Images are clear, the mirror is clean, I can see the particle when looking up through the prism resting right in the center.

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

Jim Bob wrote:

How did you "determine" that it is "inside the viewfinder"?

Remove the lens and use a flashlight. It's not rocket science.

Jim Bob

rook2c4 wrote:

Remove the lens and use a flashlight. It's not rocket science.

Geesus. If you can figure it out, it must be intelligible to a first grader. Guess it never occurred to you that dirt might appear to be in many places other than actually in the viewfinder.

Jim Bob

AllenDpics wrote:

Images are clear, the mirror is clean, I can see the particle when looking up through the prism resting right in the center.

Sounds like it is on the prism rather than inside the viewfinder. Have you tried to "wet clean" the prism?

AllenDpics Loc: Williamsburg Virginia

Jim Bob wrote:

Sounds like it is on the prism rather than inside the viewfinder. Have you tried to "wet clean" the prism?

Yes.
It is on the prism but on the inside surface. I can see up through it with a flashlight. The prism is somewhat transparent enough to see.

BebuLamar

Dirt often gets onto the focusing screen and you can see it in the viewfinder. Dirt on the mirror is not seen. But if the OP say it's a big blob then blowing the focusing screen should remove it or at least move it. If it doesn't move then it could be a rare case where it's inside the viewfinder on top of the focusing screen.

Jim Bob

BebuLamar wrote:

Dirt often gets onto the focusing screen and you can see it in the viewfinder. Dirt on the mirror is not seen. But if the OP say it's a big blob then blowing the focusing screen should remove it or at least move it. If it doesn't move then it could be a rare case where it's inside the viewfinder on top of the focusing screen.

Well sometimes blowing will not remove a particle "stuck" on the prism. But if the OP has tried to wet clean it without success it might very well be the rare situation you mention. In such case, is there a way most consumers can clean it?

AllenDpics Loc: Williamsburg Virginia

BebuLamar wrote:

Dirt often gets onto the focusing screen and you can see it in the viewfinder. Dirt on the mirror is not seen. But if the OP say it's a big blob then blowing the focusing screen should remove it or at least move it. If it doesn't move then it could be a rare case where it's inside the viewfinder on top of the focusing screen.

Thanks for your reply. I guess I made a mistake in terminology. It Must be the focusing screen I’m looking at. And yes Im a rarity because it is on top. I’ll call Nikon tech support.

chippy

Why are some people on this forum so unnecessarily Rude ??. Is it the distance between them and their victim that saves

them from a swift " Kick-up-the Pants " Do you have to be a "smart-arse" to be a proper photographer ?!

Does the D3400 HAVE a pentaprism ?? most of the later,smaller Nikon DSLR appear to use a mirror ??

only asking ??

chrisg-optical Loc: New York, NY

chippy wrote:

Why are some people on this forum so unnecessarily Rude ??. Is it the distance between them and their victim that saves

them from a swift " Kick-up-the Pants " Do you have to be a "smart-arse" to be a proper photographer ?!

Does the D3400 HAVE a pentaprism ?? most of the later,smaller Nikon DSLR appear to use a mirror ??

only asking ??

No the D3xxx and 5xxx series have pentamirrors - cheaper and lighter construction.

Jim Bob

chippy wrote:

Why are some people on this forum so unnecessarily Rude ??. Is it the distance between them and their victim that saves

them from a swift " Kick-up-the Pants " Do you have to be a "smart-arse" to be a proper photographer ?!

Does the D3400 HAVE a pentaprism ?? most of the later,smaller Nikon DSLR appear to use a mirror ??

only asking ??

How about using the reply feature so the rest of us will know what (or who) the hell you're talking about.

jgunkler

Yeah, I had trouble figuring that out also. But I think I've identified the person's initials. They are "Jim Bob."

Jim Bob wrote:

How about using the reply feature so the rest of us will know what (or who) the hell you're talking about.

BebuLamar

Jim Bob wrote:

Well sometimes blowing will not remove a particle "stuck" on the prism. But if the OP has tried to wet clean it without success it might very well be the rare situation you mention. In such case, is there a way most consumers can clean it?

If you can remove the focusing screen then it may be possible. I have a Pentax K1000 with a blob of foam somewhere between the top of the focusing screen and the prism and I can't clean it short of taking the top plate off. I gave that one away to Rab Eye and I hope he could use it.