Naldo

1. I've heard it said that you should never clean the mirror in a Nikon DSLR, even if it's foggy looking. . . that it only affects your view in the viewfinder, and has no effect upon your pictures. However, I've also heard it said that the auto focus and exposure metering require a clean mirror for accurate image & light transmission to the meters. . . and that therefore, the mirror condition does indeed materially affect the function of your camera & the quality of your pictures.

2. I've heard it said that the mirror mechanism is so fragile that it must never be touched in any way (even to clean) because it won't work again afterwards. However I've seen videos where a person sticks his finger in to lift up the mirror and lets it back down again with no apparent ill effect.

3. I've heard it said that mirrors can and should be carefully cleaned with lens spray on a microfiber cloth and a gentle touch. However, I've also heard it said that the mirror coating itself is far more fragile than a typical household mirror, and that they should only be cleaned with the exact same method & products as used to clean the main CMOS sensor (Eclipse solution and dedicated sensor swabs).

Can the mirror be wet-cleaned? Should it be cleaned? How should it be done?

Fred Harwood Loc: Sheffield, Mass.

http://davidcandlish.photography/news/2015/6/28/how-to-clean-your-dslr-mirror-focusing-screen

I use a Q-tip, gently, without problems.

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

Some people are intrinsically capable of using a highly controlled, gentle touch, while others are not - the "all thumbs" people.
For example, if you are able to thread sewing needles with relative ease, then you probably are able to use gentle touch when necessary.

Naldo

Take a look here and tell me what you think:
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=Nikon+DSLR+Mirror+wet+Cleaning&view=detail&mid=22694EDBB73AD34B76E822694EDBB73AD34B76E8&FORM=VIRE

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

Anytime I am doing a "wet" sensor cleaning, I ALWAYS clean my mirror off with the sensor swab before I completely dries. HUNDREDS of mirror cleanings that way over the years and never left a mark on a single mirror!

Naldo

Thank you MT Shooter, I appreciate your input very much. Did you get a chance to view the video in my 2nd post of this thread? Is that the way you clean the mirror too? You can see that he lifts up one part to clean the little mirror underneath, and then he cleans the much larger top flap too. I assume that the actual mirror is the littler one underneath? Don't know what the top one would be called.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

My advise, let a technician do that job.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

A garden hose and 400-grit sandpaper will clean it nicely!

Naldo

In the interest of wrapping up this thread for anyone in a similar situation who may be reading this:

I have a Nikon D70 which I bought in 2004 at around $1,500. Today, nice examples can be bought for about $100. Therefore, spending as-much-as or even more than the camera is worth, just to have someone else clean the mirror makes little sense to me. Either I clean it myself, or I leave it alone. With that said, the mirror was quite cloudy and also soiled with a significant amount of dust & debris which would not come off with a blower. After MUCH online research and further questioning of several knowledgeable camera people, I decided to clean it.

First I tried the sensor swabs with Eclipse solution. I was extremely careful & gentle about it. It worked, but there were still some smears after 2 swabs, and I didn't want to use up a bunch of expensive sensor swabs. Next I very lightly spritzed a new, clean microfiber cloth with lens cleaner, and cleaned it again as gently as if I was touching an eyeball. Better, but still some smears. So I breathed on the mirror, and once more I gently wiped with a new microfiber cloth, and this time it came out perfect. Zero damage, and perfectly clean.

Armed with the confidence acquired from that experience, I took the plunge, and I also cleaned the dirty mirror on my much newer and VERY expensive Nikon D3s. It too came out perfectly clean & damage-free.