Cleaning...

[Diggsy]

Guys, need to pick your brains...

I have a small mark (looks like a tiny piece of hair or something) on the inside of my 350D.

It's on the plastic piece that has the AF points marked on it, I don't know the name for it, but it's at the top of the camera if you look in from the front.

Now, I have blasted it loads with the Rocket Blower, and whilst it moved (further into the middle) it is still there.

I then tried to remove it with a lint free cloth (for cleaning glasses) but it's still there and now I have a very small kind of cloudy area, obviously from where I wiped

It's not affecting the images I am taking, but it is bloody annoying.

Is there anything I can do?

Any chemicals I need?

Or should I take it to a local photography shop and have them clean it?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Diggsy]

Never worry. I found a guide to remove and clean the part. It's actually the focusing screen.

Pretty easy to remove it actually, although even though I got rid of the worst mark, I think I left behind several smaller ones

Will look to getting some more cleaning materials and have another bash.

 

[Diggsy]

Can you share the link? I've got a friend with the same problem so it might be of use to him

Good pics here...
http://www.focusingscreen.com/work/400d.htm

And there's a very detailled write up here, for a 20D, but not much difference TBH...
http://doug.kerr.home.att.net/pumpkin/Replace_focusing_screen_20D.pdf

It's actually really easy to remove. Make sure you wear a pair of non-powdered surgical gloves though, as you will touch the mirror and this is the best way to keep skin oils off it.

Then simply set the camera upside down and bend the mirror buffer foam back to expose the small metal clip behind. It has a very small hole near the top of it, which you can insert something like a cocktail stick into.

Then push forward (VERY GENTLY) and lift up. The metal frame holding the screen in will lift up. Take it out.

Next thing I did was tip the camera slightly towards upright, until the screen begins to fall out. Take it out completely and you are ready to clean it.

Just watch that the small shim under the screen has remained in place. No drama if it hasn't, simply replace it. Although be really careful again, as it's very very thin.

Once you have the screen cleaned, replace the opposite way that you removed it. It is keyed and will only fit one way, so you can't go wrong.

Finally insert the metal frame again, making sure it doesn't get caught on the foam, and check that the side nearest you engages properly. If it doesn't, you may have bent it a little when removing. Again no drama, just take it back out and carefully bend it back straight again.

All done. Should take a minute to remove and refit, then however long you chose to clean it for.

If you figure a better way of cleaning it to make it 100% dust free, please let me know.

 

[Diggsy]

On behalf of my friend, many thanks, he's now sorted it out and it was a great help to him, thanks for sharing

No worries at all. Sharing knowledge is what this place is all about. The link is fantastic, and credit to the author - great stuff!

Glad he got it sorted. I stripped mine today again and this time used laser lens cleaner and a sunglasses (lint free) cloth. It's now much, much better than before, and i'm more than happy with it.