cleaning the dirty 5d

can anyone help with ideas on how to clean the mirror and maybe the i think its called the prism which is top most and has the metering points etched on it it nsits behind the plastic focusing screen which is removable

DickyBoy said:

can anyone help with ideas on how to clean the mirror and maybe the
i think its called the prism which is top most and has the metering
points etched on it it nsits behind the plastic focusing screen
which is removable

Click to expand...

Recently I read somewhere that if you push too hard on the mirror
you can mess up everything (the autofocus, I guess).

As far as the final images, the mirror poses no problem at all, if it's dirty.

So as near as I can see, in terms of the images you are getting from
your 5D, you are taking a risk with -zero- return.

Just get used to the dust, and enjoy your perfectly fine 5D, would
be my suggestion.

Be careful - the mirror is the most delicate accessible surface in the camera! It is even easier to damage than the filter over the sensor and damage from cleaning can look just like dirt, encouraging you to clean it more and make the damage worse. I have seen people make exactly that mistake several times - not on the 5D, but with other SLRs, and the only solution then is a full depot repair.

Cleaning methods are similar to cleaning the sensor.

This is the best description of how to get into the viewfinder parts that need cleaning:
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1032&message=20218110

To clean the mirror, use a blower first - someting like a Giotto, not canned air - before disassembly to get as much dust out of the chamber as possible. If that doesn't clean the mirror enough, use a dry, clean brush as described here:

http://www.prime-junta.net/pont/How_to/a_Brush_Your_Sensor/a_Brush_Your_Sensor.html?page=4

If that doesn't shift the dirt use the wet cleaning methods with eclipse and swabs.

Its just like cleaning the sensor - except the mirror surface is even more delicate than the filter surface over the sensor.

The same methods work for the focus screen, the IS plate and the underside of the prism once disassembled.

This site gives a good review of the various cleaning methods:
http://www.cleaningdigitalcameras.com/index.html

--
Juli
http://www.pbase.com/julivalley/galleries
Canon FiveDee, Canon 2oD, Canon Gee3, and Canon S7o, Fuji Eff30.

a while back, during routine cleaning, i made the mistake of inadvertently touching the mirror with my bare finger which left a really nice forensic quality print on it ...

i used a SensorKlear pen to rub it off using a circular motion... be very very gentle...

i've been wearing surgical latex gloves during cleaning since
--
---------------------------------
erhan hosca
http://www.hosca.com

I know many have stated that the mirror coating is so delicate that you should never touch the mirror. But I have owned SLRs for > 40 years, and the surfaces are not that delicate as long as you follow reasonable and cautious procedures.

I, also, had inadvertently touched the mirror on a 5D while cleaning the screen (You can avoid this by buying lintless darkroom gloves).

You can clean the mirror if you follow the following procedure I have used.

1. Wear lintless darkroom gloves.
2. Buy tightly wound cotton Q-tips.
3. Use lens cleaning fluid or eclipse.
4. After removing the lens, place a few drops on cleaning fluid on the Q-tip

5. Gently let the weight of the Q-tip fall on the mirror; do not apply any additional pressure onto the mirror.

6. Gently swab the mirror back and forth across the mirror until the residure is gone. Some fluid may remain on mirror but don't worry.
7. Run a dry Q-tip across the mirror to absorb any excess cleaning fluid.

Normally you will never need to clean a mirror unless some pollutants coat the mirror.

Again, I've never even scratched the mirror doing this.

Be aware you do need a steady hand. YMMV.

--dennis

which are the effects about a damage clean?