How can I remove a bug's wing from a 5D4 focusing screen?

When changing lenses with my Canon 5D mark IV, a small bug got into the camera. I saw the bug through the viewfinder when I was taking pictures of some flowers and I thought it would be an interesting combination. However, the bug did not show in the picture. It was actually on the focusing screen, and it was killed by mirror impact.

After this unusual event, my viewfinder shows a piece of the bug's wings on the top, that I would like to clean:

View: original size

I can also see the piece of wing by looking up through the lens mount.

View: original size

I tried using an air blower and a lens brush, but this area has very difficult access. The piece of wing is just behind a vertical tab where the mirror stops while taking a picture. I would need some kind of small soft brush with with a handle at a right angle to be able to reach this without bumping into the mirror.

Do you have any ideas to clean this part of the focusing screen?

sssanti wrote:

View: original size

I tried using an air blower and a lens brush, but this area has very difficult access. The piece of wing is just behind a vertical tab where the mirror stops while taking a picture. I would need some kind of small soft brush with with a handle at a right angle to be able to reach this without bumping into the mirror.

Do you have any ideas to clean this part of the focusing screen?

Tweezers to grasp and lift the part away. You'll want tweezers that have a very fine tip and perhaps a curved tip, so you can reach there better. After you've gotten it out/loose, a blower should remove any remaining shards.

All that said, OVFs get dusty/dirty. This doesn't hurt anything.

Of course, the whole screen is removable if you want to go that route....

sssanti wrote:

ProfHankD wrote:

sssanti wrote:

View: original size

I tried using an air blower and a lens brush, but this area has very difficult access. The piece of wing is just behind a vertical tab where the mirror stops while taking a picture. I would need some kind of small soft brush with with a handle at a right angle to be able to reach this without bumping into the mirror.

Do you have any ideas to clean this part of the focusing screen?

Tweezers to grasp and lift the part away. You'll want tweezers that have a very fine tip and perhaps a curved tip, so you can reach there better. After you've gotten it out/loose, a blower should remove any remaining shards.

All that said, OVFs get dusty/dirty. This doesn't hurt anything.

Of course, the whole screen is removable if you want to go that route....

Thanks for your reply.

if the advise above is not sufficient, you may have to compose or frame your photos in a way that you can easily “fulminate” this piece of wing in post processing. 🙄

If you haven't already, try using a very tiny makeup or paint brush. Approach it from the side, as if you were trying to pry it off.

I think tweezers might leave a mark.