Cleaning viewfinder

greedy123 · 28 Jun 2010 at 22:56

I need to clean the viewfinder in my 5DmkII (the internal bit above the mirror), as when I look through it its all a bit blurred and grey. The pictures come out fine its just difficult to see if something is in focus when you take the photo

. Anyway, what's the best way to do it? I've never had to clean it before.

Mud · 28 Jun 2010 at 23:15

Blurred and grey? That sounds more like you're looking through it without a battery plugged into the camera (if Canons function like Nikons).

Cack on the outside of the focusing screen can be blown off simply enough, cack between the focusing screen and pentaprism/mirror requires removing the focusing screen to clean. If it's further up than that I don't know!

Gnomey · 29 Jun 2010 at 00:23

Are you sure that it is dirt and not the dioptre setting?

greedy123 · 29 Jun 2010 at 06:40

yes because i used my lens pen when a bit of dust got on it and created a black dot on it. i managed to smudge the viewfinder in the process of removing it.

p0ss3s3d · 29 Jun 2010 at 07:10

Remove the focussing screen.

Blow the screen with compressed air (well away from the camera)

Put screen back in.

(or buy a new focussing screen)

greedy123 · 29 Jun 2010 at 08:42

ok i'll do that tonight. is it easy to remove the focusing screen?

Raymond Lin · 29 Jun 2010 at 09:44

I think you'll need tools, google is your friend.

greedy123 · 29 Jun 2010 at 10:45

Apparently you can buy different focusing screens for slrs, including ones with a thirds grid on. Could be useful... expensive though for a bit of plastic! £40+

Gnomey · 29 Jun 2010 at 12:20

Have a look here: http://shimworld.wordpress.com/2009/08/24/cleaning-the-5d-mk-ii-viewfinder/.

greedy123 · 29 Jun 2010 at 14:00

Thanks!!

Has anyone ever replaced their focusing screen to a different type? I notice Canon do the grid (Eg-d) and the magnifier (Eg-s) as optional replacments to the standard matte one the camera comes with (Eg-a)

p0ss3s3d · 29 Jun 2010 at 16:18

greedy123 said:
Thanks!!

Has anyone ever replaced their focusing screen to a different type? I notice Canon do the grid (Eg-d) and the magnifier (Eg-s) as optional replacments to the standard matte one the camera comes with (Eg-a)

I have. All the tools were in the packet. Takes thirty or forty seconds to do. I have an EC-c IV in one and Ec-C III in the other.

Easy peasy. I think I paid £25 for the IV.

Mud · 29 Jun 2010 at 19:35

greedy123 said:
Thanks!!

Has anyone ever replaced their focusing screen to a different type? I notice Canon do the grid (Eg-d) and the magnifier (Eg-s) as optional replacments to the standard matte one the camera comes with (Eg-a)

You're spoilt on Canon, focusing screens is something Nikon get very wrong. I buy Katzeyes for my bodies (except my D700, which has a Brightscreen), they end up costing ~£120 once imported :mad:

greedy123 · 29 Jun 2010 at 22:25

Done! All much clearer now

was so easy to do, i used a cotton bud and water instead of air in the end.

Benihana · 30 Jun 2010 at 10:34

Mud said:
You're spoilt on Canon, focusing screens is something Nikon get very wrong. I buy Katzeyes for my bodies (except my D700, which has a Brightscreen), they end up costing ~£120 once imported

Really? I love the Nikon (D80) with the ability to turn grid lines on or off.

The Canon at work (1Ds Mk3) seems fairly similar, never had a problem with either.

Mud · 30 Jun 2010 at 11:03

Benihana said:
Really? I love the Nikon (D80) with the ability to turn grid lines on or off.

The Canon at work (1Ds Mk3) seems fairly similar, never had a problem with either.

I tend to leave gridlines on, but what I was primarily referring to was focusing aids such as micro-prisms or split-prisms. Nikon give you no aftermarket options, and don't even offer shims in less than 50um increments (whereas Canon do 10um IIRC).

Benihana · 30 Jun 2010 at 11:30

I'm the same, I have grid lines on constantly! I've never felt the need for any aftermarket focusing aids, what aftermarket options do you find essential and why? I'm purely curious, is it something for a specific type of photography?

Mud · 30 Jun 2010 at 14:08

If you want to use manual focus lenses reliably without resorting to liveview you'll need focusing aids.

p0ss3s3d · 30 Jun 2010 at 16:40

Any lens over f/2.5 benefits from the focusing screens (darker with f/3.2 or slower, brighter at f/2.5 or wider apertures), and perhaps spilt prism centres.