Help! Black spot on viewfinder

[sabrina860]

I have a d5000 and just noticed a black speck when I look through my viewfinder. Its a pretty good size. I looked at the previews of the pics on my cam and the spot isn't showing up thankfully. I've cleaned off my viewfinder, and my lens and it's still there. What's goin on??? please help... I just got this camera

[Jonbar18]

it could ve some dust on the mirror

[candleman]

probably dust on mirror...
you could use a rocketblower to try blow it out.. just dont physically touch anything in there.

did it have the dust in there when you took it out the box, or is this a new development?

[sabrina860]

How is that possible? I've only changed my lens once and that was like a week ago. There was no spot on it yesterday it just all of a sudden showed up. I don't like taking off my lens for this reason so that's why I want to know exactly what it is before I try to get it. If it was on the mirror would it show up in the pics?

[sabrina860]

Originally Posted by candleman

probably dust on mirror...
you could use a rocketblower to try blow it out.. just dont physically touch anything in there.

did it have the dust in there when you took it out the box, or is this a new development?

It's a new development I've had my camera for about a month. I'm really scared to blow in there I don't want to make it worse

[Christian Michael]

Originally Posted by sabrina860

It's a new development I've had my camera for about a month. I'm really scared to blow in there I don't want to make it worse

Guys…Chillax lol. You say you changed the lens a week ago. Right? That’s more than likely when the speck got in the camera. Now, you may have gentle knocked the camera in the last week that nudged the speck onto the mirror. Its not a huge deal.

In the settings of the camera there should be a setting for “mirror up” or words to that effect. This gives you the chance to clean (carefully) inside the camera with the lens off and also drop the mirror back down to clean that too. Check your manual for the exact procedure as each camera is different.

NOW…Remember everytime you change the lens, you instantly have the chance for dust to get in your camera. What ever the lens was setting on “while the changing process is taking place” gives the lens the opportunity to pick up the tiniest speck of dust, and when viewed in the view finder can be alarming. Just remember, dust can get in so if your careful…dust can come out!

Seriously check your manual. Blow with a hand held bulb blower (available at any good camera store…or even walmart’s electrical section) don’t panic. Learn your equipment, you own it, it doesn’t own you…but respect it in the process and it will all come out in the wash…excuse the pun :0)

[ravncat]

Dust is a way of life with dslrs once you open the body, you are hit with the air. It gets in, it can settle and then later the mirror movement can kick it up. Sounds like it hit the focusing screen which is delicate and easy to scratch.

I agree with using a rocket blower to try and remove it. You'll want to aim at the ceiling of the mirror box, let gravity help you. If that does not work, take it in for cleaning. Or alternately ignore it. It is not in a place that will affect your photographs.

Do not fear switching lenses, dust always finds a way, many zooms are like air pumps. Just try to minimize dust, I use lots of primes and I change lenses alot. I must accept it, and deal, so must all

[Oracheski]

I had a nasty one appear out of the blue one day on the IIn. Took the lens off and it was easy to spot it on the mirror. I just used a puffer and gently removed it. Just be careful and you should have no problems.

[jsherp]

I have a D5000 as well. There is a self-cleaning function that may do the trick for you.

Place the camera on a solid surface.
Press the MENU button.
Navigate to the SETUP menu.
Highlight "Clean image sensor".
CLEAN NOW will be highlighted by default.
Press OK.

The camera will vibrate the sensor to dislodge any dust that might be on it.
I have mine set to automatically do this every time I turn it on.

If the dust is on the mirror, this probably won't work (I said it MIGHT). In that case, you're going to have to bite the bullet and take the lens off and look inside the camera. Don't worry; it's built pretty tough. You won't break anything by looking and gently blowing a little air in there, as long as you don't use an air compressor set to 125 PSI.

Good luck.

[inkista]

Get a bulb blower. DO NOT use canned air (you'll spray wet gunk into your camera); DO NOT just blow air with your mouth (you'll get spit in there). Bulb blower.

Check whether or not the dust is on the sensor, or on your focus screen. (I.e., does a dark spot also show up on your photos? Or is it just something you see through the viewfinder?) If it's not on the sensor, don't bother with the whole sensor cleaning bit. Just turn the camera off, remove the lens, hold the camera face down and blast air up at the focus screen (it's in the "ceiling" of the camera chamber, if the camera's mount is facing you). Whatever you do, try to avoid physically touching anything past the camera mount.