Hair in my DSLR Viewfinder... Can't find where to clean

[swiftmed]

Hey Guys,

I seem to have a hair in my camera somewhere. When looking through the viewfinder, it is there. If I put the camera onto Live View, you cannot see the hair, nor can you see it in any of the pictures my camera takes.

Thing is, I have slid-out the eye-piece rubber thing and cleaned that, cleaned the part of the viewfinder you actually look through, but the hair is still there. I have used a blower to gently blow over the flip-up mirror thing in the camera body, but I'm afraid to go any further in incase I damage my camera.

Where is the hair, where do I need to clean, and what is the safest way to do so please? Many thanks for your time and advice.

[MeAgain]

I had the same issue. I removed the lens and used compressed air to blow off the mirror. Not sure that's your issue but it worked for me.

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by MeAgain

I had the same issue. I removed the lens and used compressed air to blow off the mirror. Not sure that's your issue but it worked for me.

Never use compressed air (canned or from a compressor) in a camera. It's laden with all sorts of crap that can seriously damage things, and is usually far too much pressure.

If you can see it in the viewfinder but not in LV or photos, then its either on the mirror or the ground-glass focus screen. To get to the focus screen, remove the lens, and look up into the top part of the camera. There's a glass pane there. The hair could be on either side of it.

[Paul 92]

Agree with Osmosis. If it is not showing up in any photos, its most likely up on or around your mirror somewhere. Use a makeup brush or get over to a camera store and get a lens brush if not a few of them - priceless for keeping your lenses and camera clear of dust and hair. Just remember that the mirror is very sensitive so use a very light touch.
Paul
LifePics: Create Anything, Print Anywhere

[Biomech]

Could it be a scratch/crack?

[swiftmed]

Hey folks,

Many thanks for all the advice. I did think about compressed air, but instantly said to myself, 'no, that's not a great idea'. lol. Anyways got my lens brush in there and had a clean around, and the hair now seems to be gone, so problem solved.

Thanks ever so much.

[UlpilotSC]

i had the same issue. it was there one day, and gone the next. I think mine was on the mirror, a little air blast from the rocket thing took care of it.

[dakwegmo]

It's possible the hair is between your focus screen and the pentaprism. If you shoot Nikon (don't know about other brands), it's very easy to remove the focus screen and blow out any hair and dust that might be trapped in there. It's even easier to scratch the focus screen, causing an even bigger problem. If you're not much of a tinkerer, I'd just live with it until you need to get your camera serviced.

[inkista]

Actually, my bet is that it's on the outside of your focus screen (i.e., the camera chamber side, not on the side nearer the eyepiece/pentaprism). Take your bulb blower, and aim the air at the "ceiling" of the chamber--that's where your focus screen lives. As dakwegmo points out, it's damn easy to scratch one of these, so try to avoid any physical contact with your blower tip and the screen.

It is a PITA to remove one of these on a dRebel, btw, so unless you're confident in your ability to handle delicate spring-loaded brackets, I wouldn't attempt it with your T1i.

[Marylin]

I am having the same problem on a brand new lens and a 2 month old camera. Thanks for leading the way for me!