7D Cleaning?

[iPhoto]

Hi All,

Now I know the smart money will say, just ignore it but I like things to be right

I have a 7D thats 18 months old but very very little use. However, from a few weeks after I got it I noticed some small dust particles and what looks like a bristle from the brush type thing that is against the bottom of the focus screen.

None of these show up on images so are not on the sensor, they are only visible when viewing through the viewfinder (as opposed to live view) so they are somewhere in the viwefinder or back of the focus screen I presume.

Other than the usual blow with a jetblower I am not going fishing around in there so I am looking for advice on where to send it to have a proper clean. I can live without it for however long it takes because I am shooting a lot in the studio at present using the 5D2.

So any advice on somewhere that has the kit and expertise to do more than a sensor clean because its not on the sensor.

Cheers

Mark

 

[CT]

Well as you know, these bits of dust and hairs on the focusing screen have no effect on your shots, but they can be really annoying I know.

If they're on the underside of the screen (looking up into the camera through the lens opening) then using something like an Arctic Butterfly static brush should remove it, although you'll have to work carefully.

If the dust is on the other side of the screen (inside the prism housing) then the screen has to come out. The screen on the 7D isn't meant to be user replaceable/removeable, but it can be done if you feel like having a go, although I'd caution against it unless you're the sort of person who can work very carefully and methodically and avoid getting fingerprints on the screen. It's all to easy to put the screen back with more marks than it had to start with! If you feel like having a go,instructions are HERE.

It should be a simple job for any competent repairer, but if you're in any doubt at all then I'd say use an authorised Canon repairer.