D800 - Black Spec In View Finder

the_local_jacko

the_local_jacko

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Martin
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I have been out with the D800 today and around halfway through the shoot I noticed a black spec at the very top right hand corner of the frame. Its only the second time shooting with it since I got it and I am pretty sure that it hasn't been there the whole time. Its not a major issue as its out of the way but I am curious to what it could be. Its not in any of the images or in live view which would sort of rule out the sensor and doesn't appear to be behind the glass of the viewfinder. I thought maybe it was on the mirror? Any ideas of what it could me and how I can go about removing it?

Below isn't the best shot as its been taken with my iphone in the view finder but gives you an idea.


D800 viewfinder by the_local_jacko, on Flickr
 
It seems to be on the flat plain of the image inside the viewfinder which is what lead me to think mirror. First time ive seen it before as i had no such issues with my D90. Its not a major issue as long as its nothing more sinister. Would the rocket blower work if it was on the mirror?
 
if you remove the lens from your camera and look inside you should be able to see it on the corner if the mirror.
 
I removed lens and blew gently and it seems to have gone. Obviously just a bit of dust that had collected.

Thanks for the advice everyone.
 
My 5D viewfinder got a couple of black dots in the viewfinder over time, very annoying as your eye gets drawn to them !

At least you'll be spared all those nasty dust bunnies on the sensor that afflicted my 5D!

Surprised that a weather sealed body allows this to happen if your spot is inside the viewfinder.


Glad to see that problem sorted!
 
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Sometimes the dust can be on the sensor. A delicate job trying to get if off but the blower worked for me as well.:)
 
I've got a similar black blob in the viewfinder and had thought of getting a blower to remove it but I'm concerned that it might be blown off wherever it is and onto the sensor. Is this likely?
 
I don't advise using a blower at any time. Why? because dust also settles within the camera body, and using a blower can stir up more dust making things worse. I prefer to use and Artic Butterfly by VisableDust because as the fine brush is spin at a high speed it builds up static electricity. So when the brush stops and put over a sensor the dust gets attracted to it and gets removed. This method has the advantage of not upsetting other dust that may be laying dorment inside the camera body.

Obviously any other contaminates on a sensor need a different approach via wet wipes -sensor cleaning fluid and swabs but that is a whole different cleaning subject.

As a bye the bye a fantastic tool is a LOUPE, it makes spotting sensor dust so much easier.

In my own humble opinion this cleaning stuff in the second picture should be in every photographers kit.

m1220004.jpg


Viewing a sensor through a LOUPE

m1220013copy.jpg


Basic sensor cleaning kit I use, the blower is for lens and outside camera body only

Realspeed
 
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digital said:
I've got a similar black blob in the viewfinder and had thought of getting a blower to remove it but I'm concerned that it might be blown off wherever it is and onto the sensor. Is this likely?
Click to expand...

It's possible but if it blows off the mirror easily, you should be able to remove from the sensor with equal ease.
 
I had a two small black spots just yesterday. Turned out they were on the bottom face of the prism above the mirror. Light wipe with a cloth and they disappeared.
 
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