Odd blob in my viewfinder

Wideload

Wideload

Messages
88
Edit My Images
Yes
As above, I have a comparitively large black blob when looking through the viewfinder, that doesn't show up in shots. Honestly it looks a bit like a blob of mascara or something. Might need to talk to my wife (or my growing-up-far-too-fast 13 year old!) about that.

I *think* I've cleaned all I can, but what am I missing? :cuckoo:

Many thanks
 
Wideload said:
As above, I have a comparitively large black blob when looking through the viewfinder, that doesn't show up in shots. Honestly it looks a bit like a blob of mascara or something. Might need to talk to my wife (or my growing-up-far-too-fast 13 year old!) about that.

I *think* I've cleaned all I can, but what am I missing? :cuckoo:

Many thanks
Click to expand...

Have you checked the mirror and focus screen? Apart from on the outside or inside of the actual viewfinder, that's the only place it can be.
 
Shutter spatter on the mirror perhaps?

Carefully taking the lens off in a dust free area and a quick look at the mirror might give you the answer.
 
Many thanks, I'm a bit of a newb. Are all these things ok for me to clean by myself?
 
Wideload said:
Many thanks, I'm a bit of a newb. Are all these things ok for me to clean by myself?
Click to expand...
No problems doing these little dust jobs,get a blower..rocket blowers are very good..also get a lens brush for stubborn little blighters..dont be scared..you'll be fine ;)
 
Be very carefull with the mirror, it can scratch easily, also don't be too heavy handed on the focus screen, as you might move it out of position.
Just be sensible and carefull
 
If you don't feel confident you could always take it to Olympus, it will cost you but at least if anything goes wrong then they are liable for it.

Or you could try the non contact methods first and if they fail then send it.
 
Thanks all. Is that what "mirror up" mode is for? Maybe this should be in Talk Basics... :)
 
Mirror up mode is to clean the sensor, which is not the problem since your shots are clean. You want the mirror down. If the sesor needed cleaning I would never try it myself, they are so fragile it's unbelivable.
 
Pegasus2 said:
Mirror up mode is to clean the sensor, which is not the problem since your shots are clean. You want the mirror down. If the sesor needed cleaning I would never try it myself, they are so fragile it's unbelivable.
Click to expand...

Not really, you never touch the sensor, you touch the AA filter, which are actually quite tough all things considered.

It's a simple 2 minute job to clean a sensor, why waste £50 getting somebody else, who quite likely doesn't have much more experience than you to do it?
 
A bit of a mighty bump but I have been living with it for the last couple of weeks as it's not affected my pictures. It appears that it's on the (as you look at the camera) horizontal "window" with the focus points on - focus screen?

However, this is the kicker, I'm sure it's on the inside. Is that even possible? It just does not seem to be shifting.

Sorry to be a pain in the bum, but my question is; can the focus screen be removed for me to clean under (on top, if that makes sense?) it? The camera is an Oly E520

Many thanks
 
Wideload said:
A bit of a mighty bump but I have been living with it for the last couple of weeks as it's not affected my pictures. It appears that it's on the (as you look at the camera) horizontal "window" with the focus points on - focus screen?

However, this is the kicker, I'm sure it's on the inside. Is that even possible? It just does not seem to be shifting.

Sorry to be a pain in the bum, but my question is; can the focus screen be removed for me to clean under (on top, if that makes sense?) it? The camera is an Oly E520

Many thanks
Click to expand...

A quick google shows that third party focus screens (Katzeye) can be bought for your Oly so it is definitely possible to remove it. Whether you want to attempt it yourself is another question entirely....

It sounds like a lump of grot has got behind the focus screen. Trying to get shot of it with a rocket blower will likely only result in lots more detritus ending up back there.

I would take it somewhere that handles Olympus repairs which should be able to drop the focus screen out and get rid of the muck for you without introducing more. It is a very minor job to be honest. I had a similar issue on my old 40D, the muck was sat behind the screen which sits between the pentaprism and the focus screen. It didn't take them long to clean it off and only cost about £30 in labour from memory.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top