cleaning the pentax k10d focusing screen

Hi i just wondered if anyone knew how to clean the focusing screen i have a couple of specs of dust there.I checked the sensor and its all clean the dust specs do not hamper my photos its just when you look through the viewfinder you can see them. Thanks for any replies

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sanderscapes.com
Pentax k10d + battery grip
sigma 10-20mm
sigma 50mm 1:1 macro with x2 teleconverter
Tamron 17-35mm
Tamron 70-300mm 1:2 macro
Tokina 28-70mm 1:3 macro
Canon ix4000 A3+ photolab printer

Leave them alone and they'll go home! The more you scrub at camera screens and lenses the more damage you do! You should see the state of the gear of the other press snappers when I go out on jobs-they don't worry about an inch of dust-it's only the amateurs who worry!

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been a member of Pentax Club since the Ron Spillman era! Got COMPUTERISED at last - DIGITISED? Taken the PLUNGE - BUT FILM STILL RULES !!!

Hi Sandie. I see you have the K10D, so it is possible to remove the screen.
If the specs you see are sharp, you have to remove the screen and without touching the screen with your fingers gently blow away the specs of dust with a rocket blower.
(No canned air please) I would leave them alone though, because removing the screen enhances the change of getting more dust inside your camera. If the specs are fuzzy you can assume that they are on the safe side of your screen. The side you see when looking into the camera. Just use your rocket blower and hope you can remove it that way.
Do not, I repeat do not use under any circumstance soft brushes, pads or anything else that makes direct contact with the screens surface. You only make matters worse.

HIH,

Martin.

Edited once to remove the word "use" between circumstance and soft brushes.

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Best regards,

Martin.


Curious about my photography?? Just Follow the Light.

While I think Martin's advice not to brush the screen is generally safe and sensible, I have actually found the Arctic Butterfly brush useful for focusing screens (as well as the sensors it was designed for). The static charge does the trick. You must make sure than the brush stays free of grease and dirt, though.

By the way, the specks could be behind the focusing screen as well as on it. It's possible to get behind by flipping the screen out the way without removing or touching it.

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~Pete

Could you say a bit more about your experience with this device for cleaning sensors? I've got some specks that won't shift with the rocket blower, so I think I need to go to the next level

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Pentax K-3, DA18-135, DA35 F2.4, DA17-70, DA55-300, FA28-200, A50 F1.7, A100 F4 Macro, A400 F5.6, Sigma 10-20 EXDC, 50-500 F4.5-6.3 APO DG OS Samsung flash SEF-54PZF(x2)
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The Arctic Butterfly from Visible Dust shifts just about everything on sensor/mirror/focussing screen (different brushes for each) except chewing gum. For that I use a Karcher pressure washer . . . but not on my camera.

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Peter E Smith

My flickr Photostream

The arctic butterfly is a wonderful bit of kit!...worked perfectly on my D's!.....On my K20 the self cleaning function has so far worked a treat!.........Ken

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K20D...ist DS ,DA18/55,DA16/45.DA* 50/135,"A"1.7 50MM..."A" 70/210..M 50mm f2...Tamron 90mm macro,28/300 Tamron,200/500 Tamron 6.9....A Pentax DA*300... Sigma10/20,FA31mm 1.8 Ltd*********,FA 77mm Ltd!

How about the scratch from when I used my fingernail...

... just kidding.

Which model would you recommend? They seem very expensive for a spinning brush - I mean, three or four of 'em and I could buy another camera!


I might not always switch the camera off between lens changes. Or even between SD card removals.

But so far I've disposed of my gum before leaning in there with the rocket blower

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Pentax K-3, DA18-135, DA35 F2.4, DA17-70, DA55-300, FA28-200, A50 F1.7, A100 F4 Macro, A400 F5.6, Sigma 10-20 EXDC, 50-500 F4.5-6.3 APO DG OS Samsung flash SEF-54PZF(x2)
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Note to self, take chewing gum out before blowing in camera...........



Mick

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K10D,K100D Super.

Buy the cheapest.

The additional brushes are just different shapes really. I bought the Pro version with 4 brushes, 3 are sensor brushes of different widths, and 1 is a mirror brush with an angled brush head. To be honest, I've only ever used one brush for all so don't waste your money like I did.

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Peter E Smith

My flickr Photostream

I got the cheapest Arctic Butterfly model (to save money and increase portability).

I found it removes some specks that a Rocket Blower leaves behind, but doesn't always get every small speck off. It's certainly no good for stuck-on particles.

I've given up (for now) on trying to get my sensor perfectly clean. I don't really mind as long as my normal photos are not spoilt. It's usually only when testing* that I see some rubbish on the sensor.

If I do buy another cleaning product, it might be Pentax's blob-of-jelly on-a-stick one. I can imagine that working quite well

* Slightly over-exposed white sheet of paper at F22.

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~Pete