Focusing Screen Dust!

Hi I noticed earlier a rather annoying dust spec on my focusing screen. After some ill-advised self attempts at cleaning it with air blowers and lens cleaning brushes, I am now left with a lot more dust there which is really annoying. Obviously I appreciate that it won't show up on any images but I would like to get it fixed all the same.

So my question is... where is the best place to get the focusing screen cleaned and how much should I expect to pay?

Many thanks in advance.

Andrew

Alternatively if anyone has any self clean advice, it would be much appreciated.

kind regards

Andrew

I had the same problem not so long ago, but dust had got into the mirror box as well, so I used a Green clean mini vac, I know they are meant for sensors, but if you remove the sensor pad and use the hose it works great.

Thanks PentaxRocks, I will look into one of those. Could the hose scratch the mirrors etc?

It didn't on mine, but you don't need to touch the mirror just hover over it doing gentle movements. It worked great on mine. Plus it works great for doing general cleaning of the lenses e.c.t..

Great! Sorry to be a pain, but do you know which model I need? I have found them on Warehouse Express but there seems to be a few different models.

Thanks Again.

Arctic Butterfly statically charged brush - meant for sensors, but also good for focusing screens.

I used these 2 as I didn't need the full system
link
link

Thanks that's great!

Looks interesting... thanks.

Remove the screen, brush dust off screen, blow dust off bottom of prism with lens mount down so that dust falls out, possibly use brush on bottom of prism too then refit screen.

Please note the mirror is front silvered and very easy to scratch so avoid touching the mirror as much as possible.

Lesson number 1. Be careful, this is a region of delicacy beyond imagination. Things in here mark just by looking at them with the naked eye. You might find a speck in the viewfinder is a nuisance but a scratch on the focus screen or mirror can be a pain in your wallet.

Cedric

I have taken a punt on the Green Clean Mini Vac, so I should get it on Monday. I will let you know how I get on... I hope it works as it is really annoying me every time I try and take a shot.

Cheers

Andrew

UPDATE:

I tried out my Green Clean Mini Vac today and unfortunately it has not done the trick. It seems that the dust is on the other side of the focusing screen, meaning that the Mini Vac can obviously not get to it. How it got there I don't know.

I will probably have to remove the focusing screen to be able to clean the other side, but I am afraid that this will result in the screen ending up in a worse state.

ARRRGGGHHH!!! this is frustrating

Any tips for my next step would be appreciated.

Cheers

Andrew

Why's it a problem?