Hi All,

I have recently bought a new lens for my EOS50E but after swapping the lenses for a couple of times, I noticed some fine dust particles have got in between the prism and the viewfinder. I was wondering if anyone have experience in getting rid of those (it's kinda annoying to see little fine white hair / spots appearing in the viewfinder whenever I try to compose a picture)...

I have tried using a blower and a vacuum cleaner to try to blow and suck them out but it seems to make it worst (basically more particles have gone in). If anyone have any experience in getting rid of the dust, I would be interested to know (that is without sending in the camera for an open-up cleaning -- although I have a feeling I may have to do that anyway)...

Thanks for listening.

Cheung =)

-- chun-cheung yim (cheung@bluetongue.com), November 15, 1999

Answers

NEVER take a vacuum cleaner to the delicate innards of your camera, and NEVER blow high pressure gas into it!!! You may have damaged the delicate shutter. The debris you originally saw is not necessarily up in the prism, but may have been only on the mirror or focusing screen. Regardless of where they might actually be located, they will not appear on film, and unless you really know what you're doing (I suspect we can eliminate that possibility), you should leave this kind of camera cleaning to a qualified service center. If your camera's shutter miraculously escaped damage from your Hoover maneuver, then drop to your knees and say a prayer of thanks, and vow to the camera gods that you will never again be so foolish or reckless...

-- kurt heintzelman (heintzelman.1@osu.edu), November 15, 1999.