I can see a small spot of dust or dirt when looking through the viewfinder of my brand new D7000. It does not appear on images, but it is a nuisance. Obviously it is someplace besides the sensor. Before I try cleaning anything, I thought I would ask for advice here. Any suggestions?

Rocky

The next obvious place to look for the speck is on the mirror. Use a rocket blower on the mirror to see it that helps. Keep the camera tilted down while blowing - that allows gravity to pull the dirt out of the camera to the outside.

Regards

My Nikonians gallery

Thanks. I just blew out the chamber with the mirror down and it is gone. It must have been on the mirror or focusing screen.

Believe it or not, I do not recall ever seeing a spot like that before.

Rocky

>Thanks. I just blew out the chamber with the mirror down and
>it is gone. It must have been on the mirror or focusing
>screen.
>
>Believe it or not, I do not recall ever seeing a spot like
>that before.
>
>Rocky


If this is your first DSLR, then get used to dirt and dust.

On the focus screen.

On the mirror.

And worst of all.... on the sensor.

Dirt/dust and DSLRs are mutually attracted to each other. It's a fact of life. Maintaining a thorough and rigorous cleaning regimen will now be a part of your normal constitutions.

____________________________

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I have owned several DSLRs, and I have cleaned the sensors many times. Like others, I've even had some cameras with dust on the sensors brand new right out of the box. I guess I have been lucky not to have anything on the mirror or focus screen that I could see in the viewfinder before. It sure was a lot easier to clean than a sensor though.

I have a professional photographer friend who has never cleaned a sensor. He takes his bodies to the local Nikon dealer before shoots, and they clean them for him at no charge.

Rocky

If you see sharply defined (in focus) specks/spots in the viewfinder, they are not on the mirror; they are on the focusing screen. Debris on the mirror would have to be much larger than dust specks to see them, and they will be "fuzzy" (out of focus) if you do.

Alan

What is the recommended way to clear the focusing screen of dust?

Visit my Nikonians gallery.

A Rocket Blower or equivalent, with the lens throat facing down. That'll get 95% of any stuff that gets onto a focusing screen.

_____
Brian... a bicoastal Nikonian and Team Member

My gallery is online. Comments and critique welcomed any time!

Thanks, Alan. Mine was fuzzy.

Rocky

>A Rocket Blower or equivalent, with the lens throat facing
>down. That'll get 95% of any stuff that gets onto a focusing
>screen.
what after to use if blowing didn't fix it?