stupid help needed. Have a hair in my camera :)

TaDaTaDa Registered Users Posts: 169 Major grins
edited February 9, 2008 in Cameras
Embarassing to ask, but when I look through my viewfinder, I see a hair. Take the lens off, hair is still there. Shoot a picture, no hair in the picture. Any idea what I should clean to get rid of it? It's not on the glass of the viewfinder itself, but could it be under the viewfinder?
My Kit
Canon 5DII, Canon 7D
Canon Canon 24-70 f/2.8L, Canon 35 f/1.4L, Canon 70-200 f/2.8L IS II, Canon 85 f/1.2L II, Canon 500mm f/4 IS, Zeiss 21mm ZE
Speedlite 580ex II, Canon 430ex

Comments

  • PhyxiusPhyxius Registered Users Posts: 1,396 Major grins
    edited February 8, 2008
    If you're using an SLR it could be on the mirror. If you take the lens off can you see the hair on the mirror? Use a hurricane blower or simliar air bladder while holding the camera so that the opening is facing down and gently "poof" air in to blow the hair off.
    Christina Dale
    SmugMug Support Specialist - www.help.smugmug.com

    http://www.phyxiusphotos.com
    Equine Photography in Maryland - Dressage, Eventing, Hunters, Jumpers
  • claudermilkclaudermilk Registered Users Posts: 2,756 Major grins
    edited February 8, 2008
    It could also be up on the focus screen, hopefully it hasn't gotten in between layers of screens--it's fixable but a bit of a PITA to get to & takes a little bit of courage & steady hands.
    Chris
    http://www.chrislaudermilkphoto.com/
  • TaDaTaDa Registered Users Posts: 169 Major grins
    edited February 8, 2008
    Phyxius wrote:
    If you're using an SLR it could be on the mirror. If you take the lens off can you see the hair on the mirror? Use a hurricane blower or simliar air bladder while holding the camera so that the opening is facing down and gently "poof" air in to blow the hair off.
    Thank you sir. Only reason I posted this is because I read the manual and ran the process to clean the CMOS sensor and the hair was still there. Sure enough, it was on the mirror which gets drawn back into the camera during a CMOS cleaning. Thanks and sorry for the stupid post. Mod: Please feel free to nuke this stupid thread as I cannot since people have been generous enough to reply to it already
    My Kit
    Canon 5DII, Canon 7D
    Canon Canon 24-70 f/2.8L, Canon 35 f/1.4L, Canon 70-200 f/2.8L IS II, Canon 85 f/1.2L II, Canon 500mm f/4 IS, Zeiss 21mm ZE
    Speedlite 580ex II, Canon 430ex
  • IcebearIcebear Registered Users Posts: 4,015 Major grins
    edited February 8, 2008
    Not a stupid post at all. Grunge on the mirror is irritating, but not as bad as grunge on the sensor, obviously. The important thing is to get the mirror trash out of your camera before it becomes sensor trash. Don't just ignore it.
    John :
    Natural selection is responsible for every living thing that exists.
    D3s, D500, D5300, and way more glass than the wife knows about.
  • Van IsleVan Isle Registered Users Posts: 384 Major grins
    edited February 8, 2008
    Freaked me out the first time I had that happen, hair on the mirror. I was freakin' out to clean the sensor, and finally, when I opened 'er up, saw the hair! I was happy, and I think others will be happy to see they are in a similar and easy-to-fix situation. clap.gif

    VI

    (PS not a dumb question!) thumb.gif
    dgrin.com - making my best shots even better since 2006.
  • TaDaTaDa Registered Users Posts: 169 Major grins
    edited February 8, 2008
    Thanks all for your help. I'll admit that I was quite freaked out since this is the first time that I put my 70-300 on to my camera. Look through the viewfinder and see what looked like a crack. I was pretty quick to remove the lens to make sure that it wasn't the lens, and as soon as I looked through the viewfinder again, and it was still there, figured it had to be a hair. Would have been a very embarassing trip down to B&H. "you guys sold me a cracked lens" "No we didn't. you have a hair on your mirror you schmuck"
    My Kit
    Canon 5DII, Canon 7D
    Canon Canon 24-70 f/2.8L, Canon 35 f/1.4L, Canon 70-200 f/2.8L IS II, Canon 85 f/1.2L II, Canon 500mm f/4 IS, Zeiss 21mm ZE
    Speedlite 580ex II, Canon 430ex
  • Scott_QuierScott_Quier Registered Users Posts: 6,524 Major grins
    edited February 8, 2008
    Something to keep in mind - when cleaning the mirror, try NOT to touch it with anything. If I'm correct, the mirror in most SLR cameras is ... oh, I don't know the right term ... silvered on the front side of the glass and is quite fragile.
    Scott
    My Photos
    Thoughts on photographing a wedding, How to post a picture, AF Microadjustments?, Light Scoop
    Equipment List - Check my profile
  • urbanariesurbanaries Registered Users Posts: 2,690 Major grins
    edited February 8, 2008
    Scott_Quier wrote:
    Something to keep in mind - when cleaning the mirror, try NOT to touch it with anything. If I'm correct, the mirror in most SLR cameras is ... oh, I don't know the right term ... silvered on the front side of the glass and is quite fragile.

    ahhhh.....Listen to Scott. Oh, and don't think you can clean the mirror with the same liquid as the sensor. 11doh.gif
    Canon 5D MkI
    50mm 1.4, 85mm 1.8, 24-70 2.8L, 35mm 1.4L, 135mm f2L
    ST-E2 Transmitter + (3) 580 EXII + radio poppers
  • IcebearIcebear Registered Users Posts: 4,015 Major grins
    edited February 8, 2008
    Just use a Giottos Rocket blaster. Why would you ever want to touch the mirror?
    John :
    Natural selection is responsible for every living thing that exists.
    D3s, D500, D5300, and way more glass than the wife knows about.
  • LiquidAirLiquidAir Registered Users Posts: 1,751 Major grins
    edited February 8, 2008
    If your view of it is sharp in the view finder, the only place it can be is on the focusing screen. As you look in your camera with the lens off, the focusing screen is the top of the shutter box. If you can get it out with a blower that is the best way to go.
    Liquid Air - Gallery - Blog
  • Scott_QuierScott_Quier Registered Users Posts: 6,524 Major grins
    edited February 8, 2008
    Icebear wrote:
    Just use a Giottos Rocket blaster. Why would you ever want to touch the mirror?
    Exactly, but not everyone has the experience or background to realize this. So, I thought I would do someone a favor and head them off at the pass.
    Scott
    My Photos
    Thoughts on photographing a wedding, How to post a picture, AF Microadjustments?, Light Scoop
    Equipment List - Check my profile
  • cannymancannyman Registered Users Posts: 4 Beginner grinner
    edited February 9, 2008
    Icebear wrote:
    Just use a Giottos Rocket blaster. Why would you ever want to touch the mirror?
    As long as it is not of the pubic variety you should be ok. They are usually strong and curly and can be a bastard to shift. wings.gif
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