todd_phillips3 Posted March 14, 2008 Share Posted March 14, 2008 So far since I got my k100d, I've had mostly one technical difficulty after another. First I didn't know about hot pixel noise and learned about that the hard way. You pentax section forumers will remember my go around with that from a couple weeks ago. Then I got about a week further with the camera and with the little time I had to use the camera, started noticing what I came to find out is quite a bit of dirt on the sensor. I went and got a a squirt blower, and so far haven't spent the time to analyze whether or not I got rid of the dirt on the sensor, because when I looked through the viewfinder yesterday for the first time in a few days, I found a big nasty blob on my focusing screen! I didn't even know it was the focusing screen until I did some research. So far I tried the squirt blower and a can of air and the thing wont budge. I can't tell if it's on the inside or outside. I lightly touched it with a cotton swab because it was thoroughly irritating me. Then I read that this was a big no no. Well thanks to listening to my whining.. Check out the blob. (taken with my p&s through the viewfinder)<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cory_zerkee Posted March 14, 2008 Share Posted March 14, 2008 Ah it sounds like like my experiences with the K100D. I had CONSTANT crap appearing in my pics from random stuff on the sensor. I blew/cleaned it constantly and a few days later, more stuff. It's almost like the sensor on the K100D ATTRACTS junk. I also had dust appearing on the focus screen like you, but my trusty can o' air got rid of it. Oddly enough, I have since sold my K100D and bought a K10D and haven't had a dirt/dust issue since. Go self cleaning sensor! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgredline Posted March 15, 2008 Share Posted March 15, 2008 My K110D has that...Easy to clean, but it does not bother me..That has no affect on images. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
todd_phillips3 Posted March 15, 2008 Author Share Posted March 15, 2008 yeah, i am glad it doesn't show on images of course.. your k110d has stuff on the focusing screen? from the little i've read so far I haven't anybody talking about removing the screen. I think my blob is on the inside of the screen... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alfred_chan Posted March 15, 2008 Share Posted March 15, 2008 This sounds like some foreign particle gets inside the viewfinder not on the sensor. I had similar problem with my K100D soon after I bought it and I took it to Pentax Canada repair shop when it is still until warranty. Since the K100D does not have self-cleaning feature it is easy to get dust on sensor or viewfinder if you are not careful. Apparently, I made a mistake of getting a lens brush too close to the inside of the sensor/viewfinder while changing lens. The dust particle probably get sucked in behind the viewfinder. I consider myself lucky that I can drop the camera off and get it back in the same day with the viewfinder particle cleaned. Pentax Canada did the first cleaning free for the first time if it is still until warranty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
personalphotos Posted March 15, 2008 Share Posted March 15, 2008 Dirt on the focus screen has been an issue since the very first film SLR that hit the shelves 40+ years ago. Common to all brands and frankly, as much or more the issue of where and how we change lenses. Making sure the back of the lens is clean. Making sure the lens is "at the ready" and leaving the camera open for as little time as possible. Doing it in a spot with as little wind and dust as possible. Tilting the camera face down when doing a lens change etc. Learn ho to clean it and consider it normal maintenance to get the best out of the camera. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
todd_phillips3 Posted March 15, 2008 Author Share Posted March 15, 2008 Thanks Peter. I think you exposed my newbness right there, as when I was first discovering the dirt on the sensor and didn't know what it was, I was sitting there for a while with the camera mouth wide open peering inside there for quite some time. I really should have done my homework, but I took the camera to Pasadena for the weekend and didn't have internet access and fooled around too much.. I am betting that my blob got in there and over the course of the next week found its way underneath my focus screen.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgredline Posted March 15, 2008 Share Posted March 15, 2008 Todd Is this Pasadena Ca? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miserere_mei Posted March 15, 2008 Share Posted March 15, 2008 Todd, I have about 5 pieces of crap on my viewfinder. They're on the inside too, which means I'll have to remove the screen to get them off. I just Rocket Blowed (I made that up) the CCD today because there were 3 blobs on it, but I couldn't be bothered with the screen. If it doesn't show up on the pics, then it's just annoying, not crucial. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
todd_phillips3 Posted March 15, 2008 Author Share Posted March 15, 2008 Yep.. I live in Lake Forest and the wife likes to do little weekend getaways for her birthday without the kids so we chose Pasadena since it is kind of in between us and Grandma's house.. I actually got a few good shots despite the distractions of discovering the rest of the darkside of my camera.. :-) You are somewhere here in SoCal too aren't you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgredline Posted March 15, 2008 Share Posted March 15, 2008 Todd, one of these days soon, we need to get together and go on a photo Hunt..I live in North Alhambra, Pasadena is 1/4 mile up the street from me...Or even if you want to try some of my lenses out to see what you like...Let me know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
todd_phillips3 Posted March 15, 2008 Author Share Posted March 15, 2008 Miserere, have you bothered before with removing the screen before? Is it a thorough hassle, or not too bad, or somewhere in between? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
todd_phillips3 Posted March 15, 2008 Author Share Posted March 15, 2008 Wow Javier! That sounds awesome! We hit up Sam Merrill trail at one point but we were too, ahem, sick (colds) and tired to make it to the top.. I really wanted to take some shots at the top at the hotel ruins... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
personalphotos Posted March 15, 2008 Share Posted March 15, 2008 I'd take Javier up on that one! Should be fun and a great learning experience. As for cleaning the screen, it's fairly simple and this You Tube video shows it well. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqZCjT-jr1s It's part of the following blog with good tips and advice: http://blog.photo2dot0.com/ The only thing you need is a set of plastic tipped tweezers that jewelers use. (you can find them on Ebay for about $5.00 or maybe your local Jewelery repair shop. Btw Todd, You said you used canned air in your first post. Don't use that at all. It can introduce moisture and oil inside the camera and drive dust/dirt at high speed inside the camera possibly causing damage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alex_m.1 Posted March 15, 2008 Share Posted March 15, 2008 Sometimes there might be another problem: I too was thinking that the small dot that I kept seeing in the viewfinder was dirt inside it; it proved to be dirt on the mirror - easily removable. Maybe you're lucky and it's just the mirror, who knows... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael_kuhne Posted March 15, 2008 Share Posted March 15, 2008 Pentax' advice is not to touch the mirror. Better that qualified service does that. Focus screen can be cleaned carefully. I agree with all that Peter said. Debris on focus screen & mirror are old problems. I have some fine film models right here that no doubt have some. Does not affect photos, so I pretty much ignore it. The outside of the VF I do, of course, periodically carefully wipe clean. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
personalphotos Posted March 16, 2008 Share Posted March 16, 2008 Michael, I've never understood that recommendation. I'm not suggesting anyone go against the advice from Pentax, but aren't they being overly cautious? I realize the mirror is critical to accurate focus and framing but has anyone ever used a lens brush to remove dirt from the mirror and caused the mirror to be misaligned? I always use a Rocket blower first to try and avoid using any tools inside the camera. I've used a gentle swab on the mirror with a lens brush (if the blower couldn't do it) since the Spotmatic days and never had an issue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
todd_phillips3 Posted March 16, 2008 Author Share Posted March 16, 2008 Thanks for all the feedback. I really need to follow you advice and check out that video as soon as I have the time Peter... I noticed after taking a bunch of shots yesterday during our adoption fund raising yard sale that I was noticing fingerprints on my focusing screen too (I remembered briefly touching it at one point too when first trying to get rid of the blob..) ugh! <br> <br> This rest of this post is primarily for Javier, or anyone interested in looking at my photos... I just uploaded shots from last weekend in Pasadena.. <br> <p><a href="http://flickr.com/photos/tmphillips/tags/pasadena/"> http://flickr.com/photos/tmphillips/tags/pasadena/</a><br> <br> A few of the shots that I like the most:<br> <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/tmphillips/2337307449/"> http://flickr.com/photos/tmphillips/2337307449/</a><br> <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/tmphillips/2337308709/"> http://flickr.com/photos/tmphillips/2337308709/</a><br> <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/tmphillips/2338143648/"> http://flickr.com/photos/tmphillips/2338143648/</a><br> <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/tmphillips/2338144550/"> http://flickr.com/photos/tmphillips/2338144550/</a><br> <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/tmphillips/2337306503/"> http://flickr.com/photos/tmphillips/2337306503/</a><br> <br> <br> </p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgredline Posted March 16, 2008 Share Posted March 16, 2008 Todd...Thanks for thinking of me...Those are some very good, very colorful, ''pentax'' images...Those are all incredibly nice... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
todd_phillips3 Posted March 17, 2008 Author Share Posted March 17, 2008 Thanks for the kind words Javier! ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgredline Posted March 17, 2008 Share Posted March 17, 2008 Todd, your welcome and next time your in Pasadena , lets see if we can hook up and go on a photo hunt. It would be nice go with someone other than myself. :-)..Well, I usually take my son with me... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
todd_phillips3 Posted March 17, 2008 Author Share Posted March 17, 2008 Sounds good. I like to take my kids on expeditions too... We are headed to China soon to get our soon to be formerly adopted daughter (and child number 4), so I am going to keep this in mind for when we get back for sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgredline Posted March 17, 2008 Share Posted March 17, 2008 Oh, Awesome...We can make a family outing of it...I have two adopted kids myself... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
todd_phillips3 Posted March 17, 2008 Author Share Posted March 17, 2008 That's great! You might like reading our story then... It's been a wonderful ride so far! I am hoping my Pentax treats me well in China.. :-) http://www.hope.tmphillips.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrewg_ny Posted March 18, 2008 Share Posted March 18, 2008 I believe in addition to affecting alignment, the mirror can also be relatively easily scratched, possibly de-silvered (or is that on the back?). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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