Hair in viewfinder? at DVinfo.net

Ryan Bauer · December 4th, 2002, 05:56 PM

Hey gang! I just received my GL2 today!!!!! YES! It's quite an awesome cam...my first prosumer!

I've got a problem though...
It seems that there's a small peice of hair in my viewfinder. I know it isn't on the lens itself because it doesn't show up on the LCD screen.

I've tried cleaning the glass on the viewfinder itself...but it seems to be under that as well.

It doesn't hinder recording much...but it is a distraction when recording via the viewfinder.

I'd hate to send it back for this little problem. Any suggestions?

Thanks!

December 4th, 2002, 06:48 PM

I'm also interested in any responses - I have the same problem as well. That little sucker won't come out!

Frank Granovski · December 4th, 2002, 08:58 PM

Send it back. Might not be a hair but a scatch or a crack.

Jeff Donald · December 4th, 2002, 10:52 PM

Ryan,

Your close enough that I would be happy to take a look at your camera. I'm available Saturday and Sunday afternoons. This is a minor repair and if I can fix it, there will be no charge. Email me (click my profile) and we'll work out the details if you'd like.

Jeff

Ryan Bauer · December 5th, 2002, 07:24 AM

Thank you so much for your help...but it has somehow worked it's way out in my trials last night. Thank you so much though, Jeff!

It's somewhat of a curse to finally receive your cam at 6pm. It was pitch black outside! I wanna' test this baby!!!!!!

I ended up testing it in the laundry room of my apartment complex. ;0) Nice...even light. Boring footage.

Actually...the motion of the clothes in the dryers was superb for testing frame mode and shutter speeds.

Thanks again for your help!

®yanbaue®

Bill Hardy · December 5th, 2002, 08:16 AM

I am wondering if a vibration such as a pluck with a finger or plastic handle of a screw driver tapping against the viewfinder housing can dislodge the hair, if the impact was strong enough. Perhaps it can re repelled from the surface by static electricity? Just some thoughts.

December 5th, 2002, 09:23 AM

It's a really risky business trying to clean viewfinders on DV cams unless you use the proper supplies. The best is the sensor cleaners available for digital SLR still cams....they don't leave a residue or lint behind like a cotton swab or tissue will. But it's still quite tricky, and if you order a cam and it comes like that brand new, Frank is right, send that sucker back. It should be pristine.
My ZR25 has a little port with a tiny plastic cover on the side of the viewfinder for these purposes. But, it took me many frustrating tries to remove a hair within it. I found out the hard way on it and another analog SLR cam that got dust on the mirror that using cotton swabs is a big no-no.....you'll make it worse rather than better!
I have personally resolved to never attempt this myself anymore, and rather just put up with it or have it professionally done.

December 6th, 2002, 04:22 PM

We'll my hair won't leave by itself. Got the R/A number today to exchange for a new one. Thanks for the advice.

Scott Silverman · December 6th, 2002, 07:44 PM

I have a Sony D8 so keep this in mind. I do NOT own a nice expensive camera:

I had a hair in my view finder and it was buggging the crap out of me. My camera is several years old so it is no longer under warrenty. One day when I was using the camera I decided to try and get that annoying hair out. I examined the viewfinder and saw some screws on the bottom. I took them out and my viewfinder came nicely apart, revealing the tiny CRT screen. I could see the hair on the CRT screen. I didn't want to touch it for fear of smudging or breaking it. So I took a small fan and blew some air into the viewfinder hole. The air was enough to get the hair off. I didn't want to blow air with my mouth because of water or condensation forming inside the viewfiner. Anyways, I put the whole thing back together and it worked perfectly, with no hair! So that worked for me, but remember I have a Sony D8 camera that currently retails for about $300 dollars on eBay. If you have a GL2, VK2k, or XL1s I would think twice about doing what I did.

Good luck to any of you with hairs in your viewfinders!

Matt McDermitt · March 30th, 2003, 07:05 PM

I had the same exact problem, two little grains of sand or dust stuck in my new GL 2! I WAS MAD! Then I found this post! I tried tapping on the viewfinder with a screwdriver... nothing. It was then that I discovered a little flap ON the viewfinder that can be taken off for the purpose of cleaning!!!!!!!! YAY!!! I had to sign up as a member to let you all know! Just more proof that Canon did a remarkable job with this camera!

(NOTE: It is on the back!)

Cosmin Rotaru · April 1st, 2003, 05:42 AM

Matt is right...

But it forgets to add that you need to use a special tool to open the litle flap: a fingernail.

No realy: how could you miss that, guys?!

:-)

Scott Silverman · April 1st, 2003, 02:05 PM

That flap doesn't give you access to all the viewfinder. It only lets you clean a part of it. If you have a hair on your LCD screen inside the viewfinder or on the actual lens you would have to take it apart or find some other way. I tried the little flap and there is no access to where the water residue is left on my viewfinder. Thanks!

Cosmin Rotaru · April 2nd, 2003, 01:10 AM

It seems to be enough room for an air blower to remove the hair. But for the water residue... I don't know. Just take it apart!

Scott Silverman · April 2nd, 2003, 01:14 AM

I think I might...

December 4th, 2002, 05:56 PM	#1
Ryan Bauer New Boot Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Tampa, FL 33616 Posts: 10	Hair in viewfinder? Hey gang! I just received my GL2 today!!!!! YES! It's quite an awesome cam...my first prosumer! I've got a problem though... It seems that there's a small peice of hair in my viewfinder. I know it isn't on the lens itself because it doesn't show up on the LCD screen. I've tried cleaning the glass on the viewfinder itself...but it seems to be under that as well. It doesn't hinder recording much...but it is a distraction when recording via the viewfinder. I'd hate to send it back for this little problem. Any suggestions? Thanks!

December 5th, 2002, 07:24 AM	#5
Ryan Bauer New Boot Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Tampa, FL 33616 Posts: 10	Thanks Jeff! Thank you so much for your help...but it has somehow worked it's way out in my trials last night. Thank you so much though, Jeff! It's somewhat of a curse to finally receive your cam at 6pm. It was pitch black outside! I wanna' test this baby!!!!!! I ended up testing it in the laundry room of my apartment complex. ;0) Nice...even light. Boring footage. Actually...the motion of the clothes in the dryers was superb for testing frame mode and shutter speeds. Thanks again for your help! ®yanbaue®

December 5th, 2002, 09:23 AM	#7
Gargoyle13 Posts: n/a	Viewfinder dirt It's a really risky business trying to clean viewfinders on DV cams unless you use the proper supplies. The best is the sensor cleaners available for digital SLR still cams....they don't leave a residue or lint behind like a cotton swab or tissue will. But it's still quite tricky, and if you order a cam and it comes like that brand new, Frank is right, send that sucker back. It should be pristine. My ZR25 has a little port with a tiny plastic cover on the side of the viewfinder for these purposes. But, it took me many frustrating tries to remove a hair within it. I found out the hard way on it and another analog SLR cam that got dust on the mirror that using cotton swabs is a big no-no.....you'll make it worse rather than better! I have personally resolved to never attempt this myself anymore, and rather just put up with it or have it professionally done.

December 6th, 2002, 07:44 PM	#9
Scott Silverman Major Player Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Cupertino, California, USA Posts: 301	I have a Sony D8 so keep this in mind. I do NOT own a nice expensive camera: I had a hair in my view finder and it was buggging the crap out of me. My camera is several years old so it is no longer under warrenty. One day when I was using the camera I decided to try and get that annoying hair out. I examined the viewfinder and saw some screws on the bottom. I took them out and my viewfinder came nicely apart, revealing the tiny CRT screen. I could see the hair on the CRT screen. I didn't want to touch it for fear of smudging or breaking it. So I took a small fan and blew some air into the viewfinder hole. The air was enough to get the hair off. I didn't want to blow air with my mouth because of water or condensation forming inside the viewfiner. Anyways, I put the whole thing back together and it worked perfectly, with no hair! So that worked for me, but remember I have a Sony D8 camera that currently retails for about $300 dollars on eBay. If you have a GL2, VK2k, or XL1s I would think twice about doing what I did. Good luck to any of you with hairs in your viewfinders! __________________ Scott Silverman Shining Star Digital Video Productions Bay Area, CA

March 30th, 2003, 07:05 PM	#10
Matt McDermitt New Boot Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Hollywood, CA Posts: 21	A FIX! I had the same exact problem, two little grains of sand or dust stuck in my new GL 2! I WAS MAD! Then I found this post! I tried tapping on the viewfinder with a screwdriver... nothing. It was then that I discovered a little flap ON the viewfinder that can be taken off for the purpose of cleaning!!!!!!!! YAY!!! I had to sign up as a member to let you all know! Just more proof that Canon did a remarkable job with this camera! (NOTE: It is on the back!)

December 4th, 2002, 06:48 PM	#2
MarkinVideo Posts: n/a	I'm also interested in any responses - I have the same problem as well. That little sucker won't come out!

December 4th, 2002, 08:58 PM	#3
Frank Granovski Outer Circle Join Date: May 2002 Location: Hope, BC Posts: 7,524	Send it back. Might not be a hair but a scatch or a crack.

December 4th, 2002, 10:52 PM	#4
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	Ryan, Your close enough that I would be happy to take a look at your camera. I'm available Saturday and Sunday afternoons. This is a minor repair and if I can fix it, there will be no charge. Email me (click my profile) and we'll work out the details if you'd like. Jeff

December 5th, 2002, 08:16 AM	#6
Bill Hardy Major Player Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 205	I am wondering if a vibration such as a pluck with a finger or plastic handle of a screw driver tapping against the viewfinder housing can dislodge the hair, if the impact was strong enough. Perhaps it can re repelled from the surface by static electricity? Just some thoughts.

December 6th, 2002, 04:22 PM	#8
MarkinVideo Posts: n/a	We'll my hair won't leave by itself. Got the R/A number today to exchange for a new one. Thanks for the advice.

April 1st, 2003, 05:42 AM	#11
Cosmin Rotaru Major Player Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Romania, Timisoara Posts: 453	Matt is right... But it forgets to add that you need to use a special tool to open the litle flap: a fingernail. No realy: how could you miss that, guys?! :-)

April 1st, 2003, 02:05 PM	#12
Scott Silverman Major Player Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Cupertino, California, USA Posts: 301	That flap doesn't give you access to all the viewfinder. It only lets you clean a part of it. If you have a hair on your LCD screen inside the viewfinder or on the actual lens you would have to take it apart or find some other way. I tried the little flap and there is no access to where the water residue is left on my viewfinder. Thanks! __________________ Scott Silverman Shining Star Digital Video Productions Bay Area, CA

April 2nd, 2003, 01:10 AM	#13
Cosmin Rotaru Major Player Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Romania, Timisoara Posts: 453	It seems to be enough room for an air blower to remove the hair. But for the water residue... I don't know. Just take it apart!

April 2nd, 2003, 01:14 AM	#14
Scott Silverman Major Player Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Cupertino, California, USA Posts: 301	I think I might... __________________ Scott Silverman Shining Star Digital Video Productions Bay Area, CA