viewfinder protection at DVinfo.net

Chris Fangio · March 1st, 2003, 04:08 PM

Hi there,

this evening I was playing around with my XM2 and I noticed one thing which I consider beeing a defect. If you look through your viewinder, you will notice a plastic protection in front of the little screen.

I had dust on it so I decided to clean it gently with a rolled up soft cloth. Surprised I noticed that this protection is not fixed but moves up and down a little (1 mm). Hard to describe, especially for me with English not beeing my native language <lol>. I can hear this little plastic piece moving in its mounting when I tip my fingers on the body of the viewfinder.

Is this a problem with my cam or is this "by design". I'm afraid that this is not common as dust or little hairs may get through to the viefinder screen. You can also test this by gently pressing a Q-Tip (these sticks used for cleaning your ears) on this protection and moving it a little bit.

Any comments are appreciated... cannot find sleep until I know that it's by design...

Chris

Chris Fangio · March 2nd, 2003, 02:23 AM

Good morning,

I think my problem sounds too complicated. But indeed it's very easy. So I added a little illustration which shows my problem of the non-fixed transparent piece of plastic. You can find it here:

http://www.wc-w.de/viewfinder.jpg

Thanks for your attention,

Chris

Ken Tanaka · March 2nd, 2003, 02:39 AM

Hello Chris,
The plastic lens inside the viewfinder is, indeed, there by design. I'm pretty sure that its principal function is related to defeating internal reflections (between the lcd and the eyepiece lens), but I could be mistaken. I don't notice mine rattling in its mount but your ears may just be more sensitive than mine.

Chris Fangio · March 2nd, 2003, 02:44 AM

Hello Ken,

what do you mean with "eyepiece lens" ? I think that IS the part of my viewfinder which is rattling in its mount. The first thing to your eyes when you look through your viewfinder.6-7 mm away from the hood.

Chris

Ken Tanaka · March 2nd, 2003, 01:23 PM

Chris,
I've not dismantled the GL2's eyepiece but I did have occasion to open the GL1's and assume that it's similar, if not identical, to that of the GL2. The piece closest to your eye is a magnifying-type lens connected to the dioptric adjustment (at the bottom of the finder). Mine does not seem to wobble but there is a bit of a loose-sound if I tap it. I suspect this is related to the adjustment mechanism.

Chris Fangio · March 2nd, 2003, 02:57 PM

Ken,

thank you very much. Actually I didn't even open the viewfinder, just cleaned the lens with a cloth.

Could you do one thing (I think this is the easiest way to determine if this is a defect): Simply look through your viewfinder when recording and tap on it with a finger. The image in my cam is flickering (because my lens is vibrating and not fixed).

Again, thank you very much for you help.

Chris

Ken Tanaka · March 2nd, 2003, 03:05 PM

Mine does not seem to wobble, at least not more than a tap causes the entire eyepice to vibrate. Nor does it shift during normal camera movement. If yours does, you may indeed be in need of a repair.

Chris Fangio · March 2nd, 2003, 03:08 PM

Thank you, Ken. I think it's time for giving Canon Germany the chance proving their service is ok.

Chris

March 1st, 2003, 04:08 PM	#1
Chris Fangio Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Koblenz, Germany Posts: 70	viewfinder protection Hi there, this evening I was playing around with my XM2 and I noticed one thing which I consider beeing a defect. If you look through your viewinder, you will notice a plastic protection in front of the little screen. I had dust on it so I decided to clean it gently with a rolled up soft cloth. Surprised I noticed that this protection is not fixed but moves up and down a little (1 mm). Hard to describe, especially for me with English not beeing my native language <lol>. I can hear this little plastic piece moving in its mounting when I tip my fingers on the body of the viewfinder. Is this a problem with my cam or is this "by design". I'm afraid that this is not common as dust or little hairs may get through to the viefinder screen. You can also test this by gently pressing a Q-Tip (these sticks used for cleaning your ears) on this protection and moving it a little bit. Any comments are appreciated... cannot find sleep until I know that it's by design... Chris

March 2nd, 2003, 02:39 AM	#3
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	Hello Chris, The plastic lens inside the viewfinder is, indeed, there by design. I'm pretty sure that its principal function is related to defeating internal reflections (between the lcd and the eyepiece lens), but I could be mistaken. I don't notice mine rattling in its mount but your ears may just be more sensitive than mine. __________________ Lady X Films: A lady with a boring wardrobe...and a global mission. Hey, you don't have enough stuff! Buy with confidence from our sponsors. Hand-picked as the best in the business...Really! See some of my work one frame at a time: www.KenTanaka.com

March 2nd, 2003, 01:23 PM	#5
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	Chris, I've not dismantled the GL2's eyepiece but I did have occasion to open the GL1's and assume that it's similar, if not identical, to that of the GL2. The piece closest to your eye is a magnifying-type lens connected to the dioptric adjustment (at the bottom of the finder). Mine does not seem to wobble but there is a bit of a loose-sound if I tap it. I suspect this is related to the adjustment mechanism. __________________ Lady X Films: A lady with a boring wardrobe...and a global mission. Hey, you don't have enough stuff! Buy with confidence from our sponsors. Hand-picked as the best in the business...Really! See some of my work one frame at a time: www.KenTanaka.com

March 2nd, 2003, 03:05 PM	#7
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	Mine does not seem to wobble, at least not more than a tap causes the entire eyepice to vibrate. Nor does it shift during normal camera movement. If yours does, you may indeed be in need of a repair. __________________ Lady X Films: A lady with a boring wardrobe...and a global mission. Hey, you don't have enough stuff! Buy with confidence from our sponsors. Hand-picked as the best in the business...Really! See some of my work one frame at a time: www.KenTanaka.com

March 2nd, 2003, 02:23 AM	#2
Chris Fangio Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Koblenz, Germany Posts: 70	Good morning, I think my problem sounds too complicated. But indeed it's very easy. So I added a little illustration which shows my problem of the non-fixed transparent piece of plastic. You can find it here: http://www.wc-w.de/viewfinder.jpg Thanks for your attention, Chris

March 2nd, 2003, 02:44 AM	#4
Chris Fangio Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Koblenz, Germany Posts: 70	Hello Ken, what do you mean with "eyepiece lens" ? I think that IS the part of my viewfinder which is rattling in its mount. The first thing to your eyes when you look through your viewfinder.6-7 mm away from the hood. Chris

March 2nd, 2003, 02:57 PM	#6
Chris Fangio Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Koblenz, Germany Posts: 70	Ken, thank you very much. Actually I didn't even open the viewfinder, just cleaned the lens with a cloth. Could you do one thing (I think this is the easiest way to determine if this is a defect): Simply look through your viewfinder when recording and tap on it with a finger. The image in my cam is flickering (because my lens is vibrating and not fixed). Again, thank you very much for you help. Chris

March 2nd, 2003, 03:08 PM	#8
Chris Fangio Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Koblenz, Germany Posts: 70	Thank you, Ken. I think it's time for giving Canon Germany the chance proving their service is ok. Chris