Dust in my XL2 viewfinder at DVinfo.net

Terry Kean · September 18th, 2009, 12:35 PM

I've recently noticed a good sized piece of dust in my viewfinder and was wondering if anyone knew if there's a way to clean inside it. It seems to be on the back side of one of the two pieces of plastic in the "flip up" portion of the viewfinder (the diopter?). I took off the rubber eye cup and noticed a few very small screws around the rim of the viewfinder....are these easily removed and reattached? Has anyone had a similar experience?
I know the dust doesn't affect the image but it sure is distracting while shooting!
Thanks for any help!

Tony Davies-Patrick · September 18th, 2009, 01:43 PM

Yes, the viewfinder eyepiece can be taken apart quite easily and cleaned, although it can sometimes be a bit tricky getting it back together again.

Terry Kean · September 18th, 2009, 01:46 PM

Hi Tony, Thanks for the reply. So are those tiny philips head screws the key to taking it apart? What's tricky about getting it back together?
Any direction would help tons!

Terry Shaw · September 18th, 2009, 02:15 PM

Hi Terry,

About the viewfinder, DO Not remove the screws and take apart the viewfinder!
If you role back the rubber eye cup and look under the viewfinder you will see a little piece
that can be removed so that you can get a Q-Tip inside to clean the dust out.

Goodluck, Terry

Tony Davies-Patrick · September 18th, 2009, 02:46 PM

I've found that using a Q-tip through the tiny hole often doesn't clean it enough and so take the finder apart. Not a big deal. Although if Terry can remove the annoying chunk of dust via the tiny side channel he'll not need to remove the screws.

Terry Kean · September 18th, 2009, 03:16 PM

Are you referring to the rectangular piece directly on the underside of the viewfinder (exposed by rolling up the eye cup)? It looks like there's a recessed notch to pry it open....but I tried it fairly lightly and nothing happened. I didn't want to force it if I wasn't sure it was the right place to be opening!

Terry Shaw · September 19th, 2009, 03:32 AM

Terry, Thats the one, it will pop out but you have to work on it.

September 18th, 2009, 12:35 PM	#1
Terry Kean New Boot Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Fort Myers, FL Posts: 6	Dust in my XL2 viewfinder I've recently noticed a good sized piece of dust in my viewfinder and was wondering if anyone knew if there's a way to clean inside it. It seems to be on the back side of one of the two pieces of plastic in the "flip up" portion of the viewfinder (the diopter?). I took off the rubber eye cup and noticed a few very small screws around the rim of the viewfinder....are these easily removed and reattached? Has anyone had a similar experience? I know the dust doesn't affect the image but it sure is distracting while shooting! Thanks for any help!

September 18th, 2009, 01:43 PM	#2
Tony Davies-Patrick Trustee Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Worldwide Posts: 1,589	Yes, the viewfinder eyepiece can be taken apart quite easily and cleaned, although it can sometimes be a bit tricky getting it back together again. __________________ www.WILDCARP.com www.NIKON.me.uk

September 18th, 2009, 02:46 PM	#5
Tony Davies-Patrick Trustee Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Worldwide Posts: 1,589	I've found that using a Q-tip through the tiny hole often doesn't clean it enough and so take the finder apart. Not a big deal. Although if Terry can remove the annoying chunk of dust via the tiny side channel he'll not need to remove the screws. __________________ www.WILDCARP.com www.NIKON.me.uk

September 18th, 2009, 01:46 PM	#3
Terry Kean New Boot Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Fort Myers, FL Posts: 6	Hi Tony, Thanks for the reply. So are those tiny philips head screws the key to taking it apart? What's tricky about getting it back together? Any direction would help tons!

September 18th, 2009, 02:15 PM	#4
Terry Shaw Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 42	Hi Terry, About the viewfinder, DO Not remove the screws and take apart the viewfinder! If you role back the rubber eye cup and look under the viewfinder you will see a little piece that can be removed so that you can get a Q-Tip inside to clean the dust out. Goodluck, Terry

September 18th, 2009, 03:16 PM	#6
Terry Kean New Boot Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Fort Myers, FL Posts: 6	Are you referring to the rectangular piece directly on the underside of the viewfinder (exposed by rolling up the eye cup)? It looks like there's a recessed notch to pry it open....but I tried it fairly lightly and nothing happened. I didn't want to force it if I wasn't sure it was the right place to be opening!

September 19th, 2009, 03:32 AM	#7
Terry Shaw Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 42	Terry, Thats the one, it will pop out but you have to work on it.