Cleaning D700 focusing screen

[arash_hazeghi]

Hey guys,
So I was using my D700 a lot for the holidays and I got a small piece of dust on the focusing screen, being picky, I tried to blow it off and instead I got more. Based on prior experience I know any attempt of wiping it with a lens tissue or microfiber will make things worse, is there any other effective way of cleaning the screen without touching it?



Thanks

[Jim Fenton]

Take it out and clean it with a pec pad.

OR if you don't want to touch it, I've had like with sensor brushes as well.

[arash_hazeghi]

Take it out and clean it with a pec pad.

OR if you don't want to touch it, I've had like with sensor brushes as well.

how do I take out the focusing screen?

[Jeff Donald]

Here is a YouTube video on removing the screen and cleaning. Olympus used t provide a small brush to clean the focus screen. A sensor brush is certainly safe enough to use as well as the method described in the YouTube video.

[arash_hazeghi]

Here is a YouTube video on removing the screen and cleaning. Olympus used t provide a small brush to clean the focus screen. A sensor brush is certainly safe enough to use as well as the method described in the YouTube video.

Thanks Jeff, the video shows a Nikon D3 which has removable screen, Nikon D700 does not feature a removable screen (there is no lever as shown in video). I don't know if there is a trick to pop it out without breaking anything.

[Jeff Donald]

The video lists the D700 as having a removable screen and I've seen several of my students remove the screen. I'll ask one of them in a day or two how to remove the screen. I would think it would be detailed in the the manual.

[arash_hazeghi]

The video lists the D700 as having a removable screen and I've seen several of my students remove the screen. I'll ask one of them in a day or two how to remove the screen. I would think it would be detailed in the the manual.

According to Nikon it is not removable and there is no instruction in the manual (otherwise I wouldn't ask here :D). I can send it to Nikon for cleaning but that usually takes a few weeks.

Please let me know if they know what the trick is.

[Jeff Donald]

Found this step by step guide. It is similar to how the old manual focus Nikons, Olympus' and Pentax's worked. Once you've done it the first time, it's easy after that. It's just the first time that is awkward.

[arash_hazeghi]

Well after searching I found this online, so apparently it is possible I will give it a try.

[arash_hazeghi]

we posted the link simultaneously!!!

[scott benson]

all i can say is make sure you dont blow the dust up inside the eye piece as it is easy to do,(did it with one of my pentax and also scratched the screen with a rocket blower(dont use rocket blowers no more) they cause more problems.

[Alan Lillich]

Arash,

Since Katz Eye sells a D700 screen, it must be user removable. I have a Katz Eye screen in my D300, the link you posted looks a lot like the D300 mechanism. The wire bail and delicate shims are finicky. I had frustrating dust problems when installing the Katz Eye. I must have put it in, looked at the dust, taken it out, cleaned it, ..., about 5 times. I finally gave up and accepted about 3 or 4 visible spots. It seemed almost as if the screen gathered a static charge every time I wiped it, no matter how careful I tried to be. That plus the fact that it has to be somewhat horizontal to install and I don't have access to a Clean Room.

good luck,
Alan

[Desmond Chan]

I don't have access to a Clean Room.

How about your bathroom? Back then in the film days, I hanged my just developed films to dry in the bathroom, where usually the air was usually not as dry as the other places in the house and so not as dusty...not much dust flying around.

[jeffsmithnjphoto]

The video is deceptive (at least for the D700) in that the job is much tougher than the video makes it look.I spent an hour of agony trying to get the works aligned & back together. You need nerves of steel and hands as steady as a rock.
I tried the same proceedure on the D2x a few years ago & bent the frame holding the screen. From now on, i'll send it to Nikon.

[Tony Whitehead]

I find sensor brushes do the job quickly and effectively.