Cleaning F5 focusing screen?

[jphendren]

Hello,

I recently bought a EC-B screen for my Nikon F5, now my AF points turn black YAY!! Anyways, I blasted it pretty good with a rocket blower before I installed it, but there are some objects still on it. Can these be cleaned without damaging them?

Jared

 

[Chan Tran]

sometimes it works well for me this way. I use a strong vacuum cleaner with a hose about 1-1.5 inch in diameter. The hose has no brush attachment on it. Hold both the hose and the screen tightly. Put the vacuum hose very close to the surface of the screen, about 1/4 inch but not touching it. Be careful to grip both tightly as there is a chance the vacuum pull them together and the hose touches the screen which is not good.

 

[jphendren]

So is lens cleaning solution and lens papers a no go? Or a microfiber cloth?

Jared

 

[John Koehrer]

No microfiber cloth either.
For stuff(technical term) that is difficult to move I use a bird feather, goose or duck works BUT it has to be thoroughly cleaned with alcohol before use or you'll find out why waterfowl shed water so well. And that is impossible to get off.

 

[glockman99]

Be aware that the bottom side of most focusing screens are very fragile and VERY easy to scratch and scuff, so if you HAVE TO clean it, be VERY carefull.

 

[jphendren]

From what I have read on the various websites, DO NOT clean these. It seems that even the softest material can scratch them. So I guess that I will just have to live with the spots.

Jared

 

[PeteZ8]

Katz Eye optics seems to suggest using nothing more than a d****** sensor brush, gently. Also suggests never using any chemicals other than dishsoap and water. I've only tried to clean a screen one time and I darn near ruined it. I would image a cup with some warm soapy water would do the trick, but you would probably want to fabricate something like a mini 4x5 film hanger to hold it with. They are very, very fragile on their surfaces.

Probably better off just living with the spots unless they are very obtrusive. The ground/fresnel side of the screens are VERY easily scratched and the small edges are Velcro to any fibres that touch them.