What's the best way to clean a fingerprint from a SLR mirror?

[chip j]

Nikon FE in this case. Thanks!

 

[Patrick Robert James]

I do it gingerly with alcohol and a Qtip. No pressure. Sometimes I will wrap a microfiber around a Qtip. Whatever you do, don't touch the focusing screen!

 

[chip j]

Rubbing alcohol or isopropyl alcohol?

 

[wiltw]

IPA which has the LEAST water content...as close to 100% as you can get..

'rubbing alcohol' can have not only water but also the denaturants, with or without color additives, and perfume oils. Rubbing alcohol contains in each 100 ml more than 355 mg of sucrose octaacetate or more than 1.40 mg of denatonium benzoate. The preparation may be colored with one or more color additives. A suitable stabilizer may also be added.

You could use digital sensor cleaning fluid.

 

[Gerald C Koch]

Use only liquids that will leave no residue or air. The fingerprint is a bit annoying but actual damage to the mirror is more so. Anything on the mirror will not effect any images. The mirror is what is known as a 'first surface mirror' and is VERY delicate having no protective coating. My suggestion would be to leave it alone.

 

[Poisson Du Jour]

About 15-20 years ago I bought two bottles of Opti*Clean from the UK.
It is a polyelastomeric liquid that dries to a clear film. Shake, brush on and let it dry. Removal is by using small adhesive tabs, one section placed over the edge of the dry film, and the remaining section used to peel the film up and away from the surface being cleaned. What this does is lifting off dust, dirt, fingerprints/smudges in one go. I have used it on my Pentax 67 mirror (which is rear-silvered and safe to clean) and probably in the distant past on the EOS 5 and EOS 1N cameras (both rear-silvered mirrors). Whether Opti*Clean is still available I have no idea.

 

[chip j]

Won't fingerprints on the mirror affect TTL readings?

 

[GarageBoy]

You don't. At the very best, you'll leave some tiny tiny scratches on the mirror.

If you must, 99% alcohol or pure acetone, but keep away from screen and mirror foam

 

[RalphLambrecht]

Nikon FE in this case. Thanks!

I'm not sure but, if it were me, I'd use a lens tissue and a drop of medicinal alcohol with a prayer.

 

[Svenedin]

It is up to you whether you want to take the risk. I have cleaned mirrors without harm using Isopropyl alcohol on a cotton bud. Blow off any surface dirt first and be VERY gentle. My personal opinion is that it is best to clean off the fingerprint if it is fresh. There is a risk that oils from the skin will etch the metallic surface of the mirror leaving a permanent finger print. I have seen that happen. If it is an old finger print there is a possibility that you will not be able to remove it due to etching so whatever you do do not scrub at it.

 

[fstop]

80 grit sandpaper will take the finger print off

 

[chip j]

THAT makes good toilet paper too!!

 

[E. von Hoegh]

80 grit sandpaper will take the finger print off

Lye works well too.
I was given a camera that had been left with no lens or body cap, in a lidless plastic tote. The mirror box was dusty, the mirror coated with dust plus a fingerprint. I cut some paper towel into strips the width of the mirror, wet them with pure isopropyl, and by laying them on the mirror and lifting off, was able to clean it without causing further damage. The mirror box was vacuumed. There are some very fine marks where the barbarian's finger touched it, but otherwise it's fine.

 

[wiltw]

Won't fingerprints on the mirror affect TTL readings?

Not really enough to matter...the typical camera suffers from deviations in marked shutter speed, and deviations of marked f/stops, and cumulative error can far exceed the miniscule reductions of transmitted light measured by photosensors!

 

[E. von Hoegh]

I'm not sure but, if it were me, I'd use a lens tissue and a drop of medicinal alcohol with a prayer.

I am NOT wasting my Talisker on a mirror.

 

[chip j]

Thanks, MR von Hoegh--I WILL try the layering of the soaked paper towels!

 

[E. von Hoegh]

Thanks, MR von Hoegh--I WILL try the layering of the soaked paper towels!

You want them wet, but not so wet that alcohol runs where it can cause trouble. Just wet enough that cappilarity sticks it to the mirror. If there is no abrasive dust, you could drag it along the mirror to remove the fingerprint.

 

[Poisson Du Jour]

In an earlier post I mentioned a polymer cleaning agent that I bought decades ago (still got both bottles), and decided to find out if this product is still available.
And it is. The UK stockist is StanwaxLaser:
http://shop.stanwaxlaser.co.uk/first-contact-polymer-optics-cleaner---opticlean-1-p.asp

Quote from the page:
FIRST CONTACT™ is a non-toxic, inert polymer designed to remove dust, fingerprints, residues and contaminants from delicate, sensitive, and precision surfaces without scratching or damage.

Contrary to populist opinion, not all camera mirrors are front-silvered, a lot of old cameras, yes (including the ridiculously frail mirrors of the OIympus OM cameras) but you will find out immediately for better or worse the moment you gather up the bravado and attack whatever it is that is bugging you!

 

[Sirius Glass]

How about keeping your fingers off the mirror to begin with??

 

[chip j]

The camera was GIVEN to me, with fingerprint attached.

 

[Patrick Robert James]

I love how people make the simplest things super freakin' complicated.

 

[Smudger]

simple "Window Cleaner" dampened folded wedge of tissue. Thomas Tomosy had a lot to say about Q-tips,and it was all negative. Far too abrasive,risk of stray fibres,etc. Don't overthink it.

 

[OlyMan]

Calotherm cloth (the kind the optician supplies with spectacles) and a burst of hot breath. Why are so many people other-thinking the issue.

 

[Jim70]

"I am NOT wasting my Talisker on a mirror."

Wholeheartedly agree - besides, there is too much water in it!

Years ago, I used Collodion to clean fist surface mirrors for scientific applications. I goes on as a liquid but dries to a thin film. CAREFULLY peeling the film off removes dirt, fingerprints, dust, etc. Sometimes you need to apply 2 layers and I recommend nylon or plastic tweezers to remove the film. Gently, Gently is the trick!

 

[guangong]

I am amazed by the number of people who have had to remove finger prints from mirror on this thread. For almost 60 years with Nikons, Leicaflex, Pentax Hasselblad and Canon I never had the experience nor can I remember anyone who had fingerprints on mirror. I suppose it’s possible to encounter on used equipment. Doesn’t it require some conscious effort to poke finger into camera body and make a print on mirror?