Cleaning Canon AE-1 Focusing Screen
Hi,
I recently got a Canon AE-1, but the focusing screen is stained/has a bit of what looks like water damage on it. Is there any way for me to clean it safely? I saw online that it seems quite difficult to replace by myself.
Second, if I want to get rid of dust/dirt in general, is a q-tip with isopropyl alcohol safe for the camera?
Posted May 30, 2021, 1:46 AM UTC
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A swab and some alcohol is okay for the body in general. Like all things in life, patch test on a small part of the leatherette to make sure it won't mess it up.
The focusing screen is trickier. You should never ever use liquids on the focusing screen and anything short of a soft brush or air will cause all sorts of issues because they're so delicate. It's honestly less of a hassle to have the screen replaced. If you can't, hopefully you can just ignore it.
Alcool is fine for the body, but not for the focusing screen, i kinda ruin one because of alcool droplets. Water and soap seems to be fine for smudges but search in Google first. Otherwise a brush Will be fine for dust.
Never never never never use liquids on a focusing screen. Good results can't be replicated.
what is the focusing screen made out of? i just got this camera and the previous owner tried to use water to clean the smudge causing to spread/stain - do you think I could revert that?
Short answer is not really.
The screens are usually made of ground glass and cheaper modern screens are a fresnel plastic lens. The issue is the texture of the glass is what causes the problems. They’re delicate and not smooth so any liquid is basically sponged into them or will mar the surface.