How to Clean the SD14 Focussing Screen

iMac24

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19 Jul 2009 - 3:44 PM

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Hi Everyone,

By way of introduction herewith my Instructions for Cleaning the SD14 Focussing Screen.

Cleaning the SD14 Focussing Screen.

This is a simple task that takes just a few mintues to do.

Note that KatzEye Focussing Screen Installation Instructions for the Sigma SD9 & SD10 are of little use as the SD14 is of a different design.

The SD14 Viewfinder Screen comprises four parts, as follows,

Focussing Screen retaining frame.
A plastic magnifying screen.
A horse shoe ('U' Shaped) shim.
A plastic screen engraved with the focussing points.

Tools needed, a good Tweezer, mine are about 6" in length. A pair of Latex gloves (If you can work with them)

To disassemble, remove the IR filter.

Examine the Focussing Screen assembly, make notes about it's position, depth etc.

Place a folded Micro Fibre Lens Cleaning cloth or a Pec Pad over the Mirror, important to protect the Mirror.

Release the Focussing Screen retaining frame using your fingernail, allowing the screen parts to fall gently onto the protected mirror. For now, Leave them lying there.

Before proceeding further, make notes & sketches detailing the exact position and relationship of each part, both to each other and to the camera.

Get your head in gear, you need to know which way is up!

Make notes as you remove each part with the tweezer, which way round in relationship to the camera bottom, which way up is the engraved side etc.

It's amazing that with only four parts to contend with just how confusing this can be.
These comments do NOT apply to female Sigma owners. Women are far more suited to this task as they have a superior multi tasking brain, they are much more intelligent than us mere males. They're smarter than me anyhow.

I washed the plastic parts using water and a little washing up liquid. After drying I cleaned the screens with an anti static Coated Lens Cleaner, this is Non-gas, Non-toxic, anti-static formula contains NO alcohol or solvents, made by Specsavers UK.

At each stage of the Re-assembly, look through the Viewfinder Eyepiece (With the Camera Upside down) to ensure that dust has not been re-introduced!

Remember to clean both sides of the Viewfinder Eyepiece, before starting the re-assembly, this may be quite dirty!

Last part out is the first part in, using the tweezer, replace the engraved screen (the right way up)
Next, replace the 'u' shaped shim ensuring that it is in close contact and correctly seated.
Replace the magnifying screen, seating the two small tabs, ensure that the screen is level.

With the camera bottom facing upwards, replace the retaining frame, securing by pressing downwards (towards the Flash). You will hear it gently clicking into place.

Replace the IR Filter

Note:
Be careful not to deform the retaining frame, successful Viewfinder Screen retaining is dependent upon this frame!

The first time it took me quite a while to position each part correctly.

Focussing screen alignment is not an issue, parts either fit properly or they don't!
There has been a lot of hype written about the dangers of interfering with the focussing screen, pure drivel penned by those who have not attempted the procedure. The fear of the unknown...........

Alignment can be checked as follows: (taken from the Yvind Strom's Compendium)

Place the camera flat on a table. Place a mirror (without a frame) at 90 deg in front of the camera so that you can see in the viewfinder where the mirror rests on the table.
If the bottom of the mirror ( where it rests on the table) does not look straight, it is a screen misalignment.

I'm close on 80 years old, if I can do it, everybody can. The separate parts of the Focussing Screen assembly when re-assembled, really fall into place only needing a little guidance sometimes.
I have cleaned the Focussing Screen on both my SD14's, even repeated the procedure to check my facts.

First time was a learning experience, but after that it took just a few minutes to do, like riding a push bike.

Both the plastic screens are made from a soft material and easily scratched, with this in mind, it is advisable to wear Latex gloves, provides a secure grip on the parts and avoids the transfer of oil from the hands.

Have fun out there.
Regards,
iMac24

iMac24

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19 Jul 2009 - 5:48 PM

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Hi Mike,

You're most welcome!

Regards,

iMac24