Cleaning lenses inside

  • Thread starter Thread starter Don Phillipson
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Don Phillipson

What chance of cleaning the lenses inside a Canon
FS4000US Film scanner? This is an old unit bought
used, but it looks as if an untidy spider has taken
up residence inside . . .
 
First, I don't know. But I do service Nikon film scanners, and in large
volume over a period of years. On Nikon scanners, while dirt and dust
and cleaning are HUGE issues, the problem is usually confined to one
single item, the "lower front mirror" (the overall optical design of the
last six Nikon scanners .... LS-2000, 4000, 5000, 30, 40 and 50 are all
substantially the same). But how accessible the relevant surfaces of
the FS4000US are, I just cannot say. One thing I can tell you ... I
also service laptops ... and if either these scanners are laptops are
disassembled by untrained users ... they often do enormous damage.
However, for the Nikon scanners, there are some online instructions
(with photos) that reduce the risk.
 
The list of things that can go wrong is quite lengthy. Some parts of a
scanner may be precision aligned at the factory on an optical test jig;
and when you "just take it apart" ... that alignment is lost (on a Nikon
LS-2000, there are 4 screws that, if removed or even just loosened, will
usually destroy the scanner). You have no idea how many people do not
know how to work the ZIF connectors on "Flex Cables" (those thin, flat
ribbon cables used in a lot of equipment). Also, on some scanners there
are a LOT of "flex cables" and they tear VERY easily, they cannot be
repaired, and in some cases replacements are either difficult to get or
not available at all. I could go on, but the answer to "what can go
wrong" is: LOTS OF THINGS. MOST untrained people who take these things
apart without instructions do damage to them.
 
The list of things that can go wrong is quite lengthy. Some parts of a
scanner may be precision aligned at the factory on an optical test jig;
and when you "just take it apart" ... that alignment is lost (on a Nikon
LS-2000, there are 4 screws that, if removed or even just loosened, will
usually destroy the scanner). You have no idea how many people do not
know how to work the ZIF connectors on "Flex Cables" (those thin, flat
ribbon cables used in a lot of equipment). Also, on some scanners there
are a LOT of "flex cables" and they tear VERY easily, they cannot be
repaired, and in some cases replacements are either difficult to get or
not available at all. I could go on, but the answer to "what can go
wrong" is: LOTS OF THINGS. MOST untrained people who take these things
apart without instructions do damage to them.
Click to expand...

Thanks for practical advice: plan now is:
1. Vacuum slide scanner from outside (and operate and store it in as
dust-free a location as I can manage.)
2. Continue scanning slides (from the 1960s, many unseen for
decades, half badly faded)
3. Test Photoshop on a couple of well-chosen samples,
including those with dust/spider marks.
4. If this cleanup remains unsatisfactory, then I shall take off
the cover to assess interior components.
 
I would try moderate air, probably from a can, and work my way up the
pressure settings until the obstructions are gone. Would also minimize
disassembly.

Tim.
 
The best way to clean is with compressed air, not a vacuum. There is
very little risk in removing covers. Once you get inside, you have to
be more cautious.
 
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