How do you clean a Bessa R2 viewfinder?

[ch1]

I have a Bessa R2S. I noticed that I have some fingermark "smudges" on the front side of the viewfinder plate - obviously from "cradling" the camera while loading film or "slipping" while aiming it. If I wipe them with a dry cloth it just "smears the smudge",

The plate is plastic so I'm not sure what is the safest way to actually clean it. Is an alcohol-based product like a lens cleaner sheet okay on plastic?

I imagine I could use warm, soapy water, but that seems like a cure worse than the disease!

Ideas please.

 

[f/stopblues]

I have a terrible tendency to smudge that piece too. I usually use one of those microfibre lens cloths, and if that doesn't do the trick (smearing the smudge), I'll spray a little eyeglass cleaner solution onto the cloth and then clean. Seems to do the trick. I wouldn't spray straight onto the viewfinder glass though. I'm always afraid some excess liquid would get into the cracks and stay there forever.

 

[Poptart]

A very tiny squeegee?

 

[caffeineshutter]

I don't have a Bessa, but my guess is that the camera will be just fine if you use a liquid cleaner like Windex. I'd caution you against using stonger stuff, such as alcohol or lens cleaner, unless one of the more experienced forum people say otherwise. I found out the hard way that lens cleaner is not for clear plastic things.

 

[RJBender]

I have a Bessa R2S. I noticed that I have some fingermark "smudges" on the front side of the viewfinder plate - obviously from "cradling" the camera while loading film or "slipping" while aiming it. If I wipe them with a dry cloth it just "smears the smudge",

The plate is plastic so I'm not sure what is the safest way to actually clean it. Is an alcohol-based product like a lens cleaner sheet okay on plastic?

I imagine I could use warm, soapy water, but that seems like a cure worse than the disease!

Ideas please.

The problem with liquids, tiny seams and cracks is that capillary action can draw the liquid into the seam. They tell you not to put lens cleaner directly on the lens so that it doesn't get pulled into the area behind the lens retaining ring.

Try the microfiber cloth first. You can wash the cloth with Dawn detergent when it gets dirty, rinse and hang it up to dry. It doesn't take long to dry; 30-60 minutes.

Lens cleaner should be ok if it doesn't have silicon in it.

R.J.