In article <4h36mk$bn9@nntpb.cb.att.com>, vbd@cb.att.com says...

>What is the best way to clean the focusing screen that sits right
>above the mirror in the camera body ? Is it ok to clean it using the
>lens cleaning fluid and perhaps a cotton swab or the lens cleaning
>tissue ? Is such cleaning covered under warranty ?
>I took my ElanIIe to the local Canon service center in Columbus Ohio
>and was told that cleaning the screen would NOT be covered under >warranty and that they'd REPLACE the focusing screen for $40 + tax OR
>try to clean it "best possible" for $20 + tax - both of which sound
>kinda steep. The service person ofcourse refused to answer my question
>whether it would be safe for me to attempt to do this myself with the
>lens cleaning fluid etc., saying that I'd probably end up scratching it
>using the little hair-brush (???!) that usually comes with a lens
>cleaning kit.
>Although it doesn't affect the way the pictures are going to turn out,
>I'd still like to be able to see a clean frame through the view finder.

It seems to me that you got very reasonable information and prices
from everybody! (Assuming that the screen is not user removeable -
which is a VERY useful feature, just so that the screen can be cleaned
easily by the user.) Do not ever blow air into the viewing screen area
- it will almost always result in dust stuck above the screen. Do not
touch the delicate plastic screen with anything, unless you are willing
to accept the resultant marks. Prevention is the best cure - keep the camera closed, make lens changes brief, and don't change lenses in
windy environments. If you have not touched the screen, a cleaning
for $20 seems like a bargain, given the amount of disassembly that may be required to get to the screen.
Hope This Helps