Replacement eyecup

Would anyone happen to know, or be able to try, if an MZ series eyecup would be suitable for my *istDL?

I ask because although I've enquired with Pentax for an original, there is an MZ type eyecup for sale on eBay and thought it might be worth a try, if I can get it for around £5.

I'm waiting for a reply from Pentax, so have no idea of the price for an original but the eBay listing ends in less than 24 hours.

I have an MZ-S & *istD. Both eyecups are identical.

The only difference I have ever come across is that some eyecups don't have the cutout on the top edge for the dioptre adjuster. That's soon rectified with a scalpel.

Hope that helps.

PS, if it's only £5, go for it anyway.

So far I have identified eyecups Fm and Fp, the latter presumably having the cut out. The fitting size should be the same as the eyepiece cap M is still the same.

Yes, it should fit. I think all Pentax eyecups fit all Pentax cameras, including the digital ones, though I haven't tried all combinations. The rubber parts wont necessarily fit in with the body quite as nicely as the camera they were designed for, but the fitting around the eyepiece is the same for all K mount SLRs (and probably the earlier screw mount cameras as well, but I'm not sure about that).

Steve

http://www.siblingmedia.com/

Thankyou Peter, I think I will!

I could use one from one of my SFXs but it's not ideal and it has that little built-in window for the flash ready light - so sounds like an MZ type would be better.

Thanks also to John and Steve.

Just tired the eycup from my MZ7 on my istD, it doesn't fit, it seems slightly smaller, the istD eycup fits the MZ7 but is a bit loose.

I presume the eyepiece will be identical on all the ist series.

If I remember right the cost of an original from Pentax is around the £14 mark...

Thanks for the input folks.

I've received a price of £16.52 for a genuine replacement (don't know if that includes postage) but it's currently out of stock and should be available in about three weeks.
The MZ eyecup is similar and looks as though it'll do the job, so I'll have a bid or two now that I know what a fair price would be - I generally set a ceiling of 50% of the new price for second-hand items and I'll probably go a bit lower for this, as it's not the exact model for the camera.

From my experience with Pentax spare parts, they charge a flat rate of £8 for postage on top of the item price. I bought a new battery cover for my AF280T some time back. The cover, £3.??, postage, £8.

You could also try Harrow Technical / Asahi Photo !

Hi Kimbo,

If you have no luck with Ebay, I'm sure I've got several as new ones - will do one for £5 inc delivery..

Chris

That's excellent Chris, thankyou very much.
I did win the MZ eyecup for 95p + £4.75 postage (steep for p+p but I consider it just part of the overall price) and it will probably do the job but I must say that I'd much rather have the proper thing in order to keep the camera original.

I also managed to bag myself a new cable switch fdp for £3.99 and £2 p+p - so I'm well chuffed with that
I've always managed ok with my cable switch F on my Z1-P, so I don't know what the difference is but at least I've now got the right one!

Didn't do so well bidding on a Z1-P body plus grip strap fdp though, I bottled out at nearly £112 - as much as I love my Z1-P, I didn't want another one but just the grip strap. I missed it by £2 but of course there's no way of knowing what the winners' highest bid would have been!

Thanks again for the offer Chris, I'll drop you a PM

£112 and you still missed it? OUCH!
It's a lotta money just to get your hands on a chunk of plastic and a comfy strap!!! I've been really surprised recently at the steep prices that some things have been making such as 50mm f1.4's, top end Pentax 35mm film cameras, Z1-p and MZ-S but then other things like my 645 A series lenses went for next to nothing!!!

Guess it's all down to demand...

I kept thinking that I could get a fair chunk back by selling on the body but there comes a point where you just have to say "enough is enough".

I didn't buy the grip strap when it was available new for about £70, because I thought it represented poor value compared to the Minolta equivalent that was £120 but which had vertical controls and I think a battery compartment too.
I still really want one but you've got to be pretty desperate to pay more second-hand than the original new price, especially for something that is more cosmetic than functional.

I was very disappointed a couple of years ago when I missed a Z1 body c/w grip strap that sold for £65 but I was wary of buying from Honk Kong, although I have bought smaller/cheaper items from there since, without any problems.