So is there an optical viewer for the live view screen?

For a few days I've been doing what algernon suggested which is to use the camera with capture mode set to monochrome. This has no effect whatsoever on the RAW image, but it means that live view and review modes show a mono image.

The advantage for me is that I can then compose in mono, so the balance of tones and the lines in the composition are more like the final result than they are in the 'real life' colour scene. The final image can be converted to mono later in PP with more control.

The problem is that holding the camera out to get a good view of the live view screen is a chore. I used this for some of the band pictures I took on Friday and it made my arms ache, but at 10x magnification I could at least get good manual focus in the low light.

What I'd like is an attachment such that I can put my eye to the back of the camera while holding it in more or less the usual position, and get a full close-up view of the screen.

Like a viewfinder, only using the live view screen. Turning it into an electronic viewfinder if you will...

Is there such a thing for the K-5?

Something like THIS?

Hmmmm... that certainly looks promising but a tad expensive. I'd be prepared to start with something a lot more, er, cheaper to determine if it was a viable solution

Some on Ebay for around £40.

Thanks, I can probably afford that. Maybe a big wooden tripod and a black cloth next - I can see this going full circle


Edited to add: this one looks promising, but I'm not sure I want to glue the frame to the camera...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/LCD-Viewfinder-Extender-Magnifier-Canon-Pextax-Niko-/17058...

Good idea.... but it wasn't me

I use the 5x magnifier hood off my Bronica S2A 6x6 camera to look at previews to check exposure, focus etc. The same as this linkIt's not fixed and I hold it about 5mm away from the camera so that I don't scratch anything. A SH one would cost about £30 - £100 and they are of decent optical quality. Other 6x6 cameras would have had them as well. I suppose just the magnifier off a Lubitel would work fixed to a cardboard box.