Sunlight Entering Viewfinder Opening

I have two Spotmatic's (SP and II), as well as a Chinon CS and a Mamiya/Sekor 500. I have a similar problem with all of these old gems - if sunlight enters the viewing window, the light meters go wild. I need a hat brim plus a third hand to shade this area while taking a reading - it's quite comical to watch I'm told.
I have terrible eyesight (I need glasses to find my glasses) and I think I have to rule out rubber eyecups.
What causes this - is the sunlight bouncing around in the prism and affecting the photocells?
Any ideas as to work arounds for myopic old moi?

Many thanks...

Cheers

Yes, that pretty much sums it up!

Pentax supply (with most bodies) an eyepiece cap that slots on in the same way as the rubber eye-cup you referred to.
I suppose you could create your own with a piece of card or plastic and a couple of strips of velcro, or just set the cameras for manual exposure.
You could order a cap from the manufacturer or try to find it second-hand - shouldn't cost a lot!

In really bad conditions, I use the camera one-handed and use the other hand as a shield for the eyepiece...but that is "in extremis" and normally not necessary.

The hat is actually quite a good idea!

Here's one on eBay:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Pentax-Eyepiece-Cover-for-ME-Super-P30-etc_W0QQitemZ7545646254QQcategoryZ29982QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

.....but I'm sure they're only £3 or £4 direct from Pentax

So it isn't just me! My wife always said I was stary-eyed, but I hate when it messes up my photos!

Thank's Kimbo - off the ePay...

Does this phenomonon happen with the *ist-D and other digital cameras as well?

I use glasses with my *st D, and the supplied rubber eyecup manages to keep extranious light out of the meter. It also seems to make a difference with the MX cameras, although I went out and got diopters for them anyway.

There are Pentax rubber eyecups for most cameras and there are aftermarket eyecups. They should minimize your problem, the only time I've had problems with light entering the eyepiece is with a remote release, and then I pre-meter, and set the camera up in Manual anyway.

hmm, perhaps I misunderstood - I thought you were using the camera without your eye to it ie; on a tripod and tripping the shutter remotely.

If eyecups / diopter lenses don't work for you, you could try a hood (like the ones used with plate cameras) but perhaps the most obvious solution would be to wear contact lenses instead of spectacles - might that be an option for you?

Unfortunately, contacts aren't an option for Mr. Magoo here, but I'll try a honkin' big rubber eyecup - maybe it'll work like a lens hood for the viewfinder window and keep the sunlight from sneaking into the prism.

Of to ePay..

Thank's All