viewfinder question

Hello, wonder if anybody can help. Own a DL2 that I have been using for a couple of years. I recently decided to run a film through my old Contax 137 whilst out and about @ the Goodwood festival of speed and this reminded me how much I dislike the viewfinder experience of my Pentax. With the contax I could actually see when a subject was in focus and rely on my faculties. Is there any way to improve the viewfinder experience on modern DSLR's I.E a magnifying diopter ?? The problem is not a lack of a split centre focusing aid, its just the viewing experience that does my nut in !!

The DL2 (and other "low end" Pentax DSLRs) use a penta-mirror.
The higher end models (*ist-D, *ist-DS, K10D, K20D) use a penta-prism and the viewfinder is exceptionally clear. The pentaprism is more expensive and heavier but produces the type of viewfinder that you are probably used to seeing on older film cameras.

TBH, I don't there's much you can do for your existing viewfinder
(You can pick up reconditioned bodies from www.srsmicrosystems.co.uk, and second hand ones from various places. For example, www.lcegroup.co.uk have a couple of *ist-D bodies at around £200 with a lens.)

Matt

Matt, thanks for the answer. Just to clarify, the experience that I got when looking through the 137 was akin to viewing my mates 47'' tv as opposed to my 32'' crt. If the analogy is clear, then the penta prism viewing experience should be appear lighter and bigger ?? Again, thanks the answer. Mark.

Well, I'm not sure about the difference in size... I've only had a quick go at using my brother-in-law's *ist-DL and it was horrible in comparison to the *ist-D/DS pentaprism.

The Pentax viewfinders (pentaprism) are among the clearest out there. As far as I know there is no way of making it larger. I thought the magnified viewfinder attachment shows the centre of the image larger (for accurate manual focus), but effectively crops it.... but I could be wrong!!

Actually... just checking the specs on Bojidar's site...
The DL2 has a 0.85x magnification with 96% coverage.
The D/DS/K10D/K20D have a 0.95x magnification with 95% coverage.

So, yes, they'll appear larger and clearer
All the pentaprism bodies have 0.95x mag, and all the pentamirror have 0.85x

Matt

And the optional magnified eyecup accessory will bring it up to 1.2.

Do you have one? Can you see the whole VF?
(Cause I'm very, very shortsighted and it could do with being a touch bigger!)
Matt

yes i do and it makes a difference, i can see the whole view finder no probs including all the metering read outs at the bottom. . Just can't remember the the code name of it.
Cost about AU$40

Just been Googling about it...
The Pentax one is the O-ME53.
There is also a Nikon one that fits - DK-21M which gives 1.17x magnification.

However, I have read that some have probs when wearing specs - ie not being able to see the whole frame and LED info

Clarky, I presume you don't wear specs?
Matt

No i don't, Only to read. I will have a look with my reading glasses and get back to you. I'm at work at the moment.

sockpuppet has the Nikon one !!

Matt I tried looking through the view finder with my reading glasses on and did find it a little difficult to see the LCD readouts with them on. I had to keep moving my eye around to see everything.

Same here with the Nikon viewfinder.
Tried it with my sunglasses on and it is a bit of a pain but then Im not used to wearing glasses while using the camera so how much of it is down to that I don't know.

Now you know how all canon users feel.

I was surprised at how bright the pentamirror viewfinder of the Canon 400D was that I recently had a go with. In fact it's brighter than than my Pentax K10D's pentaprism viewfinder - BUT it's much smaller. Personally, I'd rather have the larger one.

It seems you can't have something for nothing. If you have a cheaper and lighter pentamirror, depending on make/model, your view will be smaller or dimmer (or both) than a pentaprism view.

Foglio, I think you should seriously consider getting a DS, DS2, K10D or K20D. Used examples can be found on eBay, etc. Bear in mind though that the viewfinder still won't be as large as a Pentax 35mm film camera's.

I think that unless you buy a full frame digital SLR the viewfinder will always appear smaller when compared to a film SLR.
The viewfinder on my old Spotmatic is much larger and easier to use than on my K10D. Not everything has changed for the better....!!!