Magnifying eyepiece question

DennisH · 11-15-2013, 06:35 AM

I don't like to keep my glasses on when I shoot. The K-30/50/500 diopter doesn't quite get me into focus, but it's close.

Does Pentax make replacement diopters with more range, or alternatively, would a magnifying eyepiece help me?

Thanks.

**LaurenOE** · 11-15-2013, 06:41 AM

There are Pentax diopter corrective eyepieces that work. I am near sighted (can't see far) and I keep around -4 and -5 diopters in my kit.

These diopter corrective eyepieces are made by Pentax and they disappeared from USA shores years ago. I had to hunt them down, and got them from Pentax Japan and eBay.

Do a search on ebay for "Pentax SMC Correction Lens Adapter"

Since the -5 is very hard to come by, I just saw that three were available, so I ordered another.

Also, if you are far sighted, you want a "+ " adapter not a "-" one.

DennisH · 11-15-2013, 06:48 AM

Great, thanks. I'll check them out.

**tomwil** · 11-15-2013, 06:53 AM

Do these diopters work on the Pentax K-30/50/500? They seem to have a different eyepiece than the older Pentax models.

**LaurenOE** · 11-15-2013, 07:03 AM - **2 Likes**

Originally posted by tomwil

Do these diopters work on the Pentax K-30/50/500? They seem to have a different eyepiece than the older Pentax models.

All Pentax cameras - since the "M" days - use the same eyepiece slots.
So all eyepiece accessories from the "M" days work.

One of the other little awesome secrets of Pentax cameras.

Trivia bit - the eyepiece cover that came with your new camera - is the same one that was first introduced in the 1980's. Unchanged since then.
It may represent the longest included accessory of any camera manufacturer.

normhead · 11-15-2013, 07:18 AM

The thing I find about correcting with the camera is, I still have to put my glasses back on for some of the menus. I just leave them on.

**LaurenOE** · 11-15-2013, 07:21 AM

Originally posted by normhead

The thing I find about correcting with the camera is, I still have to put my glasses back on for some of the menus. I just leave them on.

Yep. I'm getting old too.

Wait - not that you're old.
ugh.

normhead · 11-15-2013, 07:39 AM

Originally posted by LaurenOE

Yep. I'm getting old too.

Wait - not that you're old.
ugh.

You're safe, you live in Florida, but I'm warning you, I have a walking stick, and I know how to use it.

Not a Number · 11-15-2013, 07:52 AM

It used to be you could by a eyepiece frame (at least with Minolta) that you could mount your own correction lens in. You could take the lens from an old pair of eyeglasses and have an optician cut it down and mount it in the frame. I don't know if they still make these frames or if you can even find them. I suppose you could modify an eyepiece cover and glue an old eyeglass lens on it.

Giklab · 11-15-2013, 08:58 AM - **1 Like**

I use a lens from an old pair of glasses - a +~2 lens which gets me into the adjustment range.

Also wow the noise of a phone camera...

**LaurenOE** · 11-15-2013, 09:25 AM

Originally posted by Giklab

I use a lens from an old pair of glasses - a +~2 lens which gets me into the adjustment range.

Also wow the noise of a phone camera...

That is brilliant!!!

Giklab · 11-15-2013, 09:43 AM

Originally posted by LaurenOE

That is brilliant!!!

Thanks

I hope I can do the same with the O-ME53 I'm getting.

Nass · 11-15-2013, 09:54 AM

Mid 40s, and I have the same problem as normhead. It's REALLY BLOODY ANNOYING to have to put glasses on to chimp, drives me bonkers.

**Canada_Rockies** · 11-15-2013, 01:19 PM

I'm 73. I have had cataract surgery on both eyes, which means that both eyes have no natural focus adjustment. The surgeon set both eyes at 20/30 - I wanted 20/20 but that's a whole other site to bitch on - this means that my eyes are always focused at 30 feet or so. However, I solved the problem: see below and watch the caveats.

Multifocal contact lenses. I personally have used Bausch & Lomb PureVision multi focals for more than two years now. I use a -0.5 in the left eye and 0.0 in the right, getting around the distance problem, but giving the phone book a pass. I can read the phone book or dictionary with my right eye, and see well at a distance with my left in almost any light. Infinity focus isn't there when the eye's iris is wide open. This is the bitch about 20/30 versus 20/20. At dusk it's hard to tell birds apart. ADD HIGH gives me +2 for close up work. For example I am typing away 18 inches from my laptop screen, 1400x1050 resolution and can read every bit of text of the screen. These lenses use the rings of focus system. They are not read at the bottom, distance at the top. In the right light, looking hard, you can see the concentric rings.

Caveats:
- Your eyes must not have too much astigmatism to wear these very comfortable (I don't even know they are there, except that I see well at any distance) lenses. Astigmatism means the lenses must be maintained in a precise vertical position, and that means gas permeable hard lenses which are a whole other ball game. My worst astigmatism is in my right eye, and is a bit less than one diopter. The right eye is not as clear as the left, but I have no trouble driving or seeing.

- Your tears must be within a certain range: not so much that the lenses protein up quickly, nor so dry that they cause discomfort. Any discomfort is a reason to remove the lenses. If the cornea is abraded ...

- There is a learning curve. Your brain has to learn which of the three overlapping images to use.

- They don't work as well if you have a high correction just to see. My eyes were about 20/450 before I had surgery, and getting used to multi contacts took 25 minutes for my brain to get the idea. After that they were good, but not great. With 20/30 base, they are great.

**Kerrowdown** · 11-15-2013, 01:46 PM

Originally posted by LaurenOE

Yep. I'm getting old too.

Rubbish, your just a young thing compared to some of us.

11-15-2013, 06:35 AM	#1
DennisH Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Stratford, CT Photos: Gallery Posts: 730	Magnifying eyepiece question I don't like to keep my glasses on when I shoot. The K-30/50/500 diopter doesn't quite get me into focus, but it's close. Does Pentax make replacement diopters with more range, or alternatively, would a magnifying eyepiece help me? Thanks.

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11-15-2013, 06:41 AM	#2
LaurenOE Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Back in Florida, but worldwide gigs! Photos: Albums Posts: 3,690	There are Pentax diopter corrective eyepieces that work. I am near sighted (can't see far) and I keep around -4 and -5 diopters in my kit. These diopter corrective eyepieces are made by Pentax and they disappeared from USA shores years ago. I had to hunt them down, and got them from Pentax Japan and eBay. Do a search on ebay for "Pentax SMC Correction Lens Adapter" Since the -5 is very hard to come by, I just saw that three were available, so I ordered another. Also, if you are far sighted, you want a "+ " adapter not a "-" one.

11-15-2013, 06:48 AM	#3
DennisH Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Stratford, CT Photos: Gallery Posts: 730 Original Poster	Great, thanks. I'll check them out.

11-15-2013, 06:53 AM	#4
tomwil Site Supporter Join Date: May 2009 Location: Maryland USA Posts: 778	Do these diopters work on the Pentax K-30/50/500? They seem to have a different eyepiece than the older Pentax models.

11-15-2013, 07:03 AM - 2 Likes	#5
LaurenOE Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Back in Florida, but worldwide gigs! Photos: Albums Posts: 3,690	Originally posted by tomwil Do these diopters work on the Pentax K-30/50/500? They seem to have a different eyepiece than the older Pentax models. All Pentax cameras - since the "M" days - use the same eyepiece slots. So all eyepiece accessories from the "M" days work. One of the other little awesome secrets of Pentax cameras. Trivia bit - the eyepiece cover that came with your new camera - is the same one that was first introduced in the 1980's. Unchanged since then. It may represent the longest included accessory of any camera manufacturer.

11-15-2013, 07:18 AM	#6
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,451	The thing I find about correcting with the camera is, I still have to put my glasses back on for some of the menus. I just leave them on.

11-15-2013, 07:21 AM	#7
LaurenOE Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Back in Florida, but worldwide gigs! Photos: Albums Posts: 3,690	Originally posted by normhead The thing I find about correcting with the camera is, I still have to put my glasses back on for some of the menus. I just leave them on. Yep. I'm getting old too. Wait - not that you're old. ugh.

11-15-2013, 07:39 AM	#8
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,451	Originally posted by LaurenOE Yep. I'm getting old too. Wait - not that you're old. ugh. You're safe, you live in Florida, but I'm warning you, I have a walking stick, and I know how to use it.

11-15-2013, 07:52 AM	#9
Not a Number Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Venice, CA Posts: 10,526	It used to be you could by a eyepiece frame (at least with Minolta) that you could mount your own correction lens in. You could take the lens from an old pair of eyeglasses and have an optician cut it down and mount it in the frame. I don't know if they still make these frames or if you can even find them. I suppose you could modify an eyepiece cover and glue an old eyeglass lens on it.

11-15-2013, 09:25 AM	#11
LaurenOE Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Back in Florida, but worldwide gigs! Photos: Albums Posts: 3,690	Originally posted by Giklab I use a lens from an old pair of glasses - a +~2 lens which gets me into the adjustment range. Also wow the noise of a phone camera... That is brilliant!!!

11-15-2013, 09:43 AM	#12
Giklab Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Slovenia Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,182	Originally posted by LaurenOE That is brilliant!!! Thanks I hope I can do the same with the O-ME53 I'm getting.

11-15-2013, 09:54 AM	#13
Nass Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The British Isles Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,402	Mid 40s, and I have the same problem as normhead. It's REALLY BLOODY ANNOYING to have to put glasses on to chimp, drives me bonkers.

11-15-2013, 01:19 PM	#14
Canada_Rockies Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Sparwood, BC, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,385	I'm 73. I have had cataract surgery on both eyes, which means that both eyes have no natural focus adjustment. The surgeon set both eyes at 20/30 - I wanted 20/20 but that's a whole other site to bitch on - this means that my eyes are always focused at 30 feet or so. However, I solved the problem: see below and watch the caveats. Multifocal contact lenses. I personally have used Bausch & Lomb PureVision multi focals for more than two years now. I use a -0.5 in the left eye and 0.0 in the right, getting around the distance problem, but giving the phone book a pass. I can read the phone book or dictionary with my right eye, and see well at a distance with my left in almost any light. Infinity focus isn't there when the eye's iris is wide open. This is the bitch about 20/30 versus 20/20. At dusk it's hard to tell birds apart. ADD HIGH gives me +2 for close up work. For example I am typing away 18 inches from my laptop screen, 1400x1050 resolution and can read every bit of text of the screen. These lenses use the rings of focus system. They are not read at the bottom, distance at the top. In the right light, looking hard, you can see the concentric rings. Caveats: - Your eyes must not have too much astigmatism to wear these very comfortable (I don't even know they are there, except that I see well at any distance) lenses. Astigmatism means the lenses must be maintained in a precise vertical position, and that means gas permeable hard lenses which are a whole other ball game. My worst astigmatism is in my right eye, and is a bit less than one diopter. The right eye is not as clear as the left, but I have no trouble driving or seeing. - Your tears must be within a certain range: not so much that the lenses protein up quickly, nor so dry that they cause discomfort. Any discomfort is a reason to remove the lenses. If the cornea is abraded ... - There is a learning curve. Your brain has to learn which of the three overlapping images to use. - They don't work as well if you have a high correction just to see. My eyes were about 20/450 before I had surgery, and getting used to multi contacts took 25 minutes for my brain to get the idea. After that they were good, but not great. With 20/30 base, they are great.

11-15-2013, 01:46 PM	#15
Kerrowdown PEG Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake Photos: Gallery Posts: 57,818	Originally posted by LaurenOE Yep. I'm getting old too. Rubbish, your just a young thing compared to some of us.