OME-53 magnifier

**Mapleleaf-Mick** · 11-21-2016, 02:37 AM

I wear glasses but take them off when shooting. I have the diaopter set to max but would still like more clarity if possible. I am considering purchasing a Pentax magnifier for my K3. Has anyone used one and what are your views both positive or negative. I think they are worth about $26.00. There appear to be other brands available for Pentax mount.

Michael

freddyisaac · 11-21-2016, 02:49 AM

I have one on my K-7 and it is great - crystal clear and does enhance the view area and helps with manual focus.

I also take my glasses off and although my diopter adjustment is not at the limit it is still very helpful.

I think it has been covered elsewhere but given the pronounced profile it helps avoiding getting imprints from your nose all over the lcd screen.

I think that the price is well worth the investment - although this is only IMHO

I can only say that my only negative is that my other cameras do not have one and I am always forgetting this and get frustrated by the small view area before I remember why

Cheers

**BigMackCam** · 11-21-2016, 04:04 AM

Like you, I take my glasses off to shoot. With that in mind, I find the O-ME53 works very well indeed - way more than you'd expect for such an inexpensive accessory. It's great for general use, and particularly helpful for manual focusing. However, it won't increase clarity - it simply magnifies what you already see. So, if the diopter adjustment isn't sufficient to make the viewfinder completely clear, the O-ME53 won't improve that...

**marcusBMG** · 11-21-2016, 05:58 AM

See my review for O-ME53 - I have same problem. Tenpa 1.36x magnifier worked for me - adds another -1 diopter. Most of those chinese VF magnifiers have an inherent -1 diopter or diopter adjust.

Tenpa's however are not so readily available - at the mo anyway, not sure why.

**MJSfoto1956** · 11-21-2016, 07:16 AM

I don't wear glasses and love the Pentax diopter.
Wish every DSLR came with an extended viewfinder.

Michael

**csa** · 11-21-2016, 08:40 AM

Count me in as another very happy user of the Pentax magnifier on my K3!

**babywriter** · 11-21-2016, 09:12 AM

I use one on my K-S2 and am very satisfied. It really helps with manual focus, which I use 90+% of the time (vintage lenses).

Tako Kichi · 11-21-2016, 09:34 AM

I have one on my K-30 and love it. The only slight niggle I have is that I sometimes have to look down in the viewfinder to see the info bar to check settings and then look up again to compose. I wear varifocal spectacles when outside or trying to read small print, I don't need them at all around the house or at the computer and take them off when using the camera (I have the diopter adjusted for no glasses).

**Mapleleaf-Mick** · 11-21-2016, 08:53 PM

TENPA look good but three times the cost.

Michael

pentasonic49 · 11-30-2016, 01:02 PM

I've used one for years, until getting my K3 II when I realised that the magnifier tended to make seeing the edges of the frame difficult. Now it sits in it's box unloved.

pete-tarmigan · 11-30-2016, 01:51 PM

Alternatively, you could purchase an authentic Pentax Diopter Correction Lens Adapter M that fits over the viewfinder like the O-ME53. Unlike the latter, they don't magnify the fuzzy view. They provide the necessary correction for your prescription, i.e., myopia or hyperopia (they don't correct for astigmatism). I'm not sure if they're still in production, but there are some available on eBay in a variety of diopter corrections. I think they were originally available from -1 to -5, and from +1 to +5 (not strong enough for my correction).

**MSL** · 01-16-2017, 08:45 AM

Originally posted by pentasonic49

I've used one for years, until getting my K3 II when I realised that the magnifier tended to make seeing the edges of the frame difficult. Now it sits in it's box unloved.

I have one on my K-5 and have kept it there all the time - mainly because I put the original eyecup somewhere and haven't dug it out since. The magnifier is great for close focus / macro / manual focus. Where I also struggle is also with the edges - I find I miss distracting objects in the background at the edges and I keep thinking I should switch back to the regular eyecup when I'm in certain shooting situations and especially when I'm going to rely on the AF and so don't need the magnification.

11-21-2016, 02:37 AM	#1
Mapleleaf-Mick Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Saskatoon, Canada Posts: 299	OME-53 magnifier I wear glasses but take them off when shooting. I have the diaopter set to max but would still like more clarity if possible. I am considering purchasing a Pentax magnifier for my K3. Has anyone used one and what are your views both positive or negative. I think they are worth about $26.00. There appear to be other brands available for Pentax mount. Michael

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11-21-2016, 02:49 AM	#2
freddyisaac Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 81	I have one on my K-7 and it is great - crystal clear and does enhance the view area and helps with manual focus. I also take my glasses off and although my diopter adjustment is not at the limit it is still very helpful. I think it has been covered elsewhere but given the pronounced profile it helps avoiding getting imprints from your nose all over the lcd screen. I think that the price is well worth the investment - although this is only IMHO I can only say that my only negative is that my other cameras do not have one and I am always forgetting this and get frustrated by the small view area before I remember why Cheers

11-21-2016, 04:04 AM	#3
BigMackCam Digitiser of Film Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: North East of England Posts: 20,674	Like you, I take my glasses off to shoot. With that in mind, I find the O-ME53 works very well indeed - way more than you'd expect for such an inexpensive accessory. It's great for general use, and particularly helpful for manual focusing. However, it won't increase clarity - it simply magnifies what you already see. So, if the diopter adjustment isn't sufficient to make the viewfinder completely clear, the O-ME53 won't improve that...

11-21-2016, 05:58 AM	#4
marcusBMG Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: North Wales Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,869	See my review for O-ME53 - I have same problem. Tenpa 1.36x magnifier worked for me - adds another -1 diopter. Most of those chinese VF magnifiers have an inherent -1 diopter or diopter adjust. Tenpa's however are not so readily available - at the mo anyway, not sure why.

11-21-2016, 07:16 AM	#5
MJSfoto1956 Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Boston Posts: 1,305	I don't wear glasses and love the Pentax diopter. Wish every DSLR came with an extended viewfinder. Michael

11-21-2016, 08:40 AM	#6
csa Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Montana mountains Posts: 10,133	Count me in as another very happy user of the Pentax magnifier on my K3!

11-21-2016, 09:12 AM	#7
babywriter Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: central Iowa Photos: Gallery Posts: 969	I use one on my K-S2 and am very satisfied. It really helps with manual focus, which I use 90+% of the time (vintage lenses).

11-21-2016, 09:34 AM	#8
Tako Kichi Veteran Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: SW Ontario, Canada (ex-pat Brit) Posts: 1,296	I have one on my K-30 and love it. The only slight niggle I have is that I sometimes have to look down in the viewfinder to see the info bar to check settings and then look up again to compose. I wear varifocal spectacles when outside or trying to read small print, I don't need them at all around the house or at the computer and take them off when using the camera (I have the diopter adjusted for no glasses).

11-21-2016, 08:53 PM	#9
Mapleleaf-Mick Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Saskatoon, Canada Posts: 299 Original Poster	TENPA look good but three times the cost. Michael

11-30-2016, 01:02 PM	#10
pentasonic49 Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: weston-super-mare Posts: 395	I've used one for years, until getting my K3 II when I realised that the magnifier tended to make seeing the edges of the frame difficult. Now it sits in it's box unloved.

11-30-2016, 01:51 PM	#11
pete-tarmigan Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Conception Bay South, New-fun-land Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,272	Alternatively, you could purchase an authentic Pentax Diopter Correction Lens Adapter M that fits over the viewfinder like the O-ME53. Unlike the latter, they don't magnify the fuzzy view. They provide the necessary correction for your prescription, i.e., myopia or hyperopia (they don't correct for astigmatism). I'm not sure if they're still in production, but there are some available on eBay in a variety of diopter corrections. I think they were originally available from -1 to -5, and from +1 to +5 (not strong enough for my correction).

01-16-2017, 08:45 AM	#12
MSL Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Greater Toronto Area Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,749	Originally posted by pentasonic49 I've used one for years, until getting my K3 II when I realised that the magnifier tended to make seeing the edges of the frame difficult. Now it sits in it's box unloved. I have one on my K-5 and have kept it there all the time - mainly because I put the original eyecup somewhere and haven't dug it out since. The magnifier is great for close focus / macro / manual focus. Where I also struggle is also with the edges - I find I miss distracting objects in the background at the edges and I keep thinking I should switch back to the regular eyecup when I'm in certain shooting situations and especially when I'm going to rely on the AF and so don't need the magnification.