Win a Pentax Limited Lens: Raffle Now Live!

Tom M · 08-20-2007, 11:40 AM

OK - Since I purchased my K10D I have not been able to figure it out.. In this photo below is the piece I'm talking about.. It's the top rectangular piece on the right side of the camera strap. What the heck is it?

roscot · 08-20-2007, 11:48 AM

It's a view finder cover. You use it when doing long exposures without your eye to the viewfinder, to prevent extraneous light from effecting the meter reading.

Oh, it's the first thing I lost. Second was the eye cup.

sft · 08-20-2007, 11:48 AM

The top piece on the right is the Viewfinder cover, the other piece is the hot shoe cover.

That's an interesting strap and different than the strap that came with my K10D though. Mine has Pentax written in red and the design looks different too - this looks like it has more leather too.

mopar_man · 08-20-2007, 12:25 PM

I like that strap. The memory card holder thing looks very handy. Might I ask where you got it from?

Tom M · 08-20-2007, 12:46 PM

Actually, that strap is not mine. I just happened to notice the part in this thread here https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-dslr-discussion/10165-holding-k10d-battery-grip.html Scroll down some - It seems another member here has that strap..

OK thanks for telling me what that piece is.. Is there any reason why it does not fit into the eyepiece? It just falls out.

AVANT · 08-20-2007, 12:57 PM

You have to slide the existing piece up to remove it, then slide the viewfinder cover in it's place.

sft · 08-20-2007, 12:59 PM

You have to slide the eyepiece out and slide that cover on instead. It doesn't go over the actual eyepiece.

Tom M · 08-20-2007, 01:18 PM

OK - So I remove the rubber eyecup and replace it with this hard plastic cover?

Thanks by the way.

stewart_photo · 08-20-2007, 01:43 PM

Originally posted by mopar_man

I like that strap. The memory card holder thing looks very handy. Might I ask where you got it from?

It's the Pentax Camera Strap FG, originally sold with the ZX-5N and ZX-M cameras. The storage pockets are indeed handy. In addition to memory cards, they will also hold the viewfinder and hotshoe covers. Anyway, you can special order it at B&H for $24...

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/112774-REG/Pentax_33061_Camera_Strap_FG.html

You can also find it at the Pentax USA website ($34) under Online Store/Photo Accessories/Straps...

https://pc-wweb.pentax.com/scripts/wgate/zw20_pc/!?~language=en&~Okcode=star...rea=0000000002

stewart

stewart_photo · 08-20-2007, 02:05 PM

Originally posted by Tom M

OK - So I remove the rubber eyecup and replace it with this hard plastic cover?

Yes. You remove the rubber eyecup and replace it with the viewfinder cover. Stray light entering the viewfinder could cause inaccurate exposure readings. The viewfinder cover is designed to keep stray light out whenever your eye isn't over the viewfinder, such as when using a tripod, holding the camera away from your eye while taking a picture, and so on.

The hotshoe cover is designed to protect the electrical contacts from fingerprints and the elements.

stewart

Tom M · 08-20-2007, 03:11 PM

That's so funny!

I took some long-exposure shots 2 months ago at a local natural brook. I had been setting the shutter between 1 & 2/sec using a 2sec delay for mirror lock-up and found myself shielding the viewfinder with my baseball cap because I *thought* I had no other means of doing so. Meanwhile, I had the exact and proper part sitting in the bottom of my bag!! Oh well, I don't have much experience with long-exposure so, I didn't know any better except to cover it

pshphoto · 08-21-2007, 06:44 AM

I got the same strap w/my ZX-60 (film cam), decided to use it on the DS. Thinking the pockets would be perfect for memory, I put one card in one pocket, went out shooting, filled the first card in the camera and went to take the second out. It was broken in half! I didn't think I'd been roughing it, just taking street shots, but there it was. Luckily, it was only a 256MB card. Glad it wasn't full of a day's shooting!

squarerigger · 08-21-2007, 07:55 AM

I have found placing the viewfinder cover on and off to be a pain the the ***. If the shot is not unneccessarily long, I just gentily place my thumb over the viewfinder cup and that seems to work just fine for me.

Chako · 08-21-2007, 08:22 AM

What I could never figure out is this. Why don't they make the viewfinder cover a lot more convenient? Ages ago, they used to thread through your camera neck strap, where it was ready for easy use..and you would never loose the darn thing.

shutterdrone · 08-21-2007, 10:43 AM

Originally posted by Tom M

That's so funny!

I took some long-exposure shots 2 months ago at a local natural brook. I had been setting the shutter between 1 & 2/sec using a 2sec delay for mirror lock-up and found myself shielding the viewfinder with my baseball cap because I *thought* I had no other means of doing so. Meanwhile, I had the exact and proper part sitting in the bottom of my bag!! Oh well, I don't have much experience with long-exposure so, I didn't know any better except to cover it

Better yet, switch to 'M', hit the green button with your eye in the viewfinder (framing the shot), and then don't worry about a cover at all =)

!c

08-20-2007, 11:40 AM	#1
Tom M Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Lincoln Park, NJ Photos: Gallery Posts: 780	Came with K10D - What is it? OK - Since I purchased my K10D I have not been able to figure it out.. In this photo below is the piece I'm talking about.. It's the top rectangular piece on the right side of the camera strap. What the heck is it?

08-21-2007, 06:44 AM	#12
pshphoto New Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 22	Careful using that strap w/memory cards I got the same strap w/my ZX-60 (film cam), decided to use it on the DS. Thinking the pockets would be perfect for memory, I put one card in one pocket, went out shooting, filled the first card in the camera and went to take the second out. It was broken in half! I didn't think I'd been roughing it, just taking street shots, but there it was. Luckily, it was only a 256MB card. Glad it wasn't full of a day's shooting! Last edited by pshphoto; 08-21-2007 at 06:46 AM. Reason: typos - clarification

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
For Sale - Sold: K10D w/ 3 Extra Batteries, DVD Tutorial, K10D Book!	ksignorini	Sold Items	2	08-28-2008 08:24 PM
For Sale - Sold: FS: New K10D battery, K10D book	sven	Sold Items	2	12-17-2007 12:42 AM

08-20-2007, 11:48 AM	#2
roscot Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Virginia Beach VA USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,363	It's a view finder cover. You use it when doing long exposures without your eye to the viewfinder, to prevent extraneous light from effecting the meter reading. Oh, it's the first thing I lost. Second was the eye cup.

08-20-2007, 11:48 AM	#3
sft Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery Posts: 173	The top piece on the right is the Viewfinder cover, the other piece is the hot shoe cover. That's an interesting strap and different than the strap that came with my K10D though. Mine has Pentax written in red and the design looks different too - this looks like it has more leather too.

08-20-2007, 12:25 PM	#4
mopar_man Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: SK, Canada Posts: 108	I like that strap. The memory card holder thing looks very handy. Might I ask where you got it from?

08-20-2007, 12:46 PM	#5
Tom M Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Lincoln Park, NJ Photos: Gallery Posts: 780 Original Poster	Actually, that strap is not mine. I just happened to notice the part in this thread here https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-dslr-discussion/10165-holding-k10d-battery-grip.html Scroll down some - It seems another member here has that strap.. OK thanks for telling me what that piece is.. Is there any reason why it does not fit into the eyepiece? It just falls out.

08-20-2007, 12:57 PM	#6
AVANT Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: California Posts: 426	You have to slide the existing piece up to remove it, then slide the viewfinder cover in it's place.

08-20-2007, 12:59 PM	#7
sft Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery Posts: 173	You have to slide the eyepiece out and slide that cover on instead. It doesn't go over the actual eyepiece.

08-20-2007, 01:18 PM	#8
Tom M Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Lincoln Park, NJ Photos: Gallery Posts: 780 Original Poster	OK - So I remove the rubber eyecup and replace it with this hard plastic cover? Thanks by the way.

08-20-2007, 01:43 PM	#9
stewart_photo Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Heidelberg, Germany Posts: 1,864	Originally posted by mopar_man I like that strap. The memory card holder thing looks very handy. Might I ask where you got it from? It's the Pentax Camera Strap FG, originally sold with the ZX-5N and ZX-M cameras. The storage pockets are indeed handy. In addition to memory cards, they will also hold the viewfinder and hotshoe covers. Anyway, you can special order it at B&H for $24... http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/112774-REG/Pentax_33061_Camera_Strap_FG.html You can also find it at the Pentax USA website ($34) under Online Store/Photo Accessories/Straps... https://pc-wweb.pentax.com/scripts/wgate/zw20_pc/!?~language=en&~Okcode=star...rea=0000000002 stewart

08-20-2007, 02:05 PM	#10
stewart_photo Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Heidelberg, Germany Posts: 1,864	Originally posted by Tom M OK - So I remove the rubber eyecup and replace it with this hard plastic cover? Yes. You remove the rubber eyecup and replace it with the viewfinder cover. Stray light entering the viewfinder could cause inaccurate exposure readings. The viewfinder cover is designed to keep stray light out whenever your eye isn't over the viewfinder, such as when using a tripod, holding the camera away from your eye while taking a picture, and so on. The hotshoe cover is designed to protect the electrical contacts from fingerprints and the elements. stewart

08-20-2007, 03:11 PM	#11
Tom M Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Lincoln Park, NJ Photos: Gallery Posts: 780 Original Poster	That's so funny! I took some long-exposure shots 2 months ago at a local natural brook. I had been setting the shutter between 1 & 2/sec using a 2sec delay for mirror lock-up and found myself shielding the viewfinder with my baseball cap because I thought I had no other means of doing so. Meanwhile, I had the exact and proper part sitting in the bottom of my bag!! Oh well, I don't have much experience with long-exposure so, I didn't know any better except to cover it

08-21-2007, 07:55 AM	#13
squarerigger Inactive Account Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: James City County, Virginia Photos: Gallery Posts: 322	I have found placing the viewfinder cover on and off to be a pain the the ***. If the shot is not unneccessarily long, I just gentily place my thumb over the viewfinder cup and that seems to work just fine for me.

08-21-2007, 08:22 AM	#14
Chako Inactive Account Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Sault Ste Marie, Ont, Canada. Posts: 563	What I could never figure out is this. Why don't they make the viewfinder cover a lot more convenient? Ages ago, they used to thread through your camera neck strap, where it was ready for easy use..and you would never loose the darn thing.

08-21-2007, 10:43 AM	#15
shutterdrone Forum Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Houston Posts: 75	Originally posted by Tom M That's so funny! I took some long-exposure shots 2 months ago at a local natural brook. I had been setting the shutter between 1 & 2/sec using a 2sec delay for mirror lock-up and found myself shielding the viewfinder with my baseball cap because I thought I had no other means of doing so. Meanwhile, I had the exact and proper part sitting in the bottom of my bag!! Oh well, I don't have much experience with long-exposure so, I didn't know any better except to cover it Better yet, switch to 'M', hit the green button with your eye in the viewfinder (framing the shot), and then don't worry about a cover at all =) !c

Came with K10D - What is it?

Win a Pentax Limited Lens: Raffle Now Live!