I need a viewfinder magnifier for EOS 50D

[SkedAddled]

I've had some difficulty in properly focusing my 50D with wide-angle MF lenses recently,
realizing that I would benefit from a magnifier for my camera's viewfinder.
I've seen the Nikon magnifiers that can be flipped up over the viewfinder
as a way to compose the shot and then flip down to magnify for proper focus,
and it seems to be the solution for me.

I have a Pentax right-angle viewer which fits on my camera's eyepiece
and allows me a brighter view, but I don't want to use that all the time.

I'm nearing 51 years of age, and not yet interested in paying opticians
large sums of money if I can have satisfaction with a simple but quality magnifier.

Do any of you good folks use a magnifier with this camera,
and if so, what do you use? I don't want to magnify the LCD,
just the optical viewfinder. As much as 3X magnification would be okay,
but I think 1.5X to 2.5X would be better-suited for myself.
There's lots of vintage stuff on eBay, much of it right-angle,
but I don't think right-angle is the way I need to explore.

My eyeglasses are of a current prescription.
I see very well at close distances, while I need lenses to see clearly
further away than about 2 feet.

Thoughts, ideas, comments are welcome.

[calvin83]

You have to change the focusing screen to Canon Ef-S/third party split image before adding a magnifier. Otherwise, you can focus precisely even you add a magnifier.

[SkedAddled]

[DigiChromeEd]

[SkedAddled]

Many thanks to you, Edgar!

Just found and purchased a Canon Magnifier with the "R" adapter
for the princely sum of US$15.

[cooltouch]

I have the Canon Magnifier R with the S adapter -- or is it the Magnifier S with the R adapter -- I don't recall anymore. It's been so long since I've used it I don't recall anymore how much of the frame is visible with it.

You know what I got for my EOS Rebel DSLR, was an eyepiece magnifier that clips onto the eyepiece and stays there. I haven't taken that thing off in years. Mine gives about a 1.3x magnification, but looking on eBay now, I see some with more. Like this one, for example:

Click here to see on Ebay

Mine makes enough of a difference to matter, so I recommend going with something like this. It's certainly cheap enough.

[SkedAddled]

Input much appreciated, Michael.

However, I'm awaiting delivery of a bonafide Canon magnifier with the proper
adapter to fit my camera. Should arrive on March 5 or 6.

If this proves to be lacking, I'll be looking at alternatives.

[cooltouch]

One thing I discovered about my EOS was that its eyepiece's rectangle was the same size as my A-series and T-series Canons. So if you have the S adapter, it should fit, I'm thinking. The big question will be if you're gonna get enough coverage. I suppose I could dig mine out and test it for you. Maybe I'll do that tomorrow. It's late and I'm typing in bed so it's gonna have to wait until tomorrow.

[cooltouch]

Okay, I dug out my Magnifier R (don't have an adapter S as it turns out), and mounted it to an F-1, which has the round eyepiece. I don't know what the magnification is, probably 2x or 3x -- just guessing. But the downside is only the central area of the frame is visible. Well, you can see the corners but you really have to view things at sharp angles in order to see the corners -- and then you're not viewing what's in the center of the field. So, I really don't think you'll be happy using the Magnifier R or S as a general means of magnifying your field of view.

Really, you should give one of those eyepiece magnifiers a try. They work well, especially if you don't have to wear glasses. If you're wearing glasses, then you might not quite be able to see the entire frame all at once. But just a slight angling away from center and you can see the edges.

[DigiChromeEd]

[SkedAddled]

Well, it seems Michael was right.

The Canon magnifier arrived in like-new condition and does the job well,
but it's diffucult to see the edges of the viewer. That certainly makes it
cumbersome to view the shutter speed and exposure information.

I'll poke around ebay with Michael's suggestion in mind.

[visualopsins]

Have you looked at right-angle viewers Many have adjustable magnification. Mine is 2x; I can see entire viewfinder.

Asahi Pentax viewfinder magnifier for Spotmatics fits my classic Canon 5d perfevt, gives full view. My goto.

[SkedAddled]

[visualopsins]

[SkedAddled]

Well, since the Asahi right-angle viewer fits my camera, I went with visualopsins'
input on the Asahi magnifier. It cost no more than most of the current, cheap variants
from China, and I'd expect materials & build quality to far exceed them, as evidenced
by my right-angle viewer. I found one from Roberts Camera in seemingly
excellent condition with original box & case for US $20.

Michael: It may interest you to know that the Chinese variants are rated as
extremely poor in materials and quality, as Amazon buyer reviews indicate.
Frequent mention of lost pieces due to poor fit, and more than one mention
of glass elements delaminating, with a review picture to prove it.



There's also a product of the brand name TENPA out there, which has widely mixed
reception. For some unknown reasons, they cost over $100 US from most sellers.

[visualopsins]

[kypfer]

Although I now use Pentax DSLR's, I used to use Fujica AX series film cameras. The Fujica viewfinder magnifier will fit my Pentax, so, if you can get a Pentax accessory onto your Canon, you'll probably find the Fujica item will fit as well. The Fujica magnifier has a fairly wide range of dioptre adjustment ... when I need it I find it very useful!

Just in case it's of any use to anyone

[cooltouch]

[SkedAddled]

Looking further into this conundrum, I'm learning about Canon's own
'Dioptric Adjustment' lenses, which aren't costly, but I'm unable to
find out anything about their viewfinder coverage.
Can anyone offer information about these lenses,
particularly whether they provide a full viewfinder image?

[visualopsins]

[SkedAddled]

[visualopsins]

[SkedAddled]

Yes, the 50D has a diopter adjustment.
I have it one click from max(+) setting.

It seems one of these Canon diopter lenses should be what I've been
looking for. A member of another forum confirms a total or near-total
viewfinder field can be viewed through them.

[visualopsins]

Vf diopter should be set at 0 if you wear your glasses. Diopter adjustment will not magnify.