Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2006/12/21
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]I was puttering around with a magnifier for my Kodak 14n and discovered that unleashing a 1.2x on a full-size 35mm. medium- eyepoint, viewfinder was not such a hot idea. Specifically, it gives you a headache. BUT Then it occurred to me that something else was possible. I took that DK-21M (the new Nikon magnifier for D200 and other rectangular eyepieces) ($25 at Adorama) and figured out that the recess on its camera mounting side will fit OVER the Hexar RF eyepiece. $2 of Loctite mounting putty (the blue, 2kg test plasticine used to mount posters), rolled up in two small "sticks" goes on the back of the left and right camera contact surfaces of the DK-21. Press onto the Hexar around the eyepiece (putting the eyepiece below the little "ledge" on the camera side of the magnifier... and voila! .72x Hexar. You can't see the shutter speeds, but who pays attention to that? The eyepiece is fully removable and when mounted, does not interfere with the film door. I'm sure that Velcro (or neodymium magnets) would be a better mount in the long term (the magnifier has magnetic screws on the camera-side face), but I haven't had time to explore that yet. The Loctite is nice because if you pull it quickly, it comes off the DK-21 in one piece. Not for rough play, but enough to do the job most of the time. As to the DK-21M, it has its own removable eyecup. I suspect that if you removed it, you could attach Nikon rectangular diopters to it, which would solve another Hexar shortage. You might be able to do this on a Leica M as well, although the camera body material may be too slippery (the Hexar's is a matte black epoxy paint) - and you might have to resort to adhesive velcro or something. Dante ____________ Dante Stella http://www.dantestella.com