Modified my eyecup to fit a prescription lens

Waku Waku · Aug 16, 2018

Shooting pictures while wearing eyeglasses is problematic. Your eye can't get as close to the eyecup, viewfinder appears smaller, stray light enters and just isn't as immersive. Some people can take off their glasses and adjust using the built-in diopter. However, I have a fairly high prescription and the adjustment range just isn't enough. The solution for most would be just to wear contacts, but medically I can't wear them so I was out of luck.

So I went to my local optician and asked them to custom cut a tiny lens from an old pair of glasses and fit it inside the eyecup. Bam, it works, I can now shoot without the hindrance of wearing eyeglasses.

X-H1 eyecup with custom cut lens

Bobo Hodls · Aug 16, 2018

. . is the mother of invention, and all that [g].

That's an inspired notion, and tip!

davidnbb · Aug 16, 2018

I'm curious what your "fairly high prescription" is?

doctorharrison · Aug 16, 2018

c0nfund0 said:
Shooting pictures while wearing eyeglasses is problematic. Your eye can't get as close to the eyecup, viewfinder appears smaller, stray light enters and just isn't as immersive. Some people can take off their glasses and adjust using the built-in diopter. However, I have a fairly high prescription and the adjustment range just isn't enough. The solution for most would be just to wear contacts, but medically I can't wear them so I was out of luck.

So I went to my local optician and asked them to custom cut a tiny lens from an old pair of glasses and fit it inside the eyecup. Bam, it works, I can now shoot without the hindrance of wearing eyeglasses.

X-H1 eyecup with custom cut lens

As an Optometrist [more than happily retired], all I can say is "Bravo!"

--
doctorharrison

https://www.flickr.com/photos/145673467@N08/sets/72157677654149536

X-T2 / 10-24 / 16 / 23-2.0 / 27 / 35-2.0 / 90 / 16-55 / 18-135 / 50-140 / 100-400 / 1.4TC

Waku Waku · Aug 16, 2018

david bosdet said:
I'm curious what your "fairly high prescription" is?

OD -6.75 OS -8.5, X-H1 diopter does to -3 or -4 I think.

Every time I order eyeglasses get charged extra fees for handling high prescription.

chaimav · Aug 16, 2018

I have the same issue. What do you do about the eye not on the camera? Do you take glasses on and off for every shot?

Also, doe this mean no-one can borrow the camera and use the EVF?

Waku Waku · Aug 16, 2018

chaimav said:
I have the same issue. What do you do about the eye not on the camera? Do you take glasses on and off for every shot?

Also, doe this mean no-one can borrow the camera and use the EVF?

I shift my eyeglasses up to my eyebrow and it rests on top of the eyecup. When I remove the camera the eyeglass falls back on my nose.

Other people can still borrow the camera, they can either take off the eyecup or adjust the built-in diopter in reverse a bit.

chaimav · Aug 16, 2018

c0nfund0 said:
Other people can still borrow the camera, they can either take off the eyecup or adjust the built-in diopter in reverse a bit.

But doesn't it only only go part of the way?

Waku Waku · Aug 16, 2018

chaimav said:
c0nfund0 said:

Other people can still borrow the camera, they can either take off the eyecup or adjust the built-in diopter in reverse a bit.

Click to expand...

But doesn't it only only go part of the way?

Depends on what lens you put in the eyecup. The built-in diopter range for X-H1 i think is +2 to -3 or -4, gives a little room to tweak, but wont compensate all of it. Anyone with better vision than you would likely still be able to see, though they might get a headache lol. You can always pop the eyecup off or lens out, only takes a few seconds.

ikaika777 · Aug 16, 2018

c0nfund0 said:
Shooting pictures while wearing eyeglasses is problematic. Your eye can't get as close to the eyecup, viewfinder appears smaller, stray light enters and just isn't as immersive. Some people can take off their glasses and adjust using the built-in diopter. However, I have a fairly high prescription and the adjustment range just isn't enough. The solution for most would be just to wear contacts, but medically I can't wear them so I was out of luck.

So I went to my local optician and asked them to custom cut a tiny lens from an old pair of glasses and fit it inside the eyecup. Bam, it works, I can now shoot without the hindrance of wearing eyeglasses.

X-H1 eyecup with custom cut lens

You could be sitting on a Kickstarter goldmine. Well done!

--After all is said and done and your photo is hanging on the wall, no one is going to know or care what camera, lens, or what post processing you used. All they care about is if the image moves them.

slimandy · Aug 17, 2018

I manage to get away with the diopter adjustment, but I must say that looks clever!

Mike Carroccio · Aug 17, 2018

Fujifilm should offer this as an additional service. All of their EVF camera should have a slot for standardized size custom "corrected" lens. After purchasing a camera, you could simply upload your prescription and they mail you a lens to snap into your viewfinder.

Mczar2u · Aug 17, 2018

I don't have problems using the camera with my glasses, but I understand the limitation for those who need stronger changes.

If the increase is just a matter of stronger lens, ( no astigmatism) another home made option might be to cut soft lens , like the soft bifocals that can be stick to non-prescription lenses

For example: Hydrotac-Bifocal-OPTX-20-Diopter.

Mario

photocat2007 · Aug 17, 2018

As someone who is extremely nearsighted (diopter adjustment doesn't even come close for me) that is freaking brilliant! Love it!

Sutto · Aug 17, 2018

You don't even need an optician - they charge like wounded bulls here in Australia. We all know how notorious the X-Pro1 was for lack of diopter control. When I was using the Pro1 I went to the Newsagent and bought one of those pairs of reading glasses that you see at airports (they are cheap travel glasses and they have the amount of diopter written on them). I pulled the lens out and traced the shape I needed onto the lens, with a small permanent marker (Sharpie). Then I got my battery powered Makita angle grinder and clamped it to my saw-stool/bench. Then you just very gently hold the lens and slowly grind away the excess amount of material (wear a mask), until you have the exact shape. It worked beautifully and cost me only 10 bucks for the cost of the cheap glasses. The wretched optician wanted over $200 - eeeeehhhhh!!

Sutto

philipsuttonphotography.com

Waku Waku · Aug 17, 2018

Sutto said:
You don't even need an optician - they charge like wounded bulls here in Australia. We all know how notorious the X-Pro1 was for lack of diopter control. When I was using the Pro1 I went to the Newsagent and bought one of those pairs of reading glasses that you see at airports (they are cheap travel glasses and they have the amount of diopter written on them). I pulled the lens out and traced the shape I needed onto the lens, with a small permanent marker (Sharpie). Then I got my battery powered Makita angle grinder and clamped it to my saw-stool/bench. Then you just very gently hold the lens and slowly grind away the excess amount of material (wear a mask), until you have the exact shape. It worked beautifully and cost me only 10 bucks for the cost of the cheap glasses. The wretched optician wanted over $200 - eeeeehhhhh!!

Sutto

philipsuttonphotography.com

I was about to try doing it with a dremel myself, but just asked to see how much they did it free. Watching grinding machines online it seems to just be a giant wet rotating sander

doctorharrison · Aug 18, 2018

Sutto:

The readers you purchase over the counter are (+) powers only. The OP is nearsighted and needs (-) power lenses to correct his distance vision. Just won't work for his needs.

--
doctorharrison
https://www.flickr.com/photos/145673467@N08/sets/72157677654149536
X-T2 / 10-24 / 16 / 23-2.0 / 27 / 35-2.0 / 90 / 16-55 / 18-135 / 50-140 / 100-400 / 1.4TC

joeljordy · Feb 7, 2022

I'm new to this sight, and I hope you're still available for discussion. I am looking at buying a lens cup for the Nikon Z50 and I/m wondering how your optometrist fastened to the inside of the cup. It looks like the cup has a notch. Is that part of the solution, and was it cut by the option? Do you have a recommendation on which brand of cup to buy? Many thanks.

Waku Waku · Feb 7, 2022

Cut the lens to fit snug into the eyecup

Modified my eyecup to fit a prescription lens

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