Canon magnifying eyepiece

[kerniki]

looking at getting one of these 90 degree eye pieces for low level Macro work, but there is a HUGE difference in price of the Canon built 'c' finder and ALL other makes on the market, Canon, cheapest I can get is about £130 but there are numerous others on flea bay for £30-40.

Has anyone got any experience with them? is the Canon the price it is just for the name? also some are offering x3 magnification instead of Canons 2.5, but this would somewhat defeat the object if quality suffered.

dont mind paying extra for the Canon if I'm getting a better qulaity image but not paying extra for a name

cheers for any advice

 

[Canon Bob]

I can't help with the options, I use a Canon one but thought I'd mention that Ffordes have a used one in E++ condition for £109....maybe worth a punt if you're quick.

Bob

 

[User Name]

The canon one is a really solid piece with a very clear image. The image is the right way up (I think some others are inverted).

 

[Trev4]

Unlike the others, I cant speak for the Canon angle viewer, but I have the Seagull 1x -3x viewer. I only used it occasionally for low level shots and found the image quality perfectly ok. The item is sturdy enough but if its as sturdy as the Canon one, I cant comment. In the end its how much you are going to use that will help decide. For what I used it for it was up to the job and did all I wanted.
I used it on my 50D, but now that I have a 7D, the viewer doesn't fit so will be selling this shortly on the for sale forum.

 

[Canon Bob]

Unlike the others, I cant speak for the Canon angle viewer, but I have the Seagull 1x -3x viewer. I only used it occasionally for low level shots and found the image quality perfectly ok. The item is sturdy enough but if its as sturdy as the Canon one, I cant comment. In the end its how much you are going to use that will help decide. For what I used it for it was up to the job and did all I wanted.
I used it on my 50D, but now that I have a 7D, the viewer doesn't fit so will be selling this shortly on the for sale forum.

Trev,

With the Seagull on 3x, can you still see the metering info in the viewfinder or is it masked out by the framing?

Bob

 

[kerniki]

thanks guys, I will be using it mostly at x2 or x3, the seagul @ x3 is interesting but at what cost of clarity?

I am using it for very close macro with the mp-e65 so the clarity is very important, viewing data is not so important as you can set up at x1 then zoom for manual focusing if its the same flick of a lever as the canon? pretty sure the canon at x2 would be fine, but x3 & lower cost is appealing.

Trev, have you used it for very fine focusing at x3? and how does it switch between modes?

 

[Trev4]

Trev,

With the Seagull on 3x, can you still see the metering info in the viewfinder or is it masked out by the framing?

Bob

Bob, the metering info can be seen at 1x the same as normal, but at 3x it is masked.
There is a focusing facility on the Seagull, I guess the same as most makes. When you change from 1x to 3x, it is necessary to refocus the viewer to suit your eyesight. Not having used a Canon, I don't know if this is the same but would suspect that it is.

thanks guys, I will be using it mostly at x2 or x3, the seagul @ x3 is interesting but at what cost of clarity?

I am using it for very close macro with the mp-e65 so the clarity is very important, viewing data is not so important as you can set up at x1 then zoom for manual focusing if its the same flick of a lever as the canon? pretty sure the canon at x2 would be fine, but x3 & lower cost is appealing.

Trev, have you used it for very fine focusing at x3? and how does it switch between modes?

I used it with Canon EF 100 f/2.8 macro, I cant speak for the mp-e65, that's a lens I would love to have a play with. The clarity was certainly good enough for what I was doing (mainly insects and flowers), and allowed me to manually focus at 3x and see as much fine detail as was possible with that lens. The mp-e65 is a different lens but I think you would get enough detail for focusing just the same. I hope I am not being vague here, I am trying to give an honest opinion, but without having used the same lens as you its difficult to be accurate.
There is a lever on the main body that changes over from 1x to 3x and is clearly marked. Its not a progressive change over, its one magnification or the other.
I hope this helps you to make a choice.