Rubber Eyecup Recommendation Please

Hello,

I'm looking for suggestions for an eyecup to use with my Nikon F and F2.

I have a DK-3 that I've used with other cameras, but the problem I'm having is that the threads on the eyepiece are too shallow to grab on to the viewfinder when I use the eyecup.

 

Suggestions please?

 

Thanks

 

Are you having problem with light 'leaking' from the viewfinder?

 

I personally have got several older cameras with these out-sized cups, but usually ended up taking them off. If I had even the remotest idea where they were, I'd offer you one to try.

 

For one thing, they often got caught in the back of the camera when trying to change film, especially.

Are you having problem with light 'leaking' from the viewfinder?

No, I just prefer using an eyecup, I have them on all my modern cameras.

 

For one thing, they often got caught in the back of the camera when trying to change film, especially.

Not a problem on the F since the entire back comes off to load the film! ;)

Not a problem on the F since the entire back comes off to load the film!

It's true that the problem is worse with a hinged back, but when putting the F back back on, if you follow, it can get tangled.

I have DK-something-or-other rubber eyecups on my F2s with no issue. I think the DK-3 is smaller and only fits the FE/FM series cameras.

 

Maybe the F2 version is a DK-3A or DK-4? I really can't remember.

 

The DK-3 has a flat on it, as shown by the OP. That flat indicates where the rubber is slotted and capable of being folded up.

 

The eyecup should be screwed to the camera, and then the rubber rotated such that the flat is on the underside. This then allows the camera back to push the eyecup upwards as it's opened. Or the cup can be folded upwards manually in order to open the back.

 

The whole thing has been cleverly thought out. You just need to position the rubber properly.

 

P.S. the eyepiece ring you've shown doesn't look original to the camera. The genuine Nikon article is rubber-coated and has a protective glass.

Edited March 15, 2021 by rodeo_joe|1

Some older threads on the subject:

Eyecup fror F2? | Photo.net Photography Forums

Which eyepiece/eyecup for F2 Photomic? | Photo.net Photography Forums

Nikon F2 Photomic eyepiece/ring? | Photo.net Photography Forums

Some older threads on the subject:

Eyecup fror F2? | Photo.net Photography Forums

Which eyepiece/eyecup for F2 Photomic? | Photo.net Photography Forums

Nikon F2 Photomic eyepiece/ring? | Photo.net Photography Forums

Ooops! My brain's going soft. I'd completely forgotten answering that first thread. And only 5 years ago.:oops:

 

P.S. the eyepiece ring you've shown doesn't look original to the camera. The genuine Nikon article is rubber-coated and has a protective glass.

 

I do have the rubber coated eyepiece you mentioned, and it does fit with the eyecup just fine.

The problem is that I need to use the diopter correction lens and those don't fit, the threads appear to be shorter.

Unless I find a solution my choices are:

1) Use the standard eyepiece and eyecup with no vision correction

2) Use the -2 diopter eyepiece without the eyecup

Nikon's eyepiece support page

Doesn't even list the F or F2 and is very little help WRT combining a rubber eyecup with a correction dioptre.

 

All I can suggest is: if there's enough 'meat' on the correction eyepiece - Is it possible to file some metal from the rear of the dioptre to effectively increase the thread depth?

 

The eyepiece shown looks very chunky and thick. Maybe the metal rim is thicker than necessary and can be thinned from behind?

I’ll be receiving a beautiful, fully restored black ‘79 Nikon F2AS from Sover Wong in the next few weeks and he’s selling me a rubber F3 eyepiece for the DP12 prism.

 

This one..

 

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/37446-REG/Nikon_2923_Finder_Eyepiece_for_F.html/amp

Edited March 16, 2021 by Greg M

Nikon's eyepiece support page

Doesn't even list the F or F2 and is very little help WRT combining a rubber eyecup with a correction dioptre.

 

All I can suggest is: if there's enough 'meat' on the correction eyepiece - Is it possible to file some metal from the rear of the dioptre to effectively increase the thread depth?

 

The eyepiece shown looks very chunky and thick. Maybe the metal rim is thicker than necessary and can be thinned from behind?

Hmm, that's a thought. I'll investigate.

If I recall, there should be a metal ring which goes around the rubber where the eyepiece goes through, to keep it from stretching and coming loose.

If I recall, there should be a metal ring which goes around the rubber where the eyepiece goes through, to keep it from stretching and coming loose.

That's on the DK-19 eyecup which isn't usable on the F and F2.

That's on the DK-19 eyecup which isn't usable on the F and F2.

The DK-3 has a strengthening partial-ring as well. It always struck me as being overly thick and limiting the thread mating between cover-glass and camera.

 

I'm not sure if said ring is metal or hard plastic, but that could possibly be thinned also.

I thought I'd post a couple photos demonstrating the issue. All of these eyepieces are 19mm and fit the F. F2, FM, FE, FA, and maybe a couple others.

The ones with the wider rims are the older style for the Nikon F.

 

You'll notice the standard non correction eyepieces have deeper threads, and they fit the DK-3 eyecup just fine. The correction eyepieces have shallower threads and can't thread on to the viewfinder with the eyecup. Why Nikon did this I have no idea! I guess they thought that no one would want to use a correction eyepiece simultaneously with an eyecup!

 

rodeo_joe suggested modifying the parts. I did try to modify one of the DK-3's I had and ended up ruining it. I was hoping someone might have a suggestion for either a different Nikon eyecup, or an aftermarket one that might work. If I can't find a solution I'll just go without using the eyecup.

 

Thanks everyone!

The standard ones have a rubber ring so that they won't scratch your glasses.

The correction ones don't, since you won't use them with your glasses?

 

This is reminding me that when my FM was not so old, I got an off-brand eye cup

like the one shown, such that the threads didn't go in so far. Then, somewhere

in Yellowstone park, it fell off when I wasn't looking.

 

When I bought a replacement eyepiece, I didn't get a new rubber cup, and it

hasn't fallen off since.

 

I suspect that Nikon eyepieces are not so cheap, and that other ones might

be available for lower prices. Maybe even with built-in cups.

The standard ones have a rubber ring so that they won't scratch your glasses.

The correction ones don't, since you won't use them with your glasses?

 

This is reminding me that when my FM was not so old, I got an off-brand eye cup

like the one shown, such that the threads didn't go in so far. Then, somewhere

in Yellowstone park, it fell off when I wasn't looking.

 

When I bought a replacement eyepiece, I didn't get a new rubber cup, and it

hasn't fallen off since.

 

I suspect that Nikon eyepieces are not so cheap, and that other ones might

be available for lower prices. Maybe even with built-in cups.

 

I don't like using the cameras with my glasses on, I wear my contact lenses 90% of the time. With my contacts I still need a -2.0 correction on the camera. Without glasses or contacts It's around +1.5 correction. In my case it's a little more complicated than diopter correction because I also have astigmatism which the correction lenses don't help with.

 

If you have any suggestions for aftermarket eyepieces and eycups that might work, let me know.

 

Thanks

Is it a comfort thing, or an excluding light thing?

 

For comfort, why not pad the area around the eyepiece by sticking adhesive foam strips on the camera? That way you could imitate the comfortable rectangular surrounds found on many modern digital cameras.

 

Unfortunately, the days of plentiful supplies of circular rubber eyecups and other small photo-related knick-knacks are over. Time was when 10 minutes turning over the contents of the rummage bin in your local photo store would reward you with an item you'd "always been looking for".

Them times is past.:(

Edited April 6, 2021 by rodeo_joe|1

But now there is eBay and China, where you can find anything that you used to find in those bins.

 

It seems that DK-3 are about $10, but cups for newer models are cheaper.

 

DK-23 and DK-21, mailed from China, for about $1.25 including shipping.

It says that they are the real Nikon ones, but there are Chinese clones of

many things, too.

 

Some time ago, I bought LTM M39 body cap and lens cap for $5, including

shipping, and nice metal, too. Plastic ones are less.

Is it a comfort thing, or an excluding light thing?

 

Both.

It's looking like I'm just going to have to deal with not using an eyecup on my classic cameras if I want to use the correction lens. Oh well! :(

I have thought it might be nice to use a correction eyepiece, but they don't make them in -6.

 

That is strange that the threads are different.

but they don't make them in -6

I haven't looked directly, but companies like Edmund Optics make small, around 1/2" lenses in many different diopters. Maybe one could be made to fit in the old carrier?