Better manual focus! -Tenpa 1.36x magnifier

[BlaatQ]

@NistanPictures, Thanks for the clear review. I ordered one myself yesterday to use on my D3100. That one has a tiny viewfinder unfortunately, so I am hoping to get a bit better focusing on my Samyang 85mm. Might make a review out of it and put it as a video reply to yours! :) .. Unfortunately it will take another 2 weeks at least before it will be here.. :P I hate waiting.

[NitsanPictures]

@BlaatQ cool yeah would be awesome to hear how you get on with it. ah i hate waiting too! I got used to it though. :)

[BlaatQ]

So, I got mine 2 days ago. I havent had the time to test it properly yet, but here are my findings in combinations with the Nikon D3100.

It does enlarge the viewfinder noticeably and things do get clearer. Towards the edges it becomes a bit harder to see, but everything remains visible without having to jam your eye in the viewfinder.

The eyepiece is very clear and I dont see a noticeable darkening over the entire field.

[BlaatQ]

Focussing at F1.4 with my 85mm remains tricky. I still use the rangefinder to guide me, or when very critical I still have to use liveview. I have to add that I tested this at short focus of ~1-1.5m at which the DOF is VERY thin. At slighty smaller apertures it does get easier than without the TENPA.

All in all I think it is a nice addition to my camera. Probably will not use it with all my lenses, but certainly with some of them.

[NitsanPictures]

@BlaatQ

Cool. Yeah, I find mine pretty much the same as that. It's always on my camera even when i'm shooting with AF lenses.

:)

[addictabledisaster]

Do you still get to see all your setings in the lower part of the view finder??? does it remove the problem of your nose constantly touching the screen??? or shoul I go for the canon eyepiece extender (Canon EP-EX15 II)??? or both maybe???

[NitsanPictures]

@addictabledisaster yes, you can still see the settings but you need to move the camera downwards a tiny bit (maybe 5mm down) to see them properly. It's not a problem for me.

[NitsanPictures]

@addictabledisaster

Yes, it helps a little bit with the nose touching the screen but doesn't fully get rid of the problem. (I have the same issue)

[alextheromanian]

@64497 you sir need to stop raging. not everyone can speak without interruption or saying umm.

atleast not those who are not used to public speaking. the fact that pissed you off to the point where you had to make a troll out of yourself is hilarious however.

uhhhhhhmmmm....

[NitsanPictures]

@64497

I'm SOOOOOO sorry!

Please accept my humblest apologies!

Would you like monetary compensation?

[KKAtog]

Great review, thanks for sharing!  About how long did it take to ship?

[NitsanPictures]

@KKAtog Funny you ask.. It was today last year that I received it. :O

I know because a yearly arts festival starts today and last year I got it just on the first day of the festival. :D

I don't think it took too long. probably a couple of weeks. Sometimes much longer, i once waited 2 months for something. -- but i ordered something from china a week ago and got it this morning so sometimes it's less than that..

[KKAtog]

@NitsanPictures Thanks for getting back to me so quickly! That's not too bad considering its coming from China. I also have one other quick question, I have both Canon and Nikon DSLRs (kind of a long story), but do you think the plate that attached to your camera first can be obtained easily so I can swap them? I'm looking to buy this eyepiece just once and moving it from camera to camera as I need it. Does the threading look universal, i.e. via the Nikon DK-22?  I hope that made some sense.

[NitsanPictures]

@KKAtog

Actually I think it's a special piece you need to get especially for each camera. Ask some of the sellers maybe one of them will sell you a spare one for a few $ rather than buying two whole sets..

[danapointtrainer]

do you think there's a big difference between 1.3x and 1.2x? (on a FF body)

[NitsanPictures]

@danapointtrainer

I think you might get too much vignetting on a full frame body.

On a APS-C body (40D/550D etc) you have to really push your eye into it to be able to see the corners (with the 1.3x magnifier)

I havn't tried it but If I had a full frame body i'd go with the 1.2x or try to find one made specifically for FF bodies.

Full frame bodies have larger viewfinders anyways. The biggest canon viewfinders are (from largest down) 1Ds MKIII, 5d MKII, 7D and 50D.

Let me know if u find one

[danapointtrainer]

@NitsanPictures Thanks for the quick reply... The ONLY lens I need this for is a MF 85mm f1.4 for portraits. I bought this lens so I can shoot f1.4 -2.2, otherwise, I would just use my AF 90mm f2.8. But often times, I take the picture thinking I have the person in focus, but upon reviewing, zooming in, I'll realize that it was focused on the cheeks or maybe the ears, I know Tenpa has one that's 1.2x and they say it's meant for FF bodies... I just worry they'll send me the 1.3x instead

[NitsanPictures]

@danapointtrainer dont worry about it. if it's the wrong one you will see on the box etc. i dont see why they would send the wrong one though.

yes, this is a HUGE help with those kind of lenses. I got it for my 55mm f1.2 and it's a hell of a lot better.

make sure you order one that fits your camera. (canon/nikon)

[Hoowtoall]

hello

I bought this one >>> Nikon DG-2 2x Eyepiece Magnifier

but I return it to the store

because I could not see the framework

I could see only the center of my picture

The same thing happens with yours???????

[NitsanPictures]

@Hoowtoall No, 1.3x is good. you have to put your face close to it but you can see the whole image.

if you have eye glasses then you will need to take them off to see the whole image.

the corners are a bit dark though.

[Hoowtoall]

@NitsanPictures ok thanks