p.1 #1 · Nikon DK-17M Not Seeing The Entire Frame An Issue?
I have a D800 and couple of manual focus Rokinon lenses (135mm and 24mm t/s) and thought the DK-17M might improve my focus efficiency. However, I'm a bit worried about not seeing the entire frame with the DK-17M on. Anyone with the DK-17M's 1.2X magnification; does it bother you that you are losing a bit of the corners.
p.1 #4 · Nikon DK-17M Not Seeing The Entire Frame An Issue?
It does bother me. I actually went back to the stock eye piece on my D810 for that very reason. I like to pay attention to the edges of the frame when I shoot, and the 17M makes it difficult (especially when I'm wearing glasses)...
So it's a trade off: focusing is easier with with the 17M (if you use manual focus) but it makes composing and taking in the entire image, including edges, at a glance more difficult (at least to me).
p.1 #6 · Nikon DK-17M Not Seeing The Entire Frame An Issue?
jarek0423 wrote:
It does bother me. I actually went back to the stock eye piece on my D810 for that very reason. I like to pay attention to the edges of the frame when I shoot, and the 17M makes it difficult (especially when I'm wearing glasses)...
So it's a trade off: focusing is easier with with the 17M (if you use manual focus) but it makes composing and taking in the entire image, including edges, at a glance more difficult (at least to me).
I assume you only use the DK17M when you are shooting with MF lenses then put back the original when you are shooting with AF lenses?
p.1 #7 · Nikon DK-17M Not Seeing The Entire Frame An Issue?
Even with corrective eyeglasses, diopter correction and DK17M, I can't manually focus, or check focus accuracy. The DK17M does not help me at all. But, it does get in the way of me seeing the info bar at the bottom of the viewfinder. For that reason, I stopped using the DK17M. YMMV.
p.1 #8 · Nikon DK-17M Not Seeing The Entire Frame An Issue?
Yeah it bothered me. It was OK with the D700 which didn't have a 100% viewfinder but was an issue with my D800E so I sold it. Not only do you lose the corners but you can't see the setting at the bottom of the viewfinder much.
p.1 #11 · Nikon DK-17M Not Seeing The Entire Frame An Issue?
Mark_L wrote:
Not only do you lose the corners but you can't see the setting at the bottom of the viewfinder much. I rely heavily with the green dot whenever I shoot with my MF lenses. Are you saying the green dot is not visible with the DK On?
p.1 #12 · Nikon DK-17M Not Seeing The Entire Frame An Issue?
Berkyboy wrote:
Nope
IMHO it's a small trade off for the additional magnification.
Steve
I completely agree. I have them on my D5, D500, and D810. I rarely think about it much. However, occasionally (especially for carefully framed landscape images) I do need to take extra time looking around the frame in the viewfinder. If I am using a zoom lens on the D810, and the landscape is really great, then I might even zoom out very slightly, knowing that I can crop back down a bit in post production.
p.1 #13 · Nikon DK-17M Not Seeing The Entire Frame An Issue?
ocir wrote:
I rely heavily with the green dot whenever I shoot with my MF lenses. Are you saying the green dot is not visible with the DK On?
On the Nikon USA website, if you look at the “Product Forum” Q&As about the DK-17M Magnifying Eyepiece, someone asked the following question:
“What I want to know is when this magnifying eyepiece is added and you achieve the 1.2x magnification, do you still retain 100% viewfinder coverage or does it somehow crop the edges to be less than 100%? What I want to ensure is that I still see what I'm going to get, but have a large viewfinder image for ease of manual focus. Thanks”
The official Nikon answer to this question is:
“No crop on the edges. You will still retain the same viewfinder coverage.”
This is what I thought, but I wanted to double check. However, when you are looking around the edges and corners with the DK-17M, it does require more effort. What do I mean by “more effort”? Well, with the traditional eyepiece, to see the whole frame, I do not need to move my eye. With the DK-17M, to see all the edges and corners thoroughly, I do need to move my eye around very slightly (e.g., slightly to the right to see the left hand side of the image). I hope that makes sense. So, you don’t lose anything, but it requires a bit more effort if you want to be really careful about what you have on the edges of your images. I hope this helps.
You could go to a local camera store that has one of these and try it out. That way you will understand better.
p.1 #16 · Nikon DK-17M Not Seeing The Entire Frame An Issue?
The experience also depends on camera. Nikon's eyepoint specifications for these cameras range from 15 to 21mm. I remember d2x was a fantastic camera in this context. On my D800 the eye relief is 17mm which is not so great.
In general eye relief over 20mm is considered as comfortable for extended periods of use. Cameras like my D800 are well under the limit even with standard eyepiece.
The DK-17M reduces eye relief by a couple of millimetres. It could become less comfortable as you need to place your eye closer. If you are glass wearer it could become even unusable.
p.1 #17 · Nikon DK-17M Not Seeing The Entire Frame An Issue?
I love shooting with my Rokinon 135 f2 but sometimes shooting wide open takes a lot of practice and reluctant to use it during paid gigs (scared of not being able to nail the focus) but hopefully I will have the courage to do so with the DK on.
