I just installed Hoodman’s HoodEYE eye piece on my Nikon D3.
I used to use similar eyepieces back in the day on my medium format cameras. The HoodEYE easily installs in place of your stock eyepiece and helps block out light from the side that might reduce your ability to see well in the viewfinder.
I installed mine in about 50 seconds. Hoodman makes the HoodEYE for all Canon and Nikon DSLRs.
The HoodEYE eyecup rotates to accommodate both right and left eyed shooters.
The cost is $29.99 from Hoodman.
Highly recommended.
I understand that this blocks light from the side and all but have you found that it really helps you when shooting? What are the major differences you see when usnig this as compared to the standard eyepiece that came with your D3?
Does it rotate while installed? I often shoot through both eyes.
I was just looking at these the other day. Does the HoodEye offer any viewfinder magnification? That’s what I”m looking for the most….
It does block the light and it is more comfortable. Those are the differences.
Yes rotates.
This unit does not magnify.
Is there a similar type of unit that does magnify that you can recommend?
Would it work for someone who wears glasses?
There is this one that I’ve been looking at that comes from a Korean company that has an eyecup and magnifies 1.3x. I haven’t been able to find may reviews of it online though so I’m kinda hesitant to get it.
http://tinyurl.com/ag3k56
Has anyone tried these??
Thanks for the mini-review, Scott. First impression from seeing the pic is that it blocks the upper piece of the display. What’s been your experience with that?
It can rotate 360 so if it’s your way just rotate it.
Humm, for $30 this looks like something worth investigating. My eyes get so tired after shooting for a few hours, having to work so hard to squint to keep the light out. Thanks Scott!
Do you think it would block the sensor on the Canon Xti that makes the LCD display turn off when you bring it up to your face? That sensor is right below the viewfinder. Or maybe even make the LCD stay off if the camera thinks the eyecup is your face.
FANTASTIC!! They have them for Canon too!!:D
I had one on my old Nikon FM, and been been wanting one of these for years since I got my XT – I never found one for Canon until now.
I don’t know why these things arent stock on DSLR’s – the incident lighting into the viewfinder is horrendous and definitely impacts metering. If they’re not going to provide eyecups, then they should extend the eyepiece to keep light out and so that people’s big shnoz’s (like mine) aren’t greasin up the LCD or pushing buttons all the time.
Have you given it a try while wearing glasses?
I’ve always used rubber eyecups. They help quite a bit and can absorb some vibration when hand hold shooting. I’ve always used those from Nikon. The DK-19 is used on the D3 and my D700. But this one covers more of your face which is great. Looks like the Nikon eyecups from days of old like I have on my 1972 Nikon F/FTn. Highly recommend!
Heh, I have the nose problem as well :P
Scott, how does this do when shooting in Portrait mode? If it rotates 360
degrees as you say, I assume you can also use it that way as well. I
probably shoot more than 50% of my images in portrait.
Yep Gary it rotates 360 so you can move it.
No sorry I don’t wear glasses when I shoot.
I’ve definitely considered one of these in the past, primarily because my nose always rubs against the LCD and ends of fogging up the display. My only hesitation has been that I have heard numerous complaints hat these actually reduce viewfinder magnification by about 10% Can you speak to this?
It looks like it could be helpful with blocking the light, but it doesn’t look comfortable.
I just got mine, and it doesn’t seem to mount on my D300. The bottom locking bar is too big and the slots on the side are too far apart. It has to slide on at a pretty extreme angle for the design, and there isn’t enough grip from the side slots to keep it attached to the camera as I try to force it to slide down.
I assume this is a manufacturing error, it probably is a useful device for most people, but I’ve got a $30 piece of junk on my hands and I’m not really pleased about it.
Does anyone else make a better eyepiece than this?