Diopter for Pen FT?

[xstntl]

Does anyone know of a source for a compatible diopter that fits the Olympus Pen FT? I would prefer to get an adjustable one, but fixed strength would work as well.

Thanks.

 

[rhl-oregon]

I have a fixed -2.5 Pen F original. Slides down over the standard VF, includes nice cushioning. I am not aware of any adjustable dioptrics made for the Pen.

Nice bonus: the Pen diopter slides onto a Leica CL horizontally--not snug, but allows me to shoot without glasses with my CL (which standard round screw-in M diopters do not fit).

 

[peteography]

A broken canon eos 3 diopter and some duct tape for me. Not very elegant...

 

[xstntl]

Thanks guys. I can't seem to find the OEM version anywhere.

I'm not sure that the duct tape method will work for me.

Search continues...

 

[zuiko85]

Here is what I did with my Pen F;
When I bought new glasses I saved my old ones. Then, Using a X-Acto saw I cut a rectangle out of the center of the old glasses plastic lens, about the same size as the inside of the eyepiece frame. Then I sanded it carefully until it was a press fir into the frame. I beveled one corner so I could reach the backside of the lens to pull it out occasionally to clean. The friction between the eyepiece frame and the ground plastic edges is enough to hold the lens in and it has never fallen out.

Of course if you do this you have to make sure you can see the screen clearly with your prescription. Another thing to keep in mind is that if you have an astigmatism correction this set up will only work when you frame vertical. If you rotate the camera 90 degrees to frame in landscape the astigmatism correction will be on the wrong axis and you will not be able to see the screen clearly.

(Of course if you don't need new glasses then you have to find a friendly optometrist who will determine your correction looking through the eyepiece and order up a 50mm plastic lens with that correction that you can cut to fit.)

EDIT: If this sounds like a lot of fiddly work.....well, it is.

 

[xstntl]

Here is what I did with my Pen F;
When I bought new glasses I saved my old ones. Then, Using a X-Acto saw I cut a rectangle out of the center of the old glasses plastic lens, about the same size as the inside of the eyepiece frame. Then I sanded it carefully until it was a press fir into the frame. I beveled one corner so I could reach the backside of the lens to pull it out occasionally to clean. The friction between the eyepiece frame and the ground plastic edges is enough to hold the lens in and it has never fallen out.

Of course if you do this you have to make sure you can see the screen clearly with your prescription. Another thing to keep in mind is that if you have an astigmatism correction this set up will only work when you frame vertical. If you rotate the camera 90 degrees to frame in landscape the astigmatism correction will be on the wrong axis and you will not be able to see the screen clearly.

(Of course if you don't need new glasses then you have to find a friendly optometrist who will determine your correction looking through the eyepiece and order up a 50mm plastic lens with that correction that you can cut to fit.)

EDIT: If this sounds like a lot of fiddly work.....well, it is.

Wow. This may work. I have loads of broken frames with the lenses still in them. Did you just use a Dremel? ...and it didn't melt?

I also have a buddy with a 3D printer that may be able to print an adapter to clip onto the eyepiece. I should have the adapter fit a piece of my prescription lens instead of a threaded mount for a diopter piece.

Very good idea. Thanks.

 

[zuiko85]

Wow. This may work. I have loads of broken frames with the lenses still in them. Did you just use a Dremel? ...and it didn't melt?

I also have a buddy with a 3D printer that may be able to print an adapter to clip onto the eyepiece. I should have the adapter fit a piece of my prescription lens instead of a threaded mount for a diopter piece.

Very good idea. Thanks.

To cut out the rectangle I used an X-Acto razor saw. A very thin saw that fits one of those red X-acto handles, about 5 inchs by 3/4 wide with fine teeth. (google it, there are lot of pictures)

I purposely marked a rectangle a little oversized in the middle of the old plastic eyeglass lens with a fine point black magic marker. Using the side of my finger as a guide I just sawed each mark until I was left with only the center rectangle of the lens. Then using about 220 grit sand paper I carefully sanded each side, a little here a little there until I just got a press fit into the eyepiece frame.

Before I pressed it into the frame I sanded a 45 degree angle on one corner. I could use that to reach in with a small paper clip with a hook in it to pull the lens out occasionally to clean it. When I press it in I use a bit of tissue over it so I don't leave a fat finger print on the lens.

Before you start sawing up old prescription lenses hold them up to the eyepiece to see if you can focus with them. No use going to all that work just to find the lens is too strong or too weak to do the job.

This idea was something I read about on a photographic message board over 15 years ago. I didn't think it up myself.

 

[xstntl]

To cut out the rectangle I used an X-Acto razor saw. A very thin saw that fits one of those red X-acto handles, about 5 inchs by 3/4 wide with fine teeth. (google it, there are lot of pictures)

I purposely marked a rectangle a little oversized in the middle of the old plastic eyeglass lens with a fine point black magic marker. Using the side of my finger as a guide I just sawed each mark until I was left with only the center rectangle of the lens. Then using about 220 grit sand paper I carefully sanded each side, a little here a little there until I just got a press fit into the eyepiece frame.

Before I pressed it into the frame I sanded a 45 degree angle on one corner. I could use that to reach in with a small paper clip with a hook in it to pull the lens out occasionally to clean it. When I press it in I use a bit of tissue over it so I don't leave a fat finger print on the lens.

Before you start sawing up old prescription lenses hold them up to the eyepiece to see if you can focus with them. No use going to all that work just to find the lens is too strong or too weak to do the job.

This idea was something I read about on a photographic message board over 15 years ago. I didn't think it up myself.

Excellent, thank you for passing the info along and for your technique.