DIY: Panasonic S1R with 0.94x VF (Nikon DK-17M)

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shawn

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This has been a back burner project for awhile. Was originally working on trying to make it work with the original eye piece but it kind of stuck out too far and I wasn't convinced the adapter was going to hold long term.

Ended up using an aftermarket eye piece that was much simpler to adapt for the Nikon DK-17M.

This is the adapter.

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It just fits inside the eyepiece and is glued in place. The Nikon DK-17M just slides into it. The leading edge of the DK-17M is about 0.7mm off the face of the Panasonic.

This completely covers the eye sensor so that will no longer work but since the Panny has a button to switch right there that doesn't bother me. I normally have the camera set to VF only anyway.

With the amazing 5.76 megapixel VF on the Panny you still don't see pixels with the increased magnification. I have no problem seeing the entire EVF but someone with glasses might have a harder time.

While it has higher magnification than an M3, two eye shooting doesn't work as well due to the vertical offset between what the naked eye sees and the position of the sensor.
 
I use these magnifiers on all my Nikon Dslr's, and they have stopped making them and now they are crazy prices on Ebay.

Frankly I find the S1r evf to be a wonderful size as it is, in the largest setting, and love the ability to change size for glasses wearers. I actually find anything much over about 0.85x a bit much and would imagine using the DK-17M on the S1r you might have to scan around a bit rather than take it all in at once.

I have an S1r and S1 and recently sold some images for good money and decided to treat myself to a Leica SL-2s. My assumption was that the evf would be the same but with maybe slightly better eyepiece optics. I am no Leica Fanboy but the SL-2s finder to my eyes is quite noticeably better in every way, just more like an optical finder.
 
I have no problem seeing it all at once. Will be trying it out with adapted lenses soon to see what MF is like without using any focus aids.

Made a sleeker version of the adapter. Printing soon.


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I may try using TPU (flexible) filament to print a replacement sun shield at some point. The one on this adapter is just angled a little odd and would prefer if it were asymmetric. . The original eye cup for the DK17M doesn't fit properly due to the adapter.
 
trix4ever said:
What lenses are you going to adapt?
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They are legion.

Was shooting a 50mm Summilux-R today. I have a full set of R glass. A number of Nikkors (PCs, 105 2.5, 50 1.4s, 500m f4p), and a bunch of LTM and M mount glass, some M42s, my Bronicas and Pentax 6x7 glass on a shift adapter and I am adapting a few lenses of compacts too. Recently did the 38mm Sonnar from the Contax T for example.
 
Now that I could enjoy.

I imagine the Leica R lenses would be a pleasure to use.

You mention Nikon PC's, do you have the 28mm f3.5? I have had several over the years and none have seemed very good on digital, in fact mine is up for sale as we speak as it just seems flat even unshifted and any shifting seems to be problematic whether it be on my S1r, Fp, SL or Df. Very Disappointing. After years of using 5x4 I would love to be able to shift wide lenses on a high res mirrorless in 5x4 format.
 
trix4ever said:
Now that I could enjoy.

I imagine the Leica R lenses would be a pleasure to use.

You mention Nikon PC's, do you have the 28mm f3.5? I have had several over the years and none have seemed very good on digital, in fact mine is up for sale as we speak as it just seems flat even unshifted and any shifting seems to be problematic whether it be on my S1r, Fp, SL or Df. Very Disappointing. After years of using 5x4 I would love to be able to shift wide lenses on a high res mirrorless in 5x4 format.
Click to expand...
I do have the 28mm PC (and 35mm) but haven't tried the 28mm on the S1R yet. I did use it on my GFX though. I will give it a try and let you know.
 
Archiver said:
Love this mod! Too bad that Nikon no longer make the eyepiece. Is there an equivalent eyepiece from elsewhere? What would we look for?
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I happened to find a couple of them used at near their original price so I snagged them. I think the main thing to look for is a large diameter element, something smaller will likely block some of the EVF. There are aftermarket magnifiers on ebay but I haven't tried them.
 
trix4ever said:
You mention you have a full set of R glass, does that include the Leica 28mm f2.8 PC-Angulon R lens?
I saw someone ( REVIEW | Leica 28mm F2.8 PC-Super-Angulon R ) online using this to great effect on the M11, so wondered if you'd used it in the S1r?
They are expensive but if they really work on mirrorless I may not be able to help myself...
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That one I don't have. For shift lenses I actually really like MF lenses on shift adapters, no limits to how far they can shift due to their much larger image circle. The Pentax 645 35mm is good and I have the Pentax 6x7 45 and 55mm.

If you want wider the Rokinon 24mm tilt/shift is good too though build quality is a little lower but workable, mine is in Nikon mount.
 
sojournerphoto said:
Shawn has inspired me to hold a couple of Leica magnifiers in front of the eyepiece this weekend. I’ll try and remember to update
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I have the Leica 1.2x. I don't think it works as well as the DK-17M due to the smaller element blocking some of the evf. That was only by holding it up though as I hadn't built an adapter for it.
 
shawn said:
I have the Leica 1.2x. I don't think it works as well as the DK-17M due to the smaller element blocking some of the evf. That was only by holding it up though as I hadn't built an adapter for it.
Click to expand...

Yep - just tried both a 1.25 and 1.4 Leica magnifier in the same way. I too lose the edges of the field and have to move around eye and magnifier to see the corners. The rear element of the S1r viewfinder is actually quite large.

Worth bearing in mind that you lose the wider framelines when using these mags on an M, but that’s fine because they’re only intended for longer focal lengths. The 1.4 works well on the 0.85 finder for 135mm - if only I didn’t feel like such a voyeur whenever I put 135 on an M🙁
 
shawn said:
That one I don't have. For shift lenses I actually really like MF lenses on shift adapters, no limits to how far they can shift due to their much larger image circle. The Pentax 645 35mm is good and I have the Pentax 6x7 45 and 55mm.

If you want wider the Rokinon 24mm tilt/shift is good too though build quality is a little lower but workable, mine is in Nikon mount.
Click to expand...

Oh dear, I found one at a sensible price...
Totally different to every other pc lens I have tried. At f11 it's sharp at 9mm shift and any fringing disappears 20250129_164713.jpgwith one click in ACR, I don't really understand how that is possible for a shifted image, but it works. With the S1r's amazing IBIS and level in the viewfinder I've been using it handheld. The images are as good as my old 5x4 photos but so much easier to use.
Highly recommended.
 
Nice!

When I'm not using the full Panny grip I have the same grip extension/L mount on my S1R. I modified it for a vertical carry on the right side.


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