What is that... a magnifying lens?

[kxl]

Well, yes. 🙄 It's from clearviewer.com. Not exactly pretty but it does the job. Magnification is probably around 1.5X to 2X -- all LCD info is visible even when I have the "viewfinder" up to my eye. Manual focus is now A LOT faster even compared to manually focusing using the LCD at 7x or 14x. It folds away if I want to use the LCD. A bit pricey at $53 (with the "premium" lens), but IMHO worth it.

Yes, that's a CV 35/1.2. Here's a sample image from this set-up: shot at minimum focus distance @ f1.2 and 3200 ISO, using the viewer at minimum focus distance.

 

[wintershrooms]

Wow that's pretty neat. So far the 7x/14x is working fine for me, but I might try one of those out.

So you have no trouble bringing it up to your eye and looking directly through it?

 

[wintershrooms]

By the way, cool Gordy's strap. 🙂 I have one on my NEX-5 too -- it makes me less afraid of dropping this tiny little camera with my big fat lenses!

 

[ampguy]

I might try one, how well does it work pressing your face up to the outer portion to sort of stabilize the thing? I guess it's just something one needs to try. Maybe I'll go for the standard glass version first.

 

[kxl]

I might try one, how well does it work pressing your face up to the outer portion to sort of stabilize the thing? I guess it's just something one needs to try. Maybe I'll go for the standard glass version first.

I don't know that I would want to press my face to it for ANY reason. 😉 Really no need to stabilize it more than its connection with the tripod socket. I suppose it could twist a little, but not to any point where it's been bothersome.

 

[pvdhaar]

Looks like a good entrant for a pimp up your NEX contest 😀

In all fairness though, I can imagine that an optical magnifier works more comfortable than the 7/14x LCD magnification, although I must say I don't use that a lot. I'm using the CV 25 and 35 more in a scale focusing way, and rely on the LCD for framing only. Especially the tilting that the LCD allows is a godsend for snapping away from odd angles.