Sony FDA-ME1AM Magnifying Eyepiece- Product Report
Sony FDA-ME1AM Magnifying Eyepiece- Product Report and Review
July 2009, Carl Garrard (*Update 7-26-2009)
| Sony's FDA-ME1AM magnifying eyepiece has been a long time coming. I have wanted Sony to make one of these eyepiece accessories since the A-100 was first announced in 2006. At last they have produced the one I was looking and begging them for. I got my hands on one from the first batch sent to the U.S. from Sonystyle (after pestering them for an in-stock date), and I think the wait was worth it. The price on the FDA-ME1AM is $34.99 USD. The eyepiece will magnify the view you see (does not affect the area captured obviously) through your viewfinder by 1.15X and is compatible with the A700, A380, A350, A330, A300, A230, A200, and the A100 Alpha DSLRS (all APS-C cameras). The eyepiece also extends the viewfinder relief 7mm further, and is stain resistant on the glass element and polyurethane cover. Prior to the announcement of this accessory there were other available options that weren't manufactured by Sony. The Pentax OEM-53 did some duty on my Alphas, but is now retired. Therefore, it is only fair that all my begging should yield an article on this product. |  |
The Sony FDA-ME1AM eyepiece weighs a scant 10 grams, and contains 2 elements in one group housed in a polycarbonate frame. Although the A900 isn't listed as a compatible product, I had to try it out anyways. It fits just fine and, you can adjust the eyepiece shutter lever without any resistance from the frame of the FDA-ME1AM. The Pentax OEM-53 had to be honed down on one side so that the eyepiece frame didn't rub the eyepiece shutter lever.
The Sony model doesn't have this issue and fits perfectly. When trying it out on the A900 I noticed more vignetting in the corners than on the A700/A230/A100, which is probably why Sony doesn't include the A900 in the compatibility specifications. It's worth a try if you must increase that already gargantuan view, but I found overall the viewfinder is best without it attached. Just my personal preference.
Also worth mentioning is that the Sony eyepiece has a larger optic fore and aft, and when installed is brighter than the Pentax model. Needless to say I now have two of the Pentax eyepieces that don't have a home, even though they have a greater magnification rating of 1.20x than the Sony model. Below you can see a comparison of both eyepieces side by side. The Sony clearly has a larger optic.
In my opinion it is a must have accessory for the A300/330 and A350/A380 DSLRs. Instead of the .74x view, the magnifier brings the view up to an acceptable .85x which is slightly better magnification than the stock viewfinder of the Minolta 5D and Sony A100/200/230 DSLRS. Here is a graphic off the box the viewfinder comes packaged in, to show a sample of the increased view. The view on the left is the standard view, and to the right is the increased view. It may not look like much on the graphic below, but in real life translates into real help, and removes one of the specifications many have criticized the live view models about- the teeny view.
Better yet, when installed on the A100/200/230 DSLRS the magnification is increased from .83x to.95x which rivals the A700's stock viewfinder magnification, nice! I think I will be ordering at least one more for my A100's viewfinder, just for kicks.
The best news I think is when it is installed on the A700, where the magnification is increased from an already respectable .90x to 1.035x! The overall view isn't as large as the A900's stock view, but it gets closer. Here is a side view and rear view of the FDA-ME1AM installed on the A700.
Ok so what else do I like about the eyepiece? Well for one, when you press your eye up against it, you can easily block out stray sunlight when composing your images through the viewfinder. I find the sun a major distraction during composition at times as well as other bright light sources. The Sony model also does a nice job of keeping the size down so it doesn't stick out too far, yet enables it to work practically.
Other benefits of the eyepiece- It keeps your face away from the multi controller pad (for those with big noses..er hem )and your cheek from rubbing oil all over your freshly cleaned LCD screen by giving you some space inbetween. It does this with very little darkening in the corners (vignetting) on the compatible Alpha models I tried.
Overall I recommend it. Sony did a good job on this one. Sure it could magnify a bit more, but the increase is noticeable enough to justify the cost and the extra benefits are just icing on the cake.
Now lets see if they can keep them in stock!
As always, be safe and happy shooting.
-C.Garrard
7-24-2009
*Due to some concern about the eyepiece being compatible with AF eyestart, please note the following: The instructions ask that you disable AF eyestart when installing this product, because it will not work. However, having actually tested the product on 4 different cameras I found the opposite to be true. The AF eyestart function will work still, however your eye will need to be up against the eyecup as in a normal shooting position.
To know if the sensors are actually picking up the proximity of your face, set the LCD screen to auto/off w/viewfinder. That way when the LCD goes black as you press your eye to the eyecup, you will know it has detected your presence, and AF eyestart is working (also the AF will engage automatically, which will also clarify it functioning).
7-26-2009
* Please note that there have been several accounts of users having issues using this eyepiece while simultaneously using the Automatic Eyestart AF function. For some it seems to work just fine and others it does not. It is now safe to say the eyepiece is indeed not fully compatibile with Automatic AF Eyestart enabled (as the instructions say on the packaging). There is no guarantee they will work in conjunction with one another.
Awesome. Ordering now for my
Awesome. Ordering now for my a700!
I was looking at the a900
I was looking at the a900 viewfinder specs and I am confused by them. Could someone please explain them, thanks.
Sounds good, think I will
Sounds good, think I will wait for the Hong Kong clone jobs though ;-)
Eye start/Auto dim display
Hi,
There have been reports that the eye piece blocks the Eye start/Auto dim display ir? Is this so?
Greetz, Robert.[img][img][/img][/img]
No, it is compatible
it will not affect eye start or auto dim. Neither this one or the Pentax model do, in fact.
Carl
On the way
Just ordered one for my A300...between the swing out LV screen and my ginormous nose, I need all the help I can get! XD
I've just read...
...that on an A300 it blocks the eye-start sensor, because it is close to the OVF, while on the A700 there is a bit more space between the sensors and the OVF - just enough for them to operate. Sad news, I really wanted one for my A300 :(
That shouldn't happen
its compatible with all of the Alpha's less the A900. Where did you get that information?
Carl
I've read it
on dpreview's Sony slr talk forum. (forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1037&message=32475595). There are some images too showing it on a 5D and A700. So it's compatible with the 300 for sure, but what about the sensors? :S
The comparison picture
I've just made shows the difference between the 700 and 300:
img40.imageshack.us/img40/6038/700300.jpg
So this is enough to let the sensors work on the A700...
just received mine! well
just received mine! well worth the price.
A900 Compatability
Actually, the compatability chart on SonyStyle does list the A900. (Right-hand column)
Andy
Hi Andy
The packaging does not list it as compatible. So since there seems to be some inconsistency with Sonystyle and the packaging, I tried it for myself. It vignettes more than the other cameras I listed here, but it does work. Personally I like the A900 without it (again as I mentioned).
It does not interfere with the eye start sensors for any of the cameras despite some rumors to the contrary out there.
Carl
Carl
Thanks for your reply, Carl. I have grown quite skeptical of the compatability and specification listings on SonyStyle.com. I just don't think they are very careful about double-checking what they put on the web site. There have been too many errors.
Alpha Jeff on dpreview seems quite adamant that the new eyepiece disabled the eye sensors on his A700. However, it's hard to believe that Sony's designers would overlook such an obvious flaw. Mine is on its way in the mail, so I guess I will find out first-hand soon. I know for sure that the eye sensors work on my A700 with the Pentax eyepiece. I rarely use the eyestart AF option, but my LCD definitely turns off when I look through the viewfinder.
Andy
Yep I saw that, as you probably saw my replys to him
it works just fine on the A700, he may just not be getting his face close enough to the viewfinder. Obviously it does get in the light path a bit, but it still works. On all of the Alphas.
I have added a note to the review to explain this now, I just updated the article.
Thanks,
Carl
What about us that wear glasses?
Will it be an improvement for us as well? I use glasses with my A700 but would love to have one of these eyepieces if it can be used with glasses.
Doesn't work on my A700
Well, my Sony magnifying eyepiece arrived yesterday. It's a slick-looking accessory, but lo and behold, it does not work on my A700 without disabling both the auto LCD off and eye-start AF functions. The only way I can get these to work is to raise the eyepiece about 1/8th an inch above the "click" position, at which point it starts to feel a little unstable for regular use. I'm still playing with the height adjustment, however, trying to determine just how much the eyepiece needs to be raised in order for the eye sensors to work.
I should add that I wear eyeglasses, which might help explain why Carl's experience with the eyepiece on the A700 is different than mine. I think the eyeglasses might require a little more height adjustment, but it's gonna take a few more glasses of Johnnie Walker Black before I can determine this more scientifically.
This experience made me re-examine my Pentax eyepiece, which had been working fine. I discovered that it also disables the eye sensors when fully engaged, but I can make the eye sensors work by raising the eyepiece just a little, at which point it still fits quite securely. Apparently, I never had the eyepiece pushed all the way down before.
Sony should make the eyepiece limitations a lot more explicit on their web site. There will probably be a lot of surprised and unhappy purchasers. After seeing the feeble grip on the new Alphas and this poorly designed eyepiece, I think I may know where the guys that designed the Pontiac Aztek are currently employed!
Andy
Got mine today...
Quick review...
It did block the eye start sensors of my a700 at first. If pushed all of the way on it blocks the upper half of the sensors and then the lower part of the new eyepiece extends low enough to totally block the sensor (looking straight in from the back of the camera). The eye start/ auto dim would work if I held my finger up under the new eyepiece but, in normal use it did not work. Taking off my glasses did not help either. It didn't really start working until I nudged it up just enough to expose the whole eye sensor or, maybe more importantly, enough to give the sensors clear line of sight under the new eyepiece. It doesn't seem loose in any way moved up. My impression is that the sensors have a very narrow FOV if not totally straight out.
I do like the larger view and the extra relief from the camera.
SKB
Well that about says it
If more than one person is having this issue, then it does seem to point to the fact that some will have trouble with this with AF eyestart enabled and will be worth noting in the review. Whether or not it works for me is irrelevant at this point.
Carl
Tried it on A100 and A700
I had exactly the same experience as SKB.
If I push the eyepiece down that last millimeter to get the faint click as it seats itself on the camera, the eyepiece blocks the sensors. On the A700, there was enough of the sensor exposed that I could trigger it by putting my finger there, but my face didn't do it. On the A100, the eyepiece itself triggered the sensor.
But the good news is that, sliding the eyepiece down against the final click, but not going through the click, allowed the sensors on both cameras to work fine. The view through the eyepiece was not affected at all. Nor was the look of the eyepiece on the camera, or the apparent security and stability of the eyepiece on the camera - that faint click really doesn't do anything. I am generally very particular about having these things work right and not jury-rigging them, but I am happily keeping the eyepieces on both cameras.
I got mine today. Yah, the
I got mine today. Yah, the manual does say to disable the eye-start feature when using it. The eye-start does work fine as long as we don't press it into the last click/stop. Looks difficult to modify it though:)
Compatible with a500/550??
I wonder if these will be compatible with a500/550??
Mike
Absolutely compatible with the 500/550.
Brings the magnification from .80x to .92x (near the A700 standard view) on the A500/550.
Good stuff.
Carl
Thanks
Many thanks, Carl!
Will certainly buy this eyepiece as soon as I purchase the a550 .....will wait for your a550 full review first before buying it of course.
MIKE
Why isn't every camera equipped with one
from the production line? - would make the 5xx much easier sold...
What is the down side? Does it dim the light, distort the image, or obstruct the field of view?
(besides vignetting, that is)
Piece of Crap!
This thing is a piece of crap.
It's only useful function is to get the eye piece away from the body of the camera, however at a cost.
So it magnifies the view finder, not by much, which is a good thing, because when you magnify the viewfinder yet make the hole you view it through smaller and ROUND, you know the whole thing square peg round hole, didn't work back in kindergarten and it still doesn't work now, it makes the thing counter productive.
So if they had made the magnification anymore the thing would be even worse.
This thing is also a dust and dirt magnet.
This is an absolute DO NOT BUY!
Two Thumbs Down
1/2 star out of 5, gets half a star because it does bring the eye piece out a little.
I would send mine back to Sony for a refund but I am afraid they would turn around and sell it again. So by keeping mine in it's box and not anywhere near my cameras I am keeping one less of these pieces of crap off the market and out of some other unsuspecting users hands.
Cons
Dust/Dirt magnet.
Restricts view.
Not worth the tiny amount of magnification you get.
Small round hole to view square view finder.
Makes back of camera look odd, like it's missing something.
Automatic Eyestart AF function will not work correctly, if you use it.
Screen stays on longer and comes on sooner when using this, very annoying, if it goes off at all.
Pros
Brings viewfinder off camera slightly
FDA-ME1AM (FDA must stand mean: For Dumb Asses)