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23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Doesn't quite do the job, November 22, 2006
This review is from: Olympus EYECUP ME-1 MAGNIFIER (Electronics)
The ME-1 provides a modest 1.2x magnification for viewfinders on Olympus's E-300 and E-500 cameras. Ideally, this would allow sharper manual focusing and more precise framing. Unfortunately, this did not happen when I used the ME-1 to make a number of trial images with my E-500, so I will be returning the ME-1 for a refund. (For the record, I wear prescription eyeglasses while shooting, with my "shooting eye" corrected to 20/20 vision.)
Like other folks, I find the E-500 viewfinder a trifle small so that it's not always easy to frame a shot and see exposure data at the same time. The camera must also be pressed against your face when framing, which is not always comfortable.
In some ways, the ME-1 created more problems than it solved. The ME-1 kept the camera further from my face (though it seemed to bump harder against my glasses), but at the cost of *narrowing* my angle of vision in the viewfinder. Divide the viewfinder into four equal columns and rows so you have eight squares. The four squares in the middle of the viewfinder were easily visible, but those along the sides, top, and bottom were *less* visible than before, the corners considerably less. To frame a shot, I had to move my eye around the viewfinder much more with the ME-1 than without it. To see exposure data, I had to shift my eye almost completely away from the image. More hassle than I need when shooting in the field.
Fortunately, there is another option that works for me. The E-300 and E-500 come with an EP-5 eyecup, which is definitely too small for my taste. But a larger eyecup is also available, the EP-6. The EP-6 keeps the camera a little further from my face. And with the viewfinder diopter properly adjusted (a critical step no one seems to mention), the EP-6 allows me to see both the entire image and exposure data without shifting my eye very much at all.
All of this will vary from person to person, of course, and there may be circumstances when the ME-1 is exactly what's needed -- so two rather than one star. But not in standard shooting conditions, especially if you need to compose, set exposure, and shoot quickly.
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24 of 26 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Love it = Hate it? What's going on here with the reviews?, October 31, 2006
This review is from: Olympus EYECUP ME-1 MAGNIFIER (Electronics)
OK - having read ALL 7 reviews (thank you other 7 for opening my eyes) I decided to plunk down the dough and buy one. I wasn't able to understand why people were so diametrically opposed to this simple accessory - it was always either God's gift to cameras or useless as the day is long. It arrived today by UPS (thanks Amazon prime - next day service!)
Here's what I can tell. I've been an Olympus user since the 2500 days - after the 2500 I graduated to the E20n - similar viewfinder - nice big image, easy to use. I avoided the E-1, content with my E20n and wondering what the 4/3 system would bring to revolutionize cameras or become another standard. Now I've moved to the Evolt 300 - and from day one, my biggest complaint has been "The viewfinder is too small" - still having my E20n I compared them - sure enough the 300 is smaller than the E20n. What's going on here?
I bought my AS-ME-1 and it clicked on easier than the rubber cup does. BAM suddenly my view was big again - like the E20n! I can see again. I can seeeee again! (little miami vice music here) And if you tweek the focus, it's a big deal.
My personal theory (and I am wrong as well as right) is that it depends if you use prescription glasses. Or maybe other prescriptions. The eye has an entrance pupil. The AS-ME-1 guides the light from the focus grid THROUGH that pupil. I personally like to shoot with my glasses on. Camera up, halfway push, fully push if happy, camera down. My friends remove their glasses, in their mouth they go, and up to the eye goes the rubber cup - and they shoot and shoot and shoot. They don't seem to be bothered by the E300.
IF you are nearsighted your glasses make things look smaller than they actually are (ask old ben franklin who invented eyeglasses) - the AS-ME-1 counters this effect of prescription lenses. If you remove your glasses or have 20/20 vision, well, you may like a bigger image, but it's not likely to be as big of a deal as it was for me.
I'm happy - 5 stars and all that - it's a winner. I FULLY respect the people who have given it one star. They made me search for a reason. I think the eyeball & vision & glasses are the key to this product being a benefit or hindrance to the shooter. Yes, its 20% larger (1/5) - for me that's a big deal.
Given the price to potential performance ratio, it's a winner for a good chunk of the population who doesn't remove their eyeglasses to snap a picture Those with 20/20 and shoot at nightime or a dimly lit studio will have a large entrance pupil and likely not benefit.
Human sensory perception has a threshold of noticability of about 10% meaning if one cup of water is 10% hotter than another it will be felt as hotter, but less than 10% and it's likely to feel the same temperature, same goes for shades of grey, and almost any perception. It's called the 10% rule. At 20% increase in picture size, the AS-ME-1 is pretty much guaranteed to be noticed by the human physiology, and that was the final reason I bought it. Lets hope your experiences are good ones - I didn't say you'd like it - just notice it! (the optics however are top notch)
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15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Proof in pudding, December 7, 2006
This review is from: Olympus EYECUP ME-1 MAGNIFIER (Electronics)
I own an E-300 and a bag full of manual focusing Olympus and Pentax lenses, which I use in addition to some auto-focus 4/3rds ones. As a glasses wearer I was constantly adjusting my diopter and straining to get things into focus when using the manuals, the result being perhaps 25% of my shots being unusable.
This little magnifier makes a big difference. On several recent outings I had absolutely great results. Most shots sharp and clear. There is a bit of a downside in that I have to work a little harder to see the readout in viewfinder, but I really don't need that.
Don't expect an eye-popping change, but a change you will notice.
Good product.
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