XH A1 eyepiece alternative?

Graham Budd · June 13th, 2007, 07:38 PM

After historically following the XH-A1 eyepiece modification threads for some months .... & cringing at the cost of importing Sony & or other options (to New Zealand) ... this is what I have been using ... a US5¢ hair tie from my daughter's hair accessories kit. Use the fattest fluffiest ones you can put your hands on.

In action it has yet to fall off (you will find a mixed 50 for say $2US in your local dime store!) ... if it does ... plop on another

It is perfectly comfortable .... I use it with a modified (counterweighted) Spyderbrace) with my eye pressed firmly onto the eyepiece for long periods & the fabric (while not cotton) wicks away any perspiration.

jpeg attached.

Cheers,

Graham

Bill Pryor · June 14th, 2007, 08:54 AM

Clever! And effective.

B&H has the little disposable chamois eyepeices. I used to use them with film cameras, which also have crappy eyepieces like the XH A1. This fluffy thing actually looks better, especially if you wear glasses. If I hadn't already bought the Sony eyepiece, I would do this.

Guy Shaddock · September 29th, 2008, 10:15 PM

What I find amazing is that Canon must be aware of the problem with their eyepiece (I too wear glasses and the eyepiece on the XH-A1 is useless) yet they are so willing to let a Sony product be the solution. Is this because they can't produce an eyecup for the same cost? Shows Canon's committment to the product!.

Kevin Janisch · September 29th, 2008, 10:25 PM

Slick Graham! I've actually been using one of my toddlers socks (new and unused of course) for a while now, I just cut the foot off and use the tube part folded over. This was to give some additional comfort , but I was prescribed glasses last week, so have yet to test it out.

John B. Nelson · September 30th, 2008, 05:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Graham Budd

I use it with a modified (counterweighted) Spyderbrace) with my eye pressed firmly onto the eyepiece for long periods & the fabric (while not cotton) wicks away any perspiration.

Wow. I'd like to hear more about your modified Spider Brace... I've been wanting to do something like that with mine.

-John

Bill Pryor · September 30th, 2008, 08:43 AM

Guy, I don't think it related to Canon's commitment to the product, but it might have something to do with their consumer mindset. I don't think they know whether the XH series is a consumer camera or a professional camera, and it still has some of the GL series holdover design things, the lack of a useable eyecup being one. You ever try to find the camera on Canon's web site? You go to consumer products, click on a picture of a single chip consumer camera and finally get to these cameras. I'm not saying the XH's aren't pro cameras, they are. But clearly the consumer mindset is there at Canon, and I think it shows up occasionally. The web site is one, the eyepiece the other. The ON wheel on the side--it goes to the auto settings first, so you have to be careful to crank through them to get to the manual, that lockout switch next to the record button that screws people up, the inability to bring in audio at line on one channel, mic on the other...all consumer type things. I can live with all that, but not the lack of an eyecup. In a logical world, that would have been fixed by now and they would offer one designed for the camera...but we all know how Corporate America works, and I'm guessing Corporate Japan is probably not too different.

Guy Shaddock · October 10th, 2008, 06:12 PM

Well, I bought the Sony eyepiece and as others suggested, it fits the XH-A1 perfectly. It certainly is what I needed to focus/frame when shooting outdoors. It still amazes me that Canon does not offer this simple part as an accessory.

For people who wear glasses the eyepiece cup is an absolute necessity. The problem we have is the problem of stray light getting between the glasses we wear and the eyepiece on the camera. The eyepiece cup actually wraps around the eyeglasses preventing stray light (a glare like problem) from washing out the image in the view finder. It's kind of similar to wearing a hat with a brim. The brim cuts out glare.

June 13th, 2007, 07:38 PM	#16
Graham Budd Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Auckland, New Zealand Posts: 28	Why make it so complicated & expensive? After historically following the XH-A1 eyepiece modification threads for some months .... & cringing at the cost of importing Sony & or other options (to New Zealand) ... this is what I have been using ... a US5¢ hair tie from my daughter's hair accessories kit. Use the fattest fluffiest ones you can put your hands on. In action it has yet to fall off (you will find a mixed 50 for say $2US in your local dime store!) ... if it does ... plop on another It is perfectly comfortable .... I use it with a modified (counterweighted) Spyderbrace) with my eye pressed firmly onto the eyepiece for long periods & the fabric (while not cotton) wicks away any perspiration. jpeg attached. Cheers, Graham Attached Thumbnails

June 14th, 2007, 08:54 AM	#17
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	Clever! And effective. B&H has the little disposable chamois eyepeices. I used to use them with film cameras, which also have crappy eyepieces like the XH A1. This fluffy thing actually looks better, especially if you wear glasses. If I hadn't already bought the Sony eyepiece, I would do this.

September 29th, 2008, 10:15 PM	#18
Guy Shaddock Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 131	What I find amazing is that Canon must be aware of the problem with their eyepiece (I too wear glasses and the eyepiece on the XH-A1 is useless) yet they are so willing to let a Sony product be the solution. Is this because they can't produce an eyecup for the same cost? Shows Canon's committment to the product!.

September 29th, 2008, 10:25 PM	#19
Kevin Janisch Major Player Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Monterey, CA Posts: 406	Slick Graham! I've actually been using one of my toddlers socks (new and unused of course) for a while now, I just cut the foot off and use the tube part folded over. This was to give some additional comfort , but I was prescribed glasses last week, so have yet to test it out.

September 30th, 2008, 08:43 AM	#21
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	Guy, I don't think it related to Canon's commitment to the product, but it might have something to do with their consumer mindset. I don't think they know whether the XH series is a consumer camera or a professional camera, and it still has some of the GL series holdover design things, the lack of a useable eyecup being one. You ever try to find the camera on Canon's web site? You go to consumer products, click on a picture of a single chip consumer camera and finally get to these cameras. I'm not saying the XH's aren't pro cameras, they are. But clearly the consumer mindset is there at Canon, and I think it shows up occasionally. The web site is one, the eyepiece the other. The ON wheel on the side--it goes to the auto settings first, so you have to be careful to crank through them to get to the manual, that lockout switch next to the record button that screws people up, the inability to bring in audio at line on one channel, mic on the other...all consumer type things. I can live with all that, but not the lack of an eyecup. In a logical world, that would have been fixed by now and they would offer one designed for the camera...but we all know how Corporate America works, and I'm guessing Corporate Japan is probably not too different.

October 10th, 2008, 06:12 PM	#22
Guy Shaddock Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 131	Well, I bought the Sony eyepiece and as others suggested, it fits the XH-A1 perfectly. It certainly is what I needed to focus/frame when shooting outdoors. It still amazes me that Canon does not offer this simple part as an accessory. For people who wear glasses the eyepiece cup is an absolute necessity. The problem we have is the problem of stray light getting between the glasses we wear and the eyepiece on the camera. The eyepiece cup actually wraps around the eyeglasses preventing stray light (a glare like problem) from washing out the image in the view finder. It's kind of similar to wearing a hat with a brim. The brim cuts out glare.