hogesinwa Loc: Dalyellup Western Australia

Hi,
Out and about last week down in the Fitzgerald River National Park here in Western Australia and tried to adjust my viewfinder image.

However, the small adjuster wheel will not budge. Not at all.

My question is first should I try to force this or just let it be?

Second, if I just ignore it, will purchasing an overlay viewfinder produce a better solution than fiddling with the stuck wheel?

Third, if I purchase an overlay cup/viewfinder, which one would be good?
thank
Terry

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

I don't know about Canon, But my Nikons I have to pull the little wheel out a bit before it will turn. Just like winding a watch!!!

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Interesting. I've never had to do that.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Having that little wheel stuck would drive me crazy. I'd have to get it moving somehow. Maybe get a tiny amount of electrical contact cleaner, WD-40, or silicon in there. Use a Q-tip or a toothpick to let some drip down there.

I guess it would be a good idea for all of us to give that little wheel some exercise occasionally.

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

Jerry I can't remember which camera it was, will check later today. Might have been my D1X which is residing in the Happy Hunting Grounds, dropped on asphalt, zero bounce factor, broke the metal housing.

RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA

I would take it a repair technician, same as for anything.else that malfunctioned.

Jolly Roger Loc: Dorset. UK

Have you tried removing the rubber eye cup and then adjusting it. See page 54 of the users manual.

hogesinwa Loc: Dalyellup Western Australia

nope, doesn't pull out at all.

hogesinwa Loc: Dalyellup Western Australia

Will try to lubricate a little and see if that helps.

I have managed to get it to turn by using a small set of (almost-) jewellers' pliers. Moved it very carefully both ways, but still won't move with only finger pressure so maybe needs movement and some help?

hogesinwa Loc: Dalyellup Western Australia

The closest repair facility that I know of is in the capital, Perth, which is some 160 miles from me and not a place I like to visit at all. Years ago, when I had Minoltas, there was a chappy did this stuff from home on a very professional basis in the hills outside Perth but people like him are long gone I think. Something serious goes wrong and I suppose I'll be sending it to Canon Australia in the East.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

DO NOT USE WD40 to lubricate that little wheel. Even though it's mostly external, that stuff has a bad habit of seeping inside mechanisms and might get onto the optics of the viewfinder or elsewhere you don't want it. It also reacts with rubber, glues, foam seals and some types of plastic. It can damage your camera.

I'd also be very hesitant to force it with pliers. There's some reason it's binding up.

My recommendation would be to do an Internet search for camera repairers near you. Or ask any professional photographers in the area where they get their gear repaired. There's probably someone closer.

hogesinwa Loc: Dalyellup Western Australia

OK, so now I can move it a little with mechanical advantage but it still is very stiff and not something I can adjust in the field.

So, can anyone help me out with a recommendation for an add-on. From memory, and I'm getting old now, I think I had one of these on each of my Minoltas. (I've always had specs. so any view help is appreciated)
Hoges

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

You could just do like I do: Constantly forget to adjust it!

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

Frankly, I have never had to adjust the viewfinder diopter of any of my cameras in the field.... unless they were being used by someone else or I bumped the dial and accidentally changed the adjustment, and had to reset it for my eyesight.

Once set correctly for your eyesight, you shouldn't need to change it for years (and then only if your eyesight changes).

The best way to adjust it is to remove the lens from the camera and adjust it until markings on the focus screen are as sharp as possible. If you wear eyeglasses while shooting, make the adjustment with them on.

Of course with 7D there's an active matrix focus screen, so the camera will need to be powered up (the screen is blank when powered down). If not already enabled, it might help to turn on the grid display on the screen and switch the focus mode to a multi-point pattern, so that there is more to see on the screen.

I set my 7DII viewfinder diopters two or three years ago and have never had need to change them (even though I've had a change of eyeglasses during that time). Once set to your eyesight, there should be no need to change it again... unless someone else needs to adjust it to their eyesight or it were accidentally changed. It doesn't effect auto focus anyway, will only influence manual focusing if you do any of that.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

Not true of the 7D Mark II.