A fortunate event took place a couple of weeks ago – my wife Lola lost the eyecup from her Nikon Df camera (see our in-depth review of the Nikon Df). She wasn’t sure how, but it most likely just got unscrewed while she was busy photographing a wedding. Why fortunate? Because I started to look for a replacement, something I have never done before. Indeed, those eyecups usually stay attached securely on cameras and practically never come off, so this was the first. During my search, I came across the Nikon DK-17M magnifying eyepiece – something I have seen before, but never cared to use. As I was ordering the replacement eyecup for the Df (and I was getting the superior “Anti-Fog” version), I decided to also get the DK-17M and give it a try. Since I enjoy using the Nikon Df with older Nikkor prime lenses, I thought it would be a good idea to try it with those manual focus lenses. When the package arrived, I mounted it on the Nikon Df that already had Lola’s favorite Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G lens attached and I was immediately blown away! The 1.2x magnification made the viewfinder appear much larger and I could see everything so much clearer, that I wondered why I had never even tried one of these before. After a couple of days of using the DK-17M, I ordered a few more for each of our cameras and now I cannot imagine using my DSLRs without these handy little magnifiers!
So what is the DK-17M and what does it do? Basically, if you own any professional-grade camera like the Nikon D700, D800, D800E, D810, the top of the line series like Nikon D1, D2, D3 and D4 or a film camera like Nikon F4, F5 and F6, you can replace the eyepiece in front of the viewfinder with this DK-17M unit, which provides 1.2x or 20% more magnification. This obviously does nothing to impact the performance of the camera – it is there to simply help you see everything closer, clearer and better. When photographing people, many of us struggle to nail focus, because viewfinders (yes, even the large full-frame viewfinders) are not big enough to see very clearly. With the 20% magnification eyepiece, focusing is much easier, especially if you use manual focus lenses. To get an idea of what 1.2x magnification looks like, take a look at the below illustration that compares regular viewfinder size with 1.2x magnification:
That’s a pretty big difference! While the Live View option on modern DSLRs gives the ability to achieve perfect focus, it is not a practical option for photographing people. Plus, I am very used to composing my shots while looking through the viewfinder, so looking at the camera LCD just does not work for me.
Other lower-end cameras can also use a magnifier, but you will need to obtain different parts, as explained below.
Table of Contents
1) Mounting and Dismounting
Mounting the DK-17M on your camera is super easy. All you have to do is unscrew the factory-installed eyepiece by rotating the rubber piece counter-clockwise until it comes off (see dismounting instructions below for certain DSLRs), then you screw the DK-17M in by rotating it clock-wise. Since the DK-17M has fairly thick glass to give you that 1.2x magnification, the eyepiece will look a bit protruded when compared to the regular eyepiece. This does not bother me at all even when I wear my camera on my neck, but some people might not like that.
To dismount the unit, make sure to close the viewfinder lever to the left of the camera if you use a large Nikon DSLR like D800 / D810, etc. If you use a Nikon Df, just rotate the piece counter-clockwise and it will come off.
2) Optical Quality
The optical quality of the DK-17M is amazing. I tried to use the Nikon D810 with and without the DK-17M eyepiece and I cannot honestly see any difference in quality! The corners can look a little bit fuzzy, but it is not something that will ruin your shooting experience by any means. The DK-17M does not hurt my eyes even with prolonged use, so it now sits permanently on our cameras. Note that if you have vision problems and you use the diopter adjustment dial on the camera, you will be able to continue using it, since the diopter adjustment is actually widened at both (+) and (-) sides.
While there are third party options available from other manufacturers, I personally would not trust their optical quality. With Nikon, you know what you get when it comes to optics. Plus, the unit is fairly inexpensive, so why try to save a few dollars by getting something that might end up hurting your eyes/vision?
3) Nikon DK-19 Rubber Eyecup Option
If you want to have even better viewfinder experience, you can combine the DK-17M with the DK-19 Rubber Eyecup, which will block light rays from reaching your eyes and the viewfinder. The DK-19 attaches right on top of the DK-17M and it works like a charm, allowing you to concentrate on your subject without getting distracted by side light.
Attaching the DK-19 is also pretty easy and it is designed to work together with the DK-17M.
4) Magnifier / Round Viewfinder Options for Other Cameras
What if you have older or lower-end DSLR like Nikon D5300, D7100 or D610 that do not have round viewfinder eyepieces? Do not be disappointed, because Nikon makes a different accessory, the DK-21M magnifying eyepiece, which provides 1.17x magnification for many cameras like D3300, D7100, D610 and D750. The DK-21M does not have as good of quality as the DK-17M, but it is still better than nothing in my opinion.
If all you want is convert the rectangular viewfinder to a round one with the rubber eyecup, then you can purchase the following components:
- Nikon Finder Eyepiece Replacement for FM, FE & FA Series Cameras ($21.95)
- Nikon DK-3 Rubber Eyecup for FM3a, FM2, FE2 and FA cameras ($10.95)
- Nikon DK-22 Eyepiece Adapter for SLR cameras
Putting these together is easy, but note that the above solution does not provide any magnification – it only converts the rectangular viewfinder eyepiece to a circular one. Unfortunately, there is no easy way to mount the DK-17M on older / lower-end cameras – you will need to manually modify adapters to fit the unit…
5) Summary
If you have never used the DK-17M magnifying eyepiece before, do yourself a favor and buy one of these. At just $37.95 for a new pack, it is seriously a “no-brainer” and well worth your money once you look through the viewfinder. Despite the added magnification, it does not change the viewfinder coverage and does not make it appear softer, allowing you to see your subjects closer. If you use manual focus lenses, the DK-17M is a must-have, since it will definitely make it easier to acquire focus on your subjects. And if you want to concentrate on your subject without getting distracted from side light, get the DK-19 Rubber Eyecup as well. At $7.95 it is another cheap part that will make your shooting experience even better.
6) Where to Buy
Our friends at B&H Photo Video regularly carry both parts and have them in stock:
Nikon DK-17M
- Optical Performance
- Build Quality
- Value
- Size and Weight
- Ease of Use
Photography Life Overall Rating
Neither of the Nikon magnifiers fit my particular requirements.
I would like to find a hand-held loupe or ?? that will provide high magnification of the very center of the finder image.
I use a telescope, 2400mm f/26 and getting focus is indeed difficult with bright objects.
It was impossible to get a good focus during the most recent eclipse.
Q: is there any hand-held device that will do this?
I’ve recently had a hard choice to make between continuing to use my Dk-17m’s on my D4s bodies or switch to the newer Dk-17F eyepieces, which I absolutely love as they stay clean and don’t seem to get scratch either. The Dk-17F btw is the new eyepiece that ships with the D5/D500 and basically adds fluorine coating to the original DK-17 eyepiece. The older eyepiece that Nikon’s been using since the D3/D700 always gets dirty and scratched up to the point they need replacement. I started using DK-17M’s and really like them for the 1.2x magnification and always use them with DK-19 rubber eyecups, but unfortunately the DK-17M is not routine coated and therefore also gets dirty and scratched over time. Of course I could just replace them every year or so and they don’t cost a fortune, but I really wish Nikon would just update the DK-17M with fluorine coating, which repels water, dirt and scratches. This would be amazing and would solve my 1st world problem lol. For now I’m using a DK-17M on one D4s and the new DK-17F on on the other as one of my DK-17M’s just got too dirty and scratched up. I’m a photojournalist and therefor hard on my gear, I do my best to take care of my gear and I’d say I do a pretty darn good job at it, most of my gear is in excellent to mint condition, but my line of work requires constant cleaning. I clean my entire kit inside and out every three to four days with a rocket blower, brush and if needed Eclipse fluid with a new micro fiber cloth. I’ve found that if you clean out your mirror box and shutter assembly area with a rocket blower every few days it greatly extends the shutter life and both of my D4s bodies have well over 500k on their shutters and they are going strong. I’ve had a D3s hit 697,420 shutter count before on the original!
hi Nasim Mansurov,
I read your review on the DK-17M Nikon magnifier, and you did a great job reviewing it as always. But, I do have a question to you regarding the dismounting the DK-17M from my camera viewfinder. I have the D850, and when I even close the viewfinder like you said, the magnifier does not come off, it just keeps spinning counter clockwise, when I turn it.
Can you please help me, and tell me what it is I might be doing wrong.
Thank you so much!
Albert, one of two things is happening, either the threads are stripped, which I doubt or two just the rubber is spinning and not the actual DK-17M. If you tighten the DK-17M too much when you first installed it, it can be difficult to remove later. The best thing to do is either leave your camera in the sun for an hour or so with the eyepiece facing the sun, and then try again. Heat for some reason tends to loosen it up. The only other option is to use some type of tool to grab onto the DK-17M and then turn it as hard as you can, this you will give you leverage. I recommend using an IRWIN Quick-Grip tool, which has rubber clamps that will give you great torque without damaging your camera or the eyepiece.
I purchased Nikon DG-2 eyepiece magnifier but it doesn’t give full magnification of view finder ‘s frame . It only shows the magnified image of its center portion. Hence, it doesn’t allow to make the correct judgment before clicking the macro image. I have Nikon D70s DSLR having square shaped view finder. Shall I go for 3rd party magnifier? Nikon’s right angle type of magnifier shows the full magnified image of the view finder frame?
Great info and thank you, we are now in 2018 and i have just purchased a great used D700, to use with my collection of golden oldie ai s manual lenses. Regards Peter.
Be cautious about DK-17M if you are a eyeglass wearer.
Encouraged by Nasim’s comment here I tried DK-17M on my D800 about three years ago. I dismounted it very soon and the thing collects dust in my closet now. The reason is: with the DK-17M on I definitely don’t see the whole frame. I’m a eyeglass wearer and without my glasses (just using diopter adjustment) I’m not able to find a satisfying vision.
May be that this problem doesn’t exist or is not so serious with D700 (in the D800 is a different viewfinder built in). Beyond that, may be that frame corners are not important in your art of photography. But you should know it before you buy it.
Regards
Ota
Addition & Amendment:
In the last sentence I shouldn’t write “may be that frame corners are not important ….”.
The problem is that you cannot see the corners all at once. You’ll see two corners only and the position of your eye in relation to the viewfinder will determine which pair of corners you can see. Therefore, you’ll be slower in finding the optimum framing if you want to check all 4 corners in your VF. It can be a disadvantage, but it need not to be, it depends on your ‘art of photography’.
On the other hand, I guess that DK-17M would help you when you want to use your MF lenses. The frame center magnification works great for this purpose.
I have never understood why we have to accept a compromised viewfinder image for digital – particularly on the higher end/high price DSLRs – I call it “the great digital ripp-off”! I would much rather be looking through the viewfinder of an FM2 or, better still, an olympus OM1 – in fact, the first digital camera I used, at university in the late 90’s, was a clip on back for a nikon, with the electronics below in what looked like a motor drive – if only I could get a modern version of that, I would be so happy! I have had people argue that you just fix everything in post production – not if you use manual focus lenses, or even just want to see clearly what you are photographing, when you are photographing!
anyway – that aside – I think am going to try one of the magnifiers, as that seems the solution available for the small viewfinder image I have to look at!
thanks for your review
Having to wear glasses and the diopter correction’s maximum settings still not working for me I decided to give the DK-17M a try anyways as I found some reviews or comments regarding its suitability even when wearing glasses.
However, for me it turned out to be almost completely unusable. It was extremely poor on the Df, which doesn’t have a too great eye point anyways, making the viewfinder experience even worse than on my old Nikon FM or FE bodies and these were really bad already. I essentially only had an APS-C crop of the viewfinder in clear, unobstructed view on the Df with the corners and display disappearing in pitch black vignette. But the D810 did fare only marginally better. Never able to see all four corners of the viewfinder and barely able to see the entire display underneath.
Personally I wouldn’t recommend the DK-17M for general photography use to anyone wearing glasses. Sent mine back the very day I received it.
I would just like to add my comments on the DK-17M. Although 1.2x magnification doesn’t sound like much, I have found it makes manually focusing considerably easier, especially at wide apertures. I own several Zeiss primes so this is a no-brainer accessory, and I regret not buying one sooner. A few points to note however:
1) As people have mentioned, it is basically impossible to see all four extreme corners at the same time unless you are looking at the center of the frame and seeing them in your peripheral vision. Seeing any one corner directly requires a minute movement of your head/eye to do so. Seeing the status indicators in the viewfinder is not a problem though (at least without glasses; I do not wear them so can’t comment on that issue).
2) The magnified image shows a considerable degree of pincushion distortion. This may pose an issue during very critical architecture photography, but I suppose you could always use live view.
3) Under certain circumstances I have noticed visible moire on fine details in the magnified image. Hardly a big issue, but worth mentioning. In fact it can actually further help with identifying the point of sharpest focus.
Forget being able to see the entire frame when using the DK17-M. Precise framing is a headache with the DK17-M. Just FYI.
Hello Nasim,
I continue to learn reading your comments. I have taken your advice, and upgraded to a D700, and want to know if the DK17-M magnifying eyepiece will still permit me to see all of the data at the screen bottom. No local dealer has it, and although I know I can return it to B&H if the magnification prevents visualization of the data, I’d rather not. I always wear my glasses when I am shooting. Thanks.