topic Sony a6000 Eyepiece Cup in Alpha & NEX interchangeable lens cameras

Sony a6000 Eyepiece Cup

timeasley — Tue, 02 Sep 2014 00:00:01 GMT

Bought my a6000 soon after release, but one of the things that annoys me hugely is how easily the eyepiece cup falls off. After about a month of using the camera and having a few "close calls", I finally lost this piece.

Since my camera was still under warranty I contacted Sony to ask about a replacement, who told me they don't help with "accidental damage", and gave me the URL of an "official supplier", who wanted £27 for one including their cheapest postage option. Ridiculous.

I contacted Sony customer support and their answer was essentially "tough, it's your fault and not our problem". After explaining that £27 for a small piece of plastic that shouldn't fall off so easily in the first place was ludicrously high, and e-mailing a few more times their answer is still the same. Really not happy with Sony's customer service. They told me if I didn't want to pay £27 to get it, I could send my camera in for repair (what on earth?) but that it would cost "much more".

Anyway, I ended up buying the piece from Japan via eBay, which was only £10. I say "only" but £10 is still a lot for a small piece of plastic. I talked to their Twitter team, who didn't seem to understand the issue, and told me to try here, at the Sony community pages. No idea why, but here I am!

Has anyone else had this issue and attempted to get Sony to sort it out with any success?

Re: Sony a6000 Eyepiece Cup

RonanCantwell — Tue, 14 Jul 2015 09:59:08 GMT

I've had my a6000 for less than two weeks and today noticed that the eyepiece has fallen off. This must have happened yesterday while out and about. It's ridiculously bad design for this part to detach so easily. Looking through the other "community" posts about this camera this seems to be a universal problem with this model and Sony should at least acknowledge this. They should at least include a spare with the camera since it's a known issue. I've had to order a cheap replacement from China on eBay - certainly won't be putting any more money Sony's way!

Re: Sony a6000 Eyepiece Cup

ctindill — Fri, 31 Jul 2015 08:38:42 GMT

My eyecup also had a couple of close escapes before finally dissapearing. Also lost the unattached lens cover although it turned up in my Son's girlfriend's pocket! Haven't got it back though because she is now an ex! For an excellent fair priced camera Sony really let themselves down with bits that cost them pence.

Re: Sony a6000 Eyepiece Cup

effluxion — Mon, 07 Sep 2015 11:36:05 GMT

I lost mine within days of buying the camera. Then I find the actual part number is totally unavailable. The part is fda-ep16. Part fda-ep10 can be bought and fits, apparently but I'm not sure if this is exactly the same part. Maybe it's exactly the same.

This is a very poor show and a really stupid way to turn customers off. Sony needs to remember that their competitors cameras are mostly built like tanks even if they are falling behind in other areas. I used Canons for twenty years and never lost any part ever. The eyecup on these Sony cameras is utterly flawed design. It simply falls off. Any new user needs to be made aware of this because they will lose the eyecup eventually, guaranteed.

Re: Sony a6000 Eyepiece Cup

ctindill — Mon, 07 Sep 2015 14:50:18 GMT

Totally agree. I have lost 2 to date!!

Re: Sony a6000 Eyepiece Cup

effluxion — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 11:10:58 GMT

Does anybody know if part code FDA-EP10 is the same as FDA-EP16 which is the actual part number for the A6000 eyecup? I can't get anywhere with Sony support. Waste of time. In fact the A6000 will probably be my first and last Sony product. it's a great camera for the money and I was looking at a portable Sony recorder for audio tracks but I'm looking elsewhere now. Sony = zero support. Their app store is a joke as well. Apps are not updated to take advantage of new features in the A6000 firmware update. These are functions supplied for free in other cameras.

Re: Sony a6000 Eyepiece Cup

timeasley — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 11:15:28 GMT

The FDA-EP10 is the one I use on my A6000, so yeah exactly the same part. Not sure why they have different part numbers. I couldn't see any difference whatsoever.

You can buy them for like £2 on eBay now including postage, or even less if you buy a pack, so it's not too bad. Sony should be selling them for that price. I agree their customer service is terrible.

Re: Sony a6000 Eyepiece Cup

effluxion — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 11:27:33 GMT

OK thanks. I actually bought one from ebay but the seller accidentally sent the wrong eyecup (not for the A6000 at all) and I had to return it. Now that I know they are the same I might get him to send me two of the FDA-EP10s.

I'm actually not sure why this eyecup falls off so easily but when I get a new one I'll look at it to see why. it's obviously flawed. I'm also left handed which means the eyecup is more important because I use my left eye through the viewer meaning my nose is against the screen.

Re: Sony a6000 Eyepiece Cup

timeasley — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 12:14:12 GMT

If you get two, try making a tiny hole in the side of one of them with a hot pin, then you can thread a small string through it and tie it around one of the metal strap things on the side of the camera, that way if it falls off it stays with it.

Re: Sony a6000 Eyepiece Cup

ctindill — Fri, 11 Sep 2015 08:31:29 GMT

Now that is a good idea and as I have ordered three I can give it a try. I
is a pity that we have to go to such lengths due to a design fault on Sony's
part.

Re: Sony a6000 Eyepiece Cup

r_a_n_i — Fri, 11 Sep 2015 12:19:51 GMT

Hi all,

I had a similar issue with my A6000 during the first weeks of use I almost lost the eyepiece cup. Always when I put the camera back to my case it was falling off.

The only thing what I did was to push the eyepiece cup a bit harder on the Camera, now it is mounted very well, and since then i never had issues again, and this are a few months.

Hope this will help you too.

Re: Sony a6000 Eyepiece Cup

effluxion — Thu, 17 Sep 2015 11:09:43 GMT

I ordered FDA-EP10.

This is NOT the same part as FDA-EP16. FDA-EP10 is hard plastic. FDA-EP16 is soft.

Part FDA-EP16 is not available.

I'm returning the camera to the store now. I actually want this resolved because the a6000 is a great Camera but Sony are the worst company I have ever dealt with. I'm looking at Samsung and Panasonic gear now for the future. Samsung in particular due to APS-C sensor size.

Re: Sony a6000 Eyepiece Cup

Russtafa — Mon, 19 Oct 2015 20:28:34 GMT

Do not disagree with you about the eyepiece cup but to go and just dismiss Sony over this is fairly ridiculous.

Since I got my a7Rii then I went to buy an A6000 as something lighter I could carry in my rucksack each day I have never looked back.

Used to have 2 x Panasonic GH4's

Got the Sony a7Rii got rid of one of my GH4's immediately

My other GH4 gathers dust right now but I do like the SloMo on it and just having something "different" once in a while.

Also have an Olympus OMD EM5 Mk2 which is a totally lovely camera but have just given that to my eldest daughter so it will get used.

I work in Post Production and took up photography fairly recently.

A large proportion of our media ingest is from Sony cameras like the F55.

Got a bit "side-tracked" on the MFT way of things.

Realise my mistake and Sony simply put, have the best sensor technology in the market.

Match that up with the inrush of E Mount lenses then voila you are on the right track.

I have a few E mount primes to buy and the main item on my shopping list for most likely early 2016 is the wonderful and fantabulous Sony FS5.

Know the FS7 pretty well and I am going to have one heck of a good time in 2016!!!

Re: Sony a6000 Eyepiece Cup

WilhelmS — Mon, 20 Jun 2016 04:14:15 GMT

You can buy a replacement cup for £5.99 at Amazon. But of course that comes off just as easily. What a poor design in an otherwise so good camera!

Re: Sony a6000 Eyepiece Cup

ctindill — Mon, 20 Jun 2016 10:54:46 GMT

I bought 3, the first fell off just as easily, as I use the eye piece most
of the time I superglued the second, and happily have had a remaining spare.
This worked for me but still does not change Sony's poor design.

Re: Sony a6000 Eyepiece Cup

effluxion — Sun, 16 Oct 2016 18:40:01 GMT

The eyecup is also completely disfunctional. It doesn't block out light properly at all.

To add furthe here as to why I will never buy a Sony camera again. I just noticed that you can't sign in to the Playmemories site from Sony cameras now. The recaptcha doesn't work and since I do not have the latest OSX version, I have no way to update apps. Apps which don't work correctly anyway with the A6000 and probably still don't.

Anyone thinking of buying Sony should not think further. The only thing these cameras have going for them is a good sensor. The design and implementation of everything else is shockingly bad.

Re: Sony a6000 Eyepiece Cup

ctindill — Mon, 17 Oct 2016 19:28:50 GMT

I had the same problem on my A6000, but managed to get some cheap eye pieces and added a bit of superglue! It solved the problem which Sony should have solved.

Re: Sony a6000 Eyepiece Cup

glassboy907 — Thu, 04 May 2017 19:35:29 GMT

I have also lost the eyepiece from my Alpha, so Sony want £27 for a new one? Well, a simple plastic injection moulding like that will literally cost 1p to make, so that represents a 2,700 fold rise in profit - an absolute scandal. But at the end of the day, we as consumers have a decision to make and I have already made mine - this is definitely the last Sony product I will buy.