...when your eyesight starts giving you problems while out in the field. My left eye has always been my "camera" eye in the viewfinder. But I've noticed that I have to use my right one to make sure it's sharp. But I've found that I can't compose with the right one. Does anyone else have that problem? Can you compose with both eyes? Just thought I'd throw that out there!! And comiserate!!
Posted by Don Miller on October 14, 2008 at 5:24 PM
Do you mean compose through a 35mm viewfinder? You certainly could need a different diopter adjustment for each eye on your camera. Probably a trip to the optometrist would be a good idea too.
Posted by Steve Foss on October 14, 2008 at 7:05 PM
I feel your pain about getting older, Chris. When I feel like middle age is a curse, I simply think about the alternative (not reaching middle age) and everything is all right again.
Each of my eyes has a slightly different performance curve. I tend to rely more on my left eye for close vision and my right for distance, and use whichever one fits the bill for what I need. My left eye is my viewfinder eye, and I'm comfortable composing that way.
I solve the problem by using a 4x5 inch ground glass and a 3.5x loupe.
-P
Posted by Paul Wegemann on October 14, 2008 at 9:46 PM
Christine, I have exactly your problem. I can't compose at all with my right eye, but I always check focus with it. It's gotten especially worse in the last year. I'm considering upgrading my dslr to one with a high res screen and live view for this very reason.
Posted by Jim DeWitt on October 14, 2008 at 11:53 PM
Rely on auto-focus, shoot multiple shots with different focus points, use the highest f-stop the composition will stand and hope for the best.
But how many of you can compose with both eyes? Through a viewfinder. That's the main question of my thread. I am just curious... not looking for solutions.
Posted by Steve Foss on October 15, 2008 at 8:09 AM
I'm left-eye dominant, and while it's easy for me to compose with my left eye to the viewfinder and my right eye open, I can't function well at all with my right eye to the viewfinder and my left eye open. I have to close my left eye in that case.
Posted by Sharon Lane on October 15, 2008 at 9:25 AM
Dumb question from newbie: How do you use both eyes to compose through the view finder?
I wear trifocals and use my right eye.
Sharon
Arlington/Blooming Grove, Texas
Posted by Steve Foss on October 15, 2008 at 10:16 AM
I believe she means being able to compose through the viewfinder with either eye, not both at the same time.
Posted by Wayne Rhodus on October 15, 2008 at 12:01 PM
Christine, I can definitely relate to the getting older statement. I had worn progressive bi-focal glasses for a number of years and when I got into photography about 6 years ago I found them to be problemmatic. So a couple of years ago I got contacts specifically corrected for my 35 mm format viewfinder. I can compose with either eye but I'm right eye dominant.
My problem now is that while the viewfinder image is sharp I can't read the camera controls for squat! Hummm ... is one eye corrected for near and one for distance next?
" But how many of you can compose with both eyes? Through a viewfinder. That's the main question of my thread. I am just curious... not looking for solutions."
I started doing it after seeing how composing upside down on a LF ground glass seemed to improve my comp skills. I'm left eye dominant and do my first comps that way, but when there's time such as landscape shooting, I'll switch eyes and look with my right for a few moments. It's more of a final check to confirm what I've been seing with my dominant left eye, but very often my right eye sees the layout a little differently. Not saying it works any better to use my right eye, but the extra moments of thought are sometimes well invested.
Posted by Ed Cordes on October 15, 2008 at 7:48 PM
My problem now is that while the viewfinder image is sharp I can't read the camera controls for squat! Hummm ... is one eye corrected for near and one for distance next?
Wayne, this is called "monovision" and I do this all the time with my over 45 contact lens patients. Ask your eye doctor about it.
Posted by Wayne Rhodus on October 16, 2008 at 12:19 AM
Ed, my wife has been "monovision" corrected for over 20 years and in fact didn't even realize it until a recent eye exam. It seems counter-intuitive to me to view the world through eyes corrected individually for near and far. But, it sure is a hassle for the way I photograph now.
Posted by Sharon Lane on October 16, 2008 at 9:27 AM
Hank,
Thanks for the explanation! Seemed like a silly question but I am learning so much from this forum . . .
Of course, I had never thought of that and will give it a try.
Discussion
14 repliesEach of my eyes has a slightly different performance curve. I tend to rely more on my left eye for close vision and my right for distance, and use whichever one fits the bill for what I need. My left eye is my viewfinder eye, and I'm comfortable composing that way.
-P
I wear trifocals and use my right eye.
Sharon
Arlington/Blooming Grove, Texas
My problem now is that while the viewfinder image is sharp I can't read the camera controls for squat! Hummm ... is one eye corrected for near and one for distance next?
I started doing it after seeing how composing upside down on a LF ground glass seemed to improve my comp skills. I'm left eye dominant and do my first comps that way, but when there's time such as landscape shooting, I'll switch eyes and look with my right for a few moments. It's more of a final check to confirm what I've been seing with my dominant left eye, but very often my right eye sees the layout a little differently. Not saying it works any better to use my right eye, but the extra moments of thought are sometimes well invested.
Wayne, this is called "monovision" and I do this all the time with my over 45 contact lens patients. Ask your eye doctor about it.
Thanks for the explanation! Seemed like a silly question but I am learning so much from this forum . . .
Of course, I had never thought of that and will give it a try.
Sharon