Strange issue...

GraemeC

GraemeC

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I have an auto immune related disease that has a symptom that effects facial muscles and I find it almost impossible to keep an eye closed for using the viewfinder.... can anyone think of a solution that wont make me look like a total dork or an out of work pirate?

G...
 
I'm not being cheeky but don't close it. I often keep my other eye open if I'm shooting something dangerous and fast moving that might bump into me, eg horses in an arena.
 
Big old film camera with a waist level finder. A rollei or 'blad or just about anything from Mamiya. I think nikon did a couple of wlf for their F series.
 
You can keep both eyes open and train yourself to ignore one eye. Have to do this with microscopes etc.
 
I keep both eyes open all the time when doing weddings, its amazing the things you realized you missed using tunnel vision through the view finder, just start doing it at it will be normal to you in no time
 
Same as Jim. I try as much as poss to keep both eyes open.
Just concentrate on the VF as much as you can.
 
GraemeC said:
I have an auto immune related disease that has a symptom that effects facial muscles and I find it almost impossible to keep an eye closed for using the viewfinder.... can anyone think of a solution that wont make me look like a total dork or an out of work pirate?

G...
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Why close it?

Don't think I ever close mine. If you watch a lot of news cameramen, TV and still, they don't either.
 
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I have a mentoree that has a similar difficulty.
After observing the way he shoots with his dominant left eye, the solution
was to use his right thumb to keep his right eye closed. I don't know any
tip if you are a right eye shooter.
 
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It's worth checking that you are using your dominant eye at the viewfinder as it will lessen the 'pull' of the 'unused' eye.
It's especially important when shooting and many people shoot with their non-dominant hand so they can use their dominant eye.
 
Snapsh0t said:
It's worth checking that you are using your dominant eye at the viewfinder as it will lessen the 'pull' of the 'unused' eye.
It's especially important when shooting and many people shoot with their non-dominant hand so they can use their dominant eye.
Click to expand...
Yes, it's about using the dominant eye. I don't have a problem when using a camera because it's my left eye that's dominant and my right hand, poised over the camera button, blocks out my right eye.
When shooting shotguns though, I have to shoot from my left shoulder, using my left eye, my right eye is open and effectively doesn't interfere. It isn't a problem for me and it should be the same for you, using your camera.
According to my optician, there is only a potential problem if the dominant eye is less good than the non-dominant eye.
 
A Bessa R3A has a 1:1 viewfinder which means it's perfectly natural to shoot with both eyes open (although from habit I closed my left eye when I was using mine). It has framelines for 40mm, 50mm, 75mm and 90mm lenses, IIRC.

Any twin lens reflex camers, or the Bronica SQ to add to @steveo_mcg 's list.. I suppose an equivalent is using a tilting screen on a modern digicam, with the advantage that the image isn't reversed...
 
Snapsh0t said:
It's worth checking that you are using your dominant eye at the viewfinder as it will lessen the 'pull' of the 'unused' eye.
It's especially important when shooting and many people shoot with their non-dominant hand so they can use their dominant eye.
Click to expand...

My right eye is dominant and use it to look through the viewfinder with my left eye closed. Just tried keeping both eyes open when using my right then left on the viewfinder. A little awkward, but quite workable. Don't think it would take me long to get comfortable with all variations. All in the mind I think.
 
Im finding it hard with both eyes open but i'll persevere ...
 
Just keep both eyes open. It'll probably take a bit of getting used to, but shouldn't be very difficult. I shoot rifle, shotgun and handgun like this too, the way I was taught as a kid.
 
My son has diabetes and had an op on one of his eyes he too did,nt want to "look like a pirate" there are thousands of modern designs of eye patch that are not the plain black. Some are quite funky
 
I physically can't close one eye at a time.. No medical reason just can't!
I use my left eye to view the viewfinder and the right one just keeps watch.
 
MartynK said:
Just keep both eyes open. It'll probably take a bit of getting used to, but shouldn't be very difficult. I shoot rifle, shotgun and handgun like this too, the way I was taught as a kid.
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+1 I'm another target shooter. Once you get used to it you should also find that you can actually hold the camera more steady with both eyes open. I also find it useful for framing- particularly at long focal lengths.
 
Would using an eyecup on the viewfinder help?
 
There are times when it's essential to have one eye open.

On holiday in Turkey a couple of years ago we had these birds (swallows? martins?) nesting on our balcony.

562596_436725583019359_1181699025_n.jpg


This sequence of the adult bird coming back to feed the youngster was shot at 6 frames per second and I haven't omitted any frames, so from start to finish it lasted about 1 second. I was looking through the viewfinder with my left eye, and using my right eye to spot the approach of the bird with my peripheral vision. If I waited until I could see the bird through the viewfinder, it was too late!
 
Two eyes open was a tip I heard from a pro who said they did it when using long lenses. It's easy to lose a target using a long lens and the other eye can help find it again. After a while it's amazing how your brain can quickly change which eye it's using. It takes a little while but it's possible.
 
rob-nikon said:
Two eyes open was a tip I heard from a pro who said they did it when using long lenses. It's easy to lose a target using a long lens and the other eye can help find it again. After a while it's amazing how your brain can quickly change which eye it's using. It takes a little while but it's possible.
Click to expand...

:agree: I was told the same.
 
Could you perhaps block the view from non-viewfinder eye with your thumb, just until you get used to it being open? That's what I did as initially I found it distracting being able to see things, but like others, I now find it useful to watch what's going on about me as well as what's happening in the viewfinder.
 
Use live view maybe, I think the D300 has it does it not or even consider going Mirrorless.
 
I take it you are a right eye shooter?

I'm a left eye shooter, as far as I'm aware my right eye is never closed. Just obscured by the camera or my hand.
 
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