Photographers needing corrective lenses

heidi · 17-01-2007, 21:46

I use glasses for computer work and reading but only have a lens in the left side as my right eye is fine. The problem is I use my left eye to look through the viewfinder and wearing glasses while shooting doesn't work.

The optometrist wants me to wear a patch during shoots (just call me Captain Heidi

) to retrain my brain to use the right. Otherwise I'll have to wear one contact lens or get a lens installed in the viewfinder of each camera.

Has anyone else had a similar problem?

I'd rather not have to keep modifying my cameras but the soft focus (= blurry) shots are not quite going to look so great in my portfolio! Wearing a patch is fine - but I'm not so sure I won't revert back to the left once I stop wearing it!

aye aye!

Liam O'Neill · 17-01-2007, 22:10

I must say I've never had any trouble with my glasses and using a camera. Does your camera have any sort of dioptic adjustment on the viewfinder?

**Dabhand16** · 17-01-2007, 22:32

I am also left-eyed and wear glasses, although my right eye is pretty rubbish too. I am able to adjust the diopter to allow me to use the viewfinder with no problems. I think Nikon have a gadget that clips onto the frame of the eyecup of the viewfinder if the standard diopter cannot be adjusted enough. Maybe your camera has a similar facility.

heidi · 17-01-2007, 22:39

Thanks guys - I'll take a look at my camera when I get home.

I find wearing glasses while looking through the viewfindera pain as the glasses sit in front of my eyes increasing the distance between eye and viewfinder (if that makes sense?)

Tigress · 17-01-2007, 23:57

Being someone who wears glasses, I can empathise. I had always used my camera on manual focus, but was disappointed with some of the results; then someone we both know well, talked me into using auto-focus whilst out one day - and the results were, I have to admit, much much better, although I do still use manual focus on macro work, a necessity really, but then I generally have the time and patience! But I bet you're now going to tell me you only have manual focus lenses

heidi · 18-01-2007, 00:08

Quote:

But I bet you're now going to tell me you only have manual focus lenses

Yep - I only own one auto focus lens!

It wouldn't be so bad if you could tell straight away that a shot was soft, but you just can't tell on the tiny LCD.

Hmmm. So it seems my options are pay for contact lenses, buy all new lenses, or look like a pirate for awhile

Gary Bagshawe · 18-01-2007, 07:36

Id go with the pirate look for a while, cheaper and much cooler!!!!

heidi · 18-01-2007, 07:59

Thank heavens Johnny Depp made pirates cool again...

I've been trying all afternoon to use my right eye - thought I was getting somewhere when it suddenly dawned on me that my right eye was actually closed!

I've adjusted the diopter thing as well but I'm still having trouble with it. So the patch is!

**Markulous** · 18-01-2007, 08:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by heidi

Thank heavens Johnny Depp made pirates cool again...

I've been trying all afternoon to use my right eye - thought I was getting somewhere when it suddenly dawned on me that my right eye was actually closed!

I've adjusted the diopter thing as well but I'm still having trouble with it. So the patch is!

Sorry, but I'm beginning to hope you never sort anything out! I mean the entertainment I'm getting...........

Must get out more!

heidi · 18-01-2007, 08:27

Quote:

Sorry, but I'm beginning to hope you never sort anything out! I mean the entertainment I'm getting

Wait til you see the self portrait I'm considering...

I'm thinking maybe a parrot, some gold hoop earrings and hat should do it.

And in my defence it's been one of those days. I covered up the speaker on a video camera today because I couldn't find the volume control in the onscreen menu to turn it down while capturing to the computer. An hour of footage later - I knocked the zoom control accidentally and the volume decreased immediately.

The writing directly above the zoom:

VOLUME +/-

**Markulous** · 18-01-2007, 08:36

LOL!

And that's laughing WITH you! Of course!

heidi · 18-01-2007, 08:42

of course...

I'm off to hide my head in shame...

Foxesbrew · 18-01-2007, 11:21

this thread is very interesting to me. After two operations on my right eye, my dominant eye has changed from right to left.The confusion between brain and eye has been a problem but gradually my brain eye communications seem to be sorting themselves out.
Although i wear glasses i do better with camera work without them. Hopefully with a bit more time my left eye will become naturally dominant.

Rob Barron · 18-01-2007, 15:13

I am not trying to teach people to suck eggs or anything so please forgive me if this is teling you stuff you already know.

I have just written a little step by step tutorial about adjusting the viewfinder's dioptric compensation wheel on digital SLRs that have this feature (most do). You can find it here: Adjusting the viewfinder for accurate focusing

I hope it is of use to someone

Cheers,
Rob

17-01-2007, 21:46	#1 (permalink)
heidi Getting Comfy Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Auckland, New Zealand Posts: 117	Photographers needing corrective lenses I use glasses for computer work and reading but only have a lens in the left side as my right eye is fine. The problem is I use my left eye to look through the viewfinder and wearing glasses while shooting doesn't work. The optometrist wants me to wear a patch during shoots (just call me Captain Heidi ) to retrain my brain to use the right. Otherwise I'll have to wear one contact lens or get a lens installed in the viewfinder of each camera. Has anyone else had a similar problem? I'd rather not have to keep modifying my cameras but the soft focus (= blurry) shots are not quite going to look so great in my portfolio! Wearing a patch is fine - but I'm not so sure I won't revert back to the left once I stop wearing it! aye aye!

17-01-2007, 22:10	#2 (permalink)
Liam O'Neill Getting Comfy Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 138	Re: Photographers needing corrective lenses I must say I've never had any trouble with my glasses and using a camera. Does your camera have any sort of dioptic adjustment on the viewfinder?

17-01-2007, 22:32	#3 (permalink)
Dabhand16 Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Dunstable Bedfordshire UK Posts: 9,771	Re: Photographers needing corrective lenses I am also left-eyed and wear glasses, although my right eye is pretty rubbish too. I am able to adjust the diopter to allow me to use the viewfinder with no problems. I think Nikon have a gadget that clips onto the frame of the eyecup of the viewfinder if the standard diopter cannot be adjusted enough. Maybe your camera has a similar facility.

17-01-2007, 22:39	#4 (permalink)
heidi Getting Comfy Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Auckland, New Zealand Posts: 117	Re: Photographers needing corrective lenses Thanks guys - I'll take a look at my camera when I get home. I find wearing glasses while looking through the viewfindera pain as the glasses sit in front of my eyes increasing the distance between eye and viewfinder (if that makes sense?)

17-01-2007, 23:57	#5 (permalink)
Tigress Forum Regular Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: North West Posts: 1,218	Re: Photographers needing corrective lenses Being someone who wears glasses, I can empathise. I had always used my camera on manual focus, but was disappointed with some of the results; then someone we both know well, talked me into using auto-focus whilst out one day - and the results were, I have to admit, much much better, although I do still use manual focus on macro work, a necessity really, but then I generally have the time and patience! But I bet you're now going to tell me you only have manual focus lenses

18-01-2007, 07:36	#7 (permalink)
Gary Bagshawe Rep Point Winner 07 Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Sheffield UK Posts: 2,243	Re: Photographers needing corrective lenses Id go with the pirate look for a while, cheaper and much cooler!!!!

18-01-2007, 07:59	#8 (permalink)
heidi Getting Comfy Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Auckland, New Zealand Posts: 117	Re: Photographers needing corrective lenses Thank heavens Johnny Depp made pirates cool again... I've been trying all afternoon to use my right eye - thought I was getting somewhere when it suddenly dawned on me that my right eye was actually closed! I've adjusted the diopter thing as well but I'm still having trouble with it. So the patch is!

18-01-2007, 08:36	#11 (permalink)
Markulous Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Peak District Posts: 10,144	Re: Photographers needing corrective lenses LOL! And that's laughing WITH you! Of course!

18-01-2007, 08:42	#12 (permalink)
heidi Getting Comfy Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Auckland, New Zealand Posts: 117	Re: Photographers needing corrective lenses of course... I'm off to hide my head in shame...

18-01-2007, 11:21	#13 (permalink)
Foxesbrew Forum Regular Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: west sussex Posts: 1,131	Re: Photographers needing corrective lenses this thread is very interesting to me. After two operations on my right eye, my dominant eye has changed from right to left.The confusion between brain and eye has been a problem but gradually my brain eye communications seem to be sorting themselves out. Although i wear glasses i do better with camera work without them. Hopefully with a bit more time my left eye will become naturally dominant.

18-01-2007, 15:13	#14 (permalink)
Rob Barron Loves the place Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Poole, Dorset Posts: 5,386	Re: Photographers needing corrective lenses I am not trying to teach people to suck eggs or anything so please forgive me if this is teling you stuff you already know. I have just written a little step by step tutorial about adjusting the viewfinder's dioptric compensation wheel on digital SLRs that have this feature (most do). You can find it here: Adjusting the viewfinder for accurate focusing I hope it is of use to someone Cheers, Rob

18-01-2007, 19:11	#15 (permalink)
Foxesbrew Forum Regular Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: west sussex Posts: 1,131