Reading mode: Light Dark

Which eye do you use to look through the viewfinder? and ...

Go to last post
B

b shaw

Leading Member
Messages
673
Reaction score
0
Location
US
Recently, Henry Richardson posted a discussion about camera ergonomics. (See link below)

Ultimately, it branched out to a discussion about left/right eye dominance, that is, which eye folk use to look through the viewfinder. So, out of curiosity, I am posting this informal poll for anyone who stumbles on this post.

1) Do you use your left or right eye to look through the viewfinder?
2) Is it the same eye for both landscape and portrait?
3) When you look through the viewfinder, do you close your other eye?

4) Did you have to actually look through the viewfinder to be able to answer any of the three prior questions?

As for me,
1) Left
2) Mostly left, but sometimes right for portrait
3) only sometimes* -
4) Yes ! Gosh, I'm such a goof!

Like Graham Best, I keep both eyes open because I learned to shoot guns as early as I started shooting photos - it's frequently taught to keep both eyes open if you're aiming a rifle.

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1037&message=25555908

---

In regard to "Keeping both eyes open": This skill was very handy back in the 5th grade when I could aim a rubber band at the back of Tommy Zimmerman's head while peripherally keeping an eye on Ms. Simmons, our 5th grade teacher.

I didn't want to be caught, especially by Ms. Simmons; I was convinced she was going to be my future wife. It would have been very embarrassing to have my future wife send me to the principal's office!

Ms. Simmons, if you are out there, and you read this: I'm sorry it never worked out between us. Although you bravely hid your pain when I moved on to the 6th grade, I'm sure you were able to heal and move on, too.

--
b shaw

http://bshaws.blogspot.com/
 
1) Do you use your left or right eye to look through the viewfinder?
2) Is it the same eye for both landscape and portrait?
3) When you look through the viewfinder, do you close your other eye?

4) Did you have to actually look through the viewfinder to be able to answer any of the three prior questions

1. left
2. yes
3. yes
4. just number 3.

remember years ago went was buying point and shoot film cameras, some were very difficult to use if you were left eye dominant. all the controls were on your face. - nikon for one.
 
1) Do you use your left or right eye to look through the viewfinder?
2) Is it the same eye for both landscape and portrait?
3) When you look through the viewfinder, do you close your other eye?

4) Did you have to actually look through the viewfinder to be able to answer any of the three prior questions

1. left
2. yes
3. yes
4. no

I also learened to keep both eyes open when shooting guns, as well as to exhale when pulling the trigger - but didn't carry these techniques over to phtotography. However, on rare occasions when shake is a factor, I still exhale when pressing the shutter release.
--
Prismatic (formerly: kodakrom)
 
b shaw said:
1) Do you use your left or right eye to look through the viewfinder?
Click to expand...
Right eye. Since I hold the camera with my right hand it would be awkward to do otherwise.
b shaw said:
2) Is it the same eye for both landscape and portrait?
Click to expand...
Yes
b shaw said:
3) When you look through the viewfinder, do you close your other eye?
Click to expand...
Sometimes yes, sometimes no. I learned to keep both eyes open using a microscope but in bright sun it's unnerving.
b shaw said:
4) Did you have to actually look through the viewfinder to be able to
answer any of the three prior questions?
Click to expand...
Yes.

--
Tom

http://www.flickr.com/photos/25301400@N00/
 
b shaw said:
1) Do you use your left or right eye to look through the viewfinder?
Click to expand...
Yes.
b shaw said:
2) Is it the same eye for both landscape and portrait?
Click to expand...
Sometimes
b shaw said:
3) When you look through the viewfinder, do you close your other eye?
Click to expand...
No
b shaw said:
4) Did you have to actually look through the viewfinder to be able to
answer any of the three prior questions?
Click to expand...
What's a viewfinder?

Ok, I should probably explain... As to which eye I use, it depends. I use my right eye in landscape mode or when shooting portrait with my right hand over the camera, but use my left eye if I shoot portrait with my right hand under. A long time ago in a galaxy far far away, I was trained as a sniper. Thus I still have both eyes open and I still exhale, hold, and press the shutter between heartbeats. I know, that's just weird...

--
Jem

 
b shaw said:
1) Do you use your left or right eye to look through the viewfinder?
2) Is it the same eye for both landscape and portrait?
3) When you look through the viewfinder, do you close your other eye?
4) Did you have to actually look through the viewfinder to be able to
answer any of the three prior questions?
Click to expand...
1) Right
2) Yes
3) I try to keep one eye open if it wont distract or blind me!
4) No
 
1) Left
2) Yes
3) yes
4) no

I have no choice in the matter, as my right eye is almost non-functional. I used to be a right-eyed camera user. My nose keeps pressing the left side of the controller on the A100... :-( No such problem on the A700, however.
 
b shaw said:
1) Do you use your left or right eye to look through the viewfinder?
2) Is it the same eye for both landscape and portrait?
3) When you look through the viewfinder, do you close your other eye?
4) Did you have to actually look through the viewfinder to be able to
answer any of the three prior questions?
Click to expand...
Very interesting questions really. I never would have guessed that so many answered opposite of me. It is also interesting how many have similar background (gun or microscope, I have both as well). My answers then;

1. Right, burnt a very small portion of my left retina in a climbing accident when I was young, ending plans to be a fighter pilot but I think I was right dominant before anyhow
2. Same eye, see above

3. Nope, also from a shooting background complete with exhale on long exposure, locked holds, bracing, etc. Can hand hold 2 stops without SSS most of the time!

4. Nope, it is hard to forget a 2% blind spot in the middle of your left field of view!
 
b shaw said:
1) Do you use your left or right eye to look through the viewfinder?
Click to expand...
Right
b shaw said:
2) Is it the same eye for both landscape and portrait?
Click to expand...
Yes, and I notice my portrait shots are always 90 degrees counterclockwise, so I always hold the camera up with my right hand
b shaw said:
3) When you look through the viewfinder, do you close your other eye?
Click to expand...
No, unless it's straight at the sun.
b shaw said:
4) Did you have to actually look through the viewfinder to be able to
answer any of the three prior questions?
Click to expand...
No.

Funny thing is, I'm not a sniper or anyone from the military, but I learned to shoot with both eyes open, camera braced on exhale (unless I don't have time). Now it's time to learn shooting between heartbeats :-)
 
toughluck said:
Funny thing is, I'm not a sniper or anyone from the military, but I
learned to shoot with both eyes open, camera braced on exhale (unless
I don't have time). Now it's time to learn shooting between
heartbeats :-)
Click to expand...
Maybe you'd be interested in the new Super Steady Shot pacemaker. :-)

Regards,
Graham
--
Nothing is impossible. Some things are just less likely than others.
Jonathan Winters
 
b shaw said:
Recently, Henry Richardson posted a discussion about camera
ergonomics. (See link below)

Ultimately, it branched out to a discussion about left/right eye
dominance, that is, which eye folk use to look through the
viewfinder. So, out of curiosity, I am posting this informal poll
for anyone who stumbles on this post.

1) Do you use your left or right eye to look through the viewfinder?
2) Is it the same eye for both landscape and portrait?
3) When you look through the viewfinder, do you close your other eye?
4) Did you have to actually look through the viewfinder to be able to
answer any of the three prior questions?
Click to expand...
1) left
2) yes
3) usually
4) no

As I said in the other thread, my left eye is dominant. Over the last 35 years I have tried to use a camera many times using my right eye, but it just won't work. I am a bit surprised that so many people claim to be able to use either eye just as easily. I think it was in the other thread where someone suggested an experiment to determine which is your dominant eye. Mine is the left (which I obviously already knew). So, lots of people doing that experiment find that both eyes work the same?

I can shoot with my right eye open, but it mostly just sees the back of the camera and my right thumb (which are only about 4 cm away) so I generally just close it when I am actually shooting.

--
Henry Richardson
http://www.bakubo.com
 
1. mostly right. I had LASIK and am not 20/20 even though the doctor says I am in my right. I am 20/20 in the right eye in bright sunlight but not in dim light. I would not go back to the way I was because then I couldn't read the clock on my nightstand and now I may not be perfect but I don't need glasses anymore. I am relearning to do manual focus. I am supposed to get an enhancement on my left eye so the right thing may change.
2. same answer.
3.yes. I close the other eye.
4. no. didn't have to look.
--
falconsusi

http://www.flickr.com/photos/10463282@N04/
 
b shaw wrote:
Always left eye. For everything. Right eye closed.
b shaw said:
Like Graham Best, I keep both eyes open because I learned to shoot
guns as early as I started shooting photos - it's frequently taught
to keep both eyes open if you're aiming a rifle.
Click to expand...
Not sure that is accepted by all. I was always taught that you should do what is comfortable, eye open or closed makes not that much difference. Its a personal preference. Of course you have to have both open for red dot scopes.

Some people can adjust to both open, some find it hard to concentrate.

I can see some benefit for action shooters with both open..following the action etc..again, down to personal taste really.

Being left eye dominant, its impossible for me to fire weapons like the SA 80, (british army rifle), left handed. (the bolt action would smash my face!!!) So I have to use my right eye. Being left eye dominant, means I am stuffed with both eyes open! In short..its best for me, if shooting...to close the left eye.



Clint is on holiday! Soon to return! ;-)
 
1) right

2) yes, easier now w/vertical grip
3) both eyes open, drag racing photography

4) no, I started photography in the early 70's still have my memory...
 
b shaw said:
1) Do you use your left or right eye to look through the viewfinder?
2) Is it the same eye for both landscape and portrait?
3) When you look through the viewfinder, do you close your other eye?
4) Did you have to actually look through the viewfinder to be able to
answer any of the three prior questions?

As for me,
1) Left
2) Mostly left, but sometimes right for portrait
3) only sometimes* -
4) Yes ! Gosh, I'm such a goof!

Like Graham Best, I keep both eyes open because I learned to shoot
guns as early as I started shooting photos - it's frequently taught
to keep both eyes open if you're aiming a rifle.

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1037&message=25555908

--
b shaw

http://bshaws.blogspot.com/
Click to expand...
b shaw said:
1) Do you use your left or right eye to look through the viewfinder?
Click to expand...
Right eye most of the time maybe 90%, I find at times I ues the left but not for any real reason. . .
b shaw said:
2) Is it the same eye for both landscape and portrait?
Click to expand...
Yes, 95% of my images are landscape or horizontal format. . .
b shaw said:
3) When you look through the viewfinder, do you close your other eye?
Click to expand...
Ditto. . . I tend to keep both eyes open because I'm a rifle shooter. When I squint it is usually because the light is so bright without my sunglasses here in Florida. Super bright highlights so to say!
b shaw said:
4) Did you have to actually look through the viewfinder to be able to
answer any of the three prior questions?
Click to expand...
No I'm a creature of habit and have been doing it for decades. . .

Paul Cassidy
----------------------------------------------------------->

 
b shaw said:
1) Do you use your left or right eye to look through the viewfinder?
2) Is it the same eye for both landscape and portrait?
3) When you look through the viewfinder, do you close your other eye?
4) Did you have to actually look through the viewfinder to be able to
answer any of the three prior questions?>
Click to expand...
1. Left
2. Yes
3. No
4. No

MG
 
b shaw said:
Recently, Henry Richardson posted a discussion about camera
ergonomics. (See link below)

Ultimately, it branched out to a discussion about left/right eye
dominance, that is, which eye folk use to look through the
viewfinder. So, out of curiosity, I am posting this informal poll
for anyone who stumbles on this post.

1) Do you use your left or right eye to look through the viewfinder?
2) Is it the same eye for both landscape and portrait?
3) When you look through the viewfinder, do you close your other eye?
4) Did you have to actually look through the viewfinder to be able to
answer any of the three prior questions?
Click to expand...
1- Left
2-Yes
3-Yes
4-No lol
b shaw said:
As for me,
1) Left
2) Mostly left, but sometimes right for portrait
3) only sometimes* -
4) Yes ! Gosh, I'm such a goof!

Like Graham Best, I keep both eyes open because I learned to shoot
guns as early as I started shooting photos - it's frequently taught
to keep both eyes open if you're aiming a rifle.

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1037&message=25555908

---

In regard to "Keeping both eyes open": This skill was very handy back
in the 5th grade when I could aim a rubber band at the back of Tommy
Zimmerman's head while peripherally keeping an eye on Ms. Simmons,
our 5th grade teacher.

I didn't want to be caught, especially by Ms. Simmons; I was
convinced she was going to be my future wife. It would have been
very embarrassing to have my future wife send me to the principal's
office!

Ms. Simmons, if you are out there, and you read this: I'm sorry it
never worked out between us. Although you bravely hid your pain when
I moved on to the 6th grade, I'm sure you were able to heal and move
on, too.

--
b shaw

http://bshaws.blogspot.com/
Click to expand...
--
Al

http://www.flickr.com/photos/al_1571/

'All the leaves are brown and the sky is gray...'

Minolta Maxxum 50 1:1.7(22)
Beercan
Sony 18-70 3.5-5.6 (KIT)
Sigma 70-300 1:4-5.6 DG APO Macro
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Keyboard shortcuts

f
Forum
m
My threads
Mobile site
About
Editorial content
Cameras & Lenses
Community
All content, design, and layout are Copyright © 1998–2025 Digital Photography Review All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction in whole or part in any form or medium without specific written permission is prohibited.
When you use DPReview links to buy products, the site may earn a commission.
©GPS Media - Guides, Products, Services.
Back
Top