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X-t1, glasses & left eye shooting - anybody?

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Sutto

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I made the fatal mistake of buying a X-t1 mail order - without trying it. We live in an isolated desert community in Western Australia, and I only get to a major centre once or twice a year - no camera shops here. I wanted to get something smaller for an upcoming trip to Vietnam, so I had to order the T1 and had it delivered. I have had an X-pro1 before and an X-e1. I really love my current X100s - so of course I never envisaged any problems with the viewfinder/eye thing. My main camera is a D3x and of course I just the love feel/ergonomics, whole working deal with the sumptuous camera.

Well - I was horrified when I started using the T1 with the 55-200. I have problems with my r eye so I have always looked through the viewfinder with my left eye. It is a nightmare with the T1. Being like a small DSLR - with the viewfinder in the middle - because it is so small it pushes the right lens of my glasses into my right thumb. I can't access either of the AE-L or AF-L for back button focus, because it pushes my glasses over when I try and access these. Then the lens on right eye of the glasses goes all blurry because of the oil from my thumb. I know it sounds like something out of the 'Keystone Cops', but man it makes the shooting experience not very enjoyable. There is not as much 'eye relief' as the viewfinder on my D3x so I have to push my glasses really close to the viewfinder to see properly.

This seems a nice little camera and the files are great. I can't return it for the X-Pro2, because once you buy in Australia, you are stuck with it. These things once they become second-hand are not worth much on 'fleabay', particularly as there is a new T2 in the wind. Has anybody else had a similar problem and found a work around. I do want to persevere if I can.

sutto

philipsuttonphotography.com
 
I'm a left eye shooter,,just cannot use my right eye...I feel as comfortable with my xt10 as I have done with previous dslr's and mirrorless/bridge cams...but everyone is different...

Dave...
 
I'm also a left eye shooter, am somewhat farsighted and need reading glasses. The diopter adjustment handles that beautifully and I am able to use the left eye with the EVF with no issues whatsoever. Assuming you shoot primarily with the EVF, this shouldn't be a problem for you at all. As others have pointed out, with the LCD, you can obviously use your glasses, but having come from DSLRs, I'm not a big fan of point and shoot style photography using the LCD. Obviously, that's very much a function of your own preferences.
 
I have to agree with the other replies. I have an X-T1. I wear glasses for distance but I hate using them when I am using an EVF on a camera...any camera. I set the diopter as soon as I get a camera. As another reply said, glasses off for EVF and on for screen. Also, I use my right eye for shooting a weapon but I have always used my left eye for photography. No problems with the Fuji.

Give it a try.
 
Hi Phil

Not sure if it will help much but the extended eye cup (available only from Fuji I believe) will at least allow just a little more space between your face and the buttons.

I can see how the rangefinder style is a benefit to leave space for controls on the right so it's a real bummer you can't exchange. Do you usually deal with these same sellers? If you explained and asked to swap for the more expensive XP2 then maybe they'd do it to keep your custom.
 
I'm a left eye shooter also and I use the extended eyecup from Fuji. However whenever I try to use any of the buttons on the back of the camera, I always have to take it away from my eye anyway because too often I end up hitting the wrong button unless I'm actually looking at it.
 
I'm a left-eye shooter and wear tri-focals. I use the EVF without the glasses though, it just works best for me after adjusting the diopter. I also prefer the long eye-cup. It doesn't really bother me.

Do I wish it was easier to use a camera while wearing eyeglasses? Sure. But I don't think photography's ever been perfect for eyeglass wearers.
 
Remember the X-Pro2 eye relief distance is about 5 mm less than in the X-T1.

This could mean you might not see the entire image in the X-Pro2 viewfinder.

I'm nearsighted and the diopter adjustments typically don't have enough range to work for me without glasses, so I am waiting for the X-T2. Somehow I will cope with the central location of the viewfinder, if I buy one.

Presently, my X-E1 bodies work very well for me, so there is no urgency for me to upgrade anyway... no urgency at all.
 
Sutto said:
I made the fatal mistake of buying a X-t1 mail order - without trying it. We live in an isolated desert community in Western Australia, and I only get to a major centre once or twice a year - no camera shops here. I wanted to get something smaller for an upcoming trip to Vietnam, so I had to order the T1 and had it delivered. I have had an X-pro1 before and an X-e1. I really love my current X100s - so of course I never envisaged any problems with the viewfinder/eye thing. My main camera is a D3x and of course I just the love feel/ergonomics, whole working deal with the sumptuous camera.

Well - I was horrified when I started using the T1 with the 55-200. I have problems with my r eye so I have always looked through the viewfinder with my left eye. It is a nightmare with the T1. Being like a small DSLR - with the viewfinder in the middle - because it is so small it pushes the right lens of my glasses into my right thumb. I can't access either of the AE-L or AF-L for back button focus, because it pushes my glasses over when I try and access these. Then the lens on right eye of the glasses goes all blurry because of the oil from my thumb. I know it sounds like something out of the 'Keystone Cops', but man it makes the shooting experience not very enjoyable. There is not as much 'eye relief' as the viewfinder on my D3x so I have to push my glasses really close to the viewfinder to see properly.

This seems a nice little camera and the files are great. I can't return it for the X-Pro2, because once you buy in Australia, you are stuck with it. These things once they become second-hand are not worth much on 'fleabay', particularly as there is a new T2 in the wind. Has anybody else had a similar problem and found a work around. I do want to persevere if I can.

sutto

philipsuttonphotography.com
Click to expand...
I would use the rear screen as much as possible and only use the evf if having a problem with the light.
 
I've thought about using the rear loupe things on the LCD screen but gave up because I need a high diopter to do that without glasses. This would solve the right eye in the thumb problem though.
 
I am left eye dominant, but do not shoot with glasses like many. The problem for me is that with glasses you are so far from the viewfinder that side light overpowers what you see in the EVF. The long viewfinder thingy helps in either case.

Check your manual. The DISP button cycles through two sizes, normal and expanded. The normal smaller option may help. I have used cameras in the past that required peering around to catch the data at the bottom or side of the image. You just get used to it as long as you can see to frame the image.
 
Congratulations on getting your X-T1!

I'm a left-eye (right-handed, if that matters) X-T1 shooter who wears progressive glasses. I shoot EVF (with Fuji extended eyecup to help block side light) with my glasses on and it works for my style. I'm largely focused on composition, shoot with most often with Rokinon manual lenses but also the 55-200 and kit short zoom, and having grown up on medium-format TLR's have plenty of patience to get the shot right before triggering the shutter. I think it helps that I have rectangular (skinny in the vertical) glasses. I do have the occasional problem with getting my eyeglass lenses dirty, but I'm a habitual Scott-eVest wearer and the built-in microfiber cloth gets plenty of use.

My main advice is that the X-T1 is a wonderful camera, so try a plenty of things to find a method that works for you - and go out and shoot!
 
Sell it. I put up with the ergos on an XT1 for 2 years before I finally threw in the towel and sold it. During those 2 years it basically sat in a drawer.

Like my old XE1, my XE2 handles left eye shooters with no issues. Plus the control set is far more accessible with much better buttons.
 
I am a left eye, right handed shooter and never realized that I had a problem... until now.

Since you can't send it back, assume it's the last camera on earth and go out and shoot for a couple of months. Take advantage of some of the ideas offered here.

It is a great camera. I am certain that it is not for everyone, but give it a fair chance rather than leaving it in a drawer or selling at a serious loss.
 
Mo Kwart said:
I am a left eye, right handed shooter and never realized that I had a problem... until now.

Since you can't send it back, assume it's the last camera on earth and go out and shoot for a couple of months. Take advantage of some of the ideas offered here.

It is a great camera. I am certain that it is not for everyone, but give it a fair chance rather than leaving it in a drawer or selling at a serious loss.
Click to expand...
 
It may sound silly, but I would use the camera upside down. One advantage is that the camera gets extra stabilization by leaning against the forehead. My left eye is my only good eye -- with glasses. I suspected that the XT1 and the XT10 would be a problem for people like you and me and I am still with the XE1. I feel sorry that you get that problem.
 
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