EVF with glasses

[martin155]

Hi, I have Nikon D700 and Im considering to move to Sony A7 because I would like to use Carl Zeiss lenses with AF. Now I have MF but its really hard for me to get focus right because I have bad sight for long distance.

I need to know if I have Sony A7 with EVF, will I still need glasses when the object will be at the long distance or it will be something like Live View on Nikon, thank you very much.

 

[Mystery member]

Hi, I have Nikon D700 and Im considering to move to Sony A7 because I would like to use Carl Zeiss lenses with AF. Now I have MF but its really hard for me to get focus right because I have bad sight for long distance.

I need to know if I have Sony A7 with EVF, will I still need glasses when the object will be at the long distance or it will be something like Live View on Nikon, thank you very much.

Sony EVF is quite good, and has a built-in focus adjustment to match your glasses. Most people find it difficult to use eye-pieces while wearing glasses.

There's also focus aids (magnification, peaking), but you'll hardly need them, considering the excellent Sony AF.

 

[martin155]

What I'm wondering about is if the dioptric adjustment (on EVF) is only for people needing glasses e.g. for reading (short distance) or if the EVF somehow simulate OVF.

Since looking at EVF is similar to looking at LCD screen I should not have problem when I have good eyes for reading (so far ), right?

 

[Mystery member]

What I'm wondering about is if the dioptric adjustment (on EVF) is only for people needing glasses e.g. for reading (short distance) or if the EVF somehow simulate OVF.

Since looking at EVF is similar to looking at LCD screen I should not have problem when I have good eyes for reading, right?

The dioptric-adjustable lens is an integral part of the EVF, otherwise you wouldn't be able to view the image at all (it's quite a small LCD panel only a centimeter or so within the body of the camera).

Even the best EVF can't match the clarity of a good OVF, but you do have the advantage of exposure simulation and other real-time exposure aids, such as a histogram display and over-exposure warnings.

The Sony EVF displays are quite high resolution, and a much better option than the rear LCD, particularly when the ambient light is bright. It's usual for the screens to automatically switch as you move the camera away from your eye.

Personally, I need +3D for my reading glasses, while my distance vision is good. I shoot without glasses (using about +3D in the viewfinder), and I'm familiar enough with the camera that I don't need glasses for making adjustments to the external controls. I rarely need to look at the rear LCD screen, either for setting or image review.

BTW, most Sony models have built-in "User Memories" that can be loaded with your favorite settings, so there's minimal need for parameter adjustment or "menu-diving" once you are in the field.

 

[yardcoyote]

I have poor eyesight and wear some pretty substantial glasses ( bifocal for both near and far sightedness since my early 20s, plus a severe astigmatism in one eye and a extremely severe one in the other). I have no problem at all using an EVF. My glasses just aren't an issue.

The only problem I've heard of is with polarized lenses, which may make an EVF hard or impossible to see.

 

[martin155]

Ok, maybe I should called the thread "Do I have to wear long distance glasses using camera with EVF"

I think even without any dioptric compensation in camera I should be able to see clearly objects at long distances besause Im looking essentially at the small screen of EVF (at short distance) and not really at the long distance object like it is when using OFV. Or am I wrong at this assumption?

 

[zackiedawg]

Ok, maybe I should called the thread "Do I have to wear long distance glasses using camera with EVF"

I require long-distance glasses to see properly - and have for years. I have mild issues with reading close distance that has just started the past year or two as I get near 50 - but as of now, I can still read fine by just taking my glasses off for when I need to read something close rather than use bifocals or reading glasses. I'm near-sighted.

I generally prefer to use my viewfinders with my glasses on - mostly because I shoot often outdoors in very bright sun, and use prescription sunglasses as my eyes are a bit sensitive to bright light...I have used OVF and EVF cameras side by side for many years and haven't had any difficulty using my glasses with both.

I also have used EVFs with my glasses off on occasion, in indoor conditions, or quick transitions from bright light to shade where I need to take my sunglasses off but don't have my regular glasses with me - and with a simple adjustment of the diopter on the EVF, I can use it perfectly without my glasses as well. I do need to adjust the diopter - so I can't quite confirm whether it's because of the change in the close focus of my eyes without the glasses, or because I need to adjust the diopter for the far-sighted changes...but I can confirm that I can use the EVF both with and without my glasses.

 

[bobkoure]

I did a quick google search and see that the A7 EVF has an adjustable diopter range of -4 to +3. Check your eyeglass Rx to see if you fit in that range. If you have astigmatism, add the 'cylinder' to the diopter you need.

Neither of my Nikon cameras has a diopter range that suits my eyes. Nikon has an add-diopter eyepiece (slide eyecup up and off camera, slide Rx eyepiece on, then eyecup on top of Rx eyepiece). Maybe Sony sells something similar? Maybe the Nikon one will fit? Any maybe -4 to +3 is fine for you.

My issue with wearing glasses when shooting is light leakage and not being able to get my eyeball close enough to actually see 100% of what's in the pentaprism - oh and concern about damaging my absurdly expensive Rx eyewear.

I went with an adapter from square viewfinder to round, diopter adapter, and foldable round eyecup. Took several tries with various pieces, but finally I can see what I'm doing - but i'm pretty close to legally blind without Rx. Hope your eyes are better.

 

[Mystery member]

Ok, maybe I should called the thread "Do I have to wear long distance glasses using camera with EVF"

I think even without any dioptric compensation in camera I should be able to see clearly objects at long distances besause Im looking essentially at the small screen of EVF (at short distance) and not really at the long distance object like it is when using OFV. Or am I wrong at this assumption?

The optics of an OVF mean that you are looking at a virtual image of even distant objects, and note that most OVFs also have dioptric adjustment.

In practice, there's no difference between looking at EVF or OVF, provided that both are well designed. For fast action shots, an EVF will have a slight delay, for example when following a fast moving plane and shooting at 11 frames/sec., some imagination was required, and the "focus lock" display wasn't entirely smooth (Sony a6000).

 

[bobkoure]

Ok, maybe I should called the thread "Do I have to wear long distance glasses using camera with EVF"

I think even without any dioptric compensation in camera I should be able to see clearly objects at long distances besause Im looking essentially at the small screen of EVF (at short distance) and not really at the long distance object like it is when using OFV. Or am I wrong at this assumption?

The optics of an OVF mean that you are looking at a virtual image of even distant objects, and note that most OVFs also have dioptric adjustment.

In practice, there's no difference between looking at EVF or OVF, provided that both are well designed. For fast action shots, an EVF will have a slight delay, for example when following a fast moving plane and shooting at 11 frames/sec., some imagination was required, and the "focus lock" display wasn't entirely smooth (Sony a6000).

As I remember, Nikon OVFs were set to an 'effective' distance of 1m, and the eyepoint was 20 or 21mm. Sony's probably similar. So if you don't need correction to read fine print at 1m, you don't need glasses.