Left- or right-eyed M photography?

[aesop]

Our world is optimised for the right-handed.

I am left-handed and also happen to be naturally left-eyed. With my left/left combination, I am able to execute all left-handed tasks on an M extremely efficiently (e.g. operating the focusing and aperture rings, etc.).

On the down side, using my left eye on an M means I am unable to easily fine-tune my composition by simultaneously looking inside and outside the viewfinder . This is just one example of the drawbacks that may result from the use of the left eye on an M. Not always a big deal, but sometimes it can be critical.

In light of the above I have always wondered - is my left/left combination a common thing? Or is there more of a right/right, right/left or left/right thing going on? What natural combination are you and did you adapt yourself to accommodate the M?

More importantly, does anyone have knowledge of a fact-based theory or any kind of science regarding the frequency and/or distribution of the various natural combinations (left/left, right/right, left/right or right/left)? Is there some funky correlation that might have influenced the positioning of the M viewfinder?

Any input on this matter will be appreciated. Thanks.


Sota.

[azzo]

Sota,

Just use your left eye and close the right one for composition and everything else.
No problem at all.

Azzo

[andybarton]

Originally Posted by asota

Our world is optimised for the right-handed.

I am left-handed and also happen to be naturally left-eyed. With my left/left combination, I am able to execute all left-handed tasks on an M extremely efficiently (e.g. operating the focusing and aperture rings, etc.).

On the down side, using my left eye on an M means I am unable to easily fine-tune my composition by simultaneously looking inside and outside the viewfinder . This is just one example of the drawbacks that may result from the use of the left eye on an M. Not always a big deal, but sometimes it can be critical.

There are many M purists who will tell you that right eye shooting is the only way to use one. It isn't.

Right handed - left eyed.

Use whichever you want, it makes no difference. Composition should be done before the camera gets anywhere near your face, IMHO.

[giordano]

Originally Posted by asota

More importantly, does anyone have knowledge of a fact-based theory or any kind of science regarding the frequency and/or distribution of the various natural combinations (left/left, right/right, left/right or right/left)? Is there some funky correlation that might have influenced the positioning of the M viewfinder?

Has there ever been a mass-produced camera that has the viewfinder eyepiece on the right? Certainly there haven't been many. Can one safely infer from that that there has never been a camera manufacturer with a left-eyed majority among designer, head of marketing and and chief executive?

The old Exakta reflexes look as if they were designed for left hand/left eye (http://www.exaktaphile.com/ads/ah.html) ... but it's claimed at Did you know? Cameras are made for right-handed people. | Photodoto that the left-hand wind and shutter release were chosen so right-handers would have their dominant hand to support the weight of the camera and work the focus and (manual or preset) aperture rings. Right-eyed users can't wind the film without lowering the camera - but the lever has such a long travel that it's not easy for the left-eyed either.

As for the location of the eyepiece on the M: given the design of the shutter, once you've settled for right-hand control of film advance and shutter speed and a long-base rangefinder, there's not much choice!

[stunsworth]

Left handed, left eyed. I've never found not being able to view through the right eye an issue. If you think it's a problem then only shoot portraits <grin>

[Rolo]

I'm left eyed and in spite of trying to shoot with my right eye on many occasions, I've failed miserably.

I can't hold the camera steady without pressing the body hard against my nose and that's led to the formation of a wart on the top side of my left nostril and an indent in my left cheek bone.

I shoot twice as much film as my right eyed friends because the camera isn't steady or level. Can't see any solution. It has stunted my development as a photographer, I'm afraid.

Portrait style shooting can relieve the situation, but even then I'm a 'hand over the top' type shooter.

I tried an SLR and had the same issue, but at least we share that problem with right eyed people.

Rolo

[bill]

Left, left, like all good creative people.

Us sinistrals have an advantage in trimming film leaders for screwmount Leicas, IMO

Regards,

Bill

[FotoABC]

Left hand, left eye, and ... left mind.
Claude

[topoxforddoc]

I started off as left eyed, right handed. However with time, I became right eyed and right handed with my Ms, but remain left eyed and right handed with my R9/DMR. I chaged for the Ms as it helps me to anticptae the shot better.

Happy Christmas to you all,

Charlie

[leitz_not_leica]

I use my left eye...I tried the right, but as was mentioned, it is not as steady, plus the difference in magnification bothers me. I shoot (firearms long and short) lefty, bow and arrow righty. Throw, write and golf righty. Ambidextrous, I guess.

[ho_co]

Andrew--
Right-handed but left-eyed, and with glasses.

Very interesting question. It would be interesting to get a handle on an answer!



Ivan--
Just think about that a moment! No need to close the right eye--it's looking at the back of the camera!

Just like shooting weapons, don't close the non-focusing eye because that will put tension on the other.


--HC

[gyoung]

If you use the left eye, the camera is braced across your face and thus much steadier?
I have always used them left eyed, even with the M3 the idea of both eyes open composition is iffy, with a 0.72 finder its even worse! (IMHO)

Gerry

[budrichard]

The use of which eye on a camera typically stems from which is your master eye i.e. which eye dominates which can easily be determined. I am right handed but left eye dominate. I use Motor drives on my Nikons and Leica's so I don't have to move the camera from my face to wind. No problem. It's a little harder shooting a shotgun but I mamage as long ago I tried to switch to left handed but it just didn't work.
I don't know the % of left/right eye dominate but it really deosn't matter because I don't know of any way to change the dominance.
Dominant Eye Test -Dick

[psquared]

I am right handed and right-eye dominant. I used to use the right eye to look through the viewfinder. Then I had LASIK. It turned out that the vision in my left eye is significantly better than the right, even though the right eyesight is normal. So, I used my left eye with both the R and M systems. I really didn't have problem switching. I just feel much better without the eyeglasses or contacts that kept drying out on me.

[Shootist]

I am just amazed at how many right handed people use there left eye to shoot with a camera.
I have tried my left eye but found it totally awkward. I am right/right dominant but do use my left hand for many things with no problem and fairly well at that.

Not sure about being more stable when the camera body is pressed up against your face? If you move the whole body moves with you.

Youth is waisted on the young.

[gberger]

Left Eye shooters gain from camera stability. Yeah, you do have to remove the camera slightly from your face to work the film advance/shutter-cock lever.

However, that little inconvenience can be dismissed when you remember: "Only Left-Handed paople are in their Right Minds."

[john_newell]

Originally Posted by asota

On the down side, using my left eye on an M means I am unable to easily fine-tune my composition by simultaneously looking inside and outside the viewfinder . This is just one example of the drawbacks that may result from the use of the left eye on an M. Not always a big deal, but sometimes it can be critical

I am left-eyed/right-handed. I've been using Ms for 35 years and have never felt myself disadvantaged at all...in particular, being about to see outside the framelines within the viewfinder gives me all the scope I need to fine-tune the composition...so I can't really join in the observation above.

[stunsworth]

Originally Posted by gberger

Yeah, you do have to remove the camera slightly from your face to work the film advance/shutter-cock lever

Which is why some of us 'lefties' bought Rapidwinders <grin>.

[DTD]

Left eyed, right handed, left footed.

[usccharles]

i used to be a left eye shooter when i only shot SLRs. when i bought my first rangefinder. it just seemed more comfy using the right eye, but i couldnt see worth a dang with my right eye in the view finder. but i just kept at it and my eye adjusted itself within a few days.

the moral is, even if it feels uncomfy at first, if you give your eye a chance, it will adjust itself so that using that eye on the viewfinder becomes no problem.

now i use both eyes. horizontal shots, i use right eye. vertical shots (i hold the camera with shutter button on the bottom), i use left eye. for SLR, both left and right depending on how i hold the camera.

give them a chance and you'll be able to use both eyes, the right one for each circumstance.