Left eye shooting

[hjsesq]

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I have recently damaged my right eye, the eye I have always used for focusing and composing. I have attempted to use my left eye and find it difficult to use - unable to get the left eye close enough to viewfinder. Has anyone else had this problem and know of a solution or recommendation on how to deal with this situation

Thank you,

Harris

[andybarton]

Just practice, really.

 

Some of us have shot with left eyes for decades. I can't use my right

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[jbl]

I can't use my right either. I'm heavily left eye dominant and wish I could right-eye shoot. I've even tried the 1.4x magnifier and it doesn't help.

 

-jbl

[pico]

Sorry to learn of your misfortune.

 

As Andy wrote, practice.

 

My left eye is the one corrected to 20/20, and through necessity my mind adapted to using the left for critical focusing. Have confidence that adaption will come about through necessity.

 

Wishing you good luck with this,

--

pico

[Bobitybob]

I have the opposite problem! I have always used my left eye both with SLRs and now with rangefinders. It just seems strange to have the lens not at the mid point of my eyes. My left eye is however getting weaker and when I use my right the viewfinder is noticeably brighter and focusing is easier. Its taken sometime, but I'm now getting used to it. As everyone says it's just a matter of practice

[MarkP]

I'm proudly left handed & left eyed. Also convenient as now I'm a bit older my left is the better one for focussing.

The only real downside is the permanent nose-smudge on the Giottos cover on the M9 LCD screen.

No matter how much I try to avoid it I can.t break that part of the habit.

I rationalise that it adds to camera stability:D

[Gerard]

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I've found that during long shoots my vision becomes strained if I just use my right eye. So I've learned to shoot landscape with my right and portrait with my left. Seems to prevent me getting double vision when I have both eyes open.

[Paul J]

Sorry to hear of you eye damage, that's no good at all.

 

I'm close to blind in my right eye and can only see through my left.

 

I can imagine it would be tricky swapping over but I'm sure if you stick with it it you will get used to it. Just keep your camera by your side and practice constantly.

[tobey bilek]

Genetics. Nothing can be done.

 

I once had an eye doctor who previously examined candidates for aerial gunner positions on WW2 bombers. If you were right handed and left eye dominant, you were returned to where you came from, No training was wasted on you.

 

I can`t use a shotgun to save my soul, rifle and pistol deadly.

 

So now I get nose prints over that beautiful sapphire glass screen on my M9. I am trying to train the right eye, but after decades using Leica with left eye, I find it quite impossible.

[hjsesq]

Thanks all for your thoughts, suggestions, and encouragement. What seems to trouble me most is holding the camera steady while trying to get my left eye close to the viewfinder. I'll keep working on it and hopefully with enough practice it will become easier for me.

 

While I know that it would be easier with a DSLR, I definitely do not want to return to that route again.

 

Thanks again,

 

Harris

[iedei]

my mind has just been blown by this post. I knew that vision varied between the right and left, but didn't realise the extent of dominance. My left eye clearly feels more comfortable on the viewfinder....once i tested.

 

this changes everything. lol. damn.

Edited November 11, 2012 by iedei

[gravastar]

Genetics. Nothing can be done.

 

I once had an eye doctor who previously examined candidates for aerial gunner positions on WW2 bombers. If you were right handed and left eye dominant, you were returned to where you came from, No training was wasted on you.

 

I can`t use a shotgun to save my soul, rifle and pistol deadly.

 

So now I get nose prints over that beautiful sapphire glass screen on my M9. I am trying to train the right eye, but after decades using Leica with left eye, I find it quite impossible.

 

Interesting, I'm right handed left eye dominant and when younger earned marksman status shooting 303s.

 

Artistically I'm useless at composing with my right eye. I forsake the better vision in my right eye for the left when using the Leica. For sure you get nose grease on the screen, it's par for the course. I just feel very uncomfortable using the right eye with a camera.

 

Bob.

Edited November 11, 2012 by gravastar

[iedei]

Genetics. Nothing can be done.

 

I once had an eye doctor who previously examined candidates for aerial gunner positions on WW2 bombers. If you were right handed and left eye dominant, you were returned to where you came from, No training was wasted on you.

 

I can`t use a shotgun to save my soul, rifle and pistol deadly.

 

So now I get nose prints over that beautiful sapphire glass screen on my M9. I am trying to train the right eye, but after decades using Leica with left eye, I find it quite impossible.

 

i've been reading about this since the morning. Eye dominance can be changed by applying an eye patch over the dominant eye and forcing the weaker eye to become dominant. Similar to how 'strabismus' is treated, i suppose.

[Richard Morwood]

Patching helps improve visual acuity in the non-patched eye as long as your visual system is still developing (8 or 9 years of age is widely regarded as the length of our "plastic" period). I frequently see patients in practice (I'm an optometrist) who for some reason have to try to switch eye dominance, eg. pathology in the dominant eye leaving the other eye as the clearer eye. Almost without exception it is very difficult initially and patients are very visually uncomfortable.

Six to nine months later they are much happier simply because of familiarity. Spatial awareness, judgement of speed and distances, etc, all seem normal again even if they have become somewhat reduced.

As someone else has pointed out you will get used to it with time. Keep practicing and it will become second nature to use you "newly dominant" eye at the view finder.

Richard

[djs]

I have peripheral vision only, in my right eye, so shoot with the left eye.

I find that using an eye-cup is helpful, as the camera can be held firmly against the face.

The eye-cup I use is made by match Technical (they also produce the Thumbs Up). Check them out here E-Clypse EyeCup

 

Donald.

[hjsesq]

Thanks Donald,

 

I looked at the E-Clypse EyeCup on the web site and saw what they have to offer - may be the solution. I wrote to Tim Isacc and and asked if he had any suggestions using the eyecup. He and I have corresponded previously and I have full confidence in him. Will keep you posted. Thanks again,

Harris

Edited November 14, 2012 by hjsesq
complete

[Guest borge]

I am left-eye dominant as well. I have always used my right eye on the viewfinders of all cameras that I previously owned (autofocus cameras) but once I started using the Leica I feel that I have to use the left eye to manually focus. Why? Because it is EASY to notice that by using my left eye my focus precision is a whole lot better, especially in bad light and with moving subjects.

 

It kinda feels weird to shoot a Leica with the left eye, but whatever works - it's the images that count, not the image!

[Paul J]

The eye patch method works mainly when you are a child. This is the method that my dominance was swapped over as I'm blind in my right eye. I wore a patch for just over a year at 6-7 years of age.

 

I don't think it is that easy when you are a fully formed adult with fully developed synapses/habbits etc though. I think I remember being told that it was only possible because of my young age.

Edited November 14, 2012 by Paul J

[Paul J]

A possible solution/aid to the OP. I find that using a pocket wizard GREATLY helps stabilize the camera as it rests perfectly on my forehead with left eyed shooting. Maybe this is one method you could take using either a pocket wizard or something like it in size. Maybe a SF24D flash? At least while you assimilate?

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Hallo,

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[Dougg]

I am another left-eye-dominant right-hander; my optometrist tells me this is relatively uncommon. So I've always used my left eye on the viewfinder, and for vertical shots I rotate the camera right-side down.

 

Then I developed a cataract in the left eye, and as it got progressively worse I had to switch to using my right eye for photography. Eventually I had cataract surgery on both eyes, two years apart, and it turned out the viewfinder is clearer and sharper using my right eye (not wearing glasses while shooting), so I stayed using that one for framing/focusing.

 

Some people are more strongly left- or right-dominant and have a harder time than I in making the switch...

Edited November 15, 2012 by Dougg