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Cant see through my CL's Viewfinder now the UK is sunny!

Don Morley
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Don Morley

Don Morley

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Several times recently I have literaly been able to see anything in my CL's viewfinder when working into bright sunlight, indeed I cant even see or tell if the focusing point has gone walkabout again, which it normally has if my hand or nose has got anywhere near the controls, and although I have tried the various EVF illumination settings including automatic I do not seem to be able to get round this problem other than by adopting Mr Kodak's long held advice to amateur film users stating ' Always keep the sun behind your left hand shoulder '

 

Anyway as a spectacle weare as well this so far is proving to be a unsurmountable problem for me, and not one shared incidentally with any of the mirrored SLR's I have used over the years, or my current Fuji X-Pro2. Can anyone help or advise please? Don

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SrMi

SrMi

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AFAIK, most EVFs seem to have the same problem. My solution is to use the left hand to block the light coming from the right side. I have not noticed that CL's EVF has more problems than my other mirrorless cameras. I also wear glasses.

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thighslapper

thighslapper

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Those with Neanderthal brows and others who can get their eye close to the VF eyepiece to exclude ambient light have no problems. There were similar complaints with the SL from a small percentage of users ...... I think a lot is dependent on how you use the camera, facial features and the reactivity of your eyes pupil to the ambient light. Bear in mind if you keep the other eye open (which some do) both pupils will constrict based on the one in the brightest light ...... so the VF will be dark. I’ve always used cameras without glasses and dialed in the appropriate correction because of these potential issues ....... even though taking specs on and off is a nuisance. Cameras with nice big rubbery VF’s or additional eye cups have less issues. Boosting the VF brightness either manually or automatically would have been an option for Leica ...... but then you would either have to use full auto or pay close attention to a histogram to ensure you had the right exposure. WYSIWIG does have it’s downsides .....

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ramarren

ramarren

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Wow a hat. Thanks Jaapv I never thought of that I might get one, but does it have to say Leica on it?

 

 

Any self-respecting Leica user should have a Tilley hat... :D

 

(And yes, I have one. I thought it a little expensive until I lost one (blew away in the wind when I was at the sea cliffs a few years ago) and the Tilley folks replaced it for me. And it fits better than any of the cheaper ones I have as well...)

 

Joking aside: In addition to a good hat with a brim that helps a lot for more casual shooting, I also carry a nice dark cloth for focusing and framing when I use a tripod with almost any camera in the field. It makes it so much easier to see what you're doing clearly and easily when you can get your head and the back of the camera into the dark.)

Edited by ramarren
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LocalHero1953

LocalHero1953

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I normally wear contacts, but once a week I give them a rest and wear specs - that was today.

Out and about in London the light was brilliant (see the CL image thread today), but I had no problem seeing the EVF, so I'm a bit puzzled by your experience (which, of course, I don't doubt).

My specs are lightweight rimless with thin lenses, but they don't sit too close to my face.

There's some obscure optical geometry thing at work here.

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LocalHero1953

LocalHero1953

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Were you shooting into the brightest light though? Don

Yes.

See the first in the sequence starting here. This required me to crawl on the ground looking up at the sky at an awkward angle - and the sky was cloudless.

I don't think any of my shots yesterday were directly into the sun, but there was never any question that I found the EVF easily viewable.

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jaapv

jaapv

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I normally wear contacts, but once a week I give them a rest and wear specs - that was today.

Out and about in London the light was brilliant (see the CL image thread today), but I had no problem seeing the EVF, so I'm a bit puzzled by your experience (which, of course, I don't doubt).

My specs are lightweight rimless with thin lenses, but they don't sit too close to my face.

There's some obscure optical geometry thing at work here.

Not too obscure. I had an eye operation some years ago. Since then I find it unpleasant even to be in the  direct sun without  hat, especially wearing (sun)glasses. I am sure that individuals have a different tolerance of such conditions.

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wda

wda

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My solution: wear a hat.

Preferably one with a soft brim which yields for vertical shots. I visited a lavender farm last week and shot mostly into the light. No problems. In extreme cases, I also cup my left hand around the lens rim taking care not to intrude into frame.

 

In hot sunny situations a hat is essential for health reasons. Double value for a photographer. Triple value in a rain shower.

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nicci78

nicci78

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Welcome to the worst part of mirrorless : EVF cannot beat the sun ! How could it ? You just have to find a way to shade it : hat (anyway highly recommended under the summer sun), hand, huge eyecup, etc...

And stop wearing sunglasses ! Especially the polarized one. They make things worst, because EVF have to beat the sun and your tan sunglasses ! 

 

Or buy a DSLR for sunny day and keep wearing your sunglasses. Your choice. 

 

Hint : the DSLR will never go away. As long as it will never be possible to make an EVF brighter than our shinning star.  

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ramarren

ramarren

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Personally, I have just as much trouble seeing when peering into an SLR viewfinder in bright sun as I do with an EVF camera. I need a good hat with either of them. At least with the EVF, I can see better in dim light! :)

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  • 3 years later...
Topos

Topos

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This past weekend I took my CL to the Beach in South Boston and as others I discovered had a difficult time viewing as image was washed out. Thought camera had a defect until I read these old posts and so I contacted my Boston Leica store for a Leica eye-cup, which of course they were out of. As most of you I never throw any camera or parts away so having measured. the diameter of the CL viewer ring I found it close to 1". Searching through me camera drawers what did I find but 2 rubber cups, 1" diameter and around ¾" long used on small flash lights that I used to hold red filters for night viewing. Happy surprise it slipped on  and voila. Perfect fit, nice eye cup for free, and problem solved. Suggest you search for small flash lights with added filter cups. I am happy to pay back for this sites generous information I have gleaned in the past. Best.

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