Special glasses for seeing my viewfinder, or the camera menu screen

[MikeMyers]

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The following might be of help to others.  I had my cataracts removed, and wear glasses.  Until recently I could either use my distance prescription to see through the viewfinder, or use my reading glasses to read the menus on the back of the camera.

My good friends in India figured out a solution.  They made a special pair of progressive lenses.  The top half is a distance prescription, so I can see through the viewfinder of my cameras.  The bottom half is an extreme close-up prescription, so I can move the camera a little in front of me, and easily read the menu - or use Live View.

The photo below is sort of fake, in that I was looking at the mirror with my left eye rather than through the viewfinder - I was switching back and forth, between mirror and viewfinder.  I sometimes shoot like that as well, trusting that I will still get what I want in my photo.

There must be a huge number of people who have the same problem.  It's easily fixed though, with glasses like these.  They're essentially just like any progressive lenses, except that they only have two prescriptions, distance, and very close.

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[jaapv]

Actually, to have an optimal view of the rangefinder you need glasses calculated for 2 meters. 

[Jeff S]

Indeed.  
 

Eye conditions and comfort levels are also quite personal. I’m fortunate that my prescription glasses, corrected for distance and astigmatism, when coupled with a +.5 diopter, allow me to see the focus patch clearly in addition to distant objects.  I’m happy to slide my glasses up if needed to better see the rear screen. I hate progressive lenses, and like to avoid chimping, so this works well for me.

Jeff

[jdlaing]

23 minutes ago, jaapv said:

Actually, to have an optimal view of the rangefinder you need glasses calculated for 2 meters. 

The center part of trifocals.

[MikeMyers]

When my glasses were made, I was struggling with a Fuji X100 camera, as if I could see through the viewfinder clearly, I couldn't read the menu.  My normal "distance" glasses seem to work find with the Leica including the rangefinder - but the screen on the back, with the menu information, is just a blur.  So my ultra-close-up prescription allows me to see the menu screen, and the upper part of the glasses works just the way it always has.

'Jaapv' - I never knew that - but is it important?  People my distance glasses show me a clear view of the rangefinder, at least a clear enough view that I can superimpose the two views together to focus.  Are you suggesting I have a small area in my next pair of glasses calibrated for 2 meters just to see the rangefinder?  In what way will this make a difference?

'Jeff S' - when I posted this, I wasn't thinking of the focus patch.  As far as I know, I see that fine.  What I *was* thinking about was how to clearly see the menu/live/live-view screen clearly when it's just a few inches in front of my eye.  Reading glasses resolve the problem, but I wanted some way to see the screen even closer to my eye.  Glad sliding your glasses up works for you, but it doesn't do anything for me.  Without close-up glasses, I can't read the menus - they are just a blur.

'jdlaing' - I might be doing that without even thinking about it with my normal progressive lenses, as the focus smoothly transitions from "distance" to "reading".  Not knowing about this2-meter concept, my new camera glasses quickly transition from distance to close-up - which is all I asked for. 

 

My problems happened with my Fuji and my Canon G7X Pro.  I know the new glasses worked great with my Leica, the one time I have tried them, when I wanted to work with the menus.   Maybe one of you can elaborate on how best to view the rangefinder - I never even thought about this until just now.

[jdlaing]

3 minutes ago, MikeMyers said:

When my glasses were made, I was struggling with a Fuji X100 camera, as if I could see through the viewfinder clearly, I couldn't read the menu.  My normal "distance" glasses seem to work find with the Leica including the rangefinder - but the screen on the back, with the menu information, is just a blur.  So my ultra-close-up prescription allows me to see the menu screen, and the upper part of the glasses works just the way it always has.

'Jaapv' - I never knew that - but is it important?  People my distance glasses show me a clear view of the rangefinder, at least a clear enough view that I can superimpose the two views together to focus.  Are you suggesting I have a small area in my next pair of glasses calibrated for 2 meters just to see the rangefinder?  In what way will this make a difference?

'Jeff S' - when I posted this, I wasn't thinking of the focus patch.  As far as I know, I see that fine.  What I *was* thinking about was how to clearly see the menu/live/live-view screen clearly when it's just a few inches in front of my eye.  Reading glasses resolve the problem, but I wanted some way to see the screen even closer to my eye.  Glad sliding your glasses up works for you, but it doesn't do anything for me.  Without close-up glasses, I can't read the menus - they are just a blur.

'jdlaing' - I might be doing that without even thinking about it with my normal progressive lenses, as the focus smoothly transitions from "distance" to "reading".  Not knowing about this2-meter concept, my new camera glasses quickly transition from distance to close-up - which is all I asked for. 

 

My problems happened with my Fuji and my Canon G7X Pro.  I know the new glasses worked great with my Leica, the one time I have tried them, when I wanted to work with the menus.   Maybe one of you can elaborate on how best to view the rangefinder - I never even thought about this until just now.

Keep in mind all this noise about two meters and the focus patch is moot if you’re trying to focus on something that is 30-40 meters away. You’ll see the focus patch clearly with glasses that are set for two meters but the object you’re trying to focus on won’t be clear. With multi focus glasses it takes a bit of practice and getting used to where on the glasses to look thru while focusing at different distances. I got lucky after all the eye surgeries and cataracts to not have to wear glasses any more and have 20/20 vision.

[jaapv]

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Yes - but if you are looking at 30 meters you won't see the focus patch clear,  nor the framelines..  As all eyes  are different -especially their accomodation ability- ,the best thing to do is do go to an optometrician and use his try-out lenses to achieve an optimal compromise

[jdlaing]

2 minutes ago, jaapv said:

Yes - but if you are looking at 30 meters you won't see the focus patch clear,  nor the framelines..  As all eyes  are different -especially their accomodation ability- ,the best thing to do is do go to an optometrician and use his try-out lenses to achieve an optimal compromise

When I look thru the viewfinder at objects that far away the framelines and focus patch are clear.

[jaapv]

Sorry - no.  You cannot look at something 2 meters away and thirty meters away and have both in focus. Your eye  accommodation and integration by your brain will create that  effect.

[Jeff S]

5 minutes ago, jaapv said:

As all eyes  are different -especially their accomodation ability- ,the best thing to do is do go to an optometrician and use his try-out lenses to achieve an optimal compromise

This.  And a general eye exam to ensure all eye conditions, including astigmatism, are addressed, along with correction options.  Years ago I took my M to my ophthalmologist and had a good discussion, plus he had the ability to simulate various alternatives.  I’ve since dropped in at a local optician, as my eyes have aged, to check trial diopters to optimize M focusing. Eyes change...as do options.

Jeff

[MikeMyers]

Because of the normal "depth of field" for the eye, I had the fellow who designs the IOL's calculate a power that usually makes everything from two feet to infinity appear sharp.  This seems to work fine for my Leica rangefinder and viewfinder.  

[Jeff S]

1 hour ago, MikeMyers said:

Jeff S' - when I posted this, I wasn't thinking of the focus patch.  As far as I know, I see that fine.  What I *was* thinking about was how to clearly see the menu/live/live-view screen clearly when it's just a few inches in front of my eye.  Reading glasses resolve the problem, but I wanted some way to see the screen even closer to my eye.  Glad sliding your glasses up works for you, but it doesn't do anything for me.  Without close-up glasses, I can't read the menus - they are just a blur.

 

 

 

As my initial post started, eye conditions and comfort levels are a personal matter.  I tell others what worked for me, not what I think they should necessarily do.
 

The focus patch is, however, set at a virtual distance of 2 m on all Ms.  (There is a -.5 diopter built in.) So, just good to know when experimenting.  Optimizing all distances is often difficult, so we often seek best compromises. My prescription, plus a .5 diopter, provides effective enough vision from 2m and beyond.

In my large format view camera days, I carried a pair of magnifying glasses around my neck to allow me to see the ground glass image clearly.  Whatever works.

Jeff

Edited November 17, 2020 by Jeff S

[jdlaing]

37 minutes ago, MikeMyers said:

Because of the normal "depth of field" for the eye, I had the fellow who designs the IOL's calculate a power that usually makes everything from two feet to infinity appear sharp.  This seems to work fine for my Leica rangefinder and viewfinder.  

That’s the way my implants work.

[jaapv]

Interesting to hear that multifocal implants work for you. Both my eye doctor and my optician were quite adamant it would not be a  good idea.

[MikeMyers]

14 minutes ago, jaapv said:

Interesting to hear that multifocal implants work for you. Both my eye doctor and my optician were quite adamant it would not be a  good idea.

I did not get multifocal implants - I very strongly did NOT want them, for many reasons.  I have standard monodical IOL's in both of my eyes, and my right eye (which we did these calculations for) give me a reasonably sharp for the range of two meters to infinity.  Only ONE distance is perfectly in focus, but I have a working distance (depth of field) in good light from two meters to infinity.

Everyone warned me that anything other than a monodical IOL would leave me very disappointed.  I understand that, and the fellow that designs them went through all the math for me.

With my progressive lenses, I have a sharp view of anything from reading distance to infinity, *IF* it is reasonably light.

With my new camera lenses, I can see distance or around 8" from my eye,  and the in-between area is also probably useful, but I only have used the two extremes.

[MikeMyers]

'jaapv', both your eye doctor and your optician told you the correct information.  All these "premium" lenses, with two or three prescriptions in the IOl can cause reflections and glare, and you never get the sharpest possible view because your brain has to figure out which image projected on your retina is the one to use.  In the USA, I couldn't find any of this on the various web sites.  Going to Australia and some other countries, I found the real information.  It's also on the manufacturer's websites if you dig deep enough.  But they want to sell multi-focal IOL's because they get so much more $$$$.   

[MikeMyers]

2 hours ago, jaapv said:

Sorry - no.  You cannot look at something 2 meters away and thirty meters away and have both in focus. Your eye  accommodation and integration by your brain will create that  effect.

My fault - I meant to write I have a reasonably sharp view of anything from two METERS to infinity reasonably sharp.  Sorry.

Is there any way to fix that?   I didn't see an "edit" button.  I'd like to change feet to meters, and explain my goof.....

Note - I did not say or mean "in focus".  I can see things quite clearly from two meters to infinity due to depth of field.

Edited November 17, 2020 by MikeMyers

[MikeMyers]

2 hours ago, Jeff S said:

.........Years ago I took my M to my ophthalmologist and had a good discussion, plus he had the ability to simulate various alternatives.  I’ve since dropped in at a local optician, as my eyes have aged, to check trial diopters to optimize M focusing. Eyes change...as do options.

Jeff

Can you please elaborate?  I've never thought of taking my camera to my ophthalmologist other than for getting my special glasses made.  Did your doctor give you a full vision check as you look at the vision charts through the camera?   Fascinating.  Once I know more, I will ask my eye doctor about this.

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[MikeMyers]

2 hours ago, jaapv said:

Yes - but if you are looking at 30 meters you won't see the focus patch clear,  nor the framelines..  As all eyes  are different -especially their accomodation ability- ,the best thing to do is do go to an optometrician and use his try-out lenses to achieve an optimal compromise

I am so lost right now - for my entire life both the image through my viewfinder and the "focusing image" are equally sharp, and I just superimpose one over the other.  I just tried it, looking at a cruise ship maybe a mile away from me, and both images were perfectly sharp - to my eyes, at least.  This is with wearing my normal prescription (progressive) glasses.

You're right about the frame lines, but to me, they are just a guide anyway.  It makes no difference to me if they are sharp or not.

I can see more of the entire viewfinder if I take my glasses off, but that's rather inconvenient - where do I put the glasses while looking through the camera?  I guess I'm lazy - I leave my glasses on all the time.

[MikeMyers]

2 hours ago, jdlaing said:

.........With multi focus glasses it takes a bit of practice and getting used to where on the glasses to look thru while focusing at different distances.........

I've been wearing progressive lenses for maybe ten years?  Longer?  I guess I'm doing what you just wrote, but I no longer think about it, I just "do it".  That's the beauty of progressive lenses.