Have you tried switching the viewfinder to the other eye?
Silly question - One eye closed or both eyes open?
- Thread starter bronaldo
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Could be...Both eyes closed, I think I have found the reason for my missed focus photos.
I have but it’s difficult
agree. I am a cyclops shooter
It was worth a try...
It’s almost like it causes me to lose focus mentally whenever that other eye is exposed lol. Anymore especially when doing macro attend to use my rear LCD more than the viewfinder. I also bought a Atomos monitor I use quite often which is really nice. For birds I still like the viewfinder the best.
bronaldo
Active member
Last edited:
Yeah, I hardly ever shoot birds through the rear LCD, occasionally I will do video with the external monitor, but 99% of the time with birds I am looking through the viewfinder.
I shoot with both eyes open.
I used to coach olympic trap shooting back in the day and we always encouraged shooters to use both eyes. I said encourage not train as not everyone can do it. It depends on your ocular dominance. Some people will see double images, some will have an issue with subject (in trap shooting its the target) shifting its position, and others simply can not see what they are looking at at all. I suggest using two eyes if you can, if you can't than don't force yourself.
Most of us are right eye dominant and right handed but some are not. If you find yourself being say right handed and left eye dominant then try using your left eye in the viewfinder. My right eye is so much more dominant I can easily shoot high-powered rifle scopes with both eyes open and most people can't do that.
I used to coach olympic trap shooting back in the day and we always encouraged shooters to use both eyes. I said encourage not train as not everyone can do it. It depends on your ocular dominance. Some people will see double images, some will have an issue with subject (in trap shooting its the target) shifting its position, and others simply can not see what they are looking at at all. I suggest using two eyes if you can, if you can't than don't force yourself.
Most of us are right eye dominant and right handed but some are not. If you find yourself being say right handed and left eye dominant then try using your left eye in the viewfinder. My right eye is so much more dominant I can easily shoot high-powered rifle scopes with both eyes open and most people can't do that.
arbitrage
Well-known member
I mostly shoot with one eye closed. I'm left eye dominant and in my DSLR days I shot with my left eye. In my MILC transition I changed over to shoot with my right eye as it kept my face out of the way of the right hand trying to control the camera (maybe because the cameras were smaller I found this more of an issue). Maybe the EVF was easier to use a non-dominant eye than an OVF or maybe since I do close one eye it didn't matter.
tclune
Well-known member
Sometimes my best results are with both eyes closed...
VinnyH
Active member
Try to keep your non-eyepiece eye open to see what else might be happening. I tried this years ago with my sports photography. Focused on the 2nd baseman but the runner on 1st takes off out of the corner of your eye, move to maybe catch that.
It would work for birds and wildlife. Basically you may notice activity worth moving to with your camera.
VinnyH
PS: it may not be needed in some static situations
It would work for birds and wildlife. Basically you may notice activity worth moving to with your camera.
VinnyH
PS: it may not be needed in some static situations
Feiertag
Well-known member
It's a very good question.
TimG
Member
Both eyes open for fast moving subjects, the technique mentioned above by Fcotterill is roughly what i do. Take your lense and find an object at a respectable distance, don’t even think or try to get the lens on target yet, just begin by locking your eyes on the target and bringing your camera up to your shooting position. After several reps of this once the lens is up shift your focus to viewing through the lens. if you concentrate on keeping that dominant eye locked on your target and just letting the lens slide into the line of sight you will get better at it. Some find it easier to start closing your non-dominant eye as soon as the lens is on target. Also if you aren’t seeing the target just draw a slight “O” with the lens. Your brain will adapt after enough practice so it will become easier. If you develop that muscle memory then move on to targets that are moving. Good Luck!
BillthePill
New member
I shoot both eyes open, not sure if it really helps.
Not A Speck Of Cereal
Well-known member
Whatever is natural for you. If it turned out that most people here vote for the opposite of what you normally do, are you going to change? (You probably shouldn't.)
jfredrick
Well-known member
Right eye only.
A bit surprised with this polling! Both eyes open to acquire a shot and right eye open (left eye closed) to compose and tweek settings in the viewfinder. Rarely use both eyes (helps track fast moving close objects). Rarely use the live view back screen for shooting (helps with shots at ground level).
A bit surprised with this polling! Both eyes open to acquire a shot and right eye open (left eye closed) to compose and tweek settings in the viewfinder. Rarely use both eyes (helps track fast moving close objects). Rarely use the live view back screen for shooting (helps with shots at ground level).
Both eyes open since that is how I have shot and tracked moving targets all of my life with hundreds of thousands of shotgun rounds fired it is the "normal" thing for me.
I am right eye dominant so that is the one in the viewfinder.
Now I only shoot birds with a camera and the Z9 Z800 combo is my birding "gun" for this run and gun bird id photographer.
I am right eye dominant so that is the one in the viewfinder.
Now I only shoot birds with a camera and the Z9 Z800 combo is my birding "gun" for this run and gun bird id photographer.
I admire your ability to do that with a shotgun, because I have tried that numerous times over the years and cannot do it to save my life. Lol.
MikePapple
Well-known member
I had a situation photographing Beluga whale. They would surface, give a little blow, then submerge, all in a couple seconds. By keeping both eyes open I could catch the whale just below the surface, rotate my torso and take a burst.
My tendency is one eye closed when I bring the viewfinder up but then I switch to both eyes open usually.
Mal Paso
Active member
Guns or Cameras both eyes open. Right eye dominant but my left eye is better. I can shoot with either eye.
Both eyes until I get the subject in frame, then shut left eye, when using a 300 mm or longer lens.
O
Well-known member
Both eyes = less strain
tcrick
New member
I agree. Although it is a hard habit to break, I find that in my main genre (sports photography) picking up on activity outside the viewfinder is a major advantage and results in better anticipation of the decisive moment. Knowing your subject helps as well.