Left or Right?

[JAS]

I am strongly left-handed but also right-eye dominant. I shot right-eyed on my college rifle team and in the US Army. With photogrpahy, I shoot right-eyed, also reinforced after the cataract surgery to clear-up that cloudiness in both eyes. My left side is also stronger for holding the camera and lens. It works for me.

 

[Patty15]

It is a very curious and interesting effect. I think that when taking a photo, if a person is right-handed and uses his left eye or vice versa, it does not affect the result, but here is the curious thing: if you are right-handed and you shoot a handgun, you will always use your right eye. It has never been seen that in that case someone holds the gun in their right hand and aims with their left eye, the same if it is the other way around. Strange effect, isn't it?
www.flickr.com/photos/walterbaliero

My granddaughter shot photos with her left eye, but in archery she shoots right-handed and uses her right eye. She's right-handed.

 

[2Lab]

I use my left eye because my right eye is much weaker. I have noticed that other photographers use their right eye. I also know of instructors who teach that wildlife shooters should use their right eye in the viewfinder while watching the scene with their left eye.

I do both ways depending on the situation. My right eye is primary and both eyes open after I am locked on to the subject. When I use my left eye I keep the right open as well but it is an incomplete scene as my hand (big paw) is obstructing part of the view.

 

[Captain Spaulding]

I have used both at various times in my life. I finally realized that I was more comfortable using my right eye and keeping the left open. As someone mentioned it allows me to keep an eye on the bigger picture so the snake doesn't slither into my boot. I do the same thing shooting - handguns and LD rifles. I eat left handed and can write decently with both. I once broke my right wrist and found that, after about a month, my handwriting was much better left handed. Still, I reverted back to my righthanded ways when the cast came off. I think I was one of those kids who was tied up and beaten until I adopted right handed ways.

 

[Roy]

Each of us have a dominant eye.
to find your dominnt eye:
look at a point across the room and block it with your thumb
close each eye and whichever eye doesnt reveal the point is your dominants eye...

 

[macwalter]

I am left handed and am terrible shooting pool left handed! I am left eye dominant so like shooting I prefer my dominant eye hence left eye to camera. But I am experimenting with switching as my left eye is no longer as strong as my right eye. Tough habit to change though as your dominant eye aligns properly with what you see.

 

[BillEdge]

LEFT

Always used the left eye, and really never thought much about it, until now. Will try the right for a while.

 

[ecycled]

As I posted earlier I've always been a lefty shooter. Just felt more "normal" for me on all my Nikon bodies historically (D3500, then D500, then D850/D6). And As far as I can ascertain, I am left eye dominant.

That said I am now in possession of a Z9 to go along with my D6. Have had it for a few days and decided to play around with using my right eye instead of my left. I must admit that with the Z9's EVF and all that one can customize (and I thought the D6 was king in that department ) I may find times when I would use the right instead of the left. Maybe it will be camera-specific - don't know.

Curious if anyone else has been in this situation. I know the EVF versus pentaprism has been a topic of debate amongst users. I personally, insofar as my few days of curious experimentation with this new tech, am impressed. Will see if I may become left/right-eyed.

 

[ElenaH]

I am left-eye dominant, right-handed and use my left eye for EVF. But I always keep both eyes open. I can follow the environment with right eye. But if for some reason I use my right eye for EVF then I need to close the left eye, otherwise it is distracting, I cannot see in EVF clearly but distracted by environment which I see with my left eye...
Weird ;-)

 

[ecycled]

I am left-eye dominant, right-handed and use my left eye for EVF. But I always keep both eyes open. I can follow the environment with right eye. But if for some reason I use my right eye for EVF then I need to close the left eye, otherwise it is distracting, I cannot see in EVF clearly but distracted by environment which I see with my left eye...
Weird ;-)

I would say more fascinating than weird .

No expert but maybe since you are left-eye dominant (as I am) the brain tasks that eye with the more demanding role (in this case the EVF information) where as the right eye is being tasked the secondary role of observing. Using opposite eye roles overloads left eye (dominant) with what it and brain thinks are more pressing (to use that word) in the moment?

Just a hypothesis based on nothing more than the few cups of coffee I've had.

 

[ElenaH]

No expert but maybe since you are left-eye dominant (as I am) the brain tasks that eye with the more demanding role (in this case the EVF information) where as the right eye is being tasked the secondary role of observing. Using opposite eye roles overloads left eye (dominant) with what it and brain thinks are more pressing (to use that word) in the moment?

I think, you are right!

 

[BarryM]

Left eye, right handed. I've read the recommendations for using the right eye, but it feels terribly awkward to me. I'd miss 70% of my shots.

 

[dkleinsmith]

I'm not sure which of my eye's is dominate but I've always used my left eye for the viewfinder. This allows the camera body to block out my view on my right eye without needing close my right eye. I hate having to close one eye. I always wondered if there was a right or wrong way.

 

[Captain Spaulding]

I'm not sure which of my eye's is dominate but I've always used my left eye for the viewfinder. This allows the camera body to block out my view on my right eye without needing close my right eye. I hate having to close one eye. I always wondered if there was a right or wrong way.

If it’s been a while since you last gave the two eyes approach a shot, you may want to consider it. I was pretty committed to one eye shooting until a marine buddy of my son suggested using both. The logic behind it was improved situational awareness and it aids relaxation.

It took a little while, but I became comfortable with it and my camera and firearm skills improved. YMMV

 

[BakerBrad]

I've always used my left eye.

FWIW I've been told that the right side of the brain is the "artistic" side and the left is the "logical" side. The left eye connects to the right side. This, of course, could be an entire discussion on its own.

 

[Mr.Fox]

I bumped into Michelle Valberg about 3 years ago while shooting Snowy owls. She is a Nikon ambassador for Canada and a professional wildlife photographer. Her photos have been on postage stamps and Canadian currency coins. To read a little more about Michelle's accomplishments, (if interested):

Michelle Valberg

Photographer Michelle Valberg is a Nikon Ambassador. Find out more about her and her photography.

en.nikon.ca

I noticed that she looks through the viewfinder with her left eye. I use my right. I was wondering which eye, you use?

With my right eye, although I can look with my left eye. I write equally well with my right and left hand. Right eye leads. It's more of a convenience. It's more comfortable for me, and I don't have my nose on the camera's touch screen

 

[viper699]

I bumped into Michelle Valberg about 3 years ago while shooting Snowy owls. She is a Nikon ambassador for Canada and a professional wildlife photographer. Her photos have been on postage stamps and Canadian currency coins. To read a little more about Michelle's accomplishments, (if interested):

Michelle Valberg

Photographer Michelle Valberg is a Nikon Ambassador. Find out more about her and her photography.

en.nikon.ca

I noticed that she looks through the viewfinder with her left eye. I use my right. I was wondering which eye, you use?

Left 100%

 

[seh]

I use my left eye, which is dominant, and I'm right-handed. Surprised at how many responder are similarly cross-dominant. Also glad to know so many people use left eye as I always felt a bit guilty. FWIW being left-eye cross dominant does make handgun shooting more challenging, but that's a small problem compared with trying to see the sights with presbyopia.

 

[Ken Miracle]

Right eye dominant and right handed and right eye in view finder. Usually left eye open, unless looking into a bright light.

 

[Box Brownie]

I use my left eye, which is dominant, and I'm right-handed. Surprised at how many responder are similarly cross-dominant. Also glad to know so many people use left eye as I always felt a bit guilty. FWIW being left-eye cross dominant does make handgun shooting more challenging, but that's a small problem compared with trying to see the sights with presbyopia.

I too am left eye dominant and right handed. I can wink either eye though with more control of the right eye.

On a side note as a few have mentioned shooting, bearing in mind I am in the UK and shooting is uncommon. Back in the 1970's I was invited to join an indoor small bore .22 rifle club.
I initially used an Anschutz (query spelling,?) bolt action with right eye aiming. But it did not feel 'right' so they switched me to left eye aiming with a Martini-Henry action rifle and with left eye aiming was so much more comfortable.
NB only did for a few years as I changed jobs and that precluded me from the access & membership.