Left or Right?

[januaryman]

I was looking at the "Me and My M" thread, admiring the images of you folk, when it occurred to me that there seem to be many more right-eye shooters than left-eye. I only noticed this since my eye problems that now leaves me stuck (temporarily, I hope!) with right-eye shooting, a very uncomfortable feeling for me. Which are you? Or does it not matter?

 

[Al Kaplan]

Most people are right handed and right eyed. I'm right eyed but always tried to shoot left eyed on occasion so I wouldn't be out of business if I had an eye injury. Now I'm developing a cataract in my left eye so it's no big deal.

 

[Pickett Wilson]

Left eye. I'm right handed but have always shot with my left eye.

 

[kully]

Right-handed, left-eye for me too.

 

[wontonny]

Before the M I was a left eye shooter. After the M I'm now a right eye shooter. Been trying to switch back but it's hard to break a habit.

 

[FrankS]

right handed, left eye

 

[drewbarb]

I use my right eye through the viewfinder most of the time, though not exclusively. Sometimes my left eye is in a better position; other times I just use the other eye to see how the other half of my brain responds to the scene and frames a picture. I do this especially when I feel like I can't quite get the composition right, and need to change something. Not to hijack the thread, but am I the only one who does this?

 

[PhotoMat]

I use my right eye when shooting rangefinders, but strangely enough, I have always used my left eye when using SLRs. Weird, huh?

 

[MarkoKovacevic]

Right eye on the XA/P&S/SLR, left on the Leica/Zorki

 

[g12]

Mainly right , got used to it on the R3A, the VF is 1:1, so you can shoot with both eyes open and see the framelines... kinda spooky ;-)

 

[marke]

Even though I'm right handed, I've always shot left eyed. I've always envied the right-eyed shooters, but could never seem to make the change. Now I got myself an M3 and am commited to making the change. Even though I have to develop the new discipline so that it becomes a habit rather than a conscious thought, I can see that it's already becoming easier. I'm even finding it easier with my 0.72x MP now when I remember to try it. So obviously, because I'm in transition, I couldn't vote!

 

[Tom A]

Left eyed shooter and right handed. This was the primary reason for making the Rapidwinder for the M4P/M6/MP. I kept knocking my glasses off with the advance lever! I used M2's with Leicavit's for years before that and had to find a solution when they slowly dis-integrated over time (Leicavit's that is).

 

[januaryman]

Interesting results so far - ... and like drewbarb, when using my left eye I'd sometimes keep the right eye open to see what was about to enter the frame using my peripheral vision. I know it would be easier using my right eye to compose and the (unobstructed) left to see what was going on, but as I said, I was always left eyed, even firing a rifle, despite being right handed (at that time).

Funny, Tom A., about your glasses/lever story as an origin story of your invention!

 

[michalski]

I'm right-handed, left-eyed, but I've trained myself to shoot with my right eye so, on occasion, I could have both eyes open and see the context of the action.

Rob

 

[beezerc15]

left eye,left handed.

 

[FrankS]

I use my right eye through the viewfinder most of the time, though not exclusively. Sometimes my left eye is in a better position; other times I just use the other eye to see how the other half of my brain responds to the scene and frames a picture. I do this especially when I feel like I can't quite get the composition right, and need to change something. Not to hijack the thread, but am I the only one who does this?

Each eye sends info to both sides of the brain.

 

[Ronald M]

Most people are right handed and right eye dominent. Lefties are usually left eye dominent.

Being a odd fellow, I am righthanded ad left eyed and must use a camera, microscope telescope with left eye.

I am a total loss with a shotgun. Not bad with a pistol or rifle.

I had an optomitrist once who examined recruits for aerial gunners on bombers . The very first check was righthand-lefteye condition. It got you immediate rejection without knowing anything else. No questions asked.

 

[Kaerf]

I've only ever used my right eye (I'm right handed). It wasn't until a friend tried taking a shot with my M that I realized people might use their other eye.

 

[kermaier]

I was always left eyed, even firing a rifle, despite being right handed (at that time).

How do you fire a rifle like that? Doesn't the recoil cause the back of the receiver to break your nose? 😱

::Ari

 

[kermaier]

I shoot right-eyed only.
A friend of mine shoots left-eyed, which is a problem with his M7 -- his nose keeps moving the ISO dial, which wreaks havoc when he's using AE.

::Ari