Any Left-eye Switchers?

[okto]

I'm completely right-side dominant (can't see as well out of left eye and can't do much of anything with my left hand), and I can't shoot with both eyes open. I have considered putting a left-eye blind on my camera like I used on my sights when I shot match rifle.

 

[SteveM(PA)]

I've trained myself to use my right eye. With a 1:1 viewfinder and both eyes open, the camera just melts away. I still use my left eye for right-hand-down portraits. I can't say it's helped my crap picture taking though 🙂

 

[pvdhaar]

I'm left eye dominant, while like some others here have better vision with the right one. I really tried hard to switch when I got the Hexar RF as it is quite picky about the position of the eye behind the finder. Never managed though..

 

[alexz]

I have strong right-handed dominance and obviously shoot firearms (in my army service and annual reserve duties) with my right eye, but always shot left-eyed with cameras. Somehow that came naturally, can't remember when and how, even with SLRs. I've tried recently right-eyed approach but couldn't quite get accustomized to it, was a bit weird experience.
However, to the benefit of left-eyed shooting approach, I often keep both of my eyes open (thus putting less strain on my eyes while shooting) - the right eye view is blocked by the camera body, very little illumination enters my right eye in such case so it is quite close to eye shutting condition.

 

[Doug]

I've been left-eyed until recent years, when a cataract was growing worse in that eye. It got so blurry I switched to the right which had had cararact surgury a couple years earlier. It seems a matter of habit for me; now that I've developed the habit of raising the camera to the right eye I still do so even though the left eye has good vision now too.

Remembering back to my getting more serious about photograpy years ago I recall experimenting with how best to hold the camera for vertical orientation shots. Because of being left-eyed I got a better "connection" to the viewfinder when the camera was held right-side down. Also I though holding my right arm way high for right-side high holding would draw more attention to myself. And, particularly with RF cameras, holding right-side low makes it easier for the left hand to stay clear of the viewfinder window while moving the focus and aperture settings. Finally, I think right-side down promotes a steadier hold, as both elbows can be pressed agaist one's sides. So it all worked out, and it's not so different right-eyed except for attempting a good view for verticals.

Now I seldom use my left eye for the viewfinder, depending on circumstances. For vertical shots with the Pentax 645 though, the configuration of the camera grip is less convenient right-side low. So for that I prefer the left eye since the camera has only a small ring eyecup that pokes me in the right eye by getting too close too easily, and using the left eye the camera body is steadied better by my forehead. But I may switch to right-side down with this camera too, using my thumb on the shutter release...

 

[cmogi10]

I'm a left eye gone right eye when I switched to shooting with Rangefinder cameras. Prior to this with my SLR's I was always a left eye shooter and initially I shot left eye with my RF until I reminded myself to shoot right eye every time I raised the camera. Now it automatically goes there.

 

[ebolton]

Left eye with the camera, and left eye/left handed shooting firearms. Like Alexz, I usually keep both eyes open when looking through the viewfinder, even though the right eye isn't really contributing. I guess it relaxes muscles in my face. I know I compose/shoot better that way.

Ed