Avoid rangefinder eyestrain

[wew82]

Hi

I recently purchased a Polaroid 600SE, which I had modified to take a Belair back, allowing me to use the camera to shoot Fuji Instax film (anticipating the demise of Fuji's excellent fp100c film, which it was originally built for).

I am very happy with the results, the camera and its lenses, however there is one problem. Whatever I try I seem to suffer with eyestrain problems from shooting, even when using with the camera for quite short periods of time. The rangefinder was initially quite cloudy so I recently had it cleaned, which has certainly made the viewfinder sharper (if not overhwelminngly lighter, although it's certainly not dark), but unfortunately it hasn't solved the problem. This strain isn't something i ever experience shooting with DSLR and film SLR's. 😡

Having invested in the camera I'm reluctant to give it up, or rush into investing into another modded camera which might cause the same problems. I am wondering if there is anything I can do to help ease the strain, whether that's through a hack/further modification or a case of looking for diopters, viewfiner magnification things etc.

Nb have tried shooting with both eyes open etc and unfortunately the problem still persists.

Any help or advice very gratefully received.

Will

 

[JOCO34]

Before you ditich the camera I would first seek out a good Opthamologist, not an Optician. My daughter has an eye muscle imbalence that keeps her from binocular vision up close when she reads. Otherwise she is fine no issues. The Dr gave her some glasses with several diopters of prism which counterbalenced her "defect" and now she is good to go. I wouldn't dare to diagnose from a distence but you may have the same issue but with rangefinders.

 

[Spanik]

Good advise above! If needed, let make a diopter to YOUR eye. I got one made (for a Kiev 60) and it makes using that camera a joy compared to others that don't have an adjustable diopter. Nothing serious for me but anistigmatism but the difference is huge.

 

[wew82]

Ok great I will seek one out for further advice - I did recently get a prescription from a high street outlet (the glasses though useful generally haven't done much to help the problem), I'm guessing there's no point returning to them for advice?

 

[YouAreHere]

I see the 600SE uses an eyecup. If your prior cameras did not have one perhaps the new camera is causing involuntary squinting? In which case remove the eyecup and check if this helps.