Can't shoot manual focus anymore

Thanks for all the suggestions. I read all the entries closely. Now to digest it and make some decisions.
 
Dogman said:
Sorry to hear about your vision problems. Since you've apparently been unsuccessful in other avenues, autofocus does seem a logical alternative. For an AF camera with an OVF you either go with an SLR or a Fuji X100 or X-Pro. There might be other options but I'm not aware of them.

Don't worry too much about going to AF. Everyone makes good AF cameras these days. The AF cameras I've used over the last few years have all been able to focus faster and more accurately than I can focus manually.
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The Nikon D500 has the best AF ever. Maybe their film F6 is AF as well. Hope the OP finds a good solution.
 
Sorry to hear about the injury Akiva.
I would use whatever you find acceptable to you.
AF seems to make most sense as it requires nothing else to do when taking photos. No eye patch and no need to cover one of your eyes.

I recently bought a beautiful (used) Nikon D700 for $400. It has AF.
 
kshapero said:
Last November I had a home repair accident where a steel rod hit me in my left eye. My eyesight is back to normal but the muscle in my eye lid was weakened to a point where I can not close my left eye without closing both eyes at the same time. the result of this situation is that when I look into the Viewfinder (I am right eyed), I can not close my left eye on its own. Consequently I get double vision, which make it near impossible to know if the rangefinder split image is lined up. The proof of the pudding is my latest developments pretty much all suck. (Only a few shots with my short tele (90mm) came in focus).

So now I am on the hunt for camera that is auto focus. Guess I'll need new lenses, too. Want to stay with an Optical View Finder also. Bye Bye Nikon and Leica M manual focus lenses and their sweet bodies. Oh yes the doc says this condition usually does not get better. Life goes on. :D
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So sorry to hear that, Akiva.:(
 
olifaunt said:
You can actually use the left eye for the viewfinder. Garry Winogrand was known for doing that, by the way. It is also less obvious to candid subjects that you are taking their picture. I usually use the right eye but as an experiment on one trip I used the left and I found it very easy to do.
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For what it's worth, after finally accepting that I am left-eye dominant, I started doing this, and it does make me stealthier!

Plus, since my right eye is behind the camera, I don't have to bother closing it, and I no longer get headaches.
 
Akiva I feel sorry about your accident, many accidents happen in an home environment
Wish you to find a good solution.
robert
 
Just wanted to toss this out since someone mentioned AF cameras refocusing every time you press the shutter release.

On all the AF cameras I've used in the last few years (Canon, Olympus and Fuji in the main) you can either lock focus with a back button or you can separate the focus completely from the shutter button, using a back button for focusing. The Fuji X-Pro2 (and probably others as well) will also hold the AF point as long as you apply slight pressure to the shutter button between exposures--no refocusing required.

So don't despair. There are ways around various AF problems. It's amazing how well AF now works.
 
kshapero said:
Unfortunately that would still be manual focus.
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Yes, manual focus with your M lenses, but brilliant autofocus with Fuji lenses. I especially like using the back button focusing method for street photography. I set the Fuji to Manual Focus, but then push the back AF button and it snaps to the distance I have the camera pointed at, and stays there until I change it. You can do this using the EVF or OVF.

Having the EVF and OVF in the same camera is the huge benefit of the Fuji XPro bodies, in my opinion. When I want to emulate the experience I used to get with a film rangefinder, I set the Fuji to OVF, manual focus, RAW, and manual settings on aperture & shutter speed.
 
Sorry to hear about your vision troubles Akiva. I hope you are able to find an acceptable solution that allows you to continue with your photography. Autofocus is certainly a useful alternative but there may be others as well.

My M3 does not have a 1:1 viewfinder but the magnification is close enough that I have been able to focus with both eyes open. I have found it a useful skill doing sports photography with manual lenses since I can see what is coming with the left eye.

However, I also use autofocus in these same situations. Both methods can work well once you are used to them.
 
If you want a system that gives you a balance between film and digital in similar bodies I see Nikon as the best option. An F6 for film and as someone suggested a D700 for digital then start thinking about what you want in AF lenses. This is quite a commitment but if as you said the condition won't improve I don't see too many options that can match this combination. If your current setup is as unusable as you suggest I see little point in keeping any of it.

I'd also be proactive in trying to prove that doctor wrong by persevering and trying to get your brain to adjust to the situation.
 
Do you wear eyeglasses? Maybe you could get those clip on shades that flip up. Fix it so that they flip up and down independently of each other. If it's tinted enough it will allow you to see the rf patch even if both eyes are open. I have prescription sun glasses and they come in handy for increasing contrast. I've worn them at night when I forgot my regular glasses and could still see fine to drive a car or ride my bike.

I'll bet you could use the eye patch idea that others have mentioned, or train yourself to shoot with both eyes open, but the sunglasses work really well for me in terms of increasing contrast.
 
Ouch! sorry to hear about the injury!

Perhaps...Nikon S2 (and up) rangefinders are life size, shoot with both eyes open?
 
I'm 75 with eyes that are not what they used to be. For 35mm photography I have found that using AF assist from my Nikon N75 makes focusing faster and more sure. Recently had my MF 28mm /3.5 AIS lens adapted to use on the camera in addition to my AF lenses.
 
kshapero said:
Last November I had a home repair accident where a steel rod hit me in my left eye. My eyesight is back to normal but the muscle in my eye lid was weakened to a point where I can not close my left eye without closing both eyes at the same time. the result of this situation is that when I look into the Viewfinder (I am right eyed), I can not close my left eye on its own. Consequently I get double vision, which make it near impossible to know if the rangefinder split image is lined up. The proof of the pudding is my latest developments pretty much all suck. (Only a few shots with my short tele (90mm) came in focus).

So now I am on the hunt for camera that is auto focus. Guess I'll need new lenses, too. Want to stay with an Optical View Finder also. Bye Bye Nikon and Leica M manual focus lenses and their sweet bodies. Oh yes the doc says this condition usually does not get better. Life goes on. :D
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What if you train yourself to be left eye dominant? You can independently close your right eye, yes?
 
Nikon S3 rangefinder is 1:1 with some classic great glass and new CV glass in S mount is on sale these days (Cameraquest site). IMHO a wonderful option, best option that loads just like a Nikon F.

Very sorry to hear about your accident. Check into acupuncture, I have no experience with what you have, but it just comes to mind for some reason, just want to say it might work.

Good luck.

B2 (;-<
 
A Voigtlander Kontur accessory viewfinder might work for you.
This ingenious design requires two eyes open for normal use.

Chris
 
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