Left Eye Dominant

[TR3B]

How does one deal with the obstruction of view with a rangefinder, being left eye dominant. On my DSLR, my nose is mashed against the lcd and I'm peering down a dark black box, unable to see what is occurring outside that little world. I was thinking that with a rangefinder camera, I could have a much brighter and unrestricted view of the world. It seems the perfect answer but again being left eye dominant, I'm obstructed with the right eye by the camera. I wanted to rent the M9 for a few days and see if this would be a real problem or something I could workaround but the sales guy looked at me kinda funny. He didn't have to answer, I knew for myself.
Any experience with this issue is much appreciated.:bang:

 

[Ranchu]

I only shoot with my left eye, some people can switch. I prefer slrs to the RFs that have the finder all the way over on the left. The ones where it is an inch or inch and a half from the edge are ok.

 

[srtiwari]

I have the same problem, and have resolved it by using cameras allowing 1:1 image, so one can keep both eyes open. I use a Canon P, have used Bessa R3A, and also have the 1.4 magnifier on a Leica M6, which has a .72 finder. This brings it to 1.008 magnification- close enough. I am quite happy with these options, and have learnt that keeping the dominant eye open is enough; it does not have to be the one you focus with. So, no more mashing the nose, as I see through the RF with my Right (non-dominant) eye.

 

[Stelios]

There are lots and lots of left eyed rangefinder users, using their left eye with no real issues (Garry Winogrand and Matt Stuart come to my mind, something old, something new). I "trained" (?) myself to use the right eye with a rangefinder and sometimes keep both eyes open (not too often though) . I find this a bit unnecessary but I'm used to it now. That way I can wind without removing the camera from my face, although I think I would quite happy to use it with my left eye. I didn't think too much about it.

 

[zauhar]

This is a little like learning to look through a microscope - with practice you will focus attention where it's needed while keeping both eyes open.

I am a newbie to using rangefinders, and also left-eye dominant (according to the clever test). I can usually focus using my right eye, although I need to "cheat" and close the left eye for a moment if the light is dim.

Randy

 

[nimcod]

I cannot for the life of me use anything but my left eye, try as i might with using my right, even with 1:1 vf i need to close my left eye which i find oddly much harder than closing my right.

I just live with the crushed nose and not being able to see except through the vf

 

[TR3B]

I believe your dominant eye is also a factor in your depth of field. I have tried this although my images haven't noticeably improved. Go figure!

 

[Sam N]

I'm also left-eyed and I tried shooting right-eyed and keeping both eyes open with the R3a. It felt wrong to focus with my right eye, but maybe I just didn't give it enough of a chance. Now I just mash my nose against the back of the camera.

It's still very different from an SLR since you can see outside the framelines and everything is in focus.