Viewfinder diopters

[Terao]

Will getting a suitable viewfinder diopter improve my ability to see framelines (and the meter info) in the R-D1 viewfinder? I'm short-sighted, do I need a + or a - diopter? Is the correction factor independent of the camera being used? i.e. is it going to be the same as it was on the built-in diopter adjusment I had on my DSLR?

 

[Geo]

All I can say is that I use aviewfinder diopter +2 and now I am able
to see the framelines in the finder very well, without using my glasses.
The only problem is that without my glasses I could't read the scales on my camera body.
So I skipped the viewfinder diopter and do everything with my glasses.
It's not so comfortable in the beginning, but I have learned to work around it.
Geo

 

[Terao]

Thanks - I'm not that short sighted so could potentially do without my glasses when shooting - can see the lens markings reasonably well...

 

[jlw]

If you're nearsighted (myopia: can see OK up close, but blurry at a distance) you need a minus diopter. If you're farsighted (presbyopia: see OK at a distance, trouble focusing up close; most people lose close-focusing ability as they age) then you need a plus diopter.

If your problem is astigmatism (vertical lines sharper than horizontal lines or vice-versa) then a diopter correction lens alone won't help; this requires a cylindrical curvature that has to be custom-made by an optician. Still, many people who have a combination of myopia or presbyopia and mild astigmatism find they can use a camera more comfortably without glasses if they use a diopter lens to correct just the myopia or presbyopia.

 

[Bob Parsons]

One additional item to consider is how much accommodation your eye has - over what range of distances can it focus. You may find a fixed diopter correction insufficient.

In my case accommodation very limited and I need a variable diopter correction as provided by the Megapearls magnifier to be able to focus on near and far objects. The RD-1 viewfinder is a direct vision one and unlike an SLR the distance of the viewfinder image changes as the subject distance changes. The only problem with the magnifier is you are unable to completely see the 28mm frame lines.


Bob.

 

[rxmd]

The RD-1 viewfinder is a direct vision one and unlike an SLR the distance of the viewfinder image changes as the subject distance changes.

That's interesting. How do you keep the framelines, exposure LED and the edge of the rangefinder patch in focus when the eye views a distant object through the viewfinder?

Philipp

 

[Bob Parsons]

That's interesting. How do you keep the framelines, exposure LED and the edge of the rangefinder patch in focus when the eye views a distant object through the viewfinder?

Philipp

I can't. The diopter is adjusted until both images in the rangefinder patch are in focus (they're at the same distance as the rest of the subject in the viewfinder so that will also be in focus). I can then judge coincidence accurately even though the edges of the patch may be slightly blurred. Usually that means both the LED display and the frame lines are also blurred but useable.

Bob.