Right Eye vs Left Eye through the Viewfinder and Why?

LeDave · 03-20-2018, 03:27 PM

Do you shoot dominantly with your left eye in the viewfinder or right eye in the viewfinder and why?

I shoot with my left because I don't have to squint my right eye when I am shooting through the viewfinder, the right part of my hand and camera blocks it for me so I don't have to squint.

I know some people like to have both eyes open so they shoot with the right, but I find that really difficult to do.

**jatrax** · 03-20-2018, 03:38 PM

I use either depending on what looks/feels better. Not sure how to enter that in the poll

**Pentax Syntax** · 03-20-2018, 03:52 PM - **1 Like**

Most people have a dominant eye. They tend to use that eye when looking through optics like cameras or telescopes. I always take an informal poll when I do outreach with my telescopes. 80% or so have the left eye dominant. Neuroscientists believe that there is no real relationship between handedness and ocular dominance. With the telescope, there is really no ergonomic advantage to using one or the other so it tends to reflect the dominant eye. With cameras, ergonomics can play a role.

**Riggomatic** · 03-20-2018, 04:08 PM - **1 Like**

When I had stitches in my right lower eyelid (on the inside of the lid), pretty much all through February, I tried shooting with my left eye. I couldn't get the hang of it.

I also look through the telescope with my right eye

**aslyfox** · 03-20-2018, 04:20 PM

I am right eye dominant so that is the eye I use for the view finder and also the eye I use if I am sighting a fire arm

however I was taught always keep the left eye all the time as well and I think that is a good trick to learn and gives you an advantage

**BigMackCam** · 03-20-2018, 04:24 PM - **1 Like**

I shoot primarily with my right (dominant) eye, but I have a sporadic problem that sometimes renders that eye blurry for an entire day or sometimes longer - so on those occasions I switch to the left eye. Always feels a little weird, but not significantly so...

Not a Number · 03-20-2018, 04:38 PM

Right or Left eye survey... - PentaxForums.com

**monochrome** · 03-20-2018, 04:46 PM - **2 Likes**

Both eyes open right eye shooter. It’s an acquired habit.

nomadkng · 03-20-2018, 05:13 PM - **1 Like**

Here's an interesting challenge:

Each eye is associated with a different hemisphere of your brain, much like your handedness. It's why right handers in VERY broad general terms tend to be more analytical than left handers.

I am left eye dominant, but right handed. I just naturally put my camera to my right eye starting out so that is how I predominantly shoot, HOWEVER I have found that looking through the viewfinder with my left eye often gives me a VERY different perspective on the same scene I just composed with my right eye. My theory is that the "creative" right hemisphere is now playing more of role.

Sometimes I like it better, sometimes I compromise, at least 60% i stick with my original composition. What I have found, is that in scenes where I'm struggling to capture in a frame what I'm seeing with my eyes, it's often because the left eye isn't involved. More than once I've "found" what was missing. I've also unfortunately just shook my head on occasion and said, I just can't get "it". Time to move on.

The point of this rambling post is to note if your brain processes the scene differently using different eyes, and to try to learn how to use that to your advantage.

Originally posted by monochrome

Both eyes open right eye shooter. It’s an acquired habit.

I only use this technique for my critter hunts, especially when shooting whales or other creatures where you don't know their location until they suddenly appear. For landscape work, I'm of the mindset that I'm shooting in 2D, I need to analyze and compose in the same 2D vision, so I only use one eye.

stevebrot · 03-20-2018, 06:09 PM

Originally posted by Not a Number

Right or Left eye survey... - PentaxForums.com

What they said ^ ^ ^

What if I said that I use the eye that allows my nose to fit and work the controls? (In other words, no participation in this survey from me.) I am not strongly right or left-eyed, though I compose differently depending on which eye is used. With cameras having 1x viewfinders and both eyes clear, I leave both eyes open.

Steve

**ramseybuckeye** · 03-20-2018, 06:24 PM

When using a tripod I use live view and use both eyes. Other than that normally the left eye as I can hold the camera steadier, at least it seems that way.

Saltwater Images · 03-20-2018, 06:41 PM

I answered left eye that's how I shoot landscape or studio. For sports and street, I force myself to shoot with my right eye while keeping both open for greater situational visibility.

photolady95 · 03-20-2018, 06:46 PM

Growing up I was always right eye, right handed dominate. At the age of 63, I had lasik surgery to remove cataracts and got new lenses in both eyes. Since that time, I've become left eye dominate.

maw · 03-20-2018, 06:52 PM

In my life whether it was shooting, telemetry, telescope observation, microscope, in short the dominant eye has always been the left. But I am right-handed.

Paul the Sunman · 03-20-2018, 08:08 PM

Right. I am very strongly right-eyed (and right-handed and right-footed). No other option even occurred to me.

View Poll Results: Do you shoot dominantly with your Right eye or Left eye in the viewfinder?
Left Eye	50	48.54%
Right Eye	53	51.46%
Voters: 103. You may not vote on this poll

03-20-2018, 03:27 PM	#1
LeDave Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Minneapolis - St. Paul Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,067	Right Eye vs Left Eye through the Viewfinder and Why? Do you shoot dominantly with your left eye in the viewfinder or right eye in the viewfinder and why? I shoot with my left because I don't have to squint my right eye when I am shooting through the viewfinder, the right part of my hand and camera blocks it for me so I don't have to squint. I know some people like to have both eyes open so they shoot with the right, but I find that really difficult to do.

03-20-2018, 03:52 PM - 1 Like	#3
Pentax Syntax Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Maryland Posts: 595	Most people have a dominant eye. They tend to use that eye when looking through optics like cameras or telescopes. I always take an informal poll when I do outreach with my telescopes. 80% or so have the left eye dominant. Neuroscientists believe that there is no real relationship between handedness and ocular dominance. With the telescope, there is really no ergonomic advantage to using one or the other so it tends to reflect the dominant eye. With cameras, ergonomics can play a role. Last edited by Pentax Syntax; 03-20-2018 at 03:58 PM. Reason: Additions and corrections

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03-20-2018, 03:38 PM	#2
jatrax Site Supporter Join Date: May 2010 Location: Washington Cascades Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,991	I use either depending on what looks/feels better. Not sure how to enter that in the poll

03-20-2018, 04:08 PM - 1 Like	#4
Riggomatic Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Auburn, Indiana Photos: Albums Posts: 3,886	When I had stitches in my right lower eyelid (on the inside of the lid), pretty much all through February, I tried shooting with my left eye. I couldn't get the hang of it. I also look through the telescope with my right eye

03-20-2018, 04:20 PM	#5
aslyfox Seeker of Knowledge Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Topeka, Kansas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 24,583	I am right eye dominant so that is the eye I use for the view finder and also the eye I use if I am sighting a fire arm however I was taught always keep the left eye all the time as well and I think that is a good trick to learn and gives you an advantage

03-20-2018, 04:24 PM - 1 Like	#6
BigMackCam Digitiser of Film Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: North East of England Posts: 20,695	I shoot primarily with my right (dominant) eye, but I have a sporadic problem that sometimes renders that eye blurry for an entire day or sometimes longer - so on those occasions I switch to the left eye. Always feels a little weird, but not significantly so...

03-20-2018, 04:38 PM	#7
Not a Number Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Venice, CA Posts: 10,526	Right or Left eye survey... - PentaxForums.com

03-20-2018, 04:46 PM - 2 Likes	#8
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	Both eyes open right eye shooter. It’s an acquired habit.

03-20-2018, 05:13 PM - 1 Like	#9
nomadkng Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 1,448	Here's an interesting challenge: Each eye is associated with a different hemisphere of your brain, much like your handedness. It's why right handers in VERY broad general terms tend to be more analytical than left handers. I am left eye dominant, but right handed. I just naturally put my camera to my right eye starting out so that is how I predominantly shoot, HOWEVER I have found that looking through the viewfinder with my left eye often gives me a VERY different perspective on the same scene I just composed with my right eye. My theory is that the "creative" right hemisphere is now playing more of role. Sometimes I like it better, sometimes I compromise, at least 60% i stick with my original composition. What I have found, is that in scenes where I'm struggling to capture in a frame what I'm seeing with my eyes, it's often because the left eye isn't involved. More than once I've "found" what was missing. I've also unfortunately just shook my head on occasion and said, I just can't get "it". Time to move on. The point of this rambling post is to note if your brain processes the scene differently using different eyes, and to try to learn how to use that to your advantage. Originally posted by monochrome Both eyes open right eye shooter. It’s an acquired habit. I only use this technique for my critter hunts, especially when shooting whales or other creatures where you don't know their location until they suddenly appear. For landscape work, I'm of the mindset that I'm shooting in 2D, I need to analyze and compose in the same 2D vision, so I only use one eye.

03-20-2018, 06:09 PM	#10
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by Not a Number Right or Left eye survey... - PentaxForums.com What they said ^ ^ ^ What if I said that I use the eye that allows my nose to fit and work the controls? (In other words, no participation in this survey from me.) I am not strongly right or left-eyed, though I compose differently depending on which eye is used. With cameras having 1x viewfinders and both eyes clear, I leave both eyes open. Steve

03-20-2018, 06:24 PM	#11
ramseybuckeye Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Hampstead, NC Photos: Gallery Posts: 17,295	When using a tripod I use live view and use both eyes. Other than that normally the left eye as I can hold the camera steadier, at least it seems that way.

03-20-2018, 06:41 PM	#12
Saltwater Images Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Newfoundland Photos: Gallery Posts: 501	I answered left eye that's how I shoot landscape or studio. For sports and street, I force myself to shoot with my right eye while keeping both open for greater situational visibility.

03-20-2018, 06:46 PM	#13
photolady95 Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Cruising the forum watching his back Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,712	Growing up I was always right eye, right handed dominate. At the age of 63, I had lasik surgery to remove cataracts and got new lenses in both eyes. Since that time, I've become left eye dominate.

03-20-2018, 06:52 PM	#14
maw Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Sassari (Italy) Posts: 1,118	In my life whether it was shooting, telemetry, telescope observation, microscope, in short the dominant eye has always been the left. But I am right-handed.

03-20-2018, 08:08 PM	#15
Paul the Sunman Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Melbourne Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,847	Right. I am very strongly right-eyed (and right-handed and right-footed). No other option even occurred to me.