Viewfinder curtain

sewebster · 01-18-2011, 04:35 PM

What do people do to block light from entering their viewfinder when their eye is not there? Swapping out the rubber frame (or magnifier in my case) for the plastic cover that comes with the camera seems fairly inconvenient.... (I have a k200d if that is relevant). Or is this really not a problem?

wlachan · 01-18-2011, 04:41 PM

Built-in curtain like those on some Nikon bodies would be nice, but not something I need since I photograph mostly people. For scenery with tripod, I just shield it with my left palm.

SOldBear · 01-18-2011, 05:02 PM

When there is a chance of stray light into the viewfinder may foul up the exposure meter, I use the camera in M mode and set the aperture/shutter speed myself.

sewebster · 01-18-2011, 05:07 PM

Originally posted by SOldBear

When there is a chance of stray light into the viewfinder may foul up the exposure meter, I use the camera in M mode and set the aperture/shutter speed myself.

Yeah, good idea, and now that I think about it, probably I am also in M mode most of the time this comes up as well.

However, my real concern is with light leaks through the viewfinder during long exposures. I.e. light from the viewfinder hitting the sensor.

**DAZ** · 01-18-2011, 06:14 PM

If you are doing a long exposure it is usually dark out so no problem. If you have a really strong light behind the camera and it is not going to effect the foreground then either stand behind the camera or put your hat on the camera. That’s what I do.

DAZ

sewebster · 01-19-2011, 10:45 AM

Hat on the camera. That probably works!

The time I wanted it I was in the city (so there were lights on the house next door that were reasonably bright) but I had the camera pointed at the dark sky for about 10 mins. My photo came out washed out and I wondered if this was the problem. Next time I'll try the hat. Thanks folks.

JeffJS · 01-19-2011, 10:54 AM

Originally posted by sewebster

Hat on the camera. That probably works!

The time I wanted it I was in the city (so there were lights on the house next door that were reasonably bright) but I had the camera pointed at the dark sky for about 10 mins. My photo came out washed out and I wondered if this was the problem. Next time I'll try the hat. Thanks folks.

Once you trip the shutter your viewfinder is pretty well blocked off. What you are dealing with is likely light pollution, not light leaking into the viewfinder.

I had to dial down the exposure 4 stops and pull the curves way down to get anything usable in this photo. It was nearly white (78 minutes).

The one below is 5 minutes..

The top photo was taken from the window (different night) shown in the bottom photo.

The only way you are going to kill it is to get away from the light.

lavascript · 01-19-2011, 11:44 AM

I have a weird style of shooting, especially with my kids, where I like to stick a wide-angle lens right up into whatever they're doing, generally at arm's length. I use the plastic cap. If something happens elsewhere, I can pop the cap off and grab a quick shot with no eyepiece, but for the most part, I keep it covered.

sewebster · 01-19-2011, 12:19 PM

Yeah, this was what I got after PP. Light pollution was probably my problem.

alohadave · 01-19-2011, 07:58 PM

Originally posted by DAZ

If you are doing a long exposure it is usually dark out so no problem. If you have a really strong light behind the camera and it is not going to effect the foreground then either stand behind the camera or put your hat on the camera. That’s what I do.

DAZ

It's a problem when you are doing daytime long exposures.

For this one, I put a cloth I keep in my bag over the viewfinder.

01-18-2011, 04:35 PM	#1
sewebster Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Vancouver, BC Photos: Gallery Posts: 544	Viewfinder curtain What do people do to block light from entering their viewfinder when their eye is not there? Swapping out the rubber frame (or magnifier in my case) for the plastic cover that comes with the camera seems fairly inconvenient.... (I have a k200d if that is relevant). Or is this really not a problem?

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01-18-2011, 04:41 PM	#2
wlachan Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Canada Photos: Albums Posts: 2,625	Built-in curtain like those on some Nikon bodies would be nice, but not something I need since I photograph mostly people. For scenery with tripod, I just shield it with my left palm.

01-18-2011, 05:02 PM	#3
SOldBear Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Alameda, CA Posts: 3,206	When there is a chance of stray light into the viewfinder may foul up the exposure meter, I use the camera in M mode and set the aperture/shutter speed myself.

01-18-2011, 05:07 PM	#4
sewebster Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Vancouver, BC Photos: Gallery Posts: 544 Original Poster	Originally posted by SOldBear When there is a chance of stray light into the viewfinder may foul up the exposure meter, I use the camera in M mode and set the aperture/shutter speed myself. Yeah, good idea, and now that I think about it, probably I am also in M mode most of the time this comes up as well. However, my real concern is with light leaks through the viewfinder during long exposures. I.e. light from the viewfinder hitting the sensor.

01-18-2011, 06:14 PM	#5
DAZ Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Everett, WA USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 744	If you are doing a long exposure it is usually dark out so no problem. If you have a really strong light behind the camera and it is not going to effect the foreground then either stand behind the camera or put your hat on the camera. That’s what I do. DAZ

01-19-2011, 10:45 AM	#6
sewebster Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Vancouver, BC Photos: Gallery Posts: 544 Original Poster	Hat on the camera. That probably works! The time I wanted it I was in the city (so there were lights on the house next door that were reasonably bright) but I had the camera pointed at the dark sky for about 10 mins. My photo came out washed out and I wondered if this was the problem. Next time I'll try the hat. Thanks folks.

01-19-2011, 10:54 AM	#7
JeffJS Inactive Account Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Michigan, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,484	Originally posted by sewebster Hat on the camera. That probably works! The time I wanted it I was in the city (so there were lights on the house next door that were reasonably bright) but I had the camera pointed at the dark sky for about 10 mins. My photo came out washed out and I wondered if this was the problem. Next time I'll try the hat. Thanks folks. Once you trip the shutter your viewfinder is pretty well blocked off. What you are dealing with is likely light pollution, not light leaking into the viewfinder. I had to dial down the exposure 4 stops and pull the curves way down to get anything usable in this photo. It was nearly white (78 minutes). The one below is 5 minutes.. The top photo was taken from the window (different night) shown in the bottom photo. The only way you are going to kill it is to get away from the light.

01-19-2011, 11:44 AM	#8
lavascript Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Baton Rouge Posts: 395	I have a weird style of shooting, especially with my kids, where I like to stick a wide-angle lens right up into whatever they're doing, generally at arm's length. I use the plastic cap. If something happens elsewhere, I can pop the cap off and grab a quick shot with no eyepiece, but for the most part, I keep it covered.

01-19-2011, 12:19 PM	#9
sewebster Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Vancouver, BC Photos: Gallery Posts: 544 Original Poster	Yeah, this was what I got after PP. Light pollution was probably my problem.

01-19-2011, 07:58 PM	#10
alohadave Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Quincy, MA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,024	Originally posted by DAZ If you are doing a long exposure it is usually dark out so no problem. If you have a really strong light behind the camera and it is not going to effect the foreground then either stand behind the camera or put your hat on the camera. That’s what I do. DAZ It's a problem when you are doing daytime long exposures. For this one, I put a cloth I keep in my bag over the viewfinder.