The things you do for photography...

hteasley · 08-18-2012

At the ripe old age of 44, I just got contact lenses for the first time. I've always been terrified of them, of anything touching my eyeballs. But after years of shooting rangefinders with glasses, I wanted to see if I could get past my fears and get contacts, so I could get a proper view through the viewfinder, see the outer framelines, and generally see if it would be a better experience.

Wow, it really is. It's awesome. I'm glad I did this. The contacts aren't as bad as I was expecting, and the viewfinder experience is a lot better than it was with glasses.

I'm thinking it will help with my focusing. Glasses have caused me to have some centering problems in looking through the viewfinder, so I'm thinking I might have an easier time of it now.

charjohncarter · 08-18-2012

I wear glasses and have not had problems focusing (especially RF), but depending on the viewfinder I have a problem framing.

barnwulf · 08-18-2012

I wear glasses but my eyes are good enough that I can shoot without them. I have tried it both ways and I now always remove my glasses to shoot images. It makes a very big difference. I am glad that you have found a solution that works. - Jim

emraphoto · 08-18-2012

oh the things i do for photography. seriously though, i am downright blind as a bat and the kids like to put on my glasses so they can 'see all crazy'.

luckily, i am near sighted in my right eye.

porktaco · 08-18-2012

you remind me that i need to go downstairs and practice putting the stupid things in

i shoot with diopter thingies, but they're a pain in the ass and i'm starting to get old enough so i can't see wtf is going on without taking my glasses off. lol me

nikon_sam · 08-18-2012

I started wearing glasses about two years...I need them to read but I can shoot without them......for now...I prefer not to wear them while shoot as I'm afraid I'll scratch the heck out of 'em...
When I'm out shooting I'll take a pair of cheap "Cheaters" instead of my real glasses...
Contact lenses just don't sound right

paulfish4570 · 08-18-2012

harry, i hope they continue to work wonderfully for you.

fotomeow · 08-18-2012

"The things you do for photography..."

I know what you mean, first contacts, then ....... deodorant, taking showers and stuff ........ so as not to scare off your subjects .....

Spavinaw · 08-18-2012

I have worn hard contacts for about fifty years. hteasley I hope you get to do the same.

dave lackey · 08-19-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by hteasley

At the ripe old age of 44, I just got contact lenses for the first time. I've always been terrified of them, of anything touching my eyeballs. But after years of shooting rangefinders with glasses, I wanted to see if I could get past my fears and get contacts, so I could get a proper view through the viewfinder, see the outer framelines, and generally see if it would be a better experience.

Wow, it really is. It's awesome. I'm glad I did this. The contacts aren't as bad as I was expecting, and the viewfinder experience is a lot better than it was with glasses.

I'm thinking it will help with my focusing. Glasses have caused me to have some centering problems in looking through the viewfinder, so I'm thinking I might have an easier time of it now.

Fantastic! I have been wearing rigid contacts since age 15 (back in the 60s)...and I love them even today! Every few years I get talked into trying a pair of soft lenses but the rigid works a bit better for me for a couple of reasons. Either way, contacts are amazing and so much so, that I have never owned a pair of glasses since then!!

You will love the freedom especially in cold or rainy weather. One caveat (or two), just be sure you carry an spare set with you/nearby at all times and it is a good idea to keep your glasses. The reason I don't care about having a pair of glasses is that I have so many extra pairs of contacts around that if I lose one, I just find an old one to replace it with.

Pherdinand · 08-19-2012

Glad for you, Harry.
Now the next step is eye surgery

I have a friend who went through all 3 steps and finally he said, he should've done it 15 years earlier (he was 35) and that it was the best spent money in his life.

astro8 · 08-19-2012

I really should be wearing glasses but am in the denial stage. I've noticed my vision deteriorating over the last few years but I'm trying to put off the inevitable.

I switched from right eye to left eye focusing as the right eye became so bad.

I can still focus pretty well and fast. I think I've adapted as my eyesight has worsened. I just focus to 'least blurry' and seems to work really well, even in very low light.

Joosep · 08-19-2012

Dont wear glasses nor contacts.

Have a -2 diopter on my M6, works excellent.

hteasley · 08-19-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pherdinand

Glad for you, Harry.
Now the next step is eye surgery

My vision isn't *that* bad yet. Hope it never gets there, but if it does, I'll definitely jump on it.

Bill Clark · 08-19-2012

Welcome to the world as you get older!

At least you're alive to view it!

Enjoy!

dave lackey · 08-19-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by astro8

I really should be wearing glasses but am in the denial stage. I've noticed my vision deteriorating over the last few years but I'm trying to put off the inevitable.

I switched from right eye to left eye focusing as the right eye became so bad.

I can still focus pretty well and fast. I think I've adapted as my eyesight has worsened. I just focus to 'least blurry' and seems to work really well, even in very low light.

Nothing wrong with OOF, I just hope the bokeh is good.