focusing with botrh eyes

[photolady]

I am new to this forum and have some questions about focusing with both eyes open. I just got my R-D1 and absolutely love it! The photos are sharp (50/f2 lens) and although I am not new to rangefinders-I have 2 M6's- and have usedd them for years I never heard of focusing with both eyes. It would help me because I do wear glasses.
Interesting forum and lots of knowledgeable people- thank you!

[jlw]

Welcome!

I'm also a big fan of two-eye viewing. Of course you can only do actual focusing with the eyepiece, but keeping both eyes open helps you to be aware of what's going on outside the viewfinder.

I got spoiled by using a Canon VI-T and Canon P, both of which have 1:1 finders and allow two-eye viewing. I was really glad this feature turned up on the R-D 1!

[Jim Watts]

Hi & welcome,
Viewing and focusing of rangefinder cameras with both eyes open only works with 1:1 viewfinders. I am not sure which magnification viewfinders you have in your M6's, but even the highest 0.85x version this will not really work. Both eyes need to see the same size image. With 1:1 finders and both eyes open you should see the frame lines "suspended in space", so as jlw says "you will be aware of what's going on outside the viewfinder".

I like you wear glasses so unfortunately with the R-D1 at least it means I can't use the 28mm frame in this manner as you can't see the full frame lines without scanning. I can just about get away with the 35mm frame but the 50mm is where it really scores. Also unfortunately for most eyeglass wearers using a diaopter correction on the camera instead of glasses will not work very well with 1:1 either, as then both eyes are seeing a different level of sharpness.

The rangefinders focusing is of course is only really taking place using the eye that is looking through the cameras finder and it takes a little time to get the hang of this with both eyes open. Once you get the knack the R-D1 seems repeatable in focussing accuaracy as the image seems to further "clarify" rather than just coincide. See page 4 of the Fast Lenses on R-D1 thread for more on this.

I think that 1:1 viewing is a great advantage, but as I tend on the whole to favour slightly wide angle lenses, especially 35mm on full frame, I think I could sacrifice it for say a 0.72x finder in an R-D2 so as to extend the frames out to 18mm (28 equivalent) and 24mm (37mm equivalent) which would better suit my shooting preferences.

[dmr]

Originally Posted by photolady

I am new to this forum and have some questions about focusing with both eyes open. ... I never heard of focusing with both eyes. It would help me because I do wear glasses.

I don't have an Epson, but I'm answering because it's relevant to something I do out of habit.

I'll always focus, at least the final focus, with one eye only, but for the final composition and actual shoot I instinctively do it with both eyes open. People have noticed that I do it and have said it's strange. I just like to get the view of what will be in the frame along with what's just outside the frame. I really don't know how I picked up this habit.

I do wear glasses (supposed to, anyway, for distance) but I often times do not except when I really need them. Outdoors in the daytime I'll often wear prescription sunglasses. I've never had any real trouble with glasses and viewfinders.

Interesting forum and lots of knowledgeable people- thank you!

Oh yes, this is something I noticed even before I joined.

[Pherdinand]

Sometimes I focus with both eyes open. Mostly it's when i'm using a tlr.

[photolady]

thanks everyone-I'll try it and see if it works for me... love this forum almost as well as the camera...