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I was taking some shots the other day with a friend of mine and noticed he used his right eye in the viewfinder, whilst I use my left. I then tried using my right eye but it felt really awkward, I mean REALLY awkward.
I would be interested to know which eye the folks on this forum use.

It's my first attempt adding a poll so I hope this works.

I only use my left eye because my right eye is buggered

I always use my left eye, tried with the right and just couldn't get in a position where I could feel at all comfortable, not sure if it's just habit or means something else. Means I squash my shnoz when in a portrait orientation, and with my shnoz, that's a lot of squashing

This question comes up in photo forums every now and then.

Just as most people are either right-handed or left-handed (with the remainder being ambidextrous), most people are either right-eye-dominant or left-eye-dominant.
Personally I'm right-handed but left-eyed.

To check which is your dominant eye, open both eyes and look directly at something at least a little way away (the ceiling corner across the room for example). Then stretch out an arm and point at the same thing. Now close (or cover with the other hand) your left eye or your right eye. You'll soon see which eye was being used by your brain to track the pointing (with that eye closed your finger will appear to be waay off-target).
That's probably the eye you use through the viewfinder...

Being left-eye-dominant does mean you get a lot more sweat/grease on the LCD, as well as breath condensation on cold days!

I'm a lefty that writes upside-down and uses my left-eye.

(That's when I'm looking through the viewfinder to take a picture...)

right handed, left eyed...

Right handed and right eyed

Alex

Interesting. I use my right eye, but i wonder if that may be due to using a right-handed rifle at work It just feels natural to do so.

I just tried using my left eye but my photos came out unlevel. Weird!!!

I use my right eye mostly, because that way I don't get gross nose grease on the LCD protector, especially when I switch to the portrait grip.

right handed - left eyed

Right handed and Right eye as i always have left eye open as well 90% of the time watching what i am taking a pic of off.

left handed- right eye,
been practicing to use right handed weapons on virtual cop2, funny i can get a faster fire rate with my right but more accuratly on the left.

My wife keeps telling me that I am one eyed b#*#@! .

Left handed and left eyed and although I do some things like play golf right handed, I prefer to shoot people (as in Killakoala's sense) left handed

Right handed and Right eyed. LOL Loz, my wife says the same when I watch footy



MATT

I find that this poll is discriminatory because there is no suitable option for us ground-glass and wiast-level finder people who use both eyes and thereby utilise both hemispheres of the brain. Increasingly I would think that photographers shooting with tethered set-ups are using both eyes also.

If anybody is interested there is a book entitled: RIGHT BRAIN/LEFT BRAIN PHOTOGRAPHY - the art and technique of 70 modern masters by Kathryn Marx [Publisher: AMPHOTO - ISBN: 0-8174-5717-8]

Cheers,

left eye if i am shooting people so they can't see my disturbing face

for all other scenarios, right eye to prevent nose on the lcd panel

I find it interesting that a few people have commented on the nose touching the LCD if they shoot with the left eye...
My nose is smack in between my eyes, so it wouldn't make any difference if I shot with the left eye or the right eye...
The LCD on a D70 is, after all directly below the viewfinder...

leek wrote:My nose is smack in between my eyes, so it wouldn't make any difference if I shot with the left eye or the right eye...
The LCD on a D70 is, after all directly below the viewfinder...

However if you use your right eye your nose pokes out alongside the camera slightly (or into the L plate ). Maybe it's not just the LCD we're worried about but also the rest of the camera body on the right?

Usually it's not an issue I worry about, except maybe when I've just applied sunscreen...

It certainly looks ungainly to see a person using their left eye to look through a Leica Rangefinder camera.

Many MF cameras and the old Alpa Reflexes had 45º oculars which releive this nose grease issue.

Leek,

You are correct the viewfinder lies directly above the LCD........BUT at the time I asked my friend it was early morning (cold) and I was having problems viewing the LCD due to fogging, he was having no problems at all.
There is more camera body on the RHS and also the flashcard door has a kick that can blow nasal exhaled air from a lefty eye shooter back toward the LCD. The camera body on the LHS is half the size and also tucks in towards the lens.
The D70 is obviously bias toward the right eye photographer

Also interesting is the remark about shooting in portrait mode.
This should easily be solved by turning the camera in the opposite direction depending which eye you use. eg. right elbow up for right eye users, left elbow up for lefties. BTW I'm right eye, right hand and when I shoot video I always pan from right to left that way I can see what's coming up with my left eye... but I digress.

Right eye and use my left eye to track the moving object.

If it's people I'm photographing, then it's still my right eye with the left eye closed.

phillipb wrote:Also interesting is the remark about shooting in portrait mode.
This should easily be solved by turning the camera in the opposite direction depending which eye you use. eg. right elbow up for right eye users, left elbow up for lefties. BTW I'm right eye, right hand and when I shoot video I always pan from right to left that way I can see what's coming up with my left eye... but I digress.

I don't think it's wise to hold the camera left side up, unless I'm have a leftie camera, I won't be doing that anytime soon, because that position is just so awkard for your right hand which does all those important functions.

And oh BTW, I'm ambidextrious (sp?) and uses my left eye.

Left Eye, Left Handed but R/Hand batting in Cricket and Golf......

Cheers

T

right handed, right eye dominant. All you reverse weirdos out there need to be rounded up and retaught

Interesting subject. I use my right eye never really thought about it before. I think maybe because my camera controls are on the right, so if I use my right eye there is more room to play with them.

When you guys wink do you favour an eye? Maybe that could also be your strong eye

Right handed, right eyed. I've tried left, it felt wrong for two reasons, 1 I have astigmatism in my left eye (makes it very unfortunatable, and doesn't focus as well) and 2 I can close my left eye and keep my right open, reversing that proves near impossible for me.

right hand right eye watch the subject with my left eye so I can track movement

Right handed & right eyed

Left eyed, right handed. Tried using my right eye, felt absolutely rediculous! Weird....

I'm right handed and left eyed.

I used to shoot (rifle) and it's a bit awkward reaching over for the bolt and getting the hot shell in your face.

Cheers
Dean

As I said earlier, I'm left-eye-dominant.

But when shooting rifles or bows I use my right eye. It simply falls into the best location. But even then I close my left eye (otherwise it tries to take over and my accuracy goes to pot). When shooting with pistols I use my left eye. Before anyone gets the wrong idea, it's been a long time since I used a firearm other than a paint-ball or laser gun!

Which eye is dominant may be due more to environment and conditioning than to some innate "sidedness".
I'm sure there must have been lots of university research funding spent on this somewhere...

This is very interesting. I've never thought about this before, always assumed that everyone used their right eye like me. Right handed, right eyed. I wonder if it's a genetic thing?

Slightly related, but slightly not, apparantly there are two ways to hold toilet paper in your hand before you (ahem) 'clean' - folded or scrunched. The way you do it will be the same as your dad. So they say, but i've never actually asked my dad.

Sorry to bring the tone down.

rokkstar wrote:...Slightly related, but slightly not, apparantly there are two ways to hold toilet paper in your hand before you (ahem) 'clean' - folded or scrunched. The way you do it will be the same as your dad. So they say, but i've never actually asked my dad.....

Some things about my Dad I'd like to know...some things I wouldn't.

Guess which!

 BTW, I'm right handed, right footed, but a left eye shooter (I don't know how you guys do it with your right eye!). I have 2 sons, they are both left footed, but right handed. I'm not sure what eye they use but I'll find out on the weekend and post.
Thanks for the interest,
regards to all
Marcus