Should I get my eyes checked?

[Ambrosia76]

Hubby and I went on what was a disappointing trip out of town this weekend, but got a few shots.

Anyway when shooting I normally shoot with my left eye to the view finder,not sure why just always have. Well at one point this weekend I switched and used my right eye I noticed what I saw was much brighter and a little clearer. tried it several more times with the same result.

Anybody know if that is normal?

Also It is only when I look through the viewfinder, I tried it without the viewfinder, covering one eye then the other and I see the same out of both.

[mshockley]

hmmmmmm, I don't have an answer, but this interesting. Someone on here is an eye doc., I saw his post over in the assignment section...lol...maybe he'll see this thread! Hope you get some answers.

[IABoomer]

My first thought is there's something about the ergonomics of using your left eye that keep it from seating as well against the viewfinder. Maybe your nose pushes against the camera and keeps your left eye from fully making contact with the rubber around the viewfinder. When you switch to your right eye, you seal out more of the ambient light which makes the viewfinder image brighter and clearer.

Having said that, most people do have a dominant eye, so it's probably nothing to worry about.

[Biomech]

Yeah alot of people have different eyes. I always look through with my right eye and ram the camera into my head - resting the weight of my noggin on my eyebrow against the rubber viewfinder :P

Have you tried fiddling with the ... thingy .... diopter?, the little wheel next to the viewfinder.

[UlpilotSC]

If youve never gone to an eye doctor its worth it to get checked every few years. Speaking as someone who was normal and had nearsightedness sneak up on me over a few years, only to find out the only line on the chart i could read was "E"... its worth it. But what you describe doesnt sound that bad. The first roll of film i shot with my parents old manual canon, i was taking my glasses off because they kept me from getting close to the viewfinder. Looked good to me through the lens, but everything came out blurry when printed.
Something you might try: put the camera on manual focus, and take a few shots at what you think looks sharp. If the objects are blurry when you look at them on the pc, you might have an issue.

[jgbkab]

I also had that same problem but just the opposite. I always used my right eye and shots were not coming out how I saw them. But when I switched to my left eye, things got a lot clearer. I split my eyelid open as a child so I'm thinking that may have something to do with it...or either old age.

[rosserx]

This reminds me of another thing... (sorry for drifting OT)

I can only talk on the phone when its held up to my left ear. My hearing is equal in both ears but for the life of me I can't use the phone with my right ear. It always has to be the left otherwise its just too awkward!

[NgaiHill]

Are you left or right handed? As someone above said, most people have a dominant eye and usually it has to do with handedness. I am right handed and always shoot (camera & firearms) with the right eye, although I always like to keep the left eye open.
I always use the left ear for the phone as well although I think that has more to do with shooting right handed for years
Unless you're still a spring chicken it would be worth getting yours eyes checked.

[Thunder_o_b]

Check the Dioptric Adjustment on your camera, you may have it set to your other eye.

[sk66]

I suspect it's not "set" at all...

I use my left eye with the camera, but I'm slightly rt eye dominant. I think it's mostly an ergonomics thing.
Sounds like you are the same.
"Brighter" would be a matter of ergonomics and getting your eye exactly centered, sharpness less so. Sharpness can be minimally affected by ceter, but it's more a matter of diopter adjustment for your preferred eye.
You want to adjust the eyepiece so that the text is the sharpest using your preferred eye...
Generally you are better off sticking with what is more natural....