Should I close the viewfinder when adjusting the exposure?

[selimoflaz]

I am confused a little bit on this. It is clear that the light entering through the viewfinder affects the exposure especially in bulb exposure or shooting with the self-timer. In this case eyepiece cover should be attached to viewfinder to prevent such light effect.

What about the situation while metering the subject and adjusting exposure? Should we also prevent such light entering through the viewfinder by using the viewfinder while adjusting the exposure or not? Is there any problem if we do not use the viewfinder and adjust the exposure looking at LCD while the viewfinder is open or we should meter the subject by looking through the viewfinder all the time?

Sony A700 owner.

[kencaleno]

Originally Posted by selimoflaz

I am confused a little bit on this. It is clear that the light entering through the viewfinder affects the exposure especially in bulb exposure or shooting with the self-timer. In this case eyepiece cover should be attached to viewfinder to prevent such light effect.

What about the situation while metering the subject and adjusting exposure? Should we also prevent such light entering through the viewfinder by using the viewfinder while adjusting the exposure or not? Is there any problem if we do not use the viewfinder and adjust the exposure looking at LCD while the viewfinder is open or we should meter the subject by looking through the viewfinder all the time?

Sony A700 owner.

When you are metering the subject and adjusting exposure,you are behind the camers, normally with your eye at the viewfinder -Light MAY get in when camera is left on time exposures when you are in front of the camera-in 48 years of wedding and portrait photography I have never experienced this phenomenon. Ken

[selimoflaz]

Kencaleno,

Thanks. So do you mean that we have to meter the subject and adjust the exposure with our eye at the viewfinder and we should not do this without our eye at the viewfinder? Meaning if we do it without our eye at the viewfinder light may get in which may mislead during metering and exposure adjustment?

[dcclark]

selimoflaz -- Ken's got it right, the light which comes in -- if any -- is so negligible that it simply doesn't affect the shot.

The only time I would consider covering the viewfinder is when taking a long night shot. In that case, stray light has enough time (30+ seconds) to enter and bounce around that it may cause trouble. But even so, I have never actually seen any negative effects from this.

[selimoflaz]

Thank you guys.