DSLR for a frustrated far sighted female! Help me please!

[karebear1]

I'm looking for a new camera.... again! I have a Canon S2 IS power shot camera, but the screen on the camera just stopped working and I can't see through the view finder because I am far sighted. It wasn't that old of a camera either- I think I bought it about 2 years ago.

Now...... it will become quite evident in my post that I have little to no understanding about photography, cameras etc., but I want to learn more. I would really like to purchase an entry level DSLR camera. Are there DSLR cameras that have the lcd screens so you can see, or can you only view the picture through the view finder.? If so..... what the heck to people that need reading glasses do to take pics? Needing glasses is all relatively new to me.............. I guess my age is finally catching up with me!

Silly questions............ probably...... but I ahve no choice- I need the answers!! LOL!!

Any insight would be appreciated! THANKS!

 

[jann1033]

check for one with a diopter( sp?) it allows you to adjust the eyepiece..i'm very nearsighted, husband is farsighted but we can both use my rebel by adjusting it...on mine it's a little wheel right by the eyepiece. looked it up..the whole name is dioptric adjustment knob

 

[seashoreCM]

Most DSLR cameras have LCD screens also.

Digital camera hints: http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/digicam.htm

 

[RvUsa]

But if I recall correctly, not all have "live" view on the lcd. I know the Nikon, d40 and d60 don't (I think LOL) Just make sure they have the live view before you buy it.

 

[MarkBarbieri]

I have reached the age where I need reading glasses and it hasn't impacted my DSLR use at all. When I look through the viewfinder, I'm looking at something far away. It's not an issue then. It's when I look at something on the LCD that I need my glasses.

 

[Code]

All current entry level DSLRs have a diopter adjustment built-in, but they favor near-sighted people with a typical adjustment range of approx -2.5 to +1. Some (all?) brands sell diopter adjustment lenses that fit over the viewfinder to add further adjustment for their DSLRs if the built-in adjustment is not enough.

Framing the image on the LCD screen is called "live view" on DSLRs, and the three manufacturers that currently have this in their entry-level models are Canon (XS, XSi), Olympus (E-420, E-520), and Sony (A300). Sony and Olympus have better implementations of it than Canon, however, because they don't require that the mirror flip down for auto-focus. Olympus even has face detection. Also the Sony A300 has a flip-out LCD which makes live view more useful.

 

[Code]

I have reached the age where I need reading glasses and it hasn't impacted my DSLR use at all. When I look through the viewfinder, I'm looking at something far away. It's not an issue then. It's when I look at something on the LCD that I need my glasses.

As we age, our ability for accomodation (focusing on close objects) decreases but this isn't the same as increased hyperopia (farsightedness).

The viewfinder is designed such that someone with perfect vision will see an in-focus image with a completely relaxed eye. Combine medium to high myopia or (especially) hyperopia with the reduced accomodation of age and diopter correction becomes very important.

 

[MICKEY88]

As we age, our ability for accomodation (Combine medium to high myopia or (especially) hyperopia with the reduced accomodation of age and diopter correction becomes very important.

unless you trust the autofocus of your camera, then it's not as important..

 

[Code]

unless you trust the autofocus of your camera, then it's not as important..

true, but its somewhat frustrating for me to even see the viewfinder display numbers out of focus

 

[jann1033]

huh you mean there are numbers in the viewfinder? so that's what those blobs are