When the Eyes Show Their Age ;)

[Witch Mountain]

I got my new camera Wednesday (Nikon D90) and I'm having a ball reacquainting myself with SLR photography.

As I was a long time film SLR user, I lean towards using my viewfinder instead of the live view. However, I went on a day trip yesterday to take pictures and notice far more slightly blurry ones than I'd like. Seems that in the old days, the vision was great and nowadays, my 40 something eyes are in need of readers (and possibly all the time glasses).

Those of you with less than perfect vision, have you just resigned yourself to live view with your glasses on? Have you purchased a dioptic adapter? Ultimately, my husband and one son want me to teach them to use my new toy once I'm familiar with it myself. This makes me reluctant to put something permanent on the viewfinder.

Some pictures were stunning and I was really pleased with the increase in resolution (my best point and shoot is 6mp). My best friend was with me and her opinion was that I am too hard on myself, that I need to give myself time to get used to it. Meanwhile, the few I took on automatic were just fine-I know it is me that's screwing those shots up.

Your thoughts are appreciated.

 

[AndrewWG]

Does the camera not have an adjustment knob (small wheel) near the viewfinder window? My Canon's all have had that. If I take pics with my right eye (which I normally do) it is set to be nice and sharp. If I take pics with my left eye, I can see how different the two eyes are!

 

[photo_chick]

I don't use live view. I have adjusted my diopter and sometimes I also wear my reading glasses.

Give yourself some time though. It took me a good six months with my first DSLR to nail the focus as well as I did with my 35mm SLR. It's a different system and digital is a lot less forgiving of soft focus than 35mm film can be.

 

[Witch Mountain]

Good point. It could just be that between SLR experience and Nikon PS experience, I thought it'd come right away. I never factored all those extra pixels.

I did play with the adjustment knob, but not much. Perhaps some more day trips are in order to get used to things.

I will say that the ones that turned out well, the colors just popped on them. I need to reactivate my Flickr account and pay them some money to have an unlimited account so I can post some.

 

[zackiedawg]

The dipoter adjustment should be capable of correcting even fairly poor vision, so I'd work on tuning that most of all. You've got a camera with quite a nice, bright viewfinder, larger than many out there - so getting the diopter adjusted should help a huge deal.

I'd try shooting in single focus AF mode, aim the camera at something very easy and bright to focus on, and half-press to get correct focus. You can even switch to live view just to make sure you've got the focus nailed. Then, without moving the camera's position and leaving the focus alone where it is, adjust the diopter until you get a sharp image through the finder.

I use viewfinder most of the time - probably 85%...and I even have the only DSLR that can shoot live view with phase-detect AF and no delay. Through the viewfinder is still the most stable stance, longest lasting on the battery, and presents the best clarity, ability to track and pan with motion, and easiest to find the subject.

 

[Witch Mountain]

I like your suggestion. Once Wednesday rolls around and I have time to play, that's a good thing to sit and flesh out while the kids are in school. The cat is getting used to my camera and even nuzzled it last night. I'll work on him.