BartHx

How does the light get past the mirror which, when the photo is being taken, is closed over the viewfinder on the side facing the interior of the camera body? I would think, if it was a serious problem, Hasselblad and Mamiya might have come up with a way of dealing with it in their medium format cameras when using a waist level finder. I use both and have never had a problem with stray light entering the camera even when working in direct sunlight. If you limit yourself to one of the auto modes and your meter is in your pentaprism, it could effect the exposure. That's one of the many reasons I prefer manual mode on a tripod. However, if your camera is decently designed, built, and maintained the cushion the mirror flips up against should also provide an adequate light seal. The exposure does not start until the mirror has been flipped up out of the way. If you have an instant return mirror, it does not move back down until the exposure is finished. A waist level, medium format finder leaves a whole lot more unprotected surface than would any pentaprism viewfinder. There is no way you can get a light tight seal between your eye and the viewfinder so, if light leakage is a problem in your camera, the problem will exist even when you are looking through the finder. I can't imagine a serious camera manufacturer settling for softer images and flare when an effective mirror seal is so inexpensive and easy to include.

hawleyrw Loc: Dayton, OH

Agreed

PhotosBySteve

You should address your expertise with the camera manufactures, apparently they don't have your insight.
Not that it has anything to do with this issue in the least, i also ALWAYS shoot manual mode.

BebuLamar

The primary purpose of the shutter blind is to prevent stray light entering the viewfinder and causes incorrect reading of the meter when in auto mode. If when you use your camera on tripod and in auto mode you need to use it.

BartHx

If you read my previously reply carefully, you may be able to find where I pointed out that those who shoot on a tripod in any auto mode while not looking through the finder might find a cover to be useful to keep the exposure reasonable. It has nothing to do with image softness or flare. I expect that my Nikon FA has a built in viewfinder shutter because it was the first time a built in meter was used which did anything other than straight averaging and they were not sure what to expect in general use. If I were a camera manufacturer and could convince people that my camera was incrementally better by including a two cent piece of plastic, you can be sure I would do just that.

If any of your SLRs or DSLRs has a problem with light leaking around the reflex mirror while making an exposure, it's time to get it repaired.

BebuLamar

Nikon didn't put the blind in the less expensive FE but they did put it in the F2SB and F2AS and the F3 that don't have matrix metering. The F2 while a manual camera but the S, SB and AS version can be made into a shutter priority camera with the addition of the EE unit.

BartHx

Good information. Thanks.

pbradin Loc: Florida

I am sure they discontinued it because of costs and because most people don't bother to use it. Most people don't use the rubber viewfinder cover either. I usually use a black washcloth laid over the top of the camera to keep stray light from darkening shots when I shoot from a tripod, or sometimes I will just gently put my thumb up there to block the light. I always have my thumb "handy" (that was really bad, I know).

WiscJim Loc: Dousman, WI

I use a little strap of electrical tape after I lost my eyepiece cover.