Bob Locher Loc: Southwest Oregon

My first serious camera was an Argus C-3 (a rangefinder camera) bought new in 1961 or 1962. Next, I moved to a Yashica SLR, then a Pentax Spotmatic SLR. From there I went to a Leica 3f, then a Leica M-2. I had discovered that I preferred rangefinder cameras to SLR's. And I took better pictures with the rangefinders.

Eventually I burned out of photography as a hobby - since I was also working in the photographic hardware business - and did nothing serious for about 30 years.

A Sony A6000 mirrorless camera got me interested again. I love the little box with several good lenses it is far and away the best camera I have ever owned.

But there is an inconsistency in the above. Why would I prefer seemingly anything to an SLR? Really, it doesn't make sense. I thought of several reasons - and they don't hold water.

But last night as I tossed and turned in bed, it hit me. ALL the cameras I liked better had a viewing window in the upper left corner of the camera. I could hold the camera up to my right eye and shoot away, my nose next the camera. With the SLR's I had to hold the center of the camera up to my eye, rubbing up against my nose, trying to flatten it against the camera body. Now, my nose is pretty standard, not a big proboscis, but still it is certainly a factor.

Many of the APC-S mirrorless cameras of today have left corner viewing, but the high end FF mirrorless cameras have centered viewfinder windows. And so far as I know, ALL SLR's have center viewfinder windows.

So. I think I have discovered something that at least for me is significant. I readily admit it seems like it should be an insignificant factor - but there it is. Constructive comments should be interesting.

Cheers

Bob Locher

lmTrying Loc: WV Northern Panhandle

Hummmm. That would certainly keep my LCD lot cleaner. My nose isn't big, but it is oily!

rjaywallace Loc: Wisconsin

A simple matter of “cutting off your nose despite your face”.

TonyP Loc: New Zealand

Bob! I think you have nailed it.
I spent most of my early years with a Leica M3. I reluctantly changed over to digital with a second hand Nikon D70 but still took most of my pics with the Leica. Slowly the instant gratification factor took hold and eventually boxed up my Leicas and the lenses and now am firmly committed to Digital with a D7100.
Relatively recently I bought a Panasonic LX100 and it just feels, right. I now use it in preference 90% of the time to the D7100.
I hadnt even noticed the different placement of the viewfinder or my habit of looking through the D7100 with my left eye.
I had to pick up the LX100 just now and it automatically went to my right eye. Just like I used to do with the Leica. And no nose on the screen either.
Weird. Old habits die hard.
Thanks for my epiphany :)

repleo Loc: Boston

Good point Bob. We keep telling folks to go to a store to handle the cameras before deciding, but I think we are usually referring to fit in the hands (we seem to have a lot of retired bricklayers with hams for hands here!!). Fitting to your nose or eye is probably more important.

lmTrying Loc: WV Northern Panhandle

LOLOLOLOL
You got me there. I didn't see that one coming. Thanks Buddy, but I think I'll put up with the nose prints.

rj, I always think of the comedian that use to be on TV a long time ago by the name of R J Johnson. He always said: You can call me RJ. You can call me JJ. Or you can call me RJJ. Just don't call me Johnson.

lmTrying Loc: WV Northern Panhandle

Repleo, I am not a brick layer, and I have rather small hands. But a skinny little camera scares me to even pick it up. That's why I didn't buy a Minolta in the 80s and why I probably will not own a mirrorless. To me, a camera has to fit my hand comfortably AND securely, or I don't even want to pick it up, let alone use it. That's why I like my Canon's, they fit my hands. (I have wrapped steering wheels and tool handles to make them easier to handle and control.) And that is why I will always tell some one to find a store where you can handle the merchandise, instead of buying over the internet.

I don't have any real experience with electronic viewfinders, but the idea of seeing exactly what the sensor will see in reference to exposure and depth of field does interest me. The fact that an EVF could be placed anywhere on a camera does seem to have advantages. I don't know if there are any camera designers reading this forum, but if there are I hope they consider this idea of placing the viewfinder else where. One more point to consider. Upper left hand corner for right handed people, and upper right handed corner for left handed people. Or put a shoe on each side so the buyer and put the view finder on which ever side they wish. One shoe can be used for the viewfinder and the other shoe for the flash.

Bob Locher Loc: Southwest Oregon

Actually, it would be a matter of which is one's dominant eye. In my case, it is my left eye - but I am entirely comfortable using my right eye for the camera. I have no idea if there is any correlation between being, say, right handed and being right eyed.
.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Bob, nothing interesting here. I think you're just justifying whatever it is that you bought. A camera is a camera unless you have a special handicap!!!
Enjoy your new camera!!!
SS

Apaflo Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

The key is that "I could hold the camera up to my right eye and shoot away." That actually is a bit of an epiphany, but you might only be a newly frocked priest, and we need a bit more of a real diety to explain the significance in much greater detail.

Enter Joel Meyerowitz. About as close as one gets to being a diety of photography today, he literally helped define Street Photography. Some years back (okay, a lot of years back) Meyerowitz accomplished a number of defining moments in terms of both style and equipment used and exactly what the significance was.

One example is the reason a rangefinder camera can help you be a more creative photographer in general but specifically a better Street Photographer.

This is outlined in an article titled What You Put in the Frame Determines the Photograph.

With a rangefinder that allows your camera to be NEXT to your nose you can see through the viewfinder with one eye, and see what is excluded from the frame with the other eye! In essence it lets you see all of what is there and decide what should be, or not be, in the frame.

https://www.phaidon.com/agenda/photography/articles/2012/november/27/joel-meyerowitz-what-you-put-in-the-frame-determines-the-photograph-new-video-interview/

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

Like you, when I lift any of my rangefinders to look through the left side viewfinder, I automatically use my right eye. The problem is that I suffered a detached vitreous several years ago, and, as it gets worse, my ability to see clearly compromised. I have tried for years to retrain myself to use my left eye, but to no avail. And to make things worse, after using my right eye for a half hour or so, the "floaters" start obscuring my vision. I now carry an eye patch with me to cover my right eye. People look at me like I'm some kind of a nut when I flip the eye patch up to use both eyes. 😉😳😆

waegwan Loc: Mae Won Li

Not silly at all, ergonomics has a lot to do with camera selection. The main reason I shoot canon is simply because they feel more comfortable in my hand.

ELNikkor

come to think of it, there is always an oily smudge on my rear screen after I take a photo...

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Although I wouldn't say it is the best camera I have ever owned, I like the A6000. It's size, controls, and quality images are right for me. Good price, too.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Eye dominance has nothing to do with handedness.
Many left eye dominant people are right handed, buy right handed rifles when they should be using left handed rifles.