Switching from Left eye to Right eye

mikezip007

Active member
I am currently left eye dominate. I feel the need to try and "exercise" my right eye so I can shoot right eye 1. because cameras typically cater to the right eye/ right shoulder 2. So my left eye can see around me opposed to the right eye being blocked by the side of the camera.

What can I do to be an ambidextrous shooter? I can't wink my left eye close to focus solely through my right eye and if I just put the viewfinder up to my eye, I have a very hard time looking through only my right eye and seeing the entire frame.

Solutions?
 
Put your hand over your left eye at first. Operators occasionally get tired of closing their left eye and they'll do this from time to time.

As far as exercises to make it better, I wish I knew. I remember there was one time a while ago when someone wanted me to operate, but my dominate eye is my left eye. I ended up just passing it off to someone else or something. Sorta sucked. I'm getting better though.

Maybe if you shoot photographs, start trying to shoot with your other eye. I know I shoot photos more than I operate, so it's a good time to practice. Not to mention there's a bit less pressure!
 
Get an external lcd monitor, mount it to the left or right of the camera and use both eyes.
Its liberating. You may have to use drugstore reading glasses to get close to the screen.
 
Get an external lcd monitor, mount it to the left or right of the camera and use both eyes.
Its liberating. You may have to use drugstore reading glasses to get close to the screen.

Some cameras just aren't meant to be operated like that. At one point you sorta gotta get used to looking through that thing. But haha, I've heard the eyepatch suggestion before...Haven't seen anyone do it yet, but you definitely would look bad to the bone.
 
Some cameras just aren't meant to be operated like that. At one point you sorta gotta get used to looking through that thing. But haha, I've heard the eyepatch suggestion before...Haven't seen anyone do it yet, but you definitely would look bad to the bone.

Like film cameras. Monitors are generally for the director, the operator has to look through the viewfinder.
 
I'm in the same boat, it sucks using any shoulder mounted camera. I wish I could buy a camera from England that had the viewfinder on the other side - just like their cars.
 
I've been shooting stills with my right eye and it's slowly getting better. It's a very hard process tho. Patients is a MUST. hopefully i'll be good to go after a month or two.

I'm in the same boat, it sucks using any shoulder mounted camera. I wish I could buy a camera from England that had the viewfinder on the other side - just like their cars.
 
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