Bunny Snow |
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help with focusing
I often have difficulting seeing the image on the ground glass (viewfinder) largely enough to focus sharply. My eyes are not as sharp and they were once. Thought I read somewhere of using a focusing viewer with the camera LCD screen. Can anyone elaborate on this concept? I have a Canon EOS 20D. Thanks.
October 26, 2006
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W. |
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Have you adjusted your viewfinder's diopter setting, Susan?
October 26, 2006
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Bunny Snow |
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Thank you. Yes, I have adjusted the diopter. But, when I'm focusing on critically small portions of an orchid in macro mode, my eyes cannot see the sharpness and brightness as they once could. And, I'm trying to find a way to make what I see larger in order to achieve the most infinite detail. Plus, be able to decipher where to place the focus for the greatest depth of field. (I know it should be 1/3 of the way end to an image, that's not what I'm asking.) And, I also know how to use the aperture. It's being unable to see the brightness and smallness of what's a hand with which I need help. I thought I read somewhere about using a film focusing screen/viewer to do this, but cannot locate the data. Thanks, anyway.
October 26, 2006
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Bunny Snow |
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How can I make this image sharper before pressing the shutter? I focused as sharply as I could, but my eyes are not as sharp as they were once. If there anything I can place on my camera to increase my ability to sharpen more? Feedback is requested. Thanks.
October 26, 2006
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Jon Close |
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Canon Angle Finder C. Attaches to the viewfinder in place of the rubber eyecup. Switchable between 1.25x and 2x magnification for precision focusing. Canon also made a straight, rather than 90° angle, magnifier called Magnifier S (2.5x). It is no longer in production, but can be found used. There are also similar viewfinder magnifiers by third party makers, and those by Nikon, Minolta, Olympus also reportedly fit EOS cameras.
October 26, 2006
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Bunny Snow |
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orchid_to sharpen, I must see better.
To sharpen this orchid in the camera, I need to be able to focus the camera better.
Bunny Snow
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That it! That's what I wanted!Thanks, Jon. I'll check it out. Thanks again, for everything!!! Bunny
October 26, 2006
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Jon Close |
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>>" Plus, be able to decipher where to place the focus for the greatest depth of field. (I know it should be 1/3 of the way end to an image, that's not what I'm asking.)"<< the "focus 1/3 of the way in" rule is with respect to hyperfocal focusing to get depth of field from near to infinity. As the distance to the point of focus decreases, the depth of field range infront and behind become more equal. For macro to portrait shooting, the depth of field range is nearly equal in front and behind the plane of focus.
October 26, 2006
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Shawn Wilson |
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B&H has some, although not many choices for EOS cameras. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=NavBar&A=search&Q=&ci=11366 Some are pretty pricy too. I too have problems sometimes with the smallness of the viewfinder. And I've got young eyes. *smile* My problem is after an hour or so of using the camera, it gets harder to see well and I'm sure it's partially because I'm using one eye while closing the other for long periods of time and the difference is stressing my vision. For studio type work I always use my laptop and remote shooting so I can have a 15" view, but for field work one of those little add-on LCDs would be great. This one:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=460257&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation Is almost $500, but it's removable and everything. More info can be found here:
http://www.climaxdigital.com/zigview/zigview_s2.html
October 26, 2006
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Bunny Snow |
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Jon,
I learned about the rule long before I knew about macro, but I didn't know it did not apply to macro. That's important information.Is that because the depth of field range is so short with macro lenses? Where does one decide the point at which to focus with macro? Thank you for your pertinent information. ------------------------
And, Shawn, you have been very busy finding this for me.:-) There are various devices at B&H, some less expensive than others, including this. The tinylurl will take you there.
http://tinyurl.com/y5wvyq I've heard of the Right Angle viewfinder for both Canon and Nikon cameras as something for fine focusing of small objects, though previously the cost stopped me. However, while more costly, I had not heard of some of the others. Does anyone know how to judge them without being able to try them in a camera store. I live a long way from NYC, and although I shop B&H regularly, I like to be certain before I buy something that it is really what I desire. Do you, or does anyone have any feed back on any of these products? I really appreciate the assistance of both of you. Thanks. "Bunny"
October 26, 2006
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Shawn Wilson |
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Yeah, I'm not sure without being able to test them either whether I'd be happier with a magnified image in a small window or a larger window overall. The LCD one is 2 and a half inches in size, but the magnigier is certainly cheaper. My issue also relates to eye strain though, and the magnifier is still a mono eye piece so I'd still have one eye out of whack. Maybe I just need to try to keep both eyes open or switch eyes during a shoot. Previous attempts to do that though have thrown off my composition.
October 26, 2006
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Bunny Snow |
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Totally understand from where you are coming. We both need to somehow keep our eyes open. Thanks. Do you live in or near a major city where you could try out the devices? Bunny
October 26, 2006
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Shawn Wilson |
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I'm within 2 hours or so of Dallas, Tulsa, and Oklahoma City, so weekend trips there happen often enough, but none planned at the moment. I used to live in Wichita, Ks (current pop. about 500k) but don't even know if there was a a big enough photo shop to carry such accessories there.
October 26, 2006
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Bunny Snow |
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Jim White, with whom I'm taking a course, recently recommended Hoodman as being one of the devices that may work.
He suggests checking them out at stores where professionals shop. It's $120 at B&H. Still expensive, but within reason. This may be a solution for macro or closup work. I surely wish I could try, before I buy. http://tinyurl.com/yft6kp Thanks everyone for your feedback.
October 26, 2006
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Bunny Snow |
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Shawn, if your problem is being unable to see the image clearly enough on the LCD screen, there is a less expensive solution out there. When asked specifically, my instructor said the best one he has seen is called the DigiFinder from Omega Satter. http://tinyurl.com/ycpo4u I hope this helps you, as it has me.
Now I have to decide whether I need something that goes over the viewfinder to enable me to see better, or if I need something that goes over the LCD screen, itself, to enable me to see better.
With the latter being less expensive than the former. Hmmmm!
October 27, 2006
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Shawn Wilson |
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No, the LCD is fine, I'm talking about the optical viewfinder. It's only after some time in use, like an hour or so looking with one eye through the viewfinder. Two things happen, First the eye that has been closed (left eye) losses some focus ability. Like it's tired or something but it's the one that's been closed. The second thing that happens is my right eye (the one I've been using for an hour through the viewfinder) starts having a hard time focusing through the finder. I can look around outside of the camera at the world with no issues, but through the finder I find it harder to focus. And what I mean by that is although the camera achieves an autofocus and the resulting picture is in focus, my eye has a hard time focusing so I can't trust a manual focus. And this seems to me to be a strain issue, since I can see with both eyes open just fine, and it only becomes a problem after an hour or more of photo taking. My thought was if I had a large LCD to look at instead of closing an eye and peering through a viewfinder, then my eyes wouldn't be straining.
October 27, 2006
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Bunny Snow |
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Then, check out this price at:
http://tinyurl.com/ycpo4u .
This tiny url will take you there, cut and paste in a window.Bunny
October 27, 2006
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Shawn Wilson |
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The problem with that device is that I have a Rebel XT (DSLR). I don't have a picture on the LCD until AFTER teh picture is taken. In my case, I need an attachment for the viewfinder, not the existing LCD. I've got choices though, I just have to weigh my need with my budget. *smile* Thanks for the input.
October 27, 2006
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Bunny Snow |
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Shawn, I think all the digital cameras are that way. The nice thing about digital is the you can erase the image if its badly out of focus. But, in the case of a portrait or something that you cannot always capture the second time as well as the first, a right angle on the view finder would be better to achieve necessary focus the first time around. Keep in touch when you go to the major cities and check out the Hoodman, which may be somewhat reasonably priced compared with others, and let me know. I haven't communicated with anyone whom I know has such a device. ~Bunny
October 27, 2006
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