Being A Left Eyed Shooter

                  Me having to use my left eye to compose a shot with  my FujiFilm HS 25 EXR camera


Pretty much every camera that has a viewfinder, whether it is an optical or an electronic viewfinder (EVF) almost everyone of the them are designed for those people who can aim the camera with their Right Eye. They are designed that way so the shooter can still see the surroundings with their Left Eye and see if anything  or anyone is about to come into their shot. And because like your hands, the majority of people are Right Eyed dominate (according to Wikipedia 2/3 of the people are right eye dominate).

But there are some of us like myself who are Left Eye dominate. And this makes shooting with the viewfinder awkward. I was born slightly crossed eyed or lazy eyed, not sure which because there are no baby pictures of me to show it. Between my Mom not wanting any shots taken till they got my eyes straighten out (which was done by exercising my eyes to get them to straighten out, this was the 1960's before modern techniques were developed) and the because I spent the first year or so of my life in and out of hospital for other medical reasons. Anyway because of that I have become Left Eye dominate. Even when I used to hunt (I come from a family of hunters, but I quickly discovered that I would rather hunt with a camera than a gun) I had to aim with my Left Eye which was awkward since most guns, like cameras, are designed for Right Eyed shooters. I have a hard time even aiming or using a viewfinder if I have my Right Eye open. I can't even close my Left Eye and keep the Right one open, that is how Left Eye dominate I am!

So most cameras are designed that have viewfinders are meant to used with Right Eye. For example my FujiFilm X30 has its viewfinder over towards the left of the camera. This design when using the right eye would allow the shooter to still see out their Left Eye. Unfortunately for myself, I can't use my Right Eye to compose with any viewfinder so when I put the camera to my left eye, my Right Eye is completely covered. This really is unfortunate because it limits me when it comes to things like Street Photography because I can't continue to see the scene when I have the camera to my Left Eye. And I don't like using the screen to compose my shots, I tend to be too shakey to shoot that way.

I have tried to use my Right Eye on the viewfinder, but I have a hard time even finding the viewfinder with my Right Eye and when I do I have a really hard time trying to even see anything let alone focusing through the viewfinder.

Being a Left Eye dominate shooter in the photography world can be difficult and can take time to adjust too. I can kinda understand now how hard it must be for those people who are Left Handed in a world where almost everything is designed to used with the Right hand.

Sample pictures from the X30

Here are some of the first shots with the Fujifilm X30. I went out last Saturday morning, before sunrise, to Barrie to do some street shooting. I got into town in time for the "Blue Hour" (that hour before the sun has risen over the horizon but is still getting light out). I got a couple of great shots. I was shooting in Aperture mode with ISO set at 800.

I also wanted to test out the new Fujifilm film Simulation "Classic Chrome". Fuji has long been known for it's film simulations. Even my HS 25EXR which is about 4 years old has great simulations. Well now Fuji has created this "Classic Chrome" which is supposed to give the pictures a look and feel similar to the old "Kodachrome" film that was popular in the last century. Here are some example shots using this simulation.

All and all I am very impressed by this camera. It has a great size and weight to it that is perfect for Street/Urban Photography. It takes great pictures, even though it is only a 2/3 sensor and only 12 MP. But that 2/3 sensor is FujiFilm's amazing X TransTM CMOS II sensor, which takes amazing JPEG's that require little or no post processing. I am going to have a lot of fun with this little but awesome compact camera!!!!

New Camera.....Fujifilm X30!

I have been looking for a new camera, something that was better suited for Street Photography. I wanted a smaller camera, something that would be easier to carry all day long on the street. I wanted something that would still be recognized as a camera (something that a camera on a phone doesn't) but they wouldn't immediately identify as a "pro" camera. I was looking for something that people would see and know I am carrying a camera but one that wouldn't make people feel uncomfortable about it. I wanted a smaller camera, but not one that was so small that people would think I am trying to be all "sneaky" about taking their pictures.

I have been using the FujiFilm HS25EXR "Bridge/SuperZoom" camera for the last few years, it an amazing camera with a great manual zoom lens. I have gotten some really amazing landscape and wildlife shots with this camera. However I find it combersome and heavy when I am doing Street Photography. As an example, a year or so ago we were down in Toronto's Kensington Market neighbourhood, my wife had never been and her Son loves it down there. He loves some of the shops and stores, especially the vintage clothing stores. Well I had my HS25 and I felt it was too big going in and out of the shops. That is when I started researching cameras.

I have done a lot of research, both "print" reviews and video blogs on YouTube. I have been a FujiFilm guy for years, but I also researched cameras by other company's such as Sony, Canon, Leica and others. However I found myself drawn to two particular cameras......both by Fujifilm. I was drawn to the X30 and the X100T cameras. I really liked the X100T, with it's single focal length lens, it's "Hybrid Viewfinder" and other advanced features. However I didn't like the near $1400 price tag on the X100T. Based on the reviews I also was interested in the X30. I liked the manual zoom, the class leading EVF(for the size and price range), and the advanced film simulations and the new WiFi features. I eventually decided on the X30, which at the time of my purchase was on sale for $200 off.

So far I am liking the X30, I haven't done much shooting with it yet, but so far I am happy with the camera. I will post some shots in the near future once I get the chance to really get out and put the camera through it's paces.