Shop Amazon's Best Sellers in Camera & Photo
Wearing Glasses or Contact lenses when using a camera - which is best?
I've worn glasses and contact lenses for long sightedness since the age of 18. Now I'm sure this is something that most photographers experience - my short sight is deteriorating and I'm advised that I would benefit from wearing bifocal glasses. When I'm using the camera I find that contact lenses are my best option as glasses just seem to get in the way, or I'm having to take them on and off a lot - how have you coped with this problem, if you have? - I'd like to hear your experiences.
Quote:I'm advised that I would benefit from wearing bifocal glasses
They cost more but I would suggest you consider 'varifocals' Jude. There's no abrupt change of focus point with 'varifocals'. It's a continual transition from short to long. These and the viewfinder dioptre correction sort things for me.
HTH's...
Thanks. So far it's varifocals then.
I'd be interested to hear if anyone has managed with contact lenses as an alternative. I've been told that it's possible to get varilenses altho.apparently difficult to get on with and expensive, or 2 different prescriptions for each eye and the brain compensates? Any thoughts?
I'd be interested to hear if anyone has managed with contact lenses as an alternative. I've been told that it's possible to get varilenses altho.apparently difficult to get on with and expensive, or 2 different prescriptions for each eye and the brain compensates? Any thoughts?
I have used varifocals for many years which are great for everyday things but for taking photographs I have the dioptre adjustment set so that I don't need to wear my spectacles. I find that I can cope without them for longish periods when out and about although things aren't as clear as they should be and so I pop them back on from time to time.
I have tried with my spectacles on but find I suffer from vignetting in the view finder unless I have my eye really close to the camera which then leaves me with marks all over my spectacles. It is a bit of a pain having to take them on and off but liveable with.
Have never really considered contact lenses but can highly recommend varifocals over bi-focals. As Conrad said the main problem is in going down stairs but you get used to them after a couple of days or so.
Tony
I have tried with my spectacles on but find I suffer from vignetting in the view finder unless I have my eye really close to the camera which then leaves me with marks all over my spectacles. It is a bit of a pain having to take them on and off but liveable with.
Have never really considered contact lenses but can highly recommend varifocals over bi-focals. As Conrad said the main problem is in going down stairs but you get used to them after a couple of days or so.
Tony
My main difficulty at the moment is, when I'm wearing glasses or lenses, being able to read the menu and the small writting on the camera. I suppose varifocals are ideal for that. But I'm also vain and don't like having to wear glasses!
Same problem for me and most of us over 47.
Like you, I really don't like wearing glasses. I have worn contact lenses for all my adult life and can't interchange with specs even if I want to, but I do use cheap and cheerful reading glasses just to help with the small print etc. I am forever losing them, scratching them and sitting on them, so don't want to get anything expensive. I have a pair in all the usual places, camera bag, car, by the pc, etc.
My optician says that they are fine for me and didn't try and sell anything different. Another useful buy was Boots sunglasses that have a reading section in the bottom.
Check it out with your optician in case your they're not suitable for you but I find it works for me.
I do have a friend who has the two different prescriptions for left and right contact lenses. She said it took a bit of getting used to but now has no problems but she is not a photographer.
Again, talk to your optician.
Penny
Like you, I really don't like wearing glasses. I have worn contact lenses for all my adult life and can't interchange with specs even if I want to, but I do use cheap and cheerful reading glasses just to help with the small print etc. I am forever losing them, scratching them and sitting on them, so don't want to get anything expensive. I have a pair in all the usual places, camera bag, car, by the pc, etc.
My optician says that they are fine for me and didn't try and sell anything different. Another useful buy was Boots sunglasses that have a reading section in the bottom.
Check it out with your optician in case your they're not suitable for you but I find it works for me.
I do have a friend who has the two different prescriptions for left and right contact lenses. She said it took a bit of getting used to but now has no problems but she is not a photographer.
Again, talk to your optician.
Penny
I've worn glasses most of my life too, and I'm currently using varifocals and have one long-sighted and one short-sighted eye to complicate things. I have seen advertised varifocal contact lenses (just check google). I've have no experience of them, and can't guess how easy they are to use... but discuss the options with your optician, you often are able to try lenses before finally committing to them.
HTH
Geoff
HTH
Geoff
Thanks guys for your comments - yes ultimately it's what suits me and my eyes but I did think it was something that a lot of people must have tackled and quite uniquely as photographers needing to regularly use both short and long sight, oh and in focus!! When at the computer screen I manage well - just with increasing difficulty with the camera - hence my out of focus pics recently
)
)
I've worn glasses since I was 12 so don't consider lenses at this stage. I keep the specs on and use dioptre adjutment and it's fine. However, with coated lenses they can eventually wear and become degraded from keep having the eyepiece against the coating. When I was more into astronomy this was a very big problem, so I had the specs on a neck chain and left them off and use the dioptre adjustment to view. It cost me an expemsive pair of lenses to learn this though
Stephen
Stephen
