I AM USING MY LEICA WRONG - are you too?

I am using my Leica wrong - no, it's no clickbait, but I really use it incorrectly. And there is a chance that you might be using it wrong as well. Further, I am doing a little self-experiment to see if there is a way to change how I am using my M6. Since the topic of using your Leica the wrong way has somewhat of a shameful connotation, I also wanted to make this video in order to show that it's totally okay and nothing to be ashamed about to use your camera the wrong way.

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[tishbite]

It's good to know that I am not alone in being left eye dominant. I have simply accepted that I will always use my m4 "wrong" and learned to enjoy what I make with it anyway. This is a great topic that(as far as I know at least) hasn't been covered much at all. Thanks for making it!

[JFish-xjoj]

Really depends on the magnification of the viewfinder. With the M3 this makes a lot of sense as the viewfinder is nearly 1-1 but with all other Leicas this isn’t necessarily the right (or wrong) way.

[hellojobenp]

Garry Winogrand is one of the most prolific/famous Leica users (Leica M4) and he's known for being left eye dominant. There are even videos of him on YouTube
shooting the street using his left eye! People should shoot in a way they feel is most comfortable. When the camera is the least of our concerns we're allowed to focus on the task at hand which is to make a great picture. :)

[EKKennethlakov]

Thanks for the video! I just got a M240 and was wondering why I couldnt see the framelines as well with my right eye. I then remembered eye dominance and was pretty bummed out. This video helped me realize I'm not alone! I do really like taking portrait photos, and I found I can use the rangefinder with both eyes open that way, using my left eye. So not all is lost!!! I will try training like you did, cheers!!!

[bigheadtaco]

Great video Karin. I’m also left eye dominant and I’ve always used rangefinders with my dominant eye. I have people tell me constantly I’m using it wrong, but I disagree. The placement of the optical viewfinder to the far left side of the camera (from the perspective of holding the camera to shoot) was a functional necessity due to the position of the film advance lever. Where else could they put the viewfinder? I do agree it’s more functional to use your right eye and easier to cock the shutter and advance the film, but it’s not easy to switch eye dominance. Some believe left eye dominant people are right brain dominant which means you’re more creative and artistic. I only half believe it, but I’ll accept it :-) Keep up the great work!

[jameschang]

I am left eye dominant. With some practice I am now using my right eye for shooting both rangefinder and other mirrorless cameras.

[davidw]

One problem with this is that M bodies except the M3 has a low viewfinder magnification, which makes shooting with both eyes open not a 1:1 image in both eyes.

[vitorcalistosilva]

I have a question. Wouldn't the fact that the magnification of the viewfinder of the camera is not 1X make it harder to use with both eyes open? (Even if used with the "correct eye".)

[discodoe]

Ever since i got my first x100 i fell in love with the rangefinder principle. The fact that you can see outside your frame, have to frame with everything being sharp rather than looking through a bokeh creamy lens. I wish there are more professional range finder systems nowadays like there were back in the day!

[jtyr]

As a left eye/right hand/mixed dominance photographer— thank you— very useful perspective!!! Tho one important clarification the "right" way to use a rangefinder only/works best when you have a 1.0 (1:1) viewfinder magnification— or at least the closer 1.0 the easier it will be to use the "right" two eyes open rangefinder technique.

[matt_phistopheles]

I' use this technique on my Canon VIL. It is just a beautiful experience because the camera has a big and bright 1:1 view finder. After just a few seconds the camera vanishes and the frame lines are clearly floating in 3D space in front of me. On my M2 I close my free eye because I find the difference in magnification between the eyes really distracting and irritating. It works too and I still get the picture at the end. It feels more focused somehow so It's a different experience, not better or worse. I've actually never thought about why I'm doing this until now. Thank you very much for the impulse.

[muntainmney]

Turns out Jimi Hendrix was also playing a (right) handed guitar wrong as well. 😉

[kstrohmeier]

Leica put the viewfinder on the wrong side for me as well.

[sprocket_holes]

I don't think there's a wrong way, it's the right way if it confortable to you :)
And I must say that the quality of your videos is getting more and more impressive, I love your videos!

[olympusOM]

There is no wright or wrong. There is only our own best way of using a camera.

[EGchristian]

Interesting topic. Based on my personal experience, the dominant eye is totally trainable and switchable. It took me about 1 week to completely change from using the left eye to using the right eye after picking up my 1st rangefinder style camera a few years back. Now I can comfortably use both eyes for photography. However for archery I can only use my right eye, but I think that is because I’m a righty and it’s much more natural to pull the string with the stronger side of my body.

[Mamotreco]

I am left eye dominant but I cannot wink with it, and that is partly what led me to move from a Fuji XE body (range finder style) to an XT body (slr style). Totally agree with the added stability benefit btw.

[danielmcneil]

Thanks for the video Karin. I converted to rangefinder shooting about 10 years ago when I bought my first Leica. And will never go back to SLR. Even though I am right eye dominant, It required a bit of time and practice to learn to shoot with both eyes open but once I became comfortable with it, I realized how much more information is visible outside of the frame. I find this technique much more comfortable with less eye strain. I wouldn’t worry about being left eye dominant because theLeica is such a great camera that it allows you to use your own shooting style. Cheers, Dan ✌️🇨🇦

[pcandide]

Thanks so much for this tutorial. I discovered my left eye was better, but not for the design of most cameras. But I also realized that I could switch eyes as necessary. It depends also on what you are shooting. If you are photojournalist, for example. you mght need to track thing outside you viewfinder. If you're doing shots that are not so mobile (landscape, portrait, etc.), it really doesn't matter. Whatever works for you is most important. Also thanks for demonstrating best usage in holding a camera horizontally (using your nose for extra handheld stabillity).. . Vertical is a whole other story. I use my thumb a lot for those so as to keep my elbows down against my chest.

[xwingfighter]

Fortunately for me as a right hand-dominant but left eye-dominant... I'll never afford a Leica so that won't be a problem with a center-mirrored SLR