Thanks for the answers to my previous rangefinder and P&S question. Now, how can I increase the magnification on my F90 to 0.91? If I use a 50mm lens, I'd like to be able to focus with both eyes open, but the F90's high eyepoint finder still makes the image smaller that I'd have to use a 70mm lens. I don't have this problem with my FE. What diopter would I need?

-- Ron Gregorio (gregorio@ksc.th.com), November 04, 2000

Answers

Ron,

"Popular Photography" did an article on this a few years ago. It is the price we pay for "high eye-point" view finders. In the old days, which I'm a part of, using F and F2 Nikons, the magnifications were really close to life size. With a 55 or 58mm lens you can do the two eye thing. The bragging point on the F3hp was the relief of the finder, allowing glasses wearing photographers to see the whole frame, was made possible by reducing the magnification.

I don't know of a remedy, other than using older cameras. The diopter adjusts for your vision, not viewfinder magnification. As a left eye dominate shooter, I don't really give it a thought. I can't use both eyes, so I can go between my F3 and FM2 effortlessly.

-- Al Smith (smith58@msn.com), November 04, 2000.

Thanks again Al. I'm also left eye-dominant but I prefer to focus with my right eye. I also wear glasses. I guess I spend too much time composing, focusing (even with an AF camera), and reading the meter. Good suggestion on using a higher focal-length lens. The AF 60/2.8D micro might just be justifiable enough for me to buy now. Otherwise, I'll just have to spend less time looking through the finder and just use my FE for cases when I have all the time in the world to edit my shots in the viewfinder before taking it.

-- Ron Gregorio (gregorio@ksc.th.com), November 04, 2000.