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What is a viewfinder diopter lens?

DiopterSome digital cameras have a diopter adjustment that helps improve the clarity of the viewfinder. By adjusting a dial,  lever or knob located near the viewfinder, sharpness and focus changes. Since the diopter is connected only to the viewfinder, the focus of the camera lens itself is not changed nor does it affect autofocus.

You may be able focus the viewfinder to match to your eyesight, be it near or farsightedness. In some cases, you may not have to wear eyeglasses when using the camera.

As the dial is rotated, the viewfinder image comes in and out of focus. Make sure the camera lens is focused before making any adjustment. Make adjustments while actually looking through the viewfinder until the scene is sharpest.

Preferably, if your camera has focus brackets, keep your eye on them until they come into sharp focus. Remember, it’s the viewfinder that you want matched to your eyesight.

A word of caution

Be careful not to stick your finger in an eye while making diopter adjustments!

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  • On 24 September 2010 at 12:03 pm Peter said:

    Hi, I wear glasses for reading only.  When looking at a viewing screen on a digicam (not a SLR type viewfinder) the subject or image is out of focus.  Is it possible to buy clear screen covers in different strengths that make the image appear sharp without wearing glasses?

  • On 24 September 2010 at 12:15 pm Gail Bjork said:

    Peter, I’m unaware of clear screen covers that come in different magnification strengths. Perhaps a local optician can custom make one. However, I have a ClearViewer and it improves viewing tremendously. It’s something you may want to consider.

  • On 30 September 2010 at 1:11 pm jeanne said:

    I have been told by my optician that you can get these (in strengths similar to reader glasses) but haven’t been able to find one yet.

  • On 30 September 2010 at 1:46 pm jeanne said:

    10 minutes later -
    Found it!
    I should have known. B&H Photo.  They have everything.  The Url for the main diopter page is http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/buy/Diopters/ci/286/N/4288586736
     
    Or bhphotovideo.com  and search for diopter.  Jeanne

  • On 30 September 2010 at 2:26 pm Gail Bjork said:

    Wow, that was quick! Glad you found what you were looking for and thanks so much for sharing the information with others.

  • On 7 October 2010 at 9:09 pm What the camera diopter is and why use it said:

    [...] a dial, lever or knob located near the viewfinder, sharpness and focus changes.” – Digicamhelp.comI am often asked why a person can’t get anything sharp in the viewfinder. My first reply to [...]

  • On 16 December 2011 at 7:57 am Moshe Refael said:

    the diopter league/scala is too short for me
    is it possible to find a glass to be coupling to the viewfinder???

  • On 16 December 2011 at 9:16 am Gail Bjork said:

    Moshe, Check if your camera accepts an Eyepiece Cup that attaches to and extends from the viewfinder. Then you can buy and insert a diopter correction lens. An optician can tell you the strength of the lens you need. The problem, though, is that you already have a diopter lens built into your camera so you will probably have to set it at zero. Discuss this with an optician. The people at B&H Photo can be very helpful too.

  • On 16 December 2011 at 9:17 am Gail Bjork said: