david_wilson14 Posted January 14, 2008 Share Posted January 14, 2008 Hi,I am still quite new to SLR photography so forgive me for my ignorance.I have noticed with my D40X that it came with a view finder cap which the manual states should be used when using the remote to prevent light entering the viewfinder and messing up the reading. While I havent had a chance to use this cap, I have been pretty pleased with my photos taken using the remote on Manual settings without a cap. I am just wondering if this is something you guys think i should definatly be using while taking self portraits or has the techonology in cameras made this feature close to not worrying about. Again I am very new to this so feel free to tell me why I should or shouldnt bother with this small device. Any help is appricated. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Rance Posted January 14, 2008 Share Posted January 14, 2008 It helps in very bright conditions to stop the exposure varying (light entering the 'wrong' way via the eyepiece makes for under-exposure) so it is worth having in your kit bag. However, for me it is much easier to read off the exposure with your eye to the finder and then lock in the values you read using M (manual) exposure. You can be SURE it will not vary then. Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jay_poel Posted January 14, 2008 Share Posted January 14, 2008 It is not important if you are shooting in manual mode. If you are shooting in anything else, then use it. I find it's easier just to shoot manual and being able to look through the viewfinder for composing my shots. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richard_driscoll Posted January 14, 2008 Share Posted January 14, 2008 Using auto exposure on my D40 with the selftimer, the exposure is 'locked in' as the release is pressed not when the picture is finally made. This means that the eyepiece cover is not really needed; you just shield the eyepiece while you press the release and can then move away from the camera if you want to. Some people say the cover stops stray light entering the camera body via the viewfinder but I've always believed the raised mirror does that job OK. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bjørn rørslett Posted January 15, 2008 Share Posted January 15, 2008 "Some people say the cover stops stray light entering the camera body via the viewfinder but I've always believed the raised mirror does that job OK." Shine a small flashlight into the finder and you'll see the raised mirror is not sufficient :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richard_driscoll Posted January 15, 2008 Share Posted January 15, 2008 Bjorn, Are you implying that sunlight behind the photographer is enough to degrade shadows by light leakage through the viewfinder? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bjørn rørslett Posted January 15, 2008 Share Posted January 15, 2008 Definitively, yes. The exposure meter is badly affected. Just try for yourself. Since the photographer tends to look through the finder, the light leakage is ordinarily not a problem. But for a tripod-mounted camera with any strong light source present behind the camera, the light leakage issue becomes real. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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