Canon 6D viewfinder not level? - DPChallenge Forums

Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 Di VC USD Canon Mount

03/02/2013 07:01:15 AM · #1

It appears somehow that the viewfinder of my 6D is not level.

I am still not sure and the question might be silly but do I handle it wrong?

I have set it on the tripod and set the electronic level, set it straight. Looked through the VF and it seemed tilted. The lines on the frame, seemed OK but the overall eye perception was that it was tilted...

I have noticed previously that if I do not have a clear view of the focus points and frame concentrating more on composition, some of the pics came out tilted.

Any thoughts or similar experience?

Thanks,

T

Mike

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

03/02/2013 07:20:06 AM · #2

I'm confused. If you set up the shot set you level is the image taken not level or when you just look through the viewfinder?

Mike

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 Di VC USD Canon Mount

03/02/2013 07:25:41 AM · #3

If anything is wrong, I think the electronic level would be off. The viewfinder is just reflected light, even if say the mirror was tilted you'd still see a level image , unless the focus screen was slightly tilted.

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 16-35 f/4 ED VR

03/02/2013 07:41:35 AM · #4

Originally posted by mike_311:

I'm confused. If you set up the shot set you level

1) is the image taken not level or

2) when you just look through the viewfinder?

Image is level.

Only when I look through the viewfinder.

Jokingly maybe my nose is too big and I can put me eye properly to the VF

LanndonKane

Nikon D800

03/02/2013 07:42:03 AM · #5

could be lens distortion making it seem straight lines are off kilter

pgirish007

Canon EOS-5D Mark IV

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II

03/02/2013 08:41:33 AM · #6

humm... I didn't see any such anomaly in my 6D but will look at it again today.

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

03/19/2013 12:15:10 AM · #7

It really drives me nuts. I went to Canon and the receptionist, a cute lady, look oddly to me suggesting I might be nuts. I asked whether she encountered this before and she said no. Then she invited me to the showroom to compare with other cameras. Somehow I could not make any difference in that showroom, so when I was told it needs 2-3 days for a check I gave up since I needed the camera for a trip. I also went to the shop were I bought it from and the shop assistant took some time looked through and said is OK (being paranoid I also suspect he would not say anything that would mean he sold we a defective camera)

Now my feelings are odd and I am asking whether other people encountered this phenomena. To summarize

When I look through the viewfinder I have a feeling that the camera is slightly tilted (towards lef side) when I align the lines in the image I want to take to the edges of the viewfinder.

If I mainly focus on composition and rely only on the beep of the AF sometimes the image comes tilted.

Reasons I could find for this would be:

1) My right eye sees things differently (i have noticed that if I look through the viewfinder with my left eye - and my big nose stuck to the screen) it does not look so tilted.

2) Being used with a different magnification on APS cameras the view is larger and more space for error
3) The barrel distortion combined with the angle of the eye when I look through the view finder.

Can anyone illuminate me and explain what the reasons are?

... or am I simply nuts!

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

03/19/2013 12:24:42 AM · #8

You're adjusting to the FF camera. That plus the larger VF exaggerates the lens distortions, which doesn't help. I had a similar issue when I went to the 5D. You're used to judging your levels by a perpendicular at the edge of the frame, whether you realize it or not, and you get more exaggerated lens geometry out there with the FF, because it uses more of the lens circle. You'll get used to it.

If you think THAT'S bad, try composing with a View Camera, where the image is upside down...

Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 Di VC USD Canon Mount

03/19/2013 12:35:54 AM · #9

Originally posted by Bear_Music:

Thank you. It really makes me feel better. I also talked to a friend who moved to 5DMK3 and he noticed that often could not get the lines straight. It is the same thing you have just explained.

Meanwhile I found this about the Canon 7D.

It says:

"Testing with a low-distortion mid-focal length macro lens to avoid the effect of lens distortion, we measured the Canon 7D's optical viewfinder at just over 98% coverage accuracy. The resulting image was slightly tilted and offset with respect to the sensor, which is unfortunately quite common with optical viewfinders. Live View mode using the LCD was more accurate, at almost exactly 100% coverage, and of course, wasn't tilted or offset."

Edit: I used Seagull 4A and found the VF troublesome. Got used in the end...

Message edited by author 2013-03-19 00:37:53.

Mike

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

03/19/2013 07:32:42 AM · #10

funny was out shooting the other day and I'm still getting used to my 5D but i really struggled with crooked horizons, i didn't realize it until i get home and i wondered what heck i was doing.

Spork99

OM System OM-1

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

03/19/2013 08:02:35 AM · #11

Originally posted by Bear_Music:

upside down and reversed. Not to mention being under the viewing cloth, which could be like your own personal shelter or your own personal oven...