Diopter ? What ? Huh ? --

This question came up in a recent class. Most people never realized this was a setting they could change. Some just assumed to set it at zero. Some said they always wondered, but were afraid to ask. Some thought that it was too obvious to ask.

The diopter control helps you focus on the viewfinder in the camera. If you wear eyeglasses you are probably familiar with the term diopter.

So...,what is it and how do you adjust it correctly ?

When asked the first thought is to look through the viewfinder and try to adjust it so that the image in the finder looks its best. You would be wrong if that's what you tried.

Remember, what you are want to do is adjust the dial so that the items in the viewfinder (the lines or squares) look clearest. Do NOT focus on the image you are pointing the camera at. Put the lens in manual focus mode, (you all should know how to do that, if you have taken my Basic Class) then point the camera at a plain white wall, turn the focus ring and make the image completely out of focus. Now you can concentrate on the view finder and the small lines. Look closely, does it have a circle on it? Or small boxes to show the autofocus points?

Rotate or slide your diopter control all the way at one end of its range. Look at those etchings on the screen and slowly move the dial until the screen is sharply focused. There might be one or two settings that look good. It's kinda like going to the eye doctors where the doctor asks #1 or #2... #2 or #3...? Which looks better? There might be a big difference. There might be very little difference. Pick the one that looks the best.

Setting the diopter will not affect autofocus. But it will affect manual focusing. If set wrong, an in focus image will look out of focus in the viewfinder.

I hope this helps you "see" what your shooting -