Wear sunglasses when taking photo shots

[blackstar]

Not sure if this topic suits the photo Q&A section, but fire it up for your experience, comments, and advice anyway. I have been wearing prescribed glasses with a "transitional" feature for a long time. It's been my all-time-around glasses except for my computer/reading glasses. So since the end of 2019 when acquired my first DSLR D3500, I have been wearing my "sunglasses" to shoot photos all the time indoor or outdoor, setting the viewfinder with it. Thousands of photos have been shot this way up to now. Recently I started to notice some photos I took in a country area seem to be a bit over-exposed (looked from the computer screen). I think I have adjusted and checked exp with VF (z6ii) at the shooting site and it looked like the right exposure from the VF. Now realize this discrepancy happens because I was consciously unaware of wearing sunglasses at shooting. This is further verified when I check the older photos I took for the past three years (except for the nightscape). So now the Q: how can one resolve this issue or the best way to make all things (blocking and not blocking sunlight) right when taking a photo shooting session? Any thoughts? (I am due for newly prescribed glasses soon and struggling to decide if to add the transitional feature again for this matter... )

 

[BF Hammer]

I am in a similar boat. I had to stop wearing contact lenses when I started to need different power for close-up. Bifocal contacts just did not work out for me with constant eye strain. So I finally went back to glasses for first time since my late teens. I decided at the time to go with 2 glasses. One with transistions lenses and 1 without. Otherwise I got all the same no-line bifocals and the expensive anti-glare treatments. My optician gives that 2nd pair of glasses at a reduced cost if bought together.

So I wear the transistions glasses most of the time, but yes I go to the straight clear lenses when I need to. You would be surprised how much easier it is to find things in the shadows if you are working on a car outdoors in sunlight. And I can see the EVF of my Z5 better this way also. Never was that much of an issue to me in the OVF of my DSLR cameras.

And option 2 is clear lenses and the magnetic stick-on sunglasses lenses. You may have to switch your frame style.

Option 3: lean on that histogram more for setting your exposure instead of relying on the eyes.

 

[blackstar]

Thanks, BF.

Option 1 is kind of too much for me: inconvenient to switch and keep the second pair at all times; the cost factor: already need another computer/reading glasses, three total would be less affordable; etc. Option 3 seems unrealistic as I like to verify exp by viewing the EVF... Option 2 is more sensible and adaptable to me because I already have a magnet stick-on sunglasses with my transitional one. I seldom use it because of redundancy and overkill. Now if I go this way, it will resurrect and serve well, but putting on/taking off and keeping it at all times still bother me though... change in life is hard!

 

[Woodyg3]

I wear clear lenses when I out with the camera, transitions otherwise. I don't carry both with me, just put on the correct pair according to what I'm doing.

 

[Clovishound]

Before I went to progressives, I had a pair of glasses I only used at the range. They were just enough power to see the front sight comfortably, which gave me the best sight picture. I kept them in my range bag, so they were always handy when needed. It would be easy enough to do the same with a pair of non transition glasses. Then the only issue would be the cost. Perhaps some online prescription glasses company would be fine for occasional use.

 

[Danno_RIP]

I have to use clear lenses. I also wear a big brim hat. A Tilly most of the time. It keep my eyes shaded and I rarely use my sunglasses. I do rely on the meter as well.

 

[blackstar]

Thanks, to everyone who shares their experience and gives good suggestions. I have decided, for this year, to replace my transitional progressive with a clear progressive supplemented with my old clip-on sunglasses. Hopefully, it will go well with my photo activity and save some $.

 

[Guénolé]

Yesterday on the beach, I witnessed a surprising scene, a person who put one of the lenses of his sunglasses in front of the eyepiece of his camera before taking his shot. This confirms your comments.