Beginner Long Exposures. Cover the Viewfinder Y/N?

russellsnr

russellsnr

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Russell
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I used to do some long exposures with the DSLR & Canon 7D and always covered the viewfinder with something to omit stray light getting into the image sensor, do you need to cover the viewfinder with the mirrorless cameras?
Thank you,
Russ.
 
In the past, the 'better' SLRs and DSLRs had a built in cover that you could flick down to cover it. Those that didn't, would get the lens cleaning cloth, handkerchief or your hat to cover it. The reason was to stop any stray light from getting through to the film or sensor and ruining your shot.

With mirrorless, there is no need to worry as there is no viewfinder, prism or mirror to allow light to get in . . .
 
I managed to get some stray light to make its way through from the viewfinder a few years ago but I had to point the vf window straight at the Sun and leave the lens cap on to see it!
 
A few years ago I took some star photos and found a reddish glow at the bottom of the shots.

This was in NW Scotland in winter and looking a bit west of south. The nearest habitation, larger than a single house, was over 30 miles away and there were some big hills in the way. I don't know if I am correct but the only thing I could think of was the red light from my headtorch.

Dave
 
When doing the occasional long exposure with a dSLR, I just cup my hand close to the viewfinder, far easier than taking the eye cup off and using the small cover that fits on the viewfinder. Never had a problem with stray light using that technique.
 
Tringa said:
A few years ago I took some star photos and found a reddish glow at the bottom of the shots.

This was in NW Scotland in winter and looking a bit west of south. The nearest habitation, larger than a single house, was over 30 miles away and there were some big hills in the way. I don't know if I am correct but the only thing I could think of was the red light from my headtorch.

Dave
Click to expand...
Some cameras (eg Nikon D750) have an infra-red light in the camera used for some lens functions. It is visible on long exposures. On a Nikon you can stop it using the mirror up and time delay functions.
 
Never needed with mirrorless, and even with a DSLR generally only needed if you have a dark ND filter fitted. Shooting after sundown you can easily manage long exposures without any chance of stray light getting in via the viewfinder.

I found covering the viewfinder could be useful when shooting IR with my old DSLRs, the IR filter had a similar effect to an ND where a tiny bit of light getting in via the viewfinder became significant compared to the very little getting in via the filtered lens.
 
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