The Crucial Camera Setting That Is Rarely Discussed

^{Note: This tip comes from pages 3,5 & 6 in Tobie Schalkwyk’s free eBook - Bird Photography: Camera Settings}

Exposure settings are just the tip of the iceberg (the final adjustments) in producing a pleasing bird image. Many ‘concealed’ settings work in the background to make this possible. Setting these – or at least to be aware of them – is necessary before you walk out on your first bird shoot.

One such setting is the Diopter Adjustment.

I vaguely remember my extreme confusion and worry about a year after buying my first DSLR camera. It was during a bird shoot. Suddenly, everything in my camera’s viewfinder was a blur.

My heart sunk into my shoes. I could hear a little devil with a fork sitting on my shoulders, giving an evil laugh as he reminded me of what I’d paid for my camera – or lens, whichever was broken.

– and how difficult it will be to convince my wife that I’ll have to fork out that much money again to replace or repair it!

I immediately delved into my camera’s User Guide with renewed hope (yes, I know; obviously, I hadn’t read it from front to back after buying the camera!). I found a description for this little button that allows you to customize the clarity of your view through the viewfinder.

Of course! Every person’s eye differs from another’s, like one person wearing thick glasses and another not, and each photographer’s eye will focus differently! I must have bumped it or adjusted it by accident during the shoot!

Note: This adjustment is so different from other camera settings that it’s essential to mention it.

Quick Tip: Locate your camera’s diopter control – it is usually a little round button next to your viewfinder. Point the camera at a subject 30 meters away or so and focus the lens. Rotate the diopter adjustment knob until your viewfinder is out of focus. Then, rotate it back to where the focus is at its sharpest.

Believe me, somewhere in the future, you’ll have to do this again. I had to, more than once!

Want more? If you want to learn more about bird photography, and capture beautiful shots of your own, we recommend downloading and printing out Photzy’s 10 Bird Photography Cheat Sheets (Special bonus available now!)