Eyesight.

My optician told me some time ago that I needed varifocals. I resisted and just upgraded my distance lenses and simply looked over the top for close work, my worry being that I would have difficulty looking through the viewfinder. However, the time has come to take the plunge as my mid distance requires compensation. Can any varifocal wearers offer any advice or reassurance?

Allan, I am nearsighted and have worn glasses to correct for it my entire life. Mostly, it has meant using bi-focals. My last pair of glasses I was talked into vari-focal lenses. I hate them with a passion. I use mostly OM-4T cameras these days and I simply adjust the built-in diopter for my eyesight (uncorrected) and when I use the camera, I take my glasses off.
Regards,
Dave

I agree with mopar. Varifocals are very expensive and next to useless for almost everything (exept perhaps watching the telly and checking your watch at the same time!). I too have an OM4 with an ajustable viewfinder but with most cameras I find my long distance prescription seems to work OK. Unfortunately this means carrying two pairs of glasses or bi-focals to check camera settings.
Since my eysight started to deteriorate photography has become much more difficult in general and it can be hard to focus accurately. Because of this I have tended to gravitate towards rangfinder cameras. I now use an Olympus RD, a Mamiya 7 and a Fuji GW690 most of the time.

Thanks guys, that was exactly my fear, despite assurances from the optician ('cause he just wants to make money). It needs some thought, I do have a 30 day option, but the alternative might be 3 pairs of specs.

My dentist uses glasses that have attached, flip-down magnifiers.

Of course if you where those out in public, your friends and family members will refuse to acknowledge they know you