Quote Originally Posted by Outdoorsman
Hmm, interesting. Why do the pro models have eyepiece shutters then? And also, why do they give us those little rubber viewfinder covers with the camera straps? I don't know the answer, but if the manufacturer says light can leak to the film/sensor this way, then I would *assume* this is the case. I don't have any way to check this, having no digital SLR to do a "scientific" or timely test of this. Can anyone out there check for us? I think the answer would benefit everyone.
Normally you have your eye next to the viewfinder, which pretty much blocks any light entering via the viewfinder and fooling the meter. If however, you're using a tripod, your eye won't be next to the viewfinder, so there is a slight chance that stray light might enter via the viewfinder and thus fool the meter, hence the shutter or cover.

Simon