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LCD monitor a problem on 350D?

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Dr Col

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Dr Col

I really liked the promise of the 350 as my first DSLR but had some doubts about the LCD monitor (reflections, legibility of text) when inspecting in the camera shop. Now, several recent reviews (magazines and online) have criticised the quality of the monitor both for menu navigation and picture review. This has made me doubt whether to buy. I would appreciate the views/experience of 350D owners/users. Is it a problem and in what ways?
 
I do find the monitor on my 350D difficult to read in bright light, but that alone would not be a reason for me to avoid the camera, as I do really, really like it! I am going to check out the "hoodman" shades for the 350D.
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Dr Col said:
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Dr Col

I really liked the promise of the 350 as my first DSLR but had some
doubts about the LCD monitor (reflections, legibility of text) when
inspecting in the camera shop. Now, several recent reviews
(magazines and online) have criticised the quality of the monitor
both for menu navigation and picture review. This has made me doubt
whether to buy. I would appreciate the views/experience of 350D
owners/users. Is it a problem and in what ways?
Click to expand...
Yes it is, but not a deal breaker for me. If you're facing the sun and wearing a white shirt the reflection in the screen make it very difficult to read. The problem is exacerbated by the fact that you NEED the screen to set ISO, WB focus etc. It's not as bright as my 300D, and I can only suppose that they set it this way to conserve battery life. Big mistake IMO. But I still love the camera overall, just wished they hadn't stepped back from the 300D in this respect.
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TonySD
 
I recently got my 350D and I'm generally very happy with it. The menu structure is fine - it took me like two seconds to understand it and I didn't even need to look at the manual for that. The text is very readable as well.

The only negative thing about the LCD is that, like all other LCDs that I've seen, it goes very dark in sunlight so it is rather difficult to see what a shot looks like.
 
In bright light it can be difficult to see and I find myself shading it with my hand, or turning around so that my body blocks the sun. However, while this isn't ideal, it does work and has not gotten in the way of my using and enjoying the camera.

By the way, the default setting for the LCD brightness is quite low. Therefore, when you pick one up in a camera shop, the LCD will look very dim unless they've turned it up on their demo unit. I've set mine to the brightest setting and just leave it that way.
 
The monitor on the 350D is much improved over my first Digital -- the HP 315 -- however, all will be limiting and I can typically hardly wait to download my images so I can see them on my viewsonic monitor... This is to be expected with any digital camera.

BTW -- I love my new 350D -- I recommend getting a large 1GB fast CF card and the battery grip -- this was my starter kit. The next item I get will be a larger zoom lens -- I'm still reading everything I can here -- but will likely go with the Sigma vs. Canon for the cost factor...
 
The good news is you can adjust the brightness of the LCD. I have used mine for many outside shots and have never had to crank it up all the way yet (even on very sunny days).

I don't thinks you will find this to be a reason "NOT" to buy the camera IMOP.
 
Dr Col said:
--
Dr Col

I really liked the promise of the 350 as my first DSLR but had some
doubts about the LCD monitor (reflections, legibility of text) when
inspecting in the camera shop. Now, several recent reviews
(magazines and online) have criticised the quality of the monitor
both for menu navigation and picture review. This has made me doubt
whether to buy. I would appreciate the views/experience of 350D
owners/users. Is it a problem and in what ways?
Click to expand...
It is how the images look on your monitor at home that counts.

F
 
Ove Sentlig said:
Dr Col said:
--
Dr Col

I really liked the promise of the 350 as my first DSLR but had some
doubts about the LCD monitor (reflections, legibility of text) when
inspecting in the camera shop. Now, several recent reviews
(magazines and online) have criticised the quality of the monitor
both for menu navigation and picture review. This has made me doubt
whether to buy. I would appreciate the views/experience of 350D
owners/users. Is it a problem and in what ways?
Click to expand...
It is how the images look on your monitor at home that counts.

F
Click to expand...
Yes, but since the monitor is used for setting ISO, WB, focus and metering then if you can't see it properly then it's the monitor on the camera that counts!

And as the OP has said virtually every reviewer has commented on the difficulty of seeing this in bright sunlight.
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TonySD
 
Everybody talking about dim LCD... is it really that bad?

From P&S cameras i didn't see any which have bright LCD in sunny day. You must simply turn away form the sun and look...

???
 
I have not had a problem. Sometimes you need to shade the screen a bit, but I have always been able to see what I need to see. The Hoodman looks good though.

When you are at the store, ask them to take you outside so you can see it in sunlight...

It is a great camera, you will like it.
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Ron
 
Yes the LCD screen is a shocker when you first see it in bright sunlight.

But as pointed out, the default brightness setting for the LCD is quite low so crank it up.
Shielding the LCD with your body is marginally effective.

But keep in mind that all those settings you think have to be done in the filed, can be done before you set out into the sunlight. After all, you know where you will be shooting and what you will be shooting. But reviewing the shot is the real problem. You can't see the LCD screen well enough to evaluate results.
However... shoot RAW and fix at home.
As for the menus... a snap. Easiest I've encountered. And fast to go through.

Nevertheless... A FANTASTIC CAMERA. Small, light and packed with all the features you'd want.
 
It's no worse than my S60 was, not a big deal for me. I can see ISO, WB, etc. because all you do is press the ISO button (for example) and a black stripe displays behind the ISO number. Turn the dial and the stripe moves up or down to the desired setting. Since there are only 5 ISO settings ISO-100 at top, 1600 at bottom, it is easy for me to see the stripe move top to bottom as I spin the dial, even in bright light.

Once you know how the camera works, you can change settings easily.

Sal
Dr Col said:
--
Dr Col

I really liked the promise of the 350 as my first DSLR but had some
doubts about the LCD monitor (reflections, legibility of text) when
inspecting in the camera shop. Now, several recent reviews
(magazines and online) have criticised the quality of the monitor
both for menu navigation and picture review. This has made me doubt
whether to buy. I would appreciate the views/experience of 350D
owners/users. Is it a problem and in what ways?
Click to expand...
 
Even if the LCD was bright enough, it is too small to really judge the quality of any shot you take. However, the histogram is a wonderful tool to determine if the exposure was right. Since the histogram is white against a black background, it can be viewed even in bright light. Also, even in bright light, you can see the flashing parts of an image that is over exposed. So, after taking a shot, I take a quick look at the histogram to determine if it was properly exposed and either re-shoot, or move on. I've also had to change ISO while out and never had a problem - it may be difficult to see, but you are able to see it.
 
Nikon just provided a firmware update for the D70 that gives it the easier-to-read LCD menu of the new D70s.
Why not email Canon and request a firmware upgrade that addresses this problem?
 
Dr Col said:
--
Dr Col

I really liked the promise of the 350 as my first DSLR but had some
doubts about the LCD monitor (reflections, legibility of text) when
inspecting in the camera shop. Now, several recent reviews
(magazines and online) have criticised the quality of the monitor
both for menu navigation and picture review. This has made me doubt
whether to buy. I would appreciate the views/experience of 350D
owners/users. Is it a problem and in what ways?
Click to expand...
Just turn the LCD to full and you will have no problems.
 
msouris2003 said:
Nikon just provided a firmware update for the D70 that gives it the
easier-to-read LCD menu of the new D70s.
Why not email Canon and request a firmware upgrade that addresses
this problem?
Click to expand...
I didn't say that I had a problem.

Sal
 
Median said:
Dr Col said:
--
Dr Col

I really liked the promise of the 350 as my first DSLR but had some
doubts about the LCD monitor (reflections, legibility of text) when
inspecting in the camera shop. Now, several recent reviews
(magazines and online) have criticised the quality of the monitor
both for menu navigation and picture review. This has made me doubt
whether to buy. I would appreciate the views/experience of 350D
owners/users. Is it a problem and in what ways?
Click to expand...
Just turn the LCD to full and you will have no problems.
Click to expand...
I have the brightness turned to max and in bright sunlight it's still difficult to read, especially if you are facing the sun and wearing a light coloured shirt, when the shirt is reflected in the screen. It's definitely dimmer at max than my 300D

Many reviewers have commented on this.
--
TonySD
 
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