What's the benefit of a tilt & swivel LCD?

Is it just above the head shots and self portraits? Are these common on DSLR's too - if not why not?

1. Allows you to capture a variety of scenes without having to contort into highly uncomfortable positions, or lay on the ground. How many times were you forced to have to lay down on the ground so you could look forward and see what you were shooting at ground level (whether of a baby, pet, etc.)? With an articulating LCD, you just hold the camera down low - flip the LCD out and point it upwards towards you, and wallaaaaaaa....the scene is captured.

2. Is absolutely superb for MACRO scenarios - again, without having to contort into awkward positions.

3. Allows you to take photos either by raising the camera high over your head (such as when you're in a crowd) to view an event going on in front of you (one that you'd miss getting because of the crowds in front of you). You just simply hold the camera up high - tilting the LCD screen out and downards so you can just look up and see the entire scene in front of you.

4. Allows you to take photos of yourself, or of you in a group and get instantaneous feedback on composition, etc. Good for porn shots of you and your...well, whoever - if that's what turns you on

5. Allows so much more flexibility in a wide variety of areas - some of which you will discover as you come across them.

6. And finally, if you never even use the articulating feature, you can keep the LCD pointing outwards flush against the camera (as if it were a fixed LCD to begin with) - so nothing is lost.

Once you have this feature - especially on a really good camera - you tend not to want to give it up after having used it.

It used to be standard on digicams across the board years ago but has since gone through a transition where mostly fixed LCD's can be found on digicams now-a-days. It appears as though the manufacturers have learned and are slowly coming back to incorporating more articulating sensors (well, at least on their better models).

Olympus was wise to begin putting this on their DSLR line, especially when you now have live view (live view with an articulating LCD is invaluable, to say the least). Glad to see Nikon do it with the D5000, although it is unusual how they did it on there - hinged at the bottom and moving up and down - how strange, but you get used to it. Would love to see Canon begin incorporating articulating LCD's on some of their DSLR's - not all, but some at least.

Enough said...
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n/t

I found the articulating screen to be most useful for taking pictures at ground level or just low down for bugs, pets and flowers. Not having to kneel or lie in the dirt and contort to odd positions is more comfortable, less painful and gives you more immediate control.

Also used at at waist level for the kids is very useful. It gives a perspective that is often better for the shot and because you're not kneeling and so obviously concentrating the subject is often more at ease and natural.
Never used one for a self-portrait!
Steve
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1. LCD can be folded "in" to protect it
2. Screen can be angled to avoid glare.

HJ

1. With the LCD tilted out and facing upward, you can hold the camera at waist level against your body, which allows you to hold it much more steady than holding it (even if holding it with both hands, elbows tucked in) away from the body.

2. In bright light, the ability to adjust the angle of the LCD helps minimize reflections.

3. If you're doing street photography/candid shots, holding the camera at waist level, looking down rather than at the people whose picture you're taking allows you to take pictures without drawing attention to the picture-taking process.

4. With the LCD folded in, facing the camera body, it's protected from the elements, scratches, etc. The only downside is that it takes a bit of time to "unfold" the LCD.

No doubt about it, the vari-angle LCD is a great feature. I'm looking forward to using it on the G11.

Bob

Ben has pretty much covered it, but I'll add that when my daughter was still really young (2 or 3 yrs old), she absolutely loved sitting in my lap while we took self portraits with the swivel lcd turned around. She was absolutely fascinated by seeing herself (and dad) on the camera before getting the shot. Needless to say, I have LOTS of really cute photos from that era

Other than that, I do like the swivel for macros, or when bracing the camera against an available wall or tree for low light shots. Not positive I'd want it on DSLR, but it's invaluable on a mid to large point n shoot (mine's the Pro1... the new G11 finally has sparked my interest again).
Best regards,
Mark
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Calbrit wrote:

Calbrit said:

Is it just above the head shots and self portraits? Are these common on DSLR's too - if not why not?

Click to expand...

If you use the search function you will find numerous threads on this forum extoling the virtues of articulating LCDs. Or you could read the reviews of cameras thar feature them. These include DSLRs by Olympus, Sony and Nikon, the Panasonic G1 and GH1, an the Canon superzooms.

I use the articulating LCD on my Canon A620 and S5 to compose all my shots non of which are self portraits, and ver few are overhead. The majority of my shots are taken from waist/chest height looking down into the LCD. I find this the steadiest and most comfortable way to take shots. I occasionally use it at arms length as I did yesterday with my S5 photographing some floor mosaics in Cyprus. I was able to hold the camera out over a barrier with the lens pointing straight down with the LCD at 90 degrees enabling me to get exactly the shot I wanted. Today I was able to take shots from ground level simply by squatting and holding the camera close to the ground with the LCD facing me.

I too was a sceptic until I got my A620 but now there is no going back and unless the EP-2 has a swivel screen my next camera will almost certainly be the G11.

I get it! Now I know. Thanks to all for the responses. Now the G11 is added to my short list for my next camera. Up until now I have tended to gravitate to Landscape/outdoor shots so I am hoping the IQ of the G11 will equal the shots I have seen posted from the G10.

I had until recently the SD880 which I thought took good outdoor photos. The S90 is still of interest just because of its size but like some others here, I have not been that impressed with the photo examples posted on the web so far but I am hopeful that when the camera is finally available this will not be the case.

Of course with all the G10 owners selling theirs for a G11 I might just get a bargain!

You can shoot around a corner without being seen.

-Bruce

Another benefit Bob touched on briefly are the street candid shots, but it can be stealthier yet.......i.e., say you're at a cafe while placing the camera on the table or even your lap then pointing the lens at an angle to your right or left, people would never assume you're taking a photo.

A couple more might be holding the camera over a balcony or out a window......endless advantages...........and one of the best is when it's turned in and the back is it's own LCD protector when it's put away.........
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Regards,
Hank

Ben Herrmann said:

4. Good for porn shots of you and your...well, whoever -

Click to expand...

sold!

The articulating LCD is much more fragile that one which is an integral part of the camera back.

When I moved from my Minolta A2 to the Canon line, I thought I'd miss the articulating LCD greatly - but in the years since then, I haven't missed it at all.

I can hold the camera way over my head, almost down at ground level, out to the side, at a 90 degree angle to that which I'm facing - and so forth - and it works perfectly well. This is especially true with the new, brighter screens.

Of course, I'm old enough so I don't really want to take pictures of myself any more, and I'm not that interested in macro photography of insects at ground level. Those would be big advantages of an articulating LCD.

I guess what I'm saying is that for those who like it, the aritculating LCD is a great thing. But for those whose photographic needs and desires are more average, the fixed LCD can do almost everything the articulating one could do. You might just be right - the G10 (as opposed to the G11) could be a great "buy" pretty soon.

Bill

I'm used to mine and wouldn't want to give it up. Even the odd Fuji/Sony fold down screens aren't as handy. Since virtually all mfgs put them on their camcorders, what's the big deal about putting one on their still cameras? It's not like they don't know how. ??
JR
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Argus C44R (gorgeous)
Fuji S100fs
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sitting model. Think what pose will you be in during that session.
Yehuda

Calbrit said:

Is it just above the head shots and self portraits? Are these common on DSLR's too - if not why not?

Click to expand...