Vary angle lcd are for humans

"All work and np play" applies to photograhers who are without a self portrait and forgets how to smile after a day's photoshoot.

In the days when cameras have the costly film and the long processing involved to print a picture you can say it was a hard time to spend self portraits in between photoshoots. Fastforward today you take pictures all to your heart's content nonetheless it is still a hard time to spend self portraits in between photoshoots.

It is so tiring - with so many pics you don't see any of yourself in any picture you shoot. These things should not happen even to professional photographers. I don't believe they are robots who don't need to take a break or to give a little love for themselves. Cruel world. Don't be cruel to yourself make vari-angle lcd a camera standard feature.

Hi Danilo,

No argument with you regarding the usefulness of vari-angle monitor screens.

But for self-portraits? If my arms are of normal length, I presume it is not possible for anyone holding a camera themselves to make a self-portrait from more than about 55 cm.

Regardless of which focal length you use, I don't see anyone doing themselves a favour by photographing themselves from that distance. Quite the opposite. Or do you have a way of increasing the distance?

Cheers, Ralph
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• -Better a small camera in the pocket than a big one on the shelf --

I don't really go in for self portraits but if I did the articulating LCD does make them easier.

To answer your question Ralph all one need do is set the camera on a tripod or other stable surface, twist the LCD round to the front, select the self timer shot/time combination you want, move to the front of the camera to see yourself in the LCD and pose away to your hearts content

If the new 'Wink' feature in the S95 is also in the G12 it will be even easier
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Stephen

Stephenbw said:

To answer your question Ralph all one need do is set the camera on a tripod or other stable surface, twist the LCD round to the front, select the self timer shot/time combination you want, move to the front of the camera to see yourself in the LCD and pose away to your hearts content

Click to expand...

Fair enough Stephen and Danilo. You are both right. I didn't think of that possibility.

Cheers, Ralph
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• -Better a small camera in the pocket than a big one on the shelf --

Danilo F Ingan-eng said:

It is so tiring - with so many pics you don't see any of yourself in any picture you shoot.

Click to expand...

Self-portraits are fun, but I detect something else in your post. Use your serious camera when you are out exercising your hobby of artistic photography, but get an "enthusiast point and shoot" for when you are with friends, pass the camera around, don't give "expert" directions, and quickly send a link to all the post-processed pictures to everyone who was there. In the long run, your gifts to your friends will mean more to you than any picture. And you will be in many of the pictures they take.

I've had the vari angle lcd since purchasing my A80 many years ago. And was thrilled when the G11 had it. I got mine as soon as possible. That was a huge plus for me. Now more to the point of the OP. The wife and I have a habit of taking self portraits with camera at arms length and lcd flipped towards us. Believe it or not, I find it quite easy. And it's become a fun tradition of ours. As I'm sure many of us know that our eye for photos isn't always easy to convey to others, and even harder when asking a complete stranger to photograph you. I've tried and had said stranger photograph just us, and miss the scenery in the background, that was the main focus. But by taking self pertraits, I can easily fit us (headshots) in to 25-50% of the photo and get the scene i want in the background. Of course this is much easier with the 28mm of the G11. Although, even with the 35mm of the A80, it wasn't impossible. I guess I have to say to those that haven't experienced it, don't knowck it till you try it. And as much as I love to take photos, and carry different gear at different times. I don't always have my tripod at my side. Although the Gorillapod is very handy, and i have used it many times, it also isn't with my 100%. So there are the times when we do the self portrait, and like it very much.

I'll get some photos posted online (hopefully later on today) and show some examples where i've gotten photos I like at arms distance.

Ralph46 said:

Hi Danilo,

No argument with you regarding the usefulness of vari-angle monitor screens.

But for self-portraits? If my arms are of normal length, I presume it is not possible for anyone holding a camera themselves to make a self-portrait from more than about 55 cm.

Regardless of which focal length you use, I don't see anyone doing themselves a favour by photographing themselves from that distance. Quite the opposite. Or do you have a way of increasing the distance?

Cheers, Ralph
--

• -Better a small camera in the pocket than a big one on the shelf --

Click to expand...

Here's some examples I found quickly. Some better than others.
It is possible to get decent self portraits using variangle LCD.

Boston Sunset



On Green Monster



Open Osprey



Frozen Fenway
(Yes, It was very cold out)



An older one, that's the A80 in my sunglasses. No background, but without LCD, the kid never would have looked at the camera.

I use mine all of the time, but I have yet to take a picture of myself. Thanks
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Bob

I don't actually use the flip screen on my Canon TX1 for self portraits, but it is useful for holding overhead to aim over the heads of crowds, to avoid bending my creaky old legs to take lowdown close-up shots of flowers, and, of course, for protecting the screen itself from damage before I pop the camera into a pocket.
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Cyril

Actually I always bring a tripod with me whenever there is a photo shoot opportunity. With a camera mounted on it aiming at you and the background you wanted, I compose and check how my image is frame from the lcd display facing me. You will appreciate the ease of self portraits art possibilities you know only the vari angle lcd can give. Everytime I do it I can see in my fellow shutterbugs who came alone, the envy in their eyes as they see me enjoy shooting myself and they cannot without any help from somebody. With that I go home satisfied at the end of the day.

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Gallery - http://www.flickr.com/photos/cosmicsailors/
FZ7, FZ18

Having a flip screen is a deal breaker for many of us. Even the articulated fuji and nikon screens are no match for a true swivel screen. Note my sig shot:
JR
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Nikon F
Argus C44R (gorgeous)
Fuji S100fs
Canon A20, A80, A710, A650, G11
Collections: http://www.flickr.com/photos/25863948@N07/collections/