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Anyone NOT use the VF for shooting street?

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demonboy

demonboy

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I currently use a 5Dii for my street stuff but it's big so I'm looking to downsize for my street stuff (i.e. I'm keeping the 5Dii and want something smaller just for street). I've been using an Oly 35RC recently, which has been great fun, so I'm looking for a digital version of that.

The problem is many potential models out there have done away with the VF, specifically the mirrorless systems. I notice the new Canon EOS-M doesn't have one.

It may be a habit I have to change but I can't stand taking photos holding the camera up in front of me and using the screen. I have to use a VF, but what EVFs I've used I've been frustrated with.

My question to serious street photographers out there (and by serious I mean those who understand the concept of being invisible and capturing decisive moments with a fast, silent, easy to use camera) - have you done away with the VF altogether?

I'd love to hear from people who have made the transition, and those who haven't. And more importantly, what cameras you'd recommend for street shooting.

Thanks in advance.

--
[] http://www.jamiefurlongphotography.com []
Refreshingly different travel and street
 
I use a combination of x100 and E-M5 and do not use the view finder on either camera. Both of them I typically use from the hip to capture a specific person or situation that takes place right in front of me. With the x100 I typically set it to MF and pick a distance, normally around 2-3meters, and then put myself in a position where the subject matches my where my focus point is. With the E-M5 I use the touch screen to pick focus and shoot which gives me slightly more flexibility in terms of where I am compared to my subject.

The majority of the newer pictures in this Flickr album was capture by these two cameras

http://www.flickr.com/photos/brianbsorensen/sets/72157630039650828/

Hope this helps. I don't really consider myself an expert at the use of any of the camera but I have managed to make both of them work for what I needed them to. The E-M5 definitely gives better flexibility in terms of shooting but I love the pictures that comes out of the x100.
 
I never use a finder. I use the screen for many esthetic reasons. The camera is an easy decision.
Do you like or need fixed a focal length or an interchangeable camera?

I don't like changing lenses. I use the Ricoh GRD4 because it's the best street camera currently available. It's fixed at 28mm so ya have to think about that. The screen is great and you can see it clearly out to around 140 degrees or so.

Good luck in your quest.
--
Cheers, Don
 
BillFe said:
Don't give up on the 5DII. Try this: the Voightlander 20mm f3.5 lens, almost a pancake lens. Focus is not an issue. Set it and forget it. Perfect for getting in close on the street.
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I won't, don't worry! However having played with an Oly 35RC I realise the benefits of being able to slip a good camera in my pocket. I'm a traveller (I live on a boat, currently in India) so portability when nipping into town is essential. This is where the 5Dii lets me down. Believe me, it's the only area in which it does!

--
[] http://www.jamiefurlongphotography.com []
Refreshingly different travel and street
 
ive got the oly ep3, oly em5, and fuji x100
just as pts of ref

i wasnt a big fan of EVF until the em5(i tried the nex7, and the vf2/3 for m43)

i really love the OVF attachments on my m43's. ive got the 34equiv(which seems nearer to a 40) and a 24equiv

i greatly enjoy the ability to see whats about to come into frame, or happening just off to the side

i probably do a good mix of using a VF and shooting from the hip

the em5 is less "im not taking a photo" from the hip friendly... but the most TLR style friendly, with its flippy touchy screen

the fuji and ep3 both fit in my hand with the screen towards my palm, and my thumb on the shutter, so you can do quick flicks towards a subject n thumb the shutter and turn it back like youre just carrying the camera around in a way that makes it look like theres no way you are about to take a photo

hope some of that is partially useful info in your considerations!
 
I have the G3, and shoot street often and use both the flip out screen and the evf. I can stand on the corner of a busy street looking down at the flip out screen, and take a picture and the people don't ever seem to notice. You can do the same with people who are about to cross the street standing next to you as well. I use either the 20mm or the 14mm to do this. If you are really close, as waiting for the light to change, and you have people all around you the 14mm works really well. You can focus aim take the picture and it looks like your are playing with the camera. While I sometimes (and it is getting farther between sales) sale to publishers, my street work started in Munich back in 1958. I used to carry a tripod for a buddy as he would take pictures at night, and I would help him. Can't really use a tripod much for street.
http://www.photosbypike.com
 
I just went to my site to download a picture to show what I mean about using the G3. For this one I was using the evf. The beauty of the Panasonic G3 is that it weighs so little you can use either a neck strap or a wrist strap. Using the 14mm lens gives you a little more context than zooming in so tight. I try to get uptown at least once a week, unless it it in the 100's then I stay and play with my photos that I place on my web site. Hope this helps. M 4/3 is really a great little camera for this, and really can do most anything that a DSLR can. That is unless you shoot weddings and sports. But that is going to be over come soon I believe. The whole system of one body and 4 lens weighs less than my Nikon with one pro lens did. When I go to town, I pick which lens I want to use, and only carry the camera, that one lens, a memory card and extra battery. I want to take pictures, not mess with my equipment.

'



' /

http://www.photosbypike.com
 
I have been using the Olympus E-M5 with the 12-50mm or the 45mm 1.8 lens. It's small, inconspicuous and light with a flip screen for hip shooting or a great viewfinder for eye level. Weather-sealed body with the sealed 12-50, it makes for an all kinds of extreme conditions shooter. My other choice for steet is the Ricoh GXR with either the A12 28mm or the A12 50mm lens (35mm format). If you add the A12 M Mount, Leica M lens can be used manually or with the correct adaptor, a variety of other manually focused lens. Good luck.......
--
Richard Souders http://www.flickr.com/photos/rsoud/
 
demonboy wrote:
Hi Jamie,

FWIW, I use both the VF, LCD and, on occasion, neither :)
demonboy said:
It may be a habit I have to change but I can't stand taking photos holding the camera up in front of me and using the screen. I have to use a VF, but what EVFs I've used I've been frustrated with.
Click to expand...
... but have never used a camera with an EVF :o
demonboy said:
My question to serious street photographers out there (and by serious I mean those who understand the concept of being invisible and capturing decisive moments with a fast, silent, easy to use camera)
Click to expand...
... unfortunately, I don't think I qualify as a serious street photographer I am
rarely invisible although, on the rare occasion, have got the odd decisive
moment .............. depending upon, of course, who is judging the decisive

moment ;). As for the other qualifications -- fast, silent, easy to use camera --

"fast.. no always", "silent ... as quiet as possible but, sometimes, not so much",
"easy to use camera ... if I've used it for a certain time frame ...yes ... if I
change my settings and forget to change 'em back ... again, Not so much" ;)
demonboy said:
  • have you done away with the VF altogether?
Click to expand...
Yes, if it's an LCD (only) camera :D
demonboy said:
I'd love to hear from people who have made the transition, and those who haven't. And more importantly, what cameras you'd recommend for street shooting.
Click to expand...
I started using the Pentax Q with the (equivalent of a) 50/1.9 lens and Fisheye last September with a fair amount of success and a month ago I picked up the
Q (3X Zoom) lens which is proving useful :)

Cheers and continued superb shooting :)

Jack
demonboy said:
Thanks in advance.

--
[] http://www.jamiefurlongphotography.com []
Refreshingly different travel and street
Click to expand...
--
STREET PHOTOGRAPHY DOCUMENTARY: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6kkHKP4Gnd0

( UPDATED NOV 16th )MY BLOG.... http://www.nakedmanonawire.blogspot.com

MY EMAIL ADDRESS IN IS MY 'VIEW PLAN'

It's amazing what one can do when one doesn't know what one is doing :)
 
Hi, i use a gf2 with a 14mm 2.5 pancake, i never use a VF, the camera is fast in use and small enough to fit in my pocket. I generally walk around with it in my hand ready to shoot, i find it quicker to lift and shoot with the screen than with the VF.
Cheers
Jonnie
 






I'm currently living in China so as a Scot I stand out like a sore thumb! But one thing I have learned is that being noticed doesn't automatically mean you can't get good candids, though I have had to adopt a particular attitude, which is "Yes, I'm talking photos of you all and I have no guilt about it because I'm a nice person with a hobby. See? This is a good one of you!"

That said, people tend to get FAR more nervous or even freeze when they see someone using a viewfinder, especially with a big lens. I find I can "flick" the camera more easily with my GX1 than my D5100 and also a 35mm FL is more forgiving. My touchstone for street work is Chris Weeks. As such, I feel it's my job as an aspiring street photographer to always have a good idea where my lens is pointing. VFs are for more controlled shots.

One thing I would say is I see many photographs labelled as Street which have been taken from very far away and at eye-level. Ruud Albers is very popular on another forum and while he is certainly capable, every single one of his shots are from the same distance and height (i.e. safely far away and taken through a VF). This seriously dilutes the potential for this medium in my opinion.
 
Both are small. The Nikon has a digital viewfinder. The Fuji has an optical finder. Both have smallish sensors, so shooting day on the street means you won't have to worry about focus at all if deep focus if ideal for you.

--
portfolio :: http://pavelkounine.com
daily blog :: http://pavelkounine.com/blog

I shoot film. I shoot digital. Both are great in their own ways. The nice thing about film is that I can always have the most advanced imaging technology around packed into my 20 year old camera. That's one aspect of digital that I loathe.
 
I use my iphone (don't laugh) and a Samsung MV800. The latter is tiny, and has a flip screen, so you can shoot from the waist. It doesn't have a viewfinder, just a screen. It has some irritating features such as a shiny screen that reflects; and some virtual buttons get in the way. But overall it's neat.



 
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