Is it an age thing - Why so many cameras without a viewfinder?

[RetCapt]

I don't think it is an age thing for me, but since I am old, that is a rebuttable assumption. My first digital camera, an Olympus 1030SW (which I still use) had only the LCD screen. I chose that camera since I am in/on the water a lot as well as living in a rugged mountain environment where the camera would be exposed to various elements, including impacts. One of my film systems was a Nikonos 5, which I chose for the purposes above, and that first digital was intended to take its place, and give me the necessary insight as to whether or not to commit to digital. So I had no choice as to (depending on which side of the pointless definition argument one chooses) LCD only (as viewfinder) or an EVF/OVF veiwfinder. I eventually compensated for the limitations of the LCD screen only as my sole viewfinding device by getting a Hoodman loupe, which I use all the time. For me that took care of the problem. Along the way I have acquired two more rugged type cameras, both of which have only the LCD screen. I have also been given two used, high quality, small travel compacts which yield outstanding results up to 11X14", but have only LCD screens. Since I was already accustomed to using the Hoodman loupe, that use just continues with the cameras that have only an LCD screen. I suppose there is some degree of inconvenience there, but since I am so used to using the Hoodman loupe I am not aware of it. Those were the circumstances under which I transitioned from film to digital photography. Something had to have worked out well, even as allegedly handicapped as I was by only having an LCD screen on some of my cameras, because I have no desire or need to return to film. I don't see age as a factor in this evolution, but as I alluded to above, YMMV.

 

[bobn2]

I don't think it is an age thing for me, but since I am old, that is a rebuttable assumption. My first digital camera, an Olympus 1030SW (which I still use) had only the LCD screen. I chose that camera since I am in/on the water a lot as well as living in a rugged mountain environment where the camera would be exposed to various elements, including impacts. One of my film systems was a Nikonos 5, which I chose for the purposes above, and that first digital was intended to take its place, and give me the necessary insight as to whether or not to commit to digital. So I had no choice as to (depending on which side of the pointless definition argument one chooses) LCD only (as viewfinder) or an EVF/OVF veiwfinder. I eventually compensated for the limitations of the LCD screen only as my sole viewfinding device by getting a Hoodman loupe, which I use all the time. For me that took care of the problem. Along the way I have acquired two more rugged type cameras, both of which have only the LCD screen. I have also been given two used, high quality, small travel compacts which yield outstanding results up to 11X14", but have only LCD screens. Since I was already accustomed to using the Hoodman loupe, that use just continues with the cameras that have only an LCD screen. I suppose there is some degree of inconvenience there, but since I am so used to using the Hoodman loupe I am not aware of it. Those were the circumstances under which I transitioned from film to digital photography. Something had to have worked out well, even as allegedly handicapped as I was by only having an LCD screen on some of my cameras, because I have no desire or need to return to film. I don't see age as a factor in this evolution, but as I alluded to above, YMMV.

An interesting and very level-headed post.