Seeking Advice on Using Fully Articulating Screen for Street Photography

A few months ago, I purchased an X-H2S to use for sports, action, wildlife, and event photography. I also have an X100V that I primarily use for street photography and an X-T3 that I use for a bit of everything, including street photography when I want to use Fujifilm F1.4 lenses.

I have become very comfortable with the controls of the X-H2S and tend to use the camera more than my X-T3. The X-H2S works great for almost everything I do, except for street photography; I find the fully articulating screen, when extended, is difficult to work except when the camera is held vertically. Here are some of the issues I have when the screen is extended to the left side of the camera:

1. Accessing the screen touch functions is difficult and slow because I am right handed and have an injury to my left hand.
2. I have problems getting the scene framed properly when I am looking to the left of the lens.
3. I am concerned that the screen is more likely to break than if it were located behind the camera.

If anyone has advice on how to overcome, or at least mitigate, any of the items I listed I would appreciate the guidance.

Thank you in advance.

Have you tried flipping the screen around and then back to the body so it's in the same position as a fixed LCD?

Morris

sshapiro wrote:

A few months ago, I purchased an X-H2S to use for sports, action, wildlife, and event photography. I also have an X100V that I primarily use for street photography and an X-T3 that I use for a bit of everything, including street photography when I want to use Fujifilm F1.4 lenses.

I have become very comfortable with the controls of the X-H2S and tend to use the camera more than my X-T3. The X-H2S works great for almost everything I do, except for street photography; I find the fully articulating screen, when extended, is difficult to work except when the camera is held vertically. Here are some of the issues I have when the screen is extended to the left side of the camera:

1. Accessing the screen touch functions is difficult and slow because I am right handed and have an injury to my left hand.
2. I have problems getting the scene framed properly when I am looking to the left of the lens.
3. I am concerned that the screen is more likely to break than if it were located behind the camera.

If anyone has advice on how to overcome, or at least mitigate, any of the items I listed I would appreciate the guidance.

Thank you in advance.

The only way to overcome your articulation screen issues is to keep using it until it feels comfortable.

sshapiro wrote:

Morris0 wrote:

Have you tried flipping the screen around and then back to the body so it's in the same position as a fixed LCD?

Morris

Yes, I generally have the screen in that position, but there are circumstances when it's useful to be able to look down at the screen when the camera is close to my chest. The flip screen is a very different experience, for me, than the tilt screens I am used to. But I am hoping that I can get comfortable using the flip screen because I like the X-H2S controls and features.

Rather than using the touch screen, try using the joystick to chose where you focus.

Morris

sshapiro wrote:

Yes, I generally have the screen in that position, but there are circumstances when it's useful to be able to look down at the screen when the camera is close to my chest.

Personally, if I’m shooting street and the camera isn’t to my eye, then I’m shooting without looking at the camera at all. It takes a while to become accustomed to framing that way, but once you do, it works, especially if you have a relatively wide lens that will afford some cropping. When shooting like this I’ll either be manually prefocused, or using a relatively large AF area (normally the 5x5, sometimes the 3x3).

But it does take a little practice. If you try it you’ll louse it up at first, guaranteed. Just keep learning from the results and it won’t take long to get more reliable results.

My advice is to keep practicing until you find what the best option for you is. If you want to take shots with the camera off your face, you simply have to adjust. With my XT4 I sometimes use the screen, sometimes do not.

If you practice and learn to see the way your lenses see, you don't need the screen when the camera is not up to your face.

sshapiro wrote:

nurseMarty wrote:

You can use any camera for street photography.

I don’t like using a flip screen for street photography. I wouldn’t suggest using the XH2 as a street photography camera. Good news though. You have the X 100 V. That is the perfect camera for street photography. Want to use a lens longer than 23 mm? Use the XT3. They both have the tilty screen. Either of these bodies would serve

Congratulations on the several Fuji bodies that you have. Use anybody that you have for street photography. Have fun.

Mask On Nurse Marty (Ret)

I would like to consolidate the number of camera bodies I have, and I like the X-H2S for all my other photography, but the answer might be that the flip screen won't work for my street photography when I use the F1.4 lenses.

The flip screen won't work for your street photography when you use the f1.4 lenses but it works with other lenses?

Another solution might be using the good old EVF.

sshapiro wrote:

Foskito wrote:

sshapiro wrote:

nurseMarty wrote:

You can use any camera for street photography.

I don’t like using a flip screen for street photography. I wouldn’t suggest using the XH2 as a street photography camera. Good news though. You have the X 100 V. That is the perfect camera for street photography. Want to use a lens longer than 23 mm? Use the XT3. They both have the tilty screen. Either of these bodies would serve

Congratulations on the several Fuji bodies that you have. Use anybody that you have for street photography. Have fun.

Mask On Nurse Marty (Ret)

I would like to consolidate the number of camera bodies I have, and I like the X-H2S for all my other photography, but the answer might be that the flip screen won't work for my street photography when I use the F1.4 lenses.

The flip screen won't work for your street photography when you use the f1.4 lenses but it works with other lenses?

Another solution might be using the good old EVF.

What I was trying to communicate is that I use the X100V as my primary street photography camera but switch to the X-T3 or X-H2S when I need faster primes. The F1.4 primes are useful at night vs. the X100V F2 lens.

Tilt-screen is better for street no doubt. Sadly Fuji jump on the videographer/youtuber band wagon and left still-shooters relegated to the XE-XP/X100.

Jeff Biscuits wrote:

sshapiro wrote:

Yes, I generally have the screen in that position, but there are circumstances when it's useful to be able to look down at the screen when the camera is close to my chest.

Personally, if I’m shooting street and the camera isn’t to my eye, then I’m shooting without looking at the camera at all. It takes a while to become accustomed to framing that way, but once you do, it works, especially if you have a relatively wide lens that will afford some cropping. When shooting like this I’ll either be manually prefocused, or using a relatively large AF area (normally the 5x5, sometimes the 3x3).

But it does take a little practice. If you try it you’ll louse it up at first, guaranteed. Just keep learning from the results and it won’t take long to get more reliable results.

I do this as well and use a wide lens so I don't need perfect framing and can crop later.  Shooting at f8 allows for some focus slop and I set the camera up to focus on the nearest subject while f8 helps have a recognizable background.

Morris

Foskito wrote:

sshapiro wrote:

Foskito wrote:

sshapiro wrote:

nurseMarty wrote:

You can use any camera for street photography.

I don’t like using a flip screen for street photography. I wouldn’t suggest using the XH2 as a street photography camera. Good news though. You have the X 100 V. That is the perfect camera for street photography. Want to use a lens longer than 23 mm? Use the XT3. They both have the tilty screen. Either of these bodies would serve

Congratulations on the several Fuji bodies that you have. Use anybody that you have for street photography. Have fun.

Mask On Nurse Marty (Ret)

I would like to consolidate the number of camera bodies I have, and I like the X-H2S for all my other photography, but the answer might be that the flip screen won't work for my street photography when I use the F1.4 lenses.

The flip screen won't work for your street photography when you use the f1.4 lenses but it works with other lenses?

Another solution might be using the good old EVF.

What I was trying to communicate is that I use the X100V as my primary street photography camera but switch to the X-T3 or X-H2S when I need faster primes. The F1.4 primes are useful at night vs. the X100V F2 lens.

Tilt-screen is better for street no doubt. Sadly Fuji jump on the videographer/youtuber band wagon and left still-shooters relegated to the XE-XP/X100.

X-T5 has a tilt screen.

DarnGoodPhotos wrote:

Foskito wrote:

sshapiro wrote:

Foskito wrote:

sshapiro wrote:

nurseMarty wrote:

You can use any camera for street photography.

I don’t like using a flip screen for street photography. I wouldn’t suggest using the XH2 as a street photography camera. Good news though. You have the X 100 V. That is the perfect camera for street photography. Want to use a lens longer than 23 mm? Use the XT3. They both have the tilty screen. Either of these bodies would serve

Congratulations on the several Fuji bodies that you have. Use anybody that you have for street photography. Have fun.

Mask On Nurse Marty (Ret)

I would like to consolidate the number of camera bodies I have, and I like the X-H2S for all my other photography, but the answer might be that the flip screen won't work for my street photography when I use the F1.4 lenses.

The flip screen won't work for your street photography when you use the f1.4 lenses but it works with other lenses?

Another solution might be using the good old EVF.

What I was trying to communicate is that I use the X100V as my primary street photography camera but switch to the X-T3 or X-H2S when I need faster primes. The F1.4 primes are useful at night vs. the X100V F2 lens.

Tilt-screen is better for street no doubt. Sadly Fuji jump on the videographer/youtuber band wagon and left still-shooters relegated to the XE-XP/X100.

X-T5 has a tilt screen.

You are right.