Using viewfinder or LCD screen

[mysteryman44]

Hello, I own the Nikon z 5 ii camera, and with previous cameras, I always use the viewfinder and never the LCD screen. I guess it’s just me feeling more comfortable and easier to see what your photo will look like. Another thing is taking photos in direct sunlight I would think that maybe difficult. Anyway wondering what percentage just use the Viewfinder.

 

[PLShutterbug]

Hello, I own the Nikon z 5 ii camera, and with previous cameras, I always use the viewfinder and never the LCD screen. I guess it’s just me feeling more comfortable and easier to see what your photo will look like. Another thing is taking photos in direct sunlight I would think that maybe difficult. Anyway wondering what percentage just use the Viewfinder.

It depends on my subject. If I can use the EVF I generally will, because I have shot through a viewfinder so long it is comfortable.

If I am shooting low or high angle I generally use the LCD because it is easier.

If still life or portraits I generally use the LCD too, because it is easy shooting on a tripod.

 

[JacquesC]

I use the viewfinder most of the time on my Z7 and Oly EM10, reverting only to the LCD when shooting low down or overhead. The flip up/down LCD makes this easy.

However, if I ever get a camera (eg Z5ii) with one of those fully articulated screens I will probably use the LCD even less as I hate those fully articulated screens. But that's just me, being a grumpy old man

 

[olyflyer]

Hello, I own the Nikon z 5 ii camera, and with previous cameras, I always use the viewfinder and never the LCD screen. I guess it’s just me feeling more comfortable and easier to see what your photo will look like. Another thing is taking photos in direct sunlight I would think that maybe difficult. Anyway wondering what percentage just use the Viewfinder.

I am using whatever is more practical or better in the situation I am taking the image. There are advantages in using the EVF, but there are also advantages in using the screen.

Also, why is it difficult to take photos towards the sun?

 

[WWeber]

Same for me: Normally I use the EVF, only when use of EVF isn’t comfortable or on a tripod, I use the LCD.

 

[Benthal]

I use the viewfinder most of the time on my Z7 and Oly EM10, reverting only to the LCD when shooting low down or overhead. The flip up/down LCD makes this easy.

However, if I ever get a camera (eg Z5ii) with one of those fully articulated screens I will probably use the LCD even less as I hate those fully articulated screens. But that's just me, being a grumpy old man

I'm with you on the fully articulated screens. And I'm in my mid 30s.

If the Nikon Z6III had a tilt up/down screen, I would have bought it already. Hopefully Nikon combines the mechanisms in the next generation.

 

[buildingsights]

Hello, I own the Nikon z 5 ii camera, and with previous cameras, I always use the viewfinder and never the LCD screen. I guess it’s just me feeling more comfortable and easier to see what your photo will look like. Another thing is taking photos in direct sunlight I would think that maybe difficult. Anyway wondering what percentage just use the Viewfinder.

most of the time the viewfinder, even when on a tripod (just rest it on the tripod, to take the weight on the ball head...) but using the screen for difficult angles. the screen is a bit of a pain when shooting in direct lighting. for static framing it's quite handy.

 

[nflanders2]

I've seen people using the LCD screen mostly with Sony cameras and thought that the viewfinder of those cameras must be really bad. But that is just anecdotal – I've got no idea. Since I'm old enough to have started photography on a (D)SLR, I'm used to viewfinder and use it almost always (except on tripod).

 

[skyrunr]

I would like a camera without an LCD! I tried the Z30, and that was not for me. I'd be okay with tilt screens if they went down more than 45 degrees for shooting overhead, and for not annoying spectators behind you with an LCD as much, but they don't.

I'd even be up for a body without the weight and cost of an LCD. Serious video users would use a monitor, and mounting something to the hot shoe that can face forward and be centered on the lens for framing is a better use case. Not to mention have it's own battery supply. An old smartphone with Snapbridge even works btw.

The LCD is for showing people photos and a backup if you have a problem with the EVF.

 

[HeavyDuty]

I’m at least 90% EVF which makes how well I’ve adapted to and enjoy my Sigma BF a mystery. I recently picked up a Z30 to use as a family and video camera, the LCD is workable - I use a hood when shooting video, though.

 

[sirhawkeye64]

Hello, I own the Nikon z 5 ii camera, and with previous cameras, I always use the viewfinder and never the LCD screen. I guess it’s just me feeling more comfortable and easier to see what your photo will look like. Another thing is taking photos in direct sunlight I would think that maybe difficult. Anyway wondering what percentage just use the Viewfinder.

For me it depends on what I'm doing.

If I had to put numbers on it, I'd say 90% EVF probably and 10% LCD, mostly when I'm on a tripod or when I'm shooting down low / over my head. I'm not one that likes to shoot with the camera held out in front of me at arm's-length as I don't feel that's a very stable position, but that's just personal preference/view point I guess.

This is kind of why I can't buy a camera without a viewfinder unless it is going to be used for vlogging or video only,

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* PLEASE NOTE: I generally unsubscribe from forums/comments after a period of time has passed, so if I do not respond, that is likely the reason. *

 

[jthomas39]

I would like a camera without an LCD! I tried the Z30, and that was not for me. I'd be okay with tilt screens if they went down more than 45 degrees for shooting overhead, and for not annoying spectators behind you with an LCD as much, but they don't.

I'd even be up for a body without the weight and cost of an LCD. Serious video users would use a monitor, and mounting something to the hot shoe that can face forward and be centered on the lens for framing is a better use case. Not to mention have it's own battery supply. An old smartphone with Snapbridge even works btw.

The LCD is for showing people photos and a backup if you have a problem with the EVF.

You make menu changes while holding the camera to your eye? And only use the 4-way controller?

It's way easier with the touch screen.

 

[skyrunr]

You make menu changes while holding the camera to your eye? And only use the 4-way controller?

It's way easier with the touch screen.

Yes. Other than the first time I setup the camera, but I'd much rather do that with an app on a desktop or phone someday.

First I utilize custom buttons, then the "i" menu, then MyMenu (red button.) The dial still works very well to navigate menus with the camera to your eye. I haven't even re-populated MyMenu since I updated to fw2.0. I still swipe or pinch the screen for playback.

I'm not impressed with Nikon's touchscreen implementation. The touch areas aren't large enough (Canon does this better,) bright sun can be tricky with an LCD, and gloved or damp hands aren't good, so no touchscreen for me. I don't like my car's touchscreen either. I don't care for the mistaken movement or changes when the LCD is active.

With fw2.0 I hardly need to go into any menu settings at all. I keep one CFE-B card (WISE btw,) for general/event shooting and one for sports. This is a carry over approach from banks with my D500. They have custom U123's on them which have now been essentially doubled with recall settings. I hope we get the "sticky" feature from the Zr, and it goes one step further where I can have one memory be restored and another be sticky. I can address that with my card setup though.

 

[jimdelves]

I use the EVF unless I’m shooting very high or low

 

[Twinion]

I was an viewfinder only guy for a long time, but I've come around to using the screen more, depending on what I'm shooting. When I've got a long lens out, I'm still glued to the viewfinder, but for casual shots I find using the screen makes me more likely to move the camera around and try out different angles. When I first moved to mirrorless I didn't think using the screen would be all that useful, but now it's one of the things I miss most when I pull out the D850.

 

[AlanWatson]

The only times I'll use the LCD is when I'm shooting high or low, i.e. when I can't use the viewfinder. Which means that I only use the LCD when it is angled, never when it is flat on the back of the camera.

However, I actually prefer the LCD if I'm reviewing images. Sometimes that's not practical, e.g. if it's too bright to really see the LCD, but generally I find something about the brightness/contrast a little more comfortable, even though I don't feel that when composing. Habit might be part of it, but it's not the whole.

 

[Born2Code]

I am using whatever is more practical or better in the situation I am taking the image. There are advantages in using the EVF, but there are also advantages in using the screen.

Also, why is it difficult to take photos towards the sun?

What I think the OP meant was shooting where direct sunlight makes the LCD hard to see.

 

[Born2Code]

Hand-held, only the viewfinder. Holding a Z8 out in front of me just doesn't seem steady. The main exceptions, as most people said, are high and low angles. I also use the LCD when doing things like flowers from a tripod.

Early LCDs were impossible. They didn't tilt or articulate and they weren't bright enough to use in direct sunlight. The current ones are much better and I don't hesitate to use one if circumstances warrant.

 

[yardcoyote]

I would say I use my viewfinder maybe 90 to 95% of the time, on my cameras that have viewfinders. I only use the LCD screen when my body won't let me get the angle I want while keeping my eye on the VF. This includes high shots, low shots, and anything that requires extreme bodily contortions. My definition of the latter is constantly changing the older I get.

 

[bluzman]

Can't remember the last time I didn't use the viewfinder.