Viewfinders... perhaps, the most important part of a digital camera? (Page 2): I live in South Texas, the sun is shining brightly 90% of the year

TommiRulz Loc: Corpus Christi, TX

I live in South Texas, the sun is shining brightly 90% of the year - view finder a %100 MUST HAVE.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

dreamon wrote:

I've not seen a lot on this subject on UHH before. When I was younger, my eyesight was a lot better. Now that I'm in my sixties, the viewfinder has taken on far greater importance--if I can't see my subject, what's the fun of trying to take good pictures?

For me, at least, a good viewfinder (digital or otherwise) has become an absolute must. How do you feel about cameras you've shot, and is excellence in viewfinder design, magnification, percent of coverage, etc., important to you?

I have one compact Sony that does not have a viewfinder, and I don't use that for high quality work. It's small and easy to fit into a pocket, but it's not for serious work. I also have an Olympus Tough that doesn't have a viewfinder, unfortunately, but it's perfect for heavy rain or dirty, dusty conditions. I find the viewfinder to be essential.

CO

dreamon wrote:

Thanks. What got me thinking about this subject ha... (show quote)

Entry level DSLR cameras have a pentamirror viewfinder. If you go up to a mid level or higher DSLR camera you get a superior pentaprism viewfinder. The glass prism inside gives a larger, slightly brighter view through the viewfinder.

jim in TC Loc: Traverse City, Michigan

I like a viewfinder but have grown more comfortable without, except in very bright conditions. My 'bridge' camera from Sony has a pretty decent viewfinder and my pocket model from Sony doesn't have anything but the LCD. If you have or obtain a camera with only the LCD finder but is acceptable in every other way, consider the Clearview attachment. http://www.clearviewer.com/Products.html

boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander

markngolf wrote:

I have slight Parkinson's in my right hand. A quality viewfinder is absolutely essential for me. I can't use Live View, without shaking. With a viewfinder, I can anchor my arms against my body. Good post!!
Thanks,
Mark

I know the feeling as I have tremor in left hand (getting older sucks) so using live view to shoot is not an option. Plus, as I was a film shooter for tomany decades to remember, I "must" use the view finder. I only use the screen to view and adjust settings. The most important part of any camera is the on/off switch.

markngolf Loc: Bridgewater, NJ

Well together, we have a "pair of good hands".
Mark

boberic wrote:

I know the feeling as I have tremor in left hand (getting older sucks) so using live view to shoot is not an option. Plus, as I was a film shooter for tomany decades to remember, I "must" use the view finder. I only use the screen to view and adjust settings. The most important part of any camera is the on/off switch.

chapjohn Loc: Tigard, Oregon

I am going to disagree with the original answer about the most important part of a camera. We should all know that a charged battery is the most important part of any modern camera. They are batteries in film cameras as well as digital, but if the batteries have no charge that is same as not having a battery. Cameras only work with charged batteries.

Leitz Loc: Solms

chapjohn wrote:

We should all know that a charged battery is the most important part of any modern camera.

I still say the sensor is the most important - what good's a battery (or viewfinder) without it?

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

dreamon wrote:

I've not seen a lot on this subject on UHH before. When I was younger, my eyesight was a lot better. Now that I'm in my sixties, the viewfinder has taken on far greater importance--if I can't see my subject, what's the fun of trying to take good pictures?

For me, at least, a good viewfinder (digital or otherwise) has become an absolute must. How do you feel about cameras you've shot, and is excellence in viewfinder design, magnification, percent of coverage, etc., important to you?

My eyesight was never very good, and now it is terrible, so a viewfinder that fits my personal needs is of great value. I use Olympus m43 cameras, with excellent EVFs that allow me to see pretty much what I'm capturing before I capture it, enlarge it at will in the EVF (which is truly wonderful), see the shot after it was captured in the same EVF, and configure what controls show up in the EVF alongside the image. I went with m43 to get a smaller kit after a hand and shoulder injury, and I fully expected to hate the EVF , but it has turned out to be something I won't again do without.

markngolf Loc: Bridgewater, NJ

I don't understand your reply. Of course a battery is important. Did anyone indicate differently.
Thanks,
Mark

chapjohn wrote:

I am going to disagree with the original answer about the most important part of a camera. We should all know that a charged battery is the most important part of any modern camera. They are batteries in film cameras as well as digital, but if the batteries have no charge that is same as not having a battery. Cameras only work with charged batteries.

jblazar Loc: Sunnyvale, CA

I mostly use the LCD with a Hoodman so that bright sun does not interfere. It also magnifies the view, which helps these old eyes.

Reinaldokool Loc: San Rafael, CA

dreamon wrote:

I've not seen a lot on this subject on UHH before. When I was younger, my eyesight was a lot better. Now that I'm in my sixties, the viewfinder has taken on far greater importance--if I can't see my subject, what's the fun of trying to take good pictures?

For me, at least, a good viewfinder (digital or otherwise) has become an absolute must. How do you feel about cameras you've shot, and is excellence in viewfinder design, magnification, percent of coverage, etc., important to you?

I absolutely agree. A screen is occasionally useful, but for most photography, it does not do the job. That is one more area where both Canon and Nikon have missed the boat on MILC. An EVF is a great solution.

charles tabb Loc: Richmond VA.

dreamon wrote:

I've not seen a lot on this subject on UHH before. When I was younger, my eyesight was a lot better. Now that I'm in my sixties, the viewfinder has taken on far greater importance--if I can't see my subject, what's the fun of trying to take good pictures?

For me, at least, a good viewfinder (digital or otherwise) has become an absolute must. How do you feel about cameras you've shot, and is excellence in viewfinder design, magnification, percent of coverage, etc., important to you?

======================================================
Due to Glaucoma I've had my lenses replaced in both my eyes.
After the operation I found that the world look so much better then before.
My problem then became needing reading glasses to make the newspapers & monitor look so much clearer.
I was told that having that problem was not very unusual after eye lens replacement.
Because of this I found that the using the screen on the back wasn't really that great and when I use my viewfinder and have it adjusted properly things are so much better.
My wife uses her screen almost all the time without a complaint.

Hope this makes sense.

Charles
Richmond VA

BebuLamar

If I rely on AF then I can use the screen for composition fine. I found even the EVF I still can't focus with focusing aid like focus peaking, magnified the center so it's no good for me. I can focus the SLR on the plain ground glass without any focusing aid (like the split image which I hate). However, when I have to I can frame the shot without the viewfinder or screen. Not very accurate but sufficiently accurate to get the shot when I can't look at the camera.

David in Dallas Loc: Dallas, Texas, USA

My camera does offer "Live view" (D7100) but I almost never use it. I prefer the ability to keep the camera still when glued to my face using the viewfinder. The camera is never on a tripod--I don't even take one with me any more, because most of my photography is during planned tours and there just is no time to set up a tripod under those circumstances. And, like Rebulamar, I do occasionally just take a shot without using either the viewfinder or Liveview--usually held up in the air above a crowd and pointed slightly downward (I do look at the camera base to try to keep it level).