SOLINA DAVE

If you were buying a new camera, would the presence of a flip-out screen be a mandatory item? If so why, and would you also need it to tilt, and do a 180º for selfies? Or would you be quite satisfied with a standard screen?
I've always just had a standard screen, and I've always coped. I'm wondering if a flip screen would get enough use to warrant having it. They have always seemed to me, to be a very fragile item, and not worth the bother. I'm curious about your ideas regarding the pros and cons.
Also while I've got your attention, what's your opinion regarding touch-screens? Do you love 'em? Hate 'em? Or do you get along just fine with standard switching? I have this feeling about getting my greasy fingerprints all over my beautiful HD screen.

Thanks..................Dave

Haydon

If you are aging like most of us, getting low down shots with a reticulating screen makes it's very easy without having to lie on your stomach. Shooting over a crowd can also be advantageous by positioning the screen properly. You can also flip the screen forward and see how the framing will appear if you're standing in front of the lens. I like the idea personally but old school will see it as a gimmick.

Touch screens can be very useful flipping through menus but if you're an event shooter, some might argue that the second you're moving your eye away from the eyepiece, you're missing shots.

Keldon Loc: Yukon, B.C.

I like my flip screen on my D500 but don't use it much but when I need it it's great to have. As for touch screens I never use it. I imply forget it's there and use the buttons instead.

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

While the benefits of adjustable monitors are hard to argue against, my concern has always been that it's just too easy to damage accidentally and too likely to eventually fail due to wear. But...I tend to keep and use my equipment for many years, so I try to make choices that support long life. If my plans were based on a two or three year expected life, my choices would be less conservative.

Note that this is based on my perception and on knowledge of the internal components and construction of today's SLRs. I don't know that these screens are in reality a significant point of failure, but the apparent risk is greater than my tolerance level.

LP

blackest Loc: Ireland

Only my G5 has a reticulating screen and most of the time I don't use it but it does have one useful feature you can flip it 180 and have the screen against the body which saves from distractions and protects the screen from damage.

Haydon

I just used it not a minute ago. I would have hated taking this on my stomach. Shot with a SX50.

Don't get me wrong, I prefer an EVF/OVF but there are times I appreciate it. I sometimes bird with a 500F4 with a ground pod and use an angle finder. This is when I wish I had DPAF and was on my knees shooting live view with a flippy screen.

(Download)

jmvaugh Loc: Albuquerque

I have an articulated touch LCD. I nearly never use LiveView but do use the touch screen for scrolling through playback and to get through the menu much faster than the buttons. I did just buy and installed a really nice screen protector because I detest scratches. I also hate finger prints on my camera, phone, and laptop but I have clean "microfiber" wipes stashed everywhere (right along side my required drugstore cheaters).

jmvaugh Loc: Albuquerque

I have an articulated touch LCD. I nearly never use LiveView but do use the touch screen for scrolling through playback and to get through the menu much faster than the buttons. I did just buy and installed a really nice screen protector because I detest scratches. I also hate finger prints on my camera, phone, and laptop but I have clean "microfiber" wipes stashed everywhere (right along side my required drugstore cheaters).

SOLINA DAVE

All very good points. Thank you! I'm not sure I'm aging like most of us. I think it may be at a somewhat more accelerated rate than that. And that's a really good point about the low-down shots. I suppose one simply has to be careful with it, and not abuse it, so they don't break it. I agree that it's probably nice to have on hand. Better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it.
And I hate to admit it. But I'm too damned old for touch screens. I see my son and my daughter moving stuff around on their smart phones, and it just leaves me in the dust!

Just give me a button to push. I love to push buttons. Especially the one that says, "AUTO". Ha! Ha!...................................Dave

erinjay64

If a camera I wanted for it's shutter speed, low light capability, or such, had a flip out / tilt / articulated screen, I would not spurn it, but I would never select a camera on the basis of it having, or lacking, such a screen. Such screens can be handy if you shoot a lot of small, low down, things...field mice, Chihuahua puppies, etc, head on...which I do not do...Or if you shoot a lot of events (concerts, parades, etc), over the heads of the crowd in front of you...which I do not do. They can also be handy if you want to shoot videos of yourself, and watch yourself as they are being shot. I also don't do that. If I did shoot videos I wanted to watch myself making, I would run the video signal out to a monitor, and glance at the monitor as the video was made...thus negating the need for a tilt screen.

If you have a fetish about photographing dog turds on the street, and do not want to bend over to frame, and focus, a tilt screen would be useful. I do not do such, either, however. I have no use for a tilt / flip / articulated screen, and would never buy a camera which had one just to get such a screen. I have gotten by nicely, so far, without such a screen. If I want to shoot a parade, or such, I will get there early enough to be in the front of the crowd, and so not need to shoot over anyone else's head. If I ever get a camera which has such a screen, it will be bought for it's: shutter speed, ISO, continuous video focusing, or some other such feature....not for it's screen.

Still....to each his / her own. If you like such a screen, and are willing to pay extra to get it, do so. You don't need our permission, but you have it anyway. As for touch screens, I do not like them on cell phones, computers, tablets, etc, but can't avoid them in some cases. If a camera I get for some other reason / feature has a touch screen, I will live with it, but I would never get a camera just for it's touch screen.

jmvaugh Loc: Albuquerque

I have no insider info, but I think the major camera makers will add articulated touchscreens for nearly every camera available. It's better to have a feature that you don't use but can stay nicely tucked away than to buy a camera for fast AF, shutter speed, and omg sensor but it doesn't have a nice flip screen for when you want to shoot video.

Bill_de Loc: US

I resemble that remark!

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BebuLamar

I don't need it on a DSLR because when I use a DSLR I always use the view finder. For menu and review non articulating screen is not a problem and is not a fragile. As for touch screen I think it's a good idea to reduce the number of buttons but my finger doesn't work well for some reason. I always have problem with my phones.

sjb3

My Fujifilm Finepix S-1 bridge camera has a fully adjustable fold-out monitor which I make good use of for certain shots. It's a useful complement to the electronic viewfinder the camera also has. I don't like touchscreens at all on anything; cameras, tablets, computer monitors, etc. I put up with the (tiny!) touchscreen on my little GoPro Hero 5 Black since the menu system is built around it. The workaround of using the mode button along with the shutter button can be aggravatingly cumbersome at times.

Jim Bob

No.