mffox Loc: Avon, CT

At age 80 I wouldn't be without a flip screen; they make it easy to get down low or to shoot over the tops of heads.

jesmason

It's mandatory for me. I have had three Canons with a fully rotating screen and never had any service problem with any of them. I suppose dropping the camera might break it but I am careful to store it away rather than carry the camera with the obviously vulnerable screen sticking out. If you're the type who didn't put his toys away maybe a rotating screen isn't for you, but here's what you'll miss:

- Ability to shoot from ground level horizontally or vertically. There are shots you cannot make without a rotating screen -- low plants, dramatic views up buildings, etc. Rotating screens make impossible shots possible.

- Ability to shoot street photos without being too obvious. The screen works like a periscope so you appear to be looking where you are not.

- Ability to shoot straight down and out with the camera held overhead. The screen gets you over crowds. You can compose a photo from above without a ladder or taking wild guesses about the field of view.

I've seen some of the wannabe screens that don't fully rotate. They are clearly inferior.

insman1132 Loc: Southwest Florida

Not mandatory, but definitely preferred if possible.

Retina Loc: Near Charleston,SC

I would not give up my bridge cameras that have tilting or articulated screens, but the live view requirement with the extra noise and delay on my DSLRs makes hinged screens less attractive, at least for my low end models. The bridge cameras also shoot silently, so for those rare scenes where stealth matters, angling the screen can be very useful. Better or newer DSLRs are probably quicker in live view, so a hinged monitor would be a significant factor but not mandatory with an upgrade purchase depending on what I wanted the camera for. If I could had only one camera, it would definitely have it.

Photocraig

I just recently replaced stolen gear. The flip out twisty screen was a must have. That's because, I wanted to be able to get low angle shots without having to call the Fork Lift to get me standing again. Also, more prosaic is the eye level shot is self limiting. I started on a TLR. For me at 6'4", it becomes even more pronounced. The flip out screen would allow me to place my lens axis at the height I want it to be, like portrait subject's eye level or torso height, without holding an (for me these days) an unstable bent knee shooting position for several shots. In addition, my travel tripod is short for me (they ALL are). With the camera mounted on the head, without the center column extended (the least stable part of the whole rig) and maybe even the spindly lower legs not extended very far, I can still focus and frame a photo, and with the touchscreen as you asked, (although I can get that from my i-phone remote app) I can move focus, change settings and actuate the shutter. AND review the photo. This allowing longer continuous photography sessions without a Chiropractor visit. That's why I chose my current Canon 77D which is 9 oz lighter than the 80D I initially wanted, with the same 24MP sensor.

Those are the reasons that the moving screen that I wanted for so long is of value and the SURPRISING value of the touch screen which I thought was a gimmick. They're both of real value and I wouldn't buy another camera without them. An added benefit is the screen can be stored facing into the camera avoiding vulnerability to scratching and breaking while being transported.

Lot of really great choices today. As a consumer you have the opportunity to have as much information on the products as the retail staff does. It was difficult to make the best decision for me just from electronic data. Had I not been able to handle all the options at a quality local retail store I doubt if I would have been able to make the decision as easily as I did.
C

le boecere

For me, Haydon makes some clear and excellent points in the discussion, here. Worthy of me archiving.