MrBob Loc: lookout Mtn. NE Alabama

This thought arose after reading a post on a user checking the LCD screen in bright light. Someone mentioned Chimping and I am just curious how many of you Chimp or not Chimp. Is there some sort of unwritten stigma attached to chimping that would flag you as a deplorable and not worthy of being recognized as a serious photographer or is it a useless endeavor that is just a waste of time ? Personally I like to Chimp and look at my capture; I make adjustments and move on. I fully understand the concept of " Getting it right the first time " and fully endorse that as it makes you a better photographer. Just curious as to WHY or WHY NOT you personally choose either approach. Maybe we can get a few humorous pages out of this.... Bob

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I'm so non-chimping, that I have the Review feature turned off on my cameras. I am such an excellent photographer (I should turn professional) that every shot is an example of perfection.

Having Review turned off keeps me from wasting time looking at the shot I just took. If a shot is questionable, I just press that little arrow and take a look.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

I always CHECK my exposures when my environment changes throughout my shooting sessions. It is not only logical but imperative to getting images correctly exposed. If time permits, why not?

anotherview Loc: California

You have your answer: "Personally I like to Chimp and look at my capture; I make adjustments and move on."

It's a practical matter, really, not anything else. Purists, contrarians, and others like them will criticize this simple practice.
Or so I've read elsewhere.

For my part, the beauty of digital over film photography illustrates itself here. Digital photography gives the photographer more information and control over his work, in the field and during the later processing of his images.

rebride

Chimping is not cheating.
Bring home the shot by whatever means necessary as long as it's not immoral, unethical or illegal.

Quixdraw Loc: x

If it is subject matter I am confident with, I see the image first on the computer monitor. If conditions are difficult, or I have doubts, I check the first of a series, and possibly one or two more in the course of shooting. What I always do check is Info - camera settings. On occasion I have fumble reset something. No issue with chimping - final photo result is the measure of the photographer.

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

Do your own thing--it doesn’t matter what others do.

hammond

I don't see how I could have made the transition from Auto to Manual without Chimping, and since my brain is still not capable of determining the exact settings for each lens in every lighting situation, I intend to continue Chimping unapologetically.

Detractors will say that you might miss a shot while admiring your own work, and it obviously will affect your battery life, but to the idea that it doesn't 'look cool', I couldn't care less - I just wanna make sure my settings are optimal.

It's probably not a good idea to Chimp purely to admire your shots in the field: particularly if you're shooting live events where you'll miss the action, but in other cases Chimping will ensure you're capturing the image as you envision it. For example, I'm gonna Chimp and adjust relentlessly when I'm doing a long exposure at a waterfall with an ND filter until I get the shutter speed and aperture settings how I want them.

Some will point out that with MILC format cameras, you're less likely to need to Chimp to check exposure/histogram (since you can see these in the electronic viewfinder), but I personally prefer DSLRs (which I know, is another debate entirely)...

... and so I Chimp.

Iron Sight Loc: Utah

"Whatever it Takes"

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

If you pay attention at events where there are professional photogs present you will see that many, perhaps most, don't hesitate to chimp when time allows. If your livelihood depends on you getting the right shot you want to be sure you actually got what you think you did.
I chimp quite frequently in order to be sure that I didn't induce motion blur, something that is quite easy to do, and to see if the settings I used actually produced the results I wanted. Changing a setting, such as aperture or exposure, can change the entire look of a photo.

Bill_de Loc: US

I have the review feature turned off as I don't need to review each shot. But I do take a look quite often as light changes or if, for example, I turn in a different direction.

Is it a necessary function? No. But it is an extra tool and I see no reason to ignore it.

--

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

I "review" when I feel like it.
Call it what you want, like it or don't, I don't care. It's a tool.

Blair Shaw Jr Loc: Dunnellon,Florida

I have to now as my eyesight is waning and the review is a godsend ,but I spent more than half my life in film.......no preview there. I don't see it as cheating or short-cutting but rather an assistance in the attempt to get the best results I can SOOC and forego little ,if any, post process procedures.

I think the expression "chimping" is demeaning and implies a lack of professionalism that modern convenience is somehow frowned upon by purists dogmas.
Some people need a Time-out.

Enough of this manifesto-crap. The Review Option with Crop Capability (in-camera) is A Very Good Thing Period.

The End.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

If one could review a shot before one leaves the area, or see if an adjustment is warranted, as opposed to waiting to look at it at home, which would you rather do?
I'll review thank you.

MrBob Loc: lookout Mtn. NE Alabama

Interesting responses... Perhaps the one I had not considered was the PC aspects of the term itself... Is it demeaning ? Should we banish it to the banishment bin along with " Taking the shot, capture, using Bulb, nifty fifty, or any other slang words that we normally use in our craft ? Is a bird Perching any diff. than a Chimp Chimping... Anyhoot, any conversation topic other than "which is better, Canon or Nikon" is refreshing.