radiojohn

Despite knowing better, I bought a used Olympus "P" series compact camera that accepts the same 4/3 lenses as my Oly SLR styled camera. I went out on a bright October day and could not see a thing on the big back screen. Fortunately, this was and older model that did not have the shooting options on a touch screen, but on a physical wheel.

Indoors, it is a delight.

Outdoors, I'm better off with my little Powershot A1200 and A1600 with real optical viewfinders.

How did the industry convince users that EVFs or optical finders were no longer needed?

User ID

Nope. They tried to convince users to buy the optional externally mounted EVF. But it’s cheaper to buy the built in version in the first place.

Never even ever considered a small hand camera without a viewfinder. Some things are just dirt simple obvious.

“Indoors it’s a delight” ?!?!?!? Indoors usually means slower shutter speeds. IOW indoors it’s a huge PITA :-(

BadPhoto Loc: Maryland

The trend began with point & shoot cameras digital cameras which had not viewfinder. Eventually, some models added viewfinders; they were pretty poor but usable.

With ILCs, not including a viewfinder meant smaller bodies.

The Olympus add-on EVF is large and tilts (which is really useful). But they are susceptible to sunburn, so you don't want to expose them to sunlight.

One option is to get a loupe for the LCD. I use a Hoodman; but it's about as large as the camera.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

I believe he means it is a delight using the back screen indoors as it displays nicely, compared to using it outside, where it displays poorly.

radiojohn

The original compacts, back in the 2-5 mp days, often had viewfinders. I suspect it was an economic decision, as in, let's take out the viewfinder, lower the price, and pretend it is a good idea.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Hahaha. I would not be surprised.

I never use the back screen for shooting, always the viewfinder. Review is a different story.
If I used the back viewfinder I'd be craning my neck back, or have to use full lens cheaters.
Look at people who use bifocals, they arch their head to use the bottom of the lens in their glasses.

Amazing how designers/manufacturers "know" what is best for the consumer.
right...

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

Manufacturers started phasing out the viewfinder on compact cameras when there was a competitive rush to bring out more and more ultra-slim compacts. This was about 15 years ago. I guess manufacturers then concluded that consumers have become used to no viewfinder, and so they felt there was no need to reintroduce the viewfinder again on compact camera models.

Bill_de Loc: US

I bought one of these a while back specifically for table top photography. When I'm not using it, it sleeps in the console of my SUV. Even with no viewfinder it has gotten more use than I expected. The flip screen and light weight body make it nice for shooting close to the ground.

LUMIX 4K Digital Camera LX10 with 20 Megapixel 1-inch Sensor,
3X 24-72mm F/1.4-2.8 LEICA DC VARIO-SUMMILUX Lens
Tiltable LCD and Lens Control Ring –

It is not a replacement for a DSLR or current Mirrorless cameras,

https://shop.panasonic.com/cameras-and-camcorders/cameras/lumix-point-and-shoot-cameras/DMC-LX10K.html#srule=newest&start=25&sz=24&nextIndex=0&cgid=cameras

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MDI Mainer

Most images today are taken with a cell phone, and, the advances in cell phone optics notwithstanding, I have yet to see a phone with a viewfinder. So most people manage.

radiojohn

After a few years, the idea of "composition" will be meaningless. Can't compose what you can't see.

Red6

I spent 30+ years as a manufacturing engineer in the electronics industry. Many consumers would be surprised or shocked to learn how many features or options in an item are deleted (or added) due to the effect they have on the cost of the product either in parts cost or manufacturing costs.

While marketing people often push the envelope to include wonderful "whiz-bang" features, if the parts costs or the costs to implement these features exceed certain set points, the accountants will veto those features. Unless it can be proven through market research that a feature is going to significantly increase the sales volume of that unit and pay for the increased in-house costs, it is usually a no-go.

It is my belief that manufacturing and development costs were the big drivers in the mirrorless market. Eliminating the mechanical mirror in the Dslr probably reduced the parts and manufacturing costs significantly while adding the ability to shift much of the development costs to software-driven improvements. Removing mechanical parts also improves reliability and lowers repair and warranty costs.

Richard Engelmann Loc: Boulder, Colorado

And so it is that business leadership forgets about the customer as anything but a tool for profits. You don't have to be a cynic to see time and again how business leaders and elected officials will do almost anything for the bonus or the doantion, regardless of consequences.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

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

That is what is so neat about the Sony HX90 and HX99, they both have pop up viewfinders. Cleaver Sony.

BebuLamar

Depend on what kind of viewfinder it is. I have a Nikon Coolpix 5000 and its viewfinder is so bad, the framing is very inaccurate there is little information in the viewfinder. I ended up using the articulating screen all the time.