Just Fred Loc: Darwin's Waiting Room

I recently remembered my old, original Nikon 1 J1 CX-format camera, which I bought as something of a transitional piece, having gone from 35mm SLR film, to an early Olympus battery-draining fixed-lens, 3 mpx handheld that was my entry point into digital photography. The Nikon 1 offered what I thought was the best of both worlds, a small form factor digital camera with interchangeable lenses. For a while, it became my camera of choice, although I never quite bonded with it the way I thought I should.

Part of this was the strange way Nikon forced one to power on the camera and then "unlock" the lens before shooting. OK, that was easy enough to adjust to, but the one thing that I could never ease into was using the LCD screen as the viewfinder.

My old 35mm SLRs (Minolta and Canon) both had through-the-lens metering and viewfinder systems where I could view and compose my shots, while using both hands to focus, set shutter speed and aperture opening. In a sense, I could do it all and still keep my attention on the subject.

When I finally moved to the Nikon D7xxx series, both LCD and viewfinder were available, and I never bother to use the screen for anything other than pre-shooting setup (I think Nikon may have earned enough ire from it's 1 customers to ultimately add an electronic viewfinder to the later models).

So, now I've pulled my old 1 out of mothballs, have added the 10-100mm autozoom lens which doesn't require either swapping lenses or the awkward rotation to start the process, and am thinking of finding out where this fits in my camera toolkit.

I'm still not comfortable using the LCD screen, and in some cases outdoors, the image is washed out by sunlight, but I'm wondering

a) Am I alone in preferring a viewfinder? I don't quite understand the difference between electronic and manual, but my eye in a cup seems to work.
b) How do those of you using the LCD make it work best for you? Are there tricks or tips I just don't know?

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

I definitely prefer the viewfinder.
(Optical or digital does not matter.)

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

I'm a viewfinder guy. I rarely look at the screen, other than formatting a disk or making a settings adjustment. I don't even use the screen to chimp.
--Bob

Soul Dr. Loc: Beautiful Shenandoah Valley

I use the LCD screen to change a setting in the camera. Other than that the LCD screen stays off or flipped around on my cameras that can do that.
Almost all my shooting is done thru the viewfinder unless the shot is a very low one next to the ground or above my head.

will

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

My experience is that some LCD screens are easier to view in sunlight than others.

I have enjoyed the articulating LCD on the last 3 of my cameras. I use for low angle so I don't have to worry about being able to get back up from the ground Easiest way to hold steady one-handed is for vertical shot.

Rongnongno Loc: FL

Screen = Trouble if you have an issue with your vision.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Cheaters come in handy.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Yea, I believe my old Canon was the last of the fixed screens for the EOS series.

TheShoe Loc: Lacey, WA

I agree with Longshadow and Bob. Because of Peripheral Neuropathy and nerve pain due to spinal cord damage, it is impossible for me to hold the camera away form my body and keep it steady. By like token, I find it impossible to make adjustment to my settings without using the screen.

niteman3d Loc: South Central Pennsylvania, USA

I prefer a viewfinder but I often have a loupe around my neck for chimping/composing. I try not to let my desire for the perfect gear get in the way of doing the best I can with what I've got and even playing with the Nikon 1 "J" series works with the loupe. (I much prefer the "V" 2 or 3.) Get one of these and practice with it. I find it helps a lot:
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1129189-REG/elvid_ov_50_optiview_50_3_2_lcd.html
They run sales on them now and then.

wrangler5 Loc: Missouri

Viewfinder always for shooting, except for special situations like high/low angles previously mentioned. And for tripod mounted setups, where it's very convenient (and almost never outside, so no screen washout to deal with.) I wouldn't even consider buying a camera without a viewfinder these days.

Except (there's always an except) when there isn't a viewfinder available on a camera I think I need, which at the moment is only the Olympus TG6, something I got (refurbed) to have just in case I think I will need its special toughness at some point. I hate the ergonomics of the iphone for photography, which except for underwater shooting is probably about as durable as the TG6 the way I use equipment. But I will go to the trouble of carrying a "real" camera if I think I'll want one, even though I recognize the superb quality you can get out of a phone camera these days.

JRiepe Loc: Southern Illinois

The only time I remember using the screen was some years ago at Cumberland Falls while using a wide angle lens on my Nikon D7000. I set the camera on a platform but had to move it forward to avoid getting part of the platform in the picture. With the camera being too far away from my eye to use the viewfinder I was thankful to have another option.

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

I use both. I prefer viewfinder for handheld work and when in bright sunlight. I do have screen hoods for use in bright sunlight. I generally use a screen when shooting indoors on a tripod. The screen is much better and faster for chimping. For precision manual focus, zooming in with a screen is my preferred method. I'd say I use the viewfinder more often and the screen when it makes more sense.

tcthome Loc: NJ

Depends on what I'm shooting. Low to the ground, macro. Alot of the time I like to zoom in to better check focus. In the sun it is a PIA! Hoodman makes a hood with an eye cup for viewing the rear screen & blocking out the sun. I don't own one but I try & shade out the sun with a hat or something. I could use a EVF & a tilt outs rear lcd.

roxiemarty Loc: Florida

I will never own a camera without a viewfinder! I might as well shoot blind outside.