Using the view finder? (Page 2): I grew up on film so I almost never use the screen, except for viewing to delete pics I don't want. As above camera is more stable when using the...

boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander

AndyCE wrote:

I'm a beginner and I only ever use the view finder... (show quote)

I grew up on film so I almost never use the screen, except for viewing to delete pics I don't want. As above camera is more stable when using the finder.

GrayPlayer Loc: Granby, Ct.

View finder, LCD screen will not determine the end result. Buying a three thousand dollar camera will not determine the end result.
It's not about the equipment, its all about the person behind the camera.

AndyCE Loc: Pittsburgh, PA

Linda From Maine wrote:

I'll be interested to see what others have to say, because I personally think the articulating LCD screen is good only for when you can't get up high enough or down low enough for the angle you want :)

I'd never want to own a camera that doesn't have a viewfinder.

Hi Linda,
Funny you say that, I did some research before I decided on the 5200, but never really thought of the viewfinder. My first question when I went to the (some what) local camera shop was, "it does have a viewfinder" I too could not own a camera that doesn't have a viewfinder.
Thanks,
Andy

Agedwell Loc: Austin

joer wrote:

If you are hand holding the view finder is the best option since the extra contact point improves stability and is not subject to the affects of bright sun.

The screen works best when on a tripod and at camera angles that are hard to negotiate. It prevents you from lying on the ground or contorting under the camera. The down side is it consumes the battery more quickly.

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:
That pretty much says it all, except that screens can be nearly useless in bright daylight.

AndyCE Loc: Pittsburgh, PA

Agedwell wrote:

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:
That pretty much says it all, except that screens can be nearly useless in bright daylight.

Thanks to all,
I didn't think about using the LCD for shots that are at odd angles. I have SO much to learn! From a beginners point of view, it seemed to me the LCD screen was giving me more feedback (not sure that is the right word) than the viewfinder? I'm just starting to learn how to use the "P" mode of the 5200.
Thanks again, I really appreciate all the feedback!
Andy

amehta Loc: Boston

AndyCE wrote:

Thanks to all,
I didn't think about using the LCD for shots that are at odd angles. I have SO much to learn! From a beginners point of view, it seemed to me the LCD screen was giving me more feedback (not sure that is the right word) than the viewfinder? I'm just starting to learn how to use the "P" mode of the 5200.
Thanks again, I really appreciate all the feedback!
Andy

The viewfinder tells me all the important information I need, shot by shot: focus lock, AF mode, exposure mode, aperture, shutter speed, ISO, exposure compensation. An advantage of using the viewfinder is that I am not distracted, because I am only looking at what the camera sees.

bkyser Loc: Fly over country in Indiana

Don't forget, the live view uses a different kind of focus. I believe (this may be backwards) the LCD uses a phase detection which I don't think is as accurate as the viewfinder which is edge detection, which goes by the contrast of the image. I tend to personally get much sharper images using the viewfinder. Others talk about the LCD for critical focus, but that has never worked for me.

amehta Loc: Boston

bkyser wrote:

Don't forget, the live view uses a different kind of focus. I believe (this may be backwards) the LCD uses a phase detection which I don't think is as accurate as the viewfinder which is edge detection, which goes by the contrast of the image. I tend to personally get much sharper images using the viewfinder. Others talk about the LCD for critical focus, but that has never worked for me.

This is an excellent point. In general, DSLRs do use different AF methods for viewfinder or live view use.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

AndyCE wrote:

I'm a beginner and I only ever use the view finder... (show quote)

Andy,
Having used a view camera, and still do, looking at the back of a camera is not a new experience. Seeing the image right side up is. However, I've only used the back of the digital camera where precise composition was required. The viewfinder gives one a percent of the actual final image. There have been, as I said, a rare two times over the past 4 years that I've needed that kind of compositional control. Otherwise, I've simply used the viewfinder.

In addition, I've found that using the LCD screen does drain the battery quite a bit quicker.
--Bob

rp2s Loc: Pittsburgh, PA

Linda From Maine wrote:

I'll be interested to see what others have to say, because I personally think the articulating LCD screen is good only for when you can't get up high enough or down low enough for the angle you want :)

I'd never want to own a camera that doesn't have a viewfinder.

I prefer a tilting display over an articulating unit. If I'm shooting closeup/macro the screen is inline with the lens, as opposed to sticking out on the left side of the subject. It just doesn't feel natural. I often times prefer using the LCD as I don't like the tunnel vision some mid to low cost dSLR's have.

My Fuji X-S1 has a EVF. It's rather large at a 1/2", 1.44 million dots and 50fps. It's large, bright and fluid.

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

To me, the viewfinder on the back is just another tool. It's good for studying a scene while the camera is on tripod, especially if it isn't at eye level. It's good for when you have to hold the camera over or under a fence, or over a crowd, and you can angle it down where you can see. It's good for photos of tiny flowers and bugs on or very close to the ground where you'd have a hard time getting at them with the viewfinder. It's good for sneaky pictures (i shoot at a crafts fair every year, and I just leave the camera on the table beside me. I get better shots than when people spot me and start to pose.) One of my cameras has a great touch-screen LCD so when lighting allows, I use it to shoot action, because I can spot focus and shoot with one touch. It's all about making the most of what your camera will do for the kind of stuff you shoot.

TexasBadger Loc: Wylie, TX

You should use the viewfinder whenever practical. No only does it ergonomically give you more support, it is much better in a bright environment. Using live view does run down the battery and causes the sensor to heat up. A heated sensor results in more noise in the image.

Budnjax Loc: NE Florida

I don't care for any camera without a viewfinder. If you have an LCD only and are in bright light it is difficult to see what's on the screen.....if you wear polarized glasses you may not be able to see much, if anything at all, on an LCD. Obviously, it's cheaper to leave off the viewfinder, so that's what a lot of camera makers do on many models.

ronwande Loc: Hendersonville NC

One more thought. Taking an extreme macro shot, camera on tripod, subject not moving, I use the live view and focus manually. You can enlarge the image on the screen for really critical focus.

The Live view autofocus on my Canon 3Ti is almost useless. It hunts for a long time before it zeros in on the correct focus, if it ever does. A macro lens has a very long focus range so this hunting is worse than with a normal lens.

For everything else I use the viewfinder.

TheDman Loc: USA

Viewfinder to set up my shots, LCD screen to manually focus.