Articulating Screens - Useful or Gimmick?

billbring

billbring

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I'm looking to upgrade from my Canon 350d asap and the xxd range seems the obvious choice.

I was initially going to buy a used 50d but the 60d's articulating screen has caught my attention. I will mostly be shooting landscapes and street photography and have no interest in video.

I was just wondering if anyone who owns one of the new Canons with an articulating screen finds it genuinely useful. ie worth spending the extra over a used 50d.
 
Just because you have an articulating screen doesn't mean that you have to move it from the standard back of the camera position, but it's nice to have it there if needed. Beats having to lie on the ground to frame a shot :)
 
It's surprisingly useful. I wasn't bothered about having an articulated screen before getting my 60d. Now it's something I'd really miss.
 
I have one on my G12, and think it's very useful. Wish the 7D had one.

And you don't have to use it.
 
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I find the articulating screen on my Nikon P7100 very useful for high level and low level shots.
 
I don't have one but often wish I did. They were just getting popular when I bought my kx and I couldn't see myself using it but now it's the only reason I consider upgrading.
 
I have a 7d and sometime wish it had an articulating screen, comes in very handy as i do some low perspective shots, nice but not essential
 
boliston said:
It definitely seems to be consumer orientated feature as I don't think I've seen it on a pro level camera.
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But some "pro" cameras are older generation now and so may not catch up until newer versions come out. They do seem very popular amongst vid shooters and as stills + vid converge I think we'll see more and more of them.

I have one on my G1 and although I don't use it a lot I think that buying a camera without one would be a backward step.
 
dickie said:
I have a 7d and sometime wish it had an articulating screen, comes in very handy as i do some low perspective shots, nice but not essential
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get a seagull viewfinder :thumbs:

If I had an articulating screen think Id snap it off to be honest, Im not clumsy, but I get in some cramped condition I would break it off Im sure
 
Then you fold it back to the body. Easy peasy :D They're no more likely to be damaged than a "normal" screen IMVHO :D
 
woof woof said:
Then you fold it back to the body. Easy peasy :D They're no more likely to be damaged than a "normal" screen IMVHO :D
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yep so what the point of having it then, providing you remember to fold it back when your buzzing and on the shots Im talking wildlife or crawling around finding fungi, a sticky out bit is easy to snap off, you wont be able to snap a normal screen off unless your real clumsy :lol:
 
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like other say its very useful for putting on a low tripod and not getting in the mud or water to get the shot not often i do it but its sure better than having to strip off before getting in the car on the way home lmao :bonk: but I have found it useful for many shots
 
Just Dave said:
yep so what the point of having it then, providing you remember to fold it back when your buzzing and on the shots Im talking wildlife or crawling around finding fungi, a sticky out bit is easy to snap off, you wont be able to snap a normal screen off unless your real clumsy :lol:
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I that apart from letting you shoot at odd angles another great thing about articulated screens is that you can turn them to the body. They're then completely protected plus they don't end up covered with nose prints and you can just use the VF and pretend it's the 1970's and you're shooting film. That's how I use my G1 :D
 
Just Dave said:
Im not saying its not it is, but Id break it for sure get an angle finder you dont get wet then either :thumbs: not as I mind getting wet if I get the shot :thumbs:
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Surely an angle finder is just as likely to get snapped :D
 
woof woof said:
I that apart from letting you shoot at odd angles another great thing about articulated screens is that you can turn them to the body. They're then completely protected plus they don't end up covered with nose prints and you can just use the VF and pretend it's the 1970's and you're shooting film. That's how I use my G1 :D
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Agreed, that's a very useful feature of an articulated screen.

I don't use it all the time on my cameras but it's handy when I need to particularly when the camera is on a tripod and in an awkward position, the articulating screen makes it much easier.

John
 
My mate upgraded his 450D to a 60D last year as he wanted a higher FPS, wasn't interested in the tilt screen - thought it was a bit of a gimmick and wouldn't really use it.

How times change, was speaking to him a few weeks ago and he really loves the tilt screen now, doesn't use it when shooting normally, BUT it's a big help for the video function and especially when reviewing shots on the LCD. He's also very pleased as he turns it around when putting it away, so protects the LCD screen from scratches as well...
 
Just Dave said:
yep so what the point of having it then, providing you remember to fold it back when your buzzing and on the shots Im talking wildlife or crawling around finding fungi, a sticky out bit is easy to snap off, you wont be able to snap a normal screen off unless your real clumsy :lol:
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If you're in danger of breaking off an articulated screen you probably shouldn't have nice things ;)

a) they're pretty sturdy
b) it's not necessarily a case of remembering to fold it back as just because it can be out doesn't mean it has to be
c) it's better protected than normal for most of the time as you can fold it in to protect the screen
d) once you've gone articulated, you won't want to go back.
 
Sounds pretty conclusive that they are useful. I reckon that's my mind set on getting the 60d. It will be interesting to see if this feature gets added to the new 7, 5d. However am I right in thinking the new 1dX has a fixed screen.
 
billbring said:
Sounds pretty conclusive that they are useful. I reckon that's my mind set on getting the 60d. It will be interesting to see if this feature gets added to the new 7, 5d. However am I right in thinking the new 1dX has a fixed screen.
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Correct.

To me one of the plus point of the XD series of cameras is the solid construction and weather sealing, both things I feel would be compromised by a movable screen. I can see how it would be useful, but like everything in photography it seems to be a trade off and I'd prefer to keep build quality over flexibility.

One easy of looking at it is like mobile phones, I've always found that after a years usage sliding/hinged bits start to feel a bit loose as generally moving bits will suffer from wear and tear, will that happen to these cameras?

FWIW My old Powershot G5 had a fold out screen, I never used it and Canon seem to have deleted that feature on the cameras that replaced it.
 
I've just moved from a Sony A550 to a D90 and the one thing I will miss is the articulating screen. They really do come in handy for low angle long exposures.

Wont miss anything else though. :lol:
 
Having got used to a WLF and taking a lot of low perspective shots, I think it would be great if my 40D had an articulated back. Far more practical than an angle finder on a wet beach.
 
Danny_Two said:
Very useful for me, I like a lot of low angle stuff. Probably wouldn't buy a camera without one now.
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I somewhat agree. Some of my shots are taken just over the ground, and this either result in taking a mud bath or guessing it.
I probably won't go saying as far as it is a must, partially because none of the current high level bodies have it. I suppose they need to to work out how to make it more rugged and weatherproof.
 
I'm all for one but wonder if this could be an accessory as opposed to being a fixed item on the body. It could for instance be attached in a not too dissimilar manner to how a battery grip is mounted onto a body. Wouldn't work for 1D bodies naturally.

Having to get down low on the ground for some macro shots means packing away stuff I could do without.


Just my 2c ;)
 
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artyman said:
Just because you have an articulating screen doesn't mean that you have to move it from the standard back of the camera position, but it's nice to have it there if needed. Beats having to lie on the ground to frame a shot :)
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^ this
 
I'd never go back to an inarticulate camera. Apart from those low down and muddy shots, it's useful for shooting overhead in crowds, and self-portraits.

TBH I'm surprised how durable they are. When I got my Powershot S2IS back in 2005, I didn't really expect the rather flimsy screen to last, but it's still going strong despite loads of abuse. The 60D screen feels a lot more solid.
 
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