Cameras Without Viewfinders

CaptainPenguin

CaptainPenguin

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Nigel Cliff
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Now I will admit that I am biased against these cameras especially those at the higher end so what follows does have a personal slant on it but these are a couple of quotes from a review of such a camera in a photography magazine

1) I loved this camera so much I nearly made a detour on the way home to buy one

2) Many pictures were not well composed because the bright sun made the screen almost impossible to see

So can anyone explain how you can drool over a camera that in bright sunlight appears to be if not unusable at least difficult to use
 
Thank god its just not me. My friend recently revealed (with great pride) his new CSC (Compact System Camera) Sony Nex.
His pride was short lived as I knew it would be. First he was all gushy about me having to lug my bulky SLR while his was a fraction of the size.
Okay sez I attaching a rather bulky one of his new lenses to it. It was now so front heavy it became an absolute pain to hold with anything other than two hands even when it wasnt being used to take a picture and was being carrried one handed at his side, whereas my bulky grip on my SLR posed no such issues even with big lens attached. +1 to SLR

Now to taking a picture, he had to hold this unwieldy lump out in front of his body, arms outstretched, to compose and take a picture. Within seconds his camera (and shot) was wobbling like a demented jellyfish. I had my SLR tucked nicely into my body with the eyepiece !! next to my eye (fancy that! innovative or what?) Rock Steady. +1 to SLR

Anyway its not all useless lets go outside into the garden on this lovely sunny day and take some piccies. Oh dear whats that you say, you cant see anything for the glare on the screen ! Dont worry if you face into the sun then the screen will be in shadow that might help. Whats that ? Your blinded by the sun and all your subjects are in silhouette? Mmm backlighting better use flash. +1 to SLR

Sorry for the sarcasm but these cameras are a joke and some are £1000 with no Zoom!!! I wonder why you see lots for sale in the used ads ?
Never mind some of the manufacturers allow you to fit a ridiculous looking LCD eyefinder which attaches to the hotshoe to make your camera look even more cumbersome and stupid and will work half as well as a proper glass viewfinder. :bonk::bonk::bonk::bonk::bonk:
 
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Gary! Sun? In Scotland? When?

But I know how you feel. When I was at college, a girl got one for her Christmas as it "fit into her bag" nicely she could never be without it... the only time the thing seemed every useful was on a night out and even then I was disappointed with the images it gave us. I'd rather have used my brothers old canon point and shoot.
 
John Mc said:
Gary! Sun? In Scotland? When?
Click to expand...

Your'e Glaswegian John.
Thats West coast (wet side) I live on the East coast (dry side) :naughty:

LOL I lived in Milngavie and worked in Glasgow a few years ago, My God!! you guys should have webbed feet.
 
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I also don't like them. I've never understood why the GF1 is raved about on here when the GH1/2 is far better in performance and ease of use for a small increase in size.
 
I decided to take the plunge recently, an purchased a "point and shoot" and it's brilliant...........considering it's made by Canon!!! I purchased a G12 and i'm really impressed with it. Yes, it does have a screen on it you can use, however, it also has a viewfinder, too!!! Can't see any reason why i'd want anything else as a point and shoot to be honest!
 
Screens and EVFs... spawn of the devil.

I live on Morecambe prom and I was up in the bedroom the other evening watching another good sunset. Down on the beach were two lads and a lass in their early 20s. The lass had DSLR over her shoulder, couldn't tell what make. She decided to take a photo of the sunset. Swung her camera round switched it on, fiddled with the switches and held it up at arms length. I just about p****d myself laughing.

Too much of that and she's going to have arms like a gorilla.
 
Always amazed when I have my SLR sitting on a table at an event/function and someone says "Ooh! nice camera can I have a look?" and the first thing 90+% of them do is hold it up at arms length, look at the rear LCD and say "How do you get it on?" When I say "You look through here" its amazing how many (albeit most under 35 years old) look puzzled and say "Oh! weird". :cuckoo: :shrug:

'Vive la difference'
 
I have no problem using the LCD screen on my Nex or using a viewfinder on my SLR. Being able to swivel the screen to suit my position and manual focusing (which I use 90% of the time) with peaking are my main positives about the Nex. It took me a week to find my perfect pose for composing, but now I've learned the best way for me to keep the camera steady and straight. In terms of comfort with longer lenses? I've found no problems, just hold it like a normal SLR and move it forward 5 inches. I've never experienced any problems with sunlight, I notice there's a setting for this on the display settings though. The only thing about having the screen that annoys me is the battery life. I'm not a Sony NEX fan boy, I just wanted a body for my manual lenses. I only bought the Nex as it was cheaper than the Olympus PEN that week.

I really didn't over-think about living without a viewfinder and I haven't found any problems so far. If 'conventional' SLR users find me amusing then so be it.
 
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