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[earleygallery]

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When exactly did viewfinders go out of fashion? Even my 1893 vintage box camera has one!

[adan]

When exactly did viewfinders go out of fashion? Even my 1893 vintage box camera has one!

 

The instant manufacturers realized that most consumers didn't use the tiddly little excuses for viewfinders in most P&S cameras, and preferred the relatively big, accurate screens on the back. Why limit compactness and increase cost for a feature few want anyway?**

 

As close as I can tell (but will accept correction), Casio was the first to do away with any finder but the LCD, which makes sense as it is a "disruptive" company with no ties to traditional cameramaking. Around 2001.

 

**Which is also Leica's philosophy for the M line, I might note.

[rob_x2004]

But whats a G got to do with fiddly little compacts? Canon can slip a viewfinder into a 10 and it works well enough. Minolta kept on one their XT so it can be done cheap and small enough. People are just adapting and coming to accept what is in fashion or the manufacturers convenience. Neither good nor bad nor related to anything in particular other than stripping costs from manufacture.

 

If the GF turns out to be the same as the GH sans finder why on earth, other than WF, would you frig round with the GF?

[biglouis]

I'm sorry to disagree with Adan and James but a viewfinder is not always essential. I've shot many fine photographs with both my D-LUX2 and my LX3 and my technique is to use the framing grid (which in many ways is actually more useful than the viewfinder on my M8). It all depends on your subject. These digicams give you plenty of info on the screen (f-stop, iso, speed) and combined with the grid all I need, even in very bright sunlight is a visible outline to get a great shot.

 

I hate EVFs, if I wanted a video camera I'd get one. And for people who really can't live without a viewfinder you can always put an optical one on the hotshoe.

 

Really, its horses for courses and I wouldn't dismiss a lack of viewfinder as meaning it is not a serious photographic tool (it is the photographer and not the camera which is key, in any case).

 

LouisB

[lct]

...And for people who really can't live without a viewfinder you can always put an optical one on the hotshoe...

Thank you much but how about focusing?

[stevelap]

Exactly. Non-coupled external optical viewfinders might work fine for framing....but that's it (and usually at just one focal length). For focusing it's either rely on the AF, zone-focus or manual focus via the LCD.

 

And it's the latter point that troubles me. I don't personally like 'arms length' viewing via an LCD, and that severely limits my options in choosing a carry around compact. I don't particularly like EVF's either, so far. Perhaps as they get better they will provide an acceptable solution to the small camera, tiny VF conundrum.

[biglouis]

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Steve/Lct

 

I appreciate the point but its horses for courses. If I want absolute control I get out my M8. If I'm willing to compromise and rely on the autofocus of the camera then I'd use an external VF. Actually I quite happily use an external VF all the time with my WATE on my M8 and I usually get my shot.

 

But to return to my point, the LCD is perfectly usable if you adapt your style and work within the limitations. Works for me but may not work you, that's all right because its down to personal preference. My response above was just a reaction to the naysayers who say all is lost without a viewfinder. It isn't, its just different.

 

LouisB

[patrick parker]

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