LCD-display-as-a-viewfinder idiotic?

[Rokcet Scientist]

This morning I asked my 83 year old neighbor – a snapshooter for 75 years! – what she thought of people using the LCD display as a viewfinder.
She was in stitches!!!* *
We both were! Boy, did we have a good laugh together!
(Glad the old lady has a strong heart...)

BTW: these days this old lady uses a Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ2 12x superzoom for her snapshots. EVF and all!

[Rokcet Scientist]

Not to put too fine a point on it, but 9 out of 9 brandnewly launched point & shoot camera's at http://www.dpreview.com/ don't have optical viewfinders...
The writing is on the wall... and I have a merry future ahead!

[cyclohexane]

Well, we could just not buy point-and-shoot cameras that don't have optical viewfinders, but I doubt they'd really miss our business.

[Rokcet Scientist]

Since a picture paints a thousand words . . .

[dvdowns]

Another example .....

[Rokcet Scientist]

Originally Posted by bauerman

Olympus seems to be betting quite a bit of money that DSLR users are going to want to use the LCD display as a viewfinder as well......

Seems Panasonic don't exactly share those sentiments: they've just released a four-thirds dSLR, with live preview, AND a(n electronic) viewfinder!

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0602/06...sonicdmcl1.asp

[BigB]

Originally Posted by Rokcet Scientist

Seems Panasonic don't exactly share those sentiments: they've just released a four-thirds dSLR, with live preview, AND an optical viewfinder!

The E-330 has an optical viewfinder as well. The Panasonic is just announced / a prototype, won't be released for a while.

[Rokcet Scientist]

The Olympus and Panasonic dSLR's have "TTL" viewfinders (Through The Lens). But not optical ones! They're the electronic variety ("EVF", Electronic View Finder).
In daily practice, if EVF's have enough resolution and speed (fps) – like the KonicaMinolta A2's EVF has 235,000 pixels and a 60fps refresh rate – there is very little difference with the old optical TTL viewfinder systems.

[Paul Shields]

Originally Posted by Rokcet Scientist

The Olympus and Panasonic dSLR's have "TTL" viewfinders (Through The Lens). But not optical ones! They're the electronic variety ("EVF", Electronic View Finder).
In daily practice, if EVF's have enough resolution and speed (fps) – like the KonicaMinolta A2's EVF has 235,000 pixels and a 60fps refresh rate – there is very little difference with the old optical TTL viewfinder systems.

Are you sure?

[dvdowns]

I have yet to find an electronic viewfinder that doesn't make me feel sick when it moves .....

[cyclohexane]

The E-330 and L1 do have optical viewfinders:

[Rokcet Scientist]

Oops! I stand corrected.
Thanks for setting me straight, Cyclo.
Although that is a funny diagram: what causes that last change in the direction of the light towards your eye...?

[Paul Shields]

Originally Posted by Rokcet Scientist

Oops! I stand corrected.
Thanks for setting me straight, Cyclo.
Although that is a funny diagram: what causes that last change in the direction of the light towards your eye...?

That is the semi-opaque element that allows a portion of light to go to the live-view CCD and the rest to get to the optical viewfinder. Hence, you are able to use either to frame your subject.

[Rokcet Scientist]

Thanks, Paul.
They ought to make that visible in the diagram in some way.