informal survey of photographers; when taking photos, do you use the viewfinder or the back screen when composing and capturing? - ThreadSky

nicholasfreeman.art • 60 days ago

informal survey of photographers;

when taking photos, do you use the viewfinder or the back screen when composing and capturing?

Comments

barrybush.bsky.social•59 days ago

I’m like most people in your survey here. I don’t use the screen unless absolutely necessary. I’m either on the ground or the screen is articulated and/or at some odd angle.

theartlaw.bsky.social•59 days ago

Viewfinder. Thank God for contact lenses, though. I probably should use the back screen but I’m about battery conservation even though I generally bring backups. Old habits die hard, I guess.

zuzudoll.bsky.social•59 days ago

Viewfinder almost every time. I suffer the absence of it in smaller cameras.

matthaberphoto.bsky.social•60 days ago

100% viewfinder. Even my point and shoot, unless I'm taking a weird overhead shot. Only time I use a back screen is when I use my phone.

bobh49.bsky.social•59 days ago

Viewfinder

mickey2004.bsky.social•59 days ago

Viewfinder when I can reach it with my eye. Backscreen when not. Like when camera is on the floor or a tripod.

davekelleyartistics.com•60 days ago

Viewfinder. I can concentrate on framing and see all of the settings better. I’m mirrorless so I also get instant feed back on what the image captured looks like.

musingeye.bsky.social•59 days ago

Viewfinder mostly, flip-out screen for when working with odd angles outdoors (particularly overhead), with another slice of time being tethering which is more of the "capturing" side of your question than the "composing" side.

hereticsincult.bsky.social•60 days ago

Viewfinder. I started shooting in the analog age and never have adapted to holding the camera away from my body.

zambyte.robbyzambito.me•60 days ago

viewfinder if i have one, but lately i've been shooting a lot with my zv-1 which doesn't have one.

jamesvincentphoto.bsky.social•59 days ago

Viewfinder. I only use the screen to scroll through previous shots.

themetasubversive.bsky.social•59 days ago

Viewfinder. Feels more connected and organic, which drives my interest in photography to begin with

eroticart-by-wim.bsky.social•60 days ago

I wouldn't call myself a photographer but I do use a camera occasionally for model shoots and I use the viewfinder. No particular reason, just seems the right way somehow. Also it let's me see the focus points.

arte-povera-foto.bsky.social•60 days ago

I tend to toggle back and forth between both the viewfinder and the back screen. I choose not to edit my photography, so I’ll use both to approximate the image I want without needing to crop later.

brianmartinphoto.bsky.social•59 days ago

If I am upright I am using the viewfinder. If I need a low pov then I hold it like a 120 and use the screen like a wlf.

arsenicphoto.bsky.social•59 days ago

View finder

mistermuleboy.bsky.social•59 days ago

Viewfinder.

My skin crawls when I see someone extend her or his arms to use the screen (unless they’re shooting ground up).

Even with IBIS, stability is desirable

divergentphoto.bsky.social•59 days ago

Viewfinder, my vision isn’t as good as it used to be.

hughalison.bsky.social•59 days ago

Yes

cpolubinski.bsky.social•59 days ago

Never thought of it as an either/or situation. If I have two tools that do the same job, I will use the one that offers an advantage or is otherwise more suited to the situation.

melanco-lignes.bsky.social•56 days ago

On digital, Fujifilm XT5, mainly screen, as you can flex it in every position and I can still keep an eye on the scene. On film, I don't have any other choice on my Nikon FE2, so prism viewfinder, which is much better than most EVF, but not practical if I have to bend...

andersloost.bsky.social•58 days ago

Viewfinder due to old habits but it makes no sense, my eyes are garbage so I can’t adjust diaper enough in the viewfinder and the eye relief distance ends up being ridiculous so I get a terribly cropped view. Then I chimp with the back screen post-shot.

fasfoto.com•59 days ago

Viewfinder. I don’t trust my ability to focus from the screen and I like the added stability of holding the camera close.

yeos-photo.bsky.social•60 days ago

As much as possible the viewfinder including on the M11.

nicholasfreeman.art•60 days ago

personally I have always used the screen, with the exception of rangefinder cameras and the old phaseONE cameras that didn’t have live view.

I learned on 4x5 and Hasselblad and it just makes more sense to my brain.

doyleimage.bsky.social•59 days ago

Mostly the screen, as the camera is usually low...

mr-otherbee.bsky.social•59 days ago

Follow-on question to ask your followers: are they using EVFs vs. OVFs, and does that impact their choice of screen vs. viewfinder?

mr-otherbee.bsky.social•59 days ago

If I'm focusing manually for portraits or studio work, I use the back screen. My eyes aren't nearly good enough to nail critical focus through a tiny viewfinder.

For almost anything else, I'll use the viewfinder and trust autofocus.

davemylesphotos.bsky.social•59 days ago

Viewfinder

utah-bohemian.bsky.social•59 days ago

View finder when taking the shot.

mattfox.bsky.social•60 days ago

Amateur though I am, kinda both.
I used to be all viewfinder (Learnt doing wildlife photography with dslr so needed the focus and control). Having made the switch to medium format I’ve gotten so used to using the back screen I use it with my Fuji too now. Seems I’m easily swayed 🤷‍♂️

axelschneegass.bsky.social•59 days ago

I try to avoid both. In both cases you place the camera between you and the person you want to photograph. It is like hiding and not having a natural view to your motif. Thats why I love working with waist level viewfinder and I'm tall enough to use it. But if shooting mf, I use the viewfinder

lowekeyone.bsky.social•60 days ago

Viewfinder, assuming the angle lets me. It lets me focus more on the image.

larrywilliamson-ca.bsky.social•60 days ago

Viewfinder. Unless I’m shooting some weird angle. It’s a more stable position and also I’m not distracted by surrounding details.

annteakmodel.bsky.social•59 days ago

Viewfinder. Trying to clearly see the edges of where I want my shot on the back screen isn't optimal for me, but then again, my eyesight is pretty bad, lol.

juergennovotny.bsky.social•60 days ago

Viewfinder, if I am not shooting from an extreme perspective such as overhead or close above street level (if I‘m not lying down in this case anyway). I have a better overview and can compose more successfully.

stylecat77.bsky.social•59 days ago

I always prefer the more funneled view of a viewfinder over a screen. Even as a cinematographer, where most have moved to using monitors as their main tool for composition and evaluation of the image to be captured. Unfortunately most cine viewfinders are crap.

joetakesshots.bsky.social•60 days ago

I use a Sony and it’s very fickle. I prefer to use the view finder, but may have to use the screen, then if I have to shoot below the waist then I will likely use the screen