Why is a camera with optical viewfinder better?

Answer 1

Large LCD viewfinders eat batteries. It seems nice to have a big LCD monitor, but they are power hungry. You will have to do what you can to turn the thing off as soon as you don't need it any longer. Look for "Power Save" in your menu. Set it to shut off at the shortest possible innterval after you take the picture. Set it so that it doesn't not display unless you tap the shutter button to wake it up. Even this will not go a long way towards conserving batteries. It's too bad you didn't know this before you got a camera without an optical viewfinder. If it's brand new, maybe you can take it back.

Of course, rechargeable batteries are the way to go, but you might want to get some Energizer e² Lithium batteries for cameras. They cost twice as much, but last four times as long.

I lament the passing of the optical viewfinder and I would choose almost any camera with an optical viewfinder over one that only has an LCD viewfinder. Why?

1. You never have the option of turning off the LCD and these things eat batteries for lunch and spit them out. Why do away with the option of a viewfinder that has zero electrical drain?

2. It can be difficult to see the image on an LCD in bright sunlight, even if they are "new and improved."

3. You have to hold an LCD viewer out at some distance in front of your face. This is more conspicuous than I prefer to be all the time.

4. The need to hold a camera at arms length will introduce some shake. I like the idea of stabilizing a camera against my face when I am taking a picture. This is especially important with a longer zoom lens. No wonder "image stablization" or "vibration reduction" is necessary with these cameras. Not that there's anything WRONG with IS or VR, but it is really a requirement with LCD viewfinders and telephoto lenses.

5. Using the LCD to view photos after you've taken them slows down the camera quite a bit. You can't shut of the LCD monitor and still take pictures if you don't have an optical viewfinder.

Answer 2

well most of the people responded with the assumption that you are using a SLR camera where the optical viewer goes through the main lens. if that is the case then that arrangement allows you to adjust the manual focus, which is otherwise very difficult on a low resolution LCD. Just like a film SLR, the optical viewer does not give an accurate presentation of depth of field because the iris has to open fully to give you viewing light. Also like film SLRs, the optical view is not precisely accurate for framing either, often what it shows is slightly less than will be captured on film or the digital file. LCD is WYSIWIG so except for critical focus, it should not be ignored for normal shooting.

for point and shoot cameras, the optical sight does save battery if you turn the LCD illumination off. but it does not give an accurate representation of the framing of the picture and often does not track the zoom correctly either. For action shots, it does not show the image captured by the shutter, so you may be blissfully unaware that you missed the image you wanted by a mere fraction of a second. I have a camera that is this way and i use the LCD for 99 percent of the shots. my other digital is not a SLR but has a CRT viewer so that the problems with sunlight are avoided, but again manual focus is not an option.

I also think that some of the people that responded may not be aware that they are viewing a CRT in the view sight and not a true optical image in their camera because with optical there is no "switching" between viewer and LCD. the CRT is the worst option (overscan, battery consumption, focus), but because it avoids the sunlight glare and is more comfortable viewing it works good for casual shooting.

Answer 3

These long answers to simple questions crack me up. A whollotta B.S. If you set your LCD at a low brightness, it doesn't chew your battery life nearly as much as auto-focus or zoom does. That's ridiculous.

With an optical viewfinder you are viewing the source directly.
With an LCD, you are looking at it indirectly (ie. through the lcd middleman.) Direct is always better - faster and more accurate. Unlike many of these long-winded answers :)

Answer 4

When your using an SLR your looking through the lens and it gives you a much more accurate compostion of your shot. Also in low light situations or in high sun light, its diffuclt to use the LCD because Live Preveiw cannot accuratly show the shot in low light and the glare in high sun. Thats why I only use the optical viewfinder 80% of the time. LCD takes A LOT of battery so its not a life saver on long trips.

Answer 5

It is hard to see the LCD in direct sunlight, in that case you could use the optical viewfinder. Could you take 1 minute of your day to give me 10 points?

Answer 6

if the sun is to bright to see the screen