The most important is to be confortable when doing photography. Whatever you choose to use, at the end the picture matters. Thank you for your videos in general, they are always helpful !
As simply as that! I use the screen in 99% of the time since I prefer to look around the frame of the photos I wanna shoot so I won't miss something that will not be visible if using the Viewfinder. And it's more comfy to me.
Because you still can 😅 At the age of 45 and higher most people need reading glasses. And at that point viewfinders with diopter correction are extremely usefuly because you don't have to fiddle around with your glasses all the time: You have to wear them when you want to use the lcd. But you cannot wear reading glasses if you're looking at something else. It really is annoying 😅
Imagine someone telling you your'e doing it wrong and clearly not seeing the amazing images you get with all your shoots just by using the screen instead. People literally become stupid just to go against the grain. WE LOVE YOUR WORK AND LOVE THAT YOU SHOOT EXACTLY HOW YOU WANT TO SHOOT. IT'S A CREATIVE FIELD. THERE ARE NO RULES TO CREATIVITY.
I actually have very similar reasons to use the LCD. And there is one more that's very important for me when I'm working with people who are not used to the camera (at weddings or couple sessions). Using the LCD allows me to get close to my subjects by just stretching out my arms so I don't have to put my head into their private zone. Most people are more comfortable with that.
Oooh I appreciate this video so much. Sometimes I judge myself for not using the evf all the time, but I'm totally with you that the lcd is so useful! Especially as a taller person, I don't want to be hunching to a lower position all day to be at eye level with the couple. Love love love this video 👏👏👏
So glad you enjoyed it! We should never think that we "need" to shoot in a specific way (I also used to think this sometimes), just shoot in a way that makes you feel comfortable and gets you the results you want :)
Excellent video. There was a time when I (silently) judged people who were shooting with the LCD, like they didn’t know what they were doing, but since I was forced to move to mirrorless I found that I was limited in the EVF to only see what the sensor could perceive, so when something was blown out or buried in shadows I couldn’t see it like I could with an OVF- I found that in these cases glancing between the actual subject and the EVF was cumbersome but glancing between the actual subject and the LCD was way easier. Now I judge myself for having judged others.
Great points! I am shooting weddings screen only for the last 5 years and I am never going back. The most important thing is people you taking pictures of is to they see your face expressions!
Really good points about situational awareness and clients seeing your face. I will try the LCD for spontaneous shooting and portraits. I use the EVF handheld and the LCD on a tripod. I’ve been photographing since the 1970s so the viewfinder feels natural. It also seems to me that holding the camera away from my body is less stable than arms close to my torso and the camera against my face. Having the LCD and a geared head has made tripod work so much easier than it used to be.
Thanks for making this video. Your point on situational awareness is a good one and a point of view shared by a lot of street photographers who "shoot from the hip" or use zone focusing to capture moments quickly or not at all.
No matter if you use a viewfinder or screens, knowing the exposure triangle and techniques is the most important thing and your photos are indeed professional and awesome Julia.🙂
Your photography is just UNREAL. You're too talented to just be doing weddings and fashion portraits. You could be a cinematographer. We need your vision in filmmaking. I wish you'd cross over to filmmaking videos as well.
I rarely use LCD screen - just because of years of repetition I'm an (E)VF user. But this was a very nice and balanced presentation about the benefits of the LCD screen. I'll implement the back screen more in my photography - thanks for that!
Both the EVF and LCD screens are amazing to use today. Back when the EVF wasn't superior than the OVF, photographers kept using the LCD as it was more accurate and better colors. Today, EVF has surpassed and destroyed OVF so its now a matter of personal preferences. I use both as with portrait photographer, I use the LCD screen and with event gigs, I prefer the EVF.
I’m so glad you covered this topic, Julia. Such a strange thing that people should judge this. I’ll add that you can also wear a hat during outdoor shoots without knocking it off and for those of us wearing glasses we can finally stop smudging the glass with our thumb. Using the LCD was a game-changer! 😊
I largely use my viewfinder. It helps me keep my full attention as to what's happening in my frame. Youve also got a little better view of expressions of a subject while using the LCD you can't really pick up on macro expressions
I love this video. Honestly I have really bad eye sight so I don’t really use the view finder cause when I first stated in 2017 in camera the photos would look great but then post processing they were not as sharp as I like but using the LCD screen I have little to no problems achieving the look I want for my business ❤😊
And for the people talking about stabilization, I find that when I'm moving, holding the camera up to my eye actually creates more camera shake. But if I use my arms as "shock absorbers" while I'm moving, the camera remains more stable. 🙂
The LCD on new mirrorless cameras is so fast it's a no brainer. My tip is that if you work commercially- other people involved with the shoot can see you shooting live and provide input. Game changer.
This is a terrific explanation. It's been years since I've used a decent camera and so from previous experience I was used to using the viewfinder. It became a habit to use it that way. Now, with my new mirrorless, looking at the LCD and noticing that it does in fact show a live view of the current exposure I found myself actually taking a step back to look at it and go hmm, I don't really need to use the viewfinder so much anymore.
Since I switched to mirrorless I find myself gravitating to the way you describe, that I actually was inspired to by watching your videos. I tried what I saw you doing and it worked. Thanks for teaching me!
Using the LCD is more candid and relaxed 😊helps the subject feel super comfortable, which makes the shot 📸 better in the end. I use the viewfinder more to look at the final image 😂
Julia you are one in a million! You are amazing and have helped me in my photography journey so much, a huge thankyou for all your videos, I learn so much from you! This particular video has been so beneficial to me, please keep posting, you help so many people around the world, you're a star!
Julia - You take so many beautiful images. I don't know how TH-camrs can handle all the comments from people being mean or correcting and thinking they know everything. All I know is that you are a great professional photographer. I learn so much from people like you - but I adapt it to my own style. You have a very positive upbeat channel - pleasant voice and good topics. I don't care if you use a viewfinder or shoot with your eyes close. You are good at what you do - That means more to me than anything else.
Thank you, I appreciate it. To be honest, I'm confident in my skills and I know what I have achieved over the years of being a photographer so because of that negative comments don't normally bother me :)
There are 2 main reasons I do use the viewfinder, the most common one is if it is too bright/sunny for the LCD. Maybe there are too many reflections on the screen or it's hard to see from the sun, so being able to use a viewfinder is handy there. The 2nd reason is if I am using extremely long lenses like 400mm + it helps keep the camera/lens steadier since it's closer to my body. Some food for thought depending how you plan on using your camera, hope this helps too :)
OK... thanks Julia, you've helped move the needle on getting a photographic dinosaur ( early 1970's) now using mirrorless, to consider moving - at least partially - to using the LCD... and the capture 1 iPad plug gives me a better use for mobile application. Enjoy your summer 🙂
nice review. i am mostly using EVF because the quality of view is excellent and there is no problem of brightness in sunny day,... also because i am holding glasses for short distance, with lcd/evf mix (for menus...) i need to toggle my glasses on/off all the time. But i will give LCD a try and consider your points showing your face, looking surrounding,... with LCD !
I prefer using a view finder, as i have to wear reading glasses, so its more practical for me, i can adjust the diopter setting on the camera view finder.
I have found that the Eye Auto Focus of my Sony mirrorless cameras allows me to attain sharp focus when using the LCD. Additionally I am a very tall man and shooting with the LCD allows me not to shoot directly down on my model. However, when I shoot action, I will almost always use the eye level viewfinder.
Additionally I am a very tall man and shooting with the CD allows me not to shoot down on my model. However, when I shoot action, I will almost always use the eye level viewfinder.
As a macro and wildlife photographer, my use case skews more toward needing the stability and increased visibility for manual focusing. That being said, I agree that it’s important to understand *why* you use the EVF/LCD and adjust accordingly.
The view finder is one of the absolutely best parts of a camera for good composition. Just by your title alone I had to come and let you know. You will eventually come to realize this.
As soon as the on-sensor AF (in most situations) became superior to the old trough-the-viewfinder AF (for Canon it was the 5D IV) i started using the LCD for that reason alone. no more back/frontfocus problems wide open and much more keepers. the addition of dependable eye-autofocus with this system on top in my opinion was the biggest technological leap i witnessed in my 18 years of beeing a professional photographer. i would happilly shoot a wedding with the 4mpixel CCD out of the original EOS 1D if i had too, but hell i wouldnt want that old dslr autofocus system back. with mirrorless it even got better and the camera now feels like an extension of my arm, we can chat and engage with the clients while photographing them without needing to have that discomforting brick of a camera in front of our face all the time. the only occasions where i regulary feel the viewfinder is more natural is when taking very focused shots with a longer lens from a bigger distance. its easier to concentrate on the framing and the moment this way and not get distracted by everything thats happening around. when filming it also can be quite beneficial having the camera resting against your head cause it stabilizes the movements a lot. for that reason i like an external evf on my film rig a lot more than a big monitor on top.
I live in the Southwest of the USA and it's generally to bright to use the LCD. I agree the LCD is a better option. I do night photography and use the LCD (DSLR) in "live mode" @ 10x to manual focus. If too dark light my target with a flashlight, that gets tricky, LOL. Nice Job, Safe Travels!
I feel uncomfortable to use the EVF for prolonged time. But for me is a must because shooting with manual lenses and nail the focus perfectly requires the EVF most of the time. When shooting with autofocus i feel free to use the LCD. A side note, the LCD in my Nikon and Canon cameras has been great, but the Sony ones are horrible. Sony needs to use better screens for their cameras!!
I agree with Aaron Bazil who said below that your photography is UNREAL. Every video I learn something new from you and I have been in photography for years 🙂Thank you for taking the time to share with us Julia. Your my favorite "photography" person on TH-cam 🙂 👋 👍✌ 🙏
as a hobbyist, i use {evf only + sensor} mode with mirrorless, saves a lot of battery life (especially when battery life is as horrible as x-t3's). and i use ovf with dslr, too. actually now that i think of it, i'm using lcd only when i'm viewing the taken photos. lcd and live histogram are good things to have though, especially when you had to use film when growing up.
I find it strange too, especially since the LCD on Sony cameras are mediocre. I own an a7iv and use the EVF always, unless I want to hold the camera very low. Still I understand why you don't do it lot of the time
Exactly. I have a Nikon D800 and it is impossible to get a good focus with a viewfinder. That's why I rely on live view if I'm doing portrait session. In landscape with F/8 or much, live view doesn't matter. It is already difficult to get a good focus with a DSLR, now if a certain model has a defect then there is no use cases for a viewfinder. My D800 developed that bad focus after the end of warranty. I won't buy a new cam because of that. D800 is always capable of delivering excellent images with an enormous dynamic range
Oh, your reasonings are soo logical!! Makes so much sense when you explain it :)) Also, sorry for those rude people who try'd to instil their nonsense on you, saying that its "wrong to shoot with the LCD". You're a professional, and you actually know what you're doing, unlike THOSE hates, so honestly, you don't need to explain yourself to them :)) Love your work!!
Thanks for sharing your experience with great comments....I mainly use the viewfinder on my D500....this easier for me as I walk around taking pics of whatever interests me as I am only a hobbyist.... cheers from Australia 😀❤️
Each to own. I am in the optical viewfinder camp so shoot DSLR still. Not a fan of shooting using the screen unless I need it for a certain shooting angle and can't reach that angle. I also feel that using the view finder offers a more stable shooting platform but then the new cameras often have ibis. Either way ultimately the end result is what matters. Can't tell how an image was shot when you look at it ( view finder or LCD) soooo 🤷♀it's a moot point.
That last part about uneven suntan is hilarious. 😂 I tend to use the EVF a lot to focus my attention and minimize camera shake but I respect these reasons to flip the priority into using the LCD more.
I shoot Olympus and one of the big benefits of Olympus is I can set how long after I take a photo it will display after I take it. My Olympus OMD E-M5 by default is 0.5 seconds on my Olympus OMD E-M1ii by default it's 0.3. I've would have made a few mistakes if I did not catch myself. I've even heard of very well know photographers for get to change a setting and mess up photos. All cameras should have this feature.
Most people under the age of 30 don't use a viewfinder mostly out of habit...they never used a DSLR so it's almost alien to them. (most, not all) The biggest reason to use the viewfinder is a 3rd point of contact, more stable. When your arms is out there, its less stable...just physics.. I know IBS helps but it's still less stable. For maximum stability, 3rd point of contact, aka viewfinder, with elbows tucked in. I use the LCD when i need to shoot somewhere higher or lower. p.s. in weddings i shoot with both eyes open, with regard to the environment. Especially on the dancefloor. I don't want the camera "out there" and want it close by since people will knock it with elbows flying. I guess that is a complete opposite to why you shoot with LCD on the dancefloor!
this is a very interesting topic. using the screen feels familiar as it resembles taking photos with your phone, im old school and prefer taking photos through the camera and having that perspective. funny that the evf is basically the same thing and I'm noticing some people are now trying to get away from viewing a screen and going back to looking at real life. but preferences and options are abundant nowadays, and those around for the digital age have always had a screen to photograph with, like point and shoots, phones etc. truly its each their own and the industry and users have been pushing for better quality displays and evfs so its natural that these get used. a small part of that advancement i think also is what's getting people to try film, too many screens and settings, and that you're now photographing with a computer and no longer a camera. my point is use the tools you have how you like, get creative and do what works for you. everything evolves and the past always comes around again. great video and its cool that you have been shooting more film, it seems, as well
My first mirrorless is a current gen camera after years of a dslr, but this mirrorless has no evf. I bought it mainly for video but find my love of photography outweighs that, yet I only occasionally miss the viewfinder. Now that I'm building a current portfolio, I find that what you said in this video has been true for my work, I frame the photo and can look back and forth between the subject and the screen as necessary, and the subject can see me the entire time.
I never expected this, but switching to mirrorless I find myself shooting mostly with the LCD. I wish camera LCDs were higher res and brighter though! Companies could even sell "plus" models of their cameras with high quality displays and I think many people would opt to pay for it.
I do not move much once I chose a subject for a picture so I use the EVF only. My M%) Mark II has an OLED based EVF which is more power efficient than the LCD.
You do you Julia! For me I do both and, I even change eyes for the EVF and switch up the hand/finger configurations to balance it out as I capture long events. Sometimes using my ring finger to press the shutter in portrait orientation. I'm on the A7III still and shooting lower angles isn't easy to see on that screen, I rely on my deep squat a lot for that. If it had a fully articulating screen then it wouldn't be as much of a hassle. Ahh well let's hope the A9III comes out soon! That Canon R6 II looks awfully good. I'd love to see a day in the life, a Q&A with you and Dan or a photo challenge like a underwater photoshoot
I also rarely use my viewfinder. I am super small and need to hold up my camera a lot of times :D the mirrorless camera changed so much for me. Game changer
I love this video!! I shoot this way as well. Before I got a mirrorless camera I did find it strange seeing others shoot this way. But as soon as I got mirrorless, it was so natural to shoot with lcd.
Thank you so much for this video Julia! So many great reasons that I hadn't considered. I've just made the decision to switch to fully mirrorless and only use the LCD screen - I can't use an EVF, but the benefits of mirrorless outweigh this for the type of work I do. I love that using the LCD means I'm still connected to family moments, rather than feeling removed from them. And if I want the experience that an OVF gives, I can always use my film camera.
I understand the reasons and personally I would prefer using the lcd as well because, being a person who absolutely needs to use glasses I find miserable looking through the viewfinder, but the issue is that my current DSLR takes a while to search focus when using the lcd, but when I use the viewfinder it takes a split second to focus. I tried many different focus modes (especially wide focus) and still the viewfinder focus is faster and to make spontaneous shots, being fast is essential. if I have to ask them to hold their actions just so that the camera focuses properly it is not spontaneous anymore. I am not trying to preach about the viewfinder, personally I dont like it too, but the idea is to find what works for you.
I still use a DSLR, and I'm using the viewfinder most of the time as that's what I'm used to after all these years. The only times I use the LCD screen are when I'm shooting video or self-portraits.
Yeah BOTH are useful for me, especially too since i shoot both Digi & Film formats (where obviously Film says F a LCD screen) LOL so gotta be able to use a viewfinder. Both views are useful for whatever you're shooting in.
In addition, the fantastic autofocus of modern cameras makes it possible to just rely on it. When taking photos, I can limit myself to the composition of the images and it is enough to determine which person I want to focus on. Image composition works just as well on the display as on the viewfinder, even if old DSLR photographers like to dispute that. They also look at the finished picture on the display - then, surprisingly, it fits.
I feel like using the LCD has similarities to the workflow of medium format cameras with the large viewfinder on top. Personally I'm much more comfortable having the camera moving around instead of being stuck to my face.
When image stabilization is sold in a camera its effectiveness is usually mentioned in stops. This IS camera/lens is four stops, six stops, two stops. Whatever. But what is the starting point? In a full frame camera the old rule of thumb was choose a shutter speed that was no lower than 1/focal length of the lens. So with a 50mm lens you don't hand hold below 1/50 of a second (rounded to 1/60) shutter speed. A 300mm lens would be 1/300 of a second and so forth. What's never mentioned is what this rule of thumb based on. I assume Kodak did some testing 75 years ago and said something like, "If you use this rule and make 5x7 prints then four out of five pictures will be OK." The size of print might be 8x10 for all I know but the bigger the print the more obvious camera shake is going to be. The old 1/focal length was a pretty good start, but it also implied that the hand held camera was being held as steadily as possible. Looking through the viewfinder, pushing the camera into your face and keeping both elbows in by the side of your body would be my definition as "steady as possible". The number of stops of IS must also start with a stable as possible hand held camera platform. If the camera is being thrown up in the air then a six stop IS is unlikely to help anything. The other thing is that the rule is a MINIMAL suggestion not necessarily an optimal one. A faster shutter speed is always going to be better, as far a camera shake is concerned. So I question your technique. You are not keeping the camera steady, it's bouncing all over the place. You are counting on the IS to keep things sharp, and probably increase the ISO to maintain higher shutter speeds, at the price of higher noise. My technique is to do the opposite. I use a tripod. For many people a tripod is a loss of freedom. They can't move around. But a tripod to me is freeing. It gives me a choice of apertures and ISO's. I don't HAVE to use high shutter speeds and wide apertures to maintain sharpness. I can stop down, and assuming that the subject isn't moving much, use pretty much any shutter speed that I want; with lower ISO's and lower noise. There's also a little voice in my ear (and I HATE that little voice) that says, "You're hand holding. You don't really care about this do you?" There are times where I must hand hold, and I use whatever IS my lens has, and often that's none. I'm very careful with my hand holding technique. When I use a lens with a tripod collar I almost always us a monopod. As long as I have a stable shooting position (I'm not in a boat or in a helicopter) or trying to shoot above my head (see gimbal on tripod for that) then a monopod is my go-to choice. The monopod to me doesn't replace a tripod but it sure replaces hand holding. I've watched shooters hand hold 300mm f2.8's and I think two things, 1) "This guy is strong as an ox!" and 2) "He's damn near as smart." "Hmm do I want to put all of that weight on my arms or do I want that stick to support all of this weight, hmm ..." Seems like a no-brainer to me. Being able to hand hold a camera at slow shutter speeds seems to be a manhood issue to some people. "I can hand hold down to XXX!" they brag. I think that they miss the point that there's no prizes for how low you can hand hold the camera, or whose IS works best. The prizes are only for good pictures. If you (or better still, someone who hates you) think that your technique produces sharp images, then continue. But if you are looking for 20"X30" print sharpness and it's not there, then maybe it's time to re-think things.
Weird that people think that they can tell you what's right or wrong for you lol! I like both actually, the environment dictates which one I'll use. Great work as usual!
I'm only an amateur photographer, and back when I only had a point-and-shoot I used to be puzzled why people would use the viewfinder instead of the LCD. My guess at the time was that it was a product of habit. Then, when I started shooting birds with telephoto lenses I realized how much faster you can find the bird in your frame by looking through the viewfinder. Pointing a long lens at a tiny bird through the LCD is very difficult. I'm now so used to the EVF that I use it even for portrait.
I've got one of those point-and-shoot compact cameras (Sony ZV-1) that only has an LCD. I've found that a loupe is necessary when shooting in bright sun, so I bought a Hoodman loupe. This, of course, negates the ZV-1s biggest advantage, its small size, but it is necessary to see the screen sometimes. Luckily, I don't need the loupe that often. I'm a very casual photographer who appreciates the fact that it's easy to have a pocketable compact camera with you most of the time, and it is a step up from using a cellular phone.
I can see your points. I prefer evf. Just wish the manufacturers make their lcd extremely bright. And go little bit bigger than the typical 3.2. But yeah. I can see why you use it. Comparison and framing wise it’s far better. Plus with canon r5 the light leak a lot and you can’t change the eye piece. That why I miss using sony and Nikon. Cheers.
I use an EOS R, and tend to use the viewfinder when I am good to focus on nothing but the subject and the framing, but when I need situational awareness I use the LCD. also with my height (6'5) I don't want to lean over all the time when doing portraits, so the flip out LCD is a life saver for me and my back.
Great video Julia and helpful information. The LCD definitely has it's advantages, especially on my Nikon DSLR, subject and face tracking doesn't work through the viewfinder. and being able to mount the camera on a tripod at nighttime and use manual focus for shots and recording video. In the daytime and in bright sunlight I would probably use my viewfinder. No right or wrong answer, just whatever works for your situation. Learned so much from you. Thanks
I don't use it either. :) It is also true that it is not on the Sony a5100. So I much prefer to find the composition through the screen. I love so much your content. :) Have a productive week Julia.
i do no t like to use the screen, I always prefer the viewfinder, and basicaly because I can see a lot more than on a screen where I see so much more than just the camera, but I like the points you say. Thanks Julia for this cool video.
Hi Ms. Julia, I'm a new Sony user I use A6400. My question is is it good to use Back button focus for Mirrorless? Because I often see my images not that focus and what should I use autofocus settings? I'm little bit confused because I'm a Canon user before. 😅 Thank Youuu
The most important is to be confortable when doing photography. Whatever you choose to use, at the end the picture matters. Thank you for your videos in general, they are always helpful !
As simply as that! I use the screen in 99% of the time since I prefer to look around the frame of the photos I wanna shoot so I won't miss something that will not be visible if using the Viewfinder. And it's more comfy to me.
Yep, I couldn't agree more! And thank you
@@juliatrotti can you do a photoshoot with the sony zv-1 ?
Because you still can 😅 At the age of 45 and higher most people need reading glasses. And at that point viewfinders with diopter correction are extremely usefuly because you don't have to fiddle around with your glasses all the time: You have to wear them when you want to use the lcd. But you cannot wear reading glasses if you're looking at something else. It really is annoying 😅
Imagine someone telling you your'e doing it wrong and clearly not seeing the amazing images you get with all your shoots just by using the screen instead.
People literally become stupid just to go against the grain.
WE LOVE YOUR WORK AND LOVE THAT YOU SHOOT EXACTLY HOW YOU WANT TO SHOOT. IT'S A CREATIVE FIELD. THERE ARE NO RULES TO CREATIVITY.
I actually have very similar reasons to use the LCD. And there is one more that's very important for me when I'm working with people who are not used to the camera (at weddings or couple sessions). Using the LCD allows me to get close to my subjects by just stretching out my arms so I don't have to put my head into their private zone. Most people are more comfortable with that.
Ooh I didn't even think of that, but I do that too! So handy :D
Private zone?? Oh, private zone.
Oooh I appreciate this video so much. Sometimes I judge myself for not using the evf all the time, but I'm totally with you that the lcd is so useful! Especially as a taller person, I don't want to be hunching to a lower position all day to be at eye level with the couple.
Love love love this video 👏👏👏
So glad you enjoyed it! We should never think that we "need" to shoot in a specific way (I also used to think this sometimes), just shoot in a way that makes you feel comfortable and gets you the results you want :)
Excellent video. There was a time when I (silently) judged people who were shooting with the LCD, like they didn’t know what they were doing, but since I was forced to move to mirrorless I found that I was limited in the EVF to only see what the sensor could perceive, so when something was blown out or buried in shadows I couldn’t see it like I could with an OVF- I found that in these cases glancing between the actual subject and the EVF was cumbersome but glancing between the actual subject and the LCD was way easier. Now I judge myself for having judged others.
Great points! I am shooting weddings screen only for the last 5 years and I am never going back. The most important thing is people you taking pictures of is to they see your face expressions!
Really good points about situational awareness and clients seeing your face. I will try the LCD for spontaneous shooting and portraits. I use the EVF handheld and the LCD on a tripod. I’ve been photographing since the 1970s so the viewfinder feels natural. It also seems to me that holding the camera away from my body is less stable than arms close to my torso and the camera against my face. Having the LCD and a geared head has made tripod work so much easier than it used to be.
Thanks for making this video. Your point on situational awareness is a good one and a point of view shared by a lot of street photographers who "shoot from the hip" or use zone focusing to capture moments quickly or not at all.
This is exactly how I have been after switching to mirrorless as well. Definitely more comfortable with clients. Feels more casual for them
No matter if you use a viewfinder or screens, knowing the exposure triangle and techniques is the most important thing and your photos are indeed professional and awesome Julia.🙂
Your photography is just UNREAL. You're too talented to just be doing weddings and fashion portraits. You could be a cinematographer. We need your vision in filmmaking. I wish you'd cross over to filmmaking videos as well.
You are too kind, thank you! Actually, being a director of photography is a job I've always been interested in.
I rarely use LCD screen - just because of years of repetition I'm an (E)VF user. But this was a very nice and balanced presentation about the benefits of the LCD screen. I'll implement the back screen more in my photography - thanks for that!
Both the EVF and LCD screens are amazing to use today. Back when the EVF wasn't superior than the OVF, photographers kept using the LCD as it was more accurate and better colors. Today, EVF has surpassed and destroyed OVF so its now a matter of personal preferences. I use both as with portrait photographer, I use the LCD screen and with event gigs, I prefer the EVF.
destroyed OVF? wtf lmao. this is the funniest shit I ve ever read.
I’m so glad you covered this topic, Julia. Such a strange thing that people should judge this. I’ll add that you can also wear a hat during outdoor shoots without knocking it off and for those of us wearing glasses we can finally stop smudging the glass with our thumb. Using the LCD was a game-changer! 😊
I largely use my viewfinder. It helps me keep my full attention as to what's happening in my frame. Youve also got a little better view of expressions of a subject while using the LCD you can't really pick up on macro expressions
I love this video. Honestly I have really bad eye sight so I don’t really use the view finder cause when I first stated in 2017 in camera the photos would look great but then post processing they were not as sharp as I like but using the LCD screen I have little to no problems achieving the look I want for my business ❤😊
And for the people talking about stabilization, I find that when I'm moving, holding the camera up to my eye actually creates more camera shake. But if I use my arms as "shock absorbers" while I'm moving, the camera remains more stable. 🙂
The LCD on new mirrorless cameras is so fast it's a no brainer. My tip is that if you work commercially- other people involved with the shoot can see you shooting live and provide input. Game changer.
This is a terrific explanation. It's been years since I've used a decent camera and so from previous experience I was used to using the viewfinder. It became a habit to use it that way. Now, with my new mirrorless, looking at the LCD and noticing that it does in fact show a live view of the current exposure I found myself actually taking a step back to look at it and go hmm, I don't really need to use the viewfinder so much anymore.
Do you face problem when you shoot in the sunlight using the LCD screen only..???
Since I switched to mirrorless I find myself gravitating to the way you describe, that I actually was inspired to by watching your videos. I tried what I saw you doing and it worked. Thanks for teaching me!
When I got my EOS R I started shooting this way, and I completely agree. You put it into words so well!
I only use the EVF if it’s too bright. I prefer the LCD because it’s more comfortable. Thank you & blessings to you & your family.
Using the LCD is more candid and relaxed 😊helps the subject feel super comfortable, which makes the shot 📸 better in the end. I use the viewfinder more to look at the final image 😂
Julia you are one in a million! You are amazing and have helped me in my photography journey so much, a huge thankyou for all your videos, I learn so much from you! This particular video has been so beneficial to me, please keep posting, you help so many people around the world, you're a star!
Julia - You take so many beautiful images. I don't know how TH-camrs can handle all the comments from people being mean or correcting and thinking they know everything. All I know is that you are a great professional photographer. I learn so much from people like you - but I adapt it to my own style. You have a very positive upbeat channel - pleasant voice and good topics. I don't care if you use a viewfinder or shoot with your eyes close. You are good at what you do - That means more to me than anything else.
Thank you, I appreciate it. To be honest, I'm confident in my skills and I know what I have achieved over the years of being a photographer so because of that negative comments don't normally bother me :)
@@juliatrotti Most hate seems to come from a place of jealousy anyways. No need to let those negative vibes affect you!
Girlfriennnddd, you use what ever finder you want! I stillll love you even if you shoot from the hip, dem curls be lookin mighty fine too
I am planning on buying my first camera and I couldn't think of any reason why one needs viewfinder at all. You have provided great answers, thanks!
There are 2 main reasons I do use the viewfinder, the most common one is if it is too bright/sunny for the LCD. Maybe there are too many reflections on the screen or it's hard to see from the sun, so being able to use a viewfinder is handy there. The 2nd reason is if I am using extremely long lenses like 400mm + it helps keep the camera/lens steadier since it's closer to my body. Some food for thought depending how you plan on using your camera, hope this helps too :)
I use the LCD because my Canon DSLR has Dual pixel autofocus on Live view and it is brilliant. On the OVF it has like 9 AF points, it sucks haha
OK... thanks Julia, you've helped move the needle on getting a photographic dinosaur ( early 1970's) now using mirrorless, to consider moving - at least partially - to using the LCD... and the capture 1 iPad plug gives me a better use for mobile application. Enjoy your summer 🙂
I constantly use the LCD screen on my mirrorless and have no problems delivering quality images.
nice review. i am mostly using EVF because the quality of view is excellent and there is no problem of brightness in sunny day,... also because i am holding glasses for short distance, with lcd/evf mix (for menus...) i need to toggle my glasses on/off all the time. But i will give LCD a try and consider your points showing your face, looking surrounding,... with LCD !
I prefer using a view finder, as i have to wear reading glasses, so its more practical for me, i can adjust the diopter setting on the camera view finder.
I have found that the Eye Auto Focus of my Sony mirrorless cameras allows me to attain sharp focus when using the LCD.
Additionally I am a very tall man and shooting with the LCD allows me not to shoot directly down on my model.
However, when I shoot action, I will almost always use the eye level viewfinder.
Additionally I am a very tall man and shooting with the CD allows me not to shoot down on my model.
However, when I shoot action, I will almost always use the eye level viewfinder.
As a macro and wildlife photographer, my use case skews more toward needing the stability and increased visibility for manual focusing. That being said, I agree that it’s important to understand *why* you use the EVF/LCD and adjust accordingly.
Yeah I can imagine it would be really hard to do macro with just the LCD!
The view finder is one of the absolutely best parts of a camera for good composition. Just by your title alone I had to come and let you know. You will eventually come to realize this.
whatever you do I love your photoshoot !
Agree on using LCD to make our subject more comfortable and easier to communicate
As soon as the on-sensor AF (in most situations) became superior to the old trough-the-viewfinder AF (for Canon it was the 5D IV) i started using the LCD for that reason alone. no more back/frontfocus problems wide open and much more keepers. the addition of dependable eye-autofocus with this system on top in my opinion was the biggest technological leap i witnessed in my 18 years of beeing a professional photographer. i would happilly shoot a wedding with the 4mpixel CCD out of the original EOS 1D if i had too, but hell i wouldnt want that old dslr autofocus system back. with mirrorless it even got better and the camera now feels like an extension of my arm, we can chat and engage with the clients while photographing them without needing to have that discomforting brick of a camera in front of our face all the time.
the only occasions where i regulary feel the viewfinder is more natural is when taking very focused shots with a longer lens from a bigger distance. its easier to concentrate on the framing and the moment this way and not get distracted by everything thats happening around. when filming it also can be quite beneficial having the camera resting against your head cause it stabilizes the movements a lot. for that reason i like an external evf on my film rig a lot more than a big monitor on top.
I live in the Southwest of the USA and it's generally to bright to use the LCD. I agree the LCD is a better option. I do night photography and use the LCD (DSLR) in "live mode" @ 10x to manual focus. If too dark light my target with a flashlight, that gets tricky, LOL. Nice Job, Safe Travels!
Great video. I’m mainly team LCD for the same reasons.
I feel uncomfortable to use the EVF for prolonged time. But for me is a must because shooting with manual lenses and nail the focus perfectly requires the EVF most of the time. When shooting with autofocus i feel free to use the LCD.
A side note, the LCD in my Nikon and Canon cameras has been great, but the Sony ones are horrible. Sony needs to use better screens for their cameras!!
This is great. I’ll prob move over to LCD most of the time. Your reasons make perfect sense to me. LOL at the tan lines
Huh, never thought about this, but the situational awerness and interaction arguments make a lot of sense!
I agree with Aaron Bazil who said below that your photography is UNREAL. Every video I learn something new from you and I have been in photography for years 🙂Thank you for taking the time to share with us Julia. Your my favorite "photography" person on TH-cam 🙂 👋 👍✌ 🙏
Thank you so much, I appreciate it!
as a hobbyist, i use {evf only + sensor} mode with mirrorless, saves a lot of battery life (especially when battery life is as horrible as x-t3's). and i use ovf with dslr, too. actually now that i think of it, i'm using lcd only when i'm viewing the taken photos. lcd and live histogram are good things to have though, especially when you had to use film when growing up.
very interesting. I'd always been using viewfinder. Need to try shooting more with just LCD
Hey friend! It was so nice meeting and shooting with you :D
I find it strange too, especially since the LCD on Sony cameras are mediocre.
I own an a7iv and use the EVF always, unless I want to hold the camera very low.
Still I understand why you don't do it lot of the time
Wow! You could hold the camera upside down if means getting the quality of shots that you take!! Love your photographic eye
Also a point to add, most DSLR's don't focus as well as they do in live view compared to through the viewfinder.
that's so true
Exactly. I have a Nikon D800 and it is impossible to get a good focus with a viewfinder. That's why I rely on live view if I'm doing portrait session. In landscape with F/8 or much, live view doesn't matter.
It is already difficult to get a good focus with a DSLR, now if a certain model has a defect then there is no use cases for a viewfinder. My D800 developed that bad focus after the end of warranty. I won't buy a new cam because of that. D800 is always capable of delivering excellent images with an enormous dynamic range
I mostly use the rear screen as well. I find my framing is so much better.
I’m with you, LCD. Great vid as usual
Oh, your reasonings are soo logical!! Makes so much sense when you explain it :))
Also, sorry for those rude people who try'd to instil their nonsense on you, saying that its "wrong to shoot with the LCD". You're a professional, and you actually know what you're doing, unlike THOSE hates, so honestly, you don't need to explain yourself to them :))
Love your work!!
This is so helpful. I’ll try it tomorrow for my family session. Donno why I felt like I wasn’t professional if I wasn’t using the view finder.
Thanks for sharing your experience with great comments....I mainly use the viewfinder on my D500....this easier for me as I walk around taking pics of whatever interests me as I am only a hobbyist.... cheers from Australia 😀❤️
I like switching between LCD and EVF. EVF helps to get critical composition/face expressions and LCD for awkward angles
Each to own. I am in the optical viewfinder camp so shoot DSLR still.
Not a fan of shooting using the screen unless I need it for a certain shooting angle and can't reach that angle. I also feel that using the view finder offers a more stable shooting platform but then the new cameras often have ibis.
Either way ultimately the end result is what matters. Can't tell how an image was shot when you look at it ( view finder or LCD) soooo 🤷♀it's a moot point.
That last part about uneven suntan is hilarious. 😂 I tend to use the EVF a lot to focus my attention and minimize camera shake but I respect these reasons to flip the priority into using the LCD more.
I shoot Olympus and one of the big benefits of Olympus is I can set how long after I take a photo it will display after I take it. My Olympus OMD E-M5 by default is 0.5 seconds on my Olympus OMD E-M1ii by default it's 0.3. I've would have made a few mistakes if I did not catch myself.
I've even heard of very well know photographers for get to change a setting and mess up photos.
All cameras should have this feature.
i would loooooove to see some videos about wedding photography!
ty for the video julia 💜
Most people under the age of 30 don't use a viewfinder mostly out of habit...they never used a DSLR so it's almost alien to them. (most, not all)
The biggest reason to use the viewfinder is a 3rd point of contact, more stable. When your arms is out there, its less stable...just physics.. I know IBS helps but it's still less stable. For maximum stability, 3rd point of contact, aka viewfinder, with elbows tucked in.
I use the LCD when i need to shoot somewhere higher or lower.
p.s. in weddings i shoot with both eyes open, with regard to the environment. Especially on the dancefloor. I don't want the camera "out there" and want it close by since people will knock it with elbows flying. I guess that is a complete opposite to why you shoot with LCD on the dancefloor!
this is a very interesting topic. using the screen feels familiar as it resembles taking photos with your phone, im old school and prefer taking photos through the camera and having that perspective. funny that the evf is basically the same thing and I'm noticing some people are now trying to get away from viewing a screen and going back to looking at real life. but preferences and options are abundant nowadays, and those around for the digital age have always had a screen to photograph with, like point and shoots, phones etc. truly its each their own and the industry and users have been pushing for better quality displays and evfs so its natural that these get used. a small part of that advancement i think also is what's getting people to try film, too many screens and settings, and that you're now photographing with a computer and no longer a camera.
my point is use the tools you have how you like, get creative and do what works for you. everything evolves and the past always comes around again.
great video and its cool that you have been shooting more film, it seems, as well
Very interesting reasons. Learnt something new.
My first mirrorless is a current gen camera after years of a dslr, but this mirrorless has no evf. I bought it mainly for video but find my love of photography outweighs that, yet I only occasionally miss the viewfinder.
Now that I'm building a current portfolio, I find that what you said in this video has been true for my work, I frame the photo and can look back and forth between the subject and the screen as necessary, and the subject can see me the entire time.
Ugh you are my favorite photographer! It would be such a dream to learn and shoot with you. You are so full of knowledge!
Man, your videos are so good! Can you do a behind-the-scenes video of your studio setup? Curious how you setup your lights. Thanks!
I never expected this, but switching to mirrorless I find myself shooting mostly with the LCD. I wish camera LCDs were higher res and brighter though! Companies could even sell "plus" models of their cameras with high quality displays and I think many people would opt to pay for it.
I do not move much once I chose a subject for a picture so I use the EVF only. My M%) Mark II has an OLED based EVF which is more power efficient than the LCD.
Some solid points I never considered before. Appreciate the insight
Im using both, viewfinder and lcd. My choice depends on current shooting circumstances. Its fine, that we have both.
Always camera beautiful
You do you Julia! For me I do both and, I even change eyes for the EVF and switch up the hand/finger configurations to balance it out as I capture long events. Sometimes using my ring finger to press the shutter in portrait orientation.
I'm on the A7III still and shooting lower angles isn't easy to see on that screen, I rely on my deep squat a lot for that. If it had a fully articulating screen then it wouldn't be as much of a hassle. Ahh well let's hope the A9III comes out soon! That Canon R6 II looks awfully good.
I'd love to see a day in the life, a Q&A with you and Dan or a photo challenge like a underwater photoshoot
Totally agree with you!!
I also rarely use my viewfinder. I am super small and need to hold up my camera a lot of times :D the mirrorless camera changed so much for me. Game changer
Do you face problem when you shoot in the daylight using the LCD screen only..???
@@souvikmajumder1622 yesss!! totally :( that's a downside for sure
I love this video!! I shoot this way as well. Before I got a mirrorless camera I did find it strange seeing others shoot this way. But as soon as I got mirrorless, it was so natural to shoot with lcd.
Thank you so much for this video Julia! So many great reasons that I hadn't considered. I've just made the decision to switch to fully mirrorless and only use the LCD screen - I can't use an EVF, but the benefits of mirrorless outweigh this for the type of work I do. I love that using the LCD means I'm still connected to family moments, rather than feeling removed from them. And if I want the experience that an OVF gives, I can always use my film camera.
Thank you, so glad you liked this!
I understand the reasons and personally I would prefer using the lcd as well because, being a person who absolutely needs to use glasses I find miserable looking through the viewfinder, but the issue is that my current DSLR takes a while to search focus when using the lcd, but when I use the viewfinder it takes a split second to focus. I tried many different focus modes (especially wide focus) and still the viewfinder focus is faster and to make spontaneous shots, being fast is essential. if I have to ask them to hold their actions just so that the camera focuses properly it is not spontaneous anymore. I am not trying to preach about the viewfinder, personally I dont like it too, but the idea is to find what works for you.
I still use a DSLR, and I'm using the viewfinder most of the time as that's what I'm used to after all these years. The only times I use the LCD screen are when I'm shooting video or self-portraits.
Yeah BOTH are useful for me, especially too since i shoot both Digi & Film formats (where obviously Film says F a LCD screen) LOL so gotta be able to use a viewfinder.
Both views are useful for whatever you're shooting in.
In addition, the fantastic autofocus of modern cameras makes it possible to just rely on it. When taking photos, I can limit myself to the composition of the images and it is enough to determine which person I want to focus on. Image composition works just as well on the display as on the viewfinder, even if old DSLR photographers like to dispute that. They also look at the finished picture on the display - then, surprisingly, it fits.
I just learnt the difference between evf and ovf. Great video
I shoot mostly thru the LCD. I shoot mostly video. Plus 2 of my cameras don’t have viewfinder. So I agree with you
Well said. Makes sense
I feel like using the LCD has similarities to the workflow of medium format cameras with the large viewfinder on top. Personally I'm much more comfortable having the camera moving around instead of being stuck to my face.
When image stabilization is sold in a camera its effectiveness is usually mentioned in stops. This IS camera/lens is four stops, six stops, two stops. Whatever. But what is the starting point? In a full frame camera the old rule of thumb was choose a shutter speed that was no lower than 1/focal length of the lens. So with a 50mm lens you don't hand hold below 1/50 of a second (rounded to 1/60) shutter speed. A 300mm lens would be 1/300 of a second and so forth. What's never mentioned is what this rule of thumb based on. I assume Kodak did some testing 75 years ago and said something like, "If you use this rule and make 5x7 prints then four out of five pictures will be OK." The size of print might be 8x10 for all I know but the bigger the print the more obvious camera shake is going to be.
The old 1/focal length was a pretty good start, but it also implied that the hand held camera was being held as steadily as possible. Looking through the viewfinder, pushing the camera into your face and keeping both elbows in by the side of your body would be my definition as "steady as possible". The number of stops of IS must also start with a stable as possible hand held camera platform. If the camera is being thrown up in the air then a six stop IS is unlikely to help anything.
The other thing is that the rule is a MINIMAL suggestion not necessarily an optimal one. A faster shutter speed is always going to be better, as far a camera shake is concerned.
So I question your technique. You are not keeping the camera steady, it's bouncing all over the place. You are counting on the IS to keep things sharp, and probably increase the ISO to maintain higher shutter speeds, at the price of higher noise.
My technique is to do the opposite. I use a tripod. For many people a tripod is a loss of freedom. They can't move around. But a tripod to me is freeing. It gives me a choice of apertures and ISO's. I don't HAVE to use high shutter speeds and wide apertures to maintain sharpness. I can stop down, and assuming that the subject isn't moving much, use pretty much any shutter speed that I want; with lower ISO's and lower noise. There's also a little voice in my ear (and I HATE that little voice) that says, "You're hand holding. You don't really care about this do you?"
There are times where I must hand hold, and I use whatever IS my lens has, and often that's none. I'm very careful with my hand holding technique. When I use a lens with a tripod collar I almost always us a monopod. As long as I have a stable shooting position (I'm not in a boat or in a helicopter) or trying to shoot above my head (see gimbal on tripod for that) then a monopod is my go-to choice. The monopod to me doesn't replace a tripod but it sure replaces hand holding. I've watched shooters hand hold 300mm f2.8's and I think two things, 1) "This guy is strong as an ox!" and 2) "He's damn near as smart." "Hmm do I want to put all of that weight on my arms or do I want that stick to support all of this weight, hmm ..." Seems like a no-brainer to me.
Being able to hand hold a camera at slow shutter speeds seems to be a manhood issue to some people. "I can hand hold down to XXX!" they brag. I think that they miss the point that there's no prizes for how low you can hand hold the camera, or whose IS works best. The prizes are only for good pictures.
If you (or better still, someone who hates you) think that your technique produces sharp images, then continue. But if you are looking for 20"X30" print sharpness and it's not there, then maybe it's time to re-think things.
Congratulations' all the best in your photography. Cheers Mike 👌👌
Weird that people think that they can tell you what's right or wrong for you lol! I like both actually, the environment dictates which one I'll use. Great work as usual!
on my Canon 5D mark iii and Canon T7 I check the LCD screen for color and lighting then I look thru the view finder for the shot.
I'm only an amateur photographer, and back when I only had a point-and-shoot I used to be puzzled why people would use the viewfinder instead of the LCD. My guess at the time was that it was a product of habit. Then, when I started shooting birds with telephoto lenses I realized how much faster you can find the bird in your frame by looking through the viewfinder. Pointing a long lens at a tiny bird through the LCD is very difficult. I'm now so used to the EVF that I use it even for portrait.
Wow, I hadn't considered these! I'll give it a shot.
I've got one of those point-and-shoot compact cameras (Sony ZV-1) that only has an LCD. I've found that a loupe is necessary when shooting in bright sun, so I bought a Hoodman loupe. This, of course, negates the ZV-1s biggest advantage, its small size, but it is necessary to see the screen sometimes. Luckily, I don't need the loupe that often. I'm a very casual photographer who appreciates the fact that it's easy to have a pocketable compact camera with you most of the time, and it is a step up from using a cellular phone.
Gripping the camera lens more firmly also adds stability ;)
I can see your points. I prefer evf. Just wish the manufacturers make their lcd extremely bright. And go little bit bigger than the typical 3.2. But yeah. I can see why you use it. Comparison and framing wise it’s far better. Plus with canon r5 the light leak a lot and you can’t change the eye piece. That why I miss using sony and Nikon. Cheers.
I use an EOS R, and tend to use the viewfinder when I am good to focus on nothing but the subject and the framing, but when I need situational awareness I use the LCD. also with my height (6'5) I don't want to lean over all the time when doing portraits, so the flip out LCD is a life saver for me and my back.
Great points! I laughed about the tan lines but it must have been a real problem being in the sun all the time.
Great video Julia and helpful information. The LCD definitely has it's advantages, especially on my Nikon DSLR, subject and face tracking doesn't work through the viewfinder. and being able to mount the camera on a tripod at nighttime and use manual focus for shots and recording video. In the daytime and in bright sunlight I would probably use my viewfinder. No right or wrong answer, just whatever works for your situation. Learned so much from you. Thanks
This really makes a lot of sense. I'll definitely keep some of the things you mentioned in mind, great tips!
I don't use it either. :) It is also true that it is not on the Sony a5100. So I much prefer to find the composition through the screen. I love so much your content. :) Have a productive week Julia.
i do no t like to use the screen, I always prefer the viewfinder, and basicaly because I can see a lot more than on a screen where I see so much more than just the camera, but I like the points you say. Thanks Julia for this cool video.
Hi Ms. Julia, I'm a new Sony user I use A6400. My question is is it good to use Back button focus for Mirrorless? Because I often see my images not that focus and what should I use autofocus settings?
I'm little bit confused because I'm a Canon user before. 😅
Thank Youuu