Shooting vertically with no access to view

jamesev · 2026-05-05T10:25:59+0100

Not sure which category to put this in as its more Talk: Techniques but here goes:-

I want to shoot vertically with the camera low to the ground to get the shot as wide as possible and get as much in the frame. Because of this I can't then see the view finder or screen (it doesn't tilt 180 to face looking backwards) to compose. Essentially I need some sort of additional "off camera" screen to act as the proxy viewfinder. Any suggestions of equipment to do this?

skullfunkerry · 2026-05-05T10:30:55+0100

Not sure what make your camera is, but a lot of them have an app you can connect to which will offer a live view. Failing that, if your camera has a mini HDMI port you could get a cable to connect to your phone or a tablet?

jamesev · 2026-05-05T10:33:58+0100

skullfunkerry said:
Not sure what make your camera is, but a lot of them have an app you can connect to which will offer a live view. Failing that, if your camera has a mini HDMI port you could get a cable to connect to your phone or a tablet?

can that be done if I have USB-C on tablet/phone and camera? what sort of apps would be needed to read the camera screen this way as its essentially shooting tethered?

Phil V · 2026-05-05T11:31:19+0100

As above, this is a highly camera specific question.

Some cameras have their own WiFi apps, different cameras have different screen connections etc.

eoSimon · 2026-05-05T11:42:42+0100

I can view and take pictures using a canon app with my 6D. What is your camera ?

jamesev · 2026-05-05T12:09:01+0100

eoSimon said:
I can view and take pictures using a canon app with my 6D. What is your camera ?

Nikon z8

Petrochemist · 2026-05-05T12:37:58+0100

If all the high tech solutions fail you could simply use a mirror to view the rear screen.
Another option that I used before I had a camera with live view, was to simply frame by guesswork (often cropping slightly afterwards). I can remember having half a dozen attempts to get big ben in frame shooting IR blind on an old DSLR.

AndrewFlannigan · 2026-05-05T12:55:14+0100

When I did that, I wore an old overcoat or a one piece coverall, got down on the ground and looked through the viewfinder.

Bit more messy if it was raining, of course.

DemiLion · 2026-05-05T13:00:49+0100

Thankfully, we've moved on from the days when old men wore flasher macs.

DemiLion · 2026-05-05T13:02:33+0100

Phil V said:
As above, this is a highly camera specific question.

Some cameras have their own WiFi apps, different cameras have different screen connections etc.

jamesev said:
Nikon z8

Time to get off your bum and do some research James.

Edit: FYI it took me 5 seconds.

jamesev · 2026-05-05T14:11:47+0100

DemiLion said:
Time to get off your bum and do some research James.

Edit: FYI it took me 5 seconds.

thats what a forum is, to share experience, views and opinions. Especially in the "talk" sections. Going and finding youtube videos that claim to be able to do so is often just theoretical and often contains a lot of misinformation or misleading. Funny how some are willing to help whereas some just need their dose of feeling smug

jamesev · 2026-05-05T14:41:39+0100

Petrochemist said:
If all the high tech solutions fail you could simply use a mirror to view the rear screen.
Another option that I used before I had a camera with live view, was to simply frame by guesswork (often cropping slightly afterwards). I can remember having half a dozen attempts to get big ben in frame shooting IR blind on an old DSLR.

I was hoping that a simple solution involving a basic USB C to USB C cable would be available as both devices have that interface port however on the camera it is called the "USB Data Connector" port so I suspect its more for transferring files than able to broadcast whats on the viewfinder. Maybe only the HDMI port can relay the viewfinder so that would mean a HDMI to USB - C cable.

Lots of videos seem to claim that various Apps can do it, but in reality none have worked.

Brentor · 2026-05-05T14:50:00+0100

Have you tried the Nikon apps

eoSimon · 2026-05-05T14:52:36+0100

jamesev said:
Lots of videos seem to claim that various Apps can do it, but in reality none have worked.

Even Nikon’s snapbridge ? (looks to have similar functionality as Canon Camera Connect)

Suvv · 2026-05-05T14:55:59+0100

I use Snapbridge with an old D5600
It can be a bit flaky and I have to reinstall it on my android phone sometimes to get it to work
When it is working it is great for remote control and downloading photos

jamesev · 2026-05-05T14:57:01+0100

eoSimon said:
Even Nikon’s snapbridge ? (looks to have similar functionality as Canon Camera Connect)

I meant lots of apps claim to be able to do this by way of a cable, rather than wirelessly

jamesev · 2026-05-05T14:58:55+0100

Suvv said:
I use Snapbridge with an old D5600
It can be a bit flaky and I have to reinstall it on my android phone sometimes to get it to work
When it is working it is great for remote control and downloading photos

agreed can be a pain to setup with the right communications protocol as it offers both bluetooth and wifi. It more the camera end as Nikon have made the network setting setup process quite techincal

Petrochemist · 2026-05-05T16:07:13+0100

jamesev said:
I was hoping that a simple solution involving a basic USB C to USB C cable would be available as both devices have that interface port however on the camera it is called the "USB Data Connector" port so I suspect its more for transferring files than able to broadcast whats on the viewfinder. Maybe only the HDMI port can relay the viewfinder so that would mean a HDMI to USB - C cable.

Lots of videos seem to claim that various Apps can do it, but in reality none have worked.

I brought a HDMI peaking monitor to use with one of my old DSLRs that didn't have peaking, only to find the camera only transmitted the image in review mode. Which made it kind of useless to me.

Dave Canon · 2026-05-05T16:43:21+0100

I was certainly able to control and view my Canon 5D4 using my iPad.

Dave

Brentor · 2026-05-05T16:54:38+0100

Is wireless/bluetooth a non-starter for you?

Musicman · 2026-05-05T17:19:02+0100

jamesev said:
I was hoping that a simple solution involving a basic USB C to USB C cable would be available as both devices have that interface port however on the camera it is called the "USB Data Connector" port so I suspect its more for transferring files than able to broadcast whats on the viewfinder. Maybe only the HDMI port can relay the viewfinder so that would mean a HDMI to USB - C cable.

Lots of videos seem to claim that various Apps can do it, but in reality none have worked.

jamesev said:
I meant lots of apps claim to be able to do this by way of a cable, rather than wirelessly

If you want / need a hardware solution using a cable and not a wireless connection to an app, get a portable external display and connect it via HDMI

Something like this

https://www.amazon.co.uk/VILTROX-Monitor-Portable-Battery-Waveform/dp/B0DBPCD2D5/ref=sr_1_3_sspa

I'd test it first with a TV or some other display with an HDMI input before laying out cash.

Edit: on Sony, I use Imaging Edge Mobile app to connect to my A7III over BlueTooth + WiFi. Very handy for wireless remote live view and control. I was under the impression that you can do similar with Snapbridge and your Z8.

sk66 · 2026-05-05T17:29:49+0100

jamesev said:
I was hoping that a simple solution involving a basic USB C to USB C cable would be available as both devices have that interface port however on the camera it is called the "USB Data Connector" port so I suspect its more for transferring files than able to broadcast whats on the viewfinder. Maybe only the HDMI port can relay the viewfinder so that would mean a HDMI to USB - C cable.

The Z8/Z9 support USB-C tethering; it just has to be set up correctly (Nikon's NX Tether, Lightroom, etc). And the HDMI can be used to output the liveview to an external monitor. They also have built in Wi-Fi which can connect to Nikon's SnapBridge app.