Will a large on camera LCD help?

locostbob

locostbob

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Hey up...

a stange question... i have a small postage stamp size screen on my camera [think its just over 1'']...smaller than my mobile phone!

just wondering if a bigger LCD say 2.7 or 3''will actually help me develope and take better photos, will i be able to review better whilst out and about to alter settings, composition etc or is it just a bit of a gimmick to sell new gear?? and really i just need to wait till im on the PC looking at my shots!? assmuming the LCD has fair quality and not on a £5k body!!!

cheers

bob :)
 
The size of the screen is a big plus for the newer cameras,another factor is the screen resolution,on my old powershot S3 it had a small screen plus resolution of around 220
My Nikon D300 has a 3" screen and resolution of 920 I think,so when reviewing my shots I can usually tell if it's decent or not.
On my powershot it was just guess work.

So the answer has to be a big YES to a bigger screen.

Linky
http://www.cameralabs.com/reviews/Nikon_D300/screen.shtml
 
We managed without screens for years and the big ones are just covered with finger and nose prints.

Other than for live view I think that big screens are a curse. Big fat NO from me.
 
I rely more on the histogram, the lcd is used mainly for checking sharpness/focus.
 
Big screens are good for live view and with "blinkies" faster to see over exposed areas.

But if the big screen means less physical buttons and dials, it's clear that the buttons always win.
 
I feel more comfortable using my 40D with its 3" screen than using the old 20D with its postage stamp. Resolution is much better, it is easier to see (and interpret) in bright sunlight - it just makes the whole job easier.
 
It's handy to have at times. I reckon for a beginner it would be even more useful for checking shots on the fly and learning whilst you're out there shooting.

Doesn't bother me too much either way (apart from shooting video, but then all the video capable cams have a good screen anyway) but it is handy for showing clients / models as you're shooting.
 
When I had my 400D I only used the LCD for checking the histogram and blinkies but since changing to a 550D with its excellent LCD I find I can zoom right in and check the sharpness and focus point there and then.

Admittedly I'm only a beginner so unsure if an experienced tog would need that reassurance. :)
 
It doesn't really make a difference once you do know what you're doing - saying that, it's a bit of a struggle trying to use the tiny screen and old-style menu on my old D1x (donated to my Dad) now I'm used to the D3...
 
I guess it depends entirely what you feel needs to improve with your photography.

It won't help much with composition & exposure - but camera handling and checking sharpness etc will be improved no end.
 
Father-in-law has just upgraded his camera and the new LCD screen is bigger (now 3") and brighter / sharper, he had his first trip out with it on Saturday and found the larger screen a real benefit, made it easier to see if a shot was missed etc.
 
If you shoot RAW and view on your camera screen all you're seeeing is a tiny little file within the RAW file but it can be useful for checking basic composition and blinkies but I don't need a big screen for that. Even if you shoot JPEG I doubt that the camera screen will look much like the finished shot on your pc.

I don't think I'd gain anything from having a 3 inch screen but I think that for liveview a nice screen is much more useful.
 
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woof woof said:
If you shoot RAW and view on your camera screen all you're seeeing is a tiny little file within the RAW file but it can be useful for checking basic composition and blinkies but I don't need a big screen for that. Even if you shoot JPEG I doubt that the camera screen will look much like the finished shot on your pc.

I don't think I'd gain anything from having a 3 inch screen but I think that for liveview a nice screen is much more useful.
Click to expand...

Not strictly true - certainly with later model Canon XXD series when you view the file you are actually viewing the RAW file. Makes checking focus/sharpness much better on the screen.
 
I didn't know that but with my old thing I'm pretty sure it's just an embedded file but even so it's surely only going to be a rough guide as you'll apply your own sharpening and other processing later?
 
A better screen is obviously...better. But really it is only focus that you should need to check and you can do that on a tiny screen by zooming in.

So no, I don't think it will make anyone a better photographer.
 
On the 20D you are absoutely right - I remember that being one of the many reasons I went 20D to 40D a while back as Canon changed that behavour. I find having a good display handy for checking if I nailed the focus and going into the raw at 100% makes that bit easy.

Yes, still a rough guide - but knowing if I hit or missed before I move onto the next shot is a big benefit!
 
... i am supprised to hear that not every body thinks a bigger screen is a good thing.. very interesting and has changed my view point a little! :) suppose like everything new has its place at the right time!

many thanks for all your thoughts :)

bob
 
I see you have the E1 as your camera, I've just bought an E3 and was sort of deciding between a Nikon D90 with its lovely 920,000 3" screen or the Olympus 2.5" 250,000 dot 270 degree swivel screen.

In the end I decided that I'd prefer the usefulness of being able to swivel the screen during live view for framing rather than just using it for detail. so plumped for the Olympus.
 
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