As it says above: Do you miss having a viewfinder?

My current camera has a viewfinder and I use it probably 80-90% of the time. I'm looking to replace it and am trying to decide whether I really should only get something that has a viewfinder, or whether I'll quickly get used to not having one and soon forget they even exist!

I'm really aiming this question at anyone who has replaced a machine with a viewfinder for one without. Obviously, you need to have used the viewfinder regularly - otherwise you wouldn't miss it anyway!!

[senu]

All my current camcorders have a viewfinder but I have trialled a few without, and I did miss it,
Battery life, sun / reflections and sometime the way needing an open LCD makes you hold the camcorder make its omission a challenge (IMHO) if you are used to having one
I would always seek to have one with a viewfinder as long as they still make them
YMMV..

[glesgaguyav]

The demise of the viewfinder on present day cams is IMO a big ommision, as said above if you try to use one without a viewfinder in bright sunny days it can be almost impossible.

Also I find that when shooting whithout a viewfinder I tend to hold the cam at chest hight, fine if your taking shots of kids, but to get an eye level view I find I have to hold the camera away from my body which is not the best position for stability, the viewfinder makes you hold the cam against your eye and you can tuck your elbows in for stability.

I guess makers are trying to make cams as small as possible so emitt the viewfinder

[chrishull3]

Dito

[Richard Jones]

No question about it! You need a viewfinder.

Just think how difficult it is to read an LCD screen in bright light. Sometimes you find yourself shooting as though in the dark leaving you with no idea of how your picture has been framed or composed.

A further benefit is that, when you press the viewfinder to your head, you have an added bit of stability which can help to reduce camera shake.

For these reasons I hardly ever use the LCD screen on either my video or still cameras although I accept they can be useful in some situations (e.g. a swivel LCD screen allows you to take a low level shot without actually lying on the ground).

Regards,

Richard

[Orwella]

95% of the time I prefer to use the LCD on my Sony SR12. The viewfinder only ever gets used in very bright sunlight.

Also, using the viewfinder can be disadvantageous sometimes. You loose all peripheral vision and can miss out on good shots because of it.

I have never once used other camcorders and thought I really miss having a viewfinder. It is useful to have the option, but far from essential.

[chrishull3]

Unlike viewfinders which can be adjusted to suite the owners eyes LCDs can not so it means anyone who needs glasses for reading have to have a viewfinder or keep putting the specs on and off,also although the viewfinders are on the small size on modern consumer cams using the lcd is impossible for me to get acurate focus outdoors in any light, if using a brace monopod or handholding more support is possible using the viewfinder.

[stu.artd]

I don't miss one but can understand why some poeple do.
However what I find amusing is that loads of camcorder owners are saying they rarely use the LCD and want a viewfinder while DSLR owners complained for ages about having to use a viewfinder and wanting the option of an LCD.

[senu]

Originally Posted by stu.artd

I don't miss one but can understand why some poeple do.
However what I find amusing is that loads of camcorder owners are saying they rarely use the LCD and want a viewfinder while DSLR owners complained for ages about having to use a viewfinder and wanting the option of an LCD.

Usually those coming from a P and S used to an LCD for framing.
Most established DSLR users do not want or need an LCD although live view is now upon us. I own a Canon 40D and have used live view twice in total

[stu.artd]

Originally Posted by senu

Usually those coming from a P and S used to an LCD for framing.
Most established DSLR users do not want or need an LCD although live view is now upon us. I own a Canon 40D and have used live view twice in total

I own a 30D so can't even if I want to.

[senu]

Originally Posted by stu.artd

I own a 30D so can't even if I want to.

Get a 40D!!

Just kidding , I have both and if I didnt have the 40D ( better though it is) I would not miss it

Originally Posted by stu.artd

I own a 30D so can't even if I want to.

and I still have my 20D!!!

I'd like to upgrade it - but am not sure even a 50D will help me take many better pictures than I get already.

Hmmm...

Fairly unanimous (can something be fairly as opposed to totally unanimous??) in favour of viewfinders.

Which throws a bit of a spanner into the works.

I'd almost decided on the Canon HF100 - but it doesn't have a VF. So, perhaps that pushes me back towards the HV30 again.

Or does anyone else have any suggestions?

Thanks

[stu.artd]

You could look at the Sony SR12. It has a viewfinder and a very good LCD screen as well.

Originally Posted by stu.artd

You could look at the Sony SR12. It has a viewfinder and a very good LCD screen as well.

Nice, but just (a bit) too expensive for me.

The HF100 is now about £455 (Amazon / BT / dabs etc).

I'd probably pay £50 - £100 for an "HF100 with a viewfinder" - is there anything like that out there?

I don't really want HDD. I certainly don't want DVD. I did at one stage prefer HDV, but have now virtually decided on SD/Flash.

So, requirements:

Canon HF100 / Sony CX11/SR12 Quality
Preferably Flash card.
About £550 max.

Suggestions anyone? Or am I after what doesn't exist??!! (Probably!)

Just as a matter of interest, what preceded the HF100/HF10? And was it any good? Did it have a viewfinder?

Many thanks

[A n d r e w]

Doesn't Canon's HG10 have a viewfinder?

[senu]

Originally Posted by A n d r e w

Doesn't Canon's HG10 have a viewfinder?

It does, retractable

[howardmg]

Gasman2 -

I've been looking for same thing - a high quality recent-ish SD/flash model with a viewfinder - because I want it to be as small and light (and cheap) as possible.

And I've always used my viewfinder a lot of my time with my SD JVC camcorders so worried about doing without (eg to save battery life or when very bright eg skiing).

I've now reluctantly decided to wait and hope that someone brings such a model out....not sure how long I can hold out for though!

Sadly, my old Panasonic MX2 cannot be relied upon - I'm not sure whether it is recording or not!

I have 3 young children, so, with Christmas nativities and Christmas itself coming up, I think I'm going to take the leap and buy the Canon HF100. Currently about £460, less a further £50 cash-back, makes it quite good value.

So, I'm really hoping I don't regret it - but I can't think of another option that matches the quality and features (inc size, format etc) of the HF100 and is of comparable price.

If anyone has any further suggestion, please let me know, but I don't really want a HDD model, although the viewfinder is obviously attractive!

GM

[felix2]

A bit late to the thread, but I never use the viewfinder on my HC7. (OK, I think I might have used it once.) My three video-ing friends always use theirs, and probably look at me with some bemusement for always using the LCD screen - maybe I've just got funny eyes or something, but I always find the LCD more comfortable for me. I don't think I've ever had a real problem with not being able to see it in bright light. (Haven't been skiing though.) And the power consumption difference between LCD and viewfinder on my cam is negligible. (But it is a tape camera, I don't know if it makes relatively more of a difference with card / HDD?)

[gmr]

I've come from a Sony MiniDV camcorder (HC18e) to a Canon HF100. The Sony had a viewfinder and I only ever used it for one thing: filming the children with the screen rotated 180 degs so they could see themselves (and I could see what I was filming!) That I can't do with my HF100 - I have to guess where they are which makes for interesting shots!

But other than that the HF100 is simply superb! And for £400 (with the cashback) it's a good price. I've never found viewing decent LCD screens in bright light a problem - but maybe that's because we don't get that much bright light in England!

I would hurry up and get the HF100 before the price goes up again (short term at least) - I know you'll love it! I have three young children too and wish I'd got it sooner. (Just copied all 30 hours of MiniDV tapes over to the computer, and although good quality just doesn't even compare to HD on the HF100).

Cheers

Gidon