# In which I pit DSLRs and other annoyances of digital cameras... **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 8, 2010, 8:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-i-pit-dslrs-and-other-annoyances-of-digital-cameras/538733 "2010-05-08T08:54:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2010, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-i-pit-dslrs-and-other-annoyances-of-digital-cameras/538733/41 "2010-05-11T15:20:10Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > The modern professional dSLRs and a good number of the amateur dSLRs have excellent AF capabilities, given the right lenses, that surpass a human most of the time. Yes, but you still need to make sure the camera is focusing on the correct feature or object. It’s often very difficult to tell this on an LCD viewfinder. ---
**Author:** ![Khendrask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3e96dc/32.png) [@Khendrask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khendrask)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2010, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-i-pit-dslrs-and-other-annoyances-of-digital-cameras/538733/42 "2010-05-11T16:11:50Z")
Through the lens viewfinder 100%. The LCD’s just are no match. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2010, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-i-pit-dslrs-and-other-annoyances-of-digital-cameras/538733/43 "2010-05-11T16:34:35Z")
> [@scr4](#): > > Yes, but you still need to make sure the camera is focusing on the correct feature or object. It’s often very difficult to tell this on an LCD viewfinder. I wasn’t contradicting that. I was speaking only to the efficacy of modern AF systems. Speaking of, when it comes to precise manual focusing in which I have the luxury of a tripod and a still subject, the LiveView on the LCD actually is easier (at least to my eyes) than the viewfinder, as you can zoom in and finely tune your focus. So I guess you can add that to the other points above I’ve made for where the LCD is useful. ---
**Author:** ![LateComer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b5ac83/32.png) [@LateComer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LateComer)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2010, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-i-pit-dslrs-and-other-annoyances-of-digital-cameras/538733/44 "2010-05-11T16:37:54Z")
In other news, [Sony to introduce a new line of point and shoot cameras with interchangeable lenses.](http://content.usatoday.com/communities/technologylive/post/2010/05/new-sub-compact-sony-cameras-with-interchangable-lenses/1) > [@](#): > > Sony has a new line of cameras, coming in July, aimed at the point-and-shooter who wants pro quality in a small body. > > The Alpha NEX-5 ($650) and NEX-3 ($550) have interchangable lenses, like digital SLRs, in bodies that are slightly larger than point and shoots. > . . . > Sony has a handful of lenses available for the cameras, a 16mm f 2.8 ($250), 18mm-55mm f3.5-f 5.6 ($300) wide-to medium telephoto and 18mm-200mm f 3.5-f 6.3 ($800) larger zoom lens. Additionally, Sony says the lenses for its flagship Alpha SLR can work as well–with an adapter. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2010, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-i-pit-dslrs-and-other-annoyances-of-digital-cameras/538733/45 "2010-05-11T17:31:06Z")
> [@LateComer](#): > > In other news, [Sony to introduce a new line of point and shoot cameras with interchangeable lenses.](http://content.usatoday.com/communities/technologylive/post/2010/05/new-sub-compact-sony-cameras-with-interchangable-lenses/1) Panasonic and Olympus already have non-SLR cameras with interchangeable lenses, using their shared [Micro Four Thirds](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micro_Four_Thirds_system) standard. ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2010, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-i-pit-dslrs-and-other-annoyances-of-digital-cameras/538733/46 "2010-05-11T18:36:56Z")
> [@campp](#): > > How old are you? Some of us cannot see the blasted LCD with any fidelity. A viewfinder is the ONLY way I can think about taking photos. I’m 35. Trying to look into that tiny little window gives me a headache and claustrophobia. I definitely can’t think of any situation where having the camera near my face was a logistical advantage. 90% of the time the camera needs to be somewhere other than my arbitrary eye height to take the optimal photo, and it’s not really convenient to have to find a stool or crouch down awkwardly. I also really don’t understand why people think it’s somehow more accurate than the lcd screen. Your eyes are far superior to camera sensors, anything that looks fine to the naked eye is not going to look the same to the camera. If things are too bright on the lcd screen surely that means that your picture will definitely be overexposed too. The only advantage I can think of is if there is a mechanical focus. Also, that little viewfinder window is a frikkin bitch to get clean. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2010, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-i-pit-dslrs-and-other-annoyances-of-digital-cameras/538733/47 "2010-05-11T18:45:51Z")
> [@jackdavinci](#): > > …Also, that little viewfinder window is a frikkin bitch to get clean. You’ve never heard of a fucking Q-Tip? ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2010, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-i-pit-dslrs-and-other-annoyances-of-digital-cameras/538733/48 "2010-05-11T19:19:56Z")
> [@jackdavinci](#): > > I also really don’t understand why people think it’s somehow more accurate than the lcd screen. Your eyes are far superior to camera sensors, anything that looks fine to the naked eye is not going to look the same to the camera. Sorry, but this is demonstrably not true. LCDs are too small to really show if something is tightly in focus, and a well built through the lens viewfinder is still far superior. You may be used to using non-DSLRs with significantly smaller viewfinders, but a good DSLR has a good sized viewfinder that is quite a noticeable improvement. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2010, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-i-pit-dslrs-and-other-annoyances-of-digital-cameras/538733/49 "2010-05-11T19:45:53Z")
> [@garygnu](#): > > You’ve never heard of a fucking Q-Tip? THAT’S where baby Q-Tips come from! -Joe ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2010, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-i-pit-dslrs-and-other-annoyances-of-digital-cameras/538733/50 "2010-05-11T20:41:30Z")
> [@jackdavinci](#): > > I’m 35. Trying to look into that tiny little window gives me a headache and claustrophobia. I definitely can’t think of any situation where having the camera near my face was a logistical advantage. 90% of the time the camera needs to be somewhere other than my arbitrary eye height to take the optimal photo, and it’s not really convenient to have to find a stool or crouch down awkwardly. That’s fine. It seems you don’t shoot in a way where the viewfinder is advantageous to you. There’s nothing wrong if you prefer to shoot this way. But you seem to be disputing this: “DSLRs are often preferred by professional still photographers because they allow an accurate preview of framing close to the moment of exposure.” That is, indeed, one big reason (among many others) that dSLRs are preferred by professionals (like me, for instance.) I did give situations above where the LCD screen does come in handy. But for 99% of images, it’s a fuck of a lot faster for me, and I presume most professionals, to frame with the camera in your face and shoot. Among other things, the LCD simply does not update quickly enough and gets screwy in any sort of weird lighting situation (like backlight). When you’re shooting action that happens at intervals of hundredths of a second, you can’t afford the split second or more it takes for the LCD to update because you whirled your camera around. You’ve missed the photo. ---
**Author:** ![Gfactor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2010, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-i-pit-dslrs-and-other-annoyances-of-digital-cameras/538733/51 "2010-05-11T21:39:27Z")
Moved from The BBQ Pit to Cafe Society. **Gfactor** Pit Moderator ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-i-pit-dslrs-and-other-annoyances-of-digital-cameras/538733/52 "2010-05-12T12:34:05Z")
[QUOTE=jackdavinci] Also, that little viewfinder window is a frikkin bitch to get clean. [/QUOTE] I have the opposite experience. The LCD on my DSLR gets much grubbier with fingerprints and noseprints than the optical viewfinder. Was a digital point and shoot pocket camera your first experience with photography? I’m curious as I started shooting various film cameras with optical viewfinders when I was 10 or so, so using a viewfinder was so ingrained that by the time I bought my first pocket digicam, I reflexively held it up to my eye. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-i-pit-dslrs-and-other-annoyances-of-digital-cameras/538733.md?page=2)