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LCD screens and composition Anonymous
Hey /p/, I got a new digital camera the other day and I'm pretty happy with it. Only one real drawback, though - I find it hard to frame and compose my pictures using the LCD screen. I like the eyepiece on my film SLR because I see nothing but what the lens sees. Nothing gets in the way of setting up a shot except my own limitations.

The LCD has to be held away from the face, so there's a lot of distracting visual stuff in the periphery. The viewfinder is small, only 85% of the total image, and doesn't show zoom or focus at all.

Long story short - is it possible to get good results with a viewfinder like that, or do I just suck it up and try to learn to use the LCD? How do you digital-using folks manage it?

Picture not really related.
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Camera-Specific Properties:Equipment MakeCanonCamera ModelCanon PowerShot A570 ISMaximum Lens Aperturef/2.6Sensing MethodOne-Chip Color AreaLens Size5.80 - 23.20 mmFirmware VersionFirmware Version 1.01Image-Specific Properties:Image OrientationTop, Left-HandHorizontal Resolution72 dpiVertical Resolution72 dpiImage Created2008:02:10 16:04:27Exposure Time1/250 secF-Numberf/4.0Lens Aperturef/4.0Exposure Bias0 EVFlashNo Flash, AutoFocal Length5.80 mmColor Space InformationsRGBImage Width749Image Height1000RenderingNormalExposure ModeAutoScene Capture TypeStandardFocus TypeAutoMetering ModeEvaluativeISO Speed RatingAutoSharpnessNormalSaturationNormalContrastNormalShooting ModeFull AutoImage SizeLargeFocus ModeSingleDrive ModeSingleFlash ModeRed-Eye Reduction (Auto)Compression SettingSuperfineMacro ModeNormalSubject Distance1.780 mWhite BalanceAutoExposure Compensation3Sensor ISO Speed160Image Number100-0010
>> Lynx !!KY+lVSl0s2m
Isn't there a way to turn off all the display shit when using the LCD?
>> Anonymous
>>124677

I'm not bothered about the display shit, as most of it does auto-off. I'm talking about seeing all the world around the camera, which is what happens when you hold it a foot away from your face. Or should I be holding it closer than that?
>> Anonymous
>>124684
Well, there's two approaches you can take to this:

1) Start treating it like a rangefinder with absolutely accurate framelines. Make the stuff outside just as much a part of your compositional process as the stuff on the screen.

2) If it has a shoe, buy an auxillary viewfinder that approximates your most zoomed-out focal length, or if it's a stepped zoom, find a step you like that fits an auxillary viewfinder.

Or if it doesn't have a shoe, just haul out some duct tape.
>> Anonymous
Canon PowerShot A570 IS? Just stick your eye to the eyebiece