I have gotten this question more and more recently - Robin, why do you shoot with the LCD screen of your camera instead of the viewfinder? It was directed to me at the POV street shooting video on YouTube, with the purpose of the video showing how I composed my images before I clicked the shutter button. For sure, you would know that it is impossible for me to record the viewfinder if my eye was pressed on it while I was framing my shots, right? I thought it would be fun to record the moments before each photography was taken, with the action camera showing wide view of my surrounding as well as the LCD screen itself. Needless to say, this has nothing to do with my preference to shoot with LCD or EVF, the only way for this format to work was to shoot with LCD screen!
It becomes increasingly alarming to see how people need others to agree with what they do, or the way they do things. If I use the viewfinder, others must use it too. If you don't use the viewfinder, if you shoot with LCD screen instead, you are branded unusual and something must be wrong with you. I must then question your unorthodox decisions of using LCD screen which will be life-threatening. I mean, does it really matter whether I used the LCD screen at the back of the camera or the electronic viewfinder to get my shots? A photograph is a photograph, good or bad, that has nothing to do with how I shot it.
For my paid jobs, depending on situations, I'd say the ratio of EVF to LCD screen use is about 50/50. For my street photography and macro work (which I mostly do on non paid sessions), the ratio changed to about 80% LCD screen, 20% EVF. Sometimes I use the EVF more, sometimes I use it less, and the thought of using which never came to mind when I was actively shooting. I simply used LCD screen more for my street and macro because I tend to shoot at really awkward angles, for example, as shown on the image on this blog, the cat was on the ground. Do you honestly expect me to lie down flat on the floor with my eye pressed on the EVF? Not only will that quickly scare the cat off, I will dirty my shirt and pants rolling on the dusty pavement. The sensible choice here, without even the need to think which to choose - LCD, with the tilt screen I can angle my shot comfortably without contorting my body in impossible yoga positions to get my shots.
I don't know why many photographers are so against the use of LCD screen. You tell them you use LCD screen and they give you that stare like you are the unwanted deformed kitten with 6 legs. I love the freedom to move the camera round, without it being stuck on my face. I am free to lower the camera to interesting perspectives, or raise it above my head - these can create more dramatic framing that the normal standing position of human eyes do not see. Yes, shooting through viewfinder will produce very boring shots. That is what they call the "Leica Syndrome", you have no choice but to force yourself to use the rangefinder type viewfinder and spend too much time getting your subject in focus, hence being restricted to a certain type of composition that can look overly repetitive and somewhat bland. Composing with LCD screen mitigates that and will drastically improve your framing, I promise you.
Look, I don't care if you prefer shooting with the viewfinder, or LCD screen, or shooting blind without looking at any visual aids. I don't think we should be that invested in what others are doing. Just focus on your own shooting. I use whatever tool that is available to me, I use both the electronic viewfinder and LCD screen interchangeably. In harsh sunny conditions in Malaysia, of course the electronic viewfinder helps a lot. On the other hand, I also have not come across a situation where the LCD screen is impossible so see under the open sky, yes visibly is impacted but I can still comfortably compose my shots. Yes, at the end of the day it is your own preference, and that is OK.
I love doing the POV shooting videos. There is a thrill in recording the before clicking the shutter button moment and being able to share that is quite exciting especially I do have a lot to talk about and share when it comes to my shooting. I hope you see that the only way to truly show you how I get my shots, is through the LCD screen. Sometimes, there is nothing more than just using the screen as it is, there is no deeper meaning, no philosophical debate, no justification of why I don't use EVF, just plain necessity to show you how I grab my shots on the street.
We have not even wandered into the topic of cameras with no viewfinders. That is another can of worms which we shall open for another day.
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