I am becoming increasingly frustrated at trying to shoot outdoors using the lcd screen. I am actually considering buying a lightweight black drape to over my head and camera casing (excluding, obviously, the lens) so I can see.
Anyone else have any suggestions.
(Sorry, I didn't search the archives to see what discussions have taken place here about this before (if any). If you know of a related thread, let me know.)
What I do is look for the whitest object in whatever I'm shooting, usually it shows up on the screen (even if sometimes very faintly) and put it about where I would want my shot to be. Not really effective for getting the perfectly aimed shot, but sometimes it works.
Some cameras (not sure about yours) have optional LCD 'hoods' that cut down on glare... Being poor, I use a wide brimmed hat and try to keep the LCD in it's shade... I've also found a way to hold the camera (looks incredibly silly and isn't comfortable) where my left hand holds the camera steady and shields the lcd...
Some cameras also have adjustable brightness for the LCD screen. It doesn't fix the problem in full sunlight, but it helps some.
Lately I've been shooting through the viewfinder instead of fighting the really bright light. I know I'll be getting some stuff around the edges that I would see in the screen, but I don't see in the viewfinder, but I can crop out what I don't want.
I alwso feel your pain. My childhood shots were taken in full sunlight, and the lcd was all but useless to me. I gave up and used the viewfinder. I didn't bother trying to access the files to see my results until I was indoors. Too bad too, I'd have been able to reframe a few unfortunate shots that included background distractions I could have lost.
I forgot to mention that one reason I "want" to use the LCD screen is because the view finder doesn't show the effect of lens on the camera. I was trying to use the polarizer lens and was unable to determine which rotation of the lens worked best for the shot I was trying.
The only solution here is to get a DSLR. Since I am not expecting to come into any substantial windfalls, a DSLR is not in my foreseeable future. But some of your suggestions (hat, lens cover) were very helpful.
(Hey, maybe I could refi the house and tack on a DSLR!!)
group hug.
* This message has been edited by the author on 8/30/2002 1:15:44 AM.
...or you can make your own LCD shade. Get a "daylight slide viewer". These are small black boxes shaped like a square based pyramid with a cheap plastic magnifying lens at the small end and a milky plastic screen at the other. There's a slot behind the screen to take a 35mm slide (remember those?) - you put the slide in hold it up to the light and look through the lens. In the UK they cost 3 - 4 pounds from Jessops (so probably cost. Get one and pull off the milky plastic screen. You're left with a fairly light tight box with a magnifier at one end and a hole roughly the right size for an LCD at the other. If you want, you can fix it to the back of the camera - it's very light so a small amount of velcro does nicely.
