These are the pictures taken using a camera with 2.5 inch preview LCD.

While I was trying the features of my sister’s new digital camera, I notice that larger LCD helps a lot in picture composition.  Her new Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS3 has a 2.5 inch preview LCD, whereas my current camera only has a 1.5 inch LCD display (Olympus C740 Ultra zoom).  Larger preview LCD allows me to compose better especially while doing pre-shooting cropping.

Live View

As what I know about a DSLR, it usually does not have the preview LCD, the composition must be done through the view finder optically.  New DSLR has a feature call “Live View” that allow photographer to compose the picture without having to have their face touching the camera.

One of my friends said that it is actually not a good habit to take photo at arm’s length.  It reduces the stability while holding the camera and produce blur photos.  He said that he rather prefer to use the view finder.  He has a good Nikon DSLR without the preview LCD.  He said that the disadvantages of preview LCD on DSLR are more than its advantages because it gives chance to the photographer to develop a bad habit of holding the DSLR.

However Live View LCD allows you to take photo at difficult angles, some of which is impossible to be done with view finder.  I believe Live View feature will be a common feature in all DSLRs in the future.  If I have a DSLR in the future, I will remind myself not to forget the view finder.

Electronic View Finder (EVF)

I’m not sure if there is any DSLR has an Electronic View Finder (EVF), which is not what I want, because the manufacturer is cheating.  If I look through the view finder, sure I want to compose the picture optically with no quality reduction due to the EVF resolution.

Large Preview LCD without the ViewFinder. 

Nowadays, all of the Semi-Pro (Prosumer) and the compact camera are using EVF for the view finder.  These cameras are usually not as heavy as DSLR, they won’t cause too much shaking if it is held at arm’s length.  My sister new camera not even has a view finder.  Everything is on the Preview LCD.

I believe most people will only use the view finder when the camera is low-bat.  Just a reminder, do not forget the view finder, if your camera has one.  You may discover different experience in photography by using view finder besides it saves the battery power.