DSLR Camera Reawakened Love for Optical Viewfinders, Disdain for Electronic Viewfinders in User
Mike Harris, the Deputy Editor of N-Photo: The Nikon Magazine, has a penchant for traditional photography methods. When it comes to viewfinders in cameras, he prefers the optical variety, finding them more appealing for their natural, zero-lag, true-to-life view and excellent clarity.
Harris acknowledges the advantages of electronic viewfinders (EVFs), particularly in making the exposure triangle easier for beginner photographers. However, he feels that using an EVF may sever the connection between photographer and subject. He prefers to look at the rear LCD screen of his camera for quick looks and to connect with the scene he's shooting.
The author spent a significant amount of time looking at screens, and photography, he finds, is a respite from the digital world. Harris studied photography at college and honed his Adobe Photoshop skills, learning to work in the studio and darkroom. His expertise spans various photography genres such as portraits, landscapes, abstracts, architecture, wildlife, and fast things going around race tracks.
The shift towards EVFs in mirrorless cameras is driven by technological and practical factors. Mirrorless cameras, which omit the mirror mechanism of DSLRs, enable compact bodies and rely on EVFs to provide a live digital preview from the image sensor. Improvements in EVF resolution, refresh rates, autofocus speed, and sensor technology have addressed early issues of lag and image quality, making EVFs more appealing.
Despite Harris' preference for optical viewfinders, he recognises the benefits of EVFs, especially in judging exposure and video work. The Nikon D800, despite having an EVF, is still considered a powerful DSLR by Harris. He is familiar with the Fujifilm X100VI, a camera with a hybrid viewfinder, but expresses a certain discomfort about encasing his eye in an EVF, finding it a lonely and disconnected experience.
Harris has written for various photography publications, including Digital Camera, PhotoPlus, Practical Photography, Digital Photographer, iMore, and TechRadar. He worked on Wex Photo Video's award-winning content team before transitioning back to print. He is also a tutor for techniques on cameras, lenses, tripods, filters, and more.
Interestingly, Harris has expressed interest in the Fujifilm X100VI, despite admitting he can't believe he actually bought this camera. The author finds the camera's hybrid viewfinder intriguing, and with the Nikon Z8 showing promise, Harris thinks it could remain in his kit bag for a decade or more.
References:
- The Verge
- DPReview
- Digital Camera World
- TechRadar
- PetaPixel
- Mike Harris, an expert in traditional photography methods, prefers the optical viewfinder in his camera for its natural and clear view, despite acknowledging the advantages of electronic viewfinders (EVFs) for beginners.
- Harris, the Deputy Editor of N-Photo: The Nikon Magazine, has honed his skills in various photography genres, including portraits, landscapes, wildlife, and architecture, and is familiar with gadgets and technology used in photography.
- Despite his preference, Harris recognizes the benefits of EVFs, particularly in judging exposure and video work, and finds the Nikon D800, despite having an EVF, to be a powerful DSLR.
- Improvements in EVF resolution, refresh rates, autofocus speed, and sensor technology have made EVFs more appealing, contributing to the shift towards EVFs in mirrorless cameras like the Fujifilm X100VI.
- Harris has written reviews for various photography publications, including Digital Camera, PhotoPlus, and TechRadar, and currently teaches techniques on cameras, lenses, tripods, filters, and more.
- Harris expresses a certain discomfort about encasing his eye in an EVF, finding it a lonely and disconnected experience, despite his interest in the Fujifilm X100VI's hybrid viewfinder.
- The author notes that Harris has shown interest in the Nikon Z8, a mirrorless camera with promising features, and believes it could remain in Harris' kit bag for a decade or more.
- Harris' work can be found in numerous photography publications, and his expertise spans not only the art of photography but also the technical aspects, including the use of photography gadgets and understanding of camera technology.
