viewfinder vs LCD screen underwater use

The camera I'm now considering buying is the Fuji F30, which has no viewfinder, just
the LCD screen. Any comments whether the viewfinder or LCD screen are better for
underwater use in a housing?

Adam

"Adam Helberg" <sendspamhere@yahee.com> wrote in message
news:leQDg.3510$Sn3.1613@newsread3.news.pas.earthl ink.net...
> The camera I'm now considering buying is the Fuji F30, which has no
> viewfinder, just the LCD screen. Any comments whether the viewfinder or
> LCD screen are better for underwater use in a housing?
>

The viewfinder is quite useless underwater - set your camera defaults to use
the LCD screen only when diving. For me an important feature of my next
camera for underwater use is that it should have a large LCD viewscreen.

Ken

Adam Helberg wrote:
> The camera I'm now considering buying is the Fuji F30, which has no viewfinder, just
> the LCD screen. Any comments whether the viewfinder or LCD screen are better for
> underwater use in a housing?
>
> Adam
>

The viewfinder is probably quite difficult to use underwater wearing a
mask.

The LCD screen eats up battery life but gives you a better idea of what
picture you are going to get (unless you are using flash). Also,
depending on camera model, the LCD screen may show what your picture
looks like for a brief period of time and allow you to delete it for a
few seconds.

In article <lJXDg.45191$LF4.5746@dukeread05>, nitespark
<nitespark@cox.net> writes
>
>
>Adam Helberg wrote:
>> The camera I'm now considering buying is the Fuji F30, which has no
>>viewfinder, just the LCD screen. Any comments whether the viewfinder
>>or LCD screen are better for underwater use in a housing?
>> Adam
>
>The viewfinder is probably quite difficult to use underwater wearing a
>mask.
>
>The LCD screen eats up battery life but gives you a better idea of what
>picture you are going to get (unless you are using flash). Also,
>depending on camera model, the LCD screen may show what your picture
>looks like for a brief period of time and allow you to delete it for a
>few seconds.


Anyone got a good lead on a separate LCD screen that could be used as an
alternative. The screen on my camcorder is so far forward I cant see it
clearly from the rear port. A separate screen "Bluetac"ed to the back
port (on the dry side) would work great.
--
Mick Whittingham
'and I will make it a felony to drink small beer.'
William Shakespeare, Henry VI part 2.

Mick Whittingham wrote:
> In article <lJXDg.45191$LF4.5746@dukeread05>, nitespark
> <nitespark@cox.net> writes
>>
>>
>> Adam Helberg wrote:
>>> The camera I'm now considering buying is the Fuji F30, which has no
>>> viewfinder, just the LCD screen. Any comments whether the viewfinder
>>> or LCD screen are better for underwater use in a housing?
>>> Adam
>>
>> The viewfinder is probably quite difficult to use underwater wearing a
>> mask.
>>
>> The LCD screen eats up battery life but gives you a better idea of
>> what picture you are going to get (unless you are using flash). Also,
>> depending on camera model, the LCD screen may show what your picture
>> looks like for a brief period of time and allow you to delete it for a
>> few seconds.
>
>
> Anyone got a good lead on a separate LCD screen that could be used as an
> alternative. The screen on my camcorder is so far forward I cant see it
> clearly from the rear port. A separate screen "Bluetac"ed to the back
> port (on the dry side) would work great.

It depends on the amount of space you have to work with. If you have a
couple of inches behind your camera you will probably be able to fit a
small 2"-3.5" portable LCD TV in the back. You have to make sure that
it can take an AV input. Have a look on eBay under televisions and
narrow the search to 1" to 5". There seem to be a few out there that
fit the criteria.

jon

"nitespark" <nitespark@cox.net> wrote in message
news:lJXDg.45191$LF4.5746@dukeread05...

> The viewfinder is probably quite difficult to use underwater wearing a
> mask.

> The LCD screen eats up battery life but gives you a better idea of what
> picture you are going to get (unless you are using flash). Also,
> depending on camera model, the LCD screen may show what your picture looks
> like for a brief period of time and allow you to delete it for a few
> seconds.

One problem I've had using the LCD screen is that it's impossible to see in
bright light. It's great on dark cloudy days or at depth, but on a sunny
day in the shallows the viewfinder is the only option for me.

On Mon, 14 Aug 2006 09:59:14 -0700, "Greg Mossman" <mossman@qnet.com> wrote:

>"Mick Whittingham" <Mick@whittinghamsite.fsnet.co.uk> wrote in message
>news:RBElBTCW8E4EFwoe@whittinghamsite.fsnet.co.uk ...
>
>> Anyone got a good lead on a separate LCD screen that could be used as an
>> alternative. The screen on my camcorder is so far forward I cant see it
>> clearly from the rear port. A separate screen "Bluetac"ed to the back port
>> (on the dry side) would work great.
>
>Many housings can be used with external monitors (on the wet side) that
>would work even better.
>

Or in the case of my Ikelite, there's a mirror you can attach to the outside
of the housing that let's you view the LCD screen of my Sony DCR-TRV280
camcorder. Of course, you have to flip the LCD to"inside-out" mode for that
to work. And, of course, it eats a lot more battery than just using the view
finder. I'd probably have to replace/recharge the camcorder battery after
each dive.



____________________________________________
Regards,

Arnold

Greg Mossman wrote:
> "nitespark" <nitespark@cox.net> wrote in message
> news:lJXDg.45191$LF4.5746@dukeread05...
>
>
>>The viewfinder is probably quite difficult to use underwater wearing a
>>mask.
>
>
>>The LCD screen eats up battery life but gives you a better idea of what
>>picture you are going to get (unless you are using flash). Also,
>>depending on camera model, the LCD screen may show what your picture looks
>>like for a brief period of time and allow you to delete it for a few
>>seconds.
>
>
> One problem I've had using the LCD screen is that it's impossible to see in
> bright light. It's great on dark cloudy days or at depth, but on a sunny
> day in the shallows the viewfinder is the only option for me.
>
>
I have experienced the same thing. I have the little sunshade
attachment for mine. I rarely use it (mostly because I forget it). I
try to take several pictures of the same subject with different angles,
lighting, etc (assuming its not a fast moving subject) and hopefully one
will come out OK. Since I am using the lens attachments, on my camera
for macro, sometimes its difficult to judge distance from the subject
matter, particularly in macro. However, I have had some come out fairly
good.

--
I have never met a liberal street cop.

"mag3" <zmpmag3-plongee@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1jm1e2pc6274buccrmqeasklslkg5u9nu7@4ax.com...

> Or in the case of my Ikelite, there's a mirror you can attach to the
> outside
> of the housing that let's you view the LCD screen of my Sony DCR-TRV280
> camcorder. Of course, you have to flip the LCD to"inside-out" mode for
> that
> to work. And, of course, it eats a lot more battery than just using the
> view
> finder. I'd probably have to replace/recharge the camcorder battery after
> each dive.

I got the same mirror on my Amphibico housing for the TRV900. A bit flimsy,
but it works well. Some sort of external method of eyeballing the shot is
necessary for video since the diver is often on the move and needs
peripheral vision. If I kept my mask glued to a little viewfinder, I'd bump
into things.

On Mon, 14 Aug 2006 05:52:23 -0400, nitespark <nitespark@cox.net>
wrote:


>
>The LCD screen eats up battery life but gives you a better idea of what
>picture you are going to get (unless you are using flash). Also,
>depending on camera model, the LCD screen may show what your picture
>looks like for a brief period of time and allow you to delete it for a
>few seconds.

Andy,

What camera/housing are you using?


Rick Simms
*****************************************

When they were developing Caller ID why couldn't they have
done something about Caller IQ while they were at it?