"Shootin' at arm's length..."

<p>Most experienced photographers talk crap here (and elsewhere) about it. Steve, the actual shooter in the <a href="http://www.stevehuffphoto.com/2012/04/02/trying-out-the-sony-nex-7-in-vegas-with-the-leica-35-summilux-asph-and-zeiss-24-1-8/">pic</a> too talks about the importance of eye level VF and talks down on "shootin' at arms length..." via LCD but I suspect photographers do it more than they think or like to admit. It's not just a beginner or tourist sightseeing thing:)</p>

<p>btw Steve does a great photo site of leica, mirrorless cameras, with lots of images, if you didn't know...</p>

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<p>If I say too much I'll quickly sart talking crap too! For me it is quite uncomfortable so I eschew that technique. Mostly, though, I'm shooting film so never have the opportunity to shoot at arms length anyway.</p>

<p>Like many techniques, it's useful sometimes and less than ideal others. I frequently will use it, or not use it, as I see fit.</p>

<p>If you have a live LCD preview, I don't see why you have to have your eye plugged into a viewfinder.</p>

<p>Maybe I'm missing the point of this topic.</p>

<p>Just an added note but my DSLR doesn't give a very accurate crop viewing through my viewfinder and wished I had a live LCD preview as long as it gave me an accurate representation of the intended composition.</p>

<p>Shooting at arm's length via LCD can be a real pain especially for those wearing corrective lenses.</p>

<p>My personal preference is for an articulated LCD on a solid (hefty) body, or in my case, an articulated body with fixed display - Sony DSC-F828 - my favorite camera among P/S for many reasons.</p>

<p>I shoot at waist level and find that looking downward while composing gives me more of an objective view of a scene allowing me to see a final rendering more clearly. </p>

<p>My hands are not nearly as steady holding a camera out in front of me. For that reason I hardly ever use that method, and prefer cameras with a built in viewfinder. I do use the rear screen when the camera is on a tripod, or if it's more convenient to get the camera into the right spot that way.</p>

<p>Although I definitely prefer an eye-level viewfinder, I don't have one on my NEX-5N. I don't like holding the camera out at arms length, so I do what Michael does, and hold it about waist level. That's one thing I like about the 5N's tilting LCD, as it makes it easy to do that.</p>

<p>Why not, I read that way! Seriously, if you can stretch out far enough to get the strap tight, it's a fairly secure way to hold a camera and allows for a varied perspective from high to low, side to side.</p>

<p>Tilt the NEX-5 LCD and press the camera against your chest or belly. This way the camera will be more steady.</p>

 

<p>I don't have an LCD myself but if I did it would be difficult as arm's length is kind of a bad spot visually for my eye sight. . </p>

<p>My pocket camera has a viewfinder besides the LCD display.</p>

<p>I was lucky to buy it before the camers companies dumped the viewfinders.</p>

<p>All my Dslr and film cameras have eye level views.</p>

<p>I have waist level finders for my Exaktas and right angle assessories for the Dslrs.</p>

<p>The arms length cameras do not work in bright sunlight.</p>

<p>I just find the linked photo ironic and funny since Steve Huff reiterate the importance of VF often yet he used the LCD while he had an EVF handy in the Nex7, it wasn't a long lens, wasn't fast action sport and not bright sun lit. Furthermore, it (the linked photo) was in low light obviously, so arm's length unsteadiness didn't bother/affect the shot. That photo says a whole lot (about shootin' at arm's length) coming from a gear nut like Huff himself...</p>

<p>I never do it with a DSLR or bridge camera. My P&S's (Nikon P6000 and Canon A1200) have viewfinders. I always use the viewfinder outdoors, but indoors with flash I do sometimes compose on the LCD screen because it is more accurate than the viewfinder and I'm not usually shooting with long focal lengths that might cause more blur. If the viewfinder was more accurate, I would never compose on the LCD screen.</p>

<p>I'm using the NEX 5n and I don't shoot it that way, especially with MF lenses. I'm more like a cinematographer and hold it close to my face (not <em>on</em> my face like a DSLR, thank you). Maybe it's my crummy eyesight. However, I'm finding Sanford's recommendation of pulling the strap taut does wonders for both shooting from the hip, with the screen angled up, and when using the amazing Sweep Pano mode. Adds good stability. </p>

<p>I have lots of cameras and don't have a problem with using LCDs, but I do not preach about it either way.</p>

<p>"I was lucky to buy it before the camers companies dumped the viewfinders."</p>

<p>Just an FYI, the Canon A1200 still has an optical VF and is inexpensive, even if it has no RAW, and is not supported by CHDK. </p>

<p>http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&sku=757779&Q=&is=REG&A=details</p>

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I just hold my phone about a foot and a half in front of my face. Not a problem...

<p>Brad, I think the G5 will have a viewfinder.</p>

I'm having a connector surgically installed in my neck so the image on my phone can directly stimulate

my brain. Problem solved...

<p>That photo says a whole lot (about shootin' at arm's length) coming from a gear nut like Huff himself</p>

<p>In a lot of other fields, we have seen (heard) people saying things that they don't believe, and rarely do themselves. A lot of times, people said "Don't do that, that is bad because ..., and then they do it". You know that and I really hate that kind of dishonesty.<br>

However, there is a reason (or two) that he did what he did in that photo:<br>

1. I believe that camera does not have a good viewfinder</p>

<p>2. The shooter wanted to get closer to the subject but there was a table in between. That seems to be a good thing to do (Notice that he also used only one hand to reach farther)</p>

<p>Sometimes, I have a need to shoot with only one hand AND with the camera at a very akward position that LCD and viewfinders are useless; and I did that if I need to</p>

<p>Steve Huff should use his cameras in ways that are comfortable to him, and get him the photos he envisions. I assume he chooses his gear accordingly.<br>

And so should I. And so should you. There is a lot of personal preference in this, so there is really no use in telling somebody a VF is the only correct way, because you like it better, or vice versa.</p>

<p>If you use a long lens shooting at arm's length is not going to work. The subject will be extremely small in your visual field and the stability will be poor. If you shoot a wide angle it can work great.</p>

<p>The LCD on my Sony NEX reminds me of shooting with my Rollieflex. I'd hold it above my head upside down to get high angle shots. I worry about camera shake holding the NEX at arm's length with one hand, but if that's not an issue I'll use whatever grip needed to get the angle of view I want. For those of us used to shooting with focus screens live view LCDs don't seem all that new-fangled.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>Keep yer elbows in and slowly exhale private!</p><div></div>

So who is Steve Huff and why should I care? Someone mentioned a link up above, but I don't see it...