No LCD digital camera. Will we see it soon?

[shadowfox]

Been thinking about this for a while.
I just got a new Samsung phone, which is an upgrade to my old iPhone 2.
The screen is 4.3 inches, nice resolution, and a nice dual processor to serve up the images *and* edit them.

So here's my question to you:

So how soon do you guys think we'll see a camera without LCD? Images are sent directly to your smartphone via Bluetooth.

Of course we are talking about a niche camera (mirrorless or DRF) whose users believe that chimping is not conducive to their productivity (sounds like some of us here). In other words I'm not talking about DSLR crowds (should be obvious since this is the Rangefinder forum).

The benefits that I can see:
- You don't chimp, instead you concentrate and become more aware of both your surroundings (more photo opportunity) and your camera settings (makes you more confident on your own judgements)

- You can review *and* edit your images in a more leisurely manner when you stop at the cafe or what have you (especially for you iPad / Tablet users)

- One step faster to upload your images (although Eye-Fi may already do this, I have no experience with it)

- other benefits... ?

Technical things aside, I do think that this will cause us to be able to pace ourselves better when we are out there shooting. It separates shooting time vs review time and more importantly it brings us closer to the experience of shooting with film.

Face it, most people who picked up photography, never done so without chimping. So this will be a new experience for them.

*** BIG NOTE: Yes I *know* you don't have to chimp, but who else doesn't besides those of you who will predictably bring up this point? ***

Agree? disagree?
Discuss...

 

[rxmd]

Probably never.

I can see putting some kind of phone connectivity for tethered or wireless shooting into a camera (I get tethered USB shooting with tap-to-focus and live view already now with my Canon DSLR and an Android tablet), but I don't see any manufacturer dropping the screen because of that.

There are really no benefits to a phone instead of a screen, except that it would appeal somewhat to the four people who are willing to pay extra money for a screenless camera. And out of those four three wouldn't buy it because it's the wrong mount, or the shutter speed dial goes the wrong way, or it has no advance lever.

 

[celluloidprop]

You don't chimp, instead you concentrate and become more aware of both your surroundings (more photo opportunity) and your camera settings (makes you more confident on your own judgements)

Or you wander around holding your camera and your phone together, chimping in a much more awkward way.

Never is the answer here.

 

[paulfish4570]

i'd like to do away with the screen on my x100; in fact, i use it almost totally for parameter changes; those could be made en viewfinder. i see each image i shoot very briefly in the viewfinder. i know right then whether i need to move the EV dial up or down to bracket. images on the lcd tell me so little they are useless. a wi-fi connection to my kindle fire would be way cool. that screen is big enough and good enough to tell me if i need to spend more time on some subject. i reckon the same could be said for any of the various 'pads. phone screen size/resolution - if big enough - would help, too.

 

[Stephen G]

nope.
manufacturers will always fall back on the lcd for some amount of menu system setting hell

 

[segedi]

While an interesting concept, I also don't ever see it happening, not on any camera that I would want to use. If it lacks an LCD, it will lack other things. But, I also said Leica would never release a B&W only camera...

 

[paulfish4570]

the lcd is one more thing to break. wishful thinking, on my part, for good quality digi-cams to lose the lcds ...

 

[sevo]

So how soon do you guys think we'll see a camera without LCD? Images are sent directly to your smartphone via Bluetooth.

Of course we are talking about a niche camera (mirrorless or DRF) whose users believe that chimping is not conducive to their productivity

I do agree that dumb lens/sensor-unit only cameras wirelessly tethered (hardly via slow bluetooth - there already are several emerging faster standards competing for its succession) to smartphones will appear. There is a strong trend towards centralizing activities on the smartphone and adding high value accessories (just see the current high-price headphone boom), and photography will not be exempt from that.

But these devices will not be marketed to the non-chimping crowd - on the contrary, they'll be intended/used for two-handed chimping, camera in one hand and smartphone/screen in the other...

 

[umcelinho]

never

10chars

 

[jarski]

looking how "normal people" 😛 use their cameras, raise it arm length and check LCD, press button with flash always on, and chimp. they dont want another gadget to view, even less to edit it.

gear heads/enthusiasts/pro's have tethered options already for their expensive gear.

so, am also in "never" camp.

 

[thirtyfivefifty]

I just turn my LCD off when I shoot....

 

[jsrockit]

I can honestly see this happening now that EVF cameras are becoming more of the norm. Anything displayed on the LCD can be seen in the EVF. Menus can be seen in the EVF.

 

[Archlich]

Being able to view the result instantly is one of the primary strength of digital photography.

It is possible, though, that a very specialized manufacturer produce a camera without a screen for a niche market only...at a price of like $7,995.

 

[rover]

The LCD on the E-M5 is very, very useful (I am finding). And I love the live histogram. And it goes off when I raise the little bugger to my eye to actually take a photo.

Sometimes dumb things do work.

 

[tbarker13]

Going to have to vote Never on this one.
Almost like asking when they are going to come out with a car that has no tires.
While a few people may despise those screens, the vast majority uses love them, or at least find them to be very useful tools.

 

[dave lackey]

Been thinking about this for a while.
I just got a new Samsung phone, which is an upgrade to my old iPhone 2.
The screen is 4.3 inches, nice resolution, and a nice dual processor to serve up the images *and* edit them.

So here's my question to you:

So how soon do you guys think we'll see a camera without LCD? Images are sent directly to your smartphone via Bluetooth.

Of course we are talking about a niche camera (mirrorless or DRF) whose users believe that chimping is not conducive to their productivity (sounds like some of us here). In other words I'm not talking about DSLR crowds (should be obvious since this is the Rangefinder forum).

The benefits that I can see:
- You don't chimp, instead you concentrate and become more aware of both your surroundings (more photo opportunity) and your camera settings (makes you more confident on your own judgements)

- You can review *and* edit your images in a more leisurely manner when you stop at the cafe or what have you (especially for you iPad / Tablet users)

- One step faster to upload your images (although Eye-Fi may already do this, I have no experience with it)

- other benefits... ?

Technical things aside, I do think that this will cause us to be able to pace ourselves better when we are out there shooting. It separates shooting time vs review time and more importantly it brings us closer to the experience of shooting with film.

Face it, most people who picked up photography, never done so without chimping. So this will be a new experience for them.

*** BIG NOTE: Yes I *know* you don't have to chimp, but who else doesn't besides those of you who will predictably bring up this point? ***

Agree? disagree?
Discuss...

I like the X1 because I can turn the LCD off. Only problem is the current technology where all the WB, ISO, focus options and "stuff" means you lose a certain amount of control. This tells me, as an engineer, that we are still archaic in digital design.

My M3 has a film cassette. a shutter, aperture control, shutter speed control and that's it. A digital M3 would have exactly the same thing with a digital "something" in lieu of the film cassette and possibly a meter because it is easier. But why screw around with all the menus and options? Like an infinitely variable automatic transmission, one should be able to just take a photo with simple controls.

But then, are we going away from or sticking with "still photography"? Will some type of video replace our beloved 35mm cameras, etc? I doubt that the market will change as the current generation(s) is already "trained" to expect an LCD and never think about better alternative technology.

Personally, I despise live view. I hate the EVF craze and prefer an optical finder. Actually, I love RF viewfinders and the way they operate. Simple, fast and effective. So, with my biases, anything simple will certainly be doomed as we get saddled with yet more electronics.🙄

One thing is for sure IMO. If my son sends his 2011 M9 to Leica in the year 2030 because the LCD is broken or dead, I doubt he will be able to have it fixed.😛 Something about parts or technology or landfills....

 

[Lauffray]

Leave it to Leica, they'll find a niche for it and market it accordingly 😛

 

[thegman]

Maybe there will be some niche camera to do away with it, but I think as we more more into software controlled settings more than hardware, a screen is required. I think the demand for a camera without an LCD vs. a camera with an LCD you can turn off if you want to is a bit limited.

 

[Lauffray]

But seriously, most recent digital cameras are more of a technical gizmo/electronic toy type of object, and there's nothing bad or wrong about that, I personally have lost that fascination with ever changing technology and digital upgrades and all that.
I just got tired of it, it doesn't interest me and I don't feel like constantly keeping up with it.
When I pick up my film M it's just so simple, it has the strict bare minimum to function and I just love that simplicity

 

[shadowfox]

Or you wander around holding your camera and your phone together, chimping in a much more awkward way.

Never is the answer here.

The idea is not to chimp.
I thought I was clear on this up there.

Your phone stays in your pocket or bag.
You shoot.

You take a break, pull up the phone, and review at your leisure.