Top LCD panel: What is it good for?

[StudentOfLight]

Just want to open up a general discussion on the perks and frustrations of top-LCD panels.

for example:
When do you find them useful?
Would you prefer it tilted more in order to improve visibility from the back of the camera?
Assuming you could customize it, what info would you want to display up there?
etc...

 

[Valvebounce]

Hi S.O.L.
I like the top display for tripod use, and also for changing settings when I don't want to distract others, or attract their attention.
Happy with the info displayed on my cameras, possibly wouldn't have thought to have some of it there, but now it is there I don't know what I would remove!
Also, not being a pro, I don't always pick up a camera every day so I don't always remember which buttons do what, then once I'm not looking through the viewfinder it is useful then too. I do try to memorise the buttons and use them whilst looking through the viewfinder but often in the heat of the moment I revert to the top display.

Cheers, Graham.

 

[Deleted member 91053]

Just want to open up a general discussion on the perks and frustrations of top-LCD panels.

for example:
When do you find them useful?
Would you prefer it tilted more in order to improve visibility from the back of the camera?
Assuming you could customize it, what info would you want to display up there?
etc...

Interesting thought about the top screen being tilted towards the photographer. I use my top screen quite often and the rear screen far less often. The problem is that I normally use large to very large lenses and end up waving a SuperTele skywards to see the top screen - and scaring the wildlife in the process! I have little use for an articulating rear screen but an angled/articulating top screen might be very handy so long as it was robust enough and properly weather-sealed.

 

[Tinky]

I find the top screen useful for things like timelpase or long exposure, so I can monitor what the camera is doing but without using the rear LCD.

A trivial point but I prefer the blue light of my EOS 3 than the orange or green light of DSLRs.

I think they are in some ways redundant, the always on rear LCD, as is the way with live view cameras (I know you can disable it) means there is far more info there than on the top LCD, and as both require you remove your eye from the viewfinder I have reached another conclusion...

EVFs can be as good for general use. The resolution is there, things like focus peaking are better than trying to focus manually using plain matte focus screens as come as standard, low light, perhaps not as convincing as signal noise on the preview image can be distracting, as can the multitude of overlays etc..

The idea of having no mirror blackout is potentially great for ai servo tracking etc... maybe a pellicle with switchable EVF overlay? Or something like the design used in the old panasonic L1 / Olympus E330.. similtaneous optical and electronic paths...

Or just ditch the mirror altogether?....

Different debate sorry.

Top LCDs were far more useful to me in the film days. The only time I use them now is when I'm helping my wife learn her camera.

 

[Bennymiata]

I find the top LCD very usefull so I can quickly check the camera settings withough having to activate the rear screen, which takes time.
A tilting screen would be great along with buttons you can light up if you want to.

 

[tcmatthews]

I use it to quickly check all my settings when I first take my camera out of the bag. I check the mode dial then the LCD to check the basics focus pont, shutter mode, ISO, etc. Yes you do the same thing by hitting the Q button but I find it faster to use the LCD most of the time.

There is nothing worst then taking the camera out of the bag to quickly take a picture of something and finding you left it on a 10s delay taking sunset pictures the night before.

 

[StudentOfLight]

I find the top screen useful for things like timelpase or long exposure, so I can monitor what the camera is doing but without using the rear LCD.

A trivial point but I prefer the blue light of my EOS 3 than the orange or green light of DSLRs.

I think they are in some ways redundant, the always on rear LCD, as is the way with live view cameras (I know you can disable it) means there is far more info there than on the top LCD, and as both require you remove your eye from the viewfinder I have reached another conclusion...

EVFs can be as good for general use. The resolution is there, things like focus peaking are better than trying to focus manually using plain matte focus screens as come as standard, low light, perhaps not as convincing as signal noise on the preview image can be distracting, as can the multitude of overlays etc..

The idea of having no mirror blackout is potentially great for ai servo tracking etc... maybe a pellicle with switchable EVF overlay? Or something like the design used in the old panasonic L1 / Olympus E330.. similtaneous optical and electronic paths...

Or just ditch the mirror altogether?....

Different debate sorry.

Top LCDs were far more useful to me in the film days. The only time I use them now is when I'm helping my wife learn her camera.

I also find it most useful for timelapse, when you want to keep any interaction with the camera to a minimum. That is usually the only time I also use the illuminate button for the top-LCD.

P.S. The 1Ds-III also has the blue light. Agree the blue light is sexier than green/yellow/orange.

 

[StudentOfLight]

I use it to quickly check all my settings when I first take my camera out of the bag. I check the mode dial then the LCD to check the basics focus pont, shutter mode, ISO, etc. Yes you do the same thing by hitting the Q button but I find it faster to use the LCD most of the time.

There is nothing worst then taking the camera out of the bag to quickly take a picture of something and finding you left it on a 10s delay taking sunset pictures the night before.

I can't tell you how many times that's happen to me, LOL. :-[

 

[StudentOfLight]

When you're shooting in the dark, the glow from an illuminated top panel is far less intrusive than lighting up the entire back screen.

Definitely, when my eyes have acclimatized to very dark shooting conditions then the rear-LCD can be painfully bright, even on the minimum brightness setting.