{"id":61575,"date":"2017-08-04T02:49:38","date_gmt":"2017-08-04T09:49:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/?p=61575"},"modified":"2017-08-04T03:09:32","modified_gmt":"2017-08-04T10:09:32","slug":"death-of-the-viewfinder","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2017\/08\/04\/death-of-the-viewfinder\/","title":{"rendered":"Death of the Viewfinder"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"cindy<\/a><\/p>\n

Technology has killed the viewfinder.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

It’s funny — I’ve been making photos since I was 18 years old, and I remember when we still had point and shoot digital cameras.<\/p>\n

My first digital camera– a Canon Point-and-shoot digital SD 600 (I remember it fondly), was my mom’s graduation present for me from high school.<\/p>\n

It still had an optical viewfinder.<\/p>\n

\n

I remember going on field trips, with disposable film cameras. This was mostly elementary\/middle school for me. The camera usually had 24 exposures, which meant that I couldn’t waste a single shot.<\/p>\n

I think back then, we valued photos more. I remember going to Walgreens, and being excited to see my images– and would usually get 2x 4×6” prints, one to keep, one to give to a friend or family.<\/p>\n

\n

Now, with the phone, the viewfinder and traditional photography is dead.<\/p>\n

Even now, when I blog about photography techniques, to even mention ‘VIEWFINDER’ seems antiquated.<\/p>\n

If you shoot photos on an iPhone — is the screen the viewfinder? Or is the viewfinder the screen?<\/p>\n

\n

My theory — in the future, we are going to see smartphones which are ALL SCREEN.<\/p>\n

For example, there is already a phone out there that has a small OLED screen on the front of the camera. Eventually, that screen will fill up BOTH sides of the phone.<\/p>\n

The whole phone will be a double-sided screen.<\/p>\n

\n

Which makes me wonder, how has the death of the viewfinder changed photography?<\/p>\n

1. More creativity with angles\/perspectives<\/h2>\n
\"Super-low<\/a>
Super-low angle, because I can use the LCD screen on RICOH GR II<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In one sense, NOT having a viewfinder has helped unlock some of my creative potential.<\/p>\n

\"5<\/a>
Low-angle photo from RICOH GR II \/ LCD SCREEN<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I can shoot photos easily from the ground, without having to crouch down super-low, or without lying on the ground.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Super-low angle, shot very close in macro mode in P mode, ISO 800, flash, with RICOH GR II. Melbourne, 2016<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I can also shoot from super high-angles. I can hold up my Ricoh GR II digital camera<\/a> super-high, and shoot looking down. This gives me a new perspective, that would be difficult to do with a camera without an LCD screen\/viewfinder.<\/p>\n

2. Ability to shoot closer to my subjects<\/h2>\n
\"Street<\/a>
Street portrait. NYC, 2015<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

When shooting ‘STREET PORTRAITS<\/a>‘ with my Ricoh GR II — I can hold the camera closer to their face, without having to get my face physically closer to my subjects.<\/p>\n

\"STREET<\/a>
STREET PORTRAIT. Newport Beach, 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This makes people feel more comfortable.<\/p>\n

\"eric<\/a>
SF, 2015. Shot on Ricoh GR II with P mode, macro mode. 28mm.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The problem with shooting with a viewfinder is that you have to physically put the camera to your face. And if you want to get close to your subject, you need to get your face very close to their face too.<\/p>\n

\"Street<\/a>
Street Portrait Diptych \/ NYC x CHICAGO<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

However, when I’m shooting with a ‘point and shoot’ camera without<\/em> a viewfinder, I can just extend my arm. This is my theory — why shooting with a 28mm<\/a> lens (on a phone or a point-and-shoot camera) is easier. With a camera with a viewfinder, I find that 35mm as a focal length is ideal.<\/p>\n

\"eric<\/a>
Ricoh GRII x Flash, 28mm, in macro mode.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

3. Benefits of viewfinder<\/h2>\n
\"eric<\/a>
Shooting in Downtown LA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

So there are EVF’s now (electronic viewfinders) and still there are optical viewfinders.<\/p>\n

\"MARILA<\/a>
MARILA MARDRILES. Downtown LA Street Portrait with Pentax 645z<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Obviously, there are lots of benefits to viewfinders.<\/p>\n

For optical viewfinders, there is NO LAG between reality and your shooting process.<\/p>\n

\"street<\/a>
ELEVATOR STREET PORTRAIT with Pentax 645z (optical viewfinder)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

With EVF (electronic viewfinder), there is still a (somewhat) noticeable lag.<\/p>\n

In theory in terms of physics– the optical viewfinder will always have 0 lag, whereas the EVF will always have (some) lag.<\/p>\n

4. Benefits of an EVF<\/h2>\n
\"Selfie<\/a>
Selfie with Olympus Pen-F (has EVF\/LCD screen)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The benefit of shooting with an EVF — what you see is what you get.<\/p>\n

For example, if you shoot in monochrome mode– you can see the world in monochrome (through your electronic viewfinder).<\/p>\n

However, if you shoot with an optical viewfinder, you see the world in boring color.<\/p>\n

Also if you set your JPEG<\/a> preview to high-contrast color — you can see the world in (more interesting) high-saturation. Perhaps equivalent to having an LSD trip, and shooting.<\/p>\n

\"Purple<\/a>
Purple street portrait. Sydney, 2016<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

5. Shooting on a phone<\/h2>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Shot on a phone.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Shooting on a phone — people aren’t really that intimidated. Which makes photography more accessible, and allows you more flexibility of shooting.<\/p>\n

6. Size<\/h2>\n
\"ERIC<\/a>
ERIC KIM x FUJIFILM GFX<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The benefit of not<\/em> having a viewfinder– you can make your camera physically smaller.<\/p>\n

\"ERIC<\/a>
ERIC KIM x FUJIFILM GFX<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For example, shooting on the medium-format digital Fujifilm GFX<\/a> was cool — because I shot without<\/em> the electronic viewfinder. I just took it off. Which made the camera smaller, lighter, and more compact. Which was better for me — because I could walk and shoot with less fatigue, for longer periods of time.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Bangkok<\/a>
Bangkok x FUJIFILM GFX<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Bangkok<\/a>
Bangkok x FUJIFILM GFX<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"ERIC<\/a>
Bangkok x FUJIFILM GFX<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Practical tip — if your camera has the ability to remove the viewfinder– shoot without<\/em> it.<\/p>\n

7. Innovation is subtraction<\/h2>\n
\"Toys<\/a>
Toys R US. Shot on phone.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I was interested to hear that Tesla’s plan is to subtract the steering wheel.<\/p>\n

I think true innovation is what to subtract<\/em> or remove<\/em> — not what to add.<\/p>\n

\"Shot<\/a>
Shot on a phone.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The innovation of the iPhone — subtraction of superfluous buttons (only one central HOME button) — compared to the complicated 3 buttons on Android.<\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a>
Photo of Cindy — with her parents in the background. Processed with VSCOcam with a6 preset. Shot on a phone.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In essence, the ideal camera is the most minimal one. This is why in some ways, I believe the iPhone to be the ‘holy grail’ of photography<\/a>.<\/p>\n

8. Now what?<\/h2>\n
\"Contax<\/a>
Contax T3 x FILM<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

OK, obviously there will always still be cameras with viewfinders. There is this nostalgia for the ‘old school.’ And there are still benefits of having an optical viewfinder, and electronic viewfinders will keep innovating, and getting better.<\/p>\n

Practical tips:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. If you hate GAS (gear acquisition syndrome)<\/a> and the madness of all this technological improvements in photography, and upgrading your camera ever 6 months – 2 years, just stick with film. BUY FILM NOTES<\/a> and re-discoover the joy of old-school analogue (slow) photography.<\/li>\n
  2. When in doubt with buying a new camera– optimize for size, portability, and weight. Which means, always get the smallest, lightest, most compact camera possible<\/strong>. This is why I love RICOH GR II<\/a> — it is currently the smallest compact camera (fits in your front pocket) and has a DSLR-sized APS-C sensor. It has no anti-aliasing filter, which means the photos are sharper with better resolution. Get a RICOH GR II and ERIC KIM STRAP<\/a> and call it a day.<\/li>\n
  3. Just shoot with your phone<\/a> — it might (already) be the ultimate camera. Know that you can still make good photos with a shittier older smartphone<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    What are your thoughts on technology, photography, and the future of photography? Share your thoughts in ERIC KIM FORUM<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    BE STRONG,
    \nERIC<\/p>\n

    EQUIPMENT ><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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