Are You a Photographer?
I have a question for photographers. I’m getting ready to make the move up to a DSLR and I’ve pretty much decided on the Nikon D7100 but one little thing is holding me up and that’s the viewfinder. I’d really like one of those hinged, flip-type viewfinders and the D7100 doesn’t have that. The D5200 does have that type of viewfinder but it lacks a lot of the other features I like about the D7100.
So, any thoughts on if that flip-type viewfinder is really worth having to the point of being a deal-breaker? Are they reliable and sturdy enough where they won’t fall off in a couple of months or is it just an unnecessary gimmick? Any thoughts, opinions or comments anyone reading this has the flip-type viewfinder – or anything in general about a DSLR camera – is greatly appreciated!
Michael B. Fishman
Michaelsfishbowl 
When I bought my DSLR (Fujifilm S1800), purposely looked for cameras without the hinged view finder. My reasoning went like this: The only time I am going to use that feature is when I have to hold the camera over my head or at some bizarre angle (like shooting over or around a crowd). If that is the case then my quality of sight between me and the view finder is not going to be good and neither is the steadiness of my camera positioning. My hands will be extended, providing a weak platform for the shot. In essence the rotating viewfinder is for `chance occurrence” shots. Good photography is not about getting lucky, it’s about knowing what that final image will be or at least a very close estimate. You have better faster control with the camera in a close comfortable holding position. If you do the dangle the camera over your head thing, you will constantly be pulling the camera in to check the image and then putting it back. You’ll lose a lot of points of interest in composition this way. When you set up a shot in your viewfinder, you check out the entire frame. Check your 1/3 positions both horizontal and vertical, check the edge of your frame for interfering objects and then check the whole image to see if has great composition or if you have your subject lying on an odd object.
There are devices that let you put a camera on a raised pole and shunt the image down to your eye, but those cameras and those devices are expensive and used more for specific occupation than anyone interested in general photography. I have seen some interesting weekend projects that let you put a camera with a remote switch in a balloon, rocket or model plane.
Anyway I don’t think anyone needs a tilt-able view finder, with a little thought and strategy you can get a well thought out and shot photo without one.
IMHO
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