Why are photographers ditching the viewfinder? Here’s what they say

OVF, EVF, or live view? Markus Hofstätter noticed that more and more photographers seem to prefer live view over looking through their viewfinder. So, he asked the community what they preferred and why – and got all sorts of reasonable, explanatory, and plain fun answers. He sums them up in a video, so if you’ve been wondering why the hell people don’t use the viewfinder anymore, you might find the answers here.

In his Reddit post, Markus advocates for using the viewfinder, especially when shooting with telephoto lenses. More points of contact, which you get this way, provide greater stability and allow for lower shutter speeds. While acknowledging the convenience of using the screen, he notes that the viewfinder offers a more secure grip and a clearer view of the scene, particularly in low-light conditions.

The answers to the post are truly versatile, and I just love the humor in some of them. One Redditor believes that using the live view has to do with more people shooting with a phone – so they’re just more used to using the screen now. I loved the reply here:

“Never thought about a whole generation learning to take photos with the phone therefore they are using the back of the screen.

Dang that makes me feel old.”

I feel you, buddy.

“I can’t help but be a little judgmental when I see people use the back screen of their [mirrorless] to take photos,” another Redditor wrote. “Then they go and take better photos than me.” I chuckled a little.

Pros and cons of shooting through a viewfinder

Markus collected the thoughts and comments of other photographers and compiled them into a “pros and cons” list he shared on his blog. Here’s a short overview, but make sure to read more in his blog post.

Viewfinder pros          

• Stability
• Immersive Focus
• Old Habits/Comfort
• Outdoor Visibility in bright light
• Prevents Smudges
• Privacy

Viewfinder cons         

• Lack of flexibility you get with live view
• Influence of smartphones
• Not glasses-friendly
• Ergonomics
• Better Composition Options
• Modern Autofocus Features
• Awareness of Surroundings
• Digital Transition

Personally, I almost always rely on the viewfinder. When I think about it, it’s for two main reasons in my case – stability and “feeling like I’m doing “photography,” as one of the Redditors would say. “I feel this way because everything else is blacked out except me and the image I’m looking to make,” and this perfectly explains my feeling of looking through the viewfinder, too.

However, I rely on live view every once in a while, usually when I want to take photos at really low angles, and I don’t want to (or can’t) lie on the ground. But that’s pretty much the only situation, and it’s pretty rare.

In which situations do you use the viewfinder, and when do you rely on live view? And what is your preference between the two?

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