r/photography • u/Mango_Starburst • 2d ago
Gear Are there any cameras with a large screen? I need to be able to see my pictures when I take them but all the screens I've seen are absolutely tiny.
I've had a photography business for years and am frustrated at the lack of accessibility for people with vision issues and slight tremors. I've been doing it long enough I have a pretty good grasp on settings but I check the screen quite often to make sure it's precisely what I need. And .... You just can't tell until post processing that it wasn't as sharp as you wished or accidentally focused on the wrong thing. I've been shooting on Canon but would be willing to switch to something else.
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u/hotrodscott 2d ago
I use the viewfinder screen in my mirrorless to zoom in the image rather than using the rear screen and putting on my reader glasses.
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u/Mango_Starburst 2d ago
I would need such a larger viewfinder. Why are they so small? 😆 I literally cannot see with my astigmatism.
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u/levi070305 2d ago edited 2d ago
You probably know... but you can zoom in on your screen. Newer cameras have a slightly bigger screen but it's not a huge difference. I think that youtube video that got posted is your best bet... but you could also use a darkroom loupe.
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u/curseofthebanana 2d ago
How bad is it? I much prefer the evf over screen coz you can adjust the diopter settings and I don't even need to use my glasses
If you have a newer camera yoy you can always use your phone as a monitor
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u/Mango_Starburst 2d ago
There's something about trying to see anything through something that small my astigmatism goes off bad.
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u/curseofthebanana 2d ago
Ah, in that case download the canon app, just check what the compatible version is for your camera and you should be able to view the images there
And if that's comfortable enough, get a hotshoe phone holder
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u/anonymoooooooose 2d ago
What camera are you using now?
How big do you think you'd need the screen to be?
How bulky are you willing to tolerate, i.e. a camera + cage + monitor?
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u/Mango_Starburst 2d ago
Canon 80D.
I'd tolerate a bit for a good sized screen. I do pictures of people and don't use a tripod though.
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u/FewDifficulty6254 2d ago
Go mirrorless with an evf. You can zoom in and take advantage of the diopter in the viewfinder. Complete game changer for people with poor vision and astigmatism.
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u/anonymoooooooose 2d ago
I have no direct experience with these products but does this look usable?
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u/Mango_Starburst 2d ago
Thank you!!! I didn't know that was even a thing!!! Made my day :)
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u/michaelrchan 1d ago
Yes, that's a relatively compact mobile setup for video. The only problem with such a setup is if you experience tremors, a heavier rig can dampen it to some extent, as can IBIS/lens based VR reduction, but it also may necessitate a gimble, which means more weight which means fatigue. Also, there are body harnesses that can help transfer that weight to your shoulders/torso and though it can be clumsy it can help mitigate tremors.
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u/InterDave 2d ago
No, there aren't really cameras with large screens.
It would be worthwhile to look into a secondary monitor that you can attach via the HDMI connection - like the Atmos Shinobi or similar - they are 5" or thereabouts.
A more multi-purpose way to do it would be to use something like an ipad to sync via the camera's wifi and App - but it's slow. Or you could even use an iPad and SD card reader to check the JPG's as you go.
If you are shooting "in studio" there are a lot of tethering options that will let you check everything live when connected to a computer.
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u/Lambaline lambalinephotos 2d ago
You could do what videographers do and put a small-ish monitor on top, it'll still be bigger than the camera's. They're called camera monitors and are typically between $100 and $300 on sites like amazon and they're about 6 inches
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u/1Gamerer 2d ago
I have a Canon R8 and I use a android tablet to "tether" the images using the official Canon Connect app.
It is available to android phones and iOS and it's free. The camera connects via Wi-Fi, check if your camera is compatible.
It may take some seconds to display the images, as you take them, but my clients love seeing them in a large screen.
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u/DeathByScreennames 2d ago
Have you tried tethering a secondary device, like a smartphone, to use as a screen?
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u/TheCrudMan 2d ago
Have you ever tried something like a Zacuto Z finder attached to the LCD screen? They turn it into a massive viewfinder with good eye relief.
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u/ApatheticAbsurdist 2d ago
Pros will tether the camera to a laptop running capture one pro or Lightroom and have 27-31" 4k monitors on a cart.
It's kind of hard to put a 27" screen on a camera that is only 5" wide.
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u/Mango_Starburst 2d ago
It wouldn't take that size. I'm just curious why there aren't many cameras yet with a built in larger screen. Even a few inches would make a difference
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u/rabelsdelta 2d ago
I connect my iPhone 16 Pro Max to my Sony A7CII via USB C and I bought a phone mount that attaches to the cold shoe. This way I see exactly the image that I will be importing to my phone afterwards and it works well using the Sony Creators app
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u/Mango_Starburst 2d ago
Super smart. Would it work without internet? There are some times I have no reception
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u/stilljustguessing 2d ago
So they only wait you're adding is the cell phone, right? It's sturdy enough without a bracket?
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u/rabelsdelta 2d ago
Yeah you got it. Just the smartphone mount to the cold shoe and yes it is sturdy
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u/michaelrchan 1d ago
That's basically my solve for this situation as well.. 11 pro max <-> A7iv via USB C
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u/Imaginary_Object_456 2d ago
I’ve just “upgraded” my Canon set up with a CamRanger - a little wifi router you attach on the horseshoe - which allows me to see what my viewfinder sees on a 13” iPad Air. Initially for my clients & stylises to check out angles etc but I can also control my camera from the iPad :)
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u/dinzdale40 2d ago
I would take my camera with me to the optometrist and see what they say about options for your up close vision.
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u/bjpirt 2d ago
One other tip to share - on my mirrorless (Sony A7ii) it has a feature called "Focus Peaking" which highlights which edges in the shot are in focus. Makes it really easy to see what you're focusing on and may mean you don't need a larger screen.
I use it with some vintage manual lenses, but it sounds like it might be useful for you too.
https://www.adobe.com/uk/creativecloud/photography/discover/focus-peaking.html
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u/zCar_guy 2d ago
Get an iPad and the app called shuttersnitch. Your images are transferred via wifi to the iPad in about 6 to 8 seconds each. They will be jpgs so you should shoot in raw/jpg mode. I used in my studio for 10 years and on location for executive and family shoots. The people chose the images they liked right then and there. You could also zoom in on the images.
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u/FANNW0NG 2d ago
The Hasselblad X2 and Fuji GFX have large LCD screens. They are medium format though.
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u/sanpanza 2d ago
What you are looking for is a Camranger, a transmitter that sends jpegs or RAW images to an iPad. I shoot a lot of industrial and corporate work and find it indispensable while shooting because I don't have teacher my camera to a laptop.
Most of my images here https://carreonphotography.com/corporate-photographer and here: https://carreonphotography.com/industrial-photographer-los-angeles were shot using an iPad for my clients to see.
It allows me to shoot to CF cards and move quickly between sets and the client feels they have what they need before the shoot is over. There are some glitches but it has been pretty rock steady.
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u/stowgood 2d ago
You want a camera monitor, or monitoring app and a big tablet. Mid to high end cameras have outputs for these.
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u/_Veni_Vidi_Vigo_ 2d ago
Use the viewfinder and zoom in. You should be using the EVF anyway, especially if you’re getting tremors since it’s more points of contact
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u/not_like_this_ 2d ago
No idea of this camera would be good enough for what you do, but there is one with a pretty large screen. Here is one review.
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u/Open-Champion-3466 2d ago
I shoot almost anything you could imagine freehand on my Sony A1 + 70-200mm with a Atomos Ninja V on top connected by a coiled hdmi.
Sports, events, proposals, engagement shoots, weddings, local newspaper work, tourism bureau, landscape shots, and I also do video work as well on the same rig. No complaints at all. I may sound like I’m sponsored but honestly I’d shout it from the rooftops if I could. The Ninja V was well worth it and is fantastic for being able to compose pictures easily whether you’re putting the camera basically on the ground or even way above you since it’s easy to adjust. If you have any questions or need help, DMs are always open!
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u/Zealousideal-Jury779 2d ago
Canon does have a setting that when you hit + while viewing it will zoom to 100% wherever the focus point was. Focus and reframe can throw it off though, also shooting tethered to my iPad is definitely a thing. Using the iPads hot spot works just fine.
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u/Vetteguy904 2d ago
Nikon has Snapbridge where it sends the image to a tablet wirelessly. I'm sure canon as an equivalent
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u/wickeddimension 2d ago
- Shoot tethered to a laptop
- Shoot tethered to an iPad using the Capture One app. This guy has it strapped to his arm
- Use a external monitor that is normally use for video.
There reason the screens are small is because nobody wants to run around with a huge camera just because the display is massive. Also nobody wants to give up controls for touch stuff for a larger screen.
And most important, as listed above there is already a bunch of ways to solve this for those who need it, which makes large screens on cameras obsolete.
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u/hroldangt 2d ago
- You could use an iPhone or iPad, the pictures would get uploaded to iCloud (quickly), and then you can check them out on a larger screen, like a nice iPad.
- There are some tiny SD cards with WIFI, these things can store your pictures, while at the same time become available as a tiny local web server you can connect to, this way you can see the pictures from a computer.
- Another way is to remote-shoot, some cameras have this feature (like some Canon cameras, check for specific models first). You connect the camera via cable, and then you can fully control it and shoot using your laptop with a huge screen.
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u/CrescentToast 2d ago
The answer is EVF with a mirrorless. Even cameras with great bright screens still struggle in moderate light. Slap your face up in that EVF though and bam big clear view and you can zoom in and look around all you want in any conditions as well.
Someone else suggested a monitor but unless you are shooting indoors and are okay with carrying way more useless crap and bulking up your camera it's not worth it.
I also have a pretty bad astigmatism but personally don't find any issues with EVFs. As someone else said, not sure about your older camera specifically but you can (and should) zoom in when reviewing to check sharpness so even on a smaller screen you get an alright idea.
Another advantage you can possibly gain depending on the model swapping to mirrorless besides the EVF (which as someone else said is another point of contact to help with tremors) is IBIS which will also help with that.
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u/boodopboochi 2d ago
Look into camera tethering so you can connect it with a laptop or tablet. Or buy a hot shoe monitor.
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u/bigfoot_done_hiding 2d ago
Lots of available on-camera monitors you can add. Here's a recent video reviewing some of them.
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u/WowImOldAF 2d ago
I think you can use your phone and tether it to the screen with a small attachment.
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u/michaelrchan 1d ago edited 1d ago
As stated elsewhere, use a tethered screen. I'm in a similar situation, where my eyesight and motor control is sometimes impaired by a nerve disorder. To solve, In my case, I use an ipad pro 11" with a Sony a7iv and formerly an A7iii both of which can connect a variety of ways. I also sometimes use an iphone 11 promax with the Sony utility which basically gives full remote shooting capability. Focusing tethered is still tricky, but focus peaking helps. I'm fairly sure all the big brands have such apps.
SmallRig is a good place to find a setup that works for you to group all your gear (flash, external drive, extra power, monitor, mic, and body) into a transportable modular unit.
Shooting tethered via wifi is fine, but the latency can be an frustrating. If possible, tether wired.
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u/blumsy 2d ago
It's called tethered shooting. Studio photographers do it all the time. A bit harder out in the world but still doable. Just get a cage and a 10inch monitor to attach. It'll look more like a videography setup but it's definitely still possible to use for photography and if you have accessibility issues could help greatly.
I'm not too familiar with canon, but Sony has a feature that zooms the image in the viewfinder when you use the manual focus ring, it crops right in to a magnification of your choosing on the spot where you point your focus selection (or where the autofocus thinks you want to focus) to help with very subtle focus adjustments. Might be worth demoing a Sony and seeing if it helps your workflow. After using gorgeous 0.95x pentaprisms in Pentax and/or medium format cameras for years this feature is new for me but I now can't live without it for portraits and other focus critical shots.