Discover a zero-cost method to give your digital camera a vintage feel: Simply turn off its screen!
In the age of instant gratification, digital photography can sometimes be a distraction-filled endeavour. However, taking a cue from the past, photographers are turning to retro-inspired techniques to enhance their craft and produce more thoughtful compositions.
One such method is to disable the screen on digital cameras. This simple yet effective trick can help photographers slow down and avoid constant photo review, encouraging a more intentional and mindful approach to photography.
Film cameras, such as the ones used in the past, relied on viewfinders, not rear screens, to compose. Modern digital cameras, particularly mirrorless and DSLR models, offer a menu option to use just the viewfinder or to switch off the LCD screen entirely. For cameras with a tilting or fully articulating screen, you can also physically close the screen against the camera body to avoid distractions.
Adjusting settings on a digital camera can also encourage a more mindful photography style. Manual focus and turning off features like burst mode are other digital perks that can be powered off to slow down photography.
The exact menu path to disable the screen varies by the camera model but is generally found in display, monitor, or finder settings. If your camera has an eye sensor, ensuring it works correctly can also help switch the view automatically between screen and viewfinder.
Hillary K. Grigonis, a former Nikon shooter and current Fujifilm user, leads the US coverage for Digital Camera World and has more than a decade of experience writing about cameras and technology. She notes that this approach costs nothing and can help photographers focus more on composition and shooting, just like with traditional film cameras. If disliked, you can easily turn the screen back on anytime.
Grigonis' photography style favours a journalistic approach, and her work has appeared in various publications, including Business Insider, Digital Trends, Pocket-lint, Rangefinder, The Phoblographer, and more. She has tested a wide range of cameras and lenses across multiple brands.
If turning the screen off is not enough to slow down, browsing the best retro cameras may be an option. Retro-inspired digital cameras mimic the feel of film cameras, encouraging photographers to slow down and produce more thoughtful compositions. A camera shop in the UK started making screen covers to make digital cameras feel more retro.
In conclusion, embracing retro techniques in digital photography can help photographers improve their compositions and produce better photos. By disabling the screen, focusing on manual focus, and turning off features like burst mode, photographers can adopt a slower, more deliberate shooting style that encourages intentionality and mindfulness in their work.
- Disabling the screen on digital cameras can aid photographers in adopting a more intentional and mindful approach to photography, similar to the old film cameras that relied on viewfinders.
- Modern mirrorless and DSLR cameras offer the option to use only the viewfinder or to turn off the LCD screen entirely, emulating the experience of using film cameras.
- Hillary K. Grigonis, an experienced camera and technology journalist, suggests disabling the screen to focus more on composition and shooting, as it is a free technique that can enhances the quality of digital photographs.
- Grigonis' work has been featured in various publications, including Business Insider, Digital Trends, and The Phoblographer, and she has tested a wide range of cameras and lenses across multiple brands.
- Some photographers may seek a more retro shooting experience; in this case, retro-inspired digital cameras or screen covers for digital cameras are available options to encourage a slower, more thoughtful approach to photography.
- By embracing retro techniques in digital photography, photographers can attempt to improve their compositions and produce better quality photos, adopting a slower, more deliberate shooting style that encourages intentionality and mindfulness in their work.
