Why did Canon put a mirror on the back of the 5D?

[Tony Whitaker]

Seriously, though ... when shooting outdoors, and particularly in bright light, I find the reflections off the viewing screen on the back of the camera body make it almost impossible to read. Does anybody have any ideas on how to improve visibility? I have seen on at least one DSLR (I think Nikon?) a plastic screen which cut reflection to almost nil.

All ideas will be considered!

Tony

 

[Ken Tanaka]

This would also be one of my few criticisms of the 5D, Tony. I know that Canon knows how to better implement this display. I recently purchased a Powershot G7 whose screen is about the same size and much more readable in bright daylight.

The only ideas for improving the 5D's visibility amount to putting a hood over it. Hoodman makes such a device but it's not really practical for most situations. I've just avoided using the screen as much as possible while shooting. Not really a big deal and it actually saves some battery power.

 

[Asher Kelman]

Tony and Ken,

You're both correct, the screen is not that great! They knew we'd buy it anyway. For a digicam there's a huge competition. So the G7 has to be the best in everything.

For me, it's good enough for me to see most of the time. My real chimping is in a restaurant of in an event at a break. In a studio shoot, the light is controlled so there's no problem or one is looking at a large monitor.

There are light shields that can be placed on the 5D screen and normaly held on a lanyard around your neck or in the pocket of a shooting vest.

I'll find one and check it out in the sun. This is where I'd imagine next iteration of that camera will see an improvement. A 5DN?

Asher

 

[Sean DeMerchant]

Seriously, though ... when shooting outdoors, and particularly in bright light, I find the reflections off the viewing screen on the back of the camera body make it almost impossible to read. Does anybody have any ideas on how to improve visibility? I have seen on at least one DSLR (I think Nikon?) a plastic screen which cut reflection to almost nil.

All ideas will be considered!

Have you considered using a sheet of polarizing film taped over the screen? Or just turn your back to the sun and shade the screen with your torso.

some thoughts, neither ideal,

Sean

 

[dhphoto]

I'm surprised an enterprising person hasn't developed a replacement drop-in anti-reflective LCD cover the same size as the replacement Canon part - the screen is fine, it's just the cover that reflects a bit

David

 

[Diane Fields]

Have you considered using a sheet of polarizing film taped over the screen? Or just turn your back to the sun and shade the screen with your torso.

some thoughts, neither ideal,

Sean

I the second---turn away and shield. I only check the histogram anyhow---but still---it would be nice to have it better. As it is---I'll stick with the 5D for a long time. My husband hasn't heard me say 'my next camera body will.....' since last February LOL. I'm sure he feels blessed (now, he's heard me bring up a new printer and TS lens for a bit, but I doubt he ever expects me to not have a wish list).

Diane

 

[Ivan Garcia]

Try one of These

 

[Ken Tanaka]

Try one of These

I don't recommend these. I gave one to my teen niece for her 350D. She's a pretty careful person with her equipment but this hood quickly bit the dust. It's quite flimsy and it wasn't long before the folding sides broke.

This is the Hoodman "loupe" mentioned earlier. You might feel a bit like a film director with one of these around your neck but it might be the most practical, and sturdiest,device available for better lcd viewing in daylight.

 

[Ivan Garcia]

Hi Ken
I have not tried the hoods myself so I can't comment on durability, the loupe looks like a winner though. I am seriously considering one of those.
Kind regards
Ivan

 

[Jack Joseph Jr]

It's a safety item. I'm able to see bad guys sneaking up behind me while I'm shooting! While the screen is a huge improvement over the earlier Canon monitors it really needs some additional help to be as state of the art as the cameras are.

Both of mine (5D, 1D2N) are way too cyan, the color accuracy is unusable. The improvements needed would be 1) the ability to adjust the image display brightness separately from the menu brightness, and 2) a simple color adjustment tool, maybe a grid just like the WB correction screen on the 5D.

 

[Nill Toulme]

Jack's right — I often really do use my 1DMkII as a rear view mirror to see what's going on behind me.

Nill
~~
www.toulme.net

 

[Dean W. Cains]

I use a matte finish screen protector from www.boxwave.com on my all three of my bodies. It really works wonders in a bright environment. www.pda-now.com also sells the same sort of thing, but this particular vendor has very slow shipping, and pretty bad customer service. Boxwave is great to deal with.

 

[Ben Rubinstein]

I had thought of the polarizing idea but have never had the time to spare on ordering a sheet of polarizing filter from Lee and trying it out.

There are a few things that really bug me with the 5D (I've just bought my 2nd as my 20D wasn't cutting it as a 2nd body in comparison!), the AF sucks, big time. A camera of that spec and price should have multiple cross sensors not one in the middle which only activates at f2.8. The screen is a disgrace, £150 digicams have far better screens and there is really no excuse as Sony make them all anyway. I would really have like weather proofing, I shoot a lot of wedding stuff where I'm running from location to location in the rain, even if it is from the synagogue to the car I end up getting soaked while my coat is draped over the camera, I can't afford my camera to malfunction even temporarily mid wedding!

 

[Bart_van_der_Wolf]

I had thought of the polarizing idea but have never had the time to spare on ordering a sheet of polarizing filter from Lee and trying it out.

Since the LCD screen uses polarization to block or pass the backlit/reflected light, you may well run into problems when using an additional polarizer. I suggest trying to view the LCD through a polarizing filter before you splash out the money for such a sheet. Besides, what you are seeing is the surface reflection of the cover, and you'll see the same with a shiny sheet of polarizing material, only darker.

What's really needed is an anti-reflection coating.

Bart