Do we still need a viewfinder? We asked you what you think about screen-only cameras here's what you told us

Date:
Tue, 07 Apr 2026 16:04:53 +0000

Description:
After a wave of screen-only cameras and even the removal of viewfinders in recent updates of various models, I asked you if you'd buy a camera without a viewfinder. Here's what you said.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Tech Radar Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Become a Member in Seconds Unlock instant access to exclusive member
features. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting
your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. You are now subscribed Your newsletter sign-up was successful Join the club Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards. Explore An account already exists for this email address, please log in. Subscribe to our newsletter Is it just me, or are there more viewfinder-less cameras these days? Were certainly seeing more video-focused hybrid models, which arguably have less need for such a feature as cameras for keen photographers do.

These vlogging-style camera s include the Fujifilm X-M5 , Sony ZV-E1 , Sigma BF , Nikon ZR , Canon EOS R50V and Panasonic Lumix S9 . And then theres the curious case of Panasonic s recent Lumix ZS300 / TZ300 , a travel zoom
compact camera that replaced the discontinued Lumix ZS200 / TZ200 from 2018. The new model adds USB-C charging to the originals mega 15x optical zoom and 1-inch sensor of the original but, you guessed it, the viewfinder has been removed. It was exactly the same story for a prior Panasonic compact camera launched in 2024 the Lumix ZS99 / TZ99 (which updated the Lumix ZS80 /
TZ95). Article continues below You may like Will we ever see a new FinePix? Unlikely says Fujifilm the future is in premium compacts Is niche the new normal? These oddball retro cameras are setting the tone for 2026 Compact cameras aren't dead: new data for 2025 shows a remarkable 30% rise

Designing cameras without a viewfinder because they are video focused is one thing, but removing a viewfinder in a photo-centric travel camera really begs the question are cameras and the way we use them evolving?

I pondered this question at the time of the Lumix release whether removing the viewfinder was a cost-cutting exercise (despite the meaty price tag of each new camera), or a reflection on how people use cameras in 2026? Or perhaps both are true. Are we becoming more reliant on screens? Is the humble viewfinder on its way out? I turned to you, our readers, for your thoughts. Not yet following TechRadar on WhatsApp? Join the conversation! (Image
credit: Future) We still love viewfinders Would you buy a camera without a viewfinder? Thats the question I posed to TechRadar readers on our WhatsApp channel , and you can see the responses in the image above after 24 hours of voting. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

'No I need one' was the clear winner with 437 of the 951 votes, followed by
it 'Depends on the camera', which in turn with 260 votes received more votes than 'Yes I'm fine without it' and 'Don't care either way' combined.

If I were to have just one vote, it would be that it depends on the camera, because I dont necessarily need a viewfinder for every camera.

For example, my Ricoh GR IIIX point-and-shoot compact doesnt have one, but because I often shoot from the hip with it I dont necessarily see the need
for one (a tilt screen rather than the fixed screen it has would be welcome, though.) What to read next The best travel cameras, based on in-depth testing The best point and shoot cameras, all tested thoroughly World's largest
camera store reveals its best-selling cameras and lenses for 2025 here are the winners

A viewfinder would also be tiny in such a camera, and potentially of limited use I liked the viewfinder in the original Lumix ZS200 / TZ200, but the display wasnt exactly the brightest, biggest or most detailed. The Nikon ZR, above, is one of a wave of new vlogging-style cameras that doesn't feature a viewfinder (Image credit: Tim Coleman) But most people voted that every
camera they use needs a viewfinder. Id be inclined to agree if mirrorless cameras were the only kind I used, and I was solely a photographer, but Im
not sure thats true of everyone who voted for that option.

So what's the big deal about viewfinders? Well, they really come into their own when youre shooting photos in bright light and the LCD display is otherwise hard to see, whatever the type of camera.

Theres also something to be said for how a viewfinder affects your shooting technique. When you hold a camera at arm s length to compose a photo using
its screen, its less stable than when you bring it up to your eye, elbows tucked to your body. You're more likely to get stable shots bringing the camera to your eye, no matter how effective a camera's stabilization is. The Lumix ZS300, above, and there's no viewfinder in the top left above the screen, unlike its predecessor, the Lumix ZS200 (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman) Stability is certainly important for a travel zoom compact like the Lumix ZS300, which has a 24-360mm zoom range youll need the steadiest hand possible when maxing out the 15x zoom.

Am I disappointed that Panasonic has downgraded its new Lumix compacts by removing the viewfinder? Yes! Especially since it hasnt utilized the extra space for new features, theres just more plastic.

Its not a dealbreaker by any means, and I enjoyed my hands-on experience with the new model see my Lumix ZS300 review if only there were other upgrades
to compensate, such as a tilt screen.

But that's just one example. Did you vote in the poll on WhatsApp ? Do you have experience with both types of cameras with and without a viewfinder?
How important is a viewfinder to you? You can still have your say by participating in the poll and commenting below! Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!

And of course you can also follow TechRadar on TikTok for news, reviews, unboxings in video form, and get regular updates from us on WhatsApp too.



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/cameras/do-we-still-need-a-viewfinder-we-asked-you-w hat-you-think-about-screen-only-cameras-heres-what-you-told-us


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