Recently I have had a real desire to go back to using a waist level viewfinder. When I left medium-format behind, some years ago and switched from 120 roll film to digital, I thought I would never wish to look back but something has been concerning me lately.
Digital SLRs are a big, bulky barrier between the photographer and the subject. I am beginning to think that I could be making better people pictures if I didn’t have this lump of metal and glass in front of my face. The medium format camera, held around waist level never caused this problem.
However, it did have an ‘image-problem’. As a result of certain TV commercials and other press, it became associated with the idea that wedding photographers were half-blind dodderers, struggling to focus through jam-jar-thick glasses, with an unsteady, old wooden tripod. This was far from the truth then and certainly isn’t the truth now. It’s a job that requires an alert brain and a certain level of physical energy to do well. It was also easier for the manufacturers of 35mm cameras to continue working with existing lenses (to begin with), keeping the same bayonets and basing camera design on previous 35mm models.
I don’t think I’m the only one who feels this way about waist-level viewfinders. I’ve heard other photographers talking about how they have moved to making pictures from waist level. They have, however, been doing this without the benefit of a viewfinder to compose, as have I on occasion. With the camera at waist level, it’s so much easier to interact with people. That’s very useful when making portraits and makes a real difference when making documentary wedding pictures.
I am mostly happy with my current DSLRs but I think I might make my next camera purchase decision on the basis of an adjustable screen position and live-view.
