Tech Check LCD screen
Explore a part of every digital camera that’s easy to take for granted
What does LCD stand for?
LCD stands for Liquid Crystal Display; the technology is used in lots of different electronic devices, such as televisions, computer monitors, mobile phones and, of course, digital cameras, where the rear screen is an LCD.
How do LCDs work?
The display comprises of millions of different pixels; in theory, the quality of your LCD is going to be sharper and clearer with a greater number of pixels. Camera screens are relatively small compared with computer monitors or TV screens, though, so the difference isn’t as immediately obvious. All modern DSLRs and mirrorless cameras have high quality, clear and clean LCD screens.
Can the screen intensity be altered?
The brightness of an LCD can normally be altered via your camera’s settings menu. You can set the screen to Auto so that it adjusts itself according to the light conditions, or you can set the brightness manually. Manual adjustment is the best option, especially in extreme situations.
For example, if you’re shooting at night, you may want to set your screen to its dimmest setting, as your eyes will be much more sensitive to the screen’s light in a dark environment.
Is it OK to rely on the LCD screen to check exposure?
For a quick assessment, the LCD is fine. However, it can make the image seem brighter than it actually is, so it’s not an accurate way to review the success of a shot. It’s much better to review the image in conjunction with a brightness histogram (right), so you can see the arrangement of the tones in graph form (dark tones on the left and bright ones on the right).
Are there any other downsides to using the LCD ?
If you are using the LCD to view your composition in Live View, it’s worth noting that not all screens give you a 100% coverage. This can make a difference to how you frame up.