Mirrorless users, do you primarily use your viewfinder?

[AlaskaMoose]

Well the amount of time I have for photography at the moment, I don't think the cost of changing systems is justified. Think I'll stick with what I've got. I've not noticed an improvement since mirrorless cameras came onto the scene in picture quality on here. For all the talk, they don't produce better images. They just present info in a different way through the EVF.

You are correct about that, since "better" in relation to an image is subjective. A newer camera model, regardless of kind, offers a few technological advancements that often improves image quality and even easy of use, but the creation of a good or better image is left on the shoulders of the person behind the camera. A photo may be technologically perfect, but what makes a better photo is one that connects with the viewer (one that tells a story). Take "snapshots" as an example. In this case street photographers take snapshots, and the most interesting snapshots call the most attention of the viewers, regardless of being technologically perfect or not. The same for war photography, or a photo taken as an accident takes place, and so on.

 

[Darmok N Jalad]

Good point about the Pandemic preventing people from going further afield than their own home and immediate environs..... I tend to forget that since I'm fortunate in where I live, which features a rather scenic neighborhood and small body of water right outside my door and offers plenty of variety in subject choices! If the weather is bad I've always got something interesting to shoot that I find around the house, too....

Yes, it's good to surround oneself with "better," but if the POTD section becomes more and more glutted with snapshots of cats and such, how is that going to help a beginner learn to discern between an image which is average and an image which is "better," and what makes the difference?

Also, the purpose of the POTD isn't really as an instructional thread, although one can indeed learn from looking at the various images shared on a daily basis. The thread started out as and still is simply for photographers to share the work they've done and enjoy doing. If someone is serious about wanting to learn more about photography there are online courses available from a number of sources and there are also actual in-person courses in local community colleges and such as well. Books and workbooks, video tutorials....all can be useful as learning tools.

I think it all goes together. POTD is certainly not instructional, but it is a safe environment to post. People's positive reactions (and I don't mean likes) are also encouraging. Books, classes, and workshops are all great, but I don't know how many people start there without ever setting out with a camera before hand. One has to light the spark first, then learning can happen. I've always liked to take pictures, but it wasn't until I found this forum (and then eventually another) that I really started to take a serious interest and even have confidence to turn the dial to "M." It can take years to really get the hang of it. We can lament declining quality, but I think that will come and go. Maybe we just let the rules slip, like stating the exposure settings? I'm as guilty as anyone for not doing that. It would at least bring some of the technical aspects back in and feel less snapshotty?

 

[Ish]

Well the amount of time I have for photography at the moment, I don't think the cost of changing systems is justified. Think I'll stick with what I've got. I've not noticed an improvement since mirrorless cameras came onto the scene in picture quality on here. For all the talk, they don't produce better images. They just present info in a different way through the EVF.

It was a tongue-in-cheek comment I loved the results I got from my 5DII at the time. The only reason I changed was because the weight of it was severely limiting me. We all find our niche and the results come mostly from ourselves.