NikoDoby said:
Talk to an Olympus E-series user. They've had flip screens on their pro cameras for 10 years now. I had an Olympus E-20 with a flip screen that never got in my way or broke.

That is good to know. While I don't shoot video in a way that would current make it necessary to have a flip screen, I am seeing more and more how it would be convenient in certain circumstances. The D5000 flip screen just feels too flimsy for daily use, but if pro level equipment has had it and it is sturdy, it would not stop me from getting a camera with one.

JorPet said:
I guess I would consider a flip screen on a D800 if it was strong enough to carry the camera, battery grip and a 70-200mm by the extended flip screen. Short of that, I would be way too concerned that it would eventually come off the camera.

I could be convinced over 3-5 years of no horror stories, but that is a long time to wait to determine if a design is flawed or not.

Talk to an Olympus E-series user. They've had flip screens on their pro cameras for 10 years now. I had an Olympus E-20 with a flip screen that never got in my way or broke.

I guess I would consider a flip screen on a D800 if it was strong enough to carry the camera, battery grip and a 70-200mm by the extended flip screen. Short of that, I would be way too concerned that it would eventually come off the camera.

I could be convinced over 3-5 years of no horror stories, but that is a long time to wait to determine if a design is flawed or not.

Okay point taken but I haven't seen any water bottles of water dumped over any Nikon swival LCD displays. I guess the point is it can be done so Nikon would need to incorporate the technology used by Olympus in order to put these swivals in a pro body.

I guess all we do Nikon is wait and see what the specs are on the D800/D500 they might pleasantly surprise you afterall.

NikoDoby said:
Yes I know that. I have Nikon film cameras with removable viewfinders, but why can't I have the same versatility on the D800/500? I don't need a replaceable prism (too expensive on for digital) I just want a variable LCD screen.

I understand your point much more now that I've gotten into macro photography. Without live view on the D40 and a teeny tiny viewfinder, I'm hopeless if I want to get down close to a flower. Right now it's a bit of a "spray and pray". I don't really need a flippy screen, but I see the virtues of them.

I guess a good compromise would be what Sony has been doing- attach the screen to a hinge.

PB PM said:
I forgot that the E-3/E-5 had flippy screens, and they are considered some of the most weather resistant bodies on the market.

I wouldn't like the screen to flip on the left either one, for the reason you have NikoDoby, and secondly look at what it did to the control layout of the D5100! It is an absolute abomination.

If Nikon had made modular DSLRs, you might have been able to shove D7000 guts into a D5000. That would seem like the perfect camera for you and NikoDoby.

Olympus does seem to have wonderful weather sealing. Too bad they're stuck on 4/3.

I forgot that the E-3/E-5 had flippy screens, and they are considered some of the most weather resistant bodies on the market.

I wouldn't like the screen to flip on the left either one, for the reason you have NikoDoby, and secondly look at what it did to the control layout of the D5100! It is an absolute abomination.

NSXType-R said:
In that case, you should continue to shoot with a F5- I think the viewfinder prism can be removed so you can add something that shoots from the waist.

Yes I know that. I have Nikon film cameras with removable viewfinders, but why can't I have the same versatility on the D800/500? I don't need a replaceable prism (too expensive on for digital) I just want a variable LCD screen.

You guys are wrong in assuming an LCD is a weather/water sealing weak point. Olympus has had flip screens on their weather sealed cameras for years.

I want a variable screen on future Nikons. I just don't want it hinged to the left because it gets in the way of my arm reaching the lens.

PBPM thats a great point I didn't consider. I'm sure the flip LCD would not be put on any pro body because it would compromise the weather seal and they are obviously much weaker and wouldn't stand up very well in the field. More proof it is a gimmick and not needed! :)

NikoDoby said:
Well my TLRs and hassy allow me to shoot from the waist, why not a new D800? You don't need it then don't use it. I remember when "real" photographers complained about "real" cameras not needing batteries or auto focus or metering or etc., etc.

I think once liveview focus becomes snappier, flip screens will become more useful for stills and not just for video.

In that case, you should continue to shoot with a F5- I think the viewfinder prism can be removed so you can add something that shoots from the waist.

PB PM said:
I wonder if adding flippy screens will compromise the dust/moisture resistance of higher end bodies? Maybe that is why one was not included with the D7000?

I don't see why not- it's an extra point of failure and another joint to seal.

Canon likes flippy screens too, but they've only proliferated up to the 60D so far.

I wonder if adding flippy screens will compromise the dust/moisture resistance of higher end bodies? Maybe that is why one was not included with the D7000?

kanuck said:
Personally I dislike all the these Japanese style new tweaks and features put on cameras. Flip screens, movie modes, portrait mode, landscape mode thousands of options in the menu setups are just a few of the things I don't need and don't want yet I find myself forced to have to pay for on certain bodies. Luckily my current D700 seems like bare bones compared to some cameras with all the listed crap above. Keep it simple Nikon please just like an old F100 :)

Well my TLRs and hassy allow me to shoot from the waist, why not a new D800? You don't need it then don't use it. I remember when "real" photographers complained about "real" cameras not needing batteries or auto focus or metering or etc., etc.

I think once liveview focus becomes snappier, flip screens will become more useful for stills and not just for video.

Personally I dislike all the these Japanese style new tweaks and features put on cameras. Flip screens, movie modes, portrait mode, landscape mode thousands of options in the menu setups are just a few of the things I don't need and don't want yet I find myself forced to have to pay for on certain bodies. Luckily my current D700 seems like bare bones compared to some cameras with all the listed crap above. Keep it simple Nikon please just like an old F100 :)

Yes you could but then you wouldn't have the benefit of being able to shoot from various angles (waist level, overhead, ground level). Flip screens also help when you are shooting in bright sunlight. You can angle the screen away from heavy reflections. Variable LCDs have more pros than cons I think.

The point I'm trying to make is that moving the LCD hinge to the left side of the camera gets in the way of holding the lens with your left hand. Sony's hinged-behind-the-LCD flip screen is a much better design in my opinion. I wouldn't want a D5100-like hinge on the D400/800.

Presumably you could just leave the screen flush against the camera body facing out and treat it as fixed?

+1 Glad someone else thinks this is a poor design. I do like Sony's design as well.
Personally I prefer no articulating screens as it is just something else that could break or fail. They do come in handy though.

NikoDoby said:
In the past I have given articulating LCD haters a hard time because I don't think they are as fragile as some make them out to be. However my experience with this design makes me reconsider. I still want a flip screen on the "D400/800". I just don't want it hinged to the left away from the body.

I don't think they're going to hinge down anymore, the D5100 would have hinged down if they wanted to continue making them that way.

In the past I have given articulating LCD haters a hard time because I don't think they are as fragile as some make them out to be. However my experience with this design makes me reconsider. I still want a flip screen on the "D400/800". I just don't want it hinged to the left away from the body.

As somone who very good at breaking things
The flip screen would definatly put me off the D5100, I just know I would break it

I spent some time using the Canon 60D and as I have said previously it is a very "Nikon-like" camera. However after using it for a while I have to admit that I am no longer a fan of LCD screens that flip out to the left of the DSLR body like on the 60D and the new Nikon D5100.

While using the 60D I found that having the LCD extend out to the left meant that my wrist kept putting pressure upwards on the LCD pivot. I few times I came close to snapping it off while instinctively reaching for the lens to focus or zoom with my left hand.

I do a lot of waist level shooting when using a variable LCD. However with the screen out to the left I couldn't hold the camera comfortably while adjusting the zoom with my hand on the lens barrel. My left wrist would always bump up against the LCD and move it.

I much prefer how Sony's cameras have their articulating screens hinged behind the LCD. I think that's the most comfortable. You can view the screen from above or below without it getting in the way of your wrist or the tripod.

Has anyone else experienced this with the D5100? I thought it might just be the 60D but the D5100 gave me the same problem. Maybe I just have Popeye arms?