In your camera, the LCD backlight (back plane light source)is at its
maximum by default. These screens are lit by an electroluminasence
plate in the back of the LCD screen. There are some models that are
LED lit.
The lack of LCD brightness outdoors is common on all of these cameras.
The higher end digital cameras have an electronic LCD eye type
viewfinder, something like the ones that are on the old SLR type
cameras. Some of the larger cameras with more battery power, have
higher levels of LCD backlighting, and they are also considered a bit
too dim for outdoor use.
You can see what this looks like in the Canon Pro1, Olympus 8080, Sony
828, Nikon 8800, and others along this line.
If your camera has an optical viewfinder, that is like a rangefinder
camera, this would be the best for you to use. For distances that are
under 5 feet from the subject, there may be some visible offset in its
accuracy. You can compensate for this by shooting a little looser in
the framing, and cropping the pictures a little for printing.
In the menu on many of these cameras there is a setting for low and
high LCD viewfinder brightness. This is the only adjustment available.
Using the low setting will increase the lifespan of the back plane
light for the LCD screen.
One thing I can suggest is to make an attachable viewfinder light
shade out of some black cardboard, or black plastic. You can use some
2 way tape, some type of clip, or make something up with Velcro to
hold it on.
Jerry G.
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