As above, transitioning from 2 decades of DSLR to Mirrorless underwater (have used Mirrorless on land for 6 or so years so comfortable).

Generally on my DSLR setup underwater and on land mirrorless i use the screen to shot the settings and menus but then look through the OVF/EVF to compose and take the image.

This isnt going to work now underwater as the face detection means i have the choice of screen OR EVF but not both or a different function on each.

What are people generally using? EVF for everything or screen?

Im aware i can map a button to toggle between but that sounds fiddly for each shot.

EVF 100% of the time. It is a huge win of the mirrorless designs.

• At least on Nikon, the EVF has two modes

  • Enhanced view - basically night vision that boosts the exposure of what you SEE (default)

  • Effect of Settings - WYSIWYG for cameras. Shows the effect of shutter and ISO on ambient lights. Amazing for wide angle natural light and exposing for the background water.

• After taking a shot the Preview is in the EVF, not the screen.

  • Shoot

  • Review

  • You don't need to move your head, rig, or disturb the subject or environment to look at the screen

These two things alone make the Mirrorless upgrade worth the cost. Add a 45deg viewfinder and it's perfection.

If i remember you started using the Canon R7 I have assigned the star button on the camera very easy to toggle from view finder to rear screen .

On my Sony there is a lever on the housing that selects VF or screen. I bought a used 45 degree Nauticam VF and used it for a couple of years until one day I realized I care nothing about macro and prefer the screen. Yes, I agree, especially for macro, a VF allows more precise framing and focus check. But, I do not care. I sold the 45 degree VF and my new Canon rig is screen only. The VF also seems to use more battery, noticeably so on the Sony IMO. I do not have auto-review set on either of my cameras. I prefer to just press the review button. I may not review every shot.

Edited Tuesday at 01:38 AM2 days by Nemrod

Don't need the rear screen UW, most models have a programmable time that it will display the shot you just took through the EVF and you can instantly get back to live view with a half press of shutter. So it flashes up the photo taken and you can very quickly see if the strobes hit etc. all without taking your eye from the viewfinder. Mine is programmed to show the previous shot for 1/2 second, enough to see the strobes went off and were bright enough. You hit the review button for a closer look.

I use the EVF for WA and macro. If you use a 45° viewfinder you have an adjustable diopter - don't know what your eyesight is like but if you use reading glasses I find the rear screen pretty useless as I can't focus on it properly. I don't need glasses yet to be able to read computer and gauges etc, but telling if a pic is sharp or not isn't easy on the screen but straight forward on the EVF.

EVF plusses generally outweigh the minuses, but it’s an adjustment. Dynamic range for one, auto-adjusting so you can’t ballpark how bright it actually is without taking your face off the camera for another. On the 5d4 I could see that it was dark through the viewfinder but could usually still see the thing I was focusing in, and make a judgement of how much to crank the exposure. I hear the R5ii is better, but I have the original flavor. But on balance it’s better and having instant playback in the VF is worth the adjustment.

On 5/12/2026 at 1:11 AM, Griffer said:

If i remember you started using the Canon R7 I have assigned the star button on the camera very easy to toggle from view finder to rear screen .

Yup it an R7 and that might be the best compromise option i suspect even if doing it every shot may get very annoying rapidly.

I like glancing at the screen to see or change all my settings without looking through an EVF and just using it to frame the shot.

The Canon setup appears to just be "big screen, small screen" with no difference in what each displays when the face detect sensor is triggered. (on land i can configure both to show different things).

First dives in 2 days time and i know its a much overdue and substantial update but also know its going to be a frustrating nightmare getting buttons, workarounds and changes into my head vs years of DSLR muscle memory.

Edited yesterday at 03:14 AM1 day by Rich W

Hi mate i just had a thought when in the housing you need the face detect sensor turned off as will only let you use the EV as the back door on housing makes it think your eye is looking though the Ev Have fun diving

Even with the detect turned off at least on my Sony they won't let you run both the screen showing settings along with the EVF showing picture, unless you manually toggle between them.

It's too bad to not have a way to use that feature since I would like it I think.

6 hours ago, Grantmac said:

Even with the detect turned off at least on my Sony they won't let you run both the screen showing settings along with the EVF showing picture, unless you manually toggle between them.

It's too bad to not have a way to use that feature since I would like it I think.

Canon appears the same. It's one or the other. Not both and not different things on each screen.

I'm a Sony user with the 45 degree viewfinder, and I find reviewing everything through the viewfinder works best for me.

For macro, it's not even a contest as it removes the need to back off the subject and then have to reposition again afterwards. All the info you need is there for you without having to move.

I don't do a huge amount of wide angle but I'm that tuned into reviewing through the viewfinder now it just comes naturally

I do find though that I change batteries after most dives unless it's been really unproductive. After an average much dive I'm usually around the 50% mark at the surface interval

3 hours ago, Pooley said:

I'm a Sony user with the 45 degree viewfinder, and I find reviewing everything through the viewfinder works best for me.

For macro, it's not even a contest as it removes the need to back off the subject and then have to reposition again afterwards. All the info you need is there for you without having to move.

I don't do a huge amount of wide angle but I'm that tuned into reviewing through the viewfinder now it just comes naturally

I do find though that I change batteries after most dives unless it's been really unproductive. After an average much dive I'm usually around the 50% mark at the surface interval

I second your EVF + 45deg experience. Its amazing and the real mirrorless super power.

I use a Nikon Z8 and can easily do 3 dives and 600 photos with about 25-50% charge remaining.

Edited 2 hours ago2 hr by Dave_Hicks

I have a 45-deg viewfinder too. When reviewing images on the back of the camera on DSLR, I had to rotate the camera forward just to see the display under the viewfinder. Reviewing through the EVF is much better, especially for supermacro critters that are tough to find in the first place.

I can only confirm the posts above how useful a 45° viewfinder in combination with EFV of the camera is. No problem with image review UW.

The seldom problem I have is, when I intend to make a photo directly 90° downwards (e.g. for "circular" panning). Then I can use the "C1" custom button on my Sony A7R5 to toggle to the screen, but it is better not to use the 45° viewfinder on the rig in such a case, as it is an obstacle for viewing the screen...