All but the lowest-end digital cameras provide an LCD screen that can be used as either a viewfinder or a way to review the digital pictures that you’ve taken with your camera. Of course, one of the huge benefits of an LCD screen is that you can immediately review your pictures, and then re-shoot if the image is not quite what you expected. For example, you can cycle through photos to delete the bad ones, and hence free up some storage space for additional pictures.
On most models, the LCD screen not only allows you to view or review features, but also provides access to advanced settings menus. For example, the LCD menus on many digital cameras allow you to change photo features, resolution, flash settings, white balance, shutter speed and other elements prior to taking a particular picture. This is a great feature, and the menus are usually easy for any user to navigate and understand. On lower-end models without an LCD screen, any advanced features are typically provided by buttons on the camera itself, and can limited in the functions they provide.
While you definitely won’t regret purchasing a model with an LCD screen (it’s one of those cool features you’ll want to brag about), you need to give careful consideration to how often you use it. When the LCD screen is active, the camera will chew through the batteries in no time at all. If you want to use the LCD as a viewfinder, be sure to turn it off immediately once you’ve taken the picture. Better still, use the standard viewfinder on the camera when you need to save battery power. It’s better to take two or three pictures of the same scene “just in case” rather than lose the ability to use your camera for the day because the batteries are dead.
