Canon managed it. Nikon managed it. And, thinking about it, the new mirrorless cameras from Panasonic would feel weird if they didn’t have it. If I could change one thing about my otherwise awesome Sony a7 III, this would be it.
Sony has pioneered the development of full-frame mirrorless technology, slowly being caught by the likes of Canon, Nikon, and now, Panasonic. In its desire to create a body that was refreshingly small and compact, Sony ditched one feature that perhaps felt like a hangover from the DSLR era: the top deck display. I want it back.
I can understand the logic: with the EVF and rear display, a lot of changes can be made while staring at a live version of what will be the final image, allowing you to see numbers slide around and have those changes reflected instantaneously. Why would you any longer need a top deck readout, especially when it’s taking up precious real estate on a body that’s supposed to be as small as possible while still packing in a full-frame sensor along with some stabilization?
The Sony a7 III. Lost: One top deck display. Several million former owners. If found, please return as soon as possible.
In playing catch-up, Canon, Nikon and Panasonic have decided that, contrary to what Sony would have us believe, full-frame mirrorless cameras are not supposed to be significantly smaller than their DSLR predecessors. As Scott Kelby mentioned on one of his recent podcasts (YouTube link), “Sony suckered the world into thinking that mirrorless cameras were going to be light and small.” Clearly, Canon et al were not falling for it and chose not to try and make their cameras as small as possible, thereby maintaining the ergonomics that have kept their vast number of customers happy over the years. In doing so, the supposedly redundant top deck display has not been ditched, and I can’t lie and say that I’m not jealous of those Canon RF and Nikon Z shooters with their conveniently presented information.
The top deck display of the Nikon Z 6. Subtle, refined elegance?
The other factor that makes me wish that Sony hadn’t been so brutal in trimming the excess is that by having information on the top deck, you can declutter your EVF. Instead of having your exposure details, compensation, battery levels, and card info taking up lots of space, all of this information can be left on the top deck display and you can focus on the image itself without having to keep toggling through the display settings to bring it back each time you need to check something.
I’m interested to see whether Sony addresses this in the a7 IV when it appears in the next couple of years, though I suspect it will be sticking with its “smaller bodies are the future (even if the lenses are bigger)” mantra. Top deck displays seem to be undergoing something of a revolution at the moment, with the Canon R (though notably, not the smaller RP), the Nikon Z 6 and Z 7, and the Panasonic S1 and S1R all featuring a display. Panasonic’s top deck display maintains the clunky LCD watch stylings of yesteryear, while Canon and Nikon have made a conscious effort to improve this part of the camera, increasing the quality and inverting the colors to create something that actually looks quite smart.
The top deck display on the Canon EOS R. I'm not saying it's pretty, but it's a significant improvement over what went before.
Fuji has never had to play this game, preferring its tactile dials and knobs full of numbers that are a pleasing throwback to analogue. However, this has just changed with the announcement of the rather incredible GFX 100. This camera is mind-boggling, but let’s be honest: like the rest of their medium format bodies, it’s not the prettiest. Functionality has clearly been a priority, but in order to try and keep some of their analogue tradition, Fuji has done something rather funky: the top deck display features virtual dials. I’m not quite sure why this pleases me so much, but it does.
The sexy dials found on the top of the new Fuji GFX 100. Other camera manufacturers take note: this panel does not need to be an insult to aesthetics. Photo courtesy of Robert Baggs.
I really appreciate the tiny size of the Sony a7 III, but it came with a few compromises, and this is one of them. I can live with it, but Sony, if you’re reading, please consider adding this feature in the future. At the very least, make the rear display show something that is easy to read and not an assault on my sensibilities. As photographers, we’re quite visual folk, and weirdly enough, we tend to like things that look nice.
The Sony a7 III. Fill your soul with beauty. Go forth into the world and capture the sublime. But try not to look at this readout while you're at it.
Perhaps then this is actually a sign of what I actually want Sony to do next. In my eyes, if it wants to continue snaffling an ever-growing share of the market, it should give a little thought to user experience. We like to think of ourselves as artists, not machine operators, and the finishing touches can make a real difference. Sony’s menu system is a bit of a car crash (and thank god that custom buttons mean that it can be largely avoided), but let’s be honest: most cameras have menus that look as though they were designed in the 1990s. Perhaps they were cobbled together by middle-aged men who long ago resigned themselves to the idea that functionality and beauty are irreconcilable, so there's no point in attempting either. Surely, it wouldn’t be much of an investment of time and money to abduct a couple of hipsters from Mountain View, lock them in a room in Minato for six months, and see what they come up with.
So, Sony. You made the full-frame MILC smaller and lighter, cramming in some groundbreaking features and cutting a few corners here and there in order to create something that I love to shoot with. I really hope that the next step is to make it refined, allowing us to feel like we're holding a machine that inspires creativity rather than expensive box built out of rainy days and spreadsheets.
But perhaps it's just me. Be sure to let me know whether you agree by leaving a comment below.
Who Else Wants Fstoppers to Change This One Thing?: no more question marks at the end of every clickbait article?
i'm rarely looking topdown at my camera. all of the eyepoints are facing the rear.
maybe i'd care more if my cameras used waist level viewfinders.
The one thing I want Sony to
Fix is having the shutter down when it’s off to keep dust off the sensor.
The top display is super-useful. Canon and Nikon have got it right. Omitting the top display is a cost cutting measure befitting bargain-priced cameras, not $2,000+ cameras. It's like leaving out the battery charger for the A7III. Totally dumb and cheapskate. Sony is all about the profit, not the usability. They have a couple of killer features (eye-AF and IBIS), but skimp on everything else.
I’ve never felt the need for a top display. Seems redundant if I can flip the screen or use the viewfinder.
My only complaint is where some options are in the menu system but then again, I don’t ever use the menu system after the first day since all controls are customizable.
No.
Top display is useless for me. I love
My A7RIII and coming from Nikon the learning curve was steep for the menu but onces i set up the custom buttons for my work flow and pre program setting on 1 2 3 I rarely ever need to dive into the menus.
If I could change anything :
a) weather sealing
b) shutter close to prevent dust when lens off
c) and most important colour of the focus point before lock on.
Wait, no top display? 😮
And to think, Nikon got slammed for not having 2 cards slots?
😉
I shoot with the Sony a6400.
I don't care at allfor a top-plate lcd. My Sony a77 has one and I hardly ever used it since it has a flippy tilty screen with much bigger letters.
My main wish is a fully working touchscreen. And by this I mean, menu touchable, pinch to zoom, browsing pictures etc.
Since my a6400 has a tap to focus possibility, I don't care about a joystick either. Without touch to focus, I would very much like to have one.
Sony. If you are reading this please do not change your design and add a top screen as the article suggests.
Article misses a very important point:
Optimum design for a photography machine is a box you look through as you forget you are holding and looking through anything. Needing to be looking at the box itself with such designs like top lcd defeats this point. We should forget the fact we are operating a camera as we photograph.
Only barrier I have between me and a great photograph is the camera itself.
...and apparently talent
I would say for Sony to catch up to Nikon they need the bigger 3.2" lcd screen with twice the resolution, a better EVF, a top screen, and slightly more comfortable body to grip. They'll also need to upgrade that IBIS. It's kind of a weird thing to say but man, Sony has fallen behind, they need new bodies asap.
Having a top lcd very handy. Being able to see your metering mode, shutter, aperture as well ISO at a glance without being the camera to eye level or flipping up your screen just seems practical. I'm really impressed what Canon, Nikon and Fuji have done in improving this feature the extra information they've added as well function. Definitely saves on battery life and on the eyes in certain situations.
I love my Sony, and I don't miss anything (coming from Canon). A top-display would be nice to have, but I don't miss or need it, since I can see all information on the always-on-back display. Image quality is just amazing, handling is fine for me. The only thing I miss (I wish it would have) is integrated focus-stacking like in phase one cameras, and a spirit level that works also upside down.
Funny - I switched from Canon to Sony and I never missed the top LCD screen.
Not a single time.
What I do miss is the overall feel.
I find Sony ergonomics to be fine since you can customize virtually all the buttons. And customizing the buttons more-or-less takes care of the menu issue.
But I wish my Sony cameras felt tougher.
Honestly, I think the top display works like the dashboard of a car. You have the main information about your system right next to you ready to go. Then if you need to set-up something, you access the big fancy LCD. It's a matter of preference, and I do feel a difference in battery life if I'm constantly turning on the back screen.
Top mounted LCD is completely useless and stupid. It's something DinoSLR fans making the transition may enjoy but is just a waste of space that can be used for anything else.
Stop the nostalgia nonsense
So many words, so little said. Blah blah blah...
Of all the things to ask for, that is literally at the bottom of my list. It's an outdated way of working and we need to let it go. The rear LCD is just so much better at displaying camera settings.
I never used the top display on my Canons. I would much rather have the A9 additional Control dial and back lit button's.
I have not used Nikon since F4 days but when I picked up a Z6 at my local shop I said wow I wish Sony had this layout...they don't. Never will.
Eh, I'm on the fence about this one. it's nice to have but I switched from Nikon last fall and I really can't say I've missed the top deck display. If not having it means they can keep the size and cost down, I'm good without it.
I’ve honestly never wanted a display like that. I’ve been shooting Sony for 7+ years now. I’m sure it would benefit other people that need that information. Interesting idea and article. Cheers
You're right but I would ask Sony to add flexible viewfinder similar to nikon - which is better to look through..
I just want them to make AF point light up when you move it. I can't find the damn thing until I half press the shutter to focus.
I'm trying to figure out when I would use the top LCD if there was one.
If they're only going to change one thing can it be the weather sealing?
Gordon
This is nothing more than another example of DSLR users not being willing to let go of their old muscle memory. Useless carry over from mirror days.
Don't miss the top plate much. I could list a few other things that drive me crazy. I wish you could change the drive mode before all the photos are written to the card. I wish the eye piece wouldn't pop off so easily. I wish they had a normal metal hot shoe like for their flashes like every other brand.. . .
Thanks Adam! I think I feel another article coming on: "Everything that Sony needs to do in order to improve the a7iii." 😊
By the way, my eye piece hasn't popped off. Is this a known problem? Only had mine 6 months.
And what are you doing to need to change the drive mode while the camera is writing to the card? Trying to figure out what this means. Ta! 😊
Never did figure out why sony locks changing certain settings while the card is writing. Came from canon where you can change anything anytime. Does any other camera maker have this issue.
I had a top-plate LCD on my Canon; never used it. I don't have a top-plate LCD on my Sony a6500; never missed it.
Are you kidding me that's why I love my Sony a7riii no top deck display just another thing to go out. That's all reviewers complained about with the Canon R was its top deck display. Among other things... Sorry I think you got this wrong. But nice story...
Ha! I think I'm pretty much on my own with this one! Never mind 😂 Glad you enjoyed the read.
If Sony copied the Panasonic G9 body and menu system in their a7iv I would make to move over to Sony from Pana and Nikon.
When on Canon, feeling my 6D, less comfortable in my hand than my 5D II, better, anyway, for its smaller size, I hated Sony's form factor, even smaller. But, disappointed by Canon's mirrorless answer, the R, I at last switched to Sony, largely to have a single camera for all uses, including street photography.
At once, not merely handling a Sony in a store, I loved the form of Sony's latest generation—my most comfortable experience so far. The Sony body vanishes in my right hand, while my left hand, supporting the lens, does the major work. With a sizable lens, the body still looks professional, where such perception may matter.
Canon R and Nikon Z, with deep grips, may be more comfortable, strictly speaking, but are a bit too showy for street photography. Canon RP, on the other hand, is excessively miniature. Sony strikes the best balance, only optionally resembling a consumer camera. Except to deepen the grip a bit, I fear a Sony enlargement. Never missing the top display, I'll take more custom buttons up there.
Oh, I thought it was the color science.
There are more things to change. The greatest dealbreaker is changing lenses. Between the grip and lens where your finger just fits between. You have to use the right hand for it and then try to rotate the lens with your left hand in direction of your finger and right hand. I feel I break my hands using the left hand. Then I need to take the lens to my right hand, put it somewhere and take the next lens and rotate it unnaturally counterclockwise if you have found the mark where to put the lens. Try this in a dark pit and you'll be lost.
The menu system is just a joke so to say. The buttons are placed unnatural and are deeper in the body so you have to press hard. You can program every uninportant sh... but the really important things you can't.
You have two memory card slots but using it is a nightmare. You have to set three different menupoints in different locations to get it to work. And don't think that if you remove one card that automatically the other is used or you could watch what's on the card. You have to work through the menus. Despite this using both slots slows the camera signifcantly down. So the second slot is more or less useless.
Without a grip the body is just like a toy in my hands (I have the RRS quick release plate for that). And so on...
You see, it's more a hate/love relationship and to be honest I don't understand the hype about the A7...
Yes, i miss that lcd very much.
It's very, very annoying to always have to look on your screen (wake it up first, or go to the right mode) or finder to know the settings. I want to see them with just one look. Actually i like the analog dials of Fuji the most. Even before starting up de camera you know exactly the settings.
Besides this i want a full screen overexposure warning (blinking) view back modus, and not that terrible mini screen with 3 rgb channels next too it.
These are the real practical things that matter most.
A top LCD is okay. I think it's more of a aesthetic thing. However, I really want the dang shutter curtain to come down when I change lenses. Canon's mirrorless does it, Phase One does it. That is the thing that drives me up the dang wall.
When pondering my own switch a year or so ago (I swapped a Nikon D700 for an A7iii a few months ago, finally) I knew ergonomics would be the biggest threat to my enjoyment. Much has been said about how Nikon and Canon have decades of experience over Sony when it comes to handling, etc. and it's a valid point, but how many years does it take? The A7iii is an absolute marvel and I love using it, but it does feel odd in the hand. Sony, get your best designers and engineers in a room with an A7iii and turn the lights out. Pass the camera around and just feel it. The A7IV will design itself in minutes.
I have a similar problem—when holding the camera alone—how I never take photos. When holding the camera with, rather, a lens on it, I have no such problem. Actually, then, the camera, supported mainly by my left hand under the lens, seemingly vanishes in my right hand. And in watching YouTube videos complaining about the form, I see the same issue—their holding the camera without a lens on it—whereupon I wonder why in the world they're demonstrating that.
I see no point in placing info. on the top deck especially with a Sony Alpha. These camera bodies provide all of this info on the LCD screen. If a shooter wants to see this info from a horizontal plane rather than a vertical one that can be accomplished by simply flipping the screen to the horizontal position.
I don't care
Honestly I don't miss the LCD screen at all. I shoot with the A7R3 and A9 and once I committed to them, the menu system and general operation of the cameras became easy. In fact, after shooting Canon for 24 years, now when I go back it feels like the Canon system is complicated. I love that I can adjust settings and rate photos on the fly without ever taking my eye away from the EVF. The ONLY thing that still catches me out on the Sony is the fact that the zoom rings go in the opposite direction of Canon. But, they're not the only ones that do that.
Well, you can customise the desired info to be displayed on both the lcd and evf, the INVISIBLE GREY focus point is a much bigger issue in my opinion. I really hate it
There's an LCD display setting on Sonys specifically made to emulate the top panel of DSLRs. Why clutter up things with more displays?
https://3.img-dpreview.com/files/p/TS560x560~forums/61753406/3f181e2fe61...
Besides, top LCDs on DSLRs only existed because the only other way to see your settings was looking through the viewfinder. Mirrorless doesn't have that issue, as the rear LCD displays the exact same thing as the viewfinder does. With way more information than an older segmented LCD, inside or outside of an OVF, could ever display.
The top plate LCD seems a bit redundant when the same info is on my rear screen and EVF. Seems like a step backwards. I can't imagine that it would help my workflow (pro sports stills and video).
Some may find it useful but I'm not one to shy away from new technology or workflows, others may prefer it though.