I might be treating myself to my first SLR this christmas. One thing I find quite limiting with current camera which is a Canon S50, is the size of the screen. So I'd like to know which of the cameras you have has the best screen for previewing photos and for displaying menu options.

J

Hi Janet,
You mention previewing; this is something you can't do with an dSLR if by previewing you mean using the rear LCD to see your image before you take it. You have to use the eyelevel finder to take the image and then check it on the LCD after you've taken it.
Tony

Hello Tony. I'm sorry I did mean review. I realise there is no live preview capability with DSLR cameras. Thank you for correcting me.

J

Janet,
The Canon is very difficult in sunlight. The screen menu items don't brighten up until you select a tab at the top of the screen. The dispaly is so dim before a tab is selected that you can't read the top row of tabs. I hope that makes sense.
I used a Nikon and the menu dispaly was much better than the Canon.
I can't comment on the Pentax, or the Oly.
Now the KM 5D has the largest screen (2.5") and you can even increase the font size. My wife, who can't see close up at all, can read the menu without glasses.
I was concerned that I wouldn't like it because it doesn't have the higher pixel count of the 7D.
I thought the image might be blocky.
I must say, however, that after using it, it is a pleasure and, even though I don't wear glasses, one of my favotite features on the 5D.

Until recently, interchangeable-lens digital SLR cameras did not offer live preview, with the exception of the Fujifilm S3 Pro, but that was black-and-white only and limited to 30 seconds.

On January 26, Olympus unveiled the E-330, the world's first interchangeable-lens digital SLR providing continuous live preview in colour. As a bonus, the monitor is also tiltable, both up- and downwards, for above-the-head and waist-level shooting.

Dave Etchell's Preview

Hi Zoltan, I have an E-330 here too and there has been some discussion on our main DSLR board here:

http://dpnow.com/bb/dslr.pl?frames=n;read=558

Ian

Wow you got a PRODUCTION sample! Gotta go and check out that board you linked.