[UPDATED: 14 more cameras with similar features have been release since the posting of this entry. Here is an updated list of cameras with articulating LCD screens produced until October 2010)
Tilt and swivel or articulating LCD screen is perhaps one of the most important features ever invented for a camera.
Articulating LCD screen allows photographers to take picture at awkward angles and still be able control the composition. More importantly, it makes snapshooting sneaky.
Despite its usefulness, however, it has yet to become common place in the camera industry, with camera manufacturers only making it available in limited number of cameras. Kodak, Pentax, Ricoh and Samsung are among the major camera manufacturers which have yet to introduce the feature in any of their cameras.
On the contrary, Olympus has been the early adopter of the feature in the DSLR segment, breaking the DSLR tradition by introducing the tilt and swivel LCD monitor in its E-3 high end camera announced in October 2007.
After an extensive search, I found only 15 cameras -- comprising seven DSLRs, two Micro Four-Thirds and six compact cameras -- with the articulating LCD screen feature.
Without further ado, here is the list of 15 cameras with tilt-swivel, articulating or tilt without swivel LCD monitors.
1. Canon SX20 IS [Announced on August 19, 2009]
Canon PowerShot SX20 IS... fully articulating LCD screen
2. Canon PowerShot G11 [Announced on August 19, 2009]
Canon PowerShot G11... fully articulating LCD monitor
3. Canon PowerShot SX1 IS [Announced on September 17, 2008]
Canon PowerShot SX1 IS... fully articulating LCD screen
4. Canon PowerShot SX10 IS [Announced on September 17, 2008]
Canon PowerShot SX10 IS... fully articulating LCD monitor
5. Nikon P90 [Announced February 3, 2009]
Nikon P90... tilt-only LCD screen
6. Nikon D5000 [Announced on April 14, 2009]
Nikon D5000... tilt and swivel LCD monitor of a different kind
7. Olympus E-600 [Announced on August 30, 2009]
Olympus E-600... fully articulating LCD screen, similar to the E-620
8. Olympus E-620 [Announced on February 24, 2009]
Olympus E-620... fully articulating LCD monitor
9. Olympus E-30 [Announced on November 5, 2008]
Olympus E-30... fully articulating LCD screen
10. Olympus E-3 [Announced on October 16, 2007]
Special note: The Olympus E-3 is announced in October 2007, more than two years ago. It is listed here to honour its position as the first DSLR with articulating monitor.
Olympus E-3... the first DSLR with fully articulating LCD screen
11. Panasonic Lumix G1 [Announced on September 12, 2008]
Panasonic Lumix G1... first Micro Four Third camera with fully articulating LCD screen
12. Panasonic Lumix GH1 [Announced on March 3, 2009]
Panasonic Lumix GH1... fully articulating LCD screen
13. Sony HX1 [Announced on March 2, 2009]
Sony HX1... tilt-only LCD monitor
14. Sony A550/A500 [Announced on August 27, 2009]
Sony A550... tilt-only LCD screen
15. FujiFilm S100FS [Announced on January 24, 2009]
FujiFilm Finepix S100FS... tilt-only LCD screen
Well, that has been my list. Did I miss out any camera model? Please add them in the comment section.
{ 32 comments… read them below or add one }
Wow, this is impressive work!
Thanks, it makes chosing a tilting camera much easier.
It looks, like I am going to make a choice between the Canon G-11 ( the smallest) vs the SX10 or 20 IS (somewhat larger for the size of my jacket pocket). If Canon had just made the zoom capability of the G-11 a bit larger, I wouldn’t need to thinkany longer, the G-11 would be it! Now the SX 10/20 IS is a serious competitor, with 20 zoom, and the AA batteries.
Thanks again.
Rob
Hi,
You missed out on probably the best Bridge camera available the Fuji S100fs which has a great tilting screen and fantastic macro mode! ok its recently been replaced with the inferior S200EXR which doesn’t have a tilting screen (big mistake Fuji) but Fuji S100fs is an amazing camera and coupled with a Raynox DCR-250 makes a fantastic macro camera
Cheers
Still love this site though so forgive you for missing the S100fs LoL
Thanks for adding the Fuji S100fs to the list! I was feeling a bit neglected Hee hee!
Brian
no prob, the S100fs is indeed a superb camera
Thanks so so much for this list. A flexible LCD screen is essential for my macro photography and I’ve been struggling to find a DSLR with one (I own the Canon SX10 is).
Missed Sony DSLR A300/330/350/380
Cheers
Madeleine, glad you find this post useful. I agree, swivel screen is extremely useful for macro photography.
Thanks for that. Yeah I can’t believe Canon don’t have a DSLR with a swivel screen yet they have them on some of their cheapie P&S. I reckon they’ve become complacent – seems to be the standard psychology of the leading group in any particular field. They rest on their laurels and end up being surpassed by one of the smaller competitors who never stop trying hard.
you missed out Leica VLux1 (discontinued)
Thanks so much for this list. I am totally spoiled by having a tilt/swivel LCD. I’m now shooting with a Panasonic Lumix G1. I love it but I am looking for a really large sensor camera that will come with this feature. I hope you update this.
Hi Tom,
Thanks for the feedback. Will definitely update this list.
Well, based on this list, I bought the Canon G-11, small enough to fit my pocket. Excellent pictures and colour, excellent automatic makro features, but alas, only 3x optical zoom and -as was mentioned in various reviews-, small knobs that you inadvertently can turn without noticing.
Thanks for this great list!
Oldie but goodie – Fujifilm S9500/9600 – predated the S100FS!!
I’m looking for a DLSR upgrade and finding it hard – huge zoom, tilt LCD, video mode,…
Maybe I’ll buy another S9500
I’m looking for a good point and shoot with a swivel screen, , because I think I wouldn’t tend to carry around an DSLR as much. The features most important to me are; ease of use, fast shutter speed, at LEAST 8 megapixels and good night shots. Do you have any recommendations?
Any recommendations for a good point and shoot with a swivel screen, because I think I wouldn’t tend to carry around an DSLR as much. The features most important to me are; ease of use, fast shutter speed, at LEAST 8 megapixels and good night shots.
For Sheila: I have had my Sony H50 for a couple of years now. The fully tilting screen has been invaluable for taking over-the-chainlink fence shots at airshows and racetracks and for tripod shots where the camera is not at face height or is tilting.
I think it ticks all your boxes. It even has a night shooting mode for REALLY dark locations.
Madeleine, now Canon has a swivel screen DSLR — the 60D
Hi Sheila, you might also want to try the Canon G12
To date, the list could include:
- Olympus E-5
- Panasonic GH2
- Canon PowerShot SX30 IS
Thanks Jaxon.
Also to be added to the list is Sony Alpha DSLT 33 and 55 (articulating screens) and Sony Alpha DSLR 500/550/560/580 (tilting screens)
It’s slowly becoming the new standard I hope.
Thanks, will update the list soon.
Update: the list is now updated.
It is funny…
The sites which review cameras have search tools including search keys like “manual focus” or “digital zoom”, but they never include (as far as I know) “tilt-swivel LCD”…
Moreover, someone defines the device “tilt-swivel LCD”, someone only “swivel LCD”, someone “articulated”, or “articulating”, someone “multi-angle LCD”, or “vari-angle LCD”, or “free-angle-LCD”, someone “adjustable LCD”, and what have you…
This makes the web search by keyword long and uncertain.
We should also create a list of the different terms used by manufacturers for the same device…
Carlo, I agreee completely! Why should it be so difficult to find these cameras??
We could also include Leica V-Lux 2, even if it is a replica of the Panasonic DMC-FZ100…
I am “inconsolable” (in french!) that NIKON does not produce any more the S10 which was a really great great product. The swivel (or rotate?) design was by far the most convenient ever. No other manufacturer did anything similar. Of course it was not the most sophisticated camera but for every day use it was outstandingly easy to use. To me pictures was also excellent.
When Nikon, or any other will redo this camera?
I just bought the new Canon G12 and I also have a A630 and 640 but none are worth the S10!
The “ultimate” list…
Canon PowerShot G12 (Sep. 2010)
Canon PowerShot SX30 IS (Sep. 2010)
Canon EOS 60D (Aug. 2010)
Canon PowerShot SX20 IS (Aug. 2009)
Canon PowerShot SX10 IS (Sep. 2008)
Canon PowerShot SX1 IS (Sep. 2008)
Fujifilm FinePix S100fs (Jan. 2008)
Fujifilm FinePix HS10 (Feb. 2010)
Leica V-Lux 2 (Sep. 2010)
Nikon Coolpix P100 (Feb. 2010)
Nikon D5000 (Apr. 2009)
Nikon Coolpix P90 (Feb. 2009)
Olympus E-5 (Sep. 2010)
Olympus E-600 (Aug. 2009)
Olympus E-620 (Feb. 2009)
Olympus E-30 (Nov. 2008)
Olympus E-3 (Oct. 2007)
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 (Sep. 2010)
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100 (Jul. 2010)
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 (Mar. 2010)
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 (Mar. 2009)
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 (Sep. 2008)
Panasonic Lumix DMC-L10 (Aug. 2007)
Samsung TL500 (Feb. 2010)
Sony Alpha A560 (Aug. 2010)
Sony Alpha A33 (Aug. 2010)
Sony Alpha A55 (Aug. 2010)
Sony Alpha A580 (Aug. 2010)
Sony Alpha A390 (Jun. 2010)
Sony Alpha A500 (Aug. 2009)
Sony Alpha A550 (Aug. 2009)
Sony Alpha A380 (May 2009)
Sony Alpha A330 (May 2009)
Sony Alpha A300 (Jan. 2008)
Sony Alpha A350 (Jan. 2008)
Sony DSC-HX1 (Mar. 2009)
Carlo, yes, a complete list of cameras with specialty LCD screen
Thanks
Funny…
Even Wikipedia has a page dedicated to “Cameras with articulating or tilting screens”: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Articulating_screen .
The subject is in the spotlight…
Thank you for the list. This really simplified my camera hunt. I have a disability and I can no longer lift camera to my eye. An articulating LCD screen for me is a must. I had been looking at Canon and Nikon cameras. Thank you for making my search much easier.
Unless if I’ve missed it, I don’t see reference to ‘low light’ capabilities. The other feature I am looking for (not sure what name it goes by) is the ability to take sports or sequential shots. I’m specifically after sequential shots of rafters and kayak’s going through white water!
Would be nice to have zoom ability and other scenes. Would be nice to have the ability to add an external flash – already have one from Nikon but not sure if it will be interchangeable?
Why dont you list the NIKON S10 in the swivel screen cameras?
How come NIKON does not rebuild a new S10 like camera? It was an outstanding one.
Barry, thanks for the feedback. Will try to research these cameras
DELAPORTE, yep, I overlooked that one..
I was amazed to see how many articulated LCD cameras are available now.
Too many, not really distinguishable. Probably too much work for you Jaxon but one of the big sites like dpreview ought to a matrix to help the selection by type, zoom range, differentiating qualities, whatever is in demand by consumers.
Cannon T3i (Dec. 2011)