An LCD screen is the display on the back of a digital camera. It shows the live view, the menu, the settings, and the images you have captured. It is the primary interface between the photographer and the camera. LCD stands for liquid crystal display. The screen is made of pixels that change color and brightness when an electric current is applied. It is illuminated by a backlight, usually LED, which makes it visible in a range of lighting conditions.

LCD screens have improved dramatically. Early screens were small, low-resolution, and hard to see in bright sunlight. Modern screens are large, high-resolution, and often articulated, meaning they can be tilted and rotated for shooting at odd angles. Some cameras have touchscreens, allowing you to tap to focus and swipe through menus. Others have hybrid interfaces with buttons and dials for tactile control. The screen is not just for reviewing images. It is for composing, for changing settings, and for accessing menus. It is also a battery drain. The larger and brighter the screen, the more power it uses.

LCD screen features

• Size. Usually 3 to 3.5 inches.
• Resolution. Measured in dots, higher is sharper.
• Articulation. Tilting and rotating for odd angles.
• Touch. Tap to focus, swipe to navigate.
• Brightness. Adjustable for different lighting.

The LCD screen is not the viewfinder. It is a window into the camera's settings and a preview of the image. Both matter, and they serve different purposes.