Viewfinder versus LCD-I need help

[DSLfeatfan]

I am an amateur who just recently got into photography. Currently I am using a Canon Power Shot A720 point and shoot, but my hopes are to purchase the new Canon SX20 when it is available. I am no pro, but just enjoy taking some nice shots now and then. My biggest issue right now is that I have such a hard time using the LCD screen on sunny days so I try using the viewfinder. I know that what you see in the viewfinder is not what will come out in the picture, but still I seem to have a such a hard time trying to figure out what will come out in my picture when I use the viewfinder. For instance, this weekend I was at a zoo and took some shots of animals by placing the lens, I thought, in between the fence and looking through the viewfinder, but later when I checked the pics the rungs of the fence were in the picture even though they didnt show up when I looked through the viewfinder. I hope I am explaining this right. Does anyone have any suggestions on either how to use the viewfinder correctly or a way to view the LCD screen on sunny days? Thank you, Deb

[OsmosisStudios]

The viewfinder on your A720 isnt like the one in a dSLR. Your viewfinder is reminiscient of a rangefinder camera, in that it's a separate window in the body. The viewfinder of a dSLR is a mirror-box contraption that looks directly through the lens itself.

What can happen with the A720 style viewfinder is that you dont see any problems from the viewfinder's vantage point, but the lens itself is a good inch lower: it may see something else. That seems to be the case here.

If youre really into photography, I'd skip the SX20is and go to an entry-level dSLR (think Canon XSi or equivalent). The SX20is should already be in stores (We have some where I work), but the price on them is hardly enticing (~$500, or only slightly less than a dSLR).

[DSLfeatfan]

Osmosis,
thank you. I did some more research on the SX20is and noted that it has an electronic viewfinder which sounds like it might help me with my viewfinder issues. I must admit that I will most likely stay an amateur, using mostly the auto and special scene options in the P&S rather than using very many of the manual settings, although I will experiment some. I did notice that the SX20 is in stock on Amazon for $399 so I am checking with my local store to see if they have it in stock

[l.k.madison]

if you already have one point and shoot and you're looking at dropping a few hundred on another one, skip it, splurge and get the DSLR.

Even if you know you won't be doing anything "pro", the DSLR gives you more options to change and you'll understand the settings better.

I have a Sony Cybershot T50 that goes for $600 on Amazon (we got it for about $200 after batteries, memory card and camera on eBay) but at the same time, I found a Canon Rebel XT for $198 for consignment at a camera store a few months ago. And I LOVE my XT, especially for that price. My Cybershot is nice, too, it stays in my purse and I ALWAYS have it on me, it has *some* manual functions and in some lighting, I've seen it preform better than the XT, but in most cases, the XT is better.

If you know where to look and don't mind waiting while you shop around, sometimes the DSLR's are cheaper than the point and shoots - and people take you a bit more seriously when they see you with a "big" camera.

[DSLfeatfan]

l.k. - i appreciate your comments, they make sense. I am just "afraid" of the DSLR's. I had a Canon SLR several years ago, before digitals, and I never seemed to quite grasp how to get "good" pics with it. Of course, I was not serious about it either. But I always struggled with fstops, ISO, etc. But I will do some research on some DSLRs and see what I find. I may just go that route.
Thanks!

[OsmosisStudios]

All DSLRs have an auto mode and semi-auto modes: not the serios full-manual modes of the old MF cameras of yesteryear (though I do have two of those, too).