UX-180, UX-90, HC-X1 - Fixing Screen Glare

[Mike Warren]

I have a UX180 and screen glare has made it difficult for me to use the LCD outside. I have to make sure I wear a dark shirt and always angle the LCD such that it's pointing towards my shirt, which is sometimes inconvenient.

I couldn't find a matte screen protector to suit, so I ordered one to suit a computer from eBay for about $3. I cut a 89mm x 52.5mm piece from it to stick over the LCD.

It fixed the problem nicely and the touch sensitivity of the screen doesn't seem to be affected. However, the protector does affect contrast of the screen.

And I have enough of the protector left to make another bunch of them if I damage this one.

Make sure to clean the screen well first and put it on in a dust free environment.

 

[Angus_Findlay]

Thanks for the tip. I'll have to try that - My UX180 is very frustrating to use outside.

 

[firehawk]

With those LCD hoods like vello, etc is the LCD still hard to see outside ?

Why couldn't they have given it the dvx200 screen that was already in production? I would gladly pay more for the camera. I know the answer. $. It's just frustrating that seemingly every camera has some unnecessary shortcomings to work around.

 

[Mike Warren]

With those LCD hoods like vello, etc is the LCD still hard to see outside ?

They will help with reflections from the sides, but my main problem is that outside it acts as a mirror so all I see is my own face. positioning the display such that it's pointing to my chest and making sure I wear a dark coloured shirt has been the only thing I've found to help.

Why couldn't they have given it the dvx200 screen that was already in production?

I didn't realise the DVX200 has a matte screen. The engineers must have been able to talk sense into the marketing people.

I would gladly pay more for the camera.

Me too.

I know the answer. $.

It is, but probably not what you think. A matte screen won't cost any more than a glossy one, all other things being equal, but glossy screens display deeper blacks and look more impressive in a showroom. Since these are essentially a consumer camera Panasonic marketing would want to make sure it stands out when on display.

It's just frustrating that seemingly every camera has some unnecessary shortcomings to work around.

Indeed, and not just cameras.

 

[firehawk]

Thanks Mike.
I also meant that the DVX200 has a higher res LCD screen, which could have been used on the UX180. Too bad they chose not to...