A Liquid Crystal Display, universally known by its abbreviation LCD, is a thin, flat electronic display technology that uses the light modulating properties of liquid crystals to present information visually. In photography, LCD displays are found in several distinct locations on modern cameras, each serving a specific informational or compositional purpose that contributes to the overall usability and functionality of the camera system.
On film and digital cameras, a small monochrome LCD panel is commonly located on the top plate of the camera body, providing a clear and easily readable at-a-glance summary of the camera's current shooting settings without the need to raise the camera to the eye. This top plate LCD typically displays essential exposure information including the selected shutter speed, aperture, and ISO value, along with the remaining frame count or available shots, battery condition, and exposure mode. On more advanced camera models, the top plate display may also show the active metering pattern, autofocus mode, exposure compensation value, flash mode and status, white balance setting, and image quality or file format selection, giving the photographer a comprehensive overview of all active camera settings at a single glance.
Many cameras also incorporate a smaller LCD display within the viewfinder eyepiece itself, overlaying shooting data and exposure information as a heads up display within the field of view so that the photographer can monitor settings without removing the camera from the eye during shooting. This in-viewfinder display typically shows the most critical exposure parameters - shutter speed, aperture, exposure compensation, and focus confirmation - in a format that can be read while simultaneously composing the image.
On digital cameras, a larger colour LCD screen on the rear of the camera body serves the additional functions of live view composition, image playback, menu navigation, and the review of captured images immediately after shooting. These rear LCD screens have grown progressively larger, higher in resolution, and more sophisticated over successive generations of digital cameras, with many modern cameras featuring articulated or fully tilting and swivelling LCD screens that can be angled to facilitate comfortable composition from high, low, or awkward camera positions without the need to crouch or stretch to look through the viewfinder.