The viewfinder, I use since the first day on which he has arrived. Contrary to some opinion, the viewfinder is a great help in sunshine and bright artificial light. The fact that the picture is not as high resolution as the monitor, interfere with the recording only if you want to assess certain details in their play carefully. But in particular, the possibility (which I need, unfortunately) to be able to do without because of the sharpness setting on reading glasses, is a big plus of the viewfinder. In addition, I am an old analog photographer, and the viewfinder gives me the opportunity to be able to use the camera on time-tested manner: "shooting around the corner" at eye level and, where appropriate, as in a waist-level viewfinder, thanks to tilting mechanism! Unfortunately, the viewfinder makes the camera (LX5) somewhat unwieldy. A matching bag that allows you to plug Let the viewfinder, I have not yet found. The placement of the viewfinder in the separate carrying case from Panasonic is quite nice, but unpack every time to take pictures, attach, and afterwards the same vice versa: The bugging me. For me, the bottom line is: I do not give him her ...