What is this business about "chimping" ?

Why is there so much rib digging about "chimping" ?

Whats the problem with checking for composition, basic exposure, the histogram, and also to make sure that you haven't captured that lampost sticking out of aunties head? Whats wrong with checking to get rid of the poor shots to make room for more keepers?

Whats the point of having an lcd screen especially a 2.5" one on the rear of the camera if its not going to be checked?

Surely its all part of digital photography to be able to use this technology to ensure the best results.

I'll carry on checking (chimping) my shots regardless.

There are already threads here about chimping, but I'll start to answer your question. When a digital photographer gets caught chimping, they sometimes miss something very important to shoot and that's rather embarrassing. And sometimes, chimping too much may signal that you just can't get the exposure right no matter how many adjustments you make.

I have a theory that "chimping" comes more from a photographer that started in the digital age vs. a photographer that started in film. That is kind of obvious to me.

I take my shots until I feel like the shoot or situation is done then go back and see what I got. Is that still considered "chimping"?

Thats the way I see it

Well it's all about ppl who are to proud to actually check if they messed up the shot or not. Don't be bothered. No shame in checking to see if u got the exposure right or if u forgot the iso set on 3200 or stuff like that. Any smart pro who is being paid to do the job right chimps.

"Chimping" is the opposite of "Spray and Pray".

I use it all the time for histograms.

Rad

(And I admit that if I get a particularly excellent shot, I will complete the process and make the "Ooh, Ooh Ooh!" sound.)

Yup this last thing is biggest problem with chimping. It's not so much about checking your stuff but it's really annoying when there's 10 or 20 guys and all of a sudden you can hear "whoa uuuuhhh aaahhh this is great one yeah I'm good". Come on get back to normal! Who the hell (except your editor) cares if you have uhhh and ahhhh and oooh photo. Not to mention bugging fellow reporter next to you "look look this one isn't it great, come on leave this what you are just doing now and take a look at my photo"

Well, I guess I differentiate "chimping" from evaluating exposure and composition. To me, chimping is view the screen and "oohing" and "ahhing" at the photos just taken - it's looking for the sake of looking. On the other hand, you're foolish not to use the technology available to verify the exposure (histogram and blinkies) and composition. Why pay so much for the camera if you don't use it's capabilities. I check my first two or three shots, and then I shoot until I feel the lighting or position has changed enought that I need to reverify.

Mark

I especially like to chimp on my fashion/portrait shoots. It pumps up the onlookers and the model.

You should be able to tell if you have anything "growing out of their heads" before you take the shot, not after

I shot a wedding last weekend and the photographer looked at the camera after every shot.
The he proceeds to stand right in front of my video camera. I almost threw a battery at him, but didn't want to damage it, so I pushed him down..... actually, I was nice and tapped him on the shoulder and told him to move.

Oh, and I only "chimp" for a few shots to double check exposure, afterwards, I'll just shoot since everything looks great on the tiny LCD and you can't really judge the pic unless you zoom in which takes too much time on my D60.

It seems everyone check the lcds for their own reasons, the historgram is my main reason to be honest, I have review set to off and the historgram (info2) set to on when a picture is viewed.
It just seems that "Chimping" is a label given to anyone that checks the screen, and for the wrong reasons may make newcomers feel like they shouldnt be doing it or at least not in public lol.
As I'm not a total newcomber (only to digital slr since Sept o5) as I have been interested in photography for some 27 years, its not going to bother me much how others percieve my methods.
With reference to an earlier comment about, should see whats appearing in the shot before its taken, very true but then again we have all done it, including you Lynn. Fine when in a studio or posed or landscape shot, but not necessarily when on the move and taking grab shots. Yes if you check the screen after every shot, you are likely to miss a possible shot, but when at a motocross event recently, I see nothing wrong in the interval with checking good against the obviously bad, to enable me to make more room on my card - of which would maybe ensure I didn't miss that shot instead of changing a full card half full of crud.
Everyone to there own.

I like to chimp because, sooner or later, it'll bother someone so much that they'll start a thread about chimping...

Very dumb not to make use of the built in processing lab / display device / EXIF details that a digital camera offers.

I too now look at the histogram. It's very helpful, but I only look after I shoot a series of shots and have a minute. I have "missed" the action too many times. Most photographers who start with film that I know think chimping is funny. I think I confuse my cameras enough that I've tried chimping on my EOS 3 a couple of times before remembering it's film.