Live View Question

[hankbeblazin]

is live view when you can see the picture on the LCD before taking the picture?

if it is...um doesn't that defeat the whole purpose of a SLR? i dont get why they would add that to a camera where one of the main reasons of it being distinctive is the single reflex. i myself would never use a live view seems pointless on a slr. i'm sure it has its advantages but then you just look like another P&S shooter

just curious

[K1W1]

is live view when you can see the picture on the LCD before taking the picture?

if it is...um doesn't that defeat the whole purpose of a SLR? i dont get why they would add that to a camera where one of the main reasons of it being distinctive is the single reflex. i myself would never use a live view seems pointless on a slr. i'm sure it has its advantages but then you just look like another P&S shooter

just curious

Yes it is.

There are two reasons for it IMO.

1. At the low end it's what P&S upgraders want because it's how every P&S camera is used these days. It will give them a warm fuzzy feeling about upgrading. The fact us old times don't like it is not going to stop the marketing machine.

2. At the high end level it can be used successfully when tripod shooting with the newer high resolution LCD displays like the D3 and D300 have.

[fionndruinne]

Tripod is where it makes the most sense. I mean, unless your camera is set to exactly eye level, you can either stoop down and stick your eye to the viewfinder every time you need to, or just glance down at the LCD. Plus, for manually focusing, imagine zooming in on your LCD, tweaking the focus, and seeing what you're doing as you're doing it - magnified!

I agree, though; I wouldn't use it for normal shooting. But if you're ever transported to WWI Europe and take cover in a trench, wouldn't you like to take some photos using the LCD without exposing your head to enemy fire?;)

[K1W1]

I agree, though; I wouldn't use it for normal shooting. But if you're ever transported to WWI Europe and take cover in a trench, wouldn't you like to take some photos using the LCD without exposing your head to enemy fire?;)

I suspect that that is one situation where I could truthfully say that having a camera with me would not be a number 1 priority. :)

[fionndruinne]

Ah, but think of the awards! The fame! The recognition, all provided you could get back with at least your skin and memory card intact.

[K1W1]

Ah, but think of the awards! The fame! The recognition, all provided you could get back with at least your skin and memory card intact.

Or I could be like many WW1 and WW2 photographers and take my photos at carefully staged "reinactments" in some cases tens of thousands of miles from the actual scene of the action.

[Rooz]

i prefer a viewfinder and i generally loathe LCD composition. live view with no AF to me is ok but not really all that desirable. but live view with AF for tripod work, especially macros, would be fantastic.

a flip screen would be even handier and its only a matter of time b4 that comes out too.

[K1W1]

a flip screen would be even handier and its only a matter of time b4 that comes out too.

I think there are some issues with that one. From memory Canon have some patents that cause other manufacturers to have to come up with different designs that's why there are a variety of different ways of flipping the screen none of which are as successful as the simple hinge on the left that Canon use.
I agree in principle though if you are going live view then flip screen naturally follows.

[Rooz]

the flip LCD on my old nikon coolpix 5700 worked a treat. so i can;t see it being too much of an issue. maybe we should wait for a d400 mate ? :p

[K1W1]

Are you suggesting a D400 rumour thread?

[erichlund]

Yes it is.

There are two reasons for it IMO.

1. At the low end it's what P&S upgraders want because it's how every P&S camera is used these days. It will give them a warm fuzzy feeling about upgrading. The fact us old times don't like it is not going to stop the marketing machine.

2. At the high end level it can be used successfully when tripod shooting with the newer high resolution LCD displays like the D3 and D300 have.

Again on the tripod, but tethered to a computer. You can see the live view on the computer. Some people talk about recording the video, but I don't know that the live view is that high quality, maybe just VGA, which is OK, but not what you spent thousands on a camera for. Want video, get a video camera.

[VTEC_EATER]

I would say there are two reasons for live view on a DSLR.

1) you are taking a shot where you can not look through the viewfinder. As an example, a shot over your head and over a crowd. A case where this would be useful would be the paparazzi trying to get a shot of Paris Hilton's crotch but there are already 50 other people surrounding said crotch.

2) you are taking a macro shot, or something where there is a very shallow depth of field, and you need to confirm your focus. Switch to live view, and zoom in to confirm proper focus. A crotch example could be used here as well.

Now, live view could be nice for these couple things, but I don't think it makes or breaks the camera.

One more thing that may be nice for some people would be a live histogram. I'm not sure if Nikon is incorporating this into its live view, but it would be just one more thing that would make live view more useful.

[tcadwall]

Well, OK then...
They serving alcohol already where you are from VTEC?:eek:

[VTEC_EATER]

Well, OK then...
They serving alcohol already where you are from VTEC?:eek:

No, I'm just becoming delirious from work.

And for the record, I think my crotch shot examples are completely valid.;)

[AdamW]

No, I'm just becoming delirious from work.

And for the record, I think my crotch shot examples are completely valid.;)

I don't think valid is a word that should be used in conjucntion with the phrase "Paris Hilton's crotch." :eek: ;)