Live view do you use it?

emma90

emma90

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well im wondering whether a live view screen would be good or whether i wouldnt bother using it, what are your experiences?
 
emma90 said:
well im wondering whether a live view screen would be good or whether i wouldnt bother using it, what are your experiences?
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For me, Liveview is the single most useless feature on a camera.

I've messed around with it but without a flip-out LCD, I fail to see an advantage.
 
Use it often when shooting low down of high up, would be a lot more useful with a flip/fold out screen but still find it handy, I wouldn't buy a camera just for it though!
 
Liveview is aimed at folks who wander into Jessops then wonder why they can't see the picture on the back :D

Silly feature - good photographic technque is not compatbile with arms-held-out photography.

(no doubt someone will wander into the thread and claim its vital, to which I'll say that photography is 120+ years old, and did just fine without it pre-2008 ) ;)
 
I use it a lot for video, (mainly cause you have no other option) but it's also very handy for if you're setting up a shot and want to double check that your focus point really is in focus, you can zoom into that point. I know that the pro's don't need that but for someone like me who still considers themselves a complete noob it's sometimes nice to see it confirmed on screen.

I use it a lot too when shooting stuff close to the ground but because the screen doesn't flip it's not THAT much of an advantage.
 
I use it whenever I use old manual focus lenses on my 450d -(for sale! £250) and also when manually focusing using AF lenses so it's a must have item!!! Apart from that.....nope! It's a useful thing to have though just in case.
 
its dead handy for macro product and landscape

in fact anything tripod mounted as it enables very fine focus and easy tweaking of in camera wb/exposure

can be handy to compose outside of AF points aswell

not vital, but technically neither is AF
 
grey.squirrel said:
I use it a lot for video, (mainly cause you have no other option) but it's also very handy for if you're setting up a shot and want to double check that your focus point really is in focus, you can zoom into that point. I know that the pro's don't need that but for someone like me who still considers themselves a complete noob it's sometimes nice to see it confirmed on screen.

I use it a lot too when shooting stuff close to the ground but because the screen doesn't flip it's not THAT much of an advantage.
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why not, visual confirmation is always valuable espesh when someone is paying
 
I've got one on my D300S but never use it. Reasons are:

  1. When taking stills you can see your subject (obviously) but when you press the shutter release to focus etc. the mirror drops down in front and obscures the view until the picture is taken... might as well not bothered. Haven't used it in tripod mode yet though.
  2. It stays visible when using the video mode, but as I never use the camera for video it's still useless.
Just my opinion anyway. :)
 
david1701 said:
its dead handy for macro product and landscape

in fact anything tripod mounted as it enables very fine focus and easy tweaking of in camera wb/exposure
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Hmm good point!
 
I've just picked up an angle finder to help when I want to put the camera at a height or angle that is not easily compatible with my eye-level. Live-view is largely irrelevant for what I do and I've only used it a couple of times - this has been when I was taking candid shots with my camera on my lap & I was pretending to fiddle with it rather than taking the candids!

Phil
 
I find it usefull when doing long exposures as it saves me from having to remove and re-attatch the viewfinder cover for each shot I take.
 
I wouldn't say it was useless and I wouldn't say it was vital, it's a handy feature to have but depends on what you are doing. For macro photography it's great, and helps no end when it comes to manual focusing (when zooming in 10x on the LCD). I have been using my 10 stop quite a bit and liveview also helps with it as you can compose with the filter attached, this is pretty much impossible through the viewfinder.

I wouldn't wander around generally using liveview as apart from looking like a complete tool, it wouldn't be as easy or as accurate as the viewfinder.
 
Most of the time I forget it even exists. I don't remember the last time I used it, and I think that was just to see what it was like. It'd probably get more use if I could tilt the screen like on some of the newer cameras coming out. Then I'd probably use it for extreme low or high angle shots when I couldn't look through the view finder.
 
Jimmy_Lemon said:
Use it often when shooting low down of high up, would be a lot more useful with a flip/fold out screen but still find it handy, I wouldn't buy a camera just for it though!
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just out of interest, how do you find it an advantage when shooting high up or low down? I tried some paddock shots recently with the camera down by my ankles but with no flip out screen, it was as much guess-work as if I didn't have LV enabled.
 
I find LV excellent. My D5000 seems to have very rapid contrast and FD AF when I use it with the 18-70 and 70-300 VR. The pull out LCD is also superb. I don't like Jessops. ;)
 
It's excellent for astro photography, zoomed in to 10x, to focus, and align the mount on the alignment stars to get the goto working properly.
 
Rarely use it and when I do, it tends to be with a Zigview Live plugged in. Lets me get the setup I want without having to get down on my (long abused) knees and then use the shutter button on the Zigview to capyure the moment if/when it happens. Means I can leave the camera pointing at an unsuspecting subject and they stay unsuspecting!
 
I use it for video but also for setting up interior shots as I can look and stare at it for a couple mins to make sure everything is perfect. As well as someone can be moving furniture around to the right places.
 
I find it pretty useful for precise manual focus and tripod stuff. I often struggle to see what's in focus and what's not when bent over at a funny angle trying to peer through the viewfinder

puddleduck said:
(no doubt someone will wander into the thread and claim its vital, to which I'll say that photography is 120+ years old, and did just fine without it pre-2008 ) ;)
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Live view is more like working with an old view camera than one of those newfangled slr systems so :P
 
zoom said:
For me, Liveview is the single most useless feature on a camera.

I've messed around with it but without a flip-out LCD, I fail to see an advantage.
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puddleduck said:
Liveview is aimed at folks who wander into Jessops then wonder why they can't see the picture on the back :D

Silly feature - good photographic technque is not compatbile with arms-held-out photography.

(no doubt someone will wander into the thread and claim its vital, to which I'll say that photography is 120+ years old, and did just fine without it pre-2008 ) ;)
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So what is the difference between live view and a ground glass screen on a view camera? Which actually have been in use for oh, about 120 years or so!

Live view is exceedingly useful when using tilt/shift lenses.

It's a tool to be used like any other. It's surprising how many people have closed minds about some things just because they personally do not seem to need the feature.

Strangely enough, I wouldn't buy a DSLR without live view now, I have it on both my 1Ds3 and my soon to arrive 1D3.
 
The Matt said:
I find it pretty useful for precise manual focus and tripod stuff. I often struggle to see what's in focus and what's not when bent over at a funny angle trying to peer through the viewfinder



Live view is more like working with an old view camera than one of those newfangled slr systems so :P
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Snap!
 
Great facility even better on a video cam where you are guaranteed wobbly results!

Nope my daughter used to the other day but I avoid it. Guess it might be useful for tripod mounted portraits with a remote release so you could talk to the subject, but live view is time limited on the d90 anyway so I would probably not use even for that.

Proper cameras have viewfinders, proper photographers use them!
 
zoom said:
just out of interest, how do you find it an advantage when shooting high up or low down? I tried some paddock shots recently with the camera down by my ankles but with no flip out screen, it was as much guess-work as if I didn't have LV enabled.
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I am not talking that low down, basically :p - I mean more where it is at a level where you cannot easily get your eye to the viewfinder. I find it useful for the very odd shot I might need to do holding the camera at arms length in the air, even just moving your arms forward slightly normally make it enough to be able to see the screen. As for low down the best example I can give is some waterfall shots I was taking the other day. I had the camera on my tripod set about a foot and a half off the water with me standing on a rock. I couldn't get bend down to the viewfinder without falling in the water so liveview was spot on :) Thinking about it, I have used it very low down before, instead of having to lie flat on the floor to get my eye to the viewfinder I can switch live view on and just be down on one knee to see enough to frame the shot.
 
EdBray said:
So what is the difference between live view and a ground glass screen on a view camera? Which actually have been in use for oh, about 120 years or so!

Live view is exceedingly useful when using tilt/shift lenses.

It's a tool to be used like any other. It's surprising how many people have closed minds about some things just because they personally do not seem to need the feature.

Strangely enough, I wouldn't buy a DSLR without live view now, I have it on both my 1Ds3 and my soon to arrive 1D3.
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Id say its because some people see it as DSLR refering back to P&S's, which is not "proper photography", and not liking that idea. I have never seen anyone using it in that way i.e. holding it at head height staring at the screen.
 
puddleduck said:
Liveview is aimed at folks who wander into Jessops then wonder why they can't see the picture on the back :D

Silly feature - good photographic technque is not compatbile with arms-held-out photography.

(no doubt someone will wander into the thread and claim its vital, to which I'll say that photography is 120+ years old, and did just fine without it pre-2008 ) ;)
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As I am turned 70 years of age I use Live view when ever I need to take a shot from low down and high up so for me it is definitely vital.

When I first read the above quote I thought you must use a camera at least as old as a Box Brownie. I was surprised to see that you use a modern camera as the Sony a900. Just because you don't need Liveview does not make it silly. You never know the day might come when even you will find it beneficial.
 
Use the screen for the histogram especially the RGB one

Never actualy tried to activate the live view, might give it a try one day, but never found the need yet
Same goes for the video, just happened to have it on the camera I felt comfortable with
 
I would not be without my fully articulated swivel liveveiw for those low down shots I like to do.

At my age 60+ and a gammy arthritic knee some of my favourte shots would not be possible, so as a long long time slr user I'll take these "gimmicks" thankfully if it allows me to get the shots .

So all you young ones with fixed LCD screen and veiwfinder only attitude will not bother taking anything above or below head height when old age creeps up on you then, my how boring will all those same perspective shots be.;) :)

Both these were taken six inches from the ground handheld with liveveiw, and if I had even managed to get down to look through the veiwfinder I doubt very much I would have been able to get up again!:shake:

861498848_ASEaH-M.jpg


894270004_8MaTX-M.jpg
 
OlyPaul said:
I would not be without my fully articulated swivel liveveiw for those low down shots I like to do.

At my age 60+ and a gammy arthritic knee some of my favourte shots would not be possible, so as a long long time slr user I'll take these "gimmicks" thankfully if it allows me to get the shots .

So all you young ones with fixed LCD screen and veiwfinder only attitude will not bother taking anything above or below head height when old age creeps up on you then, my how boring will all those same perspective shots be.;) :)

Both these were taken six inches from the ground handheld with liveveiw, and if I had even managed to get down to look through the veiwfinder I doubt very much I would have been able to get up again!:shake:

861498848_ASEaH-M.jpg


894270004_8MaTX-M.jpg
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Great frog/toad shot and a good example of how a tilt liveview is helpful, I am guessing you wouldn't have long to compose before they hopped off :D
 
As others have said..

It's great for anything you do on a tripod. Landscapes, astrophotography (great being able to zoom in to stars and really make sure you're focused on infinity), long exposures, manual focusing, and obviously video (where you ain't got much choice).

I use it all the time.

Of course, it would be infinitely more useful on the D300s if it had a live histogram (ya hearing me Nikon?)
 
Yeah, it's kinda retarded that it doesn't have one, given that Nikon could implement one any time they liked with a simple firmware update.
 
I used it to focus for this. The focus mechanism is a manual rack and pinion system, this was shot with a 600mm telescope and a 2x tc. Without liveview, I would never have been sure I got it right, whilst the exif data is intact... the apterture is blank as it's fully manual... it's f/15 with the tc.

IMG_3405.jpg
 
I use it - I'm fairly short (5'2") and don't like creepy crawlies :lol:

So I use it to get a higher viewpoint, or for putting close to the ground if it's wet and I don't want to lie down..... or if it looks spidery!!!!!!;)
 
jgs001 said:
I used it to focus for this.
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Lovely shot that is John! :clap:

I use it very rarely, but a couple of times it's been very handy indeed.....I think I'd use it more if I had a flip/tilt screen, but it's still quite useful in some situations.....when manual focusing landscapes in low light, it's awesome! :thumbs:
 
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