Live view do you use it?

EdBray said:
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.
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Which exactly why I stressed that "For me, Liveview is the single most useless feature on a camera. "

By this I mean that personally, I find it of no use. If I shot landscapes or my camera had a swivel screen, then I can see it could be mighty useful.
 
I forgot to add....

I'm also very shortsighted (minus 7) and sometimes looking at the live view is easier than the viewfinder - especially using a raynox.
 
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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thats a bit harsh IMO, and no its not vital(to me anyway)but its really useful when MF on a flower or subjects eyes as you can zoom the image and tweak to perfection.

photography did just fine without IS and AF and going digital, its doesnt mean the changes were not welcome.
 
I can see the value in an articulated screen far more than the usual fixed one.......maybe more Dslrs will have these in the future....as it is it's the key selling point for the D5000 over and above others in the Nikon range
 
Dave Pickett said:
I can see the value in an articulated screen far more than the usual fixed one...
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I've actually decided to go the route we went for Wheels and pick up one of those 8" LCD monitors at some point to give it a bit more articulation. :)

Being able to throw it on a ballhead and have it at any angle, as well as being able to have it at a distance from the camera when required (for example, it's 20ft in the air on the end of a boom and I'm stood on the ground with a radio trigger), and the fact that it's massive in comparison to the 3" LCD on the back of the camera, is going to be a big bonus.
 
I've never used it but my other-half's daughter has a D5000 and I could see myself using the swivel screen for live-view occasionally :)
 
Cheers Damien... :thumbs:

I'd much prefer an articulated screen, but it's just a tool like any other, to be used when the need is there. If you don't have the need, then you won't use ot.
 
Dinsdale said:
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.
Just my opinion anyway. :)
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Nope. Camera focuses in live view mode without dropping the mirror down. You only lose the view when you actually take the shot and as that happens with the viewfinder anyway there's nothing lost.
 
Actually, it depends which focus mode it is on. Contrast detection (the best) keeps a live view on the LCD, but focusing is slower than normal through the lens. Phase detection uses the same method as normal thru the lens and is fast, but requires the mirror to drop dow, hereby blanking out the LCD. Pretty useless, I love my contrast detection D5000 Af - zero problems with it. :)
 
Live View is also good for framing shots when you have lots of dark filters (eg ND10's and whatnot) at night, as through the viewfinder you can not see ANYTHING, but the Live View sensor is more sensitive and will give you a surprisingly clear image.

Other than that, for general shooting, tis useless. Even for low down shots you can't see the screen anyway so?
 
Okay if you aren't using a tripod or kneeling down then seeing someone holding a DSLR while in Liveview mode would make me think "get a bloody compact mate" because you just wouldn't look like a photographer would you ?
 
I havent got it on my D60 and miss it often because I cant physically get down low so if I want a low shot to get a good angle I have to shoot without seeing what I am getting. If you have any mobility problems you really need live view.
 
Graham00 said:
Okay if you aren't using a tripod or kneeling down then seeing someone holding a DSLR while in Liveview mode would make me think "get a bloody compact mate" because you just wouldn't look like a photographer would you ?
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:cuckoo::cuckoo::cuckoo:


mastertrinity said:
i only use live view for product and macro photography, apart from that its is useless gimmick.
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so you use it but its useless ?
 
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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Might be handy for infrared photography. At the moment I'm framing with both eyes open (when handheld), as the viewfinder is dark with the Hoya R72.

As another advantage contrast AF (not sure if this has been mentioned) in liveview completely obliterates any back or front focus problems.
 
lawrenceots said:
Actually, it depends which focus mode it is on. Contrast detection (the best) keeps a live view on the LCD
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That's the *only* AF mode you have when live view's on.
 
I have used it a few times, having read this thread I am going to be using it more with my zeiss 50mm by the sounds of things.
 
Sandiman said:
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.
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I'm with Sandiman, catching him up on the grey hair and creaking bones:lol: Very happy with the D5000 and G1, articulated screen and LV . . . :thumbs:

CJS
 
lawrenceots said:
Actually, it depends which focus mode it is on.
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Are you telling me that you can select which focus mode you want with the D5000 when in live view? Can you point me to the relevant manual page, 'cos I can't find it?
 
I'm really surprised so many people think it's a gimmick. Ok, fair comment it doesn't get called on much with many types of photography but like has been mentioned for work on a tripod it can be great.

I find it most useful when shooting Weddings. Those shots in church where you need the camera to be as quiet as possible. I use it when using 70-200 on tripod during the ceremony. Even better on my new 5dii as it has facial recognition which speeds up focusing even more, particularly when the face isn't quite on a focus point.

Ok I hear the purists view and most of the time it is better not to use it but for me it is really handy.
 
Kaouthia said:
Proper photographers utilise all the tools in their arsenal when appropriate. :)
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:plusone:You use what suits you and helps to get the picture you want its another tool to use when you want it
Bob
 
Kaouthia said:
Proper photographers utilise all the tools in their arsenal when appropriate. :)
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:agree:

I was sceptical about the need for live view before I bought my D90 and was pretty convinced I'd never use it (or the video function). It took me a while to get around to trying it out but now find it a very useful tool in some circumstances.

It's likely that in a decade from now (or maybe less if technology continues to progress exponentially) we'll be having this discussion about 3D images and the optical viewfinder will only be being used by die-hards - like our current "film is the only true photographic medium" exponents now.
 
Bristolian said:
Are you telling me that you can select which focus mode you want with the D5000 when in live view? Can you point me to the relevant manual page, 'cos I can't find it?
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Page in the destruction book?

Select live view, see the little square . . . press the 4 way button and watch the square move, (tiny increments)!!! Discovered it myself last night in the garden by accident:lol:

Sorry, just noticed you are on a D90, the above is how my D5000 responds . . . as far as I can see they are essentially the same camera?
 
CJS said:
Select live view, see the little square . . . press the 4 way button and watch the square move, (tiny increments)!!! Discovered it myself last night in the garden by accident:lol:
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That just changes the AF point, it does not change the AF mode. :)

Regardless of which AF point is selected, it's still always contrast based AF mode (which is different to the AF mode used when you're using the viewfinder) when you're using liveview. :)

That's the same on the D5000, D90, D300s, D3s or any other Nikon liveview bodies
 
The 450d works the same way, so I suspect the Canon's with LV also do. I have the two modes... Contrast in LV or the viewfinder mode, but the screen blanks for a moment as the camera drops the mirror back into place to focus.
 
There are three scenarios where I use live view.

1). Tripod work, very infrequent for me.
2). High held shots, over crowds etc. Again, infrequent.
3). Low held shots where lying down isn't practical.

Here's an example of number 3... (clickable)



It wouldn't have been practical to lye down as I was covered in sun cream and I would have ended up looking like human sand-paper.
 
On my Sony I use it regularly. The flip out screen is fantastic and it makes shooting from 'wierd' perspectives simple and straight forward.

Shooting from the floor is just a case of holding the camera down. None of this lieing down on the floor and getting dirty to look through the viewfinder.
 
I use it only for low down shots.
Especially when I have the camera inverted underneath the tripod and the viewfinder almost tounching the ground, as the live view screen automatically rotates the screen for you:)
 
Kaouthia said:
That just changes the AF point, it does not change the AF mode. :)

Regardless of which AF point is selected, it's still always contrast based AF mode (which is different to the AF mode used when you're using the viewfinder) when you're using liveview. :)

That's the same on the D5000, D90, D300s, D3s or any other Nikon liveview bodies
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?Mmm I thought that was what Bristolian was asking for, 'how to move the Live View AF point' . . . sorry if I misunderstood . . . :thinking:

Interesting though, look at the D90/D5000 spec., the D5000 is a D90 in disguise, technically, just about . . . :naughty: Just a few changes, small enough not to worry me, and the big plus an articulated screen . . . great for us old'uns, who cant get down and dirty any more:thumbs: Dont want half a stone of lenses to haul around . . . for me a good compromise.
 
After reading all of this I would be interested which canon people think has the best live veiw I would like to try it out and see for myself as I wear glasses and findl its a bit awkward
Bob
 
CJS said:
Page in the destruction book?

Select live view, see the little square . . . press the 4 way button and watch the square move, (tiny increments)!!! Discovered it myself last night in the garden by accident:lol:

Sorry, just noticed you are on a D90, the above is how my D5000 responds . . . as far as I can see they are essentially the same camera?
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I'm okay with that, but I was querying the thought that lawrenceots had that he has both phase and contrast detection focus in live view - which he hasn't :)
 
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