CANON EOS 40D

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MichaelFord

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Michael Ford
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Hi there,

I just bought a Canon eos 40d. I was expecting to be able to see the scene from LCD but not the view finder only. There's a live view which you can see the scene from LCD before taking the picture, but it is not on the automatice mode and I need to do adjastments manually.

Can any body help me with this. Can I use this camera fully automatically and be able to see from LCD and not view finder??

Many thanks.
Michael
 
Welcome to TP!

From the sounds of it, you should have bought a compact camera.

The whole point of a dSLR is the optical viewfinder. Liveview is a recent addition. You can make adjustments in liveview.

Personally I never use liveview - its a gimmick to me, but Macro people may like it.
 
Don't know the specifics on the 40D but Live view is designed to be an aid for macro focusing/composition and the occasional over the head shot.
A DSLR is designed so you can view much of the information from the camera through the viewfinder as a tool. This is the primary way to use it.

Oh Welcome to TP:)
 
impulse purchase? it seems that iether you havent done your research or didnt have a very good salesman.

If viewing the image is a big priority for you - try fro a bridge camera as a compromise.
 
Use the AF-ON button when in liveview to autofocus the lens. Use the little joystick on the back to move the white rectangle on the liveview screen and use the magnifying buttons to zoom in to x5 and x10. This can then be used to aid manual focussing.
 
I started out like this! had a bridge camera, it amazed me with the quality, then i bought a dslr canon 300d, used this as anexpensive point and shoot for a few months.

I then started to play about with the settings, went online and started to learn what dof and fstops ect really were all about!

Now im hooked I have a 40d my photography is getting better slowly I might add! I have also had a bit of tuition just a couple of hours but it worked some things that wouldnt sink in finally did.

so having gone on a bit go and learn about your camera its a hell of a machine and shouldnt be taken lightly :thumbs:
 
Welcome to TP, Michael.

Whilst you can use the LCD as a viewfinder - and the people above have given you tips regarding how to - it's not generally a good idea unless (a) the situation means you have to; or (b) you've got the camera on a tripod.

The reason is that if you're holding the camera in order to see the LCD, your grip isn't very stable and you'll suffer from camera shake. There's an old rule of thumb that with good technique the average person needs a shutter speed which is roughly the reciprocal of the focal length - e.g. if the lens is 50mm, then the shutter must be 1/50th or faster - in order to avoid visible camera shake affecting the pictures. It varies from individual to individual, and practice helps, but you get the idea.

Good technique requires:
  1. stand with feet apart and offset to make sure weight is balanced well
  2. tuck elbows into ribs to help brace camera
  3. left hand under lens to support it
  4. don't hold camera too tightly
  5. squeeze shutter button gently, don't stab
  6. breathe out slowly just before shooting
But if you're using the LCD as a viewfinder then you've pretty much kissed goodbye to 2, 3 and 4 from that list.
 
subseasniper said:
Use the AF-ON button when in liveview to autofocus the lens. Use the little joystick on the back to move the white rectangle on the liveview screen and use the magnifying buttons to zoom in to x5 and x10. This can then be used to aid manual focussing.
Click to expand...


Many thanks for technical advice.
But I am still wondering if it is possible not to use live view and be able to see through the LCD? I have read all the manual, but no mentioning of this. It is very simple question, but wondering if possible.
I know all about view finder, please help me with the LCD!
 
MichaelFord said:
Many thanks for technical advice.
But I am still wondering if it is possible not to use live view and be able to see through the LCD?
Click to expand...

Simple answer - No. Live view is the only way you can see "through" the LCD screen
 
StewartR said:
Welcome to TP, Michael.

Whilst you can use the LCD as a viewfinder - and the people above have given you tips regarding how to - it's not generally a good idea unless (a) the situation means you have to; or (b) you've got the camera on a tripod.

The reason is that if you're holding the camera in order to see the LCD, your grip isn't very stable and you'll suffer from camera shake. There's an old rule of thumb that with good technique the average person needs a shutter speed which is roughly the reciprocal of the focal length - e.g. if the lens is 50mm, then the shutter must be 1/50th or faster - in order to avoid visible camera shake affecting the pictures. It varies from individual to individual, and practice helps, but you get the idea.

Good technique requires:
  1. stand with feet apart and offset to make sure weight is balanced well
  2. tuck elbows into ribs to help brace camera
  3. left hand under lens to support it
  4. don't hold camera too tightly
  5. squeeze shutter button gently, don't stab
  6. breathe out slowly just before shooting
But if you're using the LCD as a viewfinder then you've pretty much kissed goodbye to 2, 3 and 4 from that list.
Click to expand...



Many thanks for your advice.
Could you tell me if I ever can use the LCD on fully automatic mode without using live view? Cheers!
 
MichaelFord said:
Many thanks for your advice.
Could you tell me if I ever can use the LCD on fully automatic mode without using live view? Cheers!
Click to expand...

NO.. that is really for compacts... or like said above, bridge cameras.
 
is there any reason why you cant/wont use the viewfinder?
 
MichaelFord said:
But I am still wondering if it is possible not to use live view and be able to see through the LCD?
Click to expand...

I dont think the guy understands what Live View is people
 
When you use "live view" (which is utilising the cameras lens to get an image on the rear LCD) the mirror inside the cameras body needs to move to allow light onto the sensor, thus disabling the viewfinder.

I've used the Live View mode for a number of shots, mainly close up macro work, and some night time landscape stuff. The viewfinder is a far better way of using your camera, especially as you can see the settings etc.

Is there a particular reason you can't use the viewfinder ?

Steve
 
i have never even tryed live view, i can see how it is helpful with macro stuff but apart from that i would not even think about it.
 
Just been checking on my 40D Live view will only work in P, TV, AV A-DEP and Manual modes. It will not work in any of the automatic modes.

You cannot see through the viewfinder while in Live view as the mirror is locked up blocking the viewfinder while in live view, everything in view is displayed on the lcd screen.

I think perhaps you may be getting a little confused, using live view on the 40D means what you see on the lcd screen is what you will get in your photo. If you are not using live view mode and viewfinder only then what you are seeing through that again is what you will get in your photo...well mostly, I'm not getting into techy stuff at this point. You cannot use both at the same time.
 
Jelster said:
When you use "live view" (which is utilising the cameras lens to get an image on the rear LCD) the mirror inside the cameras body needs to move to allow light onto the sensor, thus disabling the viewfinder.

I've used the Live View mode for a number of shots, mainly close up macro work, and some night time landscape stuff. The viewfinder is a far better way of using your camera, especially as you can see the settings etc.

Is there a particular reason you can't use the viewfinder ?

Steve
Click to expand...


Thanks for advice.
I use view finder. but some times, I prefere to see through the LCD instead of view finder. And I would have hoped some time the LCD be a subsititute for view finder without changing to live view function.
 
i thought "live view", was the term canon were using to mean using the lcd instead of the viewfinder??? but i think im missing the point your trying to make. in the old point and shoots with viewfinders, the viewfinder had its own window which was slightly off the picture you actually took, whereas on the 40d the viewfinder works through the lens giving the actual view you will get.

if you could explain a little better what you are trying to achieve it would help
 
You can't see "through" the LCD, only what is on the LCD.

If you want the LCD to show what you are about to take a photo of you use Live View - that it the definition of Live View!

If you're only going to use automatic mode and live view there is no reason for you to have an SLR - sell it and go back to point & shoot
 
MichaelFord said:
Thanks for advice.
I use view finder. but some times, I prefere to see through the LCD instead of view finder. And I would have hoped some time the LCD be a subsititute for view finder without changing to live view function.
Click to expand...

All you need to do is press the button in the middle of the wheel at the back to switch it on and off, so it should be easy enough to use.. although that may need setting up in the menu's but its not hard to find.




i need to learn to read!! lol..
 
Uneducated_Rick said:
If you're only going to use automatic mode and live view there is no reason for you to have an SLR - sell it and go back to point & shoot
Click to expand...
That's snobbish and unhelpful, Rick. :nono:

You can't get shallow depth of field with a P&S.
You can't get such a wide range of lenses (especiallly wide angles) with a P&S.
You can't shoot at high ISO with a P&S.
You (usually) can't shoot at a high frame rate with a P&S.

All quite legitimate reasons for wanting a DSLR, regardless of how you use it.
 
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