Live View?

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FRAZEL

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Have I missed out on a camera feature which I`ll regret for the entire life of my D80 because it lacks LiveView.I was use to this method of taking pics. on my compact but with sunlight reflections and arm shaking causing none too sharp an image I though the d.slr route was for me.Where/when is live view advantageous ?

PS.I`m really pleased to be part of this community I`ve learned so much by just going through the various threads. Long live talkphotography!!!!!
 
I don't think you've missed out Frazel! I've upgraded to the D300 which has LiveView, and I'm struggling to think of any real use for it!
 
Useful on a tripod or when you can't get you eye to the viewfinder in unusual positions but other than that not a huge amount of use and I'd imagine pretty harsh on bettery life.

To me it's more of a nice to have than a definate want in an SLR, allthough maybe I'd change my mind if I had the money for a 40D!
 
My friend has it on his olympus and always uses it. I have a D80 also and cant say im bothered that it hasnt got it. I can see the picture i want through the eye piece better realy.
 
I mainly do insect macro's and the last few shots I havetaken I have tried using live view rather than the viewfinder to try getting the focus spot on because of the shallow DOF and I have to say I think it has made life a whole load easier with more keepers.
 
Yup, I agree with Scraggs, Macro is where it's useful. Otherwise, not much, but really worthwhile when you need it.
 
my 40D has got it of course and I agree it is handy for composing in those awkward tripod shots. Downsides though I also agree are battery life. Still think it's quite handy though.
 
Its great for macro... multiply the image by x5 or x10 then you can REALLY be sure of your focus!! :thumbs:
 
Tethered to a laptop, up to several feet away from the camera, if you like, Live View can be operated from the comfort of your armchair, or whatever, while the camera is in a potentially awkward or uncomfortable spot. Plus you retain the advantage of precise manual focusing, with 10X precision, all displayed on a nice big laptop screen.

Obvious uses are for photographing shy creatures, macro, product photography, security surveillance, critical focus accuracy, magnified DOF preview - all sorts of things really. If you really must, you could always resort to using the display as you would with a point and shoot, and firing off shots above the heads of a crowd, or over a wall etc..

For the measurebators, you can even use Live View to verify the AF accuracy of your lenses.... Use AF on a flat, contrasty, well lit subject, and then see if you can improve on it with Live View 10X manual focusing.

I'm sure those with more imagination will think of other uses.
 
You wont miss it. i got my 40d because of it and ive used it for 4 shots i want to kep and all of them are of the moon.
i only used it to be lazy to adjustg my WB.

Not worth too much extra IMHO
 
When I first got the 40 D (at Focus, 2 wks ago), I didn't think I'd ever use it, but set it up anyway. I can now say that I have used it about 40% of the time so far...awkward tripod shots, candids etc. It's a very useful addition, but not a major issue if you don't have it.
 
I am desperate for live view and cannot wait for the 450D to hit the strees so I can upgrade from my 400D (can't go for 40D or better due to weight issues).
 
I thought it would be pretty useless, but surprisingly used it much more often than I'd thought. Mainly for things where I couldn't otherwise get my head in, such as sticking my camera in the open window of a display car (which was roped off) and using live-view to compose and shoot. I wouldn't otherwise be able to see what I was shooting.

Not a killer selling point, but pretty nice to have.
 
I think people who don't see the need probably just assume it's only use is as an alternative viewfinder to the eyepiece.

Live view is brilliant in tripod mode, for macro and also for shots of the moon.
In tripod mode on the D300 you can digitally zoom in to fine adjust the focus.

When I used to take moon shots I had to take loads of shots and move the focus by tiny increments to try and get a few keepers.
Using the liveview fully zoomed in I can get the best possible focus every time.

Here are two examples taken a couple of weeks ago

2274045407_abac610256.jpg


2274838042_d2eb812fa2.jpg
 
I haven't used it yet and for now can't see any situation where I persoanlly would use it!

I'm surprised it helped with moon shots. I would have thought the lens would have no worries focusing without live view, I've never had any issues photographing the moon?!
 
I think this is one of those things that if you don't have it you don't miss it but, like Air Con in the car, once you've got a camera that does (have live view) you'll never go back to one that doesn't.

My summary is this - not neccessary but occasionally useful and once or twice a year invaluable.
 
Thanks everyone for the comments on the subject;I gather there is a live view attachment that can be used for those of us found wanting but I`ll just have to manage without it for now.There is enough features on this D80 to baffle me for the present anyrate!!!!!
 
Well, when I bought my Canon EOS 400D I didn't realise there was no live view, I simply assumed that if my £150 compact had it then surely the DSLR would!

Freaked out a bit when I realised there wasn't but the more time I spend on here and reading up on photography the more I can see how I actually prefer not having it - one thing especially for me is that pressing it against my eye helps steady the camera slightly! :D

The battery seems to last forever also! :thumbs:
 
I moved from a D80 to D300. I was excited to hear that the D300 had Live view. In reality I haven't used it once.
The only thing I can think that it might come in handy for is macro. But I'm thinking of maybe selling my macro lens! But maybe I should have a go at using both.........
Enjoy your D80. Cracking camera. As is this site as you have already found out.
 
On the 40D, invoking Live View with the SET button is a quick way to achieve mirror lock up. It saves delving in menus to turn MLU on and off from shot to shot. Combined with a sturdy tripod and the 2 second self timer or remote shooting it is a nice quick way to get a shake free image.
 
Janice said:
Its great for macro... multiply the image by x5 or x10 then you can REALLY be sure of your focus!! :thumbs:
Click to expand...

I was going to say that!!!... lol..
 
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