Live View

[T_J_G]

I'm looking at maybe purchasing an SLR, is Live Viewas helpful as it seems? The one I'm looking at hasn''t got it but the next model up does...

Tim

[Winso]

I've never used a DSLR with it so can't really give a proper balanced opinion. Though I can't say I've missed not having it to be honest, if that makes any sense?!

[Ridg]

On a DSLR Live view is generally only used for manual focus during macro shooting.

Quite a few of the consumer DSLR cameras now come with flip out  screens, allowing you to hold it at arms length for say over crowd shots, or to get really low without having to get yourself dirty.

The problem with this is that you can't always see the screen properly (angle of tft, bright sunlight etc), the screen isn't always 100% coverage of the sensor so you cant compose the shot properly, the mirror is locked up during live view; this means the sensor has nothing infront of it so could be susceptible to dust particles being sucked in by zoom lenses, live view normally has a delay where the mirror flips down to the neutral position to take the photo.

the think to remember is that when you look through the view finder, you often isolate yourself from the rest of the surroundings, allowing you to concentrate on taking the best photo you can, not watching a screen.

Personally I've used live view a handful of times, and I've gone round the clock on my D300

What cameras you looking at?

[T_J_G]

Sony a230 (£289) and the a330. (£339 inc. £30 cashback)

I think for the £40 extra it may be worth having.

[Diamond Hell]

It's bollacks.  I have it on the 500D and have never used it, except when shooting movies.

[Ridg]

It's bollacks.  I have it on the 500D and have never used it, except when shooting movies.

+1

For the sake of £40 it could prove worth it, but other than macro I can't think or a real use for it as it ruins the ergonomics for the DSLR

[shepgti]

cant imagine using my dslr at arms length to see the screen as its too heavy

[Mortimer Hill]

I got the feature on one of my DSLRs. I thought I'd never use it, but it does actually have its uses, particualrly when using the camera on a tripod; so macro work and possibly landscape work.

On my camera, you can zoom in using live view, so for macro work you can really check that you've focussed accurately.

Also, when you use the depth of field preview in  live view, the image stays at a useable brightness, so you can fully check what is and isn't in focus.

[DubFan]

I think it depends on what you're shooting as to how helpful it is.
Having swapped from a Bridge camera (being able to view on screen) to a DSLR without live view, I've missed it on a couple of occassions.
Mostly these have been when shooting (as suggested) macro shots, or landscape shots. There have been a few occassions when the camera has been in a position that has made it tricky to look into the view finder (like on the ground), and in this case, live view would have been useful.
I do also take some shots whilst holding the camera a hip or chest height, in order to get more candid shots of people (if they see you bring a camera to your eye they freeze up or hide), so live view might also be useful here, but it's not essential.

I have a Sony Alpha 100 already, so I would be looking at one of those models if I was upgrading, but having tried them recently in a shop (to test lenses) I wasn't fussed with the flip out screen, in fact I'd worry about it's durability, and actually I would want the slightly bigger a330 if anything because the a230 felt too small and flimsy.

[Guy]

i use my K20D live view for taking low down and dirrty shot of dubs of course