Your opinions on LiveView

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MrJones

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So I am still deciding on my first SLR and I have now come across LiveView. I would have thought that this kind of thing would be standard on a SLR (Shock, Horror)...

I am quite used to LiveView on my little Point and Shoot. I see some guys say that using LiveView is "cheating" when using a SLR. Because I am so used to it, I feel I will kind of miss it. Whats your opinions from a hobbyist/professional/photography junky point of view.

**EDIT** Especially seen as you can get a Sony A230 with 2X Lenses at the same price of the A330 with one lens (A330 has a LiveView, main difference really)
 
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I have the A350 with liveview.
This being my 1st slr, I was expecting liveview to be the norm, and was also mortified to discover that not all cameras have it.

Having had it for a couple of months now, I find I hardly use it, but would definitely miss it if it weren't there. It saves my knees when I want those level with the ground shots...:)

So, for me it's a nice to have but not essential. Far more important for me would be a larger viewfinder.
 
Some makes are better at LV than others. But whatever you do, don't let LV be a deciding factor, when choosing your DSLR. Lots of pros will tell you it's fluff. Same goes for video.
 
I have tried out LiveView on quite a few camera's and I must say I find it far easier to just use the viewfinder. The liveview is rather choppy and laggy...
 
While I wish my new camera had video and wouldnt have minded a less clunky live view neither would have influenced my purchasing.

Try holding a small brick at arms length like you would do a P&S for any length of time - that's what it feels like when I'm using a long lens trying to focus through the screen at the back.
 
I'm on my second DSLR with live view. Times I've used it (other than fooling around with it): 0

I don't understand why on earth anyone would want to use the comparatively low res screen on the back if you can look through an optical viewfinder and see your frame for real. :confused:
 
Also never used live-view. Tried it once, just to see what it was. My last bridge camera was the S5 IS and I used the EVF a lot more than the LCD at the back for taking images.
 
ChrisJ said:
The liveview in the 50d is fantastic for macro shots on a tripod, but for anything else it is pretty useless.
Click to expand...

Live view might be usable (I can't even bring myself to say 'useful') but I fail to see how it is fantastic, let alone better than the viewfinder in any way. Unless you have an articulated LCD, your face is still going to have to be behind the camera in the same direction, so it's not making things any more or less convenient.
 
Thanks for eveyones opinions... it is all becoming clearer to me now :)

It always helps to have a few experts on-hand to question.
 
MrJones said:
Thanks for eveyones opinions... it is all becoming clearer to me now :)

It always helps to have a few experts on-hand to question.
Click to expand...
Well if you've got experts on-hand why you asking us? :confused: :p
 
koffiejunkie said:
Live view might be usable (I can't even bring myself to say 'useful') but I fail to see how it is fantastic, let alone better than the viewfinder in any way. Unless you have an articulated LCD, your face is still going to have to be behind the camera in the same direction, so it's not making things any more or less convenient.
Click to expand...

ldmelsa said:
But yes, mostly fluff. If you could have an articulated LCD, that is real-time and has good AF - that would be cool.
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ahem, I believe this is the model that he is considering:
Sony-Alpha-330_gallery_main.jpg

The Sony also uses a separate imager for the live view which means that the focus system isn't compromised... and that the mirror only needs to flick once.
sony_a350_lv.jpg
 
I can see a use for liveview in macro (you can zoom in to select your focus point) but i've never been able to use it successfully. Biggest disadvantage of lv though, is you're still sitting with shutter lag.
 
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