How many use Live View or think they would?

The LiveView concept is interesting, but as yet I'm not sure if it's a feature I might occasionally use, or something that will become the predominant way I take pictures. At the moment I like taking my pictures with the nice dark frame of a viewfinder, and I can't seem to get comfortable with LiveView for serious composing and framing of my photographs. Looking at the new Micro 4/3 system, I wonder if it would just be a high quality P&S or something that could concievably replace my DSLR.

I'd be interested to hear what the experience of others is, particularly those who use LiveView routinely.

Live View? I dun't need no steenking Live View!

I didn't use a DSLR before, so for me starting with "Live View" was a natural progression of upgrading from a PnS. Plus being painfully nearsighted, I wear one of the "bugeye" HydroOptix masks, which would make using a viewfinder a bit more awkward, although probably not impossible. I have gotten to like using the viewfinder for above-water shots though....my glasses don't get in the way as much as the bugeye mask .

Basically after diving for a couple years with a prescription mask, and feeling like I had blinders on due to the combined FOV loss of an air/glass/water interface in addition to a corrective lens (I likely had less than 90 degrees FOV, and had so much 'magnification' effect I often dangled a hand below me to be able to tell how far from the reef I was) I'm addicted to the wide FOV of the HO mask, and don't really want to 'leave' that even when shooting. First motivation for me is the dive, the pictures come along for the ride. Maybe when I get more focused on photography specifically that might change.

I suspect that the primary liveview users will be those who switched from PnS after LV was available, and those who have tried the few near-zero-lag live view options...I don't see the Canikon live-view options out there now as terribly viable, and anyone who's used DSLR's (or film SLRs) underwater for years will not need or want the "crutch" as they're already used to the viewfinder.

Live view can be indispensible when trying to compose a macro shot. If there were no delay, it could be useful for other things as well like keeping Emma at arms length

As many of you know, I shoot a fair bit of "wreckscapes" on a tripod. So, in theory, Live View should help things quite a bit without the shutter lag etc. coming into the way.

But - and this is a big word, so I repeat it, But - in my typical shooting conditions (and filtering) the view on the LCD is so dark that it is even less usable than the almost totally unusable viewfinder. Which is a pity, since I had some moderately high hopes of actually being able to see what I'm shooting for a change when changing to the D300...

timo

In Nikon form, No! In Olympus DSLR and compact form, Yes!

That said, if I owned a Nikon camera with this feature I'd probably think of a type of shot to make the most of liveview.

Alex

I started underwater photography with liveview. I think I would use it fairly often if I had it and the shutter lag is not too bad.

I can't think of a type of shot that can only be done with liveview; however, I do still see situations where I can get a more desirable angle on a shot if I didn't have to include space for my fat head for camera placement. It's true for both WA and macro.

I too began underwater photography with live-view. I can think of situations live-view would be advantageous and I might very well utilize it underwater for certain situations such as tight shots, etc, but then again, after using a Aquatica AquaView Finder…

Hugyfot does not support Liveview on their D300 housing so I have never even been able to use it...

When I bought my sony a100 the a300/350 were on the horizon. That time I considered LV as a not so important feature and the UW support for these two sony was not sure, so went for a100/ikelite combo.

Now I regret a bit my decision. I missed the LV a lot when I tried to do ground level photos of my daughter and was lazy to lay on the ground (or it was wet or dirty). I did lots of random pictures and later selected the good ones (great advantage of digital).

I have only six dives with the new rig but I felt couple of times that the LV could help or make the approach of the subject and composition easier.

Hugyfot does not support Liveview on their D300 housing so I have never even been able to use it...

I have a Hugy and just switch it on at the surface and keep using it all the dive. Or rather would, were it not slightly unusable as I said earlier.

And oh, I run the 10,5mm on fixed focus too...

timo

I think I would use it for those shots where you just can't get the housing and your head into the available space. However my camera doesn't have the option and I wouldn't buy a camera on the basis of having or not having live view.

i tried LV on a borrowed EOS40D but did not like it at all. there is just no use in making it more complicated just to get live view ... focussing takes so long ... basicly you're out of focus again until you get to take the pic ... at least if you shoot macro with a small DOF like i do. i prefer the 45degree viewfinder.

I have used the Live View feature of my Canon 40D to shoot some promotional photos of products for my 'day job'. I used a tri-pod and a 2 second shutter delay; the results were fantastic. The 10x manual focus makes focusing spot-on. I was extremely pleased. Of course, this was all done in a static environment with light boxes, etc. in a darken room - on dry land.

I then tried to use the Live View feature u/w on a dive trip, free hand - it never worked well. Too much motion.

IMHO, Canon's 40D Live View has it's place - on a tri-pod, in a static environment and probably never on a for-leisure dive trip.

TomC

I have used the Live View feature of my Canon 40D to shoot some promotional photos of products for my 'day job'. I used a tri-pod and a 2 second shutter delay; the results were fantastic. The 10x manual focus makes focusing spot-on.

 

TomC

I use the 40D Live view in more or less the same way, and there it really shines. Supermacro with more or less static objects are so much easier to do with the live view, and I use it a lot for that. I have no experience under water with live view, but would very much like to have the opportunity.

Bent C

Clearly there are times when live view would benefit a photographer. As mentioned, to keep Emma at bay. In other words, when snapping the sharks, it helps to be situationally aware and having the camera pressed up against your face makes that a bit difficult.

As for "leaving it on" in live view, you really shouldn't do that on the D300. As I understand it, its not recommended to keep it going for more than 45 minutes. I suppose you can always power down when not using it and have it ready to go on powering up.

I thought LiveView only worked (Canon) in the Auto modes and didn't with TV, AP or M ?

(Got a 350D so no live view for me.)

Cheers,

Richard B.

"As for "leaving it on" in live view, you really shouldn't do that on the D300. As I understand it, its not recommended to keep it going for more than 45 minutes."

 

If the main sensor is used for live view the continuous using may develop heat causing noisier pictures.

See, the problem with this poll is that "LiveView" right now is not at all a level playing field. There are differing implementations, MOST of which either heat the main sensor, require an extra mirror flip thus add shutter delay, or have slower or even manual autofocus requirements. Who in their right mind would want to use that underwater? (Well, maybe on a wreck shot with a tripod and remote triggering, but otherwise...)

Olympus had a faster implementation in the E330 (with still some limitations - no real WB or compensation visible in the 'live view' even with A mode) but abandoned it so far. (Micro-4/3rds might bring it back to one degree or another). Sony has a faster implementation now with the A300 and A350. But otherwise, it just ain't a "real" feature yet.

We may also twist a bit the discussion by raising the question: “What would be the minimum requirement for live view for your underwater photography demand?”