I do.
I bought a Nikon D90 last month, and am absolutley enthused by Live View. It gives a huge amount of scope for different camera angles eg. looking down on the subject. Great for street photography. Marvellous for composition. If you have a mirror, then self portraits suddnely become easy peasy lemon squeezy.
I use it almost all the time now.
How about you lot? Is Live View a hit or a miss?
I've got it on my MkIII - had the camera for about 20months - used it in anger probably twice.
If my next camera doesn't have it, then I won't be bothered!! However, that is about as likely as it not having video!
Mind you, I won't be having another body any time soon - the wife won't let me :'(, and anyway 3 is probably enough. Need more fast glass first. :tup:
When I first got my Olympus E510 I looked at live view and thought I'd never use it - Recently however I had do do some interiors requiring a long exposue and a tripod. Using the live view with the 2 second exposure delay made the job a whole lot easier. So yes I do use live view and probably will find even more uses for it in the future.
Another answer is anyone who has a Panasonic G1 or most compact cameras on offer today....
Ive used it on the pano bridge fz8. Not a fan.
For some strange reason I felt not in control at shutter press time ( if that makes sense)
I used live view when i had an Olympus e-330. As with so many things olympus got there first with a proper DSLR live view the same as you get on a compact - totally useable normal AF via shutter button with flip out adjustable panel - great for odd angles. Never used it on any other DSLR as they've all been clunky and nowhere near as good.
I have it on both my bodies but have never used it. If I'm twiddleing that particular dial in the dark (Which I do occasionaly.) I have activated it accidentally.
I can see, however, when it could be an advantage, even more so with an articulated screen.
Graham. :)
I use it frequently - in fact every time my camera is bolted to a tripod. Also using it more and ore for macro.
It offers the opportunity to fine tune your focusing. Like reviewing your pictures on the LCD screen but knowing your focusing is set right before your press the shutter!
It's not good for off tripod use except for macro shooting - but then i think you use a different technique for macro shooting to most other types of photography.
Never used it on my D3 as I perfer the view-finder. ;D
I tried to use it on my A350, made me seasick. ;D
I would have to carry my specs around, so no Live View for me either. Anyway like oldboy I'm a little to old for these new fangled ideas :)
Harry
I guess the question is aimed at DSLR users and not those of us with compacts, bridges and 'hybrids' ;) Must confess while my Panny G1 has a fully-articulated screen, as yet I have only used it for reviewing images, not taking them.
But you still use live view in your viewfinder.
Hewwo from Stormy Sheffy,
Never used it,never will,see it as a waste of time,viewfinder for me,
bit like the video facility,never used that either !,reviews now are talking about SOUND QUALITY !!!!!
Shine On
From what i can see from the responses to this thread, it comes down to what implementation of live view your camera has and what type of photography you do.
For normal run of the mill photography then its look through the view finder.
But on a tripod, or shooting macro where the angles needed to get that shot can be somewhat yoga like then it is a great benefit for me.
On a tripod, swap to live view and manual focusing. Zoom into the point you want as the focal point and set the focus and press the shutter button on the remote release (cord or wireless).
If you taking multiple shots for a panoramic - it just doesn't get any easier.
But then, the things i enjoy photographing are not necessarily what others enjoy.
I couldn't see Jonathan using it at a wedding, but i could see Bill using it at a concert where he's struggling to get over the heads of the crowd.
Horses for courses i think is what applies here... :legit:
I find the articulated swivel live veiw on my Oly's indispencible since the arthitus in my knee which only allows it to bend so far stopped me from getting low down for the kind of shots I love doing. Some of you younger ones might change your tune as you get older and joints get stiffer. ;)
Taken with the camera hand held six inches from the ground without having to bend my knees more than a little, this shot would just not have been taken if it was not for the 260% swivel live veiw screen. :)
(http://paulsilk.zenfolio.com/img/v2/p703207905-2.jpg)
Haven't seen you around here for a bit was wondering if you were OK. I guess you are not looking forward to a hard winter then, or is it just the damp that starts it off? :tup:
Hi Oldboy, it only stops me from walking more than 3 miles, its the damned attacks of gout that have stopped me walking round the valley but I'm getting that under control with medication. :)
Quote from: Oly Paul on November 24, 2009, 09:52:43 PM
Hi Oldboy, it only stops me from walking more than 3 miles, its the damned attacks of gout that have stopped me walking round the valley but I'm getting that under control with medication. :)
Gout! That's caused by too much Port and rich food! ::)
Hope you get better soon. ;D
I used it quite often on the fuji bridge I had, when i got my 400d I missed having it, then I got the 40d, was really looking forward to having it again and found I rarely used it, too much messing about in menu's, now the 7d has a dedicated button that makes it instant to access and I find I am using it now and again. Its handy for all sorts of odd situations and when making eye contact with the subject helps :) but its no replacement for the view finder for probably 90% of the time. (especially as the viewfinder on the 7 is so awesome compared with those I have had in the past)
Hope you get well soon Paul :beer:
I've been using Live View on my 50D quite a bit over the past week or so (as I havn't really used it since I got the camera a few months back) and am really liking it.
I wasn't sure that I would but I have found it particularly good when setting up shots on the tripod and trying different settings and seeing instantly the effects in Live View mode.
It does eat battery quite quickly though!
Steve