I had a play with a 40D in the shop at lunchtime today...

[dug777]

Felt larger and clunkier than my D80, the viewfinder didn't seem quite as big and bright, and the button layout seemed really cramped with that big screen pushed way over to one side...

On the upside, AF seemed pretty snappy with the 18-85mm(I think?) kit lens, the viewfinder was 11ty billion times better than that on the 400D, and of course I haven't seen any pictures from one yet

The usual caveats applies to my comments, they're entirely subjective and I own a D80

Anyone know how Live View affect battery life on these new cameras (both the 40D and the D300)? Live View still seems like a gimmick to me

 

[Jawo]

Originally posted by: dug777
Felt larger and clunkier than my D80, the viewfinder didn't seem quite as big and bright, and the button layout seemed really cramped with that big screen pushed way over to one side...

On the upside, AF seemed pretty snappy with the 18-85mm(I think?) kit lens, the viewfinder was 11ty billion times better than that on the 400D, and of course I haven't seen any pictures from one yet

The usual caveats applies to my comments, they're entirely subjective and I own a D80

Anyone know how Live View affect battery life on these new cameras (both the 40D and the D300)? Live View still seems like a gimmick to me

Yea, Live View seems gimmicky to me as well since real photographers will still use the viewfinder. I think its an attempt to make the dSLRs more palatable to the general consumer. But then it will be harder to take good pictures with your arms extended (shooting like with a P&S).

 

[foghorn67]

Why would Live View seem gimmicky for close ups?

 

[ElFenix]

live view with magnification is awesome for macro, according to people who've used it

 

[dug777]

Originally posted by: foghorn67
Why would Live View seem gimmicky for close ups?

Asking a question is a pretty daft way of explaining something to someone

I haven't felt any urge to see beyond what i can see through the lens with a macro (because I'm already 'close-up' ), so you'll have to actually explain the benefits to me

 

[foghorn67]

Originally posted by: dug777

Originally posted by: foghorn67
Why would Live View seem gimmicky for close ups?

Asking a question is a pretty daft way of explaining something to someone

I haven't felt any urge to see beyond what i can see through the lens with a macro (because I'm already 'close-up' ), so you'll have to actually explain the benefits to me

what kind of macro? Macro can be overused in terms. Macro starts at 1:1. Now try a macro with stacked extension tubes. Or try a reversed lens.
or heck why even close-up, product photographers love this feature. I figure if they are the pros, why should I call their loved feature gimmicky?

 

[dug777]

Originally posted by: foghorn67

Originally posted by: dug777

Originally posted by: foghorn67
Why would Live View seem gimmicky for close ups?

Asking a question is a pretty daft way of explaining something to someone

I haven't felt any urge to see beyond what i can see through the lens with a macro (because I'm already 'close-up' ), so you'll have to actually explain the benefits to me

what kind of macro? Macro can be overused in terms. Macro starts at 1:1. Now try a macro with stacked extension tubes. Or try a reversed lens.
or heck why even close-up, product photographers love this feature. I figure if they are the pros, why should I call their loved feature gimmicky?

I'm only saying I find it gimmicky because I can't think of any real situations where I wouldn't be satisfied with looking through the viewfinder of my SLR.

The viewfinder is brighter, more colour accurate, and with an effectively infinite resolution...

 

[foghorn67]

Originally posted by: dug777

Originally posted by: foghorn67

Originally posted by: dug777

Originally posted by: foghorn67
Why would Live View seem gimmicky for close ups?

Asking a question is a pretty daft way of explaining something to someone

I haven't felt any urge to see beyond what i can see through the lens with a macro (because I'm already 'close-up' ), so you'll have to actually explain the benefits to me

what kind of macro? Macro can be overused in terms. Macro starts at 1:1. Now try a macro with stacked extension tubes. Or try a reversed lens.
or heck why even close-up, product photographers love this feature. I figure if they are the pros, why should I call their loved feature gimmicky?

I'm only saying I find it gimmicky because I can't think of any real situations where I wouldn't be satisfied with looking through the viewfinder of my SLR.

The viewfinder is brighter, more colour accurate, and with an effectively infinite resolution...

how many times can you magnify a viewfinder?

 

[dug777]

Originally posted by: foghorn67

Originally posted by: dug777

Originally posted by: foghorn67

Originally posted by: dug777

Originally posted by: foghorn67
Why would Live View seem gimmicky for close ups?

Asking a question is a pretty daft way of explaining something to someone

I haven't felt any urge to see beyond what i can see through the lens with a macro (because I'm already 'close-up' ), so you'll have to actually explain the benefits to me

what kind of macro? Macro can be overused in terms. Macro starts at 1:1. Now try a macro with stacked extension tubes. Or try a reversed lens.
or heck why even close-up, product photographers love this feature. I figure if they are the pros, why should I call their loved feature gimmicky?

I'm only saying I find it gimmicky because I can't think of any real situations where I wouldn't be satisfied with looking through the viewfinder of my SLR.

The viewfinder is brighter, more colour accurate, and with an effectively infinite resolution...

how many times can you magnify a viewfinder?

I'm not sure why I need to magnify it, live

 

[randomlinh]

Originally posted by: dug777
I'm not sure why I need to magnify it, live

I'd gather if the live view were effective, then to check focus. Seems like the new "high res" nikons will make it very feasible vs canon's offering.

I'd find it useful for the couple of times when I want to do an overhead shot and still try to compose it, or a shot from the ground without lying on my stomach.

It's not an essential feature, but it'd be nice to have.

 

[foghorn67]

Originally posted by: dug777
I'm not sure why I need to magnify it, live

Focusing, checking depth of field for macro work. If you are asking, why are you knocking?

 

[dug777]

Originally posted by: foghorn67

Originally posted by: dug777
I'm not sure why I need to magnify it, live

Focusing, checking depth of field for macro work. If you are asking, why are you knocking?

Knocking? Can't we talk normally in here, rather than in strange questions as answers?

Can't I just check my DOF through the viewfinder by pressing the DOF preview button on my D80? Or doesn't that work in macro? I can also see focus through the viewfinder, at least quite sufficiently for my needs

I see randomlinh's points, but since I've never tried to take shots above my head, and I have no problem getting on the ground for a ground level shot (of which I may have taken about two in the last four months or so), it wouldn't be something I'd find essential, or even particularly useful.

 

[soydios]

The only time I can envision myself using Live View would be Macro from a tripod (focus anywhere in the frame).
Nikon or Canon, take your pick (though I prefer Nikon for a myriad of reasons). I use a Nikon D50, but after I buy a f/2.8 telephoto zoom, I'll save up for a D300.

 

[OdiN]

As a wedding photog, I can see live view being worthwhile - example: raising camera above your head and shooting down on a crowd on the dance floor. Could help you frame it better rather than just going to your widest angle and shooting blind.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

Originally posted by: dug777

Originally posted by: foghorn67

Originally posted by: dug777
I'm not sure why I need to magnify it, live

Focusing, checking depth of field for macro work. If you are asking, why are you knocking?

Knocking? Can't we talk normally in here, rather than in strange questions as answers?

Can't I just check my DOF through the viewfinder by pressing the DOF preview button on my D80? Or doesn't that work in macro? I can also see focus through the viewfinder, at least quite sufficiently for my needs

DOF preview stops down the aperture and dims the preview, making it even HARDER to check focus when in macro, especially since most people shoot at really small apertures.

I agree that live preview is not something people should be using all the time when shooting, but it's definitely something that will come in handy on occasion, and on those occasions I would definitely be thankful that I have it. It's certainly not something that I would call a con. It's not like it gets in the way or anything. It's just another evolutionary step for SLRs. Nikon will have it in their next line of cameras. Sony will have it. Olympus already has it. Etc. If you don't need to use it or don't want to... then don't. *shrugs*

It's like saying weather sealing in a camera is gimmicky because you never take your camera in inclement weather. And if you ever did, you would just use a plastic bag or something. The former is not true for people who do shoot in bad weather and the latter "alternative" is an unacceptable pain in the butt for these people.