Photography: SLR viewfinders

[Staples]

I have had a Rebel XT for a long time. It is my first SLR and I can't help but to feel that my expectations have not totally been met. What you can see in the viewfinder is only like 95% (if even that) of the picture you actually take. I can adjust to this concept however I have several lens and the offset is different for each lens. It would be idea if you got another 2.5% of the picture on all sides but that is not so. It seems that is almost the way it works with one of my lens (except for the bottom). I can learn to adjust to this however with the lens I use most the time, the offset is just bad. You get like an extra 8% of so on the top (I guess I can call it that) and 0% extra anywhere else. I have taken countless pictures that are way off center because of this weird offset.

Is this only a problem with the Rebel XT because it is the value line SLR and possibly comes with a cheap viewfinder or is this a problem I would also have with a 30D or a 5D?

 

[ElFenix]

the pentaii have very nice viewfinders.
5D probably has a very accurate viewfinder, considering who it is aimed at.

 

[GTaudiophile]

No! The Rebel has the worst.

I know Pentax makes a good one for their *istD. The one on the EOS-20D/30D is better but not by too much. I think Nikon's D50/D70 are better still. All of them are topped by the more pro cameras like the EOS-5D, EOS-1Ds MkII, and Nikon D200, etc.

 

[foghorn67]

The one thing I hate is the viewfinder on my xt. The rest can be deemed good if it's compared with entry level stuff. I am upgrading for viewfinder (terrible) and AF reasons (Xt has fast af, but can be improved by upgrading).
After taking many pictures of framed artwork, i notice how much i am missing in the frame. This doesn't make up for the lack of detail though.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

I think people are accidentally mis-reading the OP. Staples says his viewfinder seems to be off-center, in which case he might have a defective viewfinder. While I hate my Rebel's viewfinder, at least it's centered correctly...

As for viewfinder coverage, only the real expensive DSLRs have 100% viewfinder coverage. I *think* the 5D might be one of them, and definitely the 1Ds cameras.

As for viewfinder size and brightness, the XT is the worst, with only Olympus cameras having even smaller viewfinders.

 

[Staples]

Well that is nice to hear. The one in the Rebel even has imperfectly flat mirrors so that the image is never clear in some parts of the image. Looks like I may have a reason to buy a new body afterall.

The viewfinder is pretty important but it isn't until you have a bad one that you realize this.

Edit: And yes, bunny is right. My viewfinder is off center (well not sure if I should say that). It is different with different lenses. The worst happens to be the one I use most and that is the Tamron 28-75 F2.8. You get like another 8% of the image you don't see on the top but 0% on the bottom or any other side. Because of this, I have gotten many many off centered pictures.

 

[BRObedoza]

yeah from what i've read, the digital rebel's viewfinder is one of the worst. seems things haven't changed with the new XTi as well.

 

[magomago]

I've been reading about DSLRs since I plan to buy one in maybe two years (I'm generally slow at these things)

But why can't you simply crop your photo later on using an image editing program? That way you can get rid of the extra that you didn't focus on seeing...]

or do my reading comprehension skills sucks

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

Originally posted by: magomago
I've been reading about DSLRs since I plan to buy one in maybe two years (I'm generally slow at these things)

But why can't you simply crop your photo later on using an image editing program? That way you can get rid of the extra that you didn't focus on seeing...]

or do my reading comprehension skills sucks

Well, with cropping you're cropping away image information. While I personally crop a lot, I can see why some people would like the What You See Is What You Get kind of viewfinder and photography style.

 

[Ika]

Originally posted by: fuzzybabybunny

Originally posted by: magomago
I've been reading about DSLRs since I plan to buy one in maybe two years (I'm generally slow at these things)

But why can't you simply crop your photo later on using an image editing program? That way you can get rid of the extra that you didn't focus on seeing...]

or do my reading comprehension skills sucks

Well, with cropping you're cropping away image information. While I personally crop a lot, I can see why some people would like the What You See Is What You Get kind of viewfinder and photography style.

Plus it's a pain to crop every single photo you take.

 

[Staples]

Originally posted by: magomago
I've been reading about DSLRs since I plan to buy one in maybe two years (I'm generally slow at these things)

But why can't you simply crop your photo later on using an image editing program? That way you can get rid of the extra that you didn't focus on seeing...]

Well unfortunately, that is what I have to do. In fact, zooming out and then cropping takes care of the problem for all the lenses because you will get an extra 10+% on each side so you can't possibly miss what you want.

But I'd rather not do this. Cuts your pictures down from 8mp to 6mp and it is work that takes me a long time.

 

[The Stigenator]

rebel xt has a 0.8x magnification..
the rebel xti has 0.0x magnification.

that magnification will make a difference.

 

[Staples]

I just made an image of what the problem is for people who may not understand from my discription. Canon states that the viewfinder only shows 95% of the image that the sensor will pick up. I have made a picture here with two scenarios.

The first one is the ideal 'centered' position. The darker area shows what you would see in the viewfinder and the lighter is the area that is actually picked up by the sensor. In the first image, we see that the center of the viewfinder is the exact center of what your sensor sees. On one of my lens, the situation is more or less exactly that and pictures always come out the way I want them to.

Now for the second, this is how my pictures usually look with the Tamron lens. Way off center. Sure zooming out before shooting and cropping is a work around but I'd love to avoid this if I can since it is time consuming.

I know most of you have value grade DSLRs so I'd love to know if the viewfinder in your 'cheap' cameras have centered viewfinders with all lenses or like mine, it may be centered (or close) with one lens and then just downright off center with another.

Text

 

[yhelothar]

I love the viewfinder on my Pentax's *ist DS.
The most amazing viewfinder I've seen is on my Pentax ME.. full frame with 95% coverage, 92% magnification. It's like framing with a 65" big screen tv.
Here's a rough comparison between the viewfinders of the rebelxt's, pentax *ist DS, and pentax ME, going from darkest to lightest, respectively.

 

[Staples]

I have a question.

Is your comparison link supposed to be a size comparison of how big the image will look to you through the viewfinder? I have heard that the Rebel XT viewfinder is tiny (and I assume that means the image looks tiny which supports your comparison).

 

[yhelothar]

Originally posted by: Staples
I have a question.

Is your comparison link supposed to be a size comparison of how big the image will look to you through the viewfinder? I have heard that the Rebel XT viewfinder is tiny (and I assume that means the image looks tiny which supports your comparison).

it's a relative comparison.. not an exact preceived size. That would be difficult to do with images as the image would appear different sizes depending on the dpi of the screen someone is using.

 

[Staples]

Is the viewfinder centered correctly using multiple lens on your *ist (what a dumb name) DS? Yes the viewfinder in the 350D is tiny but the off centeredness is what really bugs me, more than it being tiny.

 

[DeviousTrap]

Originally posted by: Staples
Is the viewfinder centered correctly using multiple lens on your *ist (what a dumb name) DS? Yes the viewfinder in the 350D is tiny but the off centeredness is what really bugs me, more than it being tiny.

Out of curiosity, what lenses work normally and what lenses appear off center?

 

[dug777]

rebelXt=350D?

 

[yhelothar]

Originally posted by: Staples
Is the viewfinder centered correctly using multiple lens on your *ist (what a dumb name) DS? Yes the viewfinder in the 350D is tiny but the off centeredness is what really bugs me, more than it being tiny.

Never noticed it being off cenetered. I rarely ever center my subjects anyways.

 

[virtuamike]

If you really want an affordable 100% coverage viewfinder, then shoot film. The only digitals with full coverage are the pro bodies. Even the 5D and D200 aren't 100%.

Though with everyone making upgrades, the used market is doing good. You can get a D2h for $1000-1200 and it's 100%.

 

[Staples]

Originally posted by: DeviousTrap

Originally posted by: Staples
Is the viewfinder centered correctly using multiple lens on your *ist (what a dumb name) DS? Yes the viewfinder in the 350D is tiny but the off centeredness is what really bugs me, more than it being tiny.

Out of curiosity, what lenses work normally and what lenses appear off center?

I have four lens.

kit lens
70-200 F4.0L
Canon 35mm prime F2.0
Tamron 28-75mm F2.8

I use two of the lens so rarely that really can't even tell you what their offset is (if any). I use the Tamron and the prime 99% of the time. The prime lens seems to be centered almost exactly and the Tamron is way off, similar to the picture I posted.

Maybe I should test the kit lens right now to see if both the Canon lenses are centered. I doubt I can test the 70-200 lens until tomorrow but I will reply back when I do. I will test the kit lens in a few minutes.

 

[Staples]

Originally posted by: dug777
rebelXt=350D?

And yes, it is known at the Rebel XT in the US and the 350D in other territories.

 

[mchammer]

Or you could go for an S2/S3 and have 100% view in the electronic veiwfinder and have a 36-4??mm lens with IS in it. I suppose the electronic viewfinder is not as sharp as a real one is though. I have yet to try an SLR.

 

[Staples]

The S3 is a very nice camera and I saw it at amazon for $359. From what I have seen, it takes great pictures and the lens on it is pretty good for an all purpose lens. If I knew what I did today and I didn't have the Rebel and a lot of other expensive addons for it, I probably would really consider it.