Question about the Canon Rebel XTi

[PokerGuy]

The wifey and I just bought a rebel XTi kit today and are tooling around with it. Seems like a very solid camera, very sharp with lots of features etc, but we can't seem to figure out how to see on the LCD what you're shooting instead of through the viewfinder. Am I missing something, I thought pretty much all modern digital cameras have the lcd such that you can see what you are going to capture through the lcd, not just through the viewfinder?

Is there somewhere this is enabled/disabled?

 

[dartworth]

You should have did a little more research before you made your purchase instead of jumping on the DRebel bandwagon...

The DRebel does not have this feature...

 

[Kalvin00]

lol, you can't do that

It has to do with the sensor of it overheating, I think. Same reason DSLRs don't do video.

 

[George P Burdell]

Oh boy.

 

[Ika]

Should've gotten that Olympus camera with Live-View CCD or whatever it's called.

 

[Gooberlx2]

Originally posted by: Kalvin00
lol, you can't do that

It has to do with the sensor of it overheating, I think. Same reason DSLRs don't do video.

No, it has to do with the fact that the mirror which reflects TTL viewing into the viewfinder is blocking the sensor. The reason olympus has accomplished feature (on their e-550 i think) this is because they have a second sensor in the view finder itself.

It's a moot point because the way a SLR should be held for good pictures (aka not point and shoot) would negate the advantage of having the feature.

edit: Beat ya to it Jules.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: Kalvin00
lol, you can't do that

It has to do with the sensor of it overheating, I think. Same reason DSLRs don't do video.

Actually, that's not true. When you look through the viewfinder of a single lens reflex camera you are are actually viewing through the camera's lens. There is a mirror that flips up when the shutter is depressed and that (basically) exposes the image sensor to what you are looking at through the lens.

 

[Gooberlx2]

n/m meant to edit, not quote.

 

[PokerGuy]

Yipes... thanks for the info folks, I'll be returning this junker today. Even my old 5 year old 3 MP nikon had an LCD on it where you could see what you were shooting, but yet these $800 cameras can't accomplish the same thing? I'm sure there's logical reasons for it, but that's pretty crappy. Oh well, off to read a little bit and see what camera I should get instead.

 

[Kalvin00]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: Kalvin00
lol, you can't do that

It has to do with the sensor of it overheating, I think. Same reason DSLRs don't do video.

Actually, that's not true. When you look through the viewfinder of a single lens reflex camera you are are actually viewing through the camera's lens. There is a mirror that flips up when the shutter is depressed and that (basically) exposes the image sensor to what you are looking at through the lens.

Ok. Somewhere I read that it overheated, guess whatever site it was, was wrong.

 

[dartworth]

lol....junker...


WOW


yeah, those canon dSLR cameras...well all dSLR camera are real POS...:roll:


stick with that ancient P&S Nikon...

 

[Kalvin00]

Originally posted by: PokerGuy
Yipes... thanks for the info folks, I'll be returning this junker today. Even my old 5 year old 3 MP nikon had an LCD on it where you could see what you were shooting, but yet these $800 cameras can't accomplish the same thing? I'm sure there's logical reasons for it, but that's pretty crappy. Oh well, off to read a little bit and see what camera I should get instead.

You stick with point and shoots or you go with a DSLR. Your pick...

"junker" :laugh:

 

[Gooberlx2]

Originally posted by: PokerGuy
Yipes... thanks for the info folks, I'll be returning this junker today. Even my old 5 year old 3 MP nikon had an LCD on it where you could see what you were shooting, but yet these $800 cameras can't accomplish the same thing? I'm sure there's logical reasons for it, but that's pretty crappy. Oh well, off to read a little bit and see what camera I should get instead.

Whoa whoa whoa! Don't do that just yet! Try fiddling around with it and compare the quality of pictures you get with it. I can tell you that image quality-wise it'll blow any P&S camera you'll get out of the water.

Atleast try it out, as it's certainly no junker. In fact it's one of the best, if not THE best, entry level DSLRs out there. (excepting the possibility of the Pentax K10D, for which I'm eagerly anticipating reviews).

 

[kmrivers]

Wow man. You don't need an SLR. Get yourself a nice point and shoot...

I can't believe you called it a junker...

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: PokerGuy
Yipes... thanks for the info folks, I'll be returning this junker today. Even my old 5 year old 3 MP nikon had an LCD on it where you could see what you were shooting, but yet these $800 cameras can't accomplish the same thing? I'm sure there's logical reasons for it, but that's pretty crappy. Oh well, off to read a little bit and see what camera I should get instead.

What were your reasons for buying a DSLR camera? If you want creative control over your pictures then DSLR is the way to go. If you want to just point it and click then I'd go with something like a Canon Powershot G7.

 

[paulney]

Ahahahha. This thread is teh funnay.

 

[Gooberlx2]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: PokerGuy
Yipes... thanks for the info folks, I'll be returning this junker today. Even my old 5 year old 3 MP nikon had an LCD on it where you could see what you were shooting, but yet these $800 cameras can't accomplish the same thing? I'm sure there's logical reasons for it, but that's pretty crappy. Oh well, off to read a little bit and see what camera I should get instead.

What were your reasons for buying a DSLR camera? If you want creative control over your pictures then DSLR is the way to go. If you want to just point it and click then I'd go with something like a Canon Powershot G7.

I've read some lackluster reviews on the G7 image quality and lens performance. But that category of camera is a great suggestion since it packs a lot of creative control and is still (usually) cheaper than the entry level DSLRs.

I'd go so far as to recommend the Fuji F30 (good performance at high ISO) or Canon S3 IS for IS and longer range at cheaper prices.

 

[paulney]

Ok. Somewhere I read that it overheated, guess whatever site it was, was wrong.

It's not the overheating, but the actual exposure to light. It's the dye ink in the Bayer filters that are very sensitive. For this reason, you don't keep the sensor open for long (i.e. when cleaning it), because prolonged exposure could damage the filters.

 

[PokerGuy]

Originally posted by: dartworth
lol....junker...


WOW

I don't mean junker in the sense that it's not a fine piece of technology and doesn't take fantastic pictures, rather that it's missing what I thought would be a very basic functionality that can be found on a $50 digital camera.

It's like buying a fridge with all sorts of cool features on it, only to discover that it doesn't have a little light that comes on when you open the door. It might be a nice fridge, but a basic feature is missing

Obviously, it's a great camera based on all the reviews etc, but to me that's a showstopper, I'm going to get something else -- something less fancy that does include the basic features.

 

[amol]

Originally posted by: PokerGuy

Originally posted by: dartworth
lol....junker...


WOW

I don't mean junker in the sense that it's not a fine piece of technology and doesn't take fantastic pictures, rather that it's missing what I thought would be a very basic functionality that can be found on a $50 digital camera.

it's an S L R! :roll:

 

[kmrivers]

No LCD preview is a basic feature for a DSLR, for you to expect it means you didn't do your homework. And you don't no dill about cameras. You call it a showstopper, man that is just silly. I am sorry but... man.

 

[PokerGuy]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: PokerGuy
Yipes... thanks for the info folks, I'll be returning this junker today. Even my old 5 year old 3 MP nikon had an LCD on it where you could see what you were shooting, but yet these $800 cameras can't accomplish the same thing? I'm sure there's logical reasons for it, but that's pretty crappy. Oh well, off to read a little bit and see what camera I should get instead.

What were your reasons for buying a DSLR camera? If you want creative control over your pictures then DSLR is the way to go. If you want to just point it and click then I'd go with something like a Canon Powershot G7.

I actually bought it for my wife, she's more of a 'prosumer' level that will use all the features and sophistication. I figured I could also use it as a 'regular' camera, but that's not the case. Guess we'll have one fancy camera for her, and one 'simple' one for me that has more useful features

 

[PokerGuy]

Originally posted by: kmrivers
No LCD preview is a basic feature for a DSLR, for you to expect it means you didn't do your homework. And you don't no dill about cameras. You call it a showstopper, man that is just silly. I am sorry but... man.

I didn't buy it for me, it was meant more for someone who will use the more advanced features of a DSLR. Not knowing anything about slr's, I looked at all the review sites and in that price range it pretty much came down to the nikon D80 or the XTi. I assumed (isn't that always where the troubles begin?? ) it would have the same basic capabilities as my old cheapie.

My wife loves the thing though, she's going nuts with it as we speak!

 

[Martin]

The sensors on DSLRs are physically much larger compared to crappy P&Ss. The Rebel has a 3.3cm^2 sensor, while your old P&S probably had something around 0.3cm^2. Being so large is one of the reasons dslr sensors can produce such fine pictures, however their power consumption is huge so if they are used for live preview, battery life would be abysmal. So you're left with a choice: crappy pictures and lcd, or great pictures and viewfinder.

 

[PokerGuy]

Originally posted by: Martin
The sensors on DSLRs are physically much larger compared to crappy P&Ss. The Rebel has a 3.3cm^2 sensor, while your old P&S probably had something around 0.3cm^2. Being so large is one of the reasons dslr sensors can produce such fine pictures, however their power consumption is huge so if they are used for live preview, battery life would be abysmal. So you're left with a choice: crappy pictures and lcd, or great pictures and viewfinder.

Now that makes sense. Too bad, because the pics that my wife is showing me are amazingly sharp. She's taken some with difficult lighting (as the sun's going down etc), but the pics are terrific. This camera is growing on me now that I've toyed with it a little.