Newbie Q on DSLR's

ManyQuestions

Hi all,

Looking to buy a decent DSLR.
After a lot of looking, i find that most dont have 'live view' whereby I can look at the image i want to shoot via the lcd screen.
Can anyone recommend a good camera that has this feature?

I dont mind having to use the viewfinder, but my wife finds it difficult having gotten so used to the lcd screen.

Not looking to go over the €1,100 mark.

Any advice appreciated.

tywy

Canon 450D or 40D?

Freddie59

ManyQuestions wrote: »

Hi all,

Looking to buy a decent DSLR.
After a lot of looking, i find that most dont have 'live view' whereby I can look at the image i want to shoot via the lcd screen.
Can anyone recommend a good camera that has this feature?

I dont mind having to use the viewfinder, but my wife finds it difficult having gotten so used to the lcd screen.

Not looking to go over the €1,100 mark.

Any advice appreciated.

Hello there.

I have the 450D since April and am very happy with it. Live view is, for me, indispensible. You can buy it here delivered for €680.

Sent you a pm with more detail.

Cheers,

Freddie.

Paulw

ManyQuestions wrote: »

After a lot of looking, i find that most dont have 'live view' whereby I can look at the image i want to shoot via the lcd screen.
Can anyone recommend a good camera that has this feature?

Canon and Olympus seem to be the main ones with a live view function. Canon 40D, Canon 450D would probably be your best bet.

But, don't forget, with live-view, you will chew threw your battery and can only use live-view for short periods or else you'll burn out your camera sensor. The camera is not designed so that you take all your images looking at the LCD. It's an added function to assist in certain circumstances, so the main way to compose and shoot is through the viewfinder.

Maybe your wife just needs to learn how to get used to using the viewfinder.

mathias

Canon and Olympus seem to be the main ones with a live view function.

But, don't forget, with live-view, you will chew threw your battery and can only use live-view for short periods or else you'll burn out your camera sensor.

Thats a good point .....

Sony as well , and to further drive home the point about keeping the sensor fired up all the time for liveview , the sony has a separate sensor for liveview.

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/sonydslra350/page2.asp


Im oldschool I would guess , I started out with film and now do most of my stuff on digital , but still use film for landscapes and macro , mostly velvia , so for me liveview is no use. I have a 40D and a 5D , I used to have a 20D but its gone now , sold it. I bought the 40D as an upgrade to it and was looking forward to trying the liveview , but it doesnt do what I thought it would , i.e. you cannot accurately guage dof as well as you can using the viewfinder.

Maybe when the LCD screens get big enough for focussing properly I'll change my mind , but anyway , Sony is another option for liveview if you want it. It has an adjustable LCD screen as well , something the canon doesnt have but it blocks the viewfinder a bit , not good !!

leohoju

Paulw wrote: »

Canon 40D, Canon 450D would probably be your best bet.

Why? For his wife, the Olympus models are possibly better suited. Them being smaller and lighter, even with the battery in and lenses mounted. Plus (as you pointed out in another thread ) the LCD screen folds out on the Olympus cameras and doesn't on the Canons, which I'm sure a lot of people making the jump from a point and shoot would appreciate.

But on the subject of Canons,what about the 1000D? It's cheaper than the two models mentioned so far and has live-view as well.

mathias

In fairness now , the 1000D was only launched ( or announced is what I should say ...) 10 days ago , good luck finding one in the shops anytime soon ....

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0806/08061002Canon1000D.asp

Ive been looking forward to getting my hands on an Olympus 420 with pancake 25mm lens because I think it will make an excellent replacement for a compact , it was announced months ago and you still cant get one !!!

leohoju

mathias wrote: »

In fairness now , the 1000D was only launched ( or announced is what I should say ...) 10 days ago , good luck finding one in the shops anytime soon ....

Ooops. Hadn't realised that. That's possibly why the 450D and were recommended, rather than a camera that isn't even available yet.

whyulittle

I haven't seen anyone else mention it, but Liveview only works with manual focus. It is not designed for taking all of your shots with it.

EDIT: With Canon at least. ^^

Freddie59

whyulittle wrote: »

I haven't seen anyone else mention it, but Liveview only works with manual focus. It is not designed for taking all of your shots with it.

EDIT: With Canon at least. ^^

Precisely. But you can also use auto focus with Live View. It can be adjusted in the Custom settings.

whyulittle

Freddie59 wrote: »

Precisely. But you can also use auto focus with Live View. It can be adjusted in the Custom settings.

Have you done it, or just something you heard?

Fionn

there is a bit of a learning curve between a P&S and a SLR, remember there is also a weight difference - if your holding a SLR with a lens attached at arms length you'll almost be guranteed to have blur in your shots, Live view has its advantages (limited I think) but on a SLR the view finder is the way to go. After using the view finder for a few days the wife will get used to it pretty quick!

Freddie59

whyulittle wrote: »

Have you done it, or just something you heard?

I have the camera.;)

Here's a little tutorial:


http://www.cameralabs.com/reviews/Canon_EOS_450D_Digital_Rebel_XSi/video_review.shtml

Freddie59

Fionn wrote: »

there is a bit of a learning curve between a P&S and a SLR, remember there is also a weight difference - if your holding a SLR with a lens attached at arms length you'll almost be guranteed to have blur in your shots, Live view has its advantages (limited I think) but on a SLR the view finder is the way to go. After using the view finder for a few days the wife will get used to it pretty quick!

I agree 100%. There is a HUGE learing curve. The Live View is very handy to check you composition (and your adjustments on the image) but I always use the viewfinder for the shot itself.:)

ThOnda

Pentax K20D has live view as well.

duffarama

mathias wrote: »

In fairness now , the 1000D was only launched ( or announced is what I should say ...) 10 days ago , good luck finding one in the shops anytime soon ....

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0806/08061002Canon1000D.asp

Ive been looking forward to getting my hands on an Olympus 420 with pancake 25mm lens because I think it will make an excellent replacement for a compact , it was announced months ago and you still cant get one !!!

Olympus have been caught by surprise with the demand for the pancake. It's quite hard to get a hold of the world over!

Autofocus is available in live view and if you'd find it useful the E-420 and E-520 have face detection...

Multi angle screen is only available on the E-3 though

ManyQuestions

Thanks all for the info.

I had been looking for the past few weeks, some friends had advised on the 450D, but none of them owners. So until I spoke to an owner, regardless of net reviews, I wasnt going to buy.

Freddie, being an owner, gave concise overview of the 450 and answered questions I had, before I asked. The result is that a 450 is on its way to me, or soon will be.

I'm a viewfinder kind of person, always have been, so the live view wont be getting a look in, pardon the pun. The wife I'll have to coach, theres no avoiding it, but she's open enough to change where its positive effects are evident. Time will tell.

Looking forward to it now!

Very impressed by the quick responses, only posted late lastnight!

Thanks again! I'll be back with questions!

Freddie59

ManyQuestions wrote: »

Thanks all for the info.

I had been looking for the past few weeks, some friends had advised on the 450D, but none of them owners. So until I spoke to an owner, regardless of net reviews, I wasnt going to buy.

Freddie, being an owner, gave concise overview of the 450 and answered questions I had, before I asked. The result is that a 450 is on its way to me, or soon will be.

I'm a viewfinder kind of person, always have been, so the live view wont be getting a look in, pardon the pun. The wife I'll have to coach, theres no avoiding it, but she's open enough to change where its positive effects are evident. Time will tell.

Looking forward to it now!

Very impressed by the quick responses, only posted late lastnight!

Thanks again! I'll be back with questions!

Best of luck with it.:)