is "live preview" very important for a DSLR?
 

I want to pick up a SLR camera during the boxing day deals...

i notice that the entry level ones (Nikon D3000, Sony A230, Canon XS) don't have live preview... which to me is a downer cuz i think i will hate looking through that small peep hole.

Sony A230 with an extra 200mm lense is only $499 on FS!


now, BB is selling Sony A380 with live preview for $600. is it worth the extra $100-150?

what's your take?

Live preview? Like the live view function on a normal digital camera? I have an XS and it has live view function. I never use it, but it's there.

The rebel XS has live preview but the D3000 does not.

Live preview is bscly a tool for point and shoot camera users to adjust to the transition of using a DSLR. It's not needed.

Professional photographers don't use it.


Think about this, if you're holding a camera that's like 3-4times heavier than a normal point and shoot @ arms length, you're almost guaranteed blurry pics.

live view use up all the battery!

I never use it on my 40D if i'm using AF
I don't know why even when I specifically select allow AF in Live view mode, it won't AF
Neone know?

live view for me is not very important... come to think of it i never used it
might as well get a decent p&s camera if you want live view

Never used it on my 40D. The image shown on the screen does not show all the detail, focus, and exposure properly. Hence you always review the histogram after, and zoom in on an image to check focus.

I can see it being helpful if the camera has an articulating LCD so you can still see the screen when holding it up high above crowds, down low, etc...

Other than that, I don't particularly see the need for it. It eats up the batteries and let's face it.. part of having a nice DSLR is having a nice big bright viewfinder. Well, at least my Pentax has a big bright viewfinder, other DSLRs I have used are tiny.

Sometimes it can be "nice" for setting up group portraits (so you can instruct people without having the camera to your eye), or for framing landscape scenes... but it's far from necessary. I wouldn't miss not having it at all.

Not needed at all. I've only used it once when it was way too dark in a room to see.

Do yourself a favor and get a point & shoot if you want live preview.

I find that all newbies want live preview with their DSLR but after getting familar with using a DSLR, none of them use it anymore due to the reasons listed above.

I don't use it, but I do admit, it does make adjusting the white balance easier with live view on. On the D90 that I tried it on, focusing takes a lot time with live view enabled.

I use live view sometimes when I setup my SLR on a tripod at awkward heights/angles.

ahhh i see.

just looked at FS, Rebel XSi with bag, battery, lens, and filter = $600

would it be better than a Sony A230 with lens + extra lens = $500

i guess eventually i need a bag, and the Canon is a little higher class than A230?

i took a picture of a tree at an awkward angle today and had to do preview shots to know if i was getting the right angle cuz my D3000 doesnt have live preview...the angle was almost impossible to look through eyepiece LOL

yay, got the XSi =)
hope it's a good choice

good choice
i also have the same one bought last year at 699.99 with extra battery bag and battery bar

You don't need live view.

T1i is $779 at Futureshop/Bestbuy this boxing day, if you can get in on the deal for it. Comes with the carry case/bag, etc. too.

At that price you're better off getting a Pentax K-x

It's true if you're buying the kit and nothing else. Sometimes you want to see what the things the other brand offers as well. Lens selection for example is one big one.

Also the KX uses double A batteries. Where some people likes it, there are also people who doesn't.

There's no real winner. Buy what you think would work best for you. If one is better than another for sure then why would the other one exist?

As for the boxing day price, I think there's only 12 in store. I wouldn't bother as it only saves a few bucks but a pain waiting for it (of course unless if you don't mind doing it)

If live view is important to you, then the Sony A330 or any of the Sony's equipped with LV is the best bet for you, as the Sony DSLR's have the fastest AF with LV activated. The trade-off is that the view through the viewfinder is smaller than other cameras due to the second sensor in the mirror box, but you do get AF that is as fast as the non-LV mode. I think you'll find that when you start using a DSLR, you'll look through the viewfinder more often than not.

The problem with the lower end DSLR's is the low resolution of the main LCD. It's too low for accurate focus checking. The high-res screens on the higher end cameras like the 5DmkII, 7D, D300s, etc are so good, that you can tell if your focus is off usually.

I use LV when using an infrared filter or my 10 stop neutral density filter, as the screen will auto gain and I can compose the scene with the filter on the lens.

i've found that i use the live-view when i throw it on my tripod - just to compose scenes and make minor adjustments. i wouldn't say it's crucial tho...

On my Canon XS I used it maybe once or twice, live view is garbage and only good when you want to do a digital zoom into the subject at to get a good focus at night.

on my Canon T1i that I just bought, I haven't even touched it. it's just another "feature" to beat other camera manufacturers.

thanks guys.

i just received my XSI a couple days ago. played with it and didn't know the viewfinder is wayyy nicer than the "viewfinders" in point and shoot cameras. (the camera that i used before was a Sony T33, it has no viewfinder at all)

love it so far, lots to learn, have not even tried to use the live preview yet. LOL