Camera Labs

Hi,

I am new to this forum. Recently, I purchased a Pentax K20D camera with Pentax 70 - 300 lens. Before getting K20D, I tried Canon XSI and 40D. I convinced myself that all the extra things I read about K20D will compensate for its very basic live view. However, after getting the Camera, I recognize that not having the focusing capability on 8X zoom in live view mode is a major handicap for close up shooting.

Does any one have any comment on this?

Hi Vortex, welcome on-board. If you've read my reviews, you'll know I'm a big fan of using magnified live view for aiding focusing on macro and astro-photography. I often feel like I'm on a one-man crusade to promote such features as so many other reviewers continue to see no point in LV and only give it a brief mention. I guess like most things, you need to have an actual application for something to see the true value of it.

If you really want this feature, then you're going to have to switch bodies, BUT it's important to remember many, many wonderful macro photos were taken before LV was available. So unless you're happy to swap, I'd just practice using the optical viewfinder. You'll also want to look into a lens with decent macro capabilities, as this will make the biggest difference of all.

PS - if you fancy buying a second body with LV though, remember the budget Canon 1000D / XS also has the same magnified facility and PC remote control as the pricier models.

Bonjour Vortex, bonjour Gordon,

I'm not using a K20D but a K10D, and the K10D doesn't feature live-view. Life-view was supposed to be one of the major features of the K20D, but poorly implemented.

Here are two possibilities I've found for my K10D:

1. Use the Remote Assistant program included on the CD-ROM. Basically, it brings full control of the K10D or the K20D from a computer through an USB-cable. I posted a review here and there on my Pentax K10D User Review. Since it's free, it worth a try.
2. Consider the Magnifying Eyepiece O-ME53 which features 1.2x magnification and greatly eases manual focus by providing extra-comfort. I paid half the listed price (EUR 26 instead of USD 50).

Personally, I'm not a fan of live-view, because it seems to me incompatible with the very nature of dSLR. However, I do appreciate live-view as a substitute for a view-finder on my alternative camera, a highly compact Canon Ixus 85 IS / Digital Elph 770

Try and have fun with your camera

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--- rei_vilo
Pentax K-5 + BG4 + DA* 16-50 + DA* 50-135 + DA* 60-250 + AF-540FGZ
reivilophotography.weebly.com

That is one thing that sorta sucks, but using 4X zoom for it is still better than 1X zoom!

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Samsung GX-10, , SA 18-55mm
Canon 5D Mark II, 40D, EF 17-40mm f/4 L, EF 24-105mm L IS, EF 50mm f/1.4

www.flickr.com/glxlr

I thought it was pretty easy to focus in K20D's live-view. Although it's low-res, things just kind of snap once you achieve critical focus.

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Pentax K20D, 18-55mm mkII, Sigma 30mm f1.4, Helios 58mm f2, Pentacon 200mm f4, Nikon D40, 18-55mm, 55-200mm VR
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/denis_volk/