Camera Labs

Hi,
Got myself a 400d and one question i would like to ask as i cant find the answer in the manual is :-

Is it possible to view on the LCD display what is been seen through the lens prior to taking the picture. Eg in a crowd i would like to be able to hold at arms length the camera in the air, frame and take a picture. Rather than point blindly in the air and take several shots.

Thanks

Paul

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WWW.DEFENDERBLACK.CO.UK
WWW.GLU.ORG.UK
WWW.SANDEVER.CO.UK

Hi Paul,

Welcome to the CameraLabs forums.

To answer your question, the feature you are looking for is called "Live View" in the DSLR world and I am sorry to say that this is not a feature of your 400D/XTi. The best you can do is carry on as you are, although with CF cards becoming so capacious it is increasingly an option to take lots of shots and hope that at least one is a good'un.

By the way, it's my personal opinion that "Signatures" should be relevant to the site: that is generally related to photography. Could you reconsider your signature, please, and avoid items which might be deemed to be advertising. Thanks, and keep on posting - maybe some off-road action in the Action and sports photography forum?

Bob.

P.S. You could always add your web-site to your profile.

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OM-D E-M5 + ED 12-50mm, H-PS14042E, H-F007014E, L-RS014150E, M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 45mm 1:1.8.
Gitzo GT1541T, Arca-Swiss Z1 DP ball-head.
Astrophotography: TEC 140 'scope, FLI ML16803 camera, ASA DDM60 Pro mount.

Hi.
For those who are interested in Live View, I have to add that DSLR with Live View cannot focus in Live View mode. This means that in order to focus, the camera needs to lower the mirror, focus and raise it again.
I'm not sure that we'll be able to take pictures while holding the camera by hand. The picture will probably not be in focus.
Liron.

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Canon EOS 50D, Canon EF 17-40L, Canon EF 70-200L f/4 IS and Canon SpeedLite 430EX
My picasa

Hi Liron,

What you say has been generally true up to now but have a look at the Panasonic DMC-L10 and the Nikon D300. The key phrase is "Contrast AF" and now that Live View is becoming more common I think we will see more examples in the future.

Bob.

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OM-D E-M5 + ED 12-50mm, H-PS14042E, H-F007014E, L-RS014150E, M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 45mm 1:1.8.
Gitzo GT1541T, Arca-Swiss Z1 DP ball-head.
Astrophotography: TEC 140 'scope, FLI ML16803 camera, ASA DDM60 Pro mount.

I am thinking of getting a 400D, although reading about live view in magazines, they recomend it. Is the live view worth getting? or is a d-slr still great without it?

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Aidan_Hallett
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Hi Aidan,

A warm welcome to the CameraLabs forums.

Live View is a great feature to have if you are into astro or macro photography. I have Live View on my 40D and it's a must have for my astrophotography (I upgraded from the 400D partly for that reason) but that's the only time I use it. I find the viewfinder far preferable so, yes, DSLRs are still great without it.

Bob.

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OM-D E-M5 + ED 12-50mm, H-PS14042E, H-F007014E, L-RS014150E, M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 45mm 1:1.8.
Gitzo GT1541T, Arca-Swiss Z1 DP ball-head.
Astrophotography: TEC 140 'scope, FLI ML16803 camera, ASA DDM60 Pro mount.

Hi Paul,

Thanks for removing the "commercial" from your signature. Pardon me for asking, but what's the "sandever" URL in your current signature about as it doesn't seem to point to a functioning web-site?

By the way, if you are considering upgrading your 400D in order to have Live View but don't want to stretch as far as the 40D the rumour mill suggests that the 400D successor (450D) is arriving early next year and will have Live View.

Bob.

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OM-D E-M5 + ED 12-50mm, H-PS14042E, H-F007014E, L-RS014150E, M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 45mm 1:1.8.
Gitzo GT1541T, Arca-Swiss Z1 DP ball-head.
Astrophotography: TEC 140 'scope, FLI ML16803 camera, ASA DDM60 Pro mount.

Hi,

defenderblack link is my land rover 90, and associated pictures and video of it offroad, more pictures will be added now i have my new camera.

glu is another site for my interest in green lanes and how we can help save them!

Sandever is the family website and havent got round to doing the site, mind you it should be pointing at a better holding page than that!

The decorators one is my father in law and me. but removed as that i would class as an ad.

In fact this is the only site that has commented on the links.

Like the site alot. Any recommendations on sites that give video footage help on getting more from the canon?

Thanks

Paul

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WWW.DEFENDERBLACK.CO.UK
WWW.GLU.ORG.UK
WWW.SANDEVER.CO.UK

Hi Paul, in response to your last question, watch this space....!

Hi Paul,

While we are waiting for whatever Gordon has in store the only suggestion I have, apart from taking multiple shots in quick succession and hoping one is OK, is to change the "Image Review Time". The default is for the last picture you take to be displayed on the LCD for 2 seconds but this can be increased up to 8 seconds or even held indefinitely. The item at the bottom of page 94 of the manual refers, if the page numbering hasn't changed recently!

I know this isn't as good as Live View but provided you can hold the camera reasonably steadily it does give you a sort of way to see what the shot looks like and re-frame slightly as needed in those situations where using the viewfinder is impractical.

Bob.

_________________
OM-D E-M5 + ED 12-50mm, H-PS14042E, H-F007014E, L-RS014150E, M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 45mm 1:1.8.
Gitzo GT1541T, Arca-Swiss Z1 DP ball-head.
Astrophotography: TEC 140 'scope, FLI ML16803 camera, ASA DDM60 Pro mount.

Also does any one know what depth of field preview is and has the Canon 400D got it?

Many thanks

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Aidan_Hallett
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Yes, the 400D has it, its on the left of the lens mount I think. Just below the lens release? I forget, its been a while since I used a 400d.

Depth of field preview is a feature that allows you to check the depth of field(distance between the closest and furthest object in your picture that appears to be in focus) in your shot before you take it. When you look through your viewfinder you are viewing the scene through an open aperture. DOF preview closes the aperture to your selected aperture setting so you can check your DOF.

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Graham
Flickr

Oh great...just when I think I narrowed down my choice to the 400D, I now have to think about waiting to see what the 450D may offer.

Just kidding...the baby is due January 15th so I doubt it will be available by then.

Mitch

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Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 (Lumix DMC-TZ7)

If the 450D follows Canon's 18 month cycle, it'll be announced in February / March timeframe - probably the former as it could coincide with the PMA show.

There's nothing wrong with the 400D though, but I'm guessing the 450D will have Live View...