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1D lacks electronic lcd viewfinder

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Jonathan371

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Why in the world did Canon not allow for an electronic viewfinder in their camera? I use this feature all the time in my other digital cameras. It is especially useful in shooting subjects from an unusual angle. I was planning on buying a 1D because I love the canon lens system but the lack of this feature is a deal breaker for me. Does anyone else share my frustration? Is it possible for Canon to introduce a firmware update to correct this lack of functionality? Do I have to wait for another model to come out?
 
On the D30, the construction of the sensor chip makes it impossible to achieve this. The sensor relies on a real, mechanical shutter to meter the light reaching it, as opposed to the sensors used in many digital cameras which have electronic 'shutters' built in.

The benefit of this is that a greater proportion of the sensor can therefore be devoted to capturing light and storing charge, which yields a better image. I'd guess that the 1D's sensor is the same in this respect. Because it's a hardware limitation, there can be no firmware fix.

It would perhaps have been possible for Canon to include a secondary, low resolution sensor for this purpose, but that would cost time and money to develop. It would also get in the way of the AF sensor and exposure meter.

Personally I don't miss the LCD preview at all - the massively increased battery life is far more important to me.

Andy.
Jonathan371 said:
Why in the world did Canon not allow for an electronic viewfinder
in their camera? I use this feature all the time in my other
digital cameras. It is especially useful in shooting subjects from
an unusual angle. I was planning on buying a 1D because I love the
canon lens system but the lack of this feature is a deal breaker
for me. Does anyone else share my frustration? Is it possible for
Canon to introduce a firmware update to correct this lack of
functionality? Do I have to wait for another model to come out?
Click to expand...
 
A few may share your frustration, but not many.

the electronic viewfinder is something you find in the consumer level cameras. These are professional SLR cameras.

It won't happen with a firmware update, it would be a completly new hardware design. These cameras use a mirror and prism like any other SLR.
There is an lcd screen for image review after the photo is taken.

Perhaps if enough pros wanted this feature I'm sure Canon could design it into a future product.

Jack
Jonathan371 said:
Why in the world did Canon not allow for an electronic viewfinder
in their camera? I use this feature all the time in my other
digital cameras. It is especially useful in shooting subjects from
an unusual angle. I was planning on buying a 1D because I love the
canon lens system but the lack of this feature is a deal breaker
for me. Does anyone else share my frustration? Is it possible for
Canon to introduce a firmware update to correct this lack of
functionality? Do I have to wait for another model to come out?
Click to expand...
 
Jonathan371 said:
Why in the world did Canon not allow for an electronic viewfinder
in their camera? I use this feature all the time in my other
digital cameras. It is especially useful in shooting subjects from
an unusual angle. I was planning on buying a 1D because I love the
canon lens system but the lack of this feature is a deal breaker
for me. Does anyone else share my frustration? Is it possible for
Canon to introduce a firmware update to correct this lack of
functionality? Do I have to wait for another model to come out?
Click to expand...
 
You've got to be kidding. Having used electronic viewfinders, my Sony 707 has one and I give a small prayer of thanks to Canon for the viewfinder in the 1D. Colors are completely different using an electronic finder. What you see is definately what you do not get (thankfully) with an electronic viewfinder. Colors are either washed out or blown out depending on the scene.

The 1D captures exactly what I see.

Roger
Member said:
Jonathan371 said:
Why in the world did Canon not allow for an electronic viewfinder
in their camera? I use this feature all the time in my other
digital cameras. It is especially useful in shooting subjects from
an unusual angle. I was planning on buying a 1D because I love the
canon lens system but the lack of this feature is a deal breaker
for me. Does anyone else share my frustration? Is it possible for
Canon to introduce a firmware update to correct this lack of
functionality? Do I have to wait for another model to come out?
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
I would have considered an electronic viewfinder (power hog/hotter/noiser CCD) a design defect and that would stop me from considering it. I miss the SLR view finder on my PS camera. I will admit that the swivel LCD on the G1 has come in handy a few times, however.

Steven
Jonathan371 said:
Why in the world did Canon not allow for an electronic viewfinder
in their camera? I use this feature all the time in my other
digital cameras. It is especially useful in shooting subjects from
an unusual angle. I was planning on buying a 1D because I love the
canon lens system but the lack of this feature is a deal breaker
for me. Does anyone else share my frustration? Is it possible for
Canon to introduce a firmware update to correct this lack of
functionality? Do I have to wait for another model to come out?
Click to expand...
 
In an SLR there is a mirror in front of the shutter and sensor that reflects the image up into a pentaprism and out via a 'normal' viewfinder. The image doesn't reach the sensor until the exposure is made. To give you what you want means a complete re-design of the SLR camera.

I, for one, would much rather have a proper through-the-lens viewfinder as in an SLR as opposed to an LCD panel where it is difficult to tell how well-focussed the image is or to see it at all in bright sunlight! If this is a feature you really want then maybe you should look at cameras like the Canon Pro 90 IS or the Olympus E20.

It is not a frustration for me - a battery hungry LCD preview might well be.

David
Jonathan371 said:
Why in the world did Canon not allow for an electronic viewfinder
in their camera? I use this feature all the time in my other
digital cameras. It is especially useful in shooting subjects from
an unusual angle. I was planning on buying a 1D because I love the
canon lens system but the lack of this feature is a deal breaker
for me. Does anyone else share my frustration? Is it possible for
Canon to introduce a firmware update to correct this lack of
functionality? Do I have to wait for another model to come out?
Click to expand...
 
Steven Noyes said:
I will admit that the swivel LCD on the G1 has come in handy a few
times, however.
Click to expand...
A flip/swivel LCD with preview would be handy for some specific reasons including: (a) as a waist level viewfinder, (b) for tripod mounted photography with use of a remote control, (c) for photography while mounted on a telescope or microscope, (d) for spontaneous shots or candids, (e) for shots taken at unusual angles, (f) to allow for viewfinding during MLU (assuming the main sensor would be used for the EVF with mirror up and shutter open), and (g) the ability to protect the screen when not in use.

LCD preview would be a nice additional feature, and I think we'll see the day when this becomes standard issue even in DSLRs... But I wouldn't choose it to the exclusion of the mirror and prism.

JCDoss
 
JCDoss said:
Steven Noyes said:
I will admit that the swivel LCD on the G1 has come in handy a few
times, however.
Click to expand...
A flip/swivel LCD with preview would be handy for some specific
reasons including: (a) as a waist level viewfinder, (b) for tripod
mounted photography with use of a remote control, (c) for
photography while mounted on a telescope or microscope, (d) for
spontaneous shots or candids, (e) for shots taken at unusual
angles, (f) to allow for viewfinding during MLU (assuming the main
sensor would be used for the EVF with mirror up and shutter open),
and (g) the ability to protect the screen when not in use.

LCD preview would be a nice additional feature, and I think we'll
see the day when this becomes standard issue even in DSLRs... But
I wouldn't choose it to the exclusion of the mirror and prism.

JCDoss
Click to expand...
 
the resolution of those tiny screens is such that even if I could zoom in for a closer look its not good enough to tell me anything.
why do you need it?

if you are shooting something you are concerned about focus then do just as we always have with 35mm film. Shoot many many rolls and fast. The cool thing is that you can shoot away with digital at no additional cost, except for editing and wear and tear on the camera but we still had that with film.
David R Stout said:
I, for one, would much rather have a proper through-the-lens
viewfinder as in an SLR as opposed to an LCD panel where it is
difficult to tell how well-focussed the image is or to see it at
all in bright sunlight! If this is a feature you really want then
maybe you should look at cameras like the Canon Pro 90 IS or the
Olympus E20.

It is not a frustration for me - a battery hungry LCD preview might
well be.

David
Jonathan371 said:
Why in the world did Canon not allow for an electronic viewfinder
in their camera? I use this feature all the time in my other
digital cameras. It is especially useful in shooting subjects from
an unusual angle. I was planning on buying a 1D because I love the
canon lens system but the lack of this feature is a deal breaker
for me. Does anyone else share my frustration? Is it possible for
Canon to introduce a firmware update to correct this lack of
functionality? Do I have to wait for another model to come out?
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
n/t
 
Bol* ks!!!! I love the live preview offered by digicams and I miss it on my D30! It is useless for focus but great for exposure.
--Neil http://www.neilbuchangrant.co.uk
 
Yes, you have to wait for another model to come out. What you want is a Canon version of the Oly E-20, a digicam/SLR hybrid. A lot of other people want one too but Canon has not given any indication that they intend to offer anything to this segment of the market, at least not at this time.

It's always possible they could announce something at PMA.
 
You may miss it but it is impossible to have on the D30 without a major redesign, as has been discussed every couple of weeks for the last year and a half!! The existing sensor is incapable of a live video out as per Phil Askey:

http://www.dpreview.com/learn/Glossary/Camera_System/Sensor_01.htm

and there is no room to add another sensor without interfering with the existing mirror and shutter. You may miss it but it isn't going to happen!!

Rich
Neil Buchan-Grant said:
--
Neil
http://www.neilbuchangrant.co.uk
Click to expand...
 
I'm saying! And what in the HELL were they thinking with that fast autofocus system and the OBVIOUS lack of shutter lag? The thing that irks me the most is the lack of noise in the images, especially at ISO 100. What are we to do?

(This was a lame attempt at humor, PLEASE don't flame me.)

-------
-Matthew
 
Member said:
The 1D captures exactly what I see.
Click to expand...
What a lie?
This is not true as you can't see exactly the view when the shutter opens.
It is true only if optical view finder covers 100% of the frame.
It is nothing to do with electronic/optical view finder.

If electronic view finder technology develops more it is not impossible to have almost same as optical view finder.

Paul J.
 
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