Whats the best live view DSLR I can get for a good price?

I was thinking about the Nikon D5000 but is there really good live view SLR that is cheaper??

Sony A500/550 has a MUCH better live view but no video. Probably the same sensor as the Nikon. The A330/380 would be cheaper and just as good live view.

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'Nothing is more fairly distributed than common sense: no one thinks he needs more of it than he already has.'

Rene Descartes

digitalman4242 said:

I was thinking about the Nikon D5000 but is there really good live view SLR that is cheaper??

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Note that, in general, dSLR's are clumsy to use in live view. The only thing it's really good for is tripod use for macros and, perhaps, landscapes. I use live view on a D300 for macros of static objects but I don't use it for landscapes, maybe because I don't want to have to put a black cloth over my head to see the screen (I honor the memory of Ansel Adams by not imitating him).

For typical photography, the optical finder in dSLR's is much easier and faster to use than the rear LCD. Also, these things are considerably heavier than small-sensor cameras and are harder to hold steady at arm's length.

However, live view is now a very common feature in dSLR's and you should be able to find a good camera with that feature. The Pentax K-x, just reviewed here, has live view, is apparently as good as anything around (it has the same sensor as the D5000), and is relatively inexpensive.

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Leonard Migliore

Leonard Migliore said:

However, live view is now a very common feature in dSLR's and you should be able to find a good camera with that feature. The Pentax K-x, just reviewed here, has live view, is apparently as good as anything around (it has the same sensor as the D5000), and is relatively inexpensive.

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Leonard Migliore

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From this site's reviews.

Live view in Pentax

The K-x is the the third Pentax DSLR to include live view and, as with most DSLRs, the system seems primarily suited to tripod work. Live view can be extremely useful for macro or studio work (such as shooting test charts!) but the contrast detect AF (with face detection) is, in common with most competing systems, so slow that for 'normal' shooting most photographers would find the use of the viewfinder much more convenient.

If you need a faster AF in live view there is still an option to use the camera's phase-detection sensor, though it does mean the camera has to flip its mirror down, focus, then flip the mirror back up again when you hit the shutter button. All in all the live view implementation on the K-x is very similar to the K-7.

Live View In Sony

Like the A350 but unlike every other current DSLR, the A380's live view system does not show the output from the main imaging sensor. Instead there is a second, smaller sensor placed up in the viewfinder tunnel.

The advantage of this layout is that, unlike any other current Live View system, the camera can offer live view with the reflex mirror down. This means it behaves just like a conventional DSLR when in Live view mode, only flipping the mirror out of the way when you press the shutter button to take the photograph. The result is a more responsive Live View mode that essentially offers the convenience of a compact camera with the speed of focus of a conventional DSLR.

The A550(A500) becomes the first DSLR since Olympus's innovative, if esoteric, Evolt E-330 to offer two distinct live view modes. The first - as seen in many other Alpha models - uses a tiny secondary sensor to give a (relatively low-resolution) preview, allowing the use of the conventional DSLR phase-detection AF sensor to give rapid auto focusing (phase detection requires the main mirror to be down, so can't be used by other live view DSLRs unless the mirror is flipped down and up again before each shot).

New for the A550 is the catchily-named 'MF CHECK LV' mode, which - like all other SLR live view systems - lets you flip the mirror and use the main sensor for live view. This produces a higher quality preview (and one with less cropping of the frame), but there's no autofocus (as the name implies). Apart from the face detection and autofocus aspects the on-screen display is the same in both modes.

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'Nothing is more fairly distributed than common sense: no one thinks he needs more of it than he already has.'

Rene Descartes

Well I just didn't know how annoying the viewfinder would be since I wear glasses, or if it could scratch or messup my glasses at all putting them up against the viewfinder. I see the canon XS can only use Live View mode with a focus that focus's only on a small area, I Think the nikons are the same way. You wont get the 9 or 11 point auto focus.

digitalman4242 said:

Well I just didn't know how annoying the viewfinder would be since I wear glasses, or if it could scratch or messup my glasses at all putting them up against the viewfinder.

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I wear glasses and want to share these experiences:

• I never have scratched or otherwise tampered my glasses using the Viewfinder of any SLR (digital or film)
• If your handicap is not too extreme... many modern cameras have a setting to correct the Viewfinder view in a range like '+2' to '-3' (different for each brand), so one could use the VF without glasses.
• a bigger concern would be what you can actually SEE in the VF. Do test that, it's quite different from one camera to the other.

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All in my humble opionion of course!

If I seem to talk nonsense or you can't understand me, it's probably my English

If you're thinking Liveview as your most important feature, you might not even want to venture into the DSLR world. It has its uses but is not a reason to buy a particular camera nor something you really need. Once you've had your DSLR for a week or so, you'll be using the optical viewfinder. I wear progressive bi-focal glasses and would never give up the speed, accuracy and comfort of my optical viewfinder. In fact, because of my eyes, the optical viewfinder is the primary feature I look for in a new camera. I use the LiveView feature very rarely.

If you're really stuck on LiveView, the Sony 300 series have an easy implementation meant to be easy for point and shooters. The problem is that the sensor used to look at the Liveview is not the one that takes the picture. You don't get what you see.

Secondly, Sony's Liveview sensors are located in the penta-mirror housing making its optical viewfinder one of the worst on the market. The LCD even juts out somewhat blocking the viewfinder. What that means is that after you realize that the optical viewfinder is the way to go, you'll be stuck with a very poor one.

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Cheers, Craig

I'd go with the Sony A500. It's using a new 12MP CMOS sensor design (note that the Nikon D5000 also uses a Sony 12MP CMOS Sensor).

You can see more about this camera here:

http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&productId=8198552921665970151

The design of the Sony models with live view is unique among current dSLR models, allowing the camera to use fast Phase Detect Autofocus via the camera's dedicated 9 point Autofocus Sensor, so that you get the same Autofocus performance using Live View that you get using the Optical Viewfinder, without the performance issues you see with Contrast Detect Autofocus (or the need to flip the mirror back and forth to Autofocus using their detected AF sensors).

The Sony models achieve fast Autofocus using Live View by using a separate sensor for Live View in the camera's viewfinder housing. So, the Live View sensor sees the same image that would normally be sent to the Optical Viewfinder when in Live View mode. IOW, Autofocus Speed is the same either way.

Other dSLR models will have very slow Autofocus performance in comparison when using Live View (don't expect to use it for non-stationary subjects with other dSLR brands).

If you don't need the high ISO ability of a Sony 12MP CMOS Sensor used in models like the A500, I'd look at the A330 instead.

But note that the A330 has a smaller optical viewfinder (about the same size you'd get with the entry level Olympus models), and doesn't have all of the features you get with the A500.

If you do go with a model like the A330 instead of the A500, I'd get this attachment for the optical viewfinder, so that you'll have a better view when using the Optical Viewfinder versus Live View.

http://www.alphamountworld.com/product-reports/sony-fda-me1am-magnifying-eyepiece-product-report

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JimC
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http://www.pbase.com/jcockfield

I have used glasses with an SLR viewfinder for about 30 years and my experiences have been the same as Adriaan's.

On my 5 year old Canon 20D, because my eye is further away from the viewfinder due to my glasses, I have to move my head around to see both the image and the exposure information at the bottom of the screen. Also, the exposure information can be very difficult to see in bright light. Having said that, I have take about 50,000 shots with the 20D and the viewfinder has never prevented me from taking a shot.

I now also have a Canon 7D and the viewfinder is much better for a glasses wearer - I can see the whole screen even in very bright light.

As Adriaan has said, make sure that you try out the viewfinders before buying.

I only use liveview when the camera is on a tripod - a good viewfinder is much, much better for all other situations.
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Chris R

digitalman4242 said:

Well I just didn't know how annoying the viewfinder would be since I wear glasses, or if it could scratch or messup my glasses at all putting them up against the viewfinder. I see the canon XS can only use Live View mode with a focus that focus's only on a small area, I Think the nikons are the same way. You wont get the 9 or 11 point auto focus.

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I wear glasses as well, and I still use the VF with no problem at all. The VF has a rubber eyecup that leaves no mark on my glasses. The only time I'll use live view is on a tripod for either close-up or portraits; other than that it's extremely clumsy to hold a DSLR out in front of you to compose the image.

Mark

Wal-Mart has the Olympus E-420 10MP DSLR with 14-42mm kit lens for only $349:
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=12024514

Online or via coupon in-store with E-420 purchase, you can add the Olympus Zuiko 40-150mm telephoto zoom lens for only $99 more.

LiveView works better than non-users would have you believe and the 10x display zoom in MF mode is very handy in use.

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Group Captain Mandrake: 'I was tortured by the Japanese, Jack, if you must know; not a pretty story....Strange thing is they make such bloody good cameras.' ( Dr. Strangelove , 1964)

I am thinking about the Canon XS because its price. I dont care about video at all. Would I See a noticable improvement in pq if I upgraded to a Nikon D5000 for instance? or would PQ be close?

That depends on what you're shooting, The XS is limited to a highest ISO speed of ISO 1600. The D5000 will have lower noise levels at the same ISO speed setting and can go higher if needed for faster shutter speeds in low light. So, for low light use without a flash, the D5000 is a better bet.

I assume you mean "Picture Quality" when you say PQ. I don't recall ever seeing PQ used before in forum posts. So, that's a new one on me. IQ is popular (for image quality).

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JimC
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http://www.pbase.com/jcockfield

ohh wow, 1600 tops, thats not so good. Yeah I want 3200, is there anything comparable to D5000 in PQ thats cheaper? that also has live view?

digitalman4242 said:

ohh wow, 1600 tops, thats not so good. Yeah I want 3200, is there anything comparable to D5000 in PQ thats cheaper? that also has live view?

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You aren't going to get anything you want. You want ISO 3200, you want live view, you want cheap, you want "PQ".

Tough. Consider yourself lucky if you get a camera you can take pictures with.

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Leonard Migliore

Stick with a P&S, you'll be much better off and will more than likely take much better pictures.
Steve-Seattle

Leonard Migliore said:

You aren't going to get anything you want. You want ISO 3200, you want live view, you want cheap, you want "PQ".

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Dang dude, how old are you 5? I will spend the money to get the D5000 if I have to. But whats the harm of trying to find the BEST DEAL on a camera that does line view and Iso 3200, are you telling me the Nikon D5000 is the cheapest? if so that's what I might get. My wife is set on a DSLR she wants it. She's tired of paying Walmart and Sears $100 a year for family pictures and wants to do it herself. Her friend has a old Rebel XT and does the same. I'm just thinking since were shelling out the money to get one, mise well get a really nice one that does 3200.

STPitt said:

Stick with a P&S, you'll be much better off and will more than likely take much better pictures.
Steve-Seattle

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If it was up to me I would, but wife wants DSLR so DSLR it is. I'm just trying to find the best deal on a good one with Iso 3200 and line view I dont know where all the negativity is coming from, you camera guys are tough.

digitalman4242 said:

If it was up to me I would, but wife wants DSLR so DSLR it is.

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OK, I understand, a wife....but keep a P&S in your side pocket regardless.
Steve-Seattle

digitalman4242 said:

digitalman4242 said:

You aren't going to get anything you want. You want ISO 3200, you want live view, you want cheap, you want "PQ".

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Dang dude, how old are you 5? I will spend the money to get the D5000 if I have to. But whats the harm of trying to find the BEST DEAL on a camera that does line view and Iso 3200, are you telling me the Nikon D5000 is the cheapest? if so that's what I might get. My wife is set on a DSLR she wants it. She's tired of paying Walmart and Sears $100 a year for family pictures and wants to do it herself. Her friend has a old Rebel XT and does the same. I'm just thinking since were shelling out the money to get one, mise well get a really nice one that does 3200.

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T1i vs D5000. A tough one.