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T2i and Live View

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BobT

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Leaving on a 3 week vacation roadtrip to the southwest canyon country. It just dawned on me that, since this will be a prominently scenic photo trip, LIVE VIEW might be the thing to do. But having never even tried to use it, would this be wise for me to attempt...for the first time...on shots that will really count? I'm not a quick learner. And, I will not be able to critically review photos taken until I get home. So perhaps this might NOT be the time to try it out?

If you feel that it's relatively risk free, could you offer a crash course here and now?

Thanks
 
Why would you want to use LiveView? I personally use it only when camera is in a position where it is impossible/impractical to use optical VF. If this will be scenic trip, you will be most of the time in bright daylight, so LCD will be hard to see. Also, if you are going to be out all day, you want to conserve battery, and LiveView eats battery like crazy.
 
Those are the sorts of comments I need to hear. Thanks. I guess I just recall that LV was commonly used for static shots, such as scenery.
 
BobT said:
BobT wrote:

Those are the sorts of comments I need to hear. Thanks. I guess I just recall that LV was commonly used for static shots, such as scenery.
Click to expand...
Holding out the camera in front of you to view the LCD, especially in sunny conditions, is not the ultimate in viewing or stability, scenery or not.
 
BobT said:
BobT wrote:

Those are the sorts of comments I need to hear. Thanks. I guess I just recall that LV was commonly used for static shots, such as scenery.
Click to expand...
It is commonly used that way when camera is on a tripod and you use a remote shutter release in order to have shake-free long exposures.
 
BobT said:
BobT wrote:

Those are the sorts of comments I need to hear. Thanks. I guess I just recall that LV was commonly used for static shots, such as scenery.
Click to expand...
Yes, but that would be mostly on tripod, and when you want to achieve ultra-critical focus (with 10x life view in manual focus mode), and of course it works better when it's not that bright, or night, when you see the screen. In night scenes AF may not always work they way you want, so manual focus/live view is a possibility.
 
Olga Johnson said:
Olga Johnson wrote:
Olga Johnson said:
BobT wrote:

Those are the sorts of comments I need to hear. Thanks. I guess I just recall that LV was commonly used for static shots, such as scenery.
Click to expand...
Holding out the camera in front of you to view the LCD, especially in sunny conditions, is not the ultimate in viewing or stability, scenery or not.
Click to expand...
Yes, and I also find it much easier to really 'see' my composition within the viewfinder, not appearing on a the back of the camera body.

One of the big advantages of a DSLR is the optical viewfinder. The only time I don't use mine (T3i) is when I take a photo of something that makes it impossible for me to use the viewfinder, i.e. an overhead shot of my son sleeping in his crib, and then I use the flip/twist LCD and live view to compose the shot. When I had an XSi without a flip/twist (and T2i is the same in that regard) I virtually never used live view.
 
BobT said:
BobT wrote:

Leaving on a 3 week vacation roadtrip to the southwest canyon country. It just dawned on me that, since this will be a prominently scenic photo trip, LIVE VIEW might be the thing to do. But having never even tried to use it, would this be wise for me to attempt...for the first time...on shots that will really count? I'm not a quick learner. And, I will not be able to critically review photos taken until I get home. So perhaps this might NOT be the time to try it out?

If you feel that it's relatively risk free, could you offer a crash course here and now?
Click to expand...
Live view is kind of handy when you are in close, like for a macro shot, and focus is very critical. With live view you can get a little better idea of what the DOF will be and get very critical focus.

But for shooting scenics, focus really is not critical at all. You are MUCH better off just doing the things to get good exposure and composing and shooting with the viewfinder. Much faster, easier on batteries... better way to go. Save live view for tripod macro shots. It is MUCH slower and harder to use well.
 
Live view Auto-focus is a bear. Just check out any off the EOS M discussions! Manual focus is manageable though. Best of luck with your trip!
 
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