D-SLR: Can you deal with this?!?

Ulysses · May 6, 2002

Phil educates the readers with his preview of the Nikon D100:

"For those who are new to digital SLR's you have to understand that they don't provide a live preview image like consumer digital cameras. This is because of the reflex mirror, mechanical shutter and design of the sensor (which can't be used to provide a video feed). The LCD is only "On" if you have image review enabled (after taking the shot), when you're navigating menus or reviewing images in play mode."
http://www.dpreview.com/articles/nikond100/page3.asp

Question to you all: Can you deal with that sort of functionality?

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Ulysses

jason61037 · May 6, 2002

yes if it means being able to judge focus better through the view finder.

I hardly use the evf on my 707, and use the screen. i still have a hard time judging focus and sharpness using both, and often take multiple shots of the same subject. however, i would miss the low light/night shot capability of the lcd preview screen...

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-jason
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Lance49911 · May 6, 2002

I would prefer to see the real image through the viewfinder anytime. It would be much easier to confirm focus vs. looking at a LCD or EVF.

I had my 707 indoors at Dave and Busters this weekend for my oldest's B-day. Once again, many shots that looked purely focused in the LCD or EVF turned out to be out of focus when reviewed on the computer sceen.

ZipperZ · May 6, 2002

hell yes....i can deal with it.
Now, if it was a Sony....i'd bet they have it firgured out

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gearedsoft · May 6, 2002

I hate it when the viewfinder goes black when you are taking pictures of fast moving objects. I have tried the burst mode once for these kind of things and then you want to have a normal viewfinder. Just hoping that the object is still in the frame is not a good way to photograph them.

BUT most of the time I like the LCD and the EVF. My option should be a switch to control what you want to do. Through the lens or using the LCD.

Nico.

Jimmy Chen · May 6, 2002

Let me ask a question in return to better understand this ...

My understanding is the F707 CCD is also a mechanical shutter, but with electronic shutter built in as well. So, what is there to prevent this feature from being added to the 6MP CCD? Is it because it cannot be done, too expensive, or they just figure since it is designed for SLR, the SLR will take care of all the viewing requirement you need and hence didnt bother to have this feature?

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jc
F707 w/ Nikon 5T/6T
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wildbill · May 6, 2002

Yeeeup I have no trouble with it! I could cope... let me at it.....hehe
wildbill

GoldenHammer · May 6, 2002

I proved myself... yes... but take sometimes to get used to this.

GH

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Andrew Coupe · May 6, 2002

I reckon I could. I find it very difficult (if not impossible) to judge focus accurately through either the EVF or LCD. I've taken to using autofocus then switching to manual focus with the shutter release half-depressed. Seems to work OK for those shots where you don't have time for the camera to refocus for each shot.

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Glenn Barber · May 6, 2002

when I am outdoors shooting in brightlight - I still can't seem to see the external image that well and end up using the EVF to review images. Indoors when I am using flash - I often am in manual mode to increase the shutter speed and reduce aperture - then the EVF on the 707 goes dark - thats when I wish I had the SLR most of all.

The one problem I have with image review on the outside LCD only - is that with my bifocals I cant seem to focus close enough on the image (where I have correction through the EVF). So I have to say what I would miss the most is being able to review my images through the EVF.

mxcat · May 6, 2002

I have had very little luck in turning off the autofocus and nailing it with the manual ,,,especially with the LCD,especially handheld, I would rather nail it with a TTL viewfinder but, that poses another problem sort of,, I am nearsighted and have always ruined pictures I took by using the camera lens to compensate for my eyesight (of lack thereof).. I don't see why the LCDs won't get better to the point of making the reflex format obsolete.. A low noise 6 mgpxl prosumer camera with a 20x optical zoom would keep me away from DSLRs..

Craig · May 6, 2002

The live LCD preview, plus F707 swivel, means you can take a shot with the camera over your head, or at waist level, both of which have been very useful to me. That's a sacrifice I'm willing to make for truly fast AF, but it would be great if someone puts DSLR class sensor in a consumer digicam--just a matter of time I guess.

Hans Bolte · May 6, 2002

No problem...I never use the LCD screen on the 707. It would actually be a pleasure to look "through the lens."

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TrekSF6 · May 6, 2002

I would prefer it this way. And I agree that it is hard to use manual focus with the LCD. I always use autofocus except when I want to use infinity or when I just switch over to manual to keep focus the same as the prior shot. I don't see any reason to leave it up to my eyes anyway. Unless your eyesight is absolutely perfect, what looks in focus to you may not look in focus to someone else. I would rather have conventional through the lens viewfinder for action shots and an LCD for review of pictures..

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Scott A.
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F-707

Hide Takahashi · May 6, 2002

I never use LCD when I take pictures and I use the LCD just to check the image after I took. I just like to use viewfinder and ,IMO,using the viewfinder when you take pictures is more intuitive,harmonic and functional with a human body/senses. And that's why pros use the viewfinder?

Hide

Loren Charif · May 6, 2002

What did I do for the last 30 years before the DA came along? I'd prefer it.

Loren

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Ron Parr · May 6, 2002

When the mirror is down on an SLR, there's no light hitting the sensor. You could flip the mirror, blocking the viewfinder, and exposing the CCD if you wanted to get some kind of LCD only mode. You'd then need:

A CCD with fast enough readout for real time display
The ability to focus and determine exposure from the main sensor

Consumer cameras do both of these. Fast readout for a large CCD is a tricky matter. The more charge you can store and the wider area over which you must transfer the charge, the slower the maximum frame rate.

Focusing off the main sensor is difficult without a high frame rate. Moreover, it would limit you to contrast detection AF, instead of the phase detection AF gives SLRs their edge in autofocus performance.

CMOS sensors have more promise for making large sensors that can serve both roles. The new Foveon sensor in the SD-9 can produce 25 FPS in a special reduced resolution mode. Nevertheless, it appears that the SD-9 will be taking the traditional route and not attempt to do focusing/exposure/preview off the sensor.

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Ron Parr
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Amando Hernández · May 6, 2002

What's in a phase detection device that prevents it from being installed in a 707 or an S85, for instance? Your imput (as always) would be very appreciated!

Amando.

bob d · May 6, 2002

I prefer composing shots with the viewfinder. With the F707 I find I used the EVF a lot more often than the LCD screen on the back. Although I do sometimes use the LCD.

There is no doubt that the SLR viewfinder would make focusing a lot easier.

Peter G · May 6, 2002

Ulysses,

This is fairly well known. All the real DSLR's work like this. I really am used to having a viewfinder and find it odd using the LCD. So having a real viewfinder will Rock. Review is all I want on the screen.

BTW I finally have a replacement for my Nikon 950. I picked up the Canon S30... Its charging... It has a crappy viewfinder, but I suspect I will be using it a lot.

Cheers,

Peter

D-SLR: Can you deal with this?!?

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