Blind Zooming?

[dtts88]

I thoroughly enjoy photography and am looking to buy either a Canon 30D or a Nikon D80. Now, I am used to shooting with non-interchangeable lens, basic cameras which all have live preview features. (as do all point and shoots)

My question is a bit odd and I feel I should know the answer but here goes: Most dslr's do not have "livepreview" save for a few models I am not too interested in. What I am asking is if I will be able to zoom in and out with my lens and see the effects somehow on the LCD? not full livepreview but maybe a button I can press to see if I like the look of how I zoomed in on something? I of course don't think it possible to do this through the viewfinder but if I could that would be fine. I just don't want to have to guess how the shot will look when I zoom.

Perhaps one is just supposed to get to know the lens and guess? I hope not.

silly question I know.

Thanks

[readingr]

What you see through the viewfinder is what you take the picture of. You only use the LCD to check the image once taken and to set the camera up via menus.

So when you zoom your looking through the viewfinder and you'll see exactly what the lens sees.

Try going into a local camera store and trying one out, they will be happy to help.

Roger

[dtts88]

Ah thank you very much Roger

I appreciate the reply. I do intend to go try both out, never a bad idea. Especially with the money involved.

[livin4lax09]

the new DSLRs will allow live preview with the LCD, but I'm pretty sure you can't zoom while using live preview...

[another view]

So when you zoom your looking through the viewfinder and you'll see exactly what the lens sees.

This is almost just a technicality, but you'll see anywhere from about 90-100% of what the sensor sees. The less expensive the camera, the less (usually) you'll see in the viewfinder. This isn't usually much of a problem though.

It was also true with film, but prints made from negatives almost never go completely to the edge of the negs. Same story for mounted slides - the mount covers up just a bit of the frame.

[SmartWombat]

the new DSLRs will allow live preview with the LCD, but I'm pretty sure you can't zoom while using live preview...

Why ever not ?
Zooming on a DSLR is a manuaal function of your hand on the lens.
Live view should show the zoom just fine.
When I get my 1DmkIII I'll let you know for sure

[livin4lax09]

maybe thats not it...I know it cant do something when its in live preview mode. It may be AFing though. I forget. Let me know when you get that mkIII, i may be interested in one of your older bodies!

[SmartWombat]

It may be AFing though

I think that's right.
While in live view the mirror is up and the shutter open., otherwise light doesn't reach the sensor. So the second mirror behind the main one can't reflect light down onto the AF sensors.
But it does have a zoom mode (not sure if it went to 1:1) on the LCD while in live view mode to allow you to manual focus. Great in the studio but I wouldn't try it for action shots

[dtts88]

hmm, yes the Olympus e-410 with live preview looks nice but I can do without the live preview. Especially if my sacrifice is for such a camera as the 30D.

It is good to know that the viewfinder sees what the lens sees for a number of reasons most of them obvious. I intend to do a lot of shooting with an IR filter as well and assume I will be able to see IR through the viewfinder, as the viewfinder sees what the lens sees.

Does anyone have any first hand knowledge on how good the 30D viewfinder is? in comparison with higher models and the competition. A good viewfinder is obviously VERY important to me and most others.

[freygr]

hmm, yes the Olympus e-410 with live preview looks nice but I can do without the live preview. Especially if my sacrifice is for such a camera as the 30D.

It is good to know that the viewfinder sees what the lens sees for a number of reasons most of them obvious. I intend to do a lot of shooting with an IR filter as well and assume I will be able to see IR through the viewfinder, as the viewfinder sees what the lens sees.

Does anyone have any first hand knowledge on how good the 30D viewfinder is? in comparison with higher models and the competition. A good viewfinder is obviously VERY important to me and most others.

IR is a different thing, we can't see IR so there isn't any image to see with the IR filter on. 2nd point the lens focuses IR in a different physical location than visible light you have to manually set the focus using a conversion table. The only way to see the IR is using an active IR device which converts IR into visible light.