Should You Use Live View When You Shoot? | Master Your Craft

[@marinab4057]

Liveview is an amazing tool. As a portrait photographer, I talk with my subject. I listen what they say and they have all of my attention, I am not hiding behind the camera. There’s a better connection with a person you shoot, especially if they’re not models and camera shy. Simple physiological trick that always works )))

[@annar301]

What camera and lens combo do you use Marina?

[@darlingtoncd]

I've known this 5-6 years ago. I have an older Canon 660d (no dual pixel - DSLR) and a Samsung NX11 (mirrorless) - I'll upgrade when they pack in. Live view focusing and taking note of the histogram has been my main method since then. When I see people criticizing live view use, I see photographers who don't move with the times and don't understand the benefits (quite varied) of using live view. It's up to the user to choose how they want to get the photo...each to their own. Your totally correct on what you say...just thought I'd add that👌

[@JustFocus._]

Was having the same problem when shooting with my 6D Mark II so I started shooting in live view and man what a difference! I love how I can quickly zoom in as well to make sure it’s tack sharp and being able to see your exposure before you take your shot is so convenient

[@joncothranphotography9375]

I just love my 5D iv and shooting in live view. When taking portraits, it makes the subject more relaxed without me being hidden behind the camera. I can see my exposure before taking the shot like mirrorless.

[@pedroschmitt4047]

Great to know that you endorse live view shootings. It changes the way I take pictures after acquire a Canon 77d. Recently, I took photos of small sculptures with this combo: monopod + shutter release + live view (1 point AF).

[@shannonkuratli170]

You nailed it; I feel like I look amateur (iPhone photos, etc) when I'm using my live view. But when I shoot wedding receptions, and they're l huddled up on the dance floor, the over heads and down on the group shots with live view are always money. Saving hours in editing means I don't care if I look amateur. Haha! You're right. Awesome video, as usual. Thank you.

[@eyewandersfoto]

Anyone that thinks you look like an amateur using the LCD to frame doesn't have a photographic opinion worth considering. (Except perhaps your client, but they've already booked you and the proof will be in the pudding to come.) :)

[@J.photo11]

Mike is quite the model when he relaxes! Very helpful video thanks!

[@b991228]

Pye’s years of taking cell phone pictures has allowed him to develop his exceptional technique.

[@payamjirsa]

Hahaha, 100%

[@LeafOfAutumn05]

I recently started using live view more often than the viewfinder ... Found it easier to frame the picture..

[@lorenzostheman]

Pye always has great tips and tutorials to help you become a better photographer. I love the challenge videos where he squares off against his buddies to see who gets the best shot of the model. Spoiler Alert. Pye always wins! 👊😁

[@payamjirsa]

Glad you enjoyed! Haha, the challenges are indeed fun, and I definitely lose a lot! ;)

[@serrz8203]

I am one who asked for this tecnique. Thanks a lot!!

[@maeforesta1058]

I used to think that using Live View looked so silly - but after a year of photoshoots with a mask on, I'm so over my viewfinder fogging up! haha

[@amandashelley9887]

With the way my eyes are, I can't focus sharply when using my viewfinder. I have to use Live view if I want sharp images. I am glad I'm not the only person who does this. The only thing I don't like is the delay between pressing the trigger and the photo actually being taken. It's even worse when I have flash hooked up. But for quality, I can't shoot any other way.

[@blendering3D]

I'm a beginner and I have a Canon SL2, the OVF is not enough so I always use live view and it has DPA as well. Just tap and you get the photo and you hardly ever miss the focus point. This camera's OVF is a weakness but it has a great Live View system to compensate for it.

[@jamesmuriithi440]

Can I also say live view reduces errors and having to gamble and take many photos since you have already worked on the focus and so reduce noise and blurs or shakes? Would that be right?

[@vero1197]

So I'm not the only one using the viewfinder to setup the composition, finally! I take some shoot too with the viewfinder ON and I think the focus system is very accurate.

[@wodandewael3613]

Great video! Just a few questions: when shooting true live view i can't shoot quickly even when my shutter speed is high and all of the sudden u have completely different autofocus settings (for example, i dont have af-c anymore and i now have wide area af and face priority, ...). My shots are also sooo slow...

[@blackmamba3427]

Awesome video and commentary 👌

[@eyewandersfoto]

This has been one of the boons of mirrorless for years. I still frame with the VF a lot of the time, but like here, it's situational. I wouldn't use it in a dark setting simply for the light it creates (that depends on the shoot though), and I often don't use it simply when I need to conserve battery.

[@J.5.M.]

I'm new and have a mirrorless. Super helpful thanks.

[@SKgeostrat]

Nice! I look forward to this series!

[@JohnAvantiBK]

How does he get sharp pictures off a tripod? You can't hold the camera all day and not see camera shake or soft Pic.

[@sureshking89]

Thanks for the tips. Will try.

[@ronnyshama]

I think the best reason to shoot using live view is merely the viewing angles, my camera has a flippy screen & it makes it sooo easy to get the perfect composition by moving my hands without my body & still see whats going on, gone are the days of lying down on the filthy floor to get the shot

[@MrGroovemann]

How do I decrease the processing time in between photos while using live view? Is it a setting, is it the Len + camera combo, ir the camera itself?

[@Gordos_photographyy]

Hey Adorama, I have a Canon 5d mark4, and for some reason o am not able to use continuous burst mode during live view, is there a reason why, please help would love to use live view for fast paced photos

[@diam8749]

I have a canon 77D. Does this apply??

[@usernamemykel]

Why is it, that when trying macro, with a well-lit subject, when I switch from viewfinder to live view, I get no image, just toatl blackness, with the white rectangle in the middle?

[@JoanneWetzel]

I primarily work with animals, but I would be curious to try this with some of my equine sessions. Thank you!

[@peeweebarney]

I did not know that Canon 5dm4 & Canon 6Dm2 have touch focus on live view. I will experiment with live view. I have never used it for still photography. Thanks for the tips.

[@AlanMorrisSF]

I use a Nikon D750 and find live view only helpful for focusing if on a tripod.. The delay when shooting is intolerable. So I switch to viewfinder. Maybe the more modern cameras are better at this

[@momentphotos79]

I am using the same camera but Nikon autofocus system in d750(live View)is quite disappointing

[@ubecheesepandesal]

I agree with you! The shutter lag in Nikon D5100 or D3500 is so annoying, it has that long delay

[@blunekp7762]

Hello Pye! Thank you for this video! I have Canon R6 and as I know it doesn`t have dual pixel. Does it mean that AF through Viewfinder and through Liveview will have no difference? I would really appreciate your answer! Thank you!

[@jesscurrie]

What about a 5Dmiii? I want to try shooting this way

[@nancymartin9197]

Can you address off camera flash with live view?

[@hanasmith4101]

I find that when im using live view mode it takes a while to shoot multiple images at a time and i do events where it is a very fast pace, am i doing something wrong?

[@matthewlesage9652]

So helpful thank you

[@RamaSivamani]

When I use the viewfinder my arms and elbows are tucked in and the camera against my face adds stability. If I am using a longer lens or shooting at a marginal shutter speed the increased instability of holding the camera out in front of me could cause some hand shake to enter into my photos especially if it's a long session then arm and shoulder fatigue will start to come into play. For me there is too much of a sense of instability that I only use the live view lcd if its high angle where I am holding the camera up above my head or a low angle where I am holding the camera low. If I am shooting on a tripod then I do use live view everytime.

[@fixitrod4969]

One other thing I don't like about like view on Canon like 5D is the focus point is to big compared to the view finder. When using really wide open fairly close, choosing just an eye can be difficult. Other than that I'm live view all the time. On camera's like 80D the flip screen adds another reason to use live view.

[@ritapatel4364]

Very enlightening! I have the same gear and same isn’t when using primes wide open. Looking forward to trying this!

[@rosssayer6524]

Very helpful tips so will check out my Nikon 7200 and the manual.

[@DJROCKCEEENTERTAINMENT]

👌 👌 👌 👌 👌 👌

[@lorenzofortunati]

Your Reason n.1 is why I bought an Eos R. Composing in the viewfinder is way better

[@rhondalepley2366]

Why can't I get my Canon R6 in live view?

[@BehindTheScenes-MariasHealing]

I had absolutely no clue that the Dual AF is based on pixels. I was always wondering why my 85mm takes sharper pictures in Live View and is a little off using the View Finder. Thanks!!!

[@mswimages]

Does this only apply to prime lenses? I’m hoping to shoot with my 24-70 in live view and get great images?

[@joem4866]

Am I correct in assuming this only works n the latest Generation of Canon bodies? I have a 6D and in live view, I must press the shutter halfway.

[@payamjirsa]

I believe dual pixel came out with the 5DM3 and Canon cameras beyond.

[@fixitrod4969]

Canon introduced Dual Pixel Auto Focus in 2013 on certain models. The 6D is a 2012 model. So, it doesn't have to be latest and greatest.

[@MrRensan404]

I have a 5DMk111, without dual pixel autofocus, can I use its live view function for focusing? What benefit or use do I have with its live-view then?

[@simatbirch]

You can, if you want to wait an age for it to get focus.

[@picturef8]

Wow it really is a video back to the future since even Canon's older and latest mirrorless makes the whole discussion around DSLR pointless . Example , "why do I always carry spare coins around ?" - honestly most asked question . ...Pi - " because I never know when I have to make a emergency call from a public phone "

[@romekk3975]

I may have to speed up the upgrade of my gear since 5DMkI does not have Live-View

[@sfink16]

Very good information! I shoot nature and wildlife with my Canon 5D MKIV, so by your suggestion I need to stay with the viewfinder since BIF are fast moving. However, landscapes, that I sometimes shoot, might benefit with LiveView, if I understand you correctly. Do you think it makes sense to switch to the Canon EOS R5 what it comes out, since it will have the best of all worlds as far as electronic viewfinder goes?

[@payamjirsa]

Precisely. Fast-moving, the viewfinder will be your best tool. If you are shooting wide and can afford to slow down, then live view for accuracy/compositional review. I do plan to grab the R5, but we'll see!

[@marclabro]

nice tuto. i am using d750 and liveview is not so nice in sun condition than what you are showing. i tried to tune lcd brightness to +3 and changes nothing. So, i often come to viewfinder which is not radiated by surrounding lights. any advise ? I am using a d5600 full spectrum with external Infra Red Supercolor Lifepixel filter. viewfinder is surexposed by 3 stops with respect to liveview making images burnt (i have understood there is another IR filter inside viewfinder measurement) so no other choice than metering with liveview. With external filter, even after white balance on concrete,... image is reddish/pink and again liveview is influence a lot by ambiant light on field. So i usually focus in viewfinder with autofocus AF-ON on this d5600 and some foliages are blur. Some IR users advise to focus at 24mm F/2.8 in hyperfocal (35 inches distance ???) or use liveview. Do you think liveview has a better focusing system than viewfinder ?

[@pascalvandermaten160]

Kinda worthless on my nikon d810. Liveview is slow and alot of delay. Only use it for (landscape and macro) photography in combination with A Tripod.

[@victoriafernandezs.4282]

AYUDA¡¡¡¡¡¡¡ Tengo la Canon 6D Mark ii y deseo tomar fotografía en live view desde la pantalla pero quiero hacer zoom y enfocar desde zoom y no encuentro como , podria alguien orientarme por favor!!!!

[@dubaigeek1988]

Good information

[@droneascent]

Hi Pye, hope to hear from you as I have one question. I'm using a Canon 50MM 1.8 STM lens pairing with Canon 600D, now although I do understand the benefits of using Live View to capture during portraits, it may not be the same case for a 600D ? Because I can't tap on the live view screen and / or have DPAF on my 600D, so with that said, is it better for me to capture portraits using the Viewfinder ?

[@BillSebald]

If Liveview could rapid fire, I'd be a massive fan of it.

[@JessDemant]

Only if you have a DSLR because with mirrorless the EVF can also be used!

[@Marginal391]

Thank you :-).

[@genghis2510]

Smartphone shooters use live view. And as a force of habit, they use live view instead of viewfinder in DSLRs. But those who began with viewfinder in SLR use only live view when their eyes can’t go lower or higher than their viewfinders could.

[@ЭтоДрючинский]

Well, I always felt "Live view, even with manual vintage lenses, is a too "point&shoot", that's not true way, no!" But... I noticed myself the focus is inconsistent usualy. And LV gets it better really

[@TimberGeek]

Interesting, my camera's live view doesn't support any of that sort of thing so I'd only use it on a tripod zoomed way in for manual focusing.

[@MJeffSantos]

Even when I had a DSLR I would use the viewfinder. Live view is just not fun to me. To hide the whole word and have only your picture in your eyes is a great part of the fun in photography. Now with a mirrorless is even better because I can see my exposure in real time.

[@ubecheesepandesal]

What I don't like with live view is it has that shutter lag

[@blackdarkghost1212]

I use a canon aps-c. When i shoot portraits thru the viewfinder, i get better quality images than when I shoot live view. Does this make any sense? Or is it a figment of my imagination?

[@Twobarpsi]

Better compositions or better focus?

[@AlSo-Fotografie]

4:23 love and sadly truth in one picture :) :/ on my 6d II i use the live view for slow shots like portraits (face-af), product shots... for sportevents i use the viewfinder. both has its own usage:) 4:45 jep and im happy about it :D with modern techniques u can focus to your subjects. 5:30 Pye, can u tell me please which lens is attached on your 1dx3? Seems like a sigma!? maybe 24-70?

[@slrlounge]

During the video, I believe it was a 50mm, for the JiuJitsu scene, I'm using a 24-70.

[@andyyoon7853]

Pie has great voice

[@thewatcher33]

Absolutely sometimes

[@MiguelCartujano]

Help me. Why cant i shoot using live view on external flash? But using the view finder it works😂😒

[@Neopulse00]

Love the video. Oddly enough scrolling through the comment, there aren't people complaining about social distancing or masks like in other vids.

[@peerlessportraits]

I've always felt that referring to yourself in the third person is an effective way to mentally distance. It's like wearing a mask, but for your thoughts. What say you?

[@shmuelmaloof4448]

To whom ever invented and believed using live view to shoot photos was a noob thing...... You disappoint me. 😐

[@coolcat23]

If your camera does not create sharp images when using the viewfinder then use AF micro adjustments. Photographers have been using PDAF for decades with success. You are completely ignoring the downsides of composing via the back LCD which are less stability and potential for striping and banding due to the on-sensor PDAF. Finally, one should not worry about colours and exposure during shooting. One mainly needs to avoid clipping highlights and all the rest is better attended to (if not regularly overwritten) in post-production.

[@moidutoiphotography8427]

What is the most stable way to hold your camera during live view, for both vertical and horizontal shots?

[@Civilian_Actual]

Canon 💯

[@adictcreativephotography5267]

You’re a God! Thank you! Recently moved from Nikon to Canon and thought... oh well, moth brands are crap at focusing in live view. 😂🤦‍♂️

[@Jocoseman]

Why not just use mirrorless then?

[@payamjirsa]

If you got the cash and want to buy other cameras, by all means! But, I like different cameras for different purposes. I love Canon colors for portraiture, but they haven't yet released the mirrorless body I want. That will change tho with the R5.

[@jenningsford8066]

Simple reply is if you have expensive equipment in one format, and don't have the income to support moving to another format, even within the same manufacturer's line of mirrorless.

[@roasty80]

Or a phone

[@gilberthenri9441]

Using LiveView for exposure and color??? I can accept exposure but color? Every photographer who's anybody will tell you never to trust that little screen for color accuracy and also, you do not need to do that if you control the color with an adequate white balance to begin with. Still, great video! Thank you for your time and work. Big thumb up!

[@thegeneral123]

My Fuji X-T3 only does live view.

[@payamjirsa]

Pixel focusing is already built-in, so you're good to go ;)

[@paulneedham9885]

It’s because many today are using their cameras the same as they use their phones.

[@roasty80]

IPhone generation

[@panagiotistsiverdis]

I hear all the time that shooting through the viewfinder helps with composition while shooting with live view makes you more like an amateur. I have to disagree and I'll give you my reasons. When you're looking through the viewfinder the image is the only thing that you're seeing. It looks big. Unnatyrally big. You don't see images like that. You are looking at images from a distance ,usually from your phone. So when you are looking at your composition from a distance your eyes don't have to cover a big angle to travel through the whole image. It's easier like that to look at your image and it feels more natural to compose like that since the viewing angle of the picture while you're composing matches the viewing angle that you have when you're actually looking at the picture. I'd like to read the counterarguments coming from anyone that thinks that you compose better via the viewfinder. PS: Don't get me wrong. I know that shooting with the viewfinder can be very usefull since it is more stable with less camera shake and puts less strain to your hands and shoulders. I'm just saying that it's not better for composition purposes.

[@gilberthenri9441]

I agree with you and with Pye, it's a tool to be used when necessary, that's all. If one uses the correct technique, it is possible to have a masterpiece out of LiveView as well as from the viewfinder... and in the end, it's not LiveView or the viewfinder or the camera... It's the photographer!!! If you're good, you'll get a good shot no matter what. Take care.

[@payamjirsa]

Panagiotis, I agree with you 100%. You're missing one big piece of the recommendation in the video, "at speed." When shooting at speed (fast-paced environments/subjects) I would argue that the live view is a better compositional tool. But, if you can slow down, I definitely agree that live view gives you a better compositional overview. Hope that makes more sense now.

[@panagiotistsiverdis]

@@payamjirsa It definitely does. Thank you Pye! Your the best!

[@haxxy40]

DSLRs are a thing of the past!

[@bamsemh1]

A real photographer can use both 😉 pro wannabe can only use evf. Just saying