Do you use Live View or Viewfinder

**ThorSanchez** · 10-19-2019, 01:24 PM

Originally posted by wings

I seem to only use the Live View now all of the time, but after watching a well known seasoned photographer mostly use the Viewfinder I wondered why. He did use the Live View part of the time though and seemed enthusiastic about it, so was wondering what others might think about it?

Viewfinder 80-90% of the time. LV for special cases like astro or certain times with manual focus lenses.

**RobA_Oz** · 10-19-2019, 01:53 PM

I mostly use the viewfinder. As with others, Live View comes into its own when composing on a tripod (especially with a long lens) or shooting down low (the K-1’s articulating LCD screen is a blessing in that regard) or over the heads of a crowd. Strong sunlight is the only issue with using Live View.

edri · 11-01-2019, 10:57 PM

For handheld photography I use in 99.99% of cases the viewfinder. For the tripod photography I combine the two viewing options. The focus peaking option is very useful. Too bad it doesn't exist for us in the viewfinder, too. Too bad that Ricoh / Pentax is stubborn not to make an ML.

agukha · 11-02-2019, 02:05 AM

I use the viewfinder 99.99% of the time, even for macro crouched on the ground

morenjavi · 11-02-2019, 02:32 AM

Viefinder 100.01% of the time

ddharriman · 11-02-2019, 03:01 PM

Viewfinder.

Le Fanfoué · 11-02-2019, 03:36 PM

Originally posted by ThorSanchez

Viewfinder 80-90% of the time. LV for special cases like astro or certain times with manual focus lenses.

The same for me.
Viewfinder for usual situations, and in low light, or without enought place for my head, I use the Live View...

Dr_who · 11-02-2019, 08:27 PM

I almost always use the viewfinder on my everyday camera, but for my camera that I use for Astro photography I'm mostly use the live view to focus on stars and test long exposures with ect.

Krusty Surfer · 11-02-2019, 11:41 PM

viewfinder 97% of the time

pentax360 · 11-03-2019, 12:47 AM

handheld I use the viewfinder most of the time because it's way more steady and the camera points where I want it to instead of angled off somewhere.
On a tripod it's usually live view, and when I shoot low things like mushrooms.

**Fotus Tuus** · 11-03-2019, 01:04 AM

Originally posted by kypfer

With age, having to hold the camera well away from my face to be able to focus on it and see what I'm doing with LiveView means I only ever use it on a tripod to focus a long manual lens with focus-peaking on my K-70. Almost everything else is done through the viewfinder, though there has been the odd occasion with a low-level macro shot when I haven't had my right-angle finder to hand that the tilting screen on my K-70 has made life a lot easier ... another aspect of age is that crawling through the undergrowth to get the shot only seems like a good idea 'till you have to stand up again

I'll admit, LiveView works quite well with a "normal" autofocus kit-lens, provided there's no bright light reflections to prevent you seeing what you're trying to picture, but, for me, in the classic "sun over the shoulder" snapshot scenario, I just can't see the screen!

Well said (written). It's similar with me. I have used cameras without a rotating monitor for a long time (which means spectacular use of LV). That's why I sometimes forget that the K-70 and KP give the opportunity to shoot "LV from the hip" - like a gunslinger

By the way: I have recently forgotten something more and more

Greetings!

house · 11-03-2019, 02:29 AM

I use live view to access the shift feature. I prefer to compose using the viewfinder.

taktoon · 11-03-2019, 02:39 AM

Handheld 95% of shots with view finder. 5% is reserved for the shots in unusual situations when my head cannot be placed just behind the camera body. On the tripod (I use it for half of my photos) 99% live view for framing and then bare eyes (sometimes with glasses) with remote shutter release.

Wasp · 11-03-2019, 03:06 AM

I would say it depens on the camera model for me.

My K200D doesn't have live view.

On my Kx, I use live view to nail the focus with wide aperture MF lenses - 50/1.4, 85/1.4 and 200/2.5. I use the viewfinder with AF lenses, because live view isn't very good on the Kx. Outdoors, it borders on useless.

My Samsung NX100 only has live view.

On my Samsung NX1, I use live view about 80% of the time, with both MF and AF lenses. This is because the live view is excellent and one only need the OVF in very bright sunlight. For those tricky MF lenses, the OVF works a little better. Samsung's expertise in phone screens really went a long way here. The rear screen really is excellent. As an added bonus, it is a touch screen as well. This is so great that the lack of a touch screen would be a deal breaker the next time I shop for a new camera.

Unregistered User · 11-03-2019, 06:06 AM

Originally posted by bkpix

Viewfinder 98 percent. LV when I need to get down low, reach high, or work from a tripod.

that's a good description of my usage as well.

11-03-2019, 01:04 AM	#86
Fotus Tuus Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Murowana Goślina, Wielkopolska Photos: Albums Posts: 601	Originally posted by kypfer With age, having to hold the camera well away from my face to be able to focus on it and see what I'm doing with LiveView means I only ever use it on a tripod to focus a long manual lens with focus-peaking on my K-70. Almost everything else is done through the viewfinder, though there has been the odd occasion with a low-level macro shot when I haven't had my right-angle finder to hand that the tilting screen on my K-70 has made life a lot easier ... another aspect of age is that crawling through the undergrowth to get the shot only seems like a good idea 'till you have to stand up again I'll admit, LiveView works quite well with a "normal" autofocus kit-lens, provided there's no bright light reflections to prevent you seeing what you're trying to picture, but, for me, in the classic "sun over the shoulder" snapshot scenario, I just can't see the screen! Well said (written). It's similar with me. I have used cameras without a rotating monitor for a long time (which means spectacular use of LV). That's why I sometimes forget that the K-70 and KP give the opportunity to shoot "LV from the hip" - like a gunslinger By the way: I have recently forgotten something more and more Greetings! Last edited by Fotus Tuus; 11-03-2019 at 01:11 AM.

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10-19-2019, 01:24 PM	#76
ThorSanchez Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2012 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,806	Originally posted by wings I seem to only use the Live View now all of the time, but after watching a well known seasoned photographer mostly use the Viewfinder I wondered why. He did use the Live View part of the time though and seemed enthusiastic about it, so was wondering what others might think about it? Viewfinder 80-90% of the time. LV for special cases like astro or certain times with manual focus lenses.

10-19-2019, 01:53 PM	#77
RobA_Oz Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Tasmania, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,197	I mostly use the viewfinder. As with others, Live View comes into its own when composing on a tripod (especially with a long lens) or shooting down low (the K-1’s articulating LCD screen is a blessing in that regard) or over the heads of a crowd. Strong sunlight is the only issue with using Live View.

11-01-2019, 10:57 PM	#78
edri Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: walking in the air Posts: 1,315	For handheld photography I use in 99.99% of cases the viewfinder. For the tripod photography I combine the two viewing options. The focus peaking option is very useful. Too bad it doesn't exist for us in the viewfinder, too. Too bad that Ricoh / Pentax is stubborn not to make an ML.

11-02-2019, 02:05 AM	#79
agukha Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2014 Posts: 367	I use the viewfinder 99.99% of the time, even for macro crouched on the ground

11-02-2019, 02:32 AM	#80
morenjavi Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2016 Posts: 589	Viefinder 100.01% of the time

11-02-2019, 03:01 PM	#81
ddharriman Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 345	Viewfinder.

11-02-2019, 03:36 PM	#82
Le Fanfoué Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2018 Photos: Gallery Posts: 72	Originally posted by ThorSanchez Viewfinder 80-90% of the time. LV for special cases like astro or certain times with manual focus lenses. The same for me. Viewfinder for usual situations, and in low light, or without enought place for my head, I use the Live View...

11-02-2019, 08:27 PM	#83
Dr_who Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 777	I almost always use the viewfinder on my everyday camera, but for my camera that I use for Astro photography I'm mostly use the live view to focus on stars and test long exposures with ect.

11-02-2019, 11:41 PM	#84
Krusty Surfer Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Posts: 119	viewfinder 97% of the time

11-03-2019, 12:47 AM	#85
pentax360 Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: OR Posts: 436	handheld I use the viewfinder most of the time because it's way more steady and the camera points where I want it to instead of angled off somewhere. On a tripod it's usually live view, and when I shoot low things like mushrooms.

11-03-2019, 02:29 AM	#87
house Pentaxian Join Date: May 2015 Photos: Albums Posts: 3,306	I use live view to access the shift feature. I prefer to compose using the viewfinder.

11-03-2019, 02:39 AM	#88
taktoon Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 605	Handheld 95% of shots with view finder. 5% is reserved for the shots in unusual situations when my head cannot be placed just behind the camera body. On the tripod (I use it for half of my photos) 99% live view for framing and then bare eyes (sometimes with glasses) with remote shutter release.

11-03-2019, 03:06 AM	#89
Wasp Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Pretoria Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,661	I would say it depens on the camera model for me. My K200D doesn't have live view. On my Kx, I use live view to nail the focus with wide aperture MF lenses - 50/1.4, 85/1.4 and 200/2.5. I use the viewfinder with AF lenses, because live view isn't very good on the Kx. Outdoors, it borders on useless. My Samsung NX100 only has live view. On my Samsung NX1, I use live view about 80% of the time, with both MF and AF lenses. This is because the live view is excellent and one only need the OVF in very bright sunlight. For those tricky MF lenses, the OVF works a little better. Samsung's expertise in phone screens really went a long way here. The rear screen really is excellent. As an added bonus, it is a touch screen as well. This is so great that the lack of a touch screen would be a deal breaker the next time I shop for a new camera.

11-03-2019, 06:06 AM	#90
Unregistered User Guest	Originally posted by bkpix Viewfinder 98 percent. LV when I need to get down low, reach high, or work from a tripod. that's a good description of my usage as well.