Friday Tip: Using the Live View Function to Aid Composition and Exposure

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Almost all DSLRs have a 'Live View' function that allows the photographer to use the LCD screen rather than the viewfinder to compose the scene.  The Live View has several advantages, the most notable is you can see what the camera is 'seeing' - you have a better idea of the exposure and how the different elements in the scene will be rendered in the final image.  With an optical viewfinder your brain interprets what it is viewing, which isn't necessarily the same as the camera.


This shot of the D800 taking the shot of the sunrise at Barns Ness on Wednesday morning clearly shows the use of the Live View.  The screen can also be overlaid with other information, in this case I have chosen the artificial horizon to ensure everything is level.   The shot below is the image taken on the D800 after the sun had risen above the horizon.



 The X-Pro1 has a similar live view system but the advantage with Fuji's premier CSC is the Live View can be transferred to the hybrid viewfinder and the photographer can select Electronic View Finder (EVF) or Optical View Finder (OVF), something the D800 can't do.


 I tend to use the Live View all my cameras equally with the OVF (all my three cameras have an Optical View Finder) it just depends on the situation and the ambient light I am working in.  If the light is too bright it renders the Live View screen useless unless you have viewing hood to cut out the external light.

 However I have found the Live View function on my Nikon D800 and Fujifilm X-Pro1 / X100 to be a very useful aid to composing and taking images.
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