Digital Cameras: What is Live View?

January 13, 2010 By Gordon Goble

Ever wondered what Live View features mean on digital cameras? We define and explain the term for aspiring digital photographers.

When you shoot through a compact digital camera, you use its LCD screen to compose and focus your image. There are disadvantages to this setup when compared to using the optical viewfinders of SLRs, a few of which we touched on in earlier digital and DSLR camera guides. But there are a ton of advantages too – the primary being ease of use. But more than that, an LCD delivers better feedback of user adjustments than an optical viewfinder.

Yet because SLRs work differently than compact cameras, they have not traditionally been able to display the image of upcoming photos on their LCD screens, which, until just recently, have been reserved for settings adjustments and image playback. But all of that changed in 2008 with the advent of something that’s been dubbed “Live View.”

Essentially, SLRs that support the Live View function allow the photographer to use the LCD as a (bigger) viewfinder. Live View is a real boon for compact camera owners who are accustomed to using a viewing screen, but are thinking of graduating to an SLR. It’s also a great perk for SLR devotees because they can now take advantage of what has traditionally been a compact camera-only feature. And, given its reception thus far, it’s hard to imagine many more SLRs will be manufactured without it.

Granted, composing and taking a photo using Live View isn’t quite as seamless as doing the same thing via a compact camera’s viewing screen. Indeed, the image transmission shuts down for a moment just before the shutter releases – a byproduct of SLR technology. Furthermore, the focusing isn’t quite as fast as it is through the viewfinder, and the image display isn’t quick to update. One more thing – using Live View drains the batteries much faster than using the viewfinder.

Yet even at this early stage and even with its foibles, Live View is a winning concept. We recommend that if at all possible, you should make Live View one of your priorities if considering your first SLR.

Showing 3 comments

Bradley Dean Whyte at 10:30pm 19th December 2010 Gordon, Thanks for your article. I'll click on an add so you can make a humble 5 cents.
ùrobyn at 8:39am 7th November 2010 This was POORLY explained. You need to mention that inside DSLRs there is a mirror which enables the photographer to use the optical viewfinder to LOOK THROUGH THE ACTUAL LENS and see what the lens actually sees! LIVE VIEW simply takes this image and displays it on the large LCD screen at the back of the camera. This is not rocket science and should have been done years and years ago in DSLRS! LIVE VIEW has been available in compact cameras since they went digital and started having the LCD on their backs! What you see on a compact camera's LCD is the "LIVE VIEW" of what the CCD sees through the lens. Now is that what happens with a DSLR which has LIVE VIEW? YOU DID NOT EXPLAIN THAT! Does the mirror in a DSLR get out of the way of the sensor in order for the LIVE VIEW to be transmitted to the LCD? You did not explain that! If that is the case then the optical viewfinder in a DSLR is rendered useless when in LIVE VIEW mode. You didn't explain that EITHER! Now there' s all this hoopla about LIVE VIEW! I mean listen if you REALLY want LIVE VIEW just throw cameras away and look at the world with your own eyes. But even that is NOT really LIVE VIEW because the image has to be processed by your eyes and then reprocessed by your brain anyway! So in reality there is NO real LIVE VIEW anywhere! It's been DSLRs that have been lagging behind! In any case DSLR are dinosaurs and they are dying a slow painful death. All technology is moving AWAY from using moving parts, never mind still using a hinged mirror that is flipped up and down while taking pictures! This mirror thing is an archaic concept that will have totally disappeared in ALL cameras before 2020.
1. Bradley Dean Whyte at 10:28pm 19th December 2010 ùrobyn, Information, when it is free, is nothing to get stressed out about. With all your knowledge, maybe you should start a blog and share all that you know... FOR FREE, and then field questions and complaints from other information free-loaders with poor manners. I will be your first subscriber!