Digital SLR Preview

[Tinku]

I just bought a CANON EOS Rebel xT. What I expected was that I will see the picture on the screen(preview and then adjust the settings and take a snap, as it happens in non-SLR digital cameras.But here,I do not see any preview.I have to look in the eyehole and take the pic and then I see the image.Is this normal, or is my camera faulty?


I am new to digital SLR photography .So, kindly have patience for this silly question :(

Thanks
Tinku

[Technophile]

this is how SLR cameras work, due to the arrangement of the viewfinder and mirror/lens. some new SLRs like the 40D have "live view" where you can compose a shot using the lcd screen, but looking through the viewfinder is always the best way.

[Tinku]

Oh Ok.Thanks a lot for the quick reply

[Nightstalker]

Once you get used to it you'll find it a much more rewarding experience using an SLR and framing through the viewfinder.

The big benefit is that there is no lag / screen refresh delay when looking through an optical viewfinder - invaluable for fast moving action.

[NeutronBoy]

It also makes the use of additional lenses much easier to use and more accurate.

[lungdoc]

It also makes the use of additional lenses much easier to use and more accurate.

Not sure I agree here. Any 'through the lens' viewfinder/screen should have that advantage; versus the optical viewfinder seen on P&S or rangefinder cameras. An electronic viewfinder is typically used on "ultra-zoom" P&S cameras like Canon S5 IS for that reason and I do not believe there's an inherent reason why an electronic viewfinder (or LCD screen) would be any worse with additional lenses than with a permanent lens. This would be the so-called EVIL design (Electronic Viewfinder Interchangeable Lens). I believe that the main reasons it hasn't been adopted are tradition AND the fact that current display technology is inferior to the optical viewfinder. I suspect that will change in the future and while optical viewfinders will never go away they will have competition.

[JeffreyG]

Not sure I agree here. Any 'through the lens' viewfinder/screen should have that advantage; versus the optical viewfinder seen on P&S or rangefinder cameras. An electronic viewfinder is typically used on "ultra-zoom" P&S cameras like Canon S5 IS for that reason and I do not believe there's an inherent reason why an electronic viewfinder (or LCD screen) would be any worse with additional lenses than with a permanent lens. This would be the so-called EVIL design (Electronic Viewfinder Interchangeable Lens). I believe that the main reasons it hasn't been adopted are tradition AND the fact that current display technology is inferior to the optical viewfinder. I suspect that will change in the future and while optical viewfinders will never go away they will have competition.

So far, the best LCDs on cameras are not even good enough to allow me to check critical focus when I zoom in. The live view ones on digicams update slowly during composition.

I think we are a long way from electronic viewfinders giving serious competition to optical viewfinders.

The only disadvantages of optical viewfinders are the cost and size of the morror/prisms.

[rhys]

Doesn't the Olympus E510 offer the option of live preview?

[JeffreyG]

Quality electronic viewfinders are like an answer looking for a question.