Viewfinder realtime to computer screen?

[teazR]

Hello

I was wondering if it is possible to transfer the viewfinder image to a computer screen in realtime. I'm into studio photography of kids, so I can't really waste my time hiding behind the camera checking focus etc as the situations change rapidly.

On which models this is possible if any? Does it work via the USB or does it need the firewire? What other things is there to know?

-T

[mr.photoguy]

Try a point and shoot..
It should work with those.

[teazR]

Try a point and shoot..
It should work with those.

How about answering my question?
I'm not talking about some amateur stuff, but over 30 shoots/month.
I need to be sure of what I'm getting, and can't lose the interaction with the kids.
The camera is on a stand anyway...

[Ikinaa]

How about answering my question?
I'm not talking about some amateur stuff, but over 30 shoots/month.
I need to be sure of what I'm getting, and can't lose the interaction with the kids.
The camera is on a stand anyway...

How about being less agressive when someone tries to help you.
The CMOS of DSLRs are inactive as long as you're not taking the picture. So it won't work, you can see the picture only once it's been taken.
So IMO Mr.Photoguy answered your question...
There a special 20D for astonomy, but I guess you won't be happy with the additional IR and I don't know if the this cam transfers the preview picture to a PC.

[mr.photoguy]

How about answering my question?
I'm not talking about some amateur stuff, but over 30 shoots/month.
I need to be sure of what I'm getting, and can't lose the interaction with the kids.
The camera is on a stand anyway...

I did answer your Questions.
Not all point and shoots are amerature you know. Remember the Person using the image box plays a major role in what will be captured.
There may be a few nice p&s camera's that can give you a live feedback on the computer monitor.

Besides you haven't even listed what cameras you are interested in.

[teazR]

That's more like an answer...
And about being aggressive.. I just hate it when ppl assume someone being a total n00b if it happens to be their first post on a forum.
I did say studio photography in my first post didn't I? Studio means controlled environment in every aspect of the job. Point and shoot isn't exactly that now is it?

I'm interested in every single Canon digital SLR which can produce professional quality images with the above possiblities.

[mr.photoguy]

How about being less agressive when someone tries to help you.
The CMOS of DSLRs are inactive as long as you're not taking the picture. So it won't work, you can see the picture only once it's been taken.
So IMO Mr.Photoguy answered your question...
There a special 20D for astonomy, but I guess you won't be happy with the additional IR and I don't know if the this cam transfers the preview picture to a PC.
I tried the image capture, or capture image (whichever it is called) that comes with the 20D, but it doesn't let you live preview, at least mine didn't, but I could take a image of myself, and see it on the pc screen afterwards.

[mr.photoguy]

That's more like an answer...
And about being aggressive.. I just hate it when ppl assume someone being a total n00b if it happens to be their first post on a forum.
I did say studio photography in my first post didn't I? Studio means controlled environment in every aspect of the job. Point and shoot isn't exactly that now is it?

I'm interested in every single Canon digital SLR which can produce professional quality images with the above possiblities.
Damn, you really need to calm down..
noone assumed anything because u only have a few posts.
Plus if you obviously did your research you would have been able to answer your own question.

[Ikinaa]

a little search in google (with keywords 'live preview large format digital camera') brought this :
http://www.teamworkphoto.com/sinar_digital.html

If you can afford it, it's what you're searching...

[pcasciola]

Like Ikinaa mentioned, the 20Da has a live preview on the LCD, but I don't know if the software allows the live preview to be viewed on a monitor. Since it's a special model of the 20D for astrophotograhy, the internal IR filer is removed, so you might also need IR filters on your lenses.

[SkipD]

Two facts:

Fact one - almost all digital SLR's (the only exception I know of is the specialised Canon mentioned above) have only a visible, not electronic, viewfinder. One reason is that the light coming through the lens is routed upwards (away from the sensor) to the viewfinder. The second reason is that there is a closed shutter in front of the sensor. Thus, there is no way to use a remote electronic "viewfinder" with digital SLR's.

Fact 2 - many digital "point-and-shoot" (P&S) cameras allow you to connect to a television or computer and observe the "electronic viewfinder" - a duplicate of the live image you can see on the camera's LCD screen. My Canon G2 is a good example. The two downside of the P&S cameras in a studio, in my opinion, is the lens choice and speed of response. Few of them have the flexibility that you have in choosing a lens for an SLR. My G2, for example, is a great little P&S camera. However, the minimum aperture setting is f8. In a studio setting, I needed to use f11, f16, etc. The only solution was to add neutral density filters in front of the lens. Another BIG problem with the P&S family in general is the slow timing between your activating the button and the camera actually making the exposure. It's very difficult to catch a pose, etc. For still-life shots, it doesn't matter.

The last thing to think about is this: If the kids are changing their position enough to need a different framing or focus setting, you can't do that remotely from the camera anyhow. You probably do not want to use autofocus in the studio because it's likely to focus on something other than your intended focus point. If the kids are staying in the same location but are just moving around a little bit, then focus and framing shouldn't be a real problem. You could do what you want - be able to move around to work with the kids - with a remote switch to actuate the camera. You might want to modify the typical two-foot cable to extend it so you can move around the studio more.

[teazR]

forgive my stupidity... questions answered. thank you

[SkipD]

It isn't stupidity, just a need for knowledge.....

Ignorance can be fixed. Stupidity is forever.