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View Full Version : Live preview with "video out"?

Toeslider
26th of January 2010 (Tue), 12:22
I have been searching around but can't seem to find exactly what I am looking for. Maybe I am just using the wrong terms or something, since it seems like a simple thing.

I have a couple thousand documents I need to copy, probably 5-10000 images when I am done. The fastest way I can think to do this is to set up a copy stand with a digital camera (some will not fit on a normal sized scanner).

What I am looking for is a digital camera that has live preview, but with a "video out" output so that I can see how the image is framed on a video screen before I take the shot. I suppose it could be software based as well, if I could see the image on my laptop before I click the shutter.

Anything in the Canon lineup that does this? Or other alternatives you have used? I could buy a point and shoot if it works like this if I have to. Currently I have an XTi, and I know the XSi has live preview, but I'm not clear if you can see it anywhere except on the camera. The camera will likely be over my head level and pointing straight down, so a back-of-camera screen doesn't really help me.
RDKirk
26th of January 2010 (Tue), 15:46
All of the Canon DSLRs have video out.
tkbslc
26th of January 2010 (Tue), 15:50
You can definitely do it on all cameras with liveview using the EOS utilities and a laptop.
Toeslider
26th of January 2010 (Tue), 16:12
All of the Canon DSLRs have video out.

I know that, but my XTi doesn't have live preview, and the video out just shows whatever is on the LCD screen, so I can't see the picture until after it is taken. Would it be safe to assume that the XSi would display the image thru video out BEFORE I take the picture? That is what I am after, but I can't find any verification that it works that way.

If it does work that way, are there any problems with using it like that for an extended period of time?
RDKirk
26th of January 2010 (Tue), 19:05
I know that, but my XTi doesn't have live preview, and the video out just shows whatever is on the LCD screen, so I can't see the picture until after it is taken. Would it be safe to assume that the XSi would display the image thru video out BEFORE I take the picture? That is what I am after, but I can't find any verification that it works that way.

Yes, you would need a camera with Live View to do what you want, however merely viewing the image on a monitor doesn't give you remote control. You would need to use a laptop for that and the Canon EOS Utility that comes with the camera.