figuring out "rough guess" at exposure without "live view"

sorry if a "noob" question ( ), but my first (and only) dslr was/is my canon rebel xsi, and it has live view. recently i've been considering moving on to a 40D now with it's reduced price due to the release of the 50D, and one difference i see is that the 40D doesn't have live view.

i've come to use live view on my xsi to help me make a good "rough guess" on proper exposure before even clicking off the first pic. i'll then review the pic (and i'm trying to get in a better habit of using the histogram), make the necessary adjustments, and take additional pics as necessary, but i've come to kind of rely on live view to help me get set up for that first shot (being an engineer, i like efficiency, and don't like filling up my SD card with "guess shots" to figure out the proper exposure, lol).

if i move to the 40D, i'll no longer have live view, and i'm curious what the "common practice" is for getting a good "rough guess" on proper exposure before firing off that first shot (if any). TIA

btw, any other substantial differences between the XSI and the 40D that i should be concerned about? i know the 40D has less pixels, but that's not a concern (for me). i like the higher ISO capability, faster shooting, etc.

Have you tried the exposure meter in the viewfinder?

The 40D doesn't have live view?

sorry if a "noob" question ( ), but my first (and only) dslr was/is my canon rebel xsi, and it has live view. recently i've been considering moving on to a 40D now with it's reduced price due to the release of the 50D, and one difference i see is that the 40D doesn't have live view.

i've come to use live view on my xsi to help me make a good "rough guess" on proper exposure before even clicking off the first pic. i'll then review the pic (and i'm trying to get in a better habit of using the histogram), make the necessary adjustments, and take additional pics as necessary, but i've come to kind of rely on live view to help me get set up for that first shot (being an engineer, i like efficiency, and don't like filling up my SD card with "guess shots" to figure out the proper exposure, lol).

if i move to the 40D, i'll no longer have live view, and i'm curious what the "common practice" is for getting a good "rough guess" on proper exposure before firing off that first shot (if any). TIA

btw, any other substantial differences between the XSI and the 40D that i should be concerned about? i know the 40D has less pixels, but that's not a concern (for me). i like the higher ISO capability, faster shooting, etc.

runninmann wrote in post #7691226
The 40D doesn't have live view?

have i been misled by a comparison website i was peeking at the other day? if so, i'm gonna be sooooo embarrassed for not verifying that info prior to posting this thread........ (runs off to do further research, palms beginning to sweat)

dipps wrote in post #7691243
have i been misled by a comparison website i was peeking at the other day? if so, i'm gonna be sooooo embarrassed for not verifying that info prior to posting this thread........ (runs off to do further research, palms beginning to sweat)

Rightfully so, unless I have a special edition 40D .

In any case I'd go with what mikekelley said and use the exposure meter in the viewfinder. That's what it's there for.

40D has liveview.

But before that, you used histograms, light meter reading, experience.

The 40D definitely has Live View but, as others have said, the meter is the much better way to go. It is also much better practice to use the viewfinder instead of Live View, although there are circumstances where Live View might be better. In normal usage, it is much easier to hold the camera steady using the viewfinder.

For a rough guess, and under the right conditions, you can use the Sunny 16 rule. Otherwise, definitely work on learning how to use your camera's metering. A great place to start is the book Understanding Exposure. Do yourself a favor and wean yourself off of live view!

Did ya think to check Canon's site? Also, I don't think using LV is a good way to properly learn exposure. Never the less, this has been nominated for the Blunder thread.

Dipps, unless I misunderstood you it appears you are not using your camera's internal meter?

runninmann wrote in post #7691262
Rightfully so, unless I have a special edition 40D .

ugh. i'm that guy.

what's worse, it appears i read the comparison table wrong.....
http://www.bobatkins.c​om …os_xsi_vs_xti_v​s_40D.html

either i mistakenly was looking at the xti column or (more likely) for some reason took the "no" in the "Live View AF with mirror up" row as meaning "no live view".

so much for efficiency.

apologies.


edit: wow, took me forever to post this response..... sat here wondering if i've been banned or made into a "miserable user" for posting my "dumb" question. lol

double post (i seem to be having "internet issues")

How exactly are you using live view to guesstimate exposure? I'm curious now.

and no, i hadn't been using the meter. i found the "live view" and, being new, immediately began using that as a way to try and "rough guess" proper "exposure" prior to pulling the trigger. as it was working (for me anyways), i never thought to try and figure out a different way of going about doing what i needed to do. like i said, i had a method, and it was working. the bright side of posting my "erroneous" question is learning that what i was doing was NOT the best way to go about things, and i currently have my nose in the XSI manual (pdf file i have here at work) studying up on the proper way.

crumbcakes. but rightly so (as a moderator on another forum, i can completely understand).