400D Upgrade

[V4NT0M]

Last year I bought my first DSLR and went for a 400D after advice from this forum. It has been a great camera for me and helped me learn a lot about photography and I have even enjoyed the lack of live view, now every time I pick up any kind of camera it's straight up to my face.

The image quality on the 400D is excellent and I'm happy with almost everything about it but as I get more adventurous with my photography the lack of live view screen is starting to become a hindrance.

Ideally I want to upgrade to something with a swivel screen as this is going to give me the best versatility when trying to get awkward shots. Having the option to plug it into or wirelessly connect to an Android tablet would do instead I think.

I'm also wanting to get something that can do HD video too. I was looking at the 600D as an upgrade as I can still use the same lenses ETC but open to any suggestions as to what might be better or cheaper

 

[V4NT0M]

Be aware though that live view auto focus on Canon & Nikon DSLR's is a slow affair. The contrast system they use is no where near as fast as the phase detect you get when using the viewfinder. It's not a big problem for most people but is something to bare in mind.

I don't imagine that slower AF would be a problem as most of the shots I take on a tripod (where I'll want to use the screen) are static scenes or long exposures anyway.

I don't think you know what live view is and what is can or should be used for.

I'm not really sure how to take this post, it came across as pretty condescending.

As I said in my post, the main problem I have is awkward shots usually when using the tripod at very low, very high or very tight angles it can be difficult to impossible to look through the viewfinder. In these cases I often just shoot blind. Last time I took a star scene with the roof of a wigwam in shot it was exceptionally difficult to look through the viewfinder and even hard to see the preview screen.

I'm not sure if you're from some kind of method school of photography where using the live view screen to see what you're taking pictures of is some kind of faux pas.

 

[V4NT0M]

I'm not sure if our wires are crossed somewhere, I like using the viewfinder and use it all the time and wish to continue using the viewfinder over the live view screen or a cruddy electronic viewfinder. Nowhere have I said I don't want an optical viewfinder.

The only time I want to use the live view is when it is not possible or extremely difficult to use the viewfinder. I'm not sure why it would be inappropriate to use the screen in this case.

It seems like you're saying that if I want to get or at least try those shots I should give up my DSLR and get a system camera.

I'm just not sure why I can't have the best of both worlds? Do you not ever want to try a shot with a DSLR where you can't see the viewfinder? Do you carry a ladder everywhere with you or are a professional contortionist?