Can you use liveview instead of the viewfinder on D90?

Mark A

Mark A

Mark A

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Ive read that the D90 has a high resolution screen and has liveview. Can this be used successfully and replace the viewfinder? Can you see on the screen if its perfectly in focus, like you can in the viewfinder?

I've found when I'm taking a lot of macro shots i tend to squint my eye quite hard and after a while it becomes uncomfortable. Plus I think it could also be quite useful for macro, especially when the camera is low to the ground etc.

TIA :)
 
Yes, it's possible to use the D90 screen for the task you describe, and the screen is a beauty that enables you to check focus etc.

I'm yet to be convinced by Nikon's implementation of Live View, but the D90 makes a good attempt! The LV button makes switching to it much better than the D300 etc, but the fixed screen makes it less useful for viewing when doing things such as Macro work where the camera is low to the ground.

The D5000 has a swivel screen to solve that problem, but it's a little smaller than the D90 screen. A good camera by all reports though, and the high ISO performance is pretty good too.
 
I use the liveview a fair bit for still life/landscape stuff. You can switch to liveview and then use the up/down/left/right buttons and the +/- buttons to zoom in on the bit you want to focus on. Very handy.
 
There are now a few manufacturers making external screens in the 5-9" bracket which you can connect and should be able to output liveview data to (I'm unsure so far on specific camera support) which is a pretty useful idea for some situations.
 
Cheers guys, glad to hear it works ok. I had visions of the video feedback through the screen lagging.

@ Tooks, yeah its a shame that the screen is fixed as that would have been a really handy feature. Its sort of putting me off getting the D90 for now as they could bring out a new camera with that feature.

The D5000 from what I've read up about it is more of a beginner DSLR and I'm coming from a D80 so would like it to be more of an upgrade. Plus I don't think the D5000 features the high res screen the D90 has.

@ bigredshark, Thanks i'll have to look into that, it sounds good (and expensive :o)
 
Live view on the D90 can be pretty useful for macro when your on a tripod and want to check focus.
Hand held its pretty much useless though.
Also the delay between pressing the shutter button and the picture being taken can be frustrating, but like I say if your on a tripod its fine.

Most of the time I'm shooting macro it will be handheld so I think a vewifinder magnifier would be a good buy. some thing like the nikon DK-21, You can also pick up cheaper versions on ebay
 
Gah, i was hoping it would be ok to use hand held. I'll look into the vewifinder magnifier though, that sounds like it could help. The DK-21 appears to be a spare rubber eyecup :p.
 
sorry meant the dk-21M


Its not that live view cant be used hand held, in some situations its a god send, but most of the time I find it a lot easier to use the view finder, especially at 1:1 and beyond as the smallest movment is amplified a lot.

Also its harder to hold the camera steady when its away from the face.
 
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