In This Chapter
About Live View
Live View features and functions
Setting up in Live View
Shooting in Live View
The Live View feature on the Rebel T1i/500D offers a variety of advantages. It offers flexibility in framing images, particularly when crouching down to examine the shot through the viewfinder requires unnatural body contortions; it offers a large LCD view that can be magnified up to 10x to ensure tack-sharp automatic or manual focus; and it can be used with the camera connected to a computer with control of the camera offered on the computer using the EOS Utility program.
The Live View shooting function is useful in specific shooting situations, including macro work, when the camera is connected by a cable to a computer, and for still-life shooting. In short, it is most useful in controlled and close-up shooting scenarios. And with the supplied AV cable or accessory HDMI cable, you can display the Live View image on a TV.
The concept of the camera being able to hold the shutter open to provide a real-time view of the scene and yet pause long enough to focus is impressive in terms of technology for digital single lens reflex (dSLR) cameras. And even more impressive is the quality of the live view that the T1i/500D provides, which is smooth and detailed.
Although Live View shooting has an admittedly high "coolness" factor, it comes with cautionary notes. With continual use of Live View shooting, the sensor heats up quickly, and the battery life diminishes markedly.
More specifically, here is what you can expect with Live View shooting:
Temperature affects the number of shots you can get using Live View. With a fully charged LP-E5 battery, you can expect 190 shots without flash use and approximately 170 shots with 50 percent flash use in 73-degree temperatures. In freezing temperatures, you can expect 180 shots without flash use and 160 shots with 50 percent flash use per charge. With a fully charged battery and shooting in 73-degree conditions, you'll get approximately one hour of continuous Live View shooting before the battery is exhausted.
High ambient temperatures, high ISO speeds, or long exposures can cause digital noise or irregular color in images taken using Live View. If the camera's internal temperature increases too much, a warning icon appears and Live View shooting is automatically stopped until the temperature decreases. Stop using Live View when you're not shooting images to help avoid high internal camera temperatures.
Warning
When you're using Live View, never point the lens toward the sun to avoid damaging the camera.
Just as real-time shooting is unusual for dSLR photography, so are some of the functions and techniques for Live View shooting as compared to non-Live View shooting. Canon implemented some helpful features, but it's important to understand what changes when you shoot in Live View.
In addition, Live View shooting in general involves a slower pace of shooting. For example, if you quickly move the camera from one subject to another, it takes a moment for the camera to adjust to any differences in brightness, and you should wait for the camera to catch up before shooting. And if the scene brightness differs, it can cause screen flickering. If this happens, stop and restart Live View shooting. In low-light scenes, you may see visible digital noise, unwanted multicolored flecks particularly in shadow areas, on the LCD. This noise will not appear in the final image.
The following topics give you an overview of the focusing options you can use, and other settings you can specify for Live View shooting.
With Live View shooting, you have four focusing options: Live mode, which is a contrast-based autofocus system that reads the sharpness of subjects directly from the image sensor; Live (Face Detection) mode, which is the same as Live mode except that the camera automatically looks for and focuses on a face in the scene; and Quick mode, which uses the camera's nine-point autofocus system. Or you can use manual focusing. Of the focusing options, manual focusing with the image magnified provides the most precise focusing.
Here is a summary of the Live View focusing options.
Live mode. With this focusing option, the camera's image sensor is used and detects subject contrast to establish focus. In this mode, the live view is not interrupted because the reflex mirror does not have to move down to focus. However, focusing takes longer with this mode. To set the point of sharpest focus, a focusing point appears on the screen, and you can move it using the cross keys. Then you press the AE/FE Lock button to focus.
Live (Face Detection) mode. This is the same as Live mode except that the camera automatically looks for a face in the scene. When a face is detected, corner marks indicating a rectangle appear over the face. For multiple faces, the rectangle has arrow icons on the left and right indicating that you can press the left or right cross key to move the focusing frame to the face you want. If the camera can't detect a face, then the AF point indicated by a solid rectangle is fixed at the center of the frame. Again, you use the AE/FE Lock button to establish focus. With this mode, there may be brightness changes during and after focusing, and it may be more difficult to focus when the view is magnified.
Quick mode. This focusing mode uses the camera's autofocus system to focus. For the camera to give you a live view of the scene, it has to keep the reflex mirror locked up, and then to focus, the camera flips down the mirror to focus in this mode, and that action temporarily suspends the live view display on the LCD. To focus in Quick mode, you press the Set button, and the Quick Control screen appears where you can activate and select one of the nine AF points. Then you set focus using the AE/FE Lock button. You can't use this method if you are using the accessory Remote Switch RS-60E3.
Manual focusing. This focusing option is most accurate, and you get the best results when you magnify the image to focus. Live View is also not interrupted during focusing. To focus manually, you set the lens switch to MF (Manual Focus), and then turn the lens's focusing ring to focus.
The Live View Information Display provides the camera settings and the options you've chosen as you shoot in Live View. As you move the camera in Live View, the Rebel T1i/500D updates the LCD to show the scene as it simultaneously meters the changing scene light. To show you whether the LCD view is close to what the final picture will be, the T1i/500D displays an Exp.SIM icon on the LCD. If the icon is blinking, it means that the image simulation is not displayed at the suitable brightness level because of low or bright ambient light. But the final image will have the correct exposure.
Also, if Custom Function (C.Fn) 7 is enabled, which it is by default on the T1i/500D, then Auto Lighting Optimizer automatically corrects underexposed and low-contrast images. As a result, images may appear brighter than they would without using Auto Lighting Optimizer.
Note
Auto Lighting Optimizer also corrects image brightness if you have set exposure modifications such as negative Exposure Compensation. To see the effect of exposure modifications, disable C.Fn-7, Auto Lighting Optimizer. Custom Functions are detailed in Chapter 6.
As you move the camera around a scene, or as the light changes, the exposure must be updated accordingly. You can choose the amount of time that the exposure is retained, and the options are from 4 seconds to 30 minutes. A longer time speeds up Live View shooting operation overall, and this option works well when the scene light is controlled or constant.
You can also use the Depth of Field Preview button on the front of the camera. And if you are connected to the computer using the supplied USB cable, the EOS Utility Remote Live View window also enables you to preview the depth of field using the program's controls.
Also by setting the Live View function settings on the Setup 2 (yellow) menu, you can choose to display a handy 3 × 3 or 6 × 4 grid on the LCD to help align vertical and horizontal lines in the image.
You can also use the built-in or an accessory EX-series Speedlite with Live View shooting. When the built-in flash or an accessory EX-series Speedlite is used, the shooting sequence after fully pressing the Shutter button is for the reflex mirror to drop to allow the camera to gather the preflash data, and then the mirror to move up out of the optical path for the actual exposure. As a result, you hear two shutter clicks, but only one image is taken. Here are some things you should know about using Live View shooting with a flash unit.
With an EX-series Speedlite, FE (flash exposure) Lock, modeling flash, and test firing cannot be used, and the Speedlite's Custom Functions cannot be set on the flash unit.
Non-Canon flash units will not fire.
Before you begin using Live View shooting, decide on the focusing method that you want to use and whether you want to turn off Auto Lighting Optimizer, which automatically adjusts underexposed and low-contrast images. The next step is to enable Live View shooting and set your preferences, including whether to display a grid on the LCD and how long the T1i/500D retains the current exposure settings.
Note
To turn off Auto Lighting Optimizer, see Chapter 6 which details Custom Functions and how to change them.
The Live View function settings include the following:
Live View shoot. These options determine whether Live View shooting begins when you press the Live View button on the back of the camera. To use Live View shooting, choose Enable.
Grid display. You can choose Grid 1 for a 3 × 3 superimposed grid display, or you can choose Grid 2 for a 6 × 4 grid.
Metering timer. Choosing a time sets the length of time that the camera maintains the most recent exposure settings. If you change between different lighting often, choose a short amount of time. If you are shooting in unchanging light, choose a longer time interval. The options are 4, 16, and 30 seconds, and 1, 10, and 30 minutes.
AF mode. This enables you to choose the type of focusing mode, described earlier, that you want to use.
To set up the Rebel T1i/500D for Live View shooting and to set your preferences, follow these steps:
Set the Mode dial to P, Tv, Av, M, or A-DEP. You cannot shoot in Live View in the Basic Zone modes such as CA, Full Auto, Portrait, and so on.
Press the Menu button, and then turn the Main dial to select the Setup 2 (yellow) menu.
Press the down cross key to highlight Live View function settings, and then press the Set button. The Live View function settings screen appears with the Live View shoot. option selected.
With the Live View shoot. option highlighted, press the Set button. The camera activates the Live View shooting options.
Press the down cross key to highlight Enable, and then press the Set button. The Live View function settings screen appears.
Press the down cross key to select Grid display, and then press the Set button. The Grid display options appear. Selecting the Grid 1 option displays a 3 × 3 grid on the LCD and selecting Grid 2 option displays a 6 × 4 grid either of which help you square up horizontal and vertical lines during Live View shooting.
Press the down cross key to highlight on the grid you want, and then press the Set button. The Live View function settings screen appears.
Press the down cross key to highlight Metering timer, and then press the Set button. The Metering timer options appear.
Press the down or up cross key to highlight the timer option you want, and then press the Set button. The Live View function settings screen appears.
Press the down cross key to highlight AF mode, and then press the Set button. The options, detailed earlier in this chapter, are Live, Live Face Detection, and Quick mode. You can also focus manually.
Press the up or down cross key to select the AF mode you want, and then press the Set button. The Live View function settings screen appears. Lightly press the Shutter button to dismiss the menu.
Once you have the options and functions set up for Live View, you can begin shooting. In fact, you can set many functions as you're shooting in Live View by pressing the Set button. Then you can change the AF mode, Picture Style, white balance, drive mode, and image-recording quality. Live View is well suited for macro or still-life shooting. With this type of shooting, you most likely want to use either manual focusing or Quick mode autofocusing with manual tweaking. During focusing, you can enlarge the view up to 10x to ensure tack-sharp focus.
Note
When shooting in Live View, the camera automatically uses Evaluative metering mode, and if you are shooting in Continuous drive mode, the exposure of the first shot is used for subsequent shots.
Another good option is to use Remote Live View with the camera connected, or tethered, to a computer. With the Remote Live View option, you connect the camera to the computer using the supplied USB cable and then control the camera on the computer. You can view the scene on the computer monitor in real time.
Either way, just a few minutes of watching the real-time view convinces you that a tripod is necessary for Live View shooting. With any focal length approaching telephoto, Live View provides a real-time gauge of just how steady or unsteady your hands are.
Tip
You can choose from four display modes when shooting in Live View by pressing the Display (DISP.) button. Each mode adds progressively more shooting and settings information. Just press the Display button one or more times to toggle to different display modes.
The following steps detail how to begin shooting in Live View mode with specifics for each of the different shooting modes. Ensure that you've set the AF mode you want, as discussed previously, before you begin.
Set the Mode dial to P, Tv, Av, M, or A-DEP, and then set the ISO, aperture, and/or shutter speed. Your settings depend on the shooting mode you chose. You can also use Auto Exposure Bracketing (AEB), choose a Picture Style, and set the white balance for Live View shooting.
Press the Live View shooting/Movie shooting/Print/Share button (located above and to the right of the WB button) to begin shooting in Live View. The LCD displays a live view of the scene.
To focus, follow these steps based on the focusing mode you're using:
Live mode. Press any of the cross keys to move the AF point so that it is over the part of the subject where you want to focus, and then press the AE Lock button on the top-right back of the camera. The AE Lock button has an asterisk above it. You can also press the AF-Point Selection/Magnify button on the top far-right corner of the camera to magnify the view to 5x, and press it again to magnify to 10x. When focus is achieved, the AF-point rectangle turns green and the beeper sounds. If focus isn't achieved, the AF-point rectangle turns orange.
Live (Face Detection) mode. The camera looks for a face or faces in the scene, and displays corner marks or corner marks with left and right arrows, respectively, over the face(s) it selects. To focus, press the AE Lock button on the top-right back of the camera. When focus is obtained, the corner marks appear in green and the beeper sounds. If the camera can't find a face in the scene, it displays a solid rectangle and uses the center AF point for focusing.
Quick mode. The LCD displays the nine AF points and a larger magnifying frame around one of the AF points. Press the Set button. The Quick Control screen appears. Press the left or right cross key to activate the AF points, and then turn the Main dial to select one of the AF points. Point the AF point over the part of the subject where you want to focus, and then hold down the AE Lock button on the top-right back of the camera. The reflex mirror flips down to focus and Live View is suspended temporarily. When focus is achieved, the live view resumes with the selected AF point displayed in red. If you have the camera set to A-DEP mode, the camera automatically selects the AF points, and you cannot change them.
Manual focusing. Set the switch on the side of the lens to MF (Manual Focusing). Press a cross key to move the magnifying frame, and then press the AF-Point Selection/Magnify button on the top-right back of the camera once or twice to magnify the view. Turn the focusing ring on the lens to focus, and then press the AF-Point Selection/Magnify button again to return to nonmagnified view.
Press the Shutter button completely to make the picture.
One of the most useful ways to use Live View shooting is for shooting still-life subjects such as products, food, stock shots, and so on with the camera connected to a computer. You can set up with the T1i/500D connected to a computer using the USB cable supplied with the camera.
Before you begin, ensure that you have installed the EOS Digital Solution Disk on the computer to which you are connecting the camera.
To shoot in Live View with the T1i/500D tethered to the computer, follow these steps:
Turn off the camera, and attach the USB cord to the Digital terminal located under the terminal covers on the side of the camera. Be sure that the icon on the cable connector faces the front side of the camera.
Connect the other end of the USB cable to a USB terminal on the computer.
Turn on the power switch on the camera and set the Mode dial to P, Tv, Av, or M, and then choose EOS Utility on the screen that appears.
Click Camera settings/Remote shooting in the EOS Utility window. The T1i/500D control panel appears. You can use the panel to control exposure settings, set the white balance, Picture Style, and White Balance Shift in this panel. To set exposure, double-click the aperture, ISO, and so on, and use the controls to adjust the settings.
Click Remote Live View shooting (near the bottom of the control panel). The Remote Live View window appears. In this window, you can set the white point by clicking a white area or neutral gray area in the scene, preview the depth of field by clicking the On button, and switch between the Brightness and RGB histograms, and you can monitor the histogram as the camera moves or as lighting changes.
When the exposure and composition is set, you can magnify the view, and then focus using either Quick or Live mode focusing techniques detailed earlier in this chapter, or you can focus manually.
Press the Shutter button at the top right of the EOS Utility control panel to make the picture. The Digital Photo Professional main window opens with the image selected.
When you finish, turn off the camera, and then disconnect the USB cable from the camera.
