Nikon D7000 Live View and D-Movies

I’ve saved some advanced techniques for this chapter, which devotes a little extra space

to some special features of the Nikon D7000. This chapter covers Live View and shoot-

ing HDTV movies.

Live View is one of those features that experienced SLR users (especially those dating

from the film era) sometimes think they don’t need—until they try it. It’s also one of

those features (like truly “silent” shooting, without any shutter click) that point-and-

shoot refugees are surprised that digital SLRs (until recently) have lacked. As I noted

earlier, SLRs have actual, mechanical shutters that can’t be completely silenced, as can

be done with point-and-shoot cameras. I’ve fielded almost as many queries from those

who want to know how to preview their images on the LCD—just as they did with

their point-and-shoot cameras. Indeed, many P & S models don’t even haveoptical

viewfinders, engendering a whole generation of amateur photographers who think the

only way to frame and compose an image is to hold the camera out at arm’s length so

the back-panel LCD can be viewed more easily.

While dSLR veterans didn’t really miss what we’ve come to know as Live View, it was

at least, in part, because they didn’t have it and couldn’t miss what they never had. After

all, why would you eschew a big, bright, magnified through-the-lens optical view that

showed depth-of-field fairly well, and which was easily visible under virtually all ambi-

ent light conditions? LCD displays, after all, were small, tended to wash out in bright

light, and didn’t really provide you with an accurate view of what your picture was going

to look like.

Live View and D-Movies