Viewfinder, Live View, Playback and Camera Information Displays

Your camera is constantly talking to you. Through the viewfinder and the rear screen it shows the scene, your settings, how much battery is left, and where it is focusing. After you take a photo, it lets you check whether the shot really worked. Many beginners ignore this information and only find problems when they look at their photos at home. This lesson teaches you how to look through the camera, read what it tells you, and check your photos on the spot.

Two ways to see the scene

Before you take a photo, you need to see what the camera will capture. There are two ways to do this:

• The viewfinder: the small window you hold up to your eye. On a DSLR it is an optical viewfinder (OVF): you look through glass and mirrors at the real scene. On most mirrorless cameras it is an electronic viewfinder (EVF): a tiny screen inside the window showing the picture from the sensor.
• Live view: the live picture from the sensor shown on the rear screen, the same way a phone shows the scene before you take a photo.

The reason these two types exist goes back to how the camera is built, explained in how a digital camera works.

Optical or electronic: what is the difference?

An optical viewfinder shows the real world, clear and without delay, but it cannot show what the photo will look like. An electronic viewfinder shows the picture from the sensor, so it can preview brightness and color before you shoot, and it can show extra information on top. On many mirrorless cameras, if the scene in the EVF looks too dark, the photo will also be too dark. This preview is a big help for beginners.

Set up the viewfinder for your eyes

Next to most viewfinders there is a small wheel or slider called the diopter adjustment. It focuses the viewfinder for your own eyesight, a little like adjusting binoculars. If the information text in the viewfinder looks blurry, this is the reason.

1. Turn the camera on and look through the viewfinder.
2. Look at the text or numbers shown in the viewfinder, not at the scene.
3. Turn the diopter wheel slowly until the text looks sharp.

This setting does not change your photos. It only makes the viewfinder clear for you. Many mirrorless cameras also have an eye sensor that switches automatically from the rear screen to the viewfinder when you lift the camera to your eye.

Reading the shooting information

While shooting, the camera shows symbols and numbers around the edges of the viewfinder or screen. Do not try to learn every symbol at once. Start with the ones in this table.

Shutter speed, aperture and ISO will be explained fully in understanding exposure. For now, just learn where they appear on your camera.

Tip:The INFO or DISP button changes how much information is shown. Press it several times to cycle through the views. Choose a clean view when you want to concentrate on the picture, and a detailed view when you want to check settings.

Helpful display tools

• Grid lines: thin lines dividing the frame into parts. They help you keep horizons straight and place your subject.
• Electronic level: shows whether the camera is tilted. Great for buildings and horizons.
• Live histogram: a small graph showing how bright or dark the picture is. You will learn to read it in histogram and exposure evaluation.

Playback: checking your photos

Playback means looking at the photos you have already taken. Press the playback button (▶) and use the arrows or a dial to move between photos.

The most important playback skill is zooming in. On the small screen, almost every photo looks sharp. Only when you zoom in can you see whether the eyes are really in focus or the photo is slightly blurred. Most cameras let you zoom with a button marked with a magnifying glass, and many can jump straight to the focus point.

1. Look at the whole photo. Is the subject clear? Is anything cut off at the edges?
2. Zoom in on the subject. Are the important parts, such as the eyes, sharp?
3. Check the brightness. Is anything too dark or too bright?
4. Decide. Keep it, or change something and shoot again while you still can.

Playback also lets you see detailed photo information, protect photos from deletion and give them star ratings. Delete only photos that are clearly useless. It is safer to sort your photos on a larger computer screen later.

Warning:The rear screen can make photos look brighter or darker than they really are, especially in sunlight or in a dark room. Do not judge brightness by the screen alone; the histogram is more reliable.

Common mistakes

• Never checking the screen: problems are only noticed at home, when it is too late.
• Checking without zooming in: a blurry photo can look sharp on a small screen.
• Ignoring the shots-left number: the card fills up just before the important moment.
• Chimping too much: photographers jokingly call constant checking "chimping". If you look at the screen after every shot, you will miss what is happening in front of you. Check at sensible moments.

How professionals use displays

Professionals glance at a few key numbers before an important moment, then keep their eyes on the scene. They check the first few photos of each new situation by zooming in, and once they are sure the settings are right, they stop checking every shot. When the light changes, they check again. This balance between checking and watching is a habit worth building from your very first photos.

Practical examples

Key points

Frequently asked questions

Conclusion

The viewfinder and the rear screen are your window into what the camera sees, and playback is your safety check. Learn the key information on your display, set the diopter for your eyes, and zoom in to check important photos. Next, you will learn how picture styles change the look of your photos and how to set up the camera to suit you.

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