Stay View is a robust photographic instrument – and if you happen to’re simply delving into pictures, or if you happen to’ve by no means carried out devoted Stay View taking pictures earlier than, you could not understand fairly how efficient it truly is.
On this article, I share every little thing it is advisable know to get began with Stay View, together with a fundamental description of its operate, when it’s helpful, and when it’s finest prevented. I additionally provide a handful of ideas so you will get probably the most out of your Stay View taking pictures.
Sound good? Then let’s dive proper in, beginning with the fundamentals:
What’s Stay View?
Stay View is a digicam function that means that you can view the sensor’s feed on the rear LCD. In different phrases, it enables you to see how your photographs will prove earlier than you truly take them. Should you’ve ever composed a photograph by trying on the display screen on the again of your digicam, you’ve used Stay View.
Photographers have a tendency to speak about Stay View within the context of DSLRs. Nonetheless, most cameras function Stay View in some kind, together with smartphones, point-and-shoot fashions, bridge cameras, and mirrorless cameras. (Should you’re unsure activate Stay View mode in your digicam, do a little bit of Googling or verify the guide!)
Whereas some cameras solely enable for composition through the rear LCD display screen, others are additionally geared up with digital or optical viewfinders, which let you place the digicam to your eye for an “up-close” view of the scene. Capturing by means of the viewfinder is the extra typical method of photographing, however Stay View does have a number of key advantages, as I focus on within the subsequent part:
When is Stay View helpful?
As I discussed above, taking pictures through the viewfinder is the frequent method to take photographs. In any case, the viewfinder means that you can block out all distractions, and the close-up view permits for extra cautious composition. Plus, Stay View comes with a slight lag, whereas (some) viewfinders are completely in sync with the skin world.
However Stay View does provide a number of key benefits. For one, it boasts publicity simulation, so you may see exactly how the tones of your photographs will look earlier than you press the shutter button. It additionally comes with an array of taking pictures aids, together with the rule of thirds grid (so you may enhance your compositions), focus peaking (so you may see the areas of the scene which might be in sharp focus), and a histogram (so you may consider the tonal vary of your picture extra exactly).
Notice that not all cameras provide the identical taking pictures aids; all of it is determined by the mannequin you purchase. Additionally, keep in mind that optical viewfinders and digital viewfinders are dramatically totally different – optical viewfinders offer you a view by means of the lens, whereas digital viewfinders challenge the sensor feed in viewfinder kind. All the benefits that I’ve described above additionally apply to digital viewfinders, however they don’t apply to optical viewfinders. (Complicated, I do know! Earlier than persevering with, it’s a good suggestion to find out whether or not your digicam gives a viewfinder, and if it does, whether or not that viewfinder is optical or digital.)
Not like each digital and optical viewfinders, nonetheless, Stay View gives a distinct perspective. By taking a look at your compositions from a distance, you could discover which you could consider them extra successfully. And since most cameras nowadays provide articulating screens, Stay View is usually the best method to compose photographs whereas taking pictures from excessive or low angles.
Lastly, if you happen to use a DSLR, Stay View is a handy method of forcing your digicam’s mirror upward earlier than you hearth the shutter, which can assist stop digicam shake throughout long-exposure photographs.
You shouldn’t use Stay View on a regular basis. However you ought to think about using Stay View in a handful of eventualities, together with:
- If you’re attempting to seize photographs from tough angles (e.g., low-angle landscapes)
- If you’re working with tough publicity situations and also you need to ensure you’ve captured loads of element (e.g., out of doors portrait pictures)
- If you need to be sure you’ve nailed your composition
- When doing long-exposure pictures with a tripod (e.g., blue-hour cityscape pictures)
Alternatively, Stay View usually doesn’t work properly in eventualities whenever you’re:
- Monitoring transferring topics
- Handholding in low mild
- Hoping to actually immerse your self in a scene
In fact, on the finish of the day, what issues is whether or not Stay View works for you. Give it a strive, then modify your method accordingly.
Tips on how to use Stay View like a professional: 5 efficient ideas
On this part, I focus on a couple of useful methods that’ll enhance your outcomes when taking pictures with Stay View. I additionally share some hidden Stay View options!
1. Zoom in to set the main target
Fashionable cameras have a tendency to supply unimaginable autofocus capabilities. In sure conditions, nonetheless, they’ll fail – and that’s the place Stay View turns out to be useful.
You see, Stay View means that you can enlarge the sensor feed and verify give attention to distant parts. If key parts look sharp, that’s nice – but when not, you may strive altering your level of focus or utilizing a focus-and-recompose method. You would possibly even swap your lens over to its guide focus mode and thoroughly set the main target that method (whereas ensuring to zoom in on the rear LCD as soon as once more!).
In case your topic isn’t transferring, this method is likely one of the very best methods to verify every little thing is tack-sharp. One caveat, nonetheless: Along with magnifying the scene, this zoom-in method will enlarge digicam shake (on the LCD, that’s). As a result of it’s robust to set focus whereas your digicam seems to be leaping in each path, I like to recommend utilizing a tripod (and if you happen to don’t have one useful, set your digicam on a rock, a put up, or another strong floor).
2. Use Stay View to preview results
One enjoyable trick that many producers have added to their cameras is the flexibility to use numerous results, together with selective coloring, miniature, black-and-white, sepia, and even movie simulations. Consider these as Instagram filters or Lightroom presets, besides they’re added as you shoot moderately than in post-processing.
Should you use an optical viewfinder to take photographs with an impact activated, you may at all times see how your photographs turned out by reviewing them on the rear LCD – however it may be much more enjoyable to shoot with the consequences in actual time! That’s the place Stay View is available in; it’ll allow you to see an impact in motion earlier than you press the shutter button, and it’ll allow you to perceive how every impact will modify your photographs prematurely.
You should use this trick when testing out enjoyable results, however you may as well use it when doing severe pictures. For example, by setting your digicam to its black-and-white mode and activating Stay View, you may actually see the world in monochrome, which is a good way to raise your compositions.
Notice: To make sure that an impact is baked into the ultimate file, you’ll must shoot in JPEG moderately than RAW. In any other case, the impact received’t seem whenever you pull up your picture in post-processing. (This isn’t essentially a foul factor, as you may typically recreate and enhance upon numerous results whereas modifying, however it’s value taking into consideration!)
3. Use the histogram to make sure publicity
Should you shoot through an optical viewfinder, you don’t have any method of previewing the publicity earlier than you hearth your digicam. You possibly can solely make modifications after you’ve taken a shot.
Stay View, then again, enables you to simulate the publicity for every picture prematurely, and this may be a good way to stop over- and underexposure from the get-go. However I’d truly encourage you to take this a step additional:
As an alternative of evaluating your publicity by merely glancing on the rear LCD, activate your Stay View histogram. (Not all cameras provide this operate, but when yours does, it’ll be listed within the guide!)
Then verify the histogram earlier than you’re taking every shot (or, no less than, whenever you’re initially setting your publicity). Make certain there aren’t any peaks pressed up in opposition to both aspect of the graph. And if there are, modify your digicam settings accordingly. That method, you’re basically assured to return residence with a good publicity!
4. Attempt utilizing touch-focusing
One nice function that some cameras provide in Stay View is touch-focusing. In different phrases, you merely faucet on the portion of the display screen that options your topic, and your lens will focus exactly as directed. (Should you’ve ever shot photographs utilizing your smartphone, you’ll know what that is like – and the way handy it makes photographing sure topics!)
It usually received’t be efficient if you happen to’re taking pictures sports activities, motion, or marriage ceremony photographs (by the point you’ve tapped to focus after which pressed the shutter button, your topic may have moved!). However if you happen to’re out taking pictures casually, it’s an method you would possibly actually get pleasure from.
It even has some benefits over conventional viewfinder-based focusing if you happen to’re taking pictures at excessive angles. As an alternative of painfully positioning your self so you may see by means of the viewfinder, you may merely faucet to lock focus and hearth off a picture.
Whereas each mannequin is totally different, your digicam undoubtedly options a couple of efficient Stay View instruments, and it pays to familiarize your self with each considered one of them.
I’ve already talked about histograms and focus peaking, however your digicam may additionally provide further focusing aids, an digital stage, taking pictures mode choices, and a lot extra. Chances are you’ll in the end discover that none of those choices are helpful to you, however you received’t know except you do a little bit of analysis – and for the precise photographer, one (or extra) Stay View options could make an enormous distinction.
So spend a little bit of time poking round in your digicam guide and see what you’ll find. Then check out among the most promising choices. Who is aware of? Possibly it’ll revolutionize your pictures!
Stay View in pictures: last phrases
Now that you simply’ve completed this text, all about Stay View – and also you’re prepared to use it to your personal photographic workflow.
The subsequent time you’re out along with your digicam, strive taking part in round with Stay View. It might appear unfamiliar at first, however with a couple of hours (or minutes) of apply, you could marvel the way you ever went with out it!
Even if you happen to’re a extra conventional shooter, I hope you no less than give Stay View an opportunity. It’s not going to be the most suitable choice in each scenario, however you could discover it to be extra compelling and helpful than you understand.
Now over to you:
Do you propose to make use of Stay View? Why or why not? Share your ideas within the feedback under!
