LiveView vs Viewfinder Grid - Rule of Thirds

[Dave Humphries]

some people use special viewfinders with built in gridlines (esp for architectural shots).

Well if you shoot Canon* they are special, if you shoot with Nikon, they come built in, just switch it on or off in set up menu

* as you and Colin do

Sorry, couldn't resist, but no doubt I'll regret this cheekiness later (NZ time)

[Colin Southern]

Just for you Dave - an iPhone shot of a CANON live-view screen, looking at a PC screen (complete with grid turned on in menu)

[KentDub]

Colin looks like you need to calibrate your monitor!

[Dave Humphries]

LOL

Colin,

I'm not sure if I can get a Blackberry shot of my Nikon's optical viewfinder with the grid switched on.

[Colin Southern]

Colin looks like you need to calibrate your monitor!

Monitor was caliprated and profiled about a week ago! Unfortunately, that the best I can do with an iPhone taking a shot of the camera's review screen

[Colin Southern]

I'm not sure if I can get a Blackberry shot of my Nikon's optical viewfinder with the grid switched on.

*** Cough *** is this the same Dave who wouldn't even consider a Canon because the EXTERNAL screen couldn't be pivoted and swiveled? *** Cough ***

In all seriousness (for a moment) I actually find grids to be only of limited use anyway - mostly because I'm often cropping to change the aspect ratio. I think the best "composition aid" is to setup the camera on a tripod and then CONSCIOUSLY take a MINUTE to ask one's self "how does this look?" "how will I be able to crop this?" "will some of the smaller elements look significant in a large print, or more of a distraction?" "how are things placed in relation to other things in the scene (in terms of composition, elevation, ratio of foreground object to background objects (which affects size)).

[Dave Humphries]

*** Cough *** is this the same Dave who wouldn't even consider a Canon because the EXTERNAL screen couldn't be pivoted and swiveled? *** Cough ***

Nice try at distracting from the main point that what Nikon includes as a pushbutton selection costs extra and needs installing on Canon



Yes, this is a Blackberry looking through the D5000 viewfinder (horrid shot, I know)

and yes, it is a rule of quarters!
but the Canon screen isn't thirds either!

More seriously (for a moment), I only use these as an aid to getting things vertical or horizontal when appropriate.
The other points you raise are good to apply - but so easily forgotten in the heat of the moment

How was breakfast?

[Colin Southern]

but the Canon screen isn't thirds either!

Ummm - looks like thirds to me

[KentDub]

Nice try at distracting from the main point that what Nikon includes as a pushbutton selection costs extra and needs installing on Canon

One-button push for LiveView on the Canons

[Dave Humphries]

Ummm - looks like thirds to me

The Live View one maybe, but not the optical screen

Catalogue shots I saw looked more like 5 x 6 lines

[Colin Southern]

The Live View one maybe, but not the optical screen

Catalogue shots I saw looked more like 5 x 6 lines

You could well be right - I don't use 'em personally (probably why Canon left them off in the first place )

[Dave Humphries]

I don't use 'em personally (probably why Canon left them off in the first place )

Hey, you mean Canon finally listened to you?

[Colin Southern]

Hey, you mean Canon finally listened to you?

Yeah ...

[JK6065]

*** Cough *** is this the same Dave who wouldn't even consider a Canon because the EXTERNAL screen couldn't be pivoted and swiveled? *** Cough ***

~ I think the best "composition aid" is to setup the camera on a tripod and then CONSCIOUSLY take a MINUTE to ask one's self "how does this look?" "how will I be able to crop this?" "will some of the smaller elements look significant in a large print, or more of a distraction?" "how are things placed in relation to other things in the scene (in terms of composition, elevation, ratio of foreground object to background objects (which affects size)).

Unless your subject(s) have moved out of your camera view and you just sit there for a minute doing nothing

You're right about asking yourself whether your composition is what you want it to be but if you only have a split second for your photo, gridlines are very usefull for a quick balanced composition if you ask me.