Stay View is a robust photographic instrument – and when you’re simply delving into pictures, or when you’ve by no means executed devoted Stay View taking pictures earlier than, chances are you’ll not understand fairly how efficient it truly is.
On this article, I share every part you’ll want to know to get began with Stay View, together with a primary description of its perform, when it’s helpful, and when it’s greatest prevented. I additionally provide a handful of ideas so you will get essentially 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 digital camera function that permits you to view the sensor’s feed on the rear LCD. In different phrases, it enables you to see how your photographs will end up earlier than you truly take them. Should you’ve ever composed a photograph by trying on the display on the again of your digital camera, 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 type, together with smartphones, point-and-shoot fashions, bridge cameras, and mirrorless cameras. (Should you’re undecided how you can activate Stay View mode in your digital camera, do a little bit of Googling or verify the handbook!)
Whereas some cameras solely enable for composition by way of the rear LCD display, others are additionally outfitted with digital or optical viewfinders, which let you place the digital camera to your eye for an “up-close” view of the scene. Capturing by means of the viewfinder is the extra typical manner 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 by way of the viewfinder is the frequent technique to take pictures. In spite of everything, the viewfinder permits you to 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 possibly can see exactly how the tones of your pictures 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 possibly can enhance your compositions), focus peaking (so you possibly can see the areas of the scene which are in sharp focus), and a histogram (so you possibly can consider the tonal vary of your picture extra exactly).
Notice that not all cameras provide the identical taking pictures aids; all of it relies on 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 mission the sensor feed in viewfinder type. 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 digital camera 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 your compositions from a distance, chances are you’ll discover you can consider them extra successfully. And since most cameras nowadays provide articulating screens, Stay View is usually the simplest technique to compose pictures whereas taking pictures from excessive or low angles.
Lastly, when you use a DSLR, Stay View is a handy manner of forcing your digital camera’s mirror upward earlier than you hearth the shutter, which can assist stop digital camera shake throughout long-exposure pictures.
You shouldn’t use Stay View on a regular basis. However you ought to think about using Stay View in a handful of situations, together with:
- Whenever you’re making an attempt to seize photographs from difficult angles (e.g., low-angle landscapes)
- Whenever you’re working with difficult publicity circumstances and also you need to make sure you’ve captured loads of element (e.g., outside portrait pictures)
- Whenever you need to ensure you’ve nailed your composition
- When doing long-exposure pictures with a tripod (e.g., blue-hour cityscape pictures)
However, Stay View typically doesn’t work effectively in situations whenever you’re:
- Monitoring transferring topics
- Handholding in low gentle
- 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 attempt, then modify your strategy accordingly.
The right way 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 focus
Trendy cameras have a tendency to supply unbelievable autofocus capabilities. In sure conditions, nonetheless, they will fail – and that’s the place Stay View is useful.
You see, Stay View permits you to enlarge the sensor feed and verify concentrate on distant components. If key components look sharp, that’s nice – but when not, you possibly can attempt altering your level of focus or utilizing a focus-and-recompose strategy. You would possibly even change your lens over to its handbook focus mode and punctiliously set the main focus that manner (whereas ensuring to zoom in on the rear LCD as soon as once more!).
In case your topic isn’t transferring, this system is among the very best methods to verify every part is tack-sharp. One caveat, nonetheless: Along with magnifying the scene, this zoom-in strategy will enlarge digital camera shake (on the LCD, that’s). As a result of it’s powerful to set focus whereas your digital camera seems to be leaping in each course, I like to recommend utilizing a tripod (and when you don’t have one helpful, set your digital camera on a rock, a publish, 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 fairly than in post-processing.
Should you use an optical viewfinder to take pictures with an impact activated, you possibly can all the time 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 assist you to perceive how every impact will modify your photographs upfront.
You should utilize this trick when testing out enjoyable results, however it’s also possible to use it when doing severe pictures. As an illustration, by setting your digital camera to its black-and-white mode and activating Stay View, you possibly can 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 fairly than RAW. In any other case, the impact gained’t seem whenever you pull up your picture in post-processing. (This isn’t essentially a nasty factor, as you possibly can usually recreate and enhance upon numerous results whereas enhancing, however it’s price taking into account!)
3. Use the histogram to make sure a superb publicity
Should you shoot by way of an optical viewfinder, you don’t have any manner of previewing the publicity earlier than you hearth your digital camera. You may solely make modifications after you’ve taken a shot.
Stay View, however, enables you to simulate the publicity for every picture upfront, 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 a substitute of evaluating your publicity by merely glancing on the rear LCD, activate your Stay View histogram. (Not all cameras provide this perform, but when yours does, it’ll be listed within the handbook!)
Then verify the histogram earlier than you are taking every shot (or, a minimum of, whenever you’re initially setting your publicity). Be sure there are not any peaks pressed up in opposition to both aspect of the graph. And if there are, modify your digital camera settings accordingly. That manner, you’re basically assured to come back residence with an honest publicity!
4. Strive 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 that options your topic, and your lens will focus exactly as directed. (Should you’ve ever shot pictures utilizing your smartphone, you’ll know what that is like – and the way handy it makes photographing sure topics!)
It typically gained’t be efficient when you’re taking pictures sports activities, motion, or marriage ceremony pictures (by the point you’ve tapped to focus after which pressed the shutter button, your topic could have moved!). However when you’re out taking pictures casually, it’s an strategy you would possibly actually take pleasure in.
It even has some benefits over conventional viewfinder-based focusing when you’re taking pictures at excessive angles. As a substitute of painfully positioning your self so you possibly can see by means of the viewfinder, you possibly can merely faucet to lock focus and hearth off a picture.
Whereas each mannequin is totally different, your digital camera undoubtedly options a couple of efficient Stay View instruments, and it pays to familiarize your self with each one in every of them.
I’ve already talked about histograms and focus peaking, however your digital camera can also provide extra focusing aids, an digital degree, taking pictures mode choices, and a lot extra. It’s possible you’ll finally discover that none of those choices are helpful to you, however you gained’t know except you do a little bit of analysis – and for the suitable photographer, one (or extra) Stay View options could make an enormous distinction.
So spend a little bit of time poking round in your digital camera handbook and see what you will discover. Then check out a number of the most promising choices. Who is aware of? Perhaps it’ll revolutionize your pictures!
Stay View in pictures: remaining phrases
Now that you simply’ve completed this text, you understand all about Stay View – and also you’re prepared to use it to your personal photographic workflow.
The subsequent time you’re out together with your digital camera, attempt enjoying round with Stay View. It might appear unfamiliar at first, however with a couple of hours (or minutes) of follow, chances are you’ll surprise the way you ever went with out it!
Even when you’re a extra conventional shooter, I hope you a minimum of give Stay View an opportunity. It’s not going to be the best choice in each scenario, however chances are you’ll discover it to be extra compelling and helpful than you understand.
Now over to you:
Do you intend to make use of Stay View? Why or why not? Share your ideas within the feedback beneath!
