scott_sjostrom Posted April 7, 2006 Share Posted April 7, 2006 I just bought a 5D after having a Nikon D200 for two weeks. One benefit to the D200 was all the available information just by looking through the viewfinder. ISO, flash comp, exp comp, WB....it was all there. In the 5D all I see is shutter speed and F. stop, along with the -2 to +2 exposure scale, and burst rate. I've checked the manuel and found no way to expand the information. Can't this camera talk to you like a D200? I also notice that the information in the viewfinder only displays itself for 3 sec, another thing I would change if you can? BTW, I switched to Canon because of the superior sensor at high ISO, but it's not quite as user friendly as a Nikon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PuppyDigs Posted April 7, 2006 Share Posted April 7, 2006 On the contrary, I found the 5D extremely friendy. A clean viewfinder means less distractions from composition. Cluttering it up with unneeded info is a feature and not a defect in my view. Nevertheless, if you must view ISO in the viewfinder, simply press the ISO button and it will temporarily appear. Actually I'd be happier with no info and an even larger viewfinder. I have no problem remembering my F-stop, ISO or shutter speed, but I grew with a Nikon FM... Incidentally, there are a few other icons and bits of info displayed, e.g., AF, flash, etc. Sometimes the light’s all shining on me. Other times I can barely see. - Robert Hunter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scott_sjostrom Posted April 7, 2006 Author Share Posted April 7, 2006 I like to ride my flash compensator, it's a major inconvience to having to tap a button to see where it's at. The 5D kills the D200 in image quality, just wish it had some of the features Nikon thinks about. It's always a trade off, the EX580 has a cheap shoe, the NIkon SB-800 has a metal one. The EX580 has a more flexible head & recycles faster. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter_white2 Posted April 7, 2006 Share Posted April 7, 2006 Scott, This is pretty sad. You have one of the finest instruments ever made for recording images, and you're complaining about viewfinder information. In 1955, the finest small format camera money could buy was the Leica M3. When you looked through the viewfinder you saw the field of view defined by white lines, and in the center you had a little superimposed image from the rangefinder that you lined up by focusing the lens. So you had a rough idea what the field of view was, and you could see what was in focus via the rangefinder. And nobody complained! People thought it was great! And it was. And in fact it still is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scott_sjostrom Posted April 7, 2006 Author Share Posted April 7, 2006 Reality check ! ....how about it's 2006 and Nikon has developed a powerful tool with an informative viewfinder...Canon is obviously behind on this one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fxdonny Posted April 7, 2006 Share Posted April 7, 2006 Agree with you Scott, it's a trade off. Wish Canon would do better in flash system and follow some of the things that Nikon did. But again, if Canon win in every single little thing, then Nikon is doomed and there would be no competition. We all don't want that do we? :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodney_gold1 Posted April 7, 2006 Share Posted April 7, 2006 If you want the VF to re-illuminate , hit the DOF button (wont work if you have an onboard flash thats on - the dof button then makes the flash fire in modelling mode) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
digitmstr Posted April 7, 2006 Share Posted April 7, 2006 >>Can't this camera talk to you like a D200?<< Different strokes...etc... It all depends what you want hear. For myself, I prefer a less cluttered info approach with "only" the basics (S/A/EC/ISO). OF course we all have different ideas about that... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rdkirk Posted April 7, 2006 Share Posted April 7, 2006 The more "stuff" you have around the viewfinder, the more eye relief you need--which means the smaller the magnification of the viewfinder image. Also, the more "stuff" you have around the viewfinder, the smaller it must be, or the more complex the code has to be to give additional uses to each LCD. There always have to be compromises somewhere. I want a voice warning indicator in Kathleen Turner's voice that whispers huskily to me when I'm in focus or when the highlights are blowing out. I've got a whole list of--ahem--appropriate phrases for her. Instead, I've got flashing lights and beeps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark_chappell Posted April 8, 2006 Share Posted April 8, 2006 <I> the EX580 has a cheap shoe, the NIkon SB-800 has a metal one.</i><P> A different perspective: if you happen to have an 'accident' with your rig (like dropping it), it's probably easier and less expensive to replace a snapped-off plastic shoe on your flash than a bent or broken camera top plate/pentaprism housing resulting from too much force applied to the flash mount. That calamity hasn't happened to me (yet) but I've watched it happen once or twice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
digitmstr Posted April 8, 2006 Share Posted April 8, 2006 Some plastics are more resilient than metal and will give without breaking thereby relieving pressure/stress in case of accidents. Definitely, NOT all plastics are created equal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrew robertson Posted April 8, 2006 Share Posted April 8, 2006 "the EX580 has a cheap shoe, the NIkon SB-800 has a metal one." This is part of the Canon design philosophy. They build their lenses so the mounts will shear off instead of the camera lens mount breaking, too, so you can go on shooting with another lens if you drop your camera instead of having a dead camera. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erin.e Posted April 9, 2006 Share Posted April 9, 2006 Yeah and Nikon build theirs so if you drop the combo, you can just pick it up and carry on;-) I have used both systems and had the flash hotshoe snap from being bumped on forgeign objects. the Canon camera shoe is made of a softer metal (1N) and deformed a little. The base snapped of the flash as it was designed to do and a replacement shoe fitting was sourced. The hotshoe bracket on the camera was straigthened by a pair of fine long nosed pliers. Same scenario with the Nikon (N 90x) except the camera hotshoe bracket did not deform and need to be straigthened. Just minor design concepts to acheive the same end. Seems as tho you have plenty of cash Scott, just to jump systems on recently released cameras for relatively minor reasons. Perhaps you should have just brought a 1DS 11 in the first place and saved yourself any problems and probably some cash! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
savas_kyprianides Posted April 12, 2006 Share Posted April 12, 2006 I am getting great shots with the 5D with the viewfinder information it currently has. In fact, I seldom consult the viewfinder information as I have just set the camera prior to each shot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phule Posted April 13, 2006 Share Posted April 13, 2006 You bought a 5D without ever looking through its viewfinder? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
savas_kyprianides Posted April 13, 2006 Share Posted April 13, 2006 There is a wealth of information to be had between the viewfinder info, page 17; the LCD monitor, page 16, and the info display, page 72. Check the manual. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eric merrill Posted April 13, 2006 Share Posted April 13, 2006 Rob: "You bought a 5D without ever looking through its viewfinder?" I did. That's what happens when you live in a small town and don't have many other options. :) Eric Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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