How to get the correct angle...

[higabyte]

Ok, so as some of you have probably seen, I'm new to the dslr arena and well now I'm forced to use the viewfinder, which for me i find very awkward and down right uncomfortable at times.. one of my biggest issues is i like to take photos at an upward angle with the camera sitting on the ground. obviously i cant do that now unless i want to shoot blindly.

how is one to go about shooting at awkward angles and be able to actually frame the picture you want?

I've seen some of these 90 degree angle things for the viewfinder, is that the solution?

Thanks...

[Nicole]

Well, you could always lay on your back and take the picture looking straight up... or is that just me that makes an ass of myself when I'm trying to get a picture from a strange angle? :p

Ok, there's got to be a more useful answer for you than mine ;) Oh, and when I don't want to make myself look really silly I'll just put the camera in the approximate place and be glad that I can always delete the pictures that aren't what I wanted.

[higabyte]

i have no problem laying on the ground to take a picture, it's just i'm so used having an adjustable lcd on the back to be able to frame my picture and now the viewfinder is my only option, it makes it a tad difficult..

but with that said, it's not the straight up picture i'm worried about that'd be easy, it's that i like to take about a 45degree angle picture with the camera resting on the ground.. so only option I'm really seeing it just guess where it should be and click?? haha

[Nicole]

What about a new form of camera yoga... for all the people who enjoy taking shots at different angles? ;) lol Once again, I maintain there must be better solutions out there. And to make up for my silly answers tonight, how about some info on the angle-finder?

There's one made specifically by Nikon (http://www.nikonusa.com/template.php?cat=1&grp=56&productNr=4753) that's gotten some good reviews at DPReview
Or if you want to spend a bit more, there's always the Zigview LCD (http://www.zigview.co.uk/)... pretty much seems like it would make your D50 almost exactly like your old P&S...

[higabyte]

omg, if i could view my viewfinder through my lcd i'd think i died and gone to heaven.. haha

i'd still be a little delimmenated (if thats a word) since the D50 doesnt have a rotating LCD, but it'd be a great starting point. Tonight when they turn the firewall off, I'll definitely have to check out the Zigview..

Thanks for that info!!

[Nicole]

So really, this is the one that you want... ZigView S2 (http://www.zigview.co.uk/prdzigs2a.htm)

http://www.zigview.co.uk/images//limgzigs2a.jpg

[Tiberius]

Most dSLR cameras can't use the LCD screen to compose the image. This is because the image is reflected up into the pentaprism by a mirror, so the sensor isn't exposed to the light until the photo is taken. However, I've heard that a bit of practise shooting "blind" can get you a good shot, so it's worth having a go. If you use a wider lens than you'd normally use, you should have enough to crop to get the framing you want.

[higabyte]

So really, this is the one that you want... ZigView S2 (http://www.zigview.co.uk/prdzigs2a.htm)

http://www.zigview.co.uk/images//limgzigs2a.jpg
236 British Pound = 472.807 US Dollar

Unless I did it wrong, I'm thinking I'm gonna stick with what Tiberius is saying, and just master the blind shot! haha

Thanks for the insight/info guys!

[jiminyClickit]

higabyte,

Where's that leatherneck inventive adaptability?! A simple adjustable arrangement of two small mirrors (plastic for safety?) could do the job, even if not fastened to camera. You only need to frame the subject, right?

[higabyte]

higabyte,

Where's that leatherneck inventive adaptability?! A simple adjustable arrangement of two small mirrors (plastic for safety?) could do the job, even if not fastened to camera. You only need to frame the subject, right?

well if i was in the rear, i might could concoct something, but uhh mirrors? if it wasn't for the mirrors in the head, i'd be shaving without a mirror haha...

[Saralonde]

Funny, one of the reasons I didn't like using our first digital camera was because I couldn't get used to composing on an lcd screen instead of looking through a viewfinder! Drove me crazy.

[Nicole]

Yeah, nobody said their fancy attachments were cheap ;) I'm a much bigger fan of the blind shot :p It's much cheaper ;)

[wulf]

Even on my point-and-shoot I tended not to use the LCD much, as I wanted to get as much battery life as possible. If anything I make more use of the LCD on my D40, particularly the mode that highlights any areas that are burnt out (pure white with no detail).

However, for composing shots, there is a lot to be said for blind shooting. It often turns up shots you wouldn't get without a bit of "directed luck" and the "misses" are free.

Try setting your camera on autoshoot mode and hold down the button - that way you can get a bunch of similar shots, at least one of which will probably fit what you want. Alternatively, look for visual clues so that you can take a shot, see what you got and then put the camera back in the same position (slightly tweaked to improve things).

Above all, have fun!

Wulf