D7000 Live View

Hi all.
Wondering if any of you more experienced users of the d7000 can tell me if there's any tangible benefits of using LiveView over the viewfinder. I've only had mine for about 3 weeks and I still have a lot to learn about it but, aside from using the "face detect" feature from time to time, I rarely use it. I can hold the camera steadier against my face using the viewfinder. Are there any differences in metering, focus, etc. that I need to consider?
Now have the picture controls and white balance just right (for me) and I'm having a lot of fun with it

Using the Live View eats up the batteries. That's what I've been told by a lot of D7000 shooters.

Live view is helpful for various situations such as zooming in to verify focus, horizon level, etc.

Live veiw eats batteries like branches thru a wood chipper. If in manual focus, I find that you can acheive good focus without having focus light blinking due to handhold wobble.

I dunno, I haven't had battery issues with my D7000, although I've read some reports of people that have. I don't use live view a lot, but when doing macro or even landscape I will use it, also real estate photos inside I use live view. I can't say I've ever had the live view take my battery down all that much. So far, from a battery perspective, my results are extraordinary compared to my other bodies. I routinely shoot over 1000 actuations and still have 25% battery left, with some of that being live view, video, and plenty of review in the viewfinder.

As far as live view, for me the benefit is being able to zoom in on specific objects in the frame to make sure you have the detail and focus you desire. I also find live view to be handy for the horizon level. That said, I use live view less than 3% of the time, but when I do it fulfills its purpose.

Well I just learned something new. I didnt know that I could focus zoomed in, the lock the focus and zoom out to take the shot, and the subject stays focused. I thought it would be out of focus, but the AF system keeps it. Thanks MHA for that one.

Great tip!
I'm going to try this, thanks.
Wow...1,000 shots on one charge!! I barely got over 300 on my first charge...

Hello, having got this dslr last month, so not really an experienced D7000 user. But I primarily use Live View for picture result, looking at the picture details and setting up for the shot e.g. bracketing, time interval, etc. Aside from being more stable using the view finder, I don't want to look "amateurish" with a very expensive dslr cam using live view. (Or at least gives me the look that I know what I am doing...lol)

I do not think it is ameteurish to use the LV. It is there for a reason. I use it on occasion myself. If you get better results using LV then use it. Who cares what others think of you and how you use the equipment, if you acheive the results you are after.

Yeah,...I wouldn't worry about lookin' "amateurish" either but if you are, get an LCD Viewfinder. There are quite a few brands and prices (some waaaay overpriced) to choose from. and an added benefit; you will get more stable shooting when using one with live view.

BTW...I love my d7000!!!

I guess I am a bit old school (D80 & D200 user) but I don't use the live view at all on my D7000? Its a great feature, but I guess so far I have not really had a use for it. Believe it or not I have not even tried the video feature on my D7000...lol.
I am one who believes video does not belong on a DSLR, I guess...lol? I have a video camera (HD Little JVC 60GB).
But its nice to know I have those features anyway .

I've only used live view a few times on any Nikons.

There are rare situations where I see some use for it. I primarily have used it in a situation where I had the camera on a tripod to try and frame a specific shot, but the camera was at a height/level/angle where I couldn't easily look through the viewfinder. Maybe like for a self portrait. Turn on LV, get the crop and focus set, turn off LV and take the shot.

On a camera with the tilt/swivel screen, like a D5000, I can see where it would be even more useful in similar situations.

i use live view for shooting lightening, don't want to move the camera, i easily got over a 1000 shots per battery for my bristol shoot. I have 3 batteries, but never changed batteries at the track only before going. you should try the video on your 7000 it takes very good quality video.

Hi fellas. Im having some troubles with autofocus using the liveview mode. Ehile im using the viewfinder All autofocus modes work perfectly. But in the liveview mode it doesent work at all! Loos like the cam tries to find the focus point but then freezes without fousing any object!!!

Please let me know if im doing something grown or ifs ther is something wrong with the camera. Im still on warrtanty period.

Thank you very much!!!

David Ames.