Canon EOS 1000D Review

Live View shooting with the 1000D is similar to Canon's other consumer DSLR models, with support for two focusing modes. The Quick Mode uses phase-detection and the dedicated AF sensor that is used for normal focusing. The array of AF points is displayed on-screen and photographers can select the AF point they wish to use. The mirror flips up briefly to permit autofocusing, blacking out the LCD display. But when it drops down again, the subject should be sharply focused (and a focus confirmation beep will sound).

The second, Live Mode is contrast-based and operates without blacking out the viewfinder. Although autofocusing is possible in this mode, it's very slow and more difficult to achieve than with the Quick View mode. The AF points array is not displayed; instead there's a single AF point in the centre of the field.

To focus a shot, simply position the AF point over the subject and press the * button. The AF point turns green when focus is achieved and the beeper sounds. (An orange AF point indicates that focus was not achieved.) The AF point can be moved about the field of view with the arrow pad keys and re-centred by pressing the delete button. Pressing the magnify button can enlarge a part of the subject by 5x or 10x - a very useful feature for confirming focus.

Manual focusing is possible with both Live View settings, although the switch on the lens must be set to Manual beforehand. You can check depth of field in Live View mode by pressing the depth-of-field preview button. Continuous shooting is also supported, with focus and exposure settings locked on the first frame of the sequence. But it's slower than using the viewfinder to compose shots.

When the real-time image is displayed on the LCD, the display simulates the brightness level corresponding to the exposure setting, enabling users to adjust exposure levels accordingly. It doesn't work for flash shots but provides a useful guide for available-light photography, although there's a lag of a second or so when you move the camera while Live View is engaged.

Toggling the Display button takes you through four settings: no overlay on the LCD, shooting data overlay, grid overlay and histogram overlay. Neither the data nor histogram overlay is translucent. You can connect the 1000D to a TV set via the supplied video cable and use Live View mode to view the image recorded by the camera on the screen.

Margaret Brown


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