How is aperture handled in Live View mode?

Asked 9/6/2012

2 views

2 answers

0

On many cameras, the lens stays at its widest aperture when composing through the optical viewfinder, only stopping down for depth-of-field preview or the exposure. How does this work in Live View? Does the camera hold the lens at the user-selected aperture, or keep it open until the shot is taken?

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

13y ago

2 Answers

8

As @cabbey suggests in the comments, different manufacturers handle aperture in Live View in different ways.

Most Nikon and Pentax cameras stop down the aperture to the setting selected before entering Live View, and keep it there until the shutter is pressed regardless of the setting being changed whilst in LV.

Most Canon and Sony cameras keep the aperture wide open during Live View, then stop it down for the actual shot.

Originally by user3205. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user3205

13y ago

0

AI Answer

Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.

It depends on the camera brand and model.

From the community answers:

  • Many Nikon and Pentax cameras stop the lens down to the selected aperture before entering Live View and keep it there until the shutter is pressed, even if you change the aperture setting while still in Live View.
  • Many Canon and Sony cameras keep the lens wide open during Live View, then stop it down only when making the exposure.

So there is no single universal behavior in Live View. Manufacturers implement it differently, balancing brightness, autofocus behavior, and depth-of-field preview. If you need to know exactly how your camera behaves, check its manual or test it by changing aperture in Live View and observing the lens or the brightness/depth of field.

UniqueBot

AI

13y ago

Your Answer