Photo How To

Do you understand the difference between a camera's optical viewfinder (OVF), electronic viewfinder (EVF), sand shooting in Live-View mode? There are important distinctions that affect how you work, and this tutorial from the Adorama TV YouTube channel explains everything you need to know.

Photographer David Bergman is an eclectic NY-based pro, a Canon Explorers of Light, a passionate speaker, and a highly acclaimed photo educator. His imagery spans the gamut from celebrity portraiture and sports photography to documenting live concerts and other performances on tour.

The Ask David Bergman website is a unique source where photographers can ask questions (and receive answers) about popular techniques, learn about the gear he prefers, and view Bergman's episode archive that's full of important information for beginners and experienced photographers alike.

Today's video was prompted by this question from one of his fans: "Is there a difference when using autofocus through the EVF versus live view?" In response he says, "I'll go through the three primary viewing methods that photographers use to compose images, and there are various pros and cons of each."

After spelling them all out, Bergman then discusses how autofocus works in each of the options. He begins with the one choice not mentioned in the question submitted by Zephaniah; namely, the OVF. As Bergman explains, with this approach "you see the scene in real life using a system of mirrors."

The main mirror reflects light up into the viewfinder. Then when you press the shutter button the mirror flips out of the way so light can hit the sensor to capture your shot. As Bergman says, "the biggest advantage of an OVF is that there's no lag, which makes it perfect for fast action like sports or wildlife." Then he walks you through some of the potential drawbacks.

Bergman takes a similar approach when discussing the technology behind EVFs in mirrorless cameras, and then he explains when and how to use Live View mode to frame shots on a camera's rear LCD. Bottom line: There's no single best option because the choice you makes depends greatly upon the type of camera you own and the specific scene you're attempting to capture.

After watching the lesson we urge you to visit the Ask David Bergman website and pose a question of your own. You just might watch a video response in one of Bergman's future episodes.