cactuspic Loc: Dallas, TX

As someone who focus stack on a daily basis, I have been using live view consistently for years. One of the early advantages of Canon when using live view is that it avoided both mirror slap and electronically started the exposure to avoid shutter slap. I believe it was implemented as early as the 5D mark ii, if my memory is correct. Since then, all of my tripod shots, except for wildlife, have had a live histogram.

It is something that has been brought up on this site on occasion. Just a few days ago, in response to the statements about live histograms as a benefit restricted to mirrorless cameras by selmslie, I wrote:

"As someone who shoot's in live view often, the statement that you don't have a live histogram with a DSLR is incorrect. For years, I have been able to use a live histogram on all of my product shots, all of my landscapes, and all of my focus stacked images. For the past 10 years, I have shot exclusively with Canon bodies, so I can't speak as to Nikon's or Sony's use of histograms in their dslr bodies. But I know that on many Canon DSLRs you do get a live histogram. The statement should be modified to say that you don't get a live histogram in the optical viewfinder."

This is not the first and only time this info was posted on this site. It's just easy for information to get overlooked in a thread. Especially if the statement is posted in page 3 or later, I wonder what it's read rate is compared to the first page. Not surprisingly, my remark was not mentioned in a single comment. I'm glad this topic was raised directly as it addresses a very common misconception.

Jimmy T Loc: Virginia

I concur with Bob, and many thanks to all that contributed to "spoon-feeding" me some very useful info today.
Well Done, and
Smile,
JimmyT Sends
Bravo Zulu

mizzee Loc: Boston,Ma

👏👏👏👏

CaptainPhoto

I beg your pardon. The Olympus OMD-E-M1-MKIII Mirroless has live histogram both in the Live View and EV.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Yes, that is what I was pointing out. You apparently read my comment backwards.

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User ID

Likely he did that. Or less likely but still possible is that no one informed him that the roof-like shape above the eyepiece is no longer the unique mark of an SLR.

jackm1943 Loc: Omaha, Nebraska

I routinely use the histogram in live view with my Canon cameras. Are you sure it's "rarely implemented"?

Canisdirus

Histograms are constructed from a temporary JPEG preview of the Raw image to cut down on processing power needed in a camera’s electronics hardware; in the Raw file there is still usable information in these areas even though the highlight alert says there is not.

Toment Loc: FL, IL

I’ve got it on my Sony’s, but you have choose it first...

Nalu Loc: Southern Arizona

As many have said, a live histogram is a representation of a jpeg that the processor in the camera has calculated. It is not a representation of a raw file, which contains more information (so they say). So you are not seeing everything that is there if you are shooting raw. This can result in folks thinking they are pushing the limit when exposing to the right, when in fact there is more room to the right before an image is overexposed. So if you trust your histogram when exposing to the right, you may be loosing some valuable information and under exposing: not getting the best image quality you can achieve. So my question would be, is there a way to adjust the sensitivity or the camera’s sensor that more reflects a more accurate representation of what the histogram of a raw file would look like rather than a representation of the jpeg. At least with the Sony cameras, this can somewhat be addressed with the use of Zebras in that one can make adjustments in the camera set up. Thoughts?

Canisdirus

I always slightly underexpose. I find it easier to bring up the dark than reduce the light.
Just a bit...nothing heavy handed.

selmslie Loc: Fernandina Beach, FL, USA

Not directly from the camera maker but Magic Lantern can display both raw histograms and raw Zebras. Unfortunately it's available only for Canon.

But don't despair. The relationship between the JPEG highlight warnings and the actual raw histogram limit is consistent and predictable. If your goal is raw capture they show a gap of between 1/3 stop and 1-1/3 stop of headroom remaining depending on the camera.

But you need to ask yourself, "Is pushing my luck for a tiny amount of additional exposure worth the risk?"

You need to experiment and decide for yourself if such a small change in exposure actually provides any visible benefits, especially near base ISO where the camera's DR is at it best.

Ysarex Loc: St. Louis

selmslie Loc: Fernandina Beach, FL, USA

For the raw histograms it's nearly always the green channel unless the lighting is unusual like after dark or in artificial light.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

For Canon Cameras, please see my post above on the use of Magic Lantern.