I've began to use the video out on my Nikon cameras (D700, D800 specifically) for live photobooth setups at weddings. I connect a 7'' external monitor turned towards the front of the camera so people can see a live image of the composition.
Thing is I am only using the D700 because when I turn the liveview on it displays a middle gray exposure - basically no matter what the camera exposure is, the LCD will show what is seen through the lens.
Since I set a super high f-stop (f/16), currently on the D800 the screen just looks BLACK!
Is there a setting on the D800 that shows, rather than the actual exposure of the image on the liveview screen, just the composition?
I know the 5DII (when I was using Canon) was able to do this (there were 2 settings to chose from: relative exposure and viewable image, or something like that).
ALSO, what other Nikon liveview cameras (D3100, D5100, D7000, etc) have the option for seeing the composition rather than the exposed light on the LCD when in liveview mode?
Does this make sense?
Please see image below to see what I'm doing with the photobooth.
Ah dang! So the D800 is out for this photobooth option...which I'm OK with because I don't want to use a $3k camera for a photobooth.
Now what about other Nikon bodies that allow for liveview preview? I'm looking for a cheaper alternative to the D700...even though it's getting pretty cheap!
Since it's a static booth, any way to split the out to two 7inch monitors instead, one for you and another for them since it's only for composition? Cheaper than buying a new cam perhaps?
And on the same note, just run it with an AC adapter?
I don't think I understand your reasoning for two monitors, Zichar? I don't really need a preview of the the image behind the camera - the internal LCD does just fine. I don't think the camera LCD is eating through batteries, I think it's the fact that the shutter is always open during live view and that the D700 is older technology.
Battery life isn't an issue for me at the moment - no worries on that - I just want to know which cameras I can use for this kind of setup. No on D800. Yes on D700, yes on D3100...because they show a a preview of the image no matter what shutter/aperture settings. This is about all I know right now.
