[CaptainHaddock]

Okay, so I just got a shiny new Nikon D50 for my birthday. Since it's a digital SLR, you use the viewfinder rather than the LCD to set up shots.

So here's my question: how do you take photographs when the sun is in the frame? You can't look through the viewfinder without risking eye damage if the sun is part of your shot.

[Goldfinger]

You just do it. If the sun is too bright to be able to look through the viewfinder your picture will be crap anyway. Sunsets and such are not a problem. I wouldn't worry about eye damage, you just need a quick peek to compose and take the pic (me anyway), but that's maybe harder when you aren't that experienced.

[production_coordinator]

What type of shot are you trying for?

Goldfinger is correct, the image isn't going to look good if it's not a sunset/sunrise.

[Photo678]

expose for the sky, pop your fill flash...all will be nice :-)

[CaptainHaddock]

Originally Posted by production_coordinator

What type of shot are you trying for?

Goldfinger is correct, the image isn't going to look good if it's not a sunset/sunrise.

I'm not talking about any particular shot, but sunsets, sunrises, and even the daytime sun might be fun to experiment with. But not if I have to look at the sun in the viewfinder to do it. :/

[EnVoy]

Stick your hand infront of the lense to block just the sun while you compose. Don't use your meter to expose when you have the sun in the frame, it will be way off.

[Goldfinger]

Originally Posted by CaptainHaddock

I'm not talking about any particular shot, but sunsets, sunrises, and even the daytime sun might be fun to experiment with. But not if I have to look at the sun in the viewfinder to do it. :/

The thing is that if the sun is too bright for you to be able to watch through the viewfinder you WILL have a messed up pic. You can experiment all you want but it won't look good. For all the other situations you will be able to look through the viewfinder and just take a pic. A sunset won't burn your eyes out. Nor will normal daylight sun.
Trust me. I've been there, done that.

[westrock]

Another question about the viewfinder on D-SLR's. Its not like the cheap cameras where the viewfinder is just like a peak hole on a door with its own seperate lens? Does it actually divert and see what the main lens sees so that even if you add a different lens or zoom, or even macro close to the lens you can still see whats going on?

[Goldfinger]

Originally Posted by westrock

Another question about the viewfinder on D-SLR's. Its not like the cheap cameras where the viewfinder is just like a peak hole on a door with its own seperate lens? Does it actually divert and see what the main lens sees so that even if you add a different lens or zoom, or even macro close to the lens you can still see whats going on?

Yes, you see through the lens. But the viewfinders in digital SLRs are MUCH smaller than the viewfinders in film SLRs (unless you're comparing to maybe the cheapest of the cheap film cameras). It's a huge disappointment when you come from film and one of the big reasons why I'm still on film. A small viewfinder is awefull to work with + the cheaper DSLRs' viewfinders are relatively dark as well.