Do you use DOF and Live View for your Landscape photos?

I purchased a new camera in March 2009 and although it is considered a semi-pro model it does not have live view. I am considering a new camera body that has both DOF and live view. What are everyone's thoughts on this future purchase and how often do you use both features?

I use live view a lot. I started with a Kodak P&S 4 years ago, so when I made the jump to a 30D, I really missed live view. I got a 50D a year ago, and once again enjoy the benefits of live view, especially when trying to shoot from odd or low positions. Live view is also great for manual focus. It does eat the battery much quicker. I've experimented with the DOF button, but haven't used it much.

I use LiveView in combination with the DOF preview button all the time with landscape images to find the hyperfocal 'sweet spot' where the image is sharp from fore to aft. DOF preview without LiveView was useless to me as the preview image was too dark to be usable.

I really didn't expect to use Live View much at all when I finally purchased a camera that had this feature (D700) late last year. Was I ever wrong. I use it all the time with landscape (and macro) images, both to overcome the 95% viewfinder (more like 90% really) coverage when composing and to check critical focus.

I use it all the time for checking focus throughout the image plane (with the DoF button), a short cut to mirror lock up, help in positioning grad filters without glare, and the live histogram. It's incredibly useful, and I thought it was a silly gimmick at first. It does eat batteries though.

For landscapes, I don't use it much. For macro, well, more often. I certainly wouldn't buy a camera just for that feature if I were happy with what I have otherwise.

I just got the Canon 5DM2 a month ago. With my 40D, I was not confident enough in the quality of the screen to check image sharpness, and used a right angle viewfinder for awkward angles - so I never really used live view. The 5DM2 is a completely different story - screen quality is excellent, and now I find it indispensible to check critical focus after the shot, zoom in for precise focusing, and check dof using the dof preview, which brightens the screen and allows you to zoom in to check focus throughout. In short, in a matter of days, it has totally changed how I shoot landscapes. Landscape shooters who do not have or use excellent quality live view have no idea what they are missing.

To reinforce Rob's comment, the ability to see what you are shooting through live view when you set up close to the ground (or water in a creek bed) is great, I find it indispensible.

I use my Live view like a mini view camera, don't know how I ever got along without it. For checking DOF, focusing, composing and using ND grads, Live View is a must have IMO.

I use Liveview on my 50D for all my landscape shots. It gives you teh ability to zoom in and really evaluate pixel sharpness and noise right there in the field where you can really try to do something about it. I admit though that I ahve not bee using the DOF preview button, guess I'd better explore that one next--Larry

Hi Lee,
It is most definitely a must have if you prefer to check your critical focus, as well as DOF using the DOF button whilst viewing the screen, rather than rely on your own eye, distance scales, and hyperfocal focusing.
35mm DSLR's dont exactly have the best and brightest viewfinders. You can swap over the focusing screens on selected models that will give you split screen, with a magnified view. I'll be using one very soon for my wedding photography, as I cant always rely on autofocus.

I do use liveview especially when I have a very close minimum object distance, and I want to double check my DOF. Otherwise I know my hyperfocal focus distances pretty well using prime lenses, and just stop down enough.
As someone has already said, with liveview and turning off the exposure settings, for example on a 5dmk2, you will continually have a bright screen even when you press the DOF button, with a maximum stopped down aperture which is great.

I can't add anything new to what has already been said, but I use live view on my 40D all the time when shooting landscapes. Like Kerry said, I didn't expect to ever use live view, but I use it all the time, I find it easy to compose looking at the scene in front of me and the live view rather than looking through the eye piece. It is also great for checking focus. Using DOF preview and live view at the same time is an interesting idea...something to try tomorrow!

To everyone who is using LiveView and the DOF button to check on focus throughout the image...when I try and do this with my 40D and I select a tight aperature say 13 or higher and then I turn on LiveView it is too dark between my polarizer and the time of day-early in the morning on an overcast day-my favorite conditions. Obviously I can take off the polarizer. Other suggestions?