How do I open the "preview lens" on my Canon Rebel T5?

Question

I just got a Canon Rebel T5. I am amateur to photography. I want to hold the camera up to my face and look through the "viewfinder lens". But, no matter which setting it is on, the lens closes when I switch it to take a picture...I don t understand....

How can I get it to stay open?

Thanks!

Answer 1

Can't really figure out what you want to know. Here are a few things you should know though.



1. SL in DSLR means SINGLE LENS so there is only 1 lens. There is no "preview lens" or "viewfinder lens".

2. By design, the optical viewfinder will black out momentarily. That's the R in DSLR meaning Reflex for Reflex mirror. When you take a shot, the reflex mirror swings up to cover the viewfinder and open the light path to the digital sensor.

3. LiveView is when you use the LCD as the viewfinder instead of the small peephole or optical viewfinder. In LiveView mode, the reflex mirror is in the up position covering the optical viewfinder to allow light to hit the digital sensor so that the tiny computer in the camera can broadcast what the camera sees in front of it through the LCD.

4. The camera has a part called the shutter. It is in between the reflex mirror and digital sensor. The shutter covers the digital sensor and only opens for a while to let light in before closing again. To keep the shutter open for a very long time, choose a long shutter speed or set to B.

5. The manual is a good thing to read. I suggest you do it at least once.

Answer 2

When you take a photo with a DSLR, the mirror moves up allowing a clear path for the light to hit the sensor. This is commonly referred to as black out. If you're outside on a sunny day, the shutter speed is going to be very fast. Therefore the "black out" will be very brief. However, if you're inside without a flash, then your shutter speeds are going to be much, much longer. Therefore the "black out" period will be equally as long.



This is one of the design features of a DSLR that cannot be worked around. It's also one of the reasons certain photographers prefer mirrorless cameras which can't have "black out" because they an electronic viewfinder that's always on.

Answer 3

The button just to the right of the viewfinder lets you switch between viewfinder and preview screen. Once you have it on the viewfinder, it should stay that way. When you take your picture there might be a split second where the image disappears. That's the "Reflex mirror" (the component that makes an SLR camera an SLR) moving out of the way so the digital sensor can capture the image.

Answer 4

Your User's Manual has the answer to this question plus a lot more that you're sure to have as you use your camera. It'll save you time if you simply read the manual and not have to ask about every problem that comes up. And you'll enjoy using your camera much more if you learn how to use it.

Answer 5

Your User's Manual has the answer to this question plus a lot more that you're sure to have as you use your camera. It'll save you time if you simply read the manual and not have to ask about every problem that comes up. And you'll enjoy using your camera much more if you learn how to use it.

Answer 6

That sort of camera has no viewfinding provision for "selfies". You look through the viewfinder to take photos.

Answer 7

That is the nature of a DSLR camera. What you want is not possible or practical.

Answer 8

When all else fails...read the instructions!