Why does the viewfinder on my Canon Rebel t3i go black/off when I set it to video mode?

Question

I got the canon t3i off amazon for my birthday about a week ago, and when I first got it I could go to video mode just fine. But now when I go into video mode my view finder goes black like it was turned off and I have to turn it off and take out the battery and put it back in for it to work on picture mode and no matter what I do I can t get it to work on video mode. Also it occasionally turns off when I m taking pictures and I put sleep mode off. Is it because the t3i is kind of an old camera? And what could I do if that s the case.

Answer 1

I have the t3i. You can't use the view finder for video. Make sure your lcd screen is facing out or open. Remember it has an articulating screen. If you still can't see your video, something is wrong with your camera.

Answer 2

What fhotoace and keerok said are simplified versions of what your camera's Instructions Manual contains. I bet you didn't even try to read the Instructions Manual. EVEN if you didn't get the Instructions Manual, you can find it on the Internet and download it, and print a hard copy for yourself (you can read a few pages every night before going off to sleep, or while you sit in front of your TV and read during the commercial ads). Or call up and ask one of the sales tech at B&H Photo in downtown NYC, and buy a copy of your camera's Instructions Manual. You will learn about your camera's features, functions and options and when and how to use them!



Taking a basic Beginner's Photography class will certainly make matters so much easier for you; you'll learn the basic fundamental principles of photography, learn about aperture, shutter speed and ISO in getting good exposures, metering, light and shadows, composition, etc., that will only enable you to get far better images. You simply can't go wrong. Do two things: read the Instructions Manual and take a Beginner's Photography class; you will NEVER regret it.

Answer 3

All of your answers are in the manual.

Answer 4

Your camera should automatically switch to LiveView when shooting video. That is using the LCD as the viewfinder. If it is not doing so, then maybe your camera is broken already. Have it checked at the service center.



If you are referring to the optical viewfinder (in the hump), then that normally goes black when in video mode. It's by design and the main proof why a dSLR was never meant to do video.

Answer 5

Here is what should happen...

When you switch to video mode the reflex mirror lifts and blocks the optical viewfinder.

You use the LCD screen as your viewfinder for video.

When you deselect video mode the reflex mirror drops to enavle the optical viewfinder and the rear screen reverts to data screen.



If it isn't doing that then it is broken.