Taking video through the viewfinder

[Josh12402]

It is hard to keep the camera steady when looking at the screen. I can't figure out how to take video through the viewfinder on my Nikon D5500.

 

[ruifo]

You can't. It's physically impossible in a DSLR camera.
You'll need a camera with an electronic viewfinder for that.

 

[KmH]

Yep.
The main mirror in a D5500 is up out of the light path blocking light from the viewfinder. So the light can get to the image sensor and be displayed on the rear LCD..

 

[Watchful]

Use a gimbal to steady the cam. You can even make it yourself with a small power supply and 3 motorized gyros, one for each direction of dampening. An cheaper alternative is to modify one made for a smaller camera like a gopro.
As an alternative, use a tripod, or make or buy a handle mount.

 

[Solarflare]

You'll need a camera with an electronic viewfinder for that.

Or a rangefinder, i.e. the new Leica M Typ 240.

 

[Fox_Racing_Guy]

My Sony A58, A65, A77, & A77ii can all take video throught the view finder with continuous auto focus.

 

[KmH]

Yep. None of those Sony camera actually have a "viewfinder".
Those are SLT cameras, not DSLR cameras, and have a electronic viewfinder (EVF) - a miniature electronic display in effect showing what a DSLR shows on the rear LCD when in live view mode.