CANNOT GET A VIEW THROUGH THE VIEWFINDER - Canon ZR830 Mini DV Digital Camcorder

While looking through the viewfinder, turn the little knob at the upper-right corner of the viewfinder to adjust it.
Refer to the "Adjusting Viewfinder Clarity" subsection of the "Basic Operation" chapter of the manual (page 36 in my copy) for full details.

Welcome to the real world of photography, using the viewfinder is a whole new experience in the crating of fine photographs. Aside from this what you are actually seeing is the VR turning on and locking onto the target, you should actually feel this happening as well (if you are holding the camera correctly) What you are experiencing is normal. Thank you for the excellent description

Try adjusting the viewfinder diopter. There's a little dial just to the right of the viewfinder. Turn it while looking through the viewfinder. You want to be looking at an unfocused view or a blank wall. Turn the dial until the focus brackets are sharp. Make sure you do this with your shooting eye.

Set the shooting mode to a Creative Zone mode. Under the Settings tab select [Live View function settings] and press OK. Select [Live View Shoot] and press OK. Select Enable to use the LCD or Disable to use the viewfinder.

For full details, please see the "Live View Shooting" section in the manual.

What you're describing is a feature called "live view" (or more accurately "live preview"). It enables the user to treat the LCD like a viewfinder to compose shots just like on any digital compact camera.

Although many newer digital SLR's now have live view, the D60 does not so you cannot achieve what you want. All that the LCD is for is to view photos already taken and to provide camera menus and information in all other modes. Composing the images before pressing the shutter is done solely via the optical viewfinder.

The D3000 does not have Live View, you need to use the viewfinder.

As far as I am aware, you can use the viewfinder OR the live view, but not both at the same time.

This is because a mirror has to flip up out of the way to reveal the sensor for the live view to work, and the mirror needs to be in the down position to reflect the image into the viewfinder.

Switch between the two modes and double-check if there is a problem.

Also try removing the lens from the camera and checking the position of the mirror. It could be that it has got stuck in the up osition.

Hope this helps!

It shouldn't be there, but as the optical viewfinder is completely separate from the photographic light path it's nothing to worry about either.

Normally it's caused by either a hair or fibre which has somehow entered the viewfinder (rare) or more commonly by a fine scratch across the front window to the viewfinder. Also check the rear viewfinder viewing lens as the same damage could occur there but as that lens is relatively protected it's unlikely.

Any further fixing involves dismantling the DSC-V1 and possibly sourcing spares made of purest unobtanium so if the camera works perfectly well then leave the screwdrivers safely in the toolbox for now.

Most likely it is a mechanical failure such that the reflection mirror does not return back to its normal position, then blocking any light to the viewfinder.

Check this by unmounting the lens. If so, you may have to consider a repair operation.

You can only use the viewfinder. If you want to use the LCD, you need to buy an SLR with "live view." However, you'll soon get used to using the viewfinder, it's the best way to shoot unless you're holding the camera somewhere you can't get your eye to the viewfinder.