Focusing and metering through the viewfinder uses a different set of sensors compared to Live View.
I suggest that you buy yourself a nice professional grade tripod, one made from aluminum allow or carbon fiber, something which you cannot buy at the Big Blue box stores. Find a comfortable chair, mount the camera on tripod directly in front of you, and have copy of the Instruction Manual within arms reach on a tablet or an iPad. And, have at it.
While many will not admit it, every photo enthusiast that I have asked has admitted that they have place, or something, which they like to photograph over and over, and over again. It serves as a training ground. These somethings are almost always outdoors, so that you can catch bright sunlight. It is where they go whenever they have something a new, be it a lens, or even a new idea.
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"The right mouse button is your friend."
