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Compact, but capable digital camera ?
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Hi,
I’m wondering if anyone has come up with a small, capable non-dslr camera. I’m sure I’m torturing myself, but the following I would consider as essential (for me) in any such camera:
– built-in viewfinder (accessory viewfinders a no-no – I WILL lose it! :))
– wide aperture lens, preferably a prime lens
– decent-sized sensor with respectable high iso performance up to 800/ 1600
– pocketableThe proliferation of small form factor cameras such as the Panasonic GF-1/ Olympus EP’s/ Sigma DP’s/ Ricoh GRD’s seems to be a positive development, but none of them have built-in viewinders. The Fuji X100 would seem to be my dream camera in this regard, but that’s 4/ 5 months out.
I’ve kinda lost touch of happenings in the digital world
Damien you haven’t lost touch at all, in fact you have given a very accurate account of the situation as it is currently.
Roll on the Fuji X100 lets hope it’s not rediculously overpriced and lives up to expectations.I started out with digital with a Fuji finepix and upgraded a couple of times
because of the viewfinder I stuck to them, good cameras and got some good
shots with them, but after using a dslr and the viewfinder is a whole different
ballgame, I would find it very hard to go back to the viewfinder on a compact,
if I am using one I tend to stick to the screen.I think Sony cybershot have a viewfinder also.
You could look at the Canon G12 (or G11, or G10…..). Built in viewfinder but the view is not rated too well. Prime lenses are going to be difficult to come about but the Ricoh does offer this.
I use the Lumix LX3…can’t fault it to be honest. It’s fully manual or fully automatic and everywhere in-between and at F2 it’s quite good in the dark. With a short zoom range and a Leica lens it can’t be too bad.
The offside – no built in viewfinder and the attachment is about €230…you don’t want to loose it.Alan.
seany wrote:
Damien you haven’t lost touch at all, in fact you have given a very accurate account of the situation as it is currently.
Roll on the Fuji X100 lets hope it’s not rediculously overpriced and lives up to expectations.Lol, I was hoping I missed out on something. The lack of a small, capable camera with a decent viewfinder was what made me turn from away from digital to film. Something like the Ricoh GRD with an inbuilt viewfinder would be almost perfect, but viewfinders in compact cameras seem to have gone the way of the dodo.. :(
shutterbug wrote:
I started out with digital with a Fuji finepix and upgraded a couple of times
because of the viewfinder I stuck to them, good cameras and got some good
shots with them, but after using a dslr and the viewfinder is a whole different
ballgame, I would find it very hard to go back to the viewfinder on a compact,
if I am using one I tend to stick to the screen.I think Sony cybershot have a viewfinder also.
Yes, I think I’m looking for something in a different league. A Panasonic GF-1 with it’s 20mm lens and large sensor would be quite close to what I would like, but there is no inbuilt viewfinder, and I have a tendency to lose anything not bolted down to a hot shoe. I may try one on for size and see what they’re like though. If the viewfinder locked into the hotshoe, that would be something, but I would prefer something inbuilt that couldn’t snag on something.
irishwonkafan wrote:
You could look at the Canon G12 (or G11, or G10…..). Built in viewfinder but the view is not rated too well. Prime lenses are going to be difficult to come about but the Ricoh does offer this.
I use the Lumix LX3…can’t fault it to be honest. It’s fully manual or fully automatic and everywhere in-between and at F2 it’s quite good in the dark. With a short zoom range and a Leica lens it can’t be too bad.
The offside – no built in viewfinder and the attachment is about €230…you don’t want to loose it.Alan.
The LX3 popped up on my radar actually. Do you know if the viewfinder attachment is the same one as for the GF-1 ?
Also, what is the high iso quality like at 800 or 1600, Alan. I like the f2 at 24mm, and even at f2.8 at 60mm it’s not too shabby..
I can’t answer on the viewfinder attachment – I never got one. I’ve a DSLR for those sort of things. I use the camera to look like a tourist on the street and for occasions when you say “I wish I’d brought my camera” and it’s always in my pocket. You can get them on Ebay for about €40 but they’re generic but rather than straining to see an LCD on a sunny day it’s not a bad option.
Noise is a problem at higher ISOs but with noise reduction software nowadays it’s less so. I’ve taken shots hand held at night at high ISO and I can use them but not ideal.I’ve held a G10 and its a very fine camera. I own a Canon S90 which is a great small camera with manual exposure but only has an LCD.
Still I love it and have used it for street and actually 1 gig. I know several PI members have one, SteveD and Ossie13 incl.. SteveD has ued
his for landscape photography too. As for high ISO, well everything I shoot at a high ISO would end up in b+w so any pseudo grain is fine with me.There is a new Nikon P7000 out which I’ve only seen in a store. Looks very interesting but also is pricey at well over €500…
Hi Alan, looking at the viewfinder attachment and think it might pull double duty on the GF-1 and LX-5, the successor to the LX-3. It’s a pricey accessory alright, but if Panasonic are committed to maintaining compatibility with future camera models, it could be a worthwhile investment.
Mark, yes the G-series and the S90/95 seem to be preferred options to accompany heavier gear, with many dslr users. I thought of them, but they are a little too removed from what I seek.
Ideally something like the digital equivalent of a 70’s era fixed lens rangefinder would suit me down to the ground, but aside from the Fuji X100, I don’t see anything like that around unfortunately..
I’ve been pondering on a decent compact recently too. For those times you don’t want to drag the cam-bag around with you, but you just know you’ll miss out on some great shots. I would prefer one with a VF too, but they are hard come by for reasonable prices. The Panasonic LX-3 has caught my eye. It has all I’d want [RAW shooting, f/2 wide angle lens … compacts don’t quite do telephoto like dslr + tele lens combo, so I’d go more for the wider aperture and wide angle] But they’re still hard to find cheapish, even used.
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