Camera Labs

I am looking at getting a compact camera for my own use. I have bought a number of compact cameras over the years for my wife and children. Canon or Panasonic seem to be the best in the compact camera field. However nowadays they all seem to be dropping the viewfinder and are relying solely on the screen.

Whenever I am outdoors using one of these cameras I find the screen is often very difficult to view in bright sunlight and bright conditions are usually required for these cameras to perform well.

Are there any decent new model compact cameras being made with a viewfinder?

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Canon 40D, EF-S 17-85mm IS USM, EF 70-300 IS USM, EF 50mm f/1.4, Speedlite 430EX II, EF 70-200 f/4L IS USM, EFS 10-22mm.

The Canon G-series and the Nikon P7000.

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Ruben

Panasonic DMC-FZ18, Panasonic DMC-FZ28, Canon G5, Canon 350D, Canon 50D + BG-E2N
Tamron 17-50 2.8, Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L USM,
Canon 18-55 II plus lots of Minolta MD/M42 lenses and bodies

Are you looking at an optical, or digital finder? Generally, as Ruben mentioned, you'll be looking at high-end compacts like Canon's G-Series or Nikon's P7000 for optical finders. Digital finders you'll find in just about every "DSLR Style" superzoom, like the Powershot SX-30IS or Nikon's P500.

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-Evan

Gear: 7 Nikon Nikkor AI-S and AF-S lenses, SB-700 flash, Nikon D7000, Nikon FM, variety of accessories

"There are no rules for good photographs, there are only good photographs."
- Ansel Adams

Thanks but those are hardly 'compact' cameras. I'd prefer to carry my 40D around. The point of a compact camera is that they are compact. You can put them in your pocket without them getting in the way of what you are doing.

The older versions of Canon and Nikon compacts all had viewfinders. The newer ones don't. Or are there some out there? And I mean compacts!

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Canon 40D, EF-S 17-85mm IS USM, EF 70-300 IS USM, EF 50mm f/1.4, Speedlite 430EX II, EF 70-200 f/4L IS USM, EFS 10-22mm.

Yes, I do find it a bit of a hassle that the newer compacts don't offer the viewfinders as the older models did. I found the optical viewfinder on my four year old PowerShot A460 extremely useful, I'm a bit disappointed seeing them disappearing on the newer models.
Anyways, the PowerShot A1200 (a compact, inexpensive entry level model) offers an optical finder, but that's about it. I believe that Canon used to make (about a year ago or so) a midrange model with an optical finder, but it's been discontinued now.

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-Evan

Gear: 7 Nikon Nikkor AI-S and AF-S lenses, SB-700 flash, Nikon D7000, Nikon FM, variety of accessories

"There are no rules for good photographs, there are only good photographs."
- Ansel Adams

Thanks for the reply. You're right the latest compacts just do not have viewfinders and yet they really need one. They are only really good in bright conditions when you get clear sharp pictures at low ISO values, but in those conditions the screen is at its most difficult to view.

My wifes Nikon Coolpix P4 has a viewfinder, is now 5 years old and is still a good camera. Our Minolta Xi and the X50 both had viewfinders - one was stolen and the other one dropped! My sons Nikon S200 is less than 4 years old and was at the start of this removal of the viewfinder option. My daughters' Canon Ixus 85 and 95 both have viewfinders. Maybe I shall have to go for an older model. There's not much point in having a camera that can't be used in the best conditions for the camera!

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Canon 40D, EF-S 17-85mm IS USM, EF 70-300 IS USM, EF 50mm f/1.4, Speedlite 430EX II, EF 70-200 f/4L IS USM, EFS 10-22mm.

I couldn't have said that better myself. This is what I found with my experience of cameras over the years. Fortunately, My DSLR has one. I think they should be re introduced.

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Canon EOS 500D
Lenses: EFS 18-55mm IS, EF 50mm F/1.8 II

Hi stuart,

I suspect the answer depends somewhat on your budget and how compact you want your compact.

Recently I was lucky to acquire the Fuji X100 which is fairly compact, quite expensive but takes better images than my Nikon D300 with any lens I own. Better low-light, more detail, better dynamic range, better high-ISO noise control, better white balance, better view finder, artificial horizon, DOF scale, quieter, more intuitive external controls etc. etc.

Not quite as expensive as a Leica, but definitely as pricey as some DSLR+lens bundles out there.

But, that is my "ultimate" compact camera...it goes everywhere with me and I have not regretted it.

Good luck with your choice!

Cheers

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Nikon stuff and other stuff, but not nearly as much stuff as I really want!

Looking at the price of the Fuji X100 it is substantially more than I paid for my Canon 40D and kit lens and nearly as much as I paid for them and the 70-300 IS USM zoom lens combined! It is also quite large for a 'compact' camera. It is clearly aimed at people who like the retro look.

I would be looking for a compact camera with a viewfinder, like the Canon Ixus 95. In fact the price of the Canon 95 camera has increased considerably because it is a camera with a viewfinder. Anything larger and I might as well just take my Canon 40D. In fact I still have my Konica Minolta Dynax 5D and kit lens and that is about the same size as the Fuji X100, and it still takes very good pictures.

Which magazine have had a campaign which has been fairly successful at making manufacturers think again:

http://www.which.co.uk/about-which/pres ... -campaign/

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Canon 40D, EF-S 17-85mm IS USM, EF 70-300 IS USM, EF 50mm f/1.4, Speedlite 430EX II, EF 70-200 f/4L IS USM, EFS 10-22mm.

You should look at used/refurbished compacts. There's lots of cameras with viewfinders out there! For instance, a very good camera is the Canon G10. Shouldnt cost too much.

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Ruben

Panasonic DMC-FZ18, Panasonic DMC-FZ28, Canon G5, Canon 350D, Canon 50D + BG-E2N
Tamron 17-50 2.8, Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L USM,
Canon 18-55 II plus lots of Minolta MD/M42 lenses and bodies

Canon G10 / 11 / 12 - another list of massive compact cameras! And no I don't want a used or refurbished camera. I want a new camera with a viewfinder (stamps feet).

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Canon 40D, EF-S 17-85mm IS USM, EF 70-300 IS USM, EF 50mm f/1.4, Speedlite 430EX II, EF 70-200 f/4L IS USM, EFS 10-22mm.

The viewfinders need to be of a decent quality really as well.

'Which' said that Fujifilm responded, but the model shown isn't really a consumer camera. It has interchangable lenses, and costs £1k.

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Canon EOS 500D
Lenses: EFS 18-55mm IS, EF 50mm F/1.8 II

Note to self:

Here is one possibility:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Canon-Digital-C ... 071&sr=1-1

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Canon 40D, EF-S 17-85mm IS USM, EF 70-300 IS USM, EF 50mm f/1.4, Speedlite 430EX II, EF 70-200 f/4L IS USM, EFS 10-22mm.