Best Pocket Camera with Optical Viewfinder
Jul 14, 2015 12:00:41 #
I'm looking for a good pocket (shirt or side pants--or recommended belt case) camera to keep in the car and take to family events (situations where I don't want to lug my DSLR or my Canon SX50). Perhaps the size of a Canon A1400 (2.44x1.18x3.74 inches / 6oz). Gotta' be able to do my "Elaine dance" at weddings without having the camera fly away ;).
Required features:
Size & weight as above
Excellent build quality
Excellent images
Optical viewfinder
Some optical zoom (eg, 5X or so)
Decent battery life
Less than $500--Refurbished is fine
Desired features:
Raw capability
Good in low light
Reasonable macro capability
Irrelevant features:
Video/sound
Giant megapixel count
Quality of screen (rarely used)
I've already searched UHH and have found little information, in particular, on the optical viewfinder requirement. Plus, I often couldn't determine the camera size without looking it up.
By the way, Costco is having a "Black Friday" event this Wednesday (7/15/2015), and I as hoping to narrow the choices by then.
Required features:
Size & weight as above
Excellent build quality
Excellent images
Optical viewfinder
Some optical zoom (eg, 5X or so)
Decent battery life
Less than $500--Refurbished is fine
Desired features:
Raw capability
Good in low light
Reasonable macro capability
Irrelevant features:
Video/sound
Giant megapixel count
Quality of screen (rarely used)
I've already searched UHH and have found little information, in particular, on the optical viewfinder requirement. Plus, I often couldn't determine the camera size without looking it up.
By the way, Costco is having a "Black Friday" event this Wednesday (7/15/2015), and I as hoping to narrow the choices by then.
Jul 14, 2015 12:11:42 #
Amazon is also having a Prime sale tomorrow.
Check out the Canon SX60 or the Refurb SX50.
Check out the Canon SX60 or the Refurb SX50.
Jul 14, 2015 12:18:51 #
Not sure SX50 is pocket size, but that's my opinion
Look at RX100's from Sony
http://www.yahoo.com/tech/sonys-new-pocket-cam-is-great-but-is-it-worth-123758419009.html
Look at RX100's from Sony
http://www.yahoo.com/tech/sonys-new-pocket-cam-is-great-but-is-it-worth-123758419009.html
Jul 14, 2015 12:20:20 #
Good luck. Optical viewfinders are on DSLRs, unless you can find a pocket camera with one that has nothing to do with what the sensor will see. It would have to be a little window on the world like my old Kodak Instamatic had.
Jul 14, 2015 12:24:30 #
I looked at several pocket compacts within your parameters, but couldn't find anything that shoots in RAW. There are a couple that are outstanding that only shoot in JPEG, such as the Sony HX90V, which also has an EVF. I think to catch a compact pocket camera that also allows shooting in RAW, you might have to jump over your $500.00 budget if you are looking for a new camera.
Jul 14, 2015 12:39:39 #
wthomson wrote:
I'm looking for a good pocket (shirt or side pants... (show quote)
We are all apt to suggest the one we own, and the one I own is a Nikon P7800, which has an EVF rather than an optical finder, but the EVF is 100% and shows everything that you wish, or less, or nothing. It's more than twice the weight and size of your parameters, but it does raw, and can now be had for under $500. If you are wedded to an optical finder, there is the P7100 (I have one of those as well, serves now as my backup). Here are the specs for each:
http://imaging.nikon.com/lineup/coolpix/p/p7800/spec.htm
http://imaging.nikon.com/lineup/coolpix/p/p7100/spec.htm
Jul 14, 2015 13:06:20 #
traveler90712 wrote:
Amazon is also having a Prime sale tomorrow.
Check out the Canon SX60 or the Refurb SX50.
Check out the Canon SX60 or the Refurb SX50.
I meant to say Amazon, not Costco. Thanks for correcting.
Jul 14, 2015 13:30:31 #
Canon G16, Nikon P7800, Fujfilm X100. These are the ones I know about, however, there are other fine compact cameras from Sony and Panasonic as well.
Jul 14, 2015 13:48:31 #
Jul 14, 2015 14:07:14 #
Jul 14, 2015 16:05:00 #
wthomson wrote:
I'm looking for a good pocket (shirt or side pants--or recommended belt case) camera to keep in the car and take to family events (situations where I don't want to lug my DSLR or my Canon SX50). Perhaps the size of a Canon A1400 (2.44x1.18x3.74 inches / 6oz). Gotta' be able to do my "Elaine dance" at weddings without having the camera fly away ;).
I have the A1400, and it is a wonderful camera. In fact, I have no desire to replace it anytime soon. (Besides, there are very few pocket-size cameras which come with a viewfinder anymore!) Most of the images I've posted recently on UHH came from the A1400, as it happens to be the camera I most often have on me. For example: http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-312601-1.html
Jul 14, 2015 17:37:11 #
The Canon G16 and G15 come the closest to what you want that I can think of. Optical VF's on compact cameras are not as accurate as SLR VF's as they are not through the lens. An EVF is more accurate. The Nikon P7800 (I have one and I love it) has a very sharp 28-200 f/2-4 lens, a 1/1.7 inch sensor, an EVF, and a hot shoe. The G15, G16, and P7800 will fit in a jacket pocket or in a belt case, but they won't fit in most pants pockets. My P7800 does fit in the leg pockets of my cargo pants (Dockers and Dickies).
Other compact cameras with EVF's that are smaller and under $500 include the Panasonic LF-1, ZS40, and ZS50. The LF-1 and ZS40 are recently discontinued but they are still around.
Other compact cameras with EVF's that are smaller and under $500 include the Panasonic LF-1, ZS40, and ZS50. The LF-1 and ZS40 are recently discontinued but they are still around.
Jul 14, 2015 18:54:45 #
Quote:
Other compact cameras with EVF's that are smaller and under $500 include the Panasonic LF-1, ZS40, and ZS50. The LF-1 and ZS40 are recently discontinued but they are still around.
These are all pocket sized. I have LF-1 and carry it every place. The current version ZS50 is the same size. It shoots raw with very good image quality. But it has an electronic view finder, not optical. (I'm not sure you'll find a true pocketable camera with an optical view finder.)
Compare camera sizes here:
http://camerasize.com/compare/#456,507
Jul 15, 2015 05:34:44 #
Toment wrote:
Not sure SX50 is pocket size, but that's my opinion
Look at RX100's from Sony
http://www.yahoo.com/tech/sonys-new-pocket-cam-is-great-but-is-it-worth-123758419009.html
Look at RX100's from Sony
http://www.yahoo.com/tech/sonys-new-pocket-cam-is-great-but-is-it-worth-123758419009.html
I'm not sure if you did your homework or not, but there's now 4 versions of the RX-100 and they range new from $500 to $950. You might call Adorama or B&H and see if they have either a SONY RX-100M3 or a Lumix LX-100 which might be available used for your price range. Now that the RX-100M4 has been released, there may be some RX-100M3 models exchanged for the M4. The addition of the EVF was done in the M3 so you cover all of your requirements and the 1" sensor in the M3 or the sudo-4/3 sensor of the Lumix will perform excellently in low light. Both of these cameras also have excellent build quality.
AND THEY BOTH FIT INTO A PANTS or SHIRT POCKET INSTEAD OF A KANGAROO POUCH.
Jul 15, 2015 05:43:24 #
singleviking wrote:
I'm not sure if you did your homework or not, but ... (show quote)
Hi - please, what is a sudo-4/3 sensor?
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