HELP finding smallest, best camera (Page 2): Two suggestions. One, look for a used XZ-1 or XZ-2 and a VF-2 + EP-9 eyecup or VF-4 viewfinder, new or used. The camera does RAW and JPEG...

wdross Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado

BobT wrote:

I have a friend who would like to find a 1)small(very pocketable)camera with a 2)substantial zoom range, and a 3)eye viewfinder. All 3 wants are important to him. He has been using (now very beat up from use) an older small Canon camera that easily fits into pants pocket. This request is out of my realm, so thought I'd ask here. I know your first suggestion would be to simply use his cell phone. But he really wants a camera camera if such a critter exists. So, does it? Thanks.

Two suggestions. One, look for a used XZ-1 or XZ-2 and a VF-2 + EP-9 eyecup or VF-4 viewfinder, new or used. The camera does RAW and JPEG captures, has a 25-100mm f1.8/2.5 equivalent lense. Buy the barndoor lense cover for it also. It is much better than the fall off lense cover.

Second, look at supplementing his cellphone with an Olympus AIR A01. It is a 16mp round cylinder 4/3rds camera body. Add to this to the Olympus 14-42mm f3.5/5.6 EZ lense (28-84mm equivalent in 35mm terms), and the camera package ends up as 2.2" diameter X 3" long camera using the cellphone as viewfinder/controls. The cellphone can be attached, or not, and still be able to shoot. If he gets tired of the 14-42 lense, he can switch it out for any of the 90+ other 4/3rds lenses.

wdross Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado

erinjay64 wrote:

Impossible. Cameras which fit comfortably in the pocket will not have the substantial zoom range.

Not true for the Olympus AIR A01. It can be setup as a 28-84mm camera and still be 2.2" X 3" in size.

And though the camera would no longer be exactly pocket size anymore, it could be mounted with the Olympus 300mm f4. This would give your friend a 35mm equivalent lense/camera set up of 600mm f4 that would be < 4" diameter X <13" long. That is small for a 600mm image producing camera/lense combination.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

BobT wrote:

I have a friend who would like to find a 1)small(very pocketable)camera with a 2)substantial zoom range, and a 3)eye viewfinder. All 3 wants are important to him. He has been using (now very beat up from use) an older small Canon camera that easily fits into pants pocket. This request is out of my realm, so thought I'd ask here. I know your first suggestion would be to simply use his cell phone. But he really wants a camera camera if such a critter exists. So, does it? Thanks.

Raw, compact, viewfinder below. The "substantial zoom" could be a problem.

https://www.lifewire.com/best-viewfinder-cameras-493677
http://www.compactcamerawithviewfinder.com/
http://www.imaging-resource.com/compact-cameras-with-viewfinders

Compact zoom -

https://www.ephotozine.com/article/top-10-best-pocket-zoom---travel-zoom-cameras-2016-19720
https://www.dpreview.com/reviews/2016-roundup-consumer-long-zoom-compacts
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/2016-roundup-compact-enthusiast-zoom-cameras
https://www.ephotozine.com/article/top-10-best-pocket-zoom-digital-cameras-2015-19720
http://www.dpreview.com/articles/0692551582/2015-roundup-advanced-zoom-compacts/01

danlsmith Loc: Columbus Ohio

d3200prime wrote:

Here's one you might like to check out: Panasonic ... (show quote)

Your reply was the first positive, informative one and is the only useful one out of the other bunch of nay-sayers. Why do they even bother.

Wanderer2 Loc: Colorado Rocky Mountains

d3200prime wrote:

Here's one you might like to check out: Panasonic ... (show quote)

I second this recommensation. I have an older, out of production ZS40 which also has 30X Leica zoom, great IS, an EVF, is fully pocketable (even shirt pocket), and a lot more. It's taken a real beating in my hands (dropped on a rockpile, splashed with water), and still works.

cthahn

All cameras are portable. Everyone wants a smaller camera, faster and interchangeable lens, longer zoom, lighter in weight, loaded with options, and take the best pictures. Quit dreaming.

raymardy Loc: Montreal, Canada

I bought the Sony HX90v in April, brought on a trip to Europe in July and I just love this small pocketable camera. It has Zeiss Vario Sonar 30x zoom, 18.2 Mpx, electronic pop-up viewfinder, pop-up flash, GPS..etc. Takes beautiful pictures. I'm very satisfied with it.

flschaff Loc: spring grove, pa

No View-Finder on the Lumix DC-ZS70 and the "tiny" Sensor size -- 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) -- as compared to a low-end dSLR of 23.6x15.7mm or even by Lumix ZS20 with 8.6x6.6 will give inferior image resolution.

tomad Loc: North Carolina

If he wants one that takes good quality photos the Panasonic bridge camera, Lumix ZS100, comes close to what he is asking for. It will fit in a cargo pants pocket or a jacket pocket, has a decent zoom (250mm), and eye viewfinder. It also does RAW and has most of the controls of a pro camera. It has a 1" sensor and great glass for really good photos, even in low light.

paulrph1 Loc: Washington, Utah

I can see a potential problem and that is one of having the correct shutter speed to correspond to the length of the lens. A lens of 750 mm should have a minimum of 1/750 of a second other wise you will get camera shake but you could always consider a tripod but that seems counter intuitive.

Hbuk66 Loc: Oswego, NY

Nikon P610; superzoom with a screen and a viewfinder around $490 ---found this at Consumer Reports

Silverman Loc: Michigan

BobT wrote:

I have a friend who would like to find a 1)small(very pocketable)camera with a 2)substantial zoom range, and a 3)eye viewfinder. All 3 wants are important to him. He has been using (now very beat up from use) an older small Canon camera that easily fits into pants pocket. This request is out of my realm, so thought I'd ask here. I know your first suggestion would be to simply use his cell phone. But he really wants a camera camera if such a critter exists. So, does it? Thanks.

Have them check our "Lumix" by Panasonic, they make quality pocket cameras and some of them have a substantial Zoom range. Variety of prices, better zoom will be more money,

flschaff Loc: spring grove, pa

P610 not pocket-sized and, in my opinion, its small (1/2.3", 6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor gives it too poor "sharpness".

I had P900 -- as below -- and gave it to son as, like the P610, its small sensor was not very sharp.

Manufacturer description: The Coolpix P900 sports a powerful 83x optical zoom (24-2000mm equivalent) NIKKOR ED glass lens with the ability to reach 166x using Dynamic Fine Zoom and a super extra-low dispersion (ED) glass element, making this camera ideal for capturing sharp images and videos from extreme lengths. This feature-packed long zoom is equipped with a 16-megapixel CMOS sensor and a high performance Autofocus (AF) system capable of shooting 7 frames-per-second (fps) to help deliver photos of fast moving sports in superb quality. Sharing these amazing photos has never been easier or more fun, as the COOLPIX P900 allows users to seamlessly shoot and share photos from the camera to a compatible smartphone or tablet via built-in Wi-Fi and NFC connectivity.

johneccles Loc: Leyland UK

BobT wrote:

I have a friend who would like to find a 1)small(very pocketable)camera with a 2)substantial zoom range, and a 3)eye viewfinder. All 3 wants are important to him. He has been using (now very beat up from use) an older small Canon camera that easily fits into pants pocket. This request is out of my realm, so thought I'd ask here. I know your first suggestion would be to simply use his cell phone. But he really wants a camera camera if such a critter exists. So, does it? Thanks.

I use a Pansonsic Lumix TZ70 which fit those requirements exactly, here are the specs:

http://www.panasonic.com/uk/consumer/cameras-camcorders/lumix-digital-cameras---point-and-shoot/superzoom-cameras/dmc-tz70.html

tarzn

OK, do not laugh, hear me out. Canon G9 (not X).

35-210mm (optical)
12 MP
RAW capable
3" LCD
EVF
Pocketable

CHEAP!

I have had two of them for years. Grab and go camera. When I just want to snap a few images without the hassle of a "bag". No trouble, very small (pants pocketable), maybe not ultra state-of-the art, but quite functional especially for the investment.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Canon-Powershot-G9-PC-1250-Case-Extra-Battery-Battery-Charger-4GB-SD-card-/253091407001?hash=item3aed6c6499:g:1mIAAOSwuwNZjm51