Lightweight Camera (Page 2): Certainly one of the better choices for weight and portability. Depending upon the model chosen, cost could become an issue. Look for used in great...

RKL349 Loc: Connecticut

bob.mueller wrote:

I broke my shoulder and have the same problem so I bought a Sony RX100
very light has a viewfinder and fits in your pocket

Certainly one of the better choices for weight and portability. Depending upon the model chosen, cost could become an issue. Look for used in great condition for savings. KEH and MPB sell used equipment with 180 day warranties.

lehighjack Loc: somewhere in FL

Lumix RX 100 or RX 100 2. 23-75 equivalent, fixed zoom, F/1.7 at the narrow end. Very clean pix, Great viewfinders and new from about 700$ to 1000$. BTW very good battery life. Almost small enough to to pocket.

Low Budget Dave

For people with chronic shoulder problems and back problems, I normally recommend cell phone cameras or small point-and-shoot alternatives.

The Sony RX100 is an excellent pocket-sized camera, but once you add the batteries, 8.5 oz.
The Canon G7X Mii is actually heavier, at 10 oz.

The best way to save weight is to look at something like the Canon powershot ELPH 100, which is 5oz including the battery. This camera has a 1/2.3" BSI sensor, and a built-in f2.8-5.9 zoom lens. I think the range is 28m to 112 mm. Although it does not have a viewfinder, the image quality will be mostly better than any cell phone because of the zoom range.

If you are shooting in good light though, with a slow-moving subject, and no need to blur out the background, then a good cell phone will take as good a picture as any camera, and better than most.

mizzee Loc: Boston,Ma

My Olympus OMD e-m5 Mark II would fill your need perfectly. It’s lightweight, has an excellent viewfinder, 5-axis internal stabilization, weather and dust sealed. It’s a micro 4/3s and has interchangeable lenses that are also lightweight but solidly built. Full frame will weigh much more. I’m not an employee, just someone who really loves this camera.

blackest Loc: Ireland

A bit left field but an action cam might be of interest e.g yi 4k+ is a 12 mpix sensor with wifi and bluetooth you can fire remotely from your phone you get liveview from the phone. it saves raw files but its quite a fisheye lens so raw files are best processed with say the gopro hero5 lens profile. its fixed focus but because of the very short focal length focus is from around 7 inches to infinity. weight wise its around 65 grams less than 3 ounces.

Theres a 1/4 20 screw so you can mount it to any tripod.

dbjazz Loc: Long Island, NY

Take a look at the micro four thirds cameras from Olympus and Panasonic Lumix. There are many to choose from, very light weight, reasonably priced, and they produce stunning images. Read the reviews, check Youtube, and if you can, visit a store where you can actually handle them.

ELNikkor

The Panasonic ZS50 cost $300, has a 24-720 equivalent zoom, electronic viewfinder, and only weighs 8 ounces.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

rgorman57 wrote:

I have injured my shoulders permanently. I can only lift less than a pound to my eye level. What is a good lightweight camera for getting good pictures? Are there any half-frame format cameras that are lightweight? I think I need a non-interchangeable lens camera because lenses are heavy when interchangeable. Is a mirror-less camera lighter? I would like a camera with a viewfinder.

Many will give you advice here. I am not exception. But my opinion is based on years of experience using smaller camera's. I would like to highly recommend the Sony HX99V. Shoots Raw, 24-720 mm Zeiss T* lens, pop up viewfinder acts like a DSLR, shoots auto fill flash, can do 6 stops of High Density Range shooting. I have taken it around the world and it fits in a belt pouch so no shoulder strap, no shoulder strain, just a belt pouch. I print 20X30 tack sharp enlargements from this camera without breaking a sweat. If your serious about your injured shoulders, get this one. You will not be sorry.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1437917-REG/sony_dsc_hx99_b_cyber_shot_dsc_hx99_digital_camera.html?sts=pi&pim=Y

Burtzy Loc: Bronx N.Y. & Simi Valley, CA

Since you want a viewfinder (I would too.) I'd recommend trying to find a good. used Nikon Coolpix P500, or 600. They are lightweight and reliable. Their newer siblings, the P900 and P1000 are both as heavy as a full-frame DSLR, but these are MUCH lighter...under a pound.

Here's an example of a "New" (Open box) one listed on ebay.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Nikon-COOLPIX-P600-16-1-MP-Digital-Camera-with-60x-Zoom-NIKKOR-Lens-Black/264191870866?hash=item3d83100792%3Ag%3A0YYAAOSwi5Vc5adH&LH_ItemCondition=1500

Peteso Loc: Blacks Hills

Check out micro four thirds cameras from Olympus and Panasonic. They weigh less than APS-C cameras and there are numerous options available in both fixed and interchangeable lens cameras.

regularguy55

Panasonic LUMIX LX100 fits the bill. You won’t be disappointed. It is pocketable, has a fast (low light) 1.7-2.8 Leica lens, under 16 oz., and has 4K video. Lumix have easy and intuitive menus.

Dossile

Sorry to hear about your injury. I can certainly understand your desire not to aggravate anything. Shoulders can hurt like a bugger.

I am a fan of the micro 4/3. If I had troubles raising my arms, I would use the swivel screen. I take pictures from the chest frequently. I have a little trouble with the horizon sometimes but nothing major. If money is no object I would buy the Panasonic G9 with a Leica 12-60 lens. If money is an object, then a Panasonic GX 9 with the Lumix 12-60 or a GX85 with kit lenses. If I didn’t want to purchase a changeable lens camera, then I would shop Panasonic, Canon and Sony for less expensive bridge cameras and Sony and Nikon if money wasn’t as much of a concern. Visit a camera store if you can.

nadelewitz Loc: Ithaca NY

rgorman57 wrote:

I have injured my shoulders permanently. I can only lift less than a pound to my eye level. What is a good lightweight camera for getting good pictures? Are there any half-frame format cameras that are lightweight? I think I need a non-interchangeable lens camera because lenses are heavy when interchangeable. Is a mirror-less camera lighter? I would like a camera with a viewfinder.

Instead of making specific camera recommendations for you, since there are so many to choose from, why not research by manufacturers and see what they offer? Canon has MANY models at all price levels.

Viewfinder choices are the trick. You can find NO viewfinder cameras (pocket point & shoots), ELECTRONIC viewfinder (EVF), and least likely anymore, an OPTICAL viewfinder.

You may want to consider a used bridge camera to get a viewfinder. Even an optical. Lots of people prefer that over an EVF.

There are different "levels" of mirrorless cameras. The lowliest pocket digital is mirrorless...all the way up to "pro" level cameras.

You can take beautiful pictures with a pocket camera. It all is just a matter of your subjective needs and wants. Only YOU know what will satisfy your needs.

Jeffers

My primary camera is a Canon ELPH 360 HS. It weighs 5.1 oz, fits in my pocket, and has an automatic shutter cover. It's 20 MPX and 12x Optical Zoom. It has a variety of shooting settings. At family gatherings, I use Portrait Mode which works better than Automatic. I also use High-speed Burst to capture action like people doing Cannonballs into the pool. It doesn't have a viewfinder, but I normally point and shoot and crop later. The trick with point and shoot is to point the camera at the subject and use the LCD display to center the horizon which you can do without raising the camera to your face (even in bright sunlight). If you need to zoom, put a towel over your head to create a shade tent. Then you can use the LCD as a viewfinder, close to your face.

davesit Loc: Media, PA

I would suggest something like a used Fuji X100S. Fixed 23mm lens. Small enough to fit into your pants pocket or a small belt case. Anything bigger, you would have to consider a carry case or a camera strap, none of which you want to hang on your shoulder. With separate shutter and aperture dials, you have full control of how you want to shoot.

You can pick up a used X100S for under $400, so it is a moderate investment to make in case you don't like it, compared to the X100F, which would cost close to a $1,000 even used, albeit it is a better camera than the X100S.