Which small camera with viewfinder?

[dave e]

Looking to upgrade from my canon sd600 which cant do dusk/post sunset shots well.I already have a bulky dslr.
I do mostly landscapes.I also must have the old school viewfinder-i hate looking at a digital screen.
My budget is 100-600-new or used.

[Frank H.]

Howdy,

I'm also interested in whats out there. Its about time i replace my 35mm film camera. I like the viewfinder as well.

-Frank

[Franco Darioli]

You could go to DPReview, click on cameras (on the banner that starts with news) then Feature search, Compact, then Viewfinder (the type you are after) and then pick one from that list.

[Ken Thompson]

http://www.dpreview.com/products/search/cameras?utm_campaign=internal-link&utm_source=mainmenu&utm_medium=text&ref=mainmenu#!

[Serge Giachetti]

Sony RX100 Mark III

I don't think you can get much better IQ for the size and weight, and it has a viewfinder

[Brendan Swihart]

RX100 iii or I'd also recommend looking into a micro 4/3 setup. A Lumix GM5 with the kit lens is smaller than an rx100 (though deeper because of the lens) and the kit lens is great. This gives you some flexibility to add other lenses if you wanted in the future (like the tiny, cheap, outstanding 45 1.8). Something like an olympus e-m10 is a little bigger but has a bigger nicer viewfinder and is still really compact.

Use camerasize.com to compare sizes and weights (you can also compare with attached lenses)

Look for used stuff on KEH.com, b&H or adorama used section, or fredmiranda buy sell forum.

[Ken Bennett]

I have an RX100 Mark II, and the Mark III adds the viewfinder and a wider and faster lens. Probably the best current choice for a serious but small backpacking camera.

The Panasonic LX100 also looks good, but it's larger.

I took my Fuji X100s last trip, just for kicks and giggles. During the trip I thought I would never do THAT again — heavy, bulky, fixed semi-wide lens, etc. But the photos were terrific, so maybe I will do that again…. :)

[Ian]

When I was in Costco the other day, I noticed that the Lumix DMC-ZS40K has a viewfinder. Sadly, the battery was dead on the display model so I didn't have a chance to play around with it. My dad and a couple friends have owned a few of its predecessors, (all sans viewfinder) and I've always been impressed with the IQ.

http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-DMC-ZS40K-Digital-Camera-3-Inch/dp/B00I9OPF2W/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1431088380&sr=1-1&keywords=lumix+zs+40

Wish the Leica lens was a bit faster but it covers a nice range from 24mm to 720mm equivalent. Has a control ring, shoots RAW, manual controls, focus peaking, wifi/nfc, and GPS.

I'd like to play with this camera but I don't think it's the best option for me in its class. If I had to buy today, and based on some very limited experience with the RX100i, I'd get the RX100iii. I'm currently putting my quest for a quality P&S on hold to see what the RX100iv will deliver.

Edit: this camera also goes by DMC-TZ60 in other markets so you can find a few reviews on line if you search both nomenclatures.

http://www.photographyblog.com/reviews/panasonic_lumix_dmc_tz60_review

[Bruce Tolley]

@ the original poster
You might want to take a trip to your local camera store and check out the live view view finders on the Olympus, Sony, and Panasonics. I was using the crummy optical view finder on my Canon G11. I have switched to an Olympus OMD E10 with Live View and will never look back.

The Sony RX100 Mark IIIs seem out of your price range but BH Photo has the older model in stock at $398.

If you want to spend a bit more (and less than a Mark III), you might look at the entry level Olympus and Panasonic Micro 4/3 with a kit lens. They might be small enough for your needs.

At about 15 oz, Olympus has upgraded its Stylus bridge camera and the older model is also on sale. It has a wide angle, fast glass, and live view viewfinder.

[Peter S]

I used to have a DSLR camera. Thought I'd never be happy with a EVF. Now I have the OLYMPUS OM-D E-M10. I'm satisfied.

[Nick Gatel]

For a few years I used a Canon SD1200IS. Small and light. 10MP. The viewfinder works great. I even bought an underwater case for it here on BPL. I bet you could find a used one for under $100. No RAW and cannot be charged via USB. here are a couple pictures that were cropped and pixels per inch were reduced. .

I have a Rx100i that my wife bought me when they first came out. The lack of a view finder is sometimes aggravating, but not a deal killer. I bought a Clearviewer adapter, which works well but I don't generally take it backpacking. Here is a link to a dp forum discussion.

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/42374909

My wife wants to buy me a RX100iii but I am not sure it is going to be that much better. I read the zoom is not as good and the viewfinder works, but not as well as one would hope. Plus it is heavier than older models and I have a concern the moveable screen will be more likely to break. So I am still considering it, the mark 1 is fine for now.

[John Vance]

Does anyone have experience with the new Lumix LX100? It seems to be pushing all my buttons but I haven't found a lot of real world experience reviews.

[Garrett McLarty]

I went from Nikon D40 to D7000 to 6D but now have an Olympus and will never look back. Perfect Combination of Image Quality, lens selection, in-body stabilization, size and weight. Not to mention cost.

take a look at this thread if you are worried about image quality. I am constantly reminded by pictures here, especially by poster "dukenukem" that that camera is not limiting my pictures.

http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1127925/312

peace

[peter tooke]

I had the Rx100 & as soon as the iii came out made the switch. This decision was mostly because of the pop up viewfinder. And I'll never own a camera without one again. Something to press my eye up to and not screw up a framing… well, I may likely screw it up but it wont be because I can't see the LCD outdoors. I messed up too many time, one particular shot in the desert I'll never forgive myself for. Just my two bits.

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