sony rx100,impossible to usr without viewfinder

[dave e]

Ive tried using this cam outdoors and for me,trying to see the screen,nevermind frame a shot-is next to impossible.How do people actually see a digital screen outdoors in sun?

[Franco Darioli]

You can get a screen hood for it .

Just Google “Sony RX 100 screen hood”

 

[dave e]

Nah…that doesnt help much for me…its distracting and doesnt shut out glare…i m probably going to have to find.another camera.Too bad,the rx is such a nice cam.Feels like a solid little nugget.

[Jennifer Mitol]

I’m not sure how the RX100 screen is any different from any other LCD screen out there – all digital cameras are going to be the same in terms of being able to see it in the sun.  I’m sure some engineering types can help me out here, but LCD in sunlight is just bad.

Do you have the mark iii?  I find I use the viewfinder pretty much ALL THE TIME.  it’s brilliant and one of the reasons I love that little camera

[dave e]

Jen,mine is the first gen-no viewfinder.I can vaguely see stuff on an lcd in sun with a lot of squinting-something i dont want to do when composing a shot.Ive looked at the hoods,shades and clearview and they all defeat the purpose of a ps.

 

[Dale Wambaugh]

There are manual screen brightness controls to override the automatic feature. That might help. Perhaps that isn’t working right anyway or the sensor is covered?

http://docs.esupport.sony.com/dvimag/DSCRX100_guide/en/contents/06/04/03/03.html

[dave e]

Actually,adjusting screen brightness works pretty well.

[dave e]

Can you get polarizers for it?

[Bruce Tolley]

if you want to compose using a very bright viewfinder, get a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera with electronic live view. You will not be disappointed.

[Nick Gatel]

I’ve had a RX100i for over 3 years and have taken thousands of pictures with it. I do miss not having a through the lens or similar view finder, but it hasn’t been a deal breaker. I did attach a screen protector when I first got it, and perhaps it helps. I don’t know since I installed the protector the first day I got it. When I plan to take a lot of close-up pictures I bring a ClearViewer with me here is a link to my review with the accessories I use.

Last year my wife wanted to give me a M4 for Christmas. I eventually passed, as nearly $1,000 would have only gotten me a view finder and I don’t need any of the other upgrades. We can afford the cost of a new camera, but the old one fits my needs 99% of the time. I’ll wait until a V comes out and see how far the M4 prices go down.

[Dave G]

Dave,

You don’t want a polarising screen protector, LCD screens already have a polariser, a further one will drastically reduce brightness, as will polarising sunglasses.

Have you found the “Sunny Weather” brightness setting?

Dave

[dave e]

Nick,

A clearviewer adds bulk and hassle.I really want a pocketable camera that slips in and out with ease.

Dave,i meant a lens polarizer.Yes,i found and adjusted the lcd brightness-it does help.

[Nick Gatel]

dave e,

If you like the RX100 other than no view finder, get one of the newer versions. Like I said, I do miss not having one, and the ClearViewer is a hassle, which is why I don’t take it backpacking, but sometimes do take it on camping trips when the desert is in bloom and I want to take pictures of flowers.

When I purchased my previous camera, the Canon 1200is, I bought it specifically because it had a view finder since I felt the LCD screen was too small. I had hoped the RX100’s larger screen would overcome the lack of a view finder, which it has most of the time. Since I was an early adopter of the Sony, I am happy with my decision. Now that there are other options, I would go with a 3 or a 4 if I was looking to buy a new camera. When the 5 is released, I will probably take another look at a 3 or 4 and hopefully they will be cheaper. Of course each new version gets larger, heavier, and more feature rich that in my mind becomes more apt to break.

If I was a serious photographer I would just get a DSLR or one of the micro cameras with interchangeable lenses, but I’m not.

There are probably similar cameras with view finders, but I am not the person to ask about them, since I don’t pay attention to cameras unless I am shopping for a new one.

[Dave G]

Dave,

I use one of these: Magfilter on my RX100, and can thoroughly recommend it – good glass and no colour cast.

The magnet is strong enough to leave it attached while in a hipbelt pocket. The glue on the metal ring failed after 3 seasons, but you could reglue if required. (I bought a replacement ring)

Dave

 

[Ian]

It’s nice to see they have a threaded version to use with filters other than a polarizer.  I may have to pick one of these up when I get an RX100 later this year.

[Franco Darioli]

This is the hood I had in mind :

about 7 mm thick when flat.

[dave e]

Those hoods just kill the point of having a small cam.I noticed that the rx feels like a large rock in my pocket.My canon sd600 feels like nothing in my pockets,has a vf but low light shots are not great.If i want really good shots,i can lug my old d70.

I will play around with the rx to see if i want to keep it.

[dave e]

Another issue with this camera is that you feel its weight/bulk.Its a very solid camera but in your pant pocket, you feel it.Its also a bit bigger than your avg p+s.You wont forget its there.Of course this is trade off for quality.So this is just a heads up to anyone who thinks this is just another ps lightweight camera,its not.

So now im thinking that i should stick to my super lightweight canon sd600 for everyday stuff and my nikon dslr for serious stuff.Sometimes the in between option doesnt work as one expected and this might be the case here.

[Nick Gatel]

I just got back from a 4 day camping trip yesterday, which I spent most of the time hiking around the desert wearing a pair of running shorts with mesh pockets and carried my RX100 in one of them. Actually forgot the camera was in my shorts and spent 10 minutes one evening looking for the camera, when my wife pointed out it was in my pocket. Above are some pictures from this weekend that have been resized from over 1MB to under 400KB.

I have carried this camera on hundreds of days of hiking all over the US, taken thousands of pictures, and had zero issues with it, which is why I haven’t upgraded it. It has handled many days of vibration laying in the handlebar bag on my touring bicycle. For me it is a nice mix of light weight, compactness, and quality pictures. I hike most often in deserts where sand and dust are the norm and haven’t had any problems with moving mechanisms. I normally carry it in a pocket without a filter or any protective covering. It has traveled over 300,000 airline miles in a laptop bag with my computer. I never use the camera case. I have used it in rain, snow, below sea level, above 14,000 feet, along oceans, and in temps ranging from 5F to 120F. For me a battery lasts several weeks. The image size and quality are good, I’ve had full page pictures published in a couple magazines – not because I’m a good photographer, but because the camera is that good.

Others may have a different experience. Last Christmas my wife really wanted to buy me a newer version but I passed. As I mentioned earlier, I miss having a view finder and will probably upgrade when prices come down.

 

 

[dave e]

Wow,the image quality is great on those pics.

[Ralph Burgess]

Just to supplement Nick’s post…   I have used the original RX100 (no viewfinder) for a couple of years.   I’m a total amateur when it comes to photography, no real idea what I’m doing — but I do know that I could not take pictures like this with a point-and-shoot.

I agree that the screen is difficult to see in bright sunlight, which sometimes means I will shoot off a dozen pics and hope that I get a good one when using manual focus close-up at an awkward angle.  But it’s far from “impossible” to use.

For carry, I have a great new setup:    Chris Zimmer made me his Dyneema hipbelt pocket with added mesh padding.   I attach this directly to the belt of my hiking pants, where it sits under my belly button.   If I take my pack off to scramble or climb around, the camera sits right there, in just about the safest spot on your body from damage.   And it’s a boon having the padding built into the pocket, so I can pull the camera out ready to go, without using a separate case.

And yes, I quite literally forget that it’s there – I drove to the airport with the camera in the pouch at my belly, and tried to walk through the TSA detector while wearing it.

The Five-Spot here was taken in bright desert sunlight.   And I have never managed to photograph white flowers with a more basic camera.

 

[Nick Gatel]

I used to rarely take a camera backpacking – it was a distraction. Once my kids were grown and on their own, I built my website and started taking more pictures so they would know what I was up to. I built the website in Jul of 2012 and got the RX100 in Dec of the same year.

The camera has gotten me interested in stopping and taking time to look at the little things, which has become a valuable investment of my time. After I had the camera for a few months, I did a trip in the desert where I made a conscious effort to capture the little things. I was quite happy with the results and the trip was quite enjoyable.

[Ralph Burgess]

I agree, Nick.  The camera makes me think about different things, and sometimes slows me down to look more carefully, motivating me to understand better exactly what I’m looking at – geology, flora, etc.   However, I only take my camera on about half of my trips – sometimes I prefer just to enjoy being there, without trying to capture it.   And I almost always have my iPhone in any case, which takes remarkably good landscape pictures if there’s a special moment.

[dave e]

Ok,i notice the lens is not wide enough for me…def not 28mm.The other thing with the screen as viewfinder is that im farsighted so my eyes cant see the screen so well.I want to keep this cam but its not bonding with me.

[Nick Gatel]

Ok,i notice the lens is not wide enough for me…def not 28mm.The other thing with the screen as viewfinder is that im farsighted so my eyes cant see the screen so well.I want to keep this cam but its not bonding with me.

Get another camera :)

 

[Author]

Posts