sony rx100,impossible to usr without viewfinder

[Jennifer Mitol]

Don’t forget that a cropped sensor means the 28mm is NOT 28mm…..

it’s only a 1″ sensor.  Still way better than any other pocketable camera, but obviously not what you’re looking for.

[Stuart .]

I’ve been shooting with the Ricoh GR for the last year. Excellent lens, wonderful ergonomics, and a user interface that gets in the way less than any other digital camera I’ve owned. It’s intuitive, and it doesn’t fight me. But, like the RX100mk1, it has no viewfinder. And it has a fixed 28mm equivalent lens.

A few weeks ago I picked up the RX100mk3. The sensor size is smaller, the user interface is taking some time to get used to, and the zoom is so imprecise as to be annoying. But the pop up viewfinder is bloody brilliant. The image quality is impressive for such a small sensor, and at its wide end, the Sony has more coverage than the Ricoh. So I’m carrying the Sony over the Ricoh more and more often. I don’t shoot enough video to have it make sense to go with the mk4, but spending the extra vs the mk1 or mk2 was the sweet spot for me. If you were to try the mk3 I think you’d find it fixes all of the shortcomings of the mk1, with one exception: the telephoto end is shortened to 70mm equivalent. If that’s important to you, then perhaps the A6000 + interchangeable lens would make more sense.

[dave e]

The m3 is out of my budget.
I will try this cam some more but i keep hitting obstacles so not a fitbfor me perhaps.

[Franco Darioli]

I agree with Nick, get another camera.

Your comment :Ok,i notice the lens is not wide enough for me…def not 28mm.
could mean two things
1) you want something wider than 28mm
2) you don’t believe the camera has a 28mm (equivalent) lens.
Either way you are not happy with it unless of course that (buyer remourse) is a common reaction for you and are looking for emotional support/reassurance.
(30 years in retail taught me this…)

Anyway, the RX100 DOES have a 28mm (equivalent) lens.
What it means is that if you get a 35mm film camera or a “Full Frame” DSLR with a 28mm lens, the angle of view produced by the two will be the same( if you can fit 5 people across with one, from the same position you will fit 5 with the other) .

The Mk III version has both a VF and a 24mm (equivalent) lens but maybe you could look at another brand too.

[dave e]

A lot of the problems im having is that i cant not use glasse with this cam.I have never used glasses for photography but on this one i have to.My problem.I rarely carry my reading glasses.Getting older perhaps.

[Franco Darioli]

So far you have listed 3 problems :

1. you can’t see the screen in sunlight
2.  the lens is not wide enough for you
3.  you need glasses to use it but you don’t want to.

Time to get another camera but be prepared to have at least some of those problems with the new one too.

[dave e]

I have no probs with vf cameras.I just have to get lasik or wear glasses while outdoors with this cam….The width issue was also due to my eyes and gettimg things confused.

[Ian]

Dave,

The cheapest RX100 I see used on Amazon right now is $280.  Sounds like you’re not really happy with it so I’d just cut your losses and sell it.

Panasonic Lumix has a few P&S cameras with a viewfinder.  You can pick up a refurbished Panasonic Lumix for $230.

Specs per Dpreview

The Lumix DMC-ZS50 (TZ70 outside of North America) is a compact travel zoom camera with a 30X, 24-720mm equiv. lens (with ‘hybrid’ image stabilization) and 12MP megapixel ‘high sensitivity’ MOS sensor that offers a one-stop improvement in noise compared to its predecessor (the ZS40). The ZS50 features both a 3-inch (1.04M dot) LCD as well as a new and improved 1.2M dot electronic viewfinder. The camera has full manual controls, Raw support, focus peaking, plus a control ring. Movies can be recorded as resolutions as high as 1080/60p. Sharing photos is easy, thanks to built-in Wi-Fi with NFC.

I’ve never owned or used this particular camera.  My parents own one that’s a few generations older than this one and I thought it had nice image quality for an affordable P&S.  I personally think it’d be a step down from any of the RX100s, especially a mark iii or iv, but it’s quite a bit cheaper and checks several boxes you’ve mentioned.

 

[dave e]

Thanks Ian.Most of my probs with the rx 100 are my fault-my eyesight.I hate carrying glasses and with the rx its a must for me.

[Jennifer Mitol]

well….the eye-sight issue is one of the reasons why I really like the mk iii – the VF has a diopter and it is a lifesaver.

But that’s not really what you want to hear……..

[Author]

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