compact with good optical viewfinder???

PB said:

But isn't that Sureshot a fixed-focus 35mm camera? That could
explain a lot of why it has such a large viewfinder, as I have one
of these > >

Click to expand...

Yep. A "proper" camera with no fiddly bits that lets you see the picture it is about to take ;-)

Now, I once had an old Yashica 35GTN that had a nice big clear rangefinder viewfinder, maybe just like building the Pyramids they've lost the know-how?
John.

John Farrar said:

PB said:

But isn't that Sureshot a fixed-focus 35mm camera? That could
explain a lot of why it has such a large viewfinder, as I have one
of these > >

Click to expand...

Yep. A "proper" camera with no fiddly bits that lets you see the
picture it is about to take ;-)
Now, I once had an old Yashica 35GTN that had a nice big clear
rangefinder viewfinder, maybe just like building the Pyramids
they've lost the know-how?

Click to expand...

there must me be a hidden reason somewhere...

1 cost: if it were pure cost then there would be a camera out there more expensive offering it: somebody will pay the price for it (i would) and could be packeged in a professional or prosumer digicam... secondly I doubt wether the absolute cost of a optical viewfinder is the issue; in any compact 35 mm you have viewfinders better then with digital...

2 optics: does it have to do with the focal length? in 35 mm there are exelenct examples of very good optical viewfinders, not to mention the leica, contax g2but also the nikon 35 ti that i have... and many others, even less expensive ones.. I do not see why this should be an issue because the viewfinder is separte from the lens/sensor so kcan have it's own dimensions.. so just geta 35-105 optical viewfinder from the analogue range and voila...

3: LCD: LCD preference/added cost has to validated by pushing this screen as the viewfinder in use... why would a camera OEM do this? and why all of them? does not sound very sound does it??/

4: interfacing the sensor/lens combiantion with the viewfinder: what would be so difficult about that: if you can interface with the lens for zooming/AF etc why not with the viewfinder for adjusting the lenses?

5: space: would an optical viewfinder take up to much space? evf takes at least as much I reckon, and not every camara is made to become the smallest camera ever... no..

I'am at a loss...

JW

john farrar said:

John.

Click to expand...

--
greatings to you all!
some of my photo's at:
http://www.xs4all.nl/~jwmars

Jan,

Jan Willem Mars said:

there must me be a hidden reason somewhere...> >

Click to expand...

You're right.. it has to be one of those conspiracies. LCD panels on the rear of cameras are in an impossible place for composing pictures (should be on the top and recessed like in the dear old waist-level TLR's - but that's not wide enough), and I'm sure they know it. So they put a in microscopic viewfinder to force us to use the LCD - that must be their game. I'd love to see an old fashoned digital Rollei TLR with a big ground glass repaced by an LCD Then we could add-on lenses just like they think you can on the little digital compacts.

BTW, I enjoyed the snow scene and the Coromandel seascape in your gallery.

John

Jan Willem said:

As an SLR user, I am very used to my 100% optical viewfinder,

Click to expand...

...

Jan Willem Mars said:

Does anybody know of a digicam that has a good optical viewfinder?
(say 96% covarage, paralax correction included)

Click to expand...

most slr are not 100% coverage. wich one do you use ?
--
Gaetan J.

luckely Iám not the only one putting the doubt at the industry instead of by himself...

Thanx John, for the visit at my site!

JW

John Farrar said:

john farrar said:

there must me be a hidden reason somewhere...> >

Click to expand...

You're right.. it has to be one of those conspiracies. LCD panels
on the rear of cameras are in an impossible place for composing
pictures (should be on the top and recessed like in the dear old
waist-level TLR's - but that's not wide enough), and I'm sure they
know it. So they put a in microscopic viewfinder to force us to use
the LCD - that must be their game. I'd love to see an old fashoned
digital Rollei TLR with a big ground glass repaced by an LCD Then
we could add-on lenses just like they think you can on the little
digital compacts.

BTW, I enjoyed the snow scene and the Coromandel seascape in your
gallery.

John

Click to expand...

--
greatings to you all!
some of my photo's at:
http://www.xs4all.nl/~jwmars

I with Harv on this one. When I first got my digital camera I always used the viewfinder, but as time went on I started using the LCD more and more.

My G2 has the swivel LCD which is awesome, I can take pictures above my head, down by my feet, or behind me getting the picture framed correctly every time without pulling neck muscles .

BC

Harv said:

I, too, wanted to use the optical view finder instead of the LCD.
However, after a very short time, I found myself using the LCD,
composing much more quickly, etc. So, I now prefer the LCD and sees
its many advantages--except in bright sunlight. I learned to like
the LCD at 65 years of age. No, I do not drool on the LCD nor
forget where I put the camrea--yet.

Click to expand...

You are right that LCD WITh swivel option are opening up new possibilities (even selfpotraits are now very easy... for those who like tthat...)

for macro it is more easy to... but I have a preference to take "normal"shots via the viewfinder...

jw

bac522 said:

My G2 has the swivel LCD which is awesome, I can take pictures
above my head, down by my feet, or behind me getting the picture
framed correctly every time without pulling neck muscles .

BC

Harv said:

I, too, wanted to use the optical view finder instead of the LCD.
However, after a very short time, I found myself using the LCD,
composing much more quickly, etc. So, I now prefer the LCD and sees
its many advantages--except in bright sunlight. I learned to like
the LCD at 65 years of age. No, I do not drool on the LCD nor
forget where I put the camrea--yet.

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

--
greatings to you all!
some of my photo's at:
http://www.xs4all.nl/~jwmars