Looking for a new camera

[glockmail]

Right now I have a Panasonic Lumix DMZ-TZ1. It has 10x optical zoom, and is compact enough to carry around in my ski jacket, stop and take action shots of my kids and their teammates. It even can take usable videos. In fact, it is perfect for me except one thing: no viewfinder.

Any suggestions for a replacement?

[Jon]

Right now I have a Panasonic Lumix DMZ-TZ1. It has 10x optical zoom, and is compact enough to carry around in my ski jacket, stop and take action shots of my kids and their teammates. It even can take usable videos. In fact, it is perfect for me except one thing: no viewfinder.

Any suggestions for a replacement?

You won't get a usable viewfinder in anything short of a dSLR. The viewfinders on compact cameras are tiny, dark, and mostly useless.

Unfortunately, a dSLR won't fit in your pocket and won't shoot video.

[glockmail]

"Usable" is defined by the user.

[mrg666]

http://www.debatepolicy.com/showthread.php?t=9294

that looks ok the one i had was very good and a earlier model

[glockmail]

http://www.debatepolicy.com/showthread.php?t=9294

that looks ok the one i had was very good and a earlier model

No viewfinder. http://www.amazon.com/Fujifilm-Finep...6532845&sr=8-1

[Jon]

"Usable" is defined by the user.

Or... you can trust me when I say this:

The viewfinders you will find on a compact camera are:

1) Very small
2) Dark
3) Don't cover the entirety of the actual image being captured
4) Have no diopter adjustment, which makes them difficult to impossible to use if you wear glasses.
5) Have parallax errors when shooting objects close up.

Frankly, it's no surprise that they've all but stopped offering them. Why go to the added expense when the majority of the population simply holds their camera at arms length to take a photo?

The viewfinders you will find on a dSLR correct for all of the deficiencies I've noted above. However, you won't be putting one in your pocket.


In short, good luck.

[glockmail]

Useless as tits on a bull.

[Jon]

Useless as tits on a bull.

Yep. The "viewfinders" they put on compact cameras are useless.

[glockmail]

Yep. The "viewfinders" they put on compact cameras are useless.

I'm glad you're gone man. You and your buddy were such assholes.

[Mr. P]

I have a Nikon Coolpix that I've been very happy with for about 8 yrs now.
Some models have the viewfinder.

[glockmail]

I need a big zoom, viewfinder and a compact size.

[Gadget (fmr Marine)]

I bought a Canon Powershot G9, and very happy with it. It has an LCD screen and an acceptable viewfinder as well. It ain't cheap, but it has been good for what I need it to do.

[glockmail]

I bought a Canon Powershot G9, and very happy with it. It has an LCD screen and an acceptable viewfinder as well. It ain't cheap, but it has been good for what I need it to do.

That has twice the resolution of mine, and a little less than 1/2 the optical zoom (6x vs 10x). I wonder if that would be the same quality if digitally enlarged to 10x.