New camera with proper viewfinder - again!

[55palfers]

I started a thread a while back about cameras with a proper viewfinder.

I bought a Fuji X100S. Very happy with it until it died after 3 months.
Got a refund and bought a Fuji X100T - great camera, but again, it died after 3 months.

Probably won't buy another X series Fuji(anyone want to buy a UV filter, metal lens hood and spare Fuji battery?) so what else is out there chaps?

I want full manual control over shutter and aperture too.

Budget is around the £800 max mark, would look at secondhand if from a good dealer.

Thanks

Edited by 55palfers on Sunday 22 May 13:45

[singlecoil]

Does the budget include lenses? Are you thinking DSLR?

[Gold]

I've not had any problems with my X100S which has been thrown around everywhere I go. If you want an optical viewfinder you're limited to DSLRs, Fuji or Leica (you may just about squeeze a M8 into your budget). Have you tried out the latest electronic viewfinders? They're fast improving.

[GetCarter]

I've read so many great reviews of the Sony a6300, I've bought one for £699 from SLRHut, with a 30mm f2.8 Sigma prime. (£119 from WEX) as a 'It's small enough to keep in the jacket pocket' camera

Worth a look.

ETA: Haven't got it yet, but will let you know what I think. The one thing you need to do is avoid the kit lens.

Review: http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/sony-a6300

Edited by GetCarter on Sunday 22 May 17:01

[55palfers]

I have a Canon 5D and a number of (heavy) Canon lenses for when I need them, I want a handy little top quality camera I can just carry anywhere but still get full control.

What about an X Pro?

The outgoing X pro 1 seems to have some good deals at present and used lenses seem numerous.

Got to say though, I did like the X100

[Digitalize]

A6300 is a fantastic camera, but it's an EVF not OVF.

[GetCarter]

Digitalize said:

A6300 is a fantastic camera, but it's an EVF not OVF.

Yea... but I'll take EVF at that res over OVF every day - if I don't have TTL

(Was that too many acronyms?)

[chrismarr]

GetCarter said:

I've read so many great reviews of the Sony a6300, I've bought one for £699 from SLRHut, with a 30mm f2.8 Sigma prime. (£119 from WEX) as a 'It's small enough to keep in the jacket pocket' camera

Worth a look.

ETA: Haven't got it yet, but will let you know what I think. The one thing you need to do is avoid the kit lens.

Review: http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/sony-a6300

Edited by GetCarter on Sunday 22 May 17:01

Let us know how it is when it arrives please, fancy upgrading the RX100 mk1 at some point.

[GetCarter]

chrismarr said:

Let us know how it is when it arrives please, fancy upgrading the RX100 mk1 at some point.

Will do. Not due until end of the week (hence low price).

[ExPat2B]

I useca D7100 with the 35mm 1.8 dx lens as the walkaround option. It has the best DX optical viewfinder on the market and the lcd autofocus points are also really nice. If I need wider I stitch two pics.

[55palfers]

ExPat2B said:

I useca D7100 with the 35mm 1.8 dx lens as the walkaround option. It has the best DX optical viewfinder on the market and the lcd autofocus points are also really nice. If I need wider I stitch two pics.

I already have a SLR, I need a "pocket" camera for walking about

[GetCarter]

chrismarr said:

Let us know how it is when it arrives please, fancy upgrading the RX100 mk1 at some point.

Well I'm impressed. It fits in my jacket pocket with the 30mm sigma 2.8 prime and is a big step up from the (still fab) RX100 mk III

Reviews on the a6300 are out there, so it's easy to see what people think.

From my point of view, I'm surprised how much I can crop an image and still have top notch quality.

Below: The top one was portrait and I've lost 2/3 of the frame:



this is about 40% of the frame - nice bokeh on the prime - this was using the flip up screen:



Obviously these are squashed to hell for web.

Viewfinder works fine. Use it 99% of the time. It ain't TTL, but that's cos it ain't.

HTH

Edited by GetCarter on Thursday 9th June 14:32