No viewfinder

[Dr Jekyll]

Recently bought one of these new gangled digital compact cameras, it's great in most respects but I can't get on with having no viewfinder. In bright sunshine it's almost impossible to see the screen clearly enough to see what the photo is going to be like.

Is it just my ageing eyes? What does everyone else do?

[RobDickinson]

They rely on face detect?

Holding a camera out at arms length is terrible technique anyhow...

[GetCarter]

Most of us saddos in here used DSLRs which have through the lens viewfinders. There are a few compacts out there with viewfinders, and (I think) all the 'bridge' cameras have them.

I keep a compact on me at all times (just in case), and you're right they are tricky to use. Comes with the territory I'm afraid.... it fits in my Jeans pocket, whereas my DSLR needs a small van.

[Stiglet80]

The fact that most (maybe all?) Point and shoots have no view finder is probably why I will never own one again.

[GetCarter]

Stiglet80 said:

The fact that most (maybe all?) Point and shoots have no view finder is probably why I will never own one again.

You can get one for the Leica D-Lux P&S

[Dr Jekyll]

There's always the Fuji 100 I suppose.

[Stiglet80]

GetCarter said:

Stiglet80 said:

The fact that most (maybe all?) Point and shoots have no view finder is probably why I will never own one again.

You can get one for the Leica D-Lux P&S

I was about to say thanks and go buy one then see it costs more than my DSLR did

[RobDickinson]

Dr Jekyll said:

There's always the Fuji 100 I suppose.

If you can find one, if you have the reddies.

he m43rds stuff can have evf's fitted cant they?

[Simpo Two]

Dr Jekyll said:

Recently bought one of these new gangled digital compact cameras, it's great in most respects but I can't get on with having no viewfinder. In bright sunshine it's almost impossible to see the screen clearly enough to see what the photo is going to be like.

Is it just my ageing eyes? What does everyone else do?

I got my first digital compact in 2003. Although I had over 20 years on SLRs, and the compact did have a small VF, I ended up using the monitor because it was easier. So maybe you just need to persevere a bit and re-route those neurons

However for a DSLR live view is rubbish; you can't hold a large camera properly waving it about in front of you (exception being tripod/studio work). So for me it's DSLR with VF and compact with monitor.

[Tafia]

Our Canon compacts both have viewfinders. A710 IS and A1100 IS

[friederich]

Tafia said:

Our Canon compacts both have viewfinders. A710 IS and A1100 IS

I think you'll struggle to find a new Canon P&S with an optical viewfinder. I suppose the majority of customers for compacts have now grown up with or just accept the 'wobbly compose at arms length whilst squinting at a tiny LCD in the sunlight' approach.

I just can't get on with it, and it bugs me that I can't get a quality compact with a viewfinder. The only things close are the Canon G12, Nikon P7000 and the Fuji x100 (if you're OK with the fixed focal length), but all are too big to be called a pocket camera.

[Tafia]

Not sure how up to date this is but it shows Canons with a viewfinder.

http://www.canoncompact.com/canon-powershot-with-v...