electronic viewfinder in compact camera

zivzad wrote: I so like that ability, It's help me to take a photo without reading glasses. the camera more stability while shooting, I had it in the old coolpix 8800 and since there dream about in new light weight camera. Only the coolpix p60 has it but that one is a beat old camera. why manufacturers does not add that viewfinder? is there any chance to see it in new light weight camera (not just in DSLR like)?

The new Panasonic LX5 accommodates an EVF in the acccessory shoe. I'm not sure about any other.

John Tracy wrote:

zivzad wrote: I so like that ability, It's help me to take a photo without reading glasses. the camera more stability while shooting, I had it in the old coolpix 8800 and since there dream about in new light weight camera. Only the coolpix p60 has it but that one is a beat old camera. why manufacturers does not add that viewfinder? is there any chance to see it in new light weight camera (not just in DSLR like)?

The new Panasonic LX5 accommodates an EVF in the acccessory shoe. I'm not sure about any other.

Ricoh GX-200 as well.

Thanks for your replay, it is seems that the Lx5 has an external viewfinder, I am looking for one how is build in

zivzad wrote: Thanks for your replay, it is seems that the Lx5 has an external viewfinder, I am looking for one how is build in

There are many compacts that use an EVF instead of an optical. You'll have to search through the specifications of the particular camera that interests you. Or you could use dpzen's feature search: http://www.dpzen.com/reviews/compare_post.asp

zivzad wrote: Thanks for your replay, it is seems that the Lx5 has an external viewfinder, I am looking for one how is build in

The ones that do have a built-in viewfinder are mainly the dSLR-like cameras: SX20is, FZ38, P100, etc. Theyre almost the same size as a dSLR, and have large-range lenses that arent always the best, but they do have built-in viewfinders Otherwise, as noted, youre stuck with either NO viewfinder, or the attachment like the LX5

It's a shame that so few compacts have built-in EVF's, and none has decent ones. Add-on EVF is designed to rip off those of you who really need a VF, and it makes the otherwise fantastic camera clumsy and cumbersome to use. It is understandable that camera makers are trying to cut costs, and a good EVF costs quite a bit, and in some cases even more than the run-of-the-mill type of P&S cameras. There are however, still many who would like to have a decent VF and are willing to pay decent meony for it. They are left with virtually no choice. The problem is, it has to be a very good EVF, or it would not give you much advantage over LCD. Samsung's NX10, for example, is an excellent product in more ways than not and is as compact as large sensor compact gets. It is let down only by its mediocre EVF.

maple wrote: It's a shame that so few compacts have built-in EVF's, and none has decent ones.

This is interesting. Lots of people-including me!-really moan about the lack of OVF's on compact cameras. But I've seen no one, including professional photography writers, put forward the idea of a built in EVF in a compact camera. This obvious idea hasn't occurred to me, either. I did recently "see through" the add on EVF for the Panasonic GF1 and LX5, and I quite liked it. Buy why not just build it in to the camera? In an upmarket compact (like G10, G11, LX3, LX5) it seems a no brainer. And you get the added benefits of focus and exposure displays, etc.

OVF on compacts is mostly tiny and little more than just a window for framing. That's still fine. Their real problems though are: 1. It does not give you some of the critical information, such as at which point the focus is locked. 2. Very often, it gives you wrong perspectives. What really baffles me is that even with the more expensive high end compacts and the larger sensor compact that costs like DSLR's, they still don't integrate EVF (I do not regard Panasonic's G1, G2 GH1, etc as compact). I mean VF is a big deal. EVen cameras are categorized for the type of VF they have, and people pay big money for good VF's, and even higher price in term of weight and size. Now that EVF is good enough to replace OVF, for most purposes at least, why not take full advantage of it? The fact so few people respond this topic seems to suggest that most people don't miss EVF. -- Maple

Agreed 100%. Put a good built-in EVF on something like an LX5 or S95, even at the cost of making it slightly bigger, and I'd get my credit card out. Hell, I'd even give up the LCD entirely if I had to choose between it and an EVF. I am long sighted, but don't want to have to put my glasses on to take a picture (or review a picture I've already taken). I'm certain that I can hold a camera steadier against my face than at arms length. What's the point of putting all that expense into a nice fast image stabilized lens & large sensor if you lose the benefits because you can't hold the camera still. I use a 10 year old Canon S40 at the moment, which I'd like to replace (I'd like IS, at least 28mm wide angle, and a few more pixels) but there's absolutely nothing on the market that is a suitable upgrade. Rant over!

With the general population getting older and more folks wearing glasses, I don't understand the dwindling number of cameras with a viewfinder. A high quality EVF would be great on my G11 and worth some extra bucks. If an entire superzoom with EVF camera can be sold for $350, the added cost shouldn't be that great. Unfortunately, I think the trend will be fewer cameras with any type of eye level finder. Greg

zivzad wrote: why manufacturers does not add that viewfinder?

When we had them, camera reviewers, as well as a number of users, kept saying EVFs were no use. Selfinflicted wounds don't count. Henry

Henry Falkner wrote:

zivzad wrote: why manufacturers does not add that viewfinder?

When we had them, camera reviewers, as well as a number of users, kept saying EVFs were no use.

I believe that it was more of a case that the usual lo-rez rubbish EVF that used to be shoved into P&S digicams were not of much use for certain things. Aiming the camera with them was usually fine, but were unable to show what was in focus or DoF due to low resolution (too grainy, not enough detail).

Self-inflicted wounds don't count.

It was manufacturers not wanting to supply a better EVF. Giving up entirely in most cases and just leaving us with the rear-panel LCD screen is a reasnoable thing to complain about, IMHO.