 Poster: A snowHead
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Ok so last season following a pretty big thread on here I plumped for a Panasonic Lumix TZ65, last week my missus dropped it onto a hard floor and it's now uneconomical to repair.
So I'm looking again! Despite it having a large ultra bright 3" screen, taking shots with the sun behind you were pretty much point and guess without a viewfinder, so my list of requirements in order of importance are:
1. Viewfinder
2. Decent zoom - 8x or higher
3. High FPS for multiple action shots (lumix had 2.3 pics a second in burst mode)
4. No bigger than the Lumix which was
Height 6 cm
Width 10.3 cm
Depth 3.3 cm
Weight 0.23 kg inc card & battery
Lumix TZ8 would be the obvious replacement, with the benefit of some manual controls but it has no viewfinder....
So anything out there that fits the bill with a viewfinder?
Cheers,
Greg
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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kitenski, not many out there with a viewfinder now, as I discovered when looking for new camera for julesb.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Hells Bells, yeh I know, hence the thread, what did you end up going for?
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Nikon's P7000 is due soon. I had the P5100, and it was excellent - I regret trading it for the Casio Exlim EXG1 (also excellent, though). Rumours are that it'll have something like 6-8fps.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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kitenski, there are, I think, quite a few models with electronic viewfinders.
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Canon G11 comes close - but at 112 x 76 x 48 mm it's a bit of a tank. I've kept an eye on the G series - seems to be a very nice camera - but unfortunately too bulky for me - and too heavy at 355 g, as well. I have a Canon iXus comp[act and nice - but optical zoom is small - about 3.
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kitenski, I would have preferred a viewfinder on my choice. I got fed up with lugging a digital SLR around and gave up taking it, especially after smashing the LCD in a high speed crash in Wengen a couple of years ago.
I also wanted a compact to carry around for everyday use, so I went for the Panasonic Lumix TZ10 in the end, even without a viewfinder. It's supposed to have a much improved screen in bright light, but we will see.
It's got a great spec with full manual control if required, but not cheap.
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kitenski, he got a TZ6 without a viewfinder. He hasn't complained too much about it. There's a new Lumix out, FX5, but a lot mroe manual functions, and optional (?) viewfinder, and probably a much bigger price tag.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/Q210grouptravelzoom/
you will struggle to find something with a viewfinder unless you go for a G11 (or look for a second hand G9 online - I really liked mine until it got nicked)
if i was in the market for a compact now, I'd be tempted to hold out for a Panny LX5. I have an LX3 which is great for scenic type skiing shots, but not so much for action shots because there isn't enough zoom
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Ah, that's it the LX5, been discussing this on another forum, where a pro photographer is looking for his first ever compact. He is torn between the Panasonic LX5 and a Canon Powershot SX20 IS. His criteria were a viewfinder and RAW file capability.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I rejected g9 last time down to slow fps and also rejected g11 down to size....will google lx5 and nikon p7000
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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kitenski, yup, the G11 fps is low, too. Please let us know what you go for in the end.
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| under a new name wrote: |
| kitenski, there are, I think, quite a few models with electronic viewfinders. |
Got any specific models in mind as I am struggling to find any!
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You know it makes sense.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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kitenski, no viewfinder but it does have a hot shoe so you can get an electronic viewfinder as an extra, or buy a separate optical viewfinder. the latter won't show you precisely what the camera sees but will help with framing the shot. i have the EVF for my other camera (Panny GF1). it is pretty good but really expensive for what it is
you will really struggle to get a small compact with a viewfinder unless you start looking at older models
Currenly planning to sell my LX3 with a view to getting the LX5
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Poster: A snowHead
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Another well timed thread. The Lumix TZ10 is currently top of my list, however having read a barnstorming review for the Canon S90 I'm wavering. Problem is it doesn't seem to have HD video capability (which the Lumix does), and at £305 compared to £240 for the Lumix I'm not sure it's worth the extra wonga despite the rather natty sounding control ring around the lens. The Lumix also has GPS tagging which looks like a great feature. The Sony DSCHX5VB is also getting a look in, but having to @rse around with Sony proprietary media doesn't attract.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I bought a Canon IXUS recently, which was the only thing I could find with an optical viewfinder. The viewfinder is very small, but in fact I find that the screen isn't bad, even in bright sun.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Dr John, interesting as I have opposite views to you, don't really want HD video as I have an HD video camcorder which IMHO will give better results, and I also don't want GPS as I figure it will eat battery......
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kitenski, I don't have a camcorder, and it's not enough of a priority for me to carry 2 separate units. GPC will eat battery but if you don't have it on all the time and have a 10 minute refresh rate when you do it should be OK. Lumix seems the best all rounder.
Let's hope so anyway, cos I've just ordered it...
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Lizzard, agreed - and I mostly used the screen now. But when push comes to shove in really bright conditions, the viewfinder is very useful. But of course it does no have the 8x zoomkitenski wants (otherwise it would be ideal for him).
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if i was getting a camera in this class, it'd be the Sony HX5. Has the best low light images from the lot of them, which is important from an apres ski point of view 
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I sold an Ixus 40 to get the Lumix, to be honest it was only once on holiday with a very bright sun directly behind me that the LCD became unusable...
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kitenski, then I would probably go for another TZ .
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| kitenski wrote: |
| I sold an Ixus 40 to get the Lumix, to be honest it was only once on holiday with a very bright sun directly behind me that the LCD became unusable... |
I've never had any problems with the LCD becoming unusable due to bright light, even on sunny days when skiing. If it's that rare an occurrence is it worth narrowing your choice of camera to those with a viewfinder?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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rob@rar, JulesB hasn't complained about his Lumix, so I assume it hasn't been a problem.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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| rob@rar wrote: |
| kitenski wrote: |
| I sold an Ixus 40 to get the Lumix, to be honest it was only once on holiday with a very bright sun directly behind me that the LCD became unusable... |
I've never had any problems with the LCD becoming unusable due to bright light, even on sunny days when skiing. If it's that rare an occurrence is it worth narrowing your choice of camera to those with a viewfinder? |
Individual choice, innit. It was an overriding factor for me. Not a pukka camera, of course, but the iPhone I saw being used (Swiss Toby's) as one was close to hopeless in bright light at the EOSB. If some camera screens are as bad, I would be very fed up if I owned one of them.
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The best camera is one that you actually use to take pictures with ?
For skiing & outdoor sports one of the the most important specifications is waterproof & shockproof.
Hard to look past the "Pentax Optio-W" series for this.
Bomb-proof and takes great photos.
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You know it makes sense.
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| rob@rar wrote: |
| kitenski wrote: |
| I sold an Ixus 40 to get the Lumix, to be honest it was only once on holiday with a very bright sun directly behind me that the LCD became unusable... |
I've never had any problems with the LCD becoming unusable due to bright light, even on sunny days when skiing. If it's that rare an occurrence is it worth narrowing your choice of camera to those with a viewfinder? |
Also to be honest tracking fast moving subjects thru an LCD whilst taking pics is not as easy as via a viewfinder IMHO....
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Haggis_Trap, why waterproof for skiing??
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Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Have the older optio-W model.
I was also initially worried about the lack of view finder.
But the screen is really large - and its not really an issue.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| achilles wrote: |
| Individual choice, innit. It was an overriding factor for me. Not a pukka camera, of course, but the iPhone I saw being used (Swiss Toby's) as one was close to hopeless in bright light at the EoSB. If some camera screens are as bad, I would be very fed up if I owned one of them. |
Indeed, but as you have found the LCD is good enough in most conditions.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Not seen this or any previous thread before, but yesterday I bought a canon Ixus 95 IS mainly for skiing. My requirements were:- had to be slim and have a viewfinder ( from previous experience ). Have I done right? - I'm only a happy snapper!!
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richardhbe, 100 IS works fine for me. I like the viewfinder, and the slimness is very handy for dropping into a jacket pocket. Battery life is fantastic. Downside is the low zoom.
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I've an Optio WP, a few years old now that I use for skiing. I can't see a thing on the LCD when it's bright though, I just point and hope. Hopefully the LCD's on them have improved in recent years.
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I have a FZ38 - it has an EVF - that is a liitle better than the LCD screen. Bit of focus hunting at the long end of the zoom when the light is flat.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Haggis_Trap, interesting thoughts, may take a look, FPS seems v slow though. Continuous FPS: Approx 1.27 FPS, compared to Lumix tz8 which is 2.3 frames/sec standard, going up to 10 frames/sec (speed priority)
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kitenski, Haggis_Trap does not subscribe to the "spray and pray" technique 
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