Optical Viewfinders availability almost extinct
in [Digital Cameras]
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From: John Navas on 29 May 2010 18:05 On Sat, 29 May 2010 16:30:27 -0400, M-M <nospam.m-m(a)ny.more> wrote in <nospam.m-m-DFD069.16302629052010(a)cpe-76-190-186-198.neo.res.rr.com>: >In article <htrt4r$9cq$1(a)news.eternal-september.org>, > Dave Cohen <user(a)example.net> wrote: > >> I've seen people using the lcd finder on models that did have an optical >> finder. And not only on lower end models, I saw someone doing this with >> a G series canon and there didn't appear to be any particular reason for >> doing so (like taking advantage of the swivel lcd). Personally, I'm in >> the 'I like a viewfinder camp'. Maybe it has to do with using film >> cameras for such a long time. > >You cannot shoot continuous on a moving subject (like birds or airplanes >flying) without an optical VF. My Panasonic FZ28 can do it. Some other EVF cameras likewise. -- Best regards, John Buying a dSLR doesn't make you a photographer, it makes you a dSLR owner. "The single most important component of a camera is the twelve inches behind it." -Ansel Adams
From: Robert Coe on 29 May 2010 18:14 On Sat, 29 May 2010 08:34:54 -0700, SMS <scharf.steven(a)geemail.com> wrote: : On 29/05/10 8:08 AM, aaronep(a)pacbell.net wrote: : > Can someone tell me why digital camera makers are no longer offering : > optical viewfinders on their cameras? : > : > One salesman in retail shop claimed they are not necessary because LCD : > screens are now brighter than in previous years and obviate the need : > for optical viewfinders. : : LOL, no, that's not the reason. The reason is cost. An optical : viewfinder that adjusts as the lens zooms adds too much cost. : : > My own experience has been that Cameras with only LCD screens are : > extremely difficult to use in bright sunlight. : : That's your experience and the experience of everyone else on the : planet. Unfortunately, most people don't even realize the problem until : after they've purchased a camera without an optical viewfinder. : : The best advice is to find a camera you like with a viewfinder and buy a : lifetime supply. : : "If you find something you really, really like, buy a lifetime supply; : because it'll either be changed for the worse or go out of production." : Quote from Rivendell Bicycle's Web Site That's why I have a lifetime supply of those fine old heavy-duty keyboards that IBM made for their PCs. The one I'm typing on at this moment was made in 1986. Bob
From: John Navas on 29 May 2010 19:04 On Sat, 29 May 2010 18:14:10 -0400, Robert Coe <bob(a)1776.COM> wrote in <i543065vd7g1leh6bo1u3fgj7f3706h5vb(a)4ax.com>: >On Sat, 29 May 2010 08:34:54 -0700, SMS <scharf.steven(a)geemail.com> wrote: >: On 29/05/10 8:08 AM, aaronep(a)pacbell.net wrote: >: > Can someone tell me why digital camera makers are no longer offering >: > optical viewfinders on their cameras? >: > >: > One salesman in retail shop claimed they are not necessary because LCD >: > screens are now brighter than in previous years and obviate the need >: > for optical viewfinders. >: >: LOL, no, that's not the reason. The reason is cost. An optical >: viewfinder that adjusts as the lens zooms adds too much cost. >: >: > My own experience has been that Cameras with only LCD screens are >: > extremely difficult to use in bright sunlight. >: >: That's your experience and the experience of everyone else on the >: planet. Unfortunately, most people don't even realize the problem until >: after they've purchased a camera without an optical viewfinder. >: >: The best advice is to find a camera you like with a viewfinder and buy a >: lifetime supply. >: >: "If you find something you really, really like, buy a lifetime supply; >: because it'll either be changed for the worse or go out of production." >: Quote from Rivendell Bicycle's Web Site > >That's why I have a lifetime supply of those fine old heavy-duty keyboards >that IBM made for their PCs. The one I'm typing on at this moment was made in >1986. Much too noisy for my taste. -- Best regards, John Buying a dSLR doesn't make you a photographer, it makes you a dSLR owner. "The single most important component of a camera is the twelve inches behind it." -Ansel Adams
From: Ken Walls on 29 May 2010 19:27 On 29 May 2010 17:48:32 GMT, rfischer(a)sonic.net (Ray Fischer) wrote: >J. Clarke <jclarke.usenet(a)cox.net> wrote: >>On 5/29/2010 11:08 AM, aaronep(a)pacbell.net wrote: >>> Can someone tell me why digital camera makers are no longer offering >>> optical viewfinders on their cameras? >>> >>> One salesman in retail shop claimed they are not necessary because LCD >>> screens are now brighter than in previous years and obviate the need >>> for optical viewfinders. >>> >>> My own experience has been that Cameras with only LCD screens are >>> extremely difficult to use in bright sunlight. >> >>Ever try an electronic viewfinder (NOT the same as the LCD on the back)? >> While they have their disadvantages, being difficult to use in bright >>sunlight is not one of them. >> >>Optical finders that do more than give a rough idea of where the lens is >>pointed aren't particularly cheap or easy to implement, especially on a >>very thin camera. >> >>And there's always the option of an entry-level SLR. > >Heh. A few days ago I was with a bunch of school kids in a cave and >took some pictures. The only illumination was their flashlights, and >the only way I could take pictures was to set the camera on a rock and >do a five second exposure. Since it was so dark viewfinders (both >kinds) were next to useless, but since it was an SLR I could see where >the lens was pointed. I can still see an image in my LCD and EVF equipped cameras when the exposure calls for 5 seconds. In one of my cameras I can even see an image when the exposure calls for 1 minute and longer. In that particular LCD/EVF camera you can frame and focus with it in total darkness by its IR LED lights alone. You're either lying, cripplingly inexperienced, or don't know how to buy a proper camera for the job.
From: Frank ess on 29 May 2010 19:31
Robert Coe wrote: > On Sat, 29 May 2010 08:34:54 -0700, SMS <scharf.steven(a)geemail.com> > wrote: >> On 29/05/10 8:08 AM, aaronep(a)pacbell.net wrote: >>> Can someone tell me why digital camera makers are no longer >>> offering optical viewfinders on their cameras? >>> >>> One salesman in retail shop claimed they are not necessary >>> because LCD screens are now brighter than in previous years and >>> obviate the need for optical viewfinders. >> >> LOL, no, that's not the reason. The reason is cost. An optical >> viewfinder that adjusts as the lens zooms adds too much cost. >> >>> My own experience has been that Cameras with only LCD screens are >>> extremely difficult to use in bright sunlight. >> >> That's your experience and the experience of everyone else on the >> planet. Unfortunately, most people don't even realize the problem >> until after they've purchased a camera without an optical >> viewfinder. >> >> The best advice is to find a camera you like with a viewfinder and >> buy a lifetime supply. >> >> "If you find something you really, really like, buy a lifetime >> supply; because it'll either be changed for the worse or go out >> of production." Quote from Rivendell Bicycle's Web Site > > That's why I have a lifetime supply of those fine old heavy-duty > keyboards that IBM made for their PCs. The one I'm typing on at > this moment was made in 1986. > > Bob I bought two Microsoft Trackball Explorers when they were still on the shelves at Fry's. One of them failed, and when I went to look for another (two computers at the time) there was one left. When another failed, there were none. I looked on the Internet and found some for a very good price, and bought a case of five. I've had two fail since then, the last very recently. I looked them up again, and found that even inoperative ones are valuable, there is at least one specialist who buys and refurbishes them, and used-but-operable ones go for anything from ninety to two hundred dollars. Sealed new ones were listed on Amazon at five hundred ninety-nine dollars. Just four ninety-nine, today. Serendipity. I foolishly threw one "broken" one away, gave away a new one. My inventory will probably last me for the rest of my life, and pay for Neptune services. I still prefer the Microsoft Natural Keyboard Elite - original arrow-key configuration, but there doesn't seem to be the same kind of market as for the Trackball Explorer. -- Frank ess |