Quality Digital Compact, Reccomendations, Options?

[Space is the Place]

Hi all, im considering a small digital compact camera that i can carry about with me. I dont need a really long zoom, equivalent 35mm-105mm is fine. Im considering this because it has a optical view finder (i dont like looking at the LCD screen to take a picture, it just seems wrong)

http://www.canon.co.uk/For_Home/Pro...tal_Camera/IXUS/Digital_IXUS_980_IS/index.asp

What other choices do i have? does anybody have any recommendations? im not limited by price, but it being small is important, thanks, Jon.

 

[cliffpatte]

lumix LX3 plus the accessory viewfinder, if you need one.

 

[Space is the Place]

The LX3, looks very interesting! i'll have a read about it. It might be a bit to big.

 

[markt]

I bought a Ricoh GRD last year, and then Panasonic come out with the LX3!

Bastards.

Very nice samples on DPReview, somewhat awesome for the size.

 

[Space is the Place]

Ive just had a look at the Optical viewfinder for the LX3, its quite expensive at £200, and only works at the 24mm end.

 

[markt]

I know holding the camera up to the face without a viewfinder looks daft but at least it steadies the thing, £200 viewfinder, what a bargain

The integral viewfinders on todays compacts are useless anyway so omitting it and having an external as an extra is no biggy IME, I had an IXUS last year which was a fine camera for what it was but putting a viewfinder in the body is purely cosmetic as it simply cannot be seen through without some sort of bionic eye

 

[cliffpatte]

Muz, you can also use the smaller of the two Ricoh viewfinders for the GRD as the 24mm frame lines are about the same.

cheers
Cliff

 

[cliffpatte]

Here is one with the bigger of the two Ricoh Viewfinders which has 21mm and 28mm finder lines

 

[Space is the Place]

Im just downloading a few images taken with LX3, from the Dp review site, they look excellent. I'll try and have a look at a LX3 in the flesh next week.