A few years ago, Canon was the last game in town if you were after a small, cheap digital camera with a viewfinder.
Every other manufacturer had largely given up on producing such models. Before long, Canon followed suit, with 2009’s Canon Ixus 100 IS looking like the last of a dying breed.
Canon tests the waters
Then last year, Canon returned to its old ways by releasing the Canon PowerShot A1200, the first cheap compact model with a viewfinder in years. Camera enthusiasts who wanted a simple, affordable model that they could hold to their eye in bright conditions finally had an option.
We were excited as we’d been pushing for a return of viewfinders here on Which? Conversation. The bad news was that Canon at the time refused to commit to producing future cameras with viewfinders. The A1200 was effectively a way of testing the waters – initially, it was only available from Jessops before spreading to other retailers.
It seems that sales of the A1200, which has dropped in price to under £60, have been strong enough to persuade Canon that a market still exists for simple digital cameras with viewfinders.
Enthusiasm for viewfinder cameras
We’ve had hundreds of comments on Which? Convo telling us that there’s a real hunger for cameras with built-in viewfinders, and we’ve been passing these comments on to all the major manufacturers.
I’ve spoken to representatives from Canon numerous times on this issue myself, reminding them that plenty of potential customers have been tracking down old cameras online rather than buying the latest models which don’t have viewfinders.
With the release of the new Canon PowerShot A1300, it seems Canon has listened to its customers and renewed its commitment to producing cheap compacts with viewfinders.
The A1300 offers a 16Mp image sensor, 5x optical zoom (up from the A1200’s 4x zoom) and 720p HD video recording. It will launch in April priced at £109, and we’d expect this price to drop further as well.
We want more viewfinders
Make no mistake, from our independent lab testing of last year’s A1200 we didn’t think the camera was perfect, and the viewfinder itself was on the uncomfortably small side. But it’s still great to see a major manufacturer offering low-cost models with a feature that’s in demand but hard to find.
Most of the viewfinder cameras released in 2011 were ludicrously expensive, so a cheap option will always be a welcome prospect. Well done Canon, but why stop there? I’d now like to see other major manufacturers upping their game and offering cheap viewfinder cameras!
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16 Comments
Add your commentThanks for this, Rich. I have lost my compact camera so at the moment I am using a ten year old 2MP Olympus digital camera – so old that it has a viewfinder.
I don’t make much use of a camera in bright, sunny conditions so the lack of a viewfinder on my missing camera has never proved a big problem. I would however like the choice, so I appreciate your efforts to push the manufacturers for action.
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Parris
Thanks very much Wavechange, and we’re keen to keep pushing this issue to the manufacturers – I’m glad to see Canon following last year’s camera with a newer model, but for a realistic degree of consumer choice I think there is plenty left to achieve!
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Gilbert
I’m too interested in photography (not that I’m great) to dream about buying a camera without a viewfinder.
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A few years ago screens were not that good and a viewfinder was really helpful. Nowadays the screens are so much better I don’t think a viewfinder is useful at all.
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Holden
People don’t understand why their photos are out of focus. I see so many taking photos at arms length. In low light the out of focus is normally camera shake. At arms length it’s so difficult to keep the camera still.
Holding the camera against your eye holds the camera steadier, so better quality shots. Years ago with film cameras you only found out when you got your prints back from the developer that the shot you wanted is off centre. Now digital really comes into its own. Take the shoot through the view finder, check the screen, not happy, readjust the shot in the view finder as required, take another shot. Keep the one you like delete the rest. After a while you’ll get to know where to put your subject in the view finder and not suffer from camera shake.
The viewing screen should for viewing the taken image and the view finder for taking shots. Ah with one exception. Macro shots. I’d always use the viewing screen for macro shots.
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I support this campaign, I much prefer the old style viewfinder, I have a Canon SX1IS which performed brilliantly on safari last year, and I pretty well never use the screen on the back.
A friend wants to buy a little camera with a decent viewfinder for an old lady who has shaky hands and who finds pressing the camera to her face helps her more shan a stabiliser – not much about.
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Most outdoor photography is taken with the sun behind the camera rather than into the sun, most of the cameras I seen have reflection from the sun affecting the ability to compose the picture, view finders are therefore invaluable especially when the sun is low in the sky, I also agree that using a view finder give a far more stable stance for shake free photography.
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Turner
My first camera, bought in Germany on National Service in 1954, a £20 Zeiss Ikon, had an accessory viewfinder as well as the standard squinty hole. It was a one inch cube which clicked into the hot shoe. One eye looked into it, the other eye saw the whole scene, with apparently a frame etched on it. It was great to see exactly what you were missing, as well as taking, and to have both eyes open. Please bring them back.
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In bright sunlight, I found it impossible to see anything on the screen.
Perhaps it is the model of movie camera I use, but for many situations it is essential/preferable to have a view finder.
Please bring back viewfinders.
I was astounded to find that they were no longer available on the current low-cost models.
So, l’ve held back replacing it.
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I just can’t take decent photos without a viewfinder, as I can’t focus on the LCD screen. Really frustrating.
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Every digital compact camera needs an optical viewfinder. At the moment manufactures haven’t made an SLR that is small enough to fit into your pocket! I have a compact camera with one of the best LCD screnes, but still it is hard to see the image in bright sunlight.
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Why don’t the camera manufacturers build a decent compact camera? Something like a rangefinder style, it must have manual and aperture and priority settings. All this at a reasonable price, and not a silly over inflated price. The cameras out at the moment are very poor indeed, with the exception of the fuji x100 this is a nice little camera, but very poor video. Also the price is crazy, it should be about £200 in price, there is no need to be asking £700 for it.
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photos
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Something else I have tracked down to by an old model is the Canon A95, fit in the pocket, AA batteries, VARI-ANGLE LCD viewfinder AND optical viewfinder. If only Canon would add the vari-angle lcd and manual controls to the A1300 I would pay a heavy price to get my hands on that !!!
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I am still in search of a decent compact, one at a sensible price. It must have a good lens, and it MUST have a decent viewfinder, not a tiny silly thing. Also a proper dedicated battery, not silly AA type batteries!
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Almost every time I want to take an outdoor picture in the sun it’s a true guessing game if I capture anything that I want. I will never ever buy a camera without a viewfinder again. I long for the good old days…
Unfortunately I want the smallest camera possible that will fit in my pocket and I want at least a 10x zoom. Sadly no such camera exists with a viewfinder – yet.
I once had a Sony video camera where the viewfinder looked at a tiny b/w monitor. That was a great idea since you could see exactly what you were recording. The b/w image didn’t bother me at all – much better than looking at an LCD screen and wondering what you are seeing.
I honestly don’t understand anyone who says they don’t need a view finder. It just isn’t possible to see the image in bright sun on the beach, in the mountains, in the snow, or on the water – even with the best backlit LCDs available today. I miss so many good pictures just because I can’t “see” them!
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