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Which small for factor camera with a viewfinder?

  
 
GiovanniAprea
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p.1 #1 · Which small for factor camera with a viewfinder?


Always in the search of an everyday's camera, ideally a DX sensor (pointless to aim at FF if looking for compactness and ILC), viewfinder mandatory, 24MP plenty of pixels, no need for dual card slot, a decent battery life, would want to get equivalent 2x mm, 50mm and 85mm, some kind of AI in the form of eye reckon for portraits.

I regret I sold the Fujinon 35/1,4R when the X-Pro1 broke, it was a very nice lens, compact, sharp and with a character, the camera was a big disappointment, super sluggish, nothing to tell home about IQ wise and not built the way I expected from Fujifilm, maybe the second iteration was a better build but I figured the fancy rangefinder look and hybrid viewfinder didn't do it for me, all I need is to have back button AF, a way to select focus point, exp compensation and aperture dial under some finger, a decent AF and that's it.

I put my eye through a Sony A6700 VF and didn't even spend more than 3 seconds there, ouch, coming from both D-SLR and ML FF it looked like a pinhole but I understand there must be some compromise.


What would you suggest to a Nikon user?

Grazie



Oct 09, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Alan Olander
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p.1 #2 · Which small for factor camera with a viewfinder?


Z50ii, only 20.9 MP, and battery life so so. Otherwise, quite nice. Get the Viltrox primes for it.


Oct 09, 2025 at 01:02 PM
crf59
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p.1 #3 · Which small for factor camera with a viewfinder?


OM System OM-3 with small primes or even the 12-45 f4 zoom. It's very small, has great performance, and the features are unmatched. Computational photography modes, high def, good IBIS, etc. I own the OM-1, but used an OM-3 recently and was very impressed (except for ergonomics - it's shaped exactly and old Olympus OM-1 film camera). Great IQ and fully weather sealed as well.


Oct 09, 2025 at 04:40 PM
gdanmitchell
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p.1 #4 · Which small for factor camera with a viewfinder?


GiovanniAprea wrote:
I regret I sold the Fujinon 35/1,4R when the X-Pro1 broke, it was a very nice lens, compact, sharp and with a character, the camera was a big disappointment, super sluggish, nothing to tell home about IQ wise and not built the way I expected from Fujifilm, maybe the second iteration was a better build but I figured the fancy rangefinder look and hybrid viewfinder didn't do it for me, all I need is to have back button AF, a way to select focus point, exp compensation and aperture dial under some finger, a decent AF and that's it.


Fujifilm obviously isn’t the only option here, but their cameras have come a long ways in the dozen plus years since the first XPro came out.

If you want small, the new XE5 is certainly a contender. If you are fine with fixed lens, then the X100vi is worthy. I like the XT5, but it may exceed some of the features you are looking for.

I had the XPro2. It was a step up from the XPro1 for sure, though it’s AF is a bit dated at this point, and I think that the appeal of the hybrid viewfinder has diminished a lot at this point, now that EVF performance has increased a lot.

Edited on Oct 10, 2025 at 01:29 PM · View previous versions



Oct 10, 2025 at 10:31 AM
AmbientMike
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p.1 #5 · Which small for factor camera with a viewfinder?


GiovanniAprea wrote:
Always in the search of an everyday's camera, ideally a DX sensor (pointless to aim at FF if looking for compactness and ILC), viewfinder mandatory, 24MP plenty of pixels, no need for dual card slot, a decent battery life, would want to get equivalent 2x mm, 50mm and 85mm, some kind of AI in the form of eye reckon for portraits.

I regret I sold the Fujinon 35/1,4R when the X-Pro1 broke, it was a very nice lens, compact, sharp and with a character, the camera was a big disappointment, super sluggish, nothing to tell home about IQ wise and not
...Show more

Rebel SL2 + 18-55 & 55-250 is very light, 29-400mm ff equivalent, excellent macro especially on 55-250. 24mm pancake and 50/1.8 available for 38mm & 80mm ff equivalent

If you shoot Nikon D3200 looks like a deal. D7200 looks excellent if not compact

Canon R100 & R50 super light, as light as anything Fuji at 12-13oz, should have eye af, R50 af supposed to be excellent. Rf 50/1.8 tiny , for that matter FF RP & R8 are really very light, lighter than most aps cameras. Either is lighter than X-S 20, even though that's a pretty light camera



Oct 10, 2025 at 11:30 AM
GiovanniAprea
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p.1 #6 · Which small for factor camera with a viewfinder?


I used to really like the X-T series from Fuji, I handled one in a store and dropped it not to fall for it, I have to try again in some store to figure how bulky it is, am not gonna go again to an X-Pro, I think it was a futile exercise in "I want a Leica but I can't", sluggish, Frankenstein ViewFinder and I didn't like the build quality at all.

I won't go smaller than DX nor fixed lens, it has to be an ILC with a DX in the 20-24MP range and two or three primes to cover 50-85 and something wider, good aperture lenses, no zoom.

By the way, I shoot Nikon Z6II and Z8, D850 and a few lenses...

Grazie



Oct 10, 2025 at 01:13 PM
curious80
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p.1 #7 · Which small for factor camera with a viewfinder?


Z50 II makes a lot of sense given you are already a Nikon FF user - the compact prime situation seems to have improved quite a bit now for the Nikon APS-C system. Lenses like Nikon 24mm 1.7, 26mm 2.8, 40mm f2, Sigma 56mm 1.4, Viltrox 15mm 1.7 etc give you fair bit of options to get your target range with compact primes.

Fuji X-T50, and X-S20 are also options - and Fuji also has a good set of compact primes.

Canon I would say is the weakest on compact APS-C lenses front.

Sony APS-C bodies are not to my liking - I would take Nikon/Fuji over those

Edited on Oct 10, 2025 at 03:45 PM · View previous versions



Oct 10, 2025 at 01:35 PM
gdanmitchell
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p.1 #8 · Which small for factor camera with a viewfinder?


GiovanniAprea wrote:
I used to really like the X-T series from Fuji, I handled one in a store and dropped it not to fall for it, I have to try again in some store to figure how bulky it is, am not gonna go again to an X-Pro, I think it was a futile exercise in "I want a Leica but I can't", sluggish, Frankenstein ViewFinder and I didn't like the build quality at all.

I won't go smaller than DX nor fixed lens, it has to be an ILC with a DX in the 20-24MP range and two or three primes to
...Show more

Am I correct that when you write "DX," you mean APS-C? I don't use anything smaller than APS-C, but I have a friend who I have exhibited with who does use a MFT system for some work and it can look pretty good. That being said, APS-C it shall be!

I like the handling of the XT5 quite a bit. Size-wise it is similar to the XPro — not as wide, only as tall because of the center"bump," but a bit thicker due to the larger eyepiece and the larger (and much more comfortable) grip. I used the XPro2 for street and travel photography, and the XT5 actually feels smaller and tighter to me.

I have had the 35mm f/1.4 lens since I got my first Fujifilm APS-C body (the old XE1) over a dozen years ago. It really is a great lens, though there are a lot of other great prime lens options from Fujifilm. In fact, that is one of the pluses of the Fujifilm APS-C system — since APS-C was their primary focus from the beginning, they don't rely on a few second-class APS-C lenses plus full frame gear (like Canon, Sony, and to some extent Nikon do) but instead built a fairly complete ecosystem of native APS-C lenses.

I'm a big fan of some of their smaller, lighter primes. These include the so-called "Fujicron" f/2 lenses at 23mm, 35mm, and 50mm, plus some other smaller aperture and pancake lenses. My main lens on the XT5 is the tiny 27mm f/2.8.

I know you say that it "has to be...n the 20-24MP range," but the Fujifilm 40MP sensor is really excellent, and I wouldn't ignore that option.

While I have the XT5, from what you have written — if you are to pursue Fujifilm — you might be most interested in the even smaller and new XE5. There is also a less expensive XT30iii coming later this month with the older 26MP sensor.



Oct 10, 2025 at 01:43 PM
GiovanniAprea
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p.1 #9 · Which small for factor camera with a viewfinder?


I would like to finally try an XT and the 35 and 56 lenses but an XT5 is still too expensive on the used market


Oct 11, 2025 at 01:01 PM
adventure_photo
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p.1 #10 · Which small for factor camera with a viewfinder?


I’d revisit the Sony A6700 again and give the viewfinder another try. It’s really not that bad and used mainly for framing and image review which I find it fine for. The quality of that sensor is amazing with great DR, extremely good Ai autofocus, great battery life plus an incredible amount of lenses to choose from. Seems to tick most of your boxes.


Oct 12, 2025 at 08:00 AM
 


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fsiagian
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p.1 #11 · Which small for factor camera with a viewfinder?


I shoot fuji but also really like my nikon zf-c + nikkor 24mm 1.7. As a bonus, you can always use your ff lenses.


Oct 12, 2025 at 09:32 AM
GiovanniAprea
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p.1 #12 · Which small for factor camera with a viewfinder?


I handled the Zf-c and it felt too much like a toy, is it any good?


Oct 12, 2025 at 10:40 AM
GiovanniAprea
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p.1 #13 · Which small for factor camera with a viewfinder?


I always been curious about the famous Sony AF, too bad I didn't spend some time testing the camera, literally switched it on, eye in the VF and switch it off... should give it another try


Oct 12, 2025 at 10:41 AM
adventure_photo
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p.1 #14 · Which small for factor camera with a viewfinder?


GiovanniAprea wrote:
I always been curious about the famous Sony AF, too bad I didn't spend some time testing the camera, literally switched it on, eye in the VF and switch it off... should give it another try


Giovanni, I think the A6700 is a great fun little camera and I'm really enjoying mine. I would definitely give it another chance. I too like good viewfinders and honestly I like the EVF on the A6700. A few recent ones I've captured with mine, the image quality and colors are fantastic imo.




  ILCE-6700    E 16-70mm F4 ZA OSS lens    58mm    f/11.0    1/200s    100 ISO    0.0 EV  






  ILCE-6700    E 16-70mm F4 ZA OSS lens    16mm    f/5.0    1/200s    400 ISO    0.0 EV  






  ILCE-6700    E 16-70mm F4 ZA OSS lens    70mm    f/8.0    1/13s    100 ISO    -0.7 EV  






  ILCE-6700    E 16-70mm F4 ZA OSS lens    42mm    f/10.0    1/100s    100 ISO    0.0 EV  






  ILCE-6700    E 16-70mm F4 ZA OSS lens    42mm    f/6.3    1/200s    100 ISO    0.0 EV  






  ILCE-6700    E 24mm F1.8 ZA lens    24mm    f/11.0    3s    100 ISO    0.0 EV  






  ILCE-6700    E 24mm F1.8 ZA lens    24mm    f/8.0    2s    100 ISO    0.0 EV  






  ILCE-6700    E 16-70mm F4 ZA OSS lens    16mm    f/8.0    1/250s    100 ISO    0.0 EV  






  ILCE-6700    FE 28mm F2 lens    28mm    f/8.0    1/200s    100 ISO    0.0 EV  






  ILCE-6700    E 16-70mm F4 ZA OSS lens    50mm    f/5.0    1/13s    640 ISO    0.0 EV  






  ILCE-6700    E 16-70mm F4 ZA OSS lens    70mm    f/4.0    1/60s    640 ISO    -0.7 EV  




Oct 12, 2025 at 01:07 PM
GiovanniAprea
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p.1 #15 · Which small for factor camera with a viewfinder?


adventure_photo wrote:
Giovanni, I think the A6700 is a great fun little camera and I'm really enjoying mine. I would definitely give it another chance. I too like good viewfinders and honestly I like the EVF on the A6700. A few recent ones I've captured with mine, the image quality and colors are fantastic imo.


Ciao,

the photos look very cool, I am more into people photography and as such my fav focal lengths are 50 and 85, I would add a wide angle or a tiny zoom for casual shooting but I wanna keep it compact and with quality, any chance there is some portraits shot with the A6700 so I can at least see how it performs before I can eventually put my eye through the VF?

Thank you



Oct 13, 2025 at 01:33 AM
adventure_photo
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p.1 #16 · Which small for factor camera with a viewfinder?


GiovanniAprea wrote:
Ciao,

the photos look very cool, I am more into people photography and as such my fav focal lengths are 50 and 85, I would add a wide angle or a tiny zoom for casual shooting but I wanna keep it compact and with quality, any chance there is some portraits shot with the A6700 so I can at least see how it performs before I can eventually put my eye through the VF?

Thank you


I have only owned the A6700 for a short time and only had a few photos of people in them but not really portraits per se, but here they are if it helps. The Ai autofocus makes focusing on people really easy.




  ILCE-6700    E 16-70mm F4 ZA OSS lens    16mm    f/5.0    1/80s    400 ISO    0.0 EV  






  ILCE-6700    E 24mm F1.8 ZA lens    24mm    f/2.0    1/30s    200 ISO    0.0 EV  






  ILCE-6700    E 24mm F1.8 ZA lens    24mm    f/3.5    1/320s    100 ISO    0.0 EV  






  ILCE-6700    E 24mm F1.8 ZA lens    24mm    f/2.2    1/800s    100 ISO    0.0 EV  






  ILCE-6700    E 24mm F1.8 ZA lens    24mm    f/2.2    1/800s    100 ISO    0.0 EV  






  ILCE-6700    E 24mm F1.8 ZA lens    24mm    f/2.2    1/800s    100 ISO    0.0 EV  






  ILCE-6700    E 24mm F1.8 ZA lens    24mm    f/1.8    1/500s    200 ISO    -1.3 EV  






  ILCE-6700    E 16-70mm F4 ZA OSS lens    16mm    f/8.0    1/160s    100 ISO    0.0 EV  




Oct 13, 2025 at 10:27 AM
GiovanniAprea
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p.1 #17 · Which small for factor camera with a viewfinder?


Photos are very very nice, very well done!

I wonder what they look like with a 35 or 56 millimeter f1.8 lens which is my idea, the only two drawbacks I can think of keeping me away from an A6700 are the small VF and the lack of a joystick to pick focus point, size seems perfect.



Oct 13, 2025 at 01:04 PM
jeffbuzz
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p.1 #18 · Which small for factor camera with a viewfinder?


It has surprised me how much smaller and lighter the Sony a6400 is than the a6600. On paper is doesn't sound like much difference. But the smaller grip and 100 grams is noticeable. A large lens can quickly cancel out those differences. But with a pancake prime or collapsing zoom, the a6400 is as small as some "compact" fixed lens cameras. The EVF is small but very usable.


Oct 13, 2025 at 01:38 PM
adventure_photo
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p.1 #19 · Which small for factor camera with a viewfinder?


GiovanniAprea wrote:
Photos are very very nice, very well done!

I wonder what they look like with a 35 or 56 millimeter f1.8 lens which is my idea, the only two drawbacks I can think of keeping me away from an A6700 are the small VF and the lack of a joystick to pick focus point, size seems perfect.


I think you're expressing strong opinions on the EVF, but it's actually sharp and colorful, comfortable and works fine. I also own the A7RV which has a great EVF but I don't even think about it differently when using the A6700. As far as no joystick, you can control the points with the back touchscreen which works well, or you can use AF-Continuous focus with lock-on tracking. Put the point on what you want, half press shutter and recompose. The AF point stays locked on especially peoples faces and eyes.



Oct 13, 2025 at 02:11 PM
GiovanniAprea
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p.1 #20 · Which small for factor camera with a viewfinder?


I yesterday evening played a bit with the A6700 with the little stock zoom, I was impressed by the AF capabilities, once locked on the eye it was glued to it nonetheless it was dark and only some artificial dim lights around us, in comparison my Z8 with an f1.8 lens mounted could keep up with it but the Sony seemed as good if not better.

The viewfinder pretty damn good, small but so good, didn't have enough time to explore nor to test the results and I won't compare apples with cheese with my cameras and lenses but seems like a very capable camera with great size to be an everyday rig with one or two primes, only downside the price, damn, almost 1.700, just 300 less than an A7IV and that's quite a lot for a camera which might soon be replaced as I guess it is two years old.




Oct 31, 2025 at 03:55 AM
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