Buy a Canon SLR?

[bunnspecial]

Thank you. I decided to stay with my 12MP Powershot. I want something that takes great pics as mine does and has a viewfinder as mine also does. I just wanted to upgrade but since current Powershots lack viewfinders I think I will avoid them. I need a viewfinder and need a point and shoot camera better than a phone. Thanks for your tips.

Just to clarify things, when you say "viewfinder" do you want a true optical viewfinder(i.e. when you put your eye up to it, you're really seeing out the other side of the camera) or are you okay with an electronic viewfinder(put your eye up to a magnified screen that shows what the sensor sees).

Optical viewfinders really are what makes an SLR an SLR-that they preserve a(mostly) pure optical path from the lens to your eye. They are hard to beat for this, but in general the more you pay the better you get(this is a whole side discussion about mirrors vs. prisms, magnification, eyepoint, and a few other factors). This type of viewfinder is what I prefer, but there are times when it's less than ideal, particularly in low light.

Viewfinders that are separate from the taking lens CAN be very good, but the ones I've used on digital P&S cameras aren't.

That brings us around to electronic viewfinders(EVFs). 15 years ago, I can remember using them on higher end P&S cameras and thinking they were terrible. The resolution was low, and they lagged terribly. In 2020, they're a different story. They're bright, incredibly high resolution, and although the lag is still present it is so low as to be imperceptible on the better cameras. Unlike an optical viewfinder, they maintain a(relatively) constant brightness in different light conditions, as well as in some other real world situations where SLR viewfinders have been problematic(as a side note, I have a pile of about 20 different focusing screens for the Nikon F/F2-about 4 of them could be considered general purpose screens, and the rest are special purpose for specific lenses or shooting situations). EVFs are so good on many better cameras that some users don't even realize they're not true optical finders.

If you MUST have an optical viewfinder, you need an SLR or one of the limited number of cameras that offer a more traditional type. If an EVF suits your needs, you have a lot of options.

And, once again, is there any particular reason why you're dead set on Canon? Even putting aside your "hate" of Nikon(your words), there are a lot of excellent options from Sony, Fuji, Olympus, and a few others I'm sure I'm missing.

 

[jwolf6589]

In regard of the Lumix models, this is a great buy right now on Amazon!

Lumix ZS 100

as is this

Lumix LX 100

I think I need to stop by a Best Buy with lots of cameras.

 

[Alexander.Of.Oz]

I think I need to stop by a Best Buy with lots of cameras.

Absolutely! Picking up a camera and trying it so you can see what works for you is always the best option for me.

 

[jwolf6589]

Absolutely! Picking up a camera and trying it so you can see what works for you is always the best option for me.

Only problem is the one in my city is very limited. Surely there are bigger stores.

 

[akash.nu]

You are welcome, there are some great little (Panasonic) Lumix models out there in your price range too that also have similar quality and abilities, whilst remaining pocketable!

Yep love the lumix range.

 

[jerwin]

Only problem is the one in my city is very limited. Surely there are bigger stores.

best buy is open by appointment only...
https://www.bestbuy.com/services/shoppingscheduler

 

[jwolf6589]

best buy is open by appointment only...
https://www.bestbuy.com/services/shoppingscheduler

At the moment

 

[Clix Pix]

At the camera shop where I went last week to purchase a new lens, they are open but masks are required in the store and the display shelves don't have the usual cameras available for customers to handle. In the old days one could go in, ask to see a couple of cameras and/or lenses, the staff would hand them the desired item(s) from the display models, the customer would do a little in-store shooting, getting the feel of the camera body and/or how a particular lens felt (its heft and weight, etc., etc.

Now one can discuss the merits and pros-and-cons of each camera or lens but I think have to be pretty sure that this is what they want before being handed the new item in the box and expected to go ahead and purchase it. I knew what I wanted anyway, didn't need to check out a display model, etc., so the transaction was pretty quick for both the sales associate and me. I could hear a lengthy discussion between another sales associate and a customer, evaluating various camera models within a certain brand, the advantages of one over another, the kind of conversation normally accompanied by the customer being able to handle display models.

I suspect that in stores such as Best Buy and Target, other places, that there won't be any display models out now for customers in the electronics department, either, and that any handling of merchandise will be pretty limited.

Of course store return policies help if a customer buys something, gets home with it, uses it and finds that it is not to his or her satisfaction.....

 

[bunnspecial]

At the camera shop where I went last week to purchase a new lens, they are open but masks are required in the store and the display shelves don't have the usual cameras available for customers to handle. In the old days one could go in, ask to see a couple of cameras and/or lenses, the staff would hand them the desired item(s) from the display models, the customer would do a little in-store shooting, getting the feel of the camera body and/or how a particular lens felt (its heft and weight, etc., etc.

I actually made a decently large purchase(2x used lenses, 24-70 f/2.8 and 300mm f/4) at my local store about two weeks ago.

They have the normal amount on display and will still let you handle things, but anything handled has to be wiped down before going back on the shelf. Bodies are particularly problematic.

For that reason, I resisted the urge to "tire kick" some other stuff in the used case like they normally have no problem with me doing. They had a few D800s there that I could have used to test the lenses in question, but given that I had my own in the car I made the trip out to get it before trying the lenses so that they didn't have to deal with disinfecting something that there was zero chance of me buying and was only handling as the "other half" of what I wanted to test.

Granted I do bring my own body a lot of times anyway when evaluating a used lens, as I can not only see how it handles with my specific stuff but can also pixel peep at home. Still, though, I think with their policies it's even more important that I do it when lens shopping.

 

[gkarris]

In regard of the Lumix models, this is a great buy right now on Amazon!

Lumix ZS 100

as is this

Lumix LX 100

I use Lumix Compact ILC cameras and they're awesome, plus they're made in Japan.

I didn't think Japan made any cameras other than the top Pro dSLR's...

 

[Fishrrman]

If you're in the market for a Canon camera, it might be worth visiting Canon's refurbished website to see what's available.

I've bought refurbished lenses and speedlights from them, and they were "like new" and the prices were right, as well...