I am not a big fan of not being able to see a preview image, which DSLRs are unable to do. Are there any digital cameras on the market that feature an LCD viewfinder and detachable lenses?
Many of the "non-DSLR" cameras do have "detachable" lenses that allow you to modify your view... It depends on what you want to do.
I think the Panasonic Lumix has live preview also. I wonder if all 4/3 systems have this feature. Hmmmm....?
I guess I don't understand why previewing images is a big deal. I can't preview images on Nikon DSLRs, but the shutter response is quick, and then I can examine the shot to a far-thee-well on the imager. I can certainly delete the shot if I didn't like it and take another with whatever corrections needed. I find previews just add up to an unacceptable shutter delay. When I push the button, I want the image now, not 0.5 seconds later. My wife's point-and-shoot has a nice LCD display on the back, which I never use. I shoot through the viewfinder, and am still disturbed that the camera takes about 0.5 seconds to decide what it wants to do. That means fast-moving scenes are long gone before the camera takes a picture. But how do you preview fast-moving scenes in a LCD in the first place? If the scene isn't fast-moving, why do I need a preview?
I agree with Pete. I don't see the need to preview the photo. Just take the shot and view it on the screen. If I don't like the photo, it goes to photo heaven and I take another. Stay cool and run steam.....
Having had both a "almost nearly but not quite hardly DSLR" and an actual DSLR, I concur that the tradeoff off "camera readiness" vs. the preview is definitely a pro for the DSLR. Of course, I do a lot of railfan photography...if you are setting up for model shots exclusively it's probably a non-issue. But then again, my DSLR battery runs so long I end up forgetting where my charger and extra battery are when I do end up needing them. I routinely fire off close to a thousand shots between recharges. THAT is nice. My prosumer Sony had to have three batteries--one in the camera, one in my pocket, and one in the truck on a 12V charger--and often I'd have to swap batteries before filling up a memory stick while railfanning. Last thing you want to do is have to hike back down "the hill" at Belmont when the light is perfect and you got two trains growling up Crawford Hill to get another battery. (which did happen to me) Like I said on Atlas, I still think an original Digital Rebel "hacked" with a good macro lens will be a better purchase. But if not then the Panasonic or something similar will likely be a solid value short term.
Pete, the reason it still took 0.5 seconds is that the viewfinder is probably also an LCD screen. At least it is on the cameras I've used. The advantage of a DSLR is that it doesn't use an LCD screen. It uses a regular viewfinder which as has been outlined is pretty much better for most action photography. To be honest, I think the only reason they made LCD screens on the back of Cameras at all is because it used to be too hard to get one in the viewfinder. The LCD on a non-SLR is nice, because you get an actual view of the shot same as an SLR, not a view a 1/2" away from the lense. The long an short of it is, if you're looking to railfan, you probably don't really want the LCD screen. It's a function of understanding what it does and doesn't do for you.
My wife's Sony has an optical viewfinder, just like the cheapest disposable film cameras. I shut off the LCD on the back, and it still takes 0.5 seconds to fire. It EATS batteries. We have three sets of 2400 ma Duracells always available. I think I'm going to feed it to my fishes one of these days. But Jeanne does want what I would call a pocket camera. She doesn't want to haul around a DSLR, and I don't blame her, as I haul around two of them.
