Shooting from the hip.

July 3, 2008 8:20 AM

Digital SLR-filter: Looking to replace my girlfriend's Nikon D100 with a new digital SLR body that has a waist-level viewfinder. She only has one lens so she could stay with Nikon or switch brands easily. Any advice?

She's had this D100 for five years and it has been a great work-horse for her, but she really really wants a waist-level viewfinder capability which the D100 can't do (the thing where you hold the camera low, look down through the viewfinder and 'shoot from the hip').

Any advice? She'd like to stay in roughly the same price bracket, paying between $500 and $2000 for a new or gently used body and get something that is as good and tough as this body has been.

Thanks.

posted by stewiethegreat to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (8 answers total)

that has a waist-level viewfinder

is that the only reason why she'd want to replace her current camera? I ask because getting an angle finder that would fit onto the eye piece of her camera would be very cost effective. if she's willing to spend a bit more she could also go for something like a zigview screen, which is what I am currently using with my tilt-shift lenses.

the look down through the viewfinder and 'shoot from the hip action you described is a feature mostly seen in medium- and large-format cameras. very few of them are digital (this hasselblad is a great example) and they are very firmly out of your declared price range.
posted by krautland at 8:56 AM on July 3, 2008

I don't think that exactly what you describe exists outside of something like a $25,000 digital medium-format conversion. You might try a right angle viewfinder (I know that's not exactly what you asked for) or dropping down to a cheaper point-and shoot with a live-view LCD on a swivel.... not too good in sunlight.

Good Luck.
posted by pjern at 8:59 AM on July 3, 2008

krautland: An angle finder really isn't usable from a couple feet away, is it?

stewiethegreat: krautland's quite right that it's really not a feature you're going to find in almost any 35mm-type SLR, film or digital. Your best bet is the zigview or similar.
posted by Tomorrowful at 9:02 AM on July 3, 2008

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ50 has a flip out screen (like a video camera) which I think also swivels so you can hold it low and look at the flip out LCD screen. "The flip-out screen can now be folded down and turned around for self-portraits, "

But I think this is the only DSLR with this type of screen. Some point and shoot didgitals offer it
posted by 543DoublePlay at 9:06 AM on July 3, 2008

An angle finder really isn't usable from a couple feet away, is it?

most angle-finders are eye pieces that you can rotate so they're usable from all angles but you still need to press your eye onto it. the zigview I linked comes in various different options - they are digital screens that don't require you to be right on the camera with your head. the cheaper one is attached to the camera, the most expensive option is wireless. you could literally have the camera on a flagpole then.
posted by krautland at 9:10 AM on July 3, 2008

here's a decent youtube video demonstration of the zigview.
posted by krautland at 9:40 AM on July 3, 2008

I'm not sure about the build quality but Sony makes the Alpha 350 which has a screen that you can pop out and tilt. It goes for about $800 US at Amazon with a lens (which will be needed since Nikon lenses won't work with the Sony).
posted by inviolable at 10:01 AM on July 3, 2008

The Olympus E-3 has a swing and tilt rear LCD too.

If I were your girlfriend I'd want to physically demo either the Oly or the Sony Alpha 350 referenced by inviolable above prior to purchase. She will probably find one of these cameras more to her liking than the other, due to their different LCD screen and handling characteristics.

I honestly am not sure how viable either of them would be if she actually wants to hold the camera at waist level without some kind of shade over the LCD to block ambient light.

I don't have first hand experience with either of them but given that the E-3 is currently Olympus's top of the line DSLR I think it would get my vote for toughness and weather sealing.
posted by imjustsaying at 12:00 PM on July 3, 2008