Biggest Viewfinder

[paniolo]

Hi,

I look for a compact camera like Fuji Clearshot 50 AF, Vivitar Bigview BV35 AF, Yashica Clearlook AF, ... but without AF.

Is there something like a Rollei 35 but with a huge, central viewfinder?

Manual controle would be nice, but not necessary.
I have tried the XA, but I am not satisfied that much I would buy one again.

An important factor is the build quality, I realy love my Leica CL with 35mm, but dont want to use a camera that is worth ~500$ as a P&S only.

Regards
Tobi

 

[ruby.monkey]

It's a rangefinder, but the Balda Baldessa 1a has a pretty large and bright central finder, along with parallax-correcting framelines, good handling (forefinger-operated focussing wheel is great), solid build, and pretty '50s-chic looks.

Or how about a Rollei B35, or (with a bit of an offset finder) a late-model Voigtlander Vito B?

 

[CliveC]

The biggest viewfinder I've found so far are in the Agfa Optima series. The 1535 is a rangefinder while the lower ones are scale focus. It's not central though, it's on the extreme left of the camera (viewing from the back) like most rangefinders.

That's right, that thing that looks like a flash is actually the viewfinder.

 

[paniolo]

yea I know the optima 1535 but realy dont like it.

What about the Nikon AF and Minolta Hi Matic AF?
Any Experience?

 

[Greyscale]

Nikon L35AF, AF2, AF3, the early Canon Sure Shots, Minolta Hi-Matic AF and AF2, Vivitar Tec 155, Pentax IQ Zoom 700, Minolta Freedom Tele, Konica MT11, Ricoh FF90 and FF3AF, all have comfortably large viewfinders.

Canon Sure Shot Owl probably has the biggest among the compact autofocus cameras.

 

[Mablo]

Voigtlander Vito B with the large crystal viewfinder. At least the build quality is high: