Whether they have built-in long-range zoom lenses or interchangeable lenses, the Electronic Viewfinder camera category (sometimes referred to as “bridge” cameras) has undergone a resurgence in the last year.
EVF cameras are getting more sophisticated, with either longer zoom ranges or interchangeable lenses. Fast burst rates, special effects such as 3-D, sweep panorama stitching, and in-camera dynamic range boosts, multiple-exposure tricks and more have been loaded onto these compact cameras, bringing new excitement and interest. The category has also divided, falling into two major groups:
Superzooms
Where a couple of years ago an 18x zoom lens was considered a long stretch, now EVF cameras with built-in lenses have 30, 40 or even 50x optical zooms, and the lenses start out at wider wide-angle settings. Maximum focal lengths in the 800mm range (35mm equivalent) are not uncommon. There’s even a camera now that can zoom beyond 1,000mm! To accommodate such a wide optical range, superzoom EVF cameras use small sensors, the kind you’d find in a pocket-sized compact digital camera. In daylight that’s fine, but in subdued light, image quality degrades fast because of the physical limitations that come with squeezing so many pixels onto a space the size of your pinkie nail. Despite these limitations, noise suppression software can be applied in-camera which will let you produce 5×7 and even 8×10 prints that will be acceptable for most casual shooters. A caveat when shooting with a long-range zoom camera: Image stabilization will help in bright sunlight when zoomed to the longest focal length, but a tripod is much better and highly recommended.
Interchangeable Lens EVFs
The new sub-category is interchangeable-lens EVFs, which started when Panasonic introduced the G1, based on the Four Thirds sensor, in 2008, heralding a new era for photographers. In the last year, the category expanded greatly, with Sony and Fuji, and Olympus offering cameras with larger APS sensors. In both cases, the sensors in these cameras are commonly found on DSLRs, and the overall image quality is inevitably going to be much better than on smaller sensor cameras. But more importantly, each brand has a selection of interchangeable lenses, and third-party manufacturers have created adaptors that let you mix and match, putting other brand lenses on these cameras. Although these cameras look like DSLRs, they are smaller and lighter because they do not have a space-eating mirror housing.
But wait—there’s more!
There’s another sub-category, mirrorless interchangeable lens compacts which lack built-in electronic viewfinders. Just to confuse matters a bit more, some of those cameras have EVFs available as accessories that are available at an additional cost. I’m not including those cameras here, but you can read more about them in “The Best System Compact Cameras Right Now”.
A note about DxOMark Lab Tests: The Adorama Learning Center’s partner test lab, DxOMark, has published lab test results of some interchangeable lens cameras, but not for fixed-lens EVFs. I’ve included basic result information and a brief interpretive statement for each camera where lab tests are supplied.And now, on to the cameras. First, we’ll look at EVFs with built-in lenses, then interchangeable-lens EVFs. Adorama prices are accurate as of March 14, 2013.
Fixed Lens Superzoom “Bridge” Cameras with Electronic Viewfinders
Canon PowerShot SX50 HS
Adorama Price: $429
With a category-leading 50x optical zoom lens that reaches all the way from 24-1200mm (35mm equivalent, and no, that’s not a typo), the Canon PowerShot SX50 has a 12MP CMOS sensor and is capable of capturing both RAW and JPEG images, as well as HD video up to 1080p with stereo sound. The camera has a maximum ISO of 6400, and the 2.8-inch LCD monitor can flip out and has a 461k dot resolution. The camera also has an eye-level electronic viewfinder with a modest 202k dot resolution that is decent for compositional reference. It offers the usual boatload of photo effects, and has a burst mode of 2.2 shots per second, which is pretty good. In Macro AF mode, it will focus to the surface of the lens (in other words, 0 inches!), another impressive bit of optical wondermint.
Key Features:
- World’s First 50x optical zoom lens; 24-120mm (35mm equivalent)
- Macro focus to surface of lens
- 12MP CMOS sensor
- 2.8-inch LCD Monitor with 461k dot resolution
- Electronic Viewfinder with 202k dot resolution
- Shutter speeds 15-1/2000 sec
- Max. apertures f/3.4-6.5
- ISO range 80-6400
- RAW & JPEG
- Up to 1080p Video
- Built-in flash range 1.6-18ft wide angle
- Hot shoe compatible with Canon Speedlite flashes
- Smart Auto sets camera based on 58 predefined shooting situations
- High Speed Burst Mode captures 10 frames at 13fps
Who would love it: Wildlife/birding photographers, travel shooters, soccer moms
Fujifilm FinePix HS50 EXR
Adorama Price: $549
Overview: With an impressive long-range optical 24-1000mm (35mm equivalent) f/2.8-5.6 superzoom lens, the Fujifilm HS50 is a powerful self-contained camera for amateurs and enthusiasts. Fujifilm has improved shutter lag time, and the 256-zone metering, top shutter speed of 1/4000 sec., and hybrid phase detetion/contrast detection AF system all combine to make this a great camera for sports photography. Macro photographers can shoot as close as 0.4 inches in super macro mode, and the ISO range of 100-12800 allows for low-light shooting, although we recommend using the lens’s widest setting in subdued light. Onboard image stabilization is a requirement as you zoom out to the farther reaches of its telephoto capabilities, and a tripod is highly recommended when shooting beyond 300mm. The EVF is a bright, high-resolution 920k dots, supplemented by the 3-inch flip-out LCD monitor.
Key Features:
- 16MP 1/2-inch CMOS sensor
- 24-1000mm (35mm equivalent) f/2.8-5.6 zoom lens
- 920k resolution electronic viewfinder
- 3-inch, 920 dot flip-out LCD monitor
- RAW + JPEG still formats
- H.264 MOV movie format in up to 1080p
- Focus to 0.4 inches in Super Macro, 2.7 inches in regular macro
- ISO range 100-12800
- 256-zone TTL meter
- Auto and PSAM exposure control
- Film simulation modes
- Center, Multi, Area and Tracking AF
- Built-in flash
- Electronic level
- Motion Panoram
- Hot Shoe
Who would love it: Sports and wildlife enthusiasts.
Nikon Coolpix 520
Adorama Price: $446.95 (available in Red or Black)
Overview: The Nikon Coolpix P520’s amazingly long-ranging zoom lens stretches to an amazing 42x zoom ratio—24-1000mm; in fact, it specs out very similar to the Fuji, but at $100 less there are a few compromises. The lens is f/3-5.9, and the EVF is a modest 201k dot resolution—good enough for reference but not tack sharp. But the flip-out LCD monitor, measuring a generous 3.1 inches, leads the pack. Macro close-up can bring you to within an inch of the front of the lens, while 99 autofocus areas indicate fine focusing abilities. This camera offers 1080 HD video in 5 recording speeds, has 20 scene modes and—a Nikon strength—13 in-camera editing actions. Sorry, no RAW image capture.
Key Features:
- 18MP 2/3-inch sensor
- 24-1000mm (35mm equivalent) f/3-5.9 lens
- Built-in GPS
- 3.2-inch 920k dot resolution LCD monitor
- Up to 7fps high-resolution burst rate
- 3D image capture
- Auto Scene Selector
- Motion detection
- Smart Portrait mode
- 180 and 360-degree stitch panorama capture
- Subject Tracking
- Macro focus to 0.4 inches from surface of lens
- ISO range 100-12800
- 1080p HD movie recording with built-in stereo mic.
- 19.6 oz.
- Optional Wi-Fi adapter available
Who would love it: Travelers, soccer moms, wildlife and birding enthusiasts who’d rather bag a great photo of their subject than kill it.
Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Cameras with Electronic Viewfinders
Fujifilm X-E1
Adorama Price: $1,399 (available in Silver or Black)
Overview: This premium interchangeable lens camera won “photokina STAR 2012” Award. Fujifilm’s X-E1 features a 16 megapixel APS-C X-Trans CMOS Sensor with top-class OLED electronic viewfinder and a built-in flash. The X-E1 allows you to shoot approximately 350 shots per charge, so you can concentrate on your photography without the concern of your battery running out. Contrast Detection brings your subject into sharp focus in as little as 0.1 seconds. The 200 – 6400 ISO sensitivity equivalent range allows you to easily shoot photos in low-light settings. The X-E1 can also capture HD video and has a 2.8-inch LCD monitor for reviewing your shots.
Key Features:
- 16.3 MP APS-C X-Trans CMOS Sensor provides high resolution & high sensitivity matching full-size sensor quality
- Magnesium body with traditional (classical) design in compact size
- HD 1080p Video w/Stereo Sound
- 100-25,600 ISO Capabilitites
- JPEG + RAW (Process In-Camera)
- Intutive Operation with Manual ring and Aperture Dial & Shutter-speed Dials.
- Aspherical OLED-EVF 2360K EVF equipped with approx. 2360K dots OLED panel provides high contrast ratio and natural look.
- 2 new XF lenses provide a wider array of matched lenses
- Built-in flash
- Fast AF 0.1 sec with OIS, F2.8 zoom lens
- External microphone connection
- Built in diopter
- Exposure Control – TTL 256 Zones
- High Speed Contrast Autofocus
Who would love it: Travel and portrait photographers seeking a compact camera with variety of mode settings and the ability to shoot in low-light situations, as well as HD video.
Olympus OMD-EM5
Adorama Price: $1,199 (with 12-50mm kit lens)
Overview: The arrival of the Olympus OMD-EM5 this year was greeted with a chorus of OMG’s as the camera revived the design and spirit of Olympus’s most popular film camera line, the OM series, which had a successful 29-year run. It’s a fun camera. In addition to delivering outstanding image quality from its 16MP Four Thirds sensor (including impressive low-light performance), this camera takes all Micro Four Thirds lenses and has enough Art filters to make the Instagram crowd jealous. It has a super-hi-res electronic viewfinder and a flip-out 3-inch LCD monitor, menu and mode options that will be familiar to DSLR users, and our field tests showed it to be quick and responsive.
Key Features:
- 16MP CMOS sensor
- 35 AF targets
- Electronic Viewfinder with 1.44 million dot resolution
- Claimed world’s fastest autofocus
- ISO range 200-25,600
- Shutter speeds 60-1/4000 sec
- 9.2fps high-speed shooting
- 5-axis image stabilization
- Dust-proof, splash-proof
- 3-inch tilting 610k dot resolution OLED monitor
- 11 art filters with variations
- Dust reduction system
- Shutter mechanism tested to 100,000 cycles
- Multiple exposures possible
- Digital leveler
- 1080p HD video
Read the Adorama Learning Center review of the Olympus OMD-EM5
Who would love it: Serious hobbyists, travelers, street photographers.
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5
Adorama Price: $498 (with 14-42mm kit lens)
Overview: While Panasonic has an extremely capable video-friendly high-end interchangeable-lens camera in the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3 ($1,298, body only), we chose the GMC-G5 because, at under $500, is is a much more affordable interchangeable-lens EVF. Featuring a 16MP CMOS micro four thirds sensor (half the size of a 35mm sensor), the G5 is geared towards advanced snapshooters and photo enthusiasts on a tight budget who want the flexibility and expandability of interchangeable lenses. A sensor is tripped when the camera is held up to the eye, activating the 1.440 million dot resolution EVF (one of the highest-resolution EVFs available) as well as the camera’s autofocus system for faster AF acquisition. There’s also a 3-inch, 920k dot resolution touchscreen LCD, just one of many intuitive ways of operating this camera.
Key Features:
- 16MP Four Thirds-sized Live MOS sensor
- Interchangeable Lens system (Micro Four Thirds Mount) with variety of interchangeable lenses
- Adapters available for several camera mount lenses
- 1080p HD Video in 24 or 60fps in AVCHD format, 720p at 30fps in M-JPEG format
- RAW and JPEG image files
- 3D lens compatibility using MPO format
- EVF resolution: 1,533,600 dots
- 3-inch, 460k dot monitor
- ISO range 160-12,800
- Manual and auto exposure
- Color temperature control
- Touch screen control
- Shutter speeds 60-1/4000 sec
- Over 20 scene modes
- Burst rate: 5fps at full resolution, 40fps at 4MP resolution
- External stereo microphone jack
- 13.82 oz (body only)
Lab Test Results (Provided by DxOMark):
- Maximum ISO for acceptable image quality (digital noise): 600
- Maximum ISO for acceptable dynamic range: 800
- Color depth: Very good (21.4 bits on a scale of 1-25)
- Overall image quality: Good (61 on a scale of 1-100)
- Dynamic range: 11.6 stops
For a camera with a Four Thirds sensor, the GH2 performed admirably, especially when it comes to low-light/high ISO performance and dynamic range. Recorded ISO sensitivity was consistently within 1/3 stop of the indicated speed at all speeds.
Who would love it: Advanced snapshooters and enthusiasts who appreciate image quality, ease of use, and the flexibility of being able to add new lenses to extend their visual range.
Sony Alpha NEX-7
Adorama Price: $998 (body only)
Overview: The Sony NEX-7 has so much going for it—from its DSLR-quality 24.3MP APS-C sensor, top quality EVF, and 10fps burst rate to its best-in-class overall image quality score and ability to deliver virtually noise-free images at ISO 1600, that in our review of this camera we declared it the best Mirrorless Interchangeable-Lens Camera to date. It is a pro-level camera that offers many layers of features, from those a casual user would enjoy to capabilities that could satisfy the most demanding photojournalists and wedding photographers. With virtually no lag time and a growing selection of interchangeable, high-quality lenses, this camera is an investment in serious photography.
Key Features:
- 24.3MP APS-C Sensor
- 10fps top burst rate
- HD movies with manual control
- Flip-up 3-inch LCD monitor, 921k dot resolution
- E-mount lenses
- Sweep Panorama mode
- P/A/S/M modes for still and video
- 25-point AF
- Three manual control dials with assignable modes
- Object tracking AF
- Focus peaking
- 6-image layering combines multiple image for sharper images
- Intelligent AF
- Dynamic Range optimizer
- 11 Picture Effects: Posterization, Pop Color, Retro Photo, Partial Color, Soft High-key, High Contrast Monochrome, Toy Camera, Soft Focus, HDR Painting, Rich-tone Monochrome and Miniature
- First OLED viewfinder
- 1080p at 60p/60i/24p
- 10.3 oz (body only)
Who would love it: Street photographers, wedding photographers, photojouranlists, serious photo hobbyists looking for a quick, accurate, compact camera that delivers best-quality images.
Sony Alpha NEX-6
Adorama Price: $998 (with 16-50mm kit lens)
Overview: The NEX-6, first of Sony’s new 6-series NEX compact interchangeable lens cameras, combines a 16-megapixel APS-C sensor with up to 10 fps shooting and creative manual operations to offer photographers of all levels the opportunity to take crisp, artistic photos and High Definition (HD) videos. The user interface is easy via a 3-inch LCD monitor. Images may be saved in raw and/or JPEG format, and sensitivity can be set in the range of ISO 100-25,600. Phase detection Auto Focus for quick response focusing, ideal when tracking fast-moving subjects, makes this a great action camera that you can bring to the stadium or soccer field.
Key Features:
- Pocket camera with professional-grade performance
- 16 MP APS-C sensor with up to 10 fps shooting and Full HD video
- Fast Hybrid AF includes phase-detection for DSLR-like focus
- Bright XGA OLED viewfinder for 100% coverage
- Wi-Fi sharing and downloadable camera apps
- DSLR-like operation with new intuitive Quick Navi controls
- Multi-interface Smart Accessory Shoe for system accessories
- Built-in Guide Number 6 flash brightens the scene
- 11 exciting Picture Effects for stills and videos
- Photo Creativity for easy image adjustments
Scene modes: Portrait, Landscape, Macro, Sports Action, Sunset, Night Portrait, Night View, Handheld Twilight, Anti-Motion Blur. Who would love it: Soccer moms and travellers who want it all in one small package.