[Leica] Advice wanted for carry camera.

[lrzeitlin at gmail.com (Lawrence Zeitlin)]

My wife calls me an adventitious photographer. She says I don't compose, I
just shoot.


For the last 50 years I've carried a camera with me most of the time and
react almost instantly to a photo op. The camera has to be pocket sized so
that it won't interfere with whatever else I am doing. For years it was an
old Leica IIIc with a 35 mm f2.8 Canon lens or a 50 mm Elmar that could fit
into the side pocket of a windbreaker. When I traveled it was usually a
Rollei 35 in a small belt holster. I even carried a Minox when I wore a suit
and tie. True, I owned bigger and more professional equipment which I used
when I had to take serious pictures but they were usually too bulky to carry
everyday. But for a variety of reasons I gave up my wet darkroom and my film
cameras became too inconvenient to use. Now I carry a wafer thin Canon
SD1200IS. It has a 10 MP sensor and is smaller and lighter than any of the
others (except the Minox).


The big problem is that when I post pictures to the LUG, I can see obvious
quality differences between my pocket cameras and the M8 and M9 Leicas and
DSLRs that most Luggers use. What I would like is suggestions for a carry
digital camera that will close the gap. I don't expect M9 quality but I
don't want to be embarrassed either. My criteria are the the camera has to
be smaller and much lighter than a Barnack Leica and have an optical
viewfinder. The optical finder is necessary because I wear bifocals and have
to bob my head up and down like a pigeon when using a LCD camera screen. I'm
not sure if any of the new 4/3 cameras will fill the bill but I'm not
opposed to the format. I own an Olympus DSLR and I find it more than
adequate. The problem is that I live more than 50 miles from any large
camera store and I don't get to see and handle any of the newer compact
cameras.


Can any Lugger offer suggestions for a good carry camera?


Larry Z