[Jock Elliott]

Seems to me, considering the conditions you expect to encounter, a camera that can be dropped into the mud, rinsed in a puddle, wiped clean with a dirty sock and then function 100% normally is vastly more valuable than a viewfinder.

I agree entirely in principle with you, and I already own a rugged camera, and it has all the wonderful properties you outlined. BUT with the light at the right angle, the viewfinder becomes unusable. This isn't theoretical . . . the first time I took my rugged camera kayaking, I found myself having to put the camera on full wide, pointing in the general direction of the subject, and pressing the shutter . . . because I couldn't see the screen.

I have written to Olympus and begged them to make a rugged camera with a viewfinder, even one of those not-so-excellent optical tunnel viewfinders that you could find on the Canon G12, etc.

Cheers, Jock

[dms]

You could add a cold shoe (e.g., Vello Cold Shoe Mount with 1/4" Thread) and an optical finder, and take pictures holding the camera upside down (or hold camera at forehead level so you can look through the finder)!

Or find another brand that has a model w/ a hot shoe already there, and add the optical finder. That is what I do w/ my Q.

[Jock Elliott]

You could add a cold shoe (e.g., Vello Cold Shoe Mount with 1/4" Thread) and an optical finder, and take pictures holding the camera upside down

That's actually an intriguing suggestion. Of course, channeling my inner (intelligent buttocks), I immediately thought:

1. That would only work in Australia

2. But all the pictures would be inverted!

Cheers, Jock

[stevebrot]

I don't know of any with a viewfinder.

Cheers, Jock

I don't know of any viewfinder cameras that are able to provide true all-weather performance without an enclosure, save one...Nikonos.


Steve

[monochrome]

I don't know of any with a viewfinder.

Cheers, Jock

OK. Any of the W series PnS and a simple LCD Loupe.

[rdenney]

Answering the original question: a 645z with 28-45, 55, and 90, all of which are weather-resistant. It will write images on two cards for redundancy. Batteries are long-lasting and compact—one can take a dozen of them to cover lapses in power availability. I didn’t see a requirement for compactness or light weight, but I did see a requirement for versatility. A big, high-resolution sensor with high-iso capability will be more versatile in how the images might be captured and then used after the fact. A submersible camera is no benefit if the photos can’t make any potential print that might be needed.

Rick “yes, it’s just a thought experiment” Denney