Is there a camera with these characteristics?

1. Using SD-cards.
2. High quality fixed focal length lens, i.e. no zoom, equivalent to (circa)
35-mm on 24*36.
3. Max aperture 1:2.0 or brighter.
4. Small (to fit in small pocket).
5. Eye-piece viewfinder.
6. Rather fast (startup and time between pictures).
7. At least 3 MPix.
8. Wellknown brand.

I haven't seen one, has anyone?

/BJ

 

Not quite. This search might get you the nearest:
<http://shopping.yahoo.com.au/ctl/do/drilldown~124901/Compact_Camera,Less_th
an_2x_zoom> or <http://makeashorterlink.com/?K5CC23E4B>.

I have a Minolta Dimage X20; the non-protruding zoom lens works nicely and
the camera is very compact and fast to start-up - but lacks an optical
viewfinder, which is a serious drawback. The more up-market versions do
have optical viewfinders. I think the Konica-Minolta Dimage X50 is the
current top-of-the-range version.

Large apertures (and small apertures) seem to be technically difficult for
lenses for use with the small sensors in 'pocket' cameras; 1:28 to 1:4
seems to be optimum for 'standard' focal lengths. Manual controls are
mostly lacking in these cameras, too.

The quickest starter I've tried is the little Practica SlimPix, which has a
very poor optical viewfinder and produces poor-quality 640x480 images - but
is very portable. The Jenoptic JDC 350 is bulkier but has a better
viewfinder, but the images are no better. Both of those are very cheap,
if you can find them. They may be toys, but it is possible to get images
worth playing with, if you can stand the suspense of no pre-view and the
frequent dissapointments.