In photography, a viewfinder is a device on a camera that a photographer uses to determine exactly where the camera is pointed, and approximately how much of that view will be photographed. A viewfinder can be mechanical (indicating only direction and approximate view), with simple optical components, with precision optics and optical functions, or a digital accessory device used with digital cameras.
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👉 Viewfinder in the context of Mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera
A mirrorless camera, sometimes referred to as a mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera (MILC), is a digital system camera which does not use a reflex mirror to present an image through a viewfinder. They have come to replace DSLRs, which have historically dominated interchangeable lens cameras. Other terms include electronic viewfinder interchangeable lens (EVIL), compact system camera (CSC), and digital single-lens mirrorless (DSLM).
When compared to similar DSLRs, these cameras can be smaller, lighter, and quieter.
In this Dossier
Viewfinder in the context of Digital single-lens reflex camera
A digital single-lens reflex camera (digital SLR or DSLR) is a digital camera that combines the optics and mechanisms of a single-lens reflex camera with a solid-state image sensor and digitally records the images from the sensor.
The reflex design scheme is the primary difference between a DSLR and other digital cameras. In the reflex design, light travels through the lens and then to a mirror that alternates to send the image to either a prism, which shows the image in the optical viewfinder, or the image sensor when the shutter release button is pressed. The viewfinder of a DSLR presents an image that will not differ substantially from what is captured by the camera's sensor, as it presents it as a direct optical view through the main camera lens rather than showing an image through a separate secondary lens.
View the full Wikipedia page for Digital single-lens reflex cameraViewfinder in the context of Pentamirror
A pentamirror is an optical device used in the viewfinder systems of various single-lens reflex cameras instead of a pentaprism. It is used to reverse again the laterally reversed image coming from the reflex mirror.
Instead of the solid block of glass of the prism in a pentaprism system, here 3 mirrors are used to perform the same task. This is cheaper and lighter, but generally produces a viewfinder image of lower quality and brightness.
View the full Wikipedia page for Pentamirror