Optical Viewfinder
An optical viewfinder is a window you look through to see the real scene, carried to your eye by mirrors or glass, with no screen and no delay.
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An optical viewfinder is a window used to frame a photo, and what it shows is the real scene, carried to the eye by mirrors or glass. No screen is involved. It is the traditional viewfinder of DSLR cameras, and some compact cameras have a simpler version.
How it works
In a DSLR, light enters the lens and strikes a mirror that angles it up into a prism, which sends it on to the eyepiece. When the photo is taken, the mirror flips out of the way so the light can reach the sensor.
What it offers
The view is natural and has no delay. It uses no battery power, and it stays clear in bright sunlight.
What it cannot do
It cannot show the final photo. Brightness, colour and the effect of the settings appear only after the shot, on the rear screen. On many cameras it cannot be used while recording video.
What the numbers mean
- Coverage: 100% means the whole frame is visible; less means the edges of the photo are hidden.
What it does not promise
An optical viewfinder does not give better focus or better photos. The mirror mechanism that makes it work also makes the body bulkier. An electronic viewfinder is different, because it shows a screen image.