Cameras with an optical viewfinder

Viewfinder

— the camera has a viewfinder — an eyepiece that allows you to observe the scene being shot in real time, control the location of the frame, focus and some other shooting parameters. By definition, all “reflex cameras” have such an eyepiece (see “Camera type”), but for other types of cameras this function is far from mandatory.

Viewfinder design and functionality may vary. In some models, this is a purely optical system, without electronics, in others — a small screen placed behind the eyepiece. There are also combined solutions — optics with the ability to project various additional data into the frame. Anyway, the viewfinder provides additional convenience in some situations — in particular, in bright light, in which the camera's display "blinds". On the other hand, in non-mirror models, this feature significantly affects the dimensions and cost.