Viewfinder USA - Photography Terms & Glossary

Glossary Of Photography Terms [1]

Viewfinder A viewfinder is an optical or electronic device used in cameras to frame and compose images before they are captured. Viewfinders provide photographers with a preview of the scene through the camera lens, allowing them to adjust composition, focus, and framing before taking the shot. There are several types of viewfinders, including optical viewfinders (OVFs) and electronic viewfinders (EVFs).
Optical viewfinders use mirrors and prisms to reflect light from the lens to the photographer's eye, providing a direct optical image of the scene. Electronic viewfinders, on the other hand, use digital displays to present a real-time electronic image of the scene, with additional features such as exposure information, focus peaking, and histogram display. Viewfinders are essential components of cameras, ranging from digital SLRs and mirrorless cameras to rangefinders and compact point-and-shoot cameras.