Editing Viewfinder

The '''viewfinder''' is an essential part of most [[camera]]s for previewing what might be the image after exposure. Only a few camera types are regularly not equipped with viewfinder, for example [[repro camera]]s. In [[digital camera]]s the viewfinder might be omitted since the [[LCD]] display on such a camera's back might serve as provisional viewfinder. It's regularly omitted on big plate cameras which are only used with ground glass focusing/previewing.

The '''viewfinder''' is an essential part of most [[camera]]s for previewing what might be the image after exposure. Only a few camera types are regularly not equipped with viewfinder, for example [[repro camera]]s. In [[digital camera]]s the viewfinder might be omitted since the [[LCD]] display on such a camera's back might serve as provisional viewfinder. It's regularly omitted on big plate cameras which are only used with ground glass focusing/previewing.

In modern cameras the optical zoom viewfinder is the most important version. This modern variant of the optical viewfinder is used in [[compact camera]]s with [[Lens#Zoom_and_Prime_Lenses|zoom lens]].

In modern cameras the optical zoom viewfinder is the most important version. This modern variant of the optical viewfinder is used in [[compact camera]]s with [[Lens#Zoom_and_Prime_Lenses|zoom lens]].

===Waist level finders===

===Waist level finders===

In antique cameras the '''reflecting type viewfinder''' is the most common means of image preview. It is not very reliable but easy to add to a folding camera's front standard or folding bed, or into the housing of a box camera. The [[brilliant finder]] is the most widespread of such finders, a combination of a lens, a mirror at a 45 degree angle behind that lens, and another lens at right angle position to the first one to view the mirrored image from the top. An older version was the small cubic ''Watson finder'' with lens and mirror as in the brilliant finder, but with a hooded matte screen for viewing the finder image. A special version was the ''Sellar finder'' which consisted just of a concave mirror with targeting aid. Old [[SLR]] cameras have a bright reflecting type finder with matte screen that uses the same lens as the camera uses for exposures. Before exposure the mirror is lifted so that the light coming from the image subject through the lens can pass towards the image plane where the [[focal plane shutter]] allows the exposure of the film for an instant. [[TLR]] cameras have a bright reflecting type finder with its own focusable lens, a "twin" of the camera lens, combined with mirror and matte screen. Thus a TLR finder is almost like a [[camera obscura]]. All these finders are to be viewed from above. Together they are the class of waist-level finders (or chest-level finders, such names resulting from the height in which a camera is held when the finder is used).

In antique cameras the '''reflecting type viewfinder''' is the most common means of image preview. It is not very reliable but easy to add to a folding camera's front standard or folding bed, or into the housing of a box camera. The [[brilliant finder]] is the most widespread of such finders, a combination of a lens, a mirror at a 45 degree angle behind that lens, and another lens at right angle position to the first one to view the mirrored image from the top. An older version was the small cubic ''Watson finder'' with lens and mirror as in the brilliant finder, but with a hooded matte screen for viewing the finder image. A special version was the ''Sellar finder'' which consisted just of a concave mirror with targeting aid. Old [[SLR]] cameras have a bright reflecting type finder with matte screen that uses the same lens as the camera uses for exposures. Before exposure the mirror is lifted so that the light coming from the image subject through the lens can pass towards the image plane where the [[focal plane shutter]] allows the exposure of the film for an instant. [[TLR]] cameras have a bright reflecting type finder with its own focusable lens, a "twin" of the camera lens, combined with mirror and matte screen. Thus a TLR finder is almost like a [[camera obscura]]. All these finders are to be viewed from above. Together they are the class of waist-level finders (or chest-level finders, such names resulting from the height in which a camera is held when the finder is used).

===Eye level finders===

===Eye level finders===

Modern zoom finders might be more sophisticated. More sophisticated are also viewfinders with superimposed [[rangefinder (device)|rangefinders]], and those with parallax correction. [[Parallax]] error is due to the fact that an optical system positioned parallel to the camera optics never gets the same image as the camera lens for close subjects. This can be corrected by moving the [[ocular]] slightly, or by some other provision to help make the finder image and taking lens image similar.

Modern zoom finders might be more sophisticated. More sophisticated are also viewfinders with superimposed [[rangefinder (device)|rangefinders]], and those with parallax correction. [[Parallax]] error is due to the fact that an optical system positioned parallel to the camera optics never gets the same image as the camera lens for close subjects. This can be corrected by moving the [[ocular]] slightly, or by some other provision to help make the finder image and taking lens image similar.

Modern viewfinders show more than the expected image. In most of these cases a so-called "bright frame" or "bright line" in the viewfinder indicates the expected exposure frame. Since 1960 several kinds of indicators were developed, the first were red/green indicators for correct- or under-enlightenment in the early cameras with [[selenium meter|selenium-meter]] controlled exposure. Nowadays a green [[LED]] is standard that's on when the autofocus finished focusing. Other information might be mirrored into the viewfinder or shown in an [[LCD]] section in the frame around the viewfinder image. In the 1970s and 80s a row of LEDs beside the finder image was common as scale showing the (proposed) shutter speed or a match-needle metering instrument replacement.

Modern viewfinders show more than the expected image. In most of these cases a so-called "bright frame" or "bright line" in the viewfinder indicates the expected exposure frame. Since 1960 several kinds of indicators were developed, the first were red/green indicators for correct- or under-enlightenment in the early cameras with [[selenium meter|selenium-meter]] controlled exposure. Nowadays a green [[LED]] is standard that's on when the autofocus finished focusing. Other information might be mirrored into the viewfinder or shown in an [[LCD]] section in the frame around the viewfinder image. In the 1970s and 80s a row of LEDs beside the finder image was common as scale showing the (proposed) shutter speed or a match-needle metering instrument replacement.

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