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DSLR Viewfinder Sizes

The size of a camera's viewfinder can greatly affect its usability. The larger the viewfinder, the easier it is to judge focus and to see subject detail. The greater a viewfinder's coverage, the easier it is to precisely compose photographs. With modern DSLR cameras, viewfinder size varies more than image quality. So, once image quality is good enough, why not select a camera based on its viewfinder? The more you use your digital SLR, the more you will notice the viewfinder - and its limitations.

The table below shows the specification of each DSLR camera's viewfinder. Coverage is measured as a percentage of the full image captured. Therefore, a viewfinder with a coverage of 100%, shows the entire image to be captured. Magnification is a relative measure which compares the size of what we see through the viewfinder to what we would be seeing without looking through a viewfnder. For cameras with the same crop-factor (focal-length-multiplier), magnification can be used to compare viewfinder size. Magnification is relative because manufacturers all use the field-of-view obtained by a 50mm lens as their basis. Since a 50mm lens gives a different field-of-view depending on the crop-factor, the measured magnification differs too. For reference, the crop factor and resolution of each camera is also shown. The effective size should be used when comparing viewfinders of cameras with different crop factors.

Click on column headings to sort the table.

Brand / Model Coverage Magnification Crop Factor Effective Size
Medium 100% Coverage Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.5 and 0.6 and 100% coverage.Medium 100% Coverage Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.5 and 0.6 and 100% coverage.Canon EOS 1D Mark IV100%0.761.30.58
Large 100% Coverage Viewfinder: Effective size over 0.7 and 100% coverage.Large 100% Coverage Viewfinder: Effective size over 0.7 and 100% coverage.Canon EOS 1D X100%0.7610.76
Large 100% Coverage Viewfinder: Effective size over 0.7 and 100% coverage.Large 100% Coverage Viewfinder: Effective size over 0.7 and 100% coverage.Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III100%0.7610.76
Medium Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.5 and 0.6 with less than 100% coverage.Medium Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.5 and 0.6 with less than 100% coverage.Canon EOS 50D95%0.951.60.56
Large Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.6 and 0.7 with less than 100% coverage.Large Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.6 and 0.7 with less than 100% coverage.Canon EOS 5D Mark II98%0.7110.7
Large 100% Coverage Viewfinder: Effective size over 0.7 and 100% coverage.Large 100% Coverage Viewfinder: Effective size over 0.7 and 100% coverage.Canon EOS 5D Mark III100%0.7110.71
Medium Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.5 and 0.6 with less than 100% coverage.Medium Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.5 and 0.6 with less than 100% coverage.Canon EOS 60D96%0.951.60.57
Medium Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.5 and 0.6 with less than 100% coverage.Medium Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.5 and 0.6 with less than 100% coverage.Canon EOS 60Da96%0.951.60.57
Large 100% Coverage Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.6 and 0.7 and 100% coverage.Large 100% Coverage Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.6 and 0.7 and 100% coverage.Canon EOS 7D100%11.60.63
Medium Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.5 and 0.6 with less than 100% coverage.Medium Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.5 and 0.6 with less than 100% coverage.Canon EOS Rebel T1i95%0.871.60.52
Medium Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.5 and 0.6 with less than 100% coverage.Medium Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.5 and 0.6 with less than 100% coverage.Canon EOS Rebel T2i95%0.871.60.52
Small Viewfinder: Effective size below 0.5 with less than 100% coverage.Small Viewfinder: Effective size below 0.5 with less than 100% coverage.Canon EOS Rebel T395%0.81.60.48
Medium Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.5 and 0.6 with less than 100% coverage.Medium Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.5 and 0.6 with less than 100% coverage.Canon EOS Rebel T3i95%0.851.60.5
Small Viewfinder: Effective size below 0.5 with less than 100% coverage.Small Viewfinder: Effective size below 0.5 with less than 100% coverage.Canon EOS Rebel XS95%0.811.60.48
Medium Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.5 and 0.6 with less than 100% coverage.Medium Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.5 and 0.6 with less than 100% coverage.Canon EOS Rebel XSi95%0.871.60.52
Large 100% Coverage Viewfinder: Effective size over 0.7 and 100% coverage.Large 100% Coverage Viewfinder: Effective size over 0.7 and 100% coverage.Nikon D3100%0.710.7
Large 100% Coverage Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.6 and 0.7 and 100% coverage.Large 100% Coverage Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.6 and 0.7 and 100% coverage.Nikon D300100%0.951.50.63
Medium Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.5 and 0.6 with less than 100% coverage.Medium Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.5 and 0.6 with less than 100% coverage.Nikon D300095%0.81.50.51
Large 100% Coverage Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.6 and 0.7 and 100% coverage.Large 100% Coverage Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.6 and 0.7 and 100% coverage.Nikon D300S100%0.941.50.63
Medium Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.5 and 0.6 with less than 100% coverage.Medium Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.5 and 0.6 with less than 100% coverage.Nikon D310095%0.81.50.51
Small Viewfinder: Effective size below 0.5 with less than 100% coverage.Small Viewfinder: Effective size below 0.5 with less than 100% coverage.Nikon D320095%0.781.50.49
Large 100% Coverage Viewfinder: Effective size over 0.7 and 100% coverage.Large 100% Coverage Viewfinder: Effective size over 0.7 and 100% coverage.Nikon D3S100%0.710.7
Large 100% Coverage Viewfinder: Effective size over 0.7 and 100% coverage.Large 100% Coverage Viewfinder: Effective size over 0.7 and 100% coverage.Nikon D3X100%0.710.7
Large 100% Coverage Viewfinder: Effective size over 0.7 and 100% coverage.Large 100% Coverage Viewfinder: Effective size over 0.7 and 100% coverage.Nikon D4100%0.710.7
Small Viewfinder: Effective size below 0.5 with less than 100% coverage.Small Viewfinder: Effective size below 0.5 with less than 100% coverage.Nikon D500095%0.781.50.49
Small Viewfinder: Effective size below 0.5 with less than 100% coverage.Small Viewfinder: Effective size below 0.5 with less than 100% coverage.Nikon D510095%0.781.50.49
Medium Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.5 and 0.6 with less than 100% coverage.Medium Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.5 and 0.6 with less than 100% coverage.Nikon D6095%0.81.50.51
Large Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.6 and 0.7 with less than 100% coverage.Large Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.6 and 0.7 with less than 100% coverage.Nikon D70095%0.7210.68
Large 100% Coverage Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.6 and 0.7 and 100% coverage.Large 100% Coverage Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.6 and 0.7 and 100% coverage.Nikon D7000100%0.951.50.63
Large 100% Coverage Viewfinder: Effective size over 0.7 and 100% coverage.Large 100% Coverage Viewfinder: Effective size over 0.7 and 100% coverage.Nikon D800100%0.710.7
Large 100% Coverage Viewfinder: Effective size over 0.7 and 100% coverage.Large 100% Coverage Viewfinder: Effective size over 0.7 and 100% coverage.Nikon D800E100%0.710.7
Large Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.6 and 0.7 with less than 100% coverage.Large Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.6 and 0.7 with less than 100% coverage.Nikon D9096%0.941.50.6
Medium 100% Coverage Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.5 and 0.6 and 100% coverage.Medium 100% Coverage Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.5 and 0.6 and 100% coverage.Olympus E-3100%1.1520.58
Medium 100% Coverage Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.5 and 0.6 and 100% coverage.Medium 100% Coverage Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.5 and 0.6 and 100% coverage.Olympus E-5100%1.1520.58
Small Viewfinder: Effective size below 0.5 with less than 100% coverage.Small Viewfinder: Effective size below 0.5 with less than 100% coverage.Olympus Evolt E-3098%1.0220.5
Small Viewfinder: Effective size below 0.5 with less than 100% coverage.Small Viewfinder: Effective size below 0.5 with less than 100% coverage.Olympus Evolt E-42095%0.9220.44
Small Viewfinder: Effective size below 0.5 with less than 100% coverage.Small Viewfinder: Effective size below 0.5 with less than 100% coverage.Olympus Evolt E-52095%0.9220.44
Small Viewfinder: Effective size below 0.5 with less than 100% coverage.Small Viewfinder: Effective size below 0.5 with less than 100% coverage.Olympus Evolt E-62095%0.9620.46
Large 100% Coverage Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.6 and 0.7 and 100% coverage.Large 100% Coverage Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.6 and 0.7 and 100% coverage.Pentax K-5100%0.921.50.61
Large 100% Coverage Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.6 and 0.7 and 100% coverage.Large 100% Coverage Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.6 and 0.7 and 100% coverage.Pentax K-7100%0.921.50.61
Medium Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.5 and 0.6 with less than 100% coverage.Medium Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.5 and 0.6 with less than 100% coverage.Pentax K-r96%0.851.50.54
Medium Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.5 and 0.6 with less than 100% coverage.Medium Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.5 and 0.6 with less than 100% coverage.Pentax K-x96%0.851.50.54
Large Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.6 and 0.7 with less than 100% coverage.Large Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.6 and 0.7 with less than 100% coverage.Pentax K10D95%0.951.50.6
Large Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.6 and 0.7 with less than 100% coverage.Large Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.6 and 0.7 with less than 100% coverage.Pentax K20D95%0.951.50.6
Large Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.6 and 0.7 with less than 100% coverage.Large Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.6 and 0.7 with less than 100% coverage.Sigma SD198%0.951.50.62
Medium Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.5 and 0.6 with less than 100% coverage.Medium Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.5 and 0.6 with less than 100% coverage.Sigma SD1598%0.91.70.52
Medium Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.5 and 0.6 with less than 100% coverage.Medium Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.5 and 0.6 with less than 100% coverage.Sony Alpha A10095%0.831.50.53
Medium Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.5 and 0.6 with less than 100% coverage.Medium Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.5 and 0.6 with less than 100% coverage.Sony Alpha A20095%0.831.50.53
Medium Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.5 and 0.6 with less than 100% coverage.Medium Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.5 and 0.6 with less than 100% coverage.Sony Alpha A29095%0.831.50.53
Small Viewfinder: Effective size below 0.5 with less than 100% coverage.Small Viewfinder: Effective size below 0.5 with less than 100% coverage.Sony Alpha A39095%0.741.50.47
Medium Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.5 and 0.6 with less than 100% coverage.Medium Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.5 and 0.6 with less than 100% coverage.Sony Alpha A45095%0.81.50.51
Medium Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.5 and 0.6 with less than 100% coverage.Medium Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.5 and 0.6 with less than 100% coverage.Sony Alpha A50095%0.81.50.51
Medium Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.5 and 0.6 with less than 100% coverage.Medium Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.5 and 0.6 with less than 100% coverage.Sony Alpha A55095%0.81.50.51
Medium Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.5 and 0.6 with less than 100% coverage.Medium Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.5 and 0.6 with less than 100% coverage.Sony Alpha A56095%0.81.50.51
Medium Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.5 and 0.6 with less than 100% coverage.Medium Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.5 and 0.6 with less than 100% coverage.Sony Alpha A58095%0.81.50.51
Medium Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.5 and 0.6 with less than 100% coverage.Medium Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.5 and 0.6 with less than 100% coverage.Sony Alpha A70095%0.91.50.57
Large Viewfinder: Effective size over 0.7 with less than 100% coverage.Large Viewfinder: Effective size over 0.7 with less than 100% coverage.Sony Alpha A85098%0.7410.73
Large 100% Coverage Viewfinder: Effective size over 0.7 and 100% coverage.Large 100% Coverage Viewfinder: Effective size over 0.7 and 100% coverage.Sony Alpha A900100%0.7410.74

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