Viewfinder size

Learn aboutViewfinder size

Viewfinder size measures, rougly, how large the image appears in the viewfinder. In general, larger values are better.

Manufacturers sometimes advertise this value as viewfinder magnification, which has a very specific meaning: the amount of magnification observed when viewing a scene through the viewfinder on a 35mm (full frame, in DSLR terms) camera with a 50mm lens vs. viewing the same scene with naked eye. This definition, however, is problematic when comparing digital cameras with different sensor sizes. Snapsort corrects the published viewfinder magnfiication to account for crop factor, thus enabling meaningful comparisons of viewfinder size across cameras with different sensor sizes.

Viewfinder comparison

The following image shows the relative size difference of a scene viewed through viewfinders of a number of cameras.

Relative size of viewfinder across a number of cameras.

Details for geeks

To come up with our viewfinder size number, Snapsort uses the following forumla: 

    viewfinder_size = viewfinder_magnification * (1 / crop_factor).

Cameras with the largest viewfinder size

The following cameras have among the largest viewfinder images.

Canon EOS 1D X
Canon EOS 1D X
from $6,799
Low light performance Low noise at high ISO Help
2,786 ISO
Light sensitivity High ISO Help
51,200 ISO
Continuous shooting Rapid fire Help
14 fps

Learn more about the Canon EOS 1D X
Canon EOS 5D Mark III
Canon EOS 5D Mark III
from $3,250
Low light performance Low noise at high ISO Help
2,293 ISO
Cross type focus points Many cross-type focus points Help
41
Screen size Large screen Help
3.2"

Learn more about the Canon EOS 5D Mark III
Nikon D800
Nikon D800
from $2,797
Low light performance Low noise at high ISO Help
2,853 ISO
Overall image quality Great image quality Help
95.0
True resolution High true resolution Help
36.2 MP

Learn more about the Nikon D800
Canon EOS-1D C
Canon EOS-1D EOS-1D C
from $15,754
Movie format High resolution movies Help
4096 x 2160 @ 24fps
Light sensitivity High ISO Help
51,200 ISO
Continuous shooting Rapid fire Help
14 fps

Learn more about the Canon EOS-1D C
Green arrow See more of the top DSLRs with large viewfinders

Discussion

Showing 5 comments

someone (0:25 PM, March 10, 2013)
the largest slr viewfinder... ever?om 1?what r u crazy? do u know anything about nikon F?
 
Avatar for Aputure Aputure (6:23 AM, September 19, 2012)
Yeah, Canon crop cameras have some god-awful viewfinders. Starting with the D80, Nikon started to get it right. The 7D improved a little bit, but the rest of the Canon crop cameras still lag behind.
 
Lamplight123 (10:51 PM, July 22, 2012)
Very helpful! I remember shooting with an AE-1 and being blown away when I picked up a working OM-1 at a thrift store for $3. I didn't realize at the time I was looking through the largest slr viewfinder... ever? Now I'm stuck with a 300d and it kinda blows.
 
Dechat (9:21 AM, January 02, 2012)
Maybe you should include also viewfinder coverage in comparison? 
 
Js7124 (2:11 PM, December 19, 2011)
For a more complete comparison you should also show the smallest Nikon viewfinder size (D50 & D70) and a medium one (D60 & D40) and the largest DX viewfinder (D7000).  Good work!