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.

Nikon D800
Nikon D800
from $2,999
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 X
Canon EOS 1D X
from $6,799
Light sensitivity High ISO Help
51,200 ISO
Screen size Large screen Help
3.2"
Viewfinder size Large viewfinder Help
0.76x

Learn more about the Canon EOS 1D X
Canon EOS-1D C
Canon EOS-1D EOS-1D C
from $16,068
Movie format High resolution movies Help
4096 x 2160 @ 24fps
Light sensitivity High ISO Help
51,200 ISO
Screen size Large screen Help
3.2"

Learn more about the Canon EOS-1D C
Canon EOS 5D Mark III
Canon EOS 5D Mark III
from $3,499
Low light performance Low noise at high ISO Help
2,293 ISO
Overall image quality Great image quality Help
81.0
Screen size Large screen Help
3.2"

Learn more about the Canon EOS 5D Mark III
Green arrow See more of the top DSLRs with large viewfinders

Discussion

Showing 2 comments

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!