Canon Files Patent – New Mirrorless Camera Viewfinder Style

Canon has filed a patent in Japan for a new form of viewfinder for mirrorless cameras. It’s a variation on the style used in the C100 and has a telescoping style as well as a rotating system as used on the C100. But unlike that camera which only allows a 68° tilt of the viewfinder, this new mechanism allows a complete tilt to 90° so you can look at it top down so to speak.

The new viewfinder internals sit between the camera’s sensor and the hot shoe, and apparently Canon had to miniaturise some components to make it fit.

I accept many will ignore this as they use the rear screen for framing and focussing, but I personally prefer a viewfinder, especially in bright conditions where the LCD screens get washed out in the sunlight.

Of course, seasoned Videocamera users will sneer quietly into their beers as they have been used to this sort of viewfinder system for years …