DSLR view finder brightness

[poh6702]

I hope not to create a war. Just for discussion sake;

One day I was taking photo for my friend's wedding, I was using Nikon D80 with 18-200 VR.(I am not professional, just a back up photographer for a friend) During the shooting, a lady passed me her Canon 350D (with kit lense) to take photo for her with the couple, when I look through the view finder, I immdiately noticed that the view was very much darker as compare to my camera.

Few days later, had an opportunity to borrow a Canon 400D (it was also with kit lense), I realised also that the view finder was quite dim. Is this camera design or due to Kit lense?

This is just my curiousity to varify some observations, please don't turn into Nikon vs Canon war:sweat: , please be objective to share facts that you know and please don't attack me.

 

[Nerd]

I believe it's a combination of both the camera and the lens. Lens with bigger aperture (smaller numbers) let in more light which allows for a brighter viewfinder. But the design of the viewfinder also plays a part in the brightness. Canon's 300D/350D/400D's viewfinders tend to be a little less efficient than others imho. Hence your experience of darker viewfinder

 

[dan_1337]

i think u'll also find that with the xxD and xD series Canon dSLR's the viewfinder is larger and brighter than the xxxD's.

 

[kcuf2]

its due to the different pentaprism that is used in the D80, its a much better one compared to those from canon 350d and 400d. the prism used in the D70/s is also a lousy one.

lousy ones doesnt permit much light to go through it, thats y its much dimmer.

The brightness has also got to do with the lens u used. If the lens attached to the camera is very BIG apeture example f1.4 or f1.8 or f2.8. There is a MAJOR difference between this and the f5.6 ones...

 

[poh6702]

Thanks for the explanations.

 

[ReiszRie]

D80 uses a true pentaprism which is brighter whilst 350D, 400D, D70 etc etc uses a cheaper pentamirror alternative but is comparatively dimmer.

 

[michhy]

D80 uses a true pentaprism which is brighter whilst 350D, 400D, D70 etc etc uses a cheaper pentamirror alternative but is comparatively dimmer.

This is what I was going to say too. :thumbsup:

 

[+evenstar]

i think u'll also find that with the xxD and xD series Canon dSLR's the viewfinder is larger and brighter than the xxxD's.

xxD and xxxD VF are the same size...no?

 

[Scaglietti]

xxD and xxxD VF are the same size...no?

No.

30D has a pentaprism viewfinder with 0.9x magnification.

350D and 400D has a pentamirror viewfinder with only 0.8x magnification.

OTOH, the D80 has a pentaprism viewfinder with 0.94x magnification.

BC

 

[Vulpix0r]

After jumping to Pentax, I find their viewfinder the brightest and also the biggest.

 

[fengwei]

After jumping to Pentax, I find their viewfinder the brightest and also the biggest.

Of course lah, it's got a big pentaprism viewfinder with 0.95x magnification If you put on a Pentax O-ME53 1.2x magnifier, the viewfinder will be almost as good as the one on Canon 5D

 

[Scaglietti]

After jumping to Pentax, I find their viewfinder the brightest and also the biggest.

K10D? :thumbsup:

If I don't remember wrong the K100D is a pentamirror, and lower mag compared to the K10D.

BC