Eyepiece

The name given to the viewing device on a camera.

Also known as a viewfinder, it allows the operator to see the image the camera is looking at so that he can make adjustments to framing and focus. In a film camera the operator sees the image "through the lens" via a reflecting mirror which gives exactly the same image that is being transmitted to the film plane. It is important that the operator adjusts the focus of the eyepiece to siut his or her eyesight before using the eyepiece to focus the image. In a video camera the image is sent electronically to either a black and white or colour CRT which is then viewed through the eyepiece.