Passive Optical Electronic Camera Viewfinder Apparatus

Abstract

A digital camera includes an optical assembly and image sensor for capturing still and/or video images and displaying the images on a rear display screen. The camera includes a magnifying viewfinder that is coupled to the housing and is movable between a stowed position out of the way of the display screen and an active position for viewing a subset of display screen pixels with magnification.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A digital camera, comprising:
 a digital camera housing;   an image sensor coupled within the housing;   an optical assembly including one or more lenses for forming images on the image sensor;   a display screen coupled to the housing; and   a viewfinder coupled to the housing including a magnifying lens, wherein the viewfinder is movable between a stowed position and an active position for viewing a subset of display screen pixels with magnification.