ARRI News September 2009 - ARRI Media

10 Camera
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The ARRI Electronic Viewfinder
With an image area of 1280 x 720 pixels,
the display in the new ARRI Electronic Viewfinder
(EVF) provides a resolution exceeding
that of most existing viewfinders. The
optical design and coated glass optics ensure
high contrast and low distortion while
providing an evenly illuminated viewing
area. The pixel field is flashed sequentially
with the three primary colors. Instead of
To complement our entry level digital cameras we have developed
the ARRI Electronic Viewfinder (EVF), a viewing system that combines
a state-of-the-art F-LCOS micro display with an innovative auto-
calibrating LED light engine, high-quality coated glass optics and
robust mechanics. The system offers much more than conventional
electronic viewfinders; it has been specifically designed to meet
the needs of professional camera operators with high resolution,
accurate color reproduction, carefully considered ergonomics,
overscan and extremely low latency.
having to divide the pixels into different
colors by filters, 96% of the display area
actually forms an image, and therefore
drastically reduces visible pixel structure.
At the same time, the high refresh rate of
the display effectively suppresses the
flicker and color-breakup often associated
with other sequential systems. The unique
auto-calibrating, temperature controlled
LED light engine ensures true and reliable
color representation over a wide variety
of operating conditions. A proprietary connection
to the camera, and a design that
maximizes the processing power of both
cameras and viewfinder, lead to an extremely
low latency, so the action seen in
the viewfinder is always the same as the
action in front of the camera.
Given the large format of the new image
sensor, the electronic viewfinder can also
display an over-scanned viewing area that
surrounds the recorded format. Zoom and
overlay options aid in the judgment of focus
and exposure while clearly laid out graphi-
cal information provides a quick overview
of camera status.
The viewfinder was not only developed to
provide the best possible image, it was also
specifically designed to fit the ergonomic
needs of the operator. Even when using a
matte box on a short prime lens, the compact
dimensions of the finder guarantee that the
eyepiece can be adjusted to a comfortable
position for shoulder operation. The small,
self-contained unit can also be easily
mounted in different positions relative to
the camera, depending on the application.
Combining the advantages of an electronic
display with the viewing quality operators
have come to expect from ARRI cameras,
the new electronic viewfinder is a flexible
and economical complement to high-end
optical viewing systems.
Michael Koppetz