Would this work to make a hybrid DSLR?
Modify one of the surfaces on the pentaprism/pentamirror so that it allows light from behind it to transmit through to the user's eye. Then put a evf display screen behind the mirror/prism so that the light from it is superimposed on the optical image. It won't impact what the sensor sees because of the mirror. In liveview the mirror is up but the evf can display what the sensor sees and it can be seen through the optical view finder rather than the back screen.
There is no such thing as a free lunch so the optical viewfinder would be a bit darker than a normal pentaprism. If it reflects 70% of the light it will be half a stop darker and you would have to make the evf 3 times brighter than normal to get through the mirroring on the pentaprism.
If the evf is going to interfere with the optical focusing and exposure elements it should be possible to make it out of phase with what they do. Similarly if stray light is going to to do things to the sensor in liveview, pulse the evf out of phase with the sensor. Your eyes don't care if the photons from an evf come in pulses.
You could put whatever you like on the evf. A histogram, setting information, whatever, and see this in normal optical viewing. In liveview it becomes a normal evf and shows the picture you would normally see on the back screen.
This is just for fun, no one is going to make one in the current market.
Modify one of the surfaces on the pentaprism/pentamirror so that it allows light from behind it to transmit through to the user's eye. Then put a evf display screen behind the mirror/prism so that the light from it is superimposed on the optical image. It won't impact what the sensor sees because of the mirror. In liveview the mirror is up but the evf can display what the sensor sees and it can be seen through the optical view finder rather than the back screen.
There is no such thing as a free lunch so the optical viewfinder would be a bit darker than a normal pentaprism. If it reflects 70% of the light it will be half a stop darker and you would have to make the evf 3 times brighter than normal to get through the mirroring on the pentaprism.
If the evf is going to interfere with the optical focusing and exposure elements it should be possible to make it out of phase with what they do. Similarly if stray light is going to to do things to the sensor in liveview, pulse the evf out of phase with the sensor. Your eyes don't care if the photons from an evf come in pulses.
You could put whatever you like on the evf. A histogram, setting information, whatever, and see this in normal optical viewing. In liveview it becomes a normal evf and shows the picture you would normally see on the back screen.
This is just for fun, no one is going to make one in the current market.
