Finder optical system and electronic image pickup apparatus using the same

A finder optical system comprising:

• a photographing lens;
• a relay optical system, including a relay lens system, for optically connecting a primary focal plane of said photographing lens to a secondary focal plane;
• an eyepiece disposed so that said secondary focal plane can be observed through the eyepiece;
• and
• an image capturing member which captures an optical image formed at said primary focal plane by said photographing lens,
• wherein said relay lens system has an optical axis that is spaced from an optical axis of said photographing lens and an optical axis of said eyepiece, and said image capturing member is disposed between said photographing lens and said eyepiece.

A finder optical system comprising:

• a photographing lens;
• an eyepiece having an optical axis substantially collinear with an optical axis of said photographing lens;
• and
• a relay optical system having a generally U-shaped optical path that optically connects said photographing lens and said eyepiece.

A finder optical system comprising:

• a photographing lens;
• a relay optical system, including a relay lens system, for optically connecting a primary focal plane of said photographing lens to a secondary focal plane;
• an eyepiece disposed so that said secondary focal plane can be observed through the eyepiece;
• and
• an image capturing member which captures an optical image formed at said primary focal plane by said photographing lens,
• wherein said relay lens system has an optical axis that is spaced from an optical axis of said photographing lens and an optical axis of said eyepiece, and said secondary focal plane is disposed between said image capturing member and said eyepiece.

A finder optical system comprising:

• a photographing lens;
• a relay optical system, including a relay lens system, for optically connecting a primary focal plane of said photographing lens to a secondary focal plane;
• an eyepiece disposed so that said secondary focal plane can be observed through the eyepiece;
• and
• an image capturing member which captures an optical image formed at said primary focal plane by said photographing lens,
• wherein said relay lens system has an optical axis that is spaced from an optical axis of said photographing lens and an optical axis of said eyepiece, and said secondary focal plane is disposed between said relay lens system and said eyepiece.

A finder optical system comprising:

• a photographing lens;
• a relay optical system, including a relay lens system, for optically connecting a primary focal plane of said photographing lens to a secondary focal plane;
• an eyepiece disposed so that said secondary focal plane can be observed through the eyepiece;
• and
• an image capturing member which captures an optical image formed at said primary focal plane by said photographing lens,
• wherein said relay lens system has an optical axis that is spaced from an optical axis of said photographing lens and an optical axis of said eyepiece, and said secondary focal plane is disposed between said primary focal plane and said eyepiece.