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Glite Dictionary
pentaprism

pentaprism

8.7
A five-sided glass piece in some cameras that bounces light to show an upright image to the photographer
  • noun
  • /ˈpɛntəˌprɪzəm/
  • Specialized
translation icon : pentaprisma
  • At first I thought, "What the heck, all point-and-shoot cameras are mirrorless," and in fact this one is a 2/3 size sensor camera body without a pentaprism viewfinder.

Examples

  • A pentaprism is used in many professional cameras to ensure that the image seen in the viewfinder is upright.

  • The photographer adjusted the pentaprism in his camera to achieve a clearer view of the subject he was capturing.

  • The first time it is reflected off the mirror, and the second time, it is reflected off a pentaprism.

    Blog text (28)

  • A pentaprism is used in the viewfinder to reflect an image at a right angle without reversing it.

    Blog text (28)

  • In a DSLR camera, the light passes through a pentaprism to provide a correct orientation of the image for the photographer.

Synonyms

erecting prism
vspentaprism
  • Specialized
9.2

A glass shape with angled faces that turns an upside-down image right side up

is five-sided and reflects light in cameras to make the image upright for viewers

Surface Forms

pentaprism singular
pentaprisms plural

Morphology

pentaprism = prism (transparent) = penta + prism

The combining form 'penta-' (five) directly modifies 'prism' to indicate a five-sided prism, so the structure and meaning are derivable.

Etymology

The word pentaprism combines penta- ('five') and prism ('a piece of glass that bends light, like in a rainbow'). So a pentaprism is a five-sided glass part in a camera that reflects the image and lets the photographer see an upright view.