Panasonic patent moves electronic viewfinder to the side

Panasonic has filed a patent application for a Lumix GF1-like camera design with an electronic viewfinder. The design is kept compact by placing the EVF on the side of the camera.

Just like the Olympus competitors E-P1, E-P2 and E-PL1, the current Lumix GF1 from Panasonic does not have an electronic viewfinder. The current Lumix G1, GH1 and the new G2 and G10 do have an EVF, but they look like DSLRs, partly because of the characteristic bump on top, in which the EVF is placed. Panasonic now has a patent application submitted for a compact m4/3 camera design with electronic viewfinder. It is possible that Panasonic will use this configuration for the successor to the Lumix GF1.

Because the space above the lens mount is limited, Panasonic has moved the evf to the left side in the patent application. In the design, Panasonic has placed the flip-up flash, which is on the left of the Lumix GF1, above the lens mount. A hot shoe is also available. The evf can be rotated upwards, just like the current optional attachment viewfinder for the Lumix GF1. Given the shallow depth of the camera design, the EVF probably has a relatively low resolution and therefore not the high-res EVF of the Lumix G1 and G2.

Since the configuration is very similar to a rangefinder camera system, it is possible that Leica will use this design for future cameras. Panasonic and Leica work together in the development of compact cameras, among other things.