Pellicle mirror

Semi-transparent mirror used in some specialist cameras instead of the flip-up mirror of a conventional single-lens reflex camera.

The fixed pellicle mirror splits the incoming light so some is reflected up to the viewfinder and the rest goes through to the film or sensor at the back of the camera.

Because there is no need for the mirror to flip up out of the way to take a picture, cameras with a pellicle mirror are fast and quiet, and there is no blackout of the viewfinder during the exposure. But both the viewfinder and the film/sensor receive less light than in a conventional SLR.

Examples of cameras with pellicle mirrors include:

• 1965 Canon Pellix
• 1971 Nikon F High Speed
• 1972 Canon F-1 High Speed
• 1976 Nikon F High Speed (new model)
• 1978 Nikon F2H
• 1984 Canon F-1 High Speed (new model)
• 1989 Canon EOS RT
• 1996 Nikon F3H
• 1997 Canon EOS 1RS
• 2010 Sony Alpha 33/35

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