Folding camera with pivotally mounted viewfinder

A compact folding camera having a mirror in its exposure optical path includes a self-erecting and folding viewfinder. Major camera components include a base housing section having a film plane therein, a pivoting lens housing, near one end of the film plane, mounting an objective lens, a pivoting mirror assembly, near the opposite end of the film plane, for reflecting light from the lens onto the film plane to expose a film unit thereat, a cover housing section, and an elongated viewfinder pivotally mounted on the cover section. When the camera is erected, the forward end of the viewfinder engages a locating surface on the lens housing to accurately locate the viewfinder with respect to the objective lens. As the camera is folded, the lens housing pivots back down over the film plane and the viewfinder pivots into a recess provided in the lens housing to accommodate the viewfinder when the camera is in its folded storage position.