The invention relates to a small-format display optical system using a reflection
type image device as an image display device and capable of displaying bright,
high-resolution images. The display optical system comprises a reflection type
display device 3 for displaying an image, an illumination light source 5
for illuminating the reflection type display device 3, an illumination
optical system for guiding light from the illumination light source 5 to
the reflection type disply device 3, a relay optical system 21 for
projection of an image appearing on the reflection type display device 3 and
an eyepiece optical system 22 acting to converge a light beam from the relay
optical system 21 toward the eyeball of a viewer. An image projected through
the relay optical system 21 is formed near the eyepiece optical system 22.
