JPH0968740A - Camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To miniaturize a camera by means of efficiently using a limited space at the inside of the camera by arranging the retreating area of a visual field switching member on the side of the variable power operation area of a variable power optical system provided at a finder. SOLUTION: A pair of AF rings 12 is attached in a state where it is incorporated in a holder 13 on the both sides of a part where the variable power operation area Z of the variable power optical systems 14-16 are provided out of a finder block 8. The interstice of an specified amount is provided as the retreating area S of visual field switching masks 2 and 3 between the AF holder 13 and the finder block 8. A zoom rod 24 is made adjacent to the lower part of the retreating area S. A visual field switching mechanism is provided at the position of the real image plane RP of the finder block 8. Also, a reticle, the masks 2 and 3, a mask driving member, the holder 5 and a mask pressing are assembled as one set of assembly components. The components are inserted in the finder block 8, and the reticle coincides with the real image plane, and is connected to the retreating area S.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a camera whose viewfinder can be switched.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a camera of this type, a field-of-view switching member is projected and retracted with respect to the optical path of the finder to switch the field of view of the finder (for example, see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-82882).

[0003]

When the field-of-view switching member is mounted on an actual camera, if the retreat area of the field-of-view switching member outside the optical path of the finder is not properly arranged, the retreat area will reduce the size of the camera. It becomes an obstacle. For example, place the view switching member behind the camera from the optical path of the viewfinder (on the side of the photographer).
When the camera is retracted to, the retracted area projects toward the eyepiece side of the finder and the thickness of the camera increases. In particular, when a variable power optical system that changes the magnification of the viewfinder is incorporated in the viewfinder, a considerable space is required in the thickness direction of the camera for the variable power operation. When added to the eyepiece side, the camera becomes extremely thick.

An object of the present invention is to provide a camera in which a variable-magnification optical system of a finder and a retreat area of a visual field switching member are efficiently arranged in a limited space inside the camera.

[0005]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIG. 1 showing an embodiment of the present invention, the invention of claim 1 relates to variable magnification optical systems 14 to 16 for changing the magnification of a finder, and an optical path of the finder. The present invention is applied to a camera provided with field-of-view switching members 2 and 3 that appear and disappear to switch the field of view of the finder.
Then, the retreat area S of the visual field switching members 2 and 3 out of the optical path.
Are arranged in a direction orthogonal to the optical axes of the variable power optical systems 14 to 16 with respect to the variable power operation areas Z of the variable power optical systems 14 to 16 to achieve the above-described object. According to a second aspect of the invention, in the camera of the first aspect, the viewfinder is a real image type viewfinder. The real image plane RP of the finder is provided on the image space side of the variable power optical systems 14 to 16 (upper side of the lens 16 in FIG. 1) in parallel with the optical axes of the variable power optical systems 14 to 16,
The visual field switching members 2 and 3 are provided to move in the direction parallel to the real image plane RP to switch the visual fields. According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the camera according to the first aspect, a component 1 different from a finder component in a direction orthogonal to the optical axes of the variable power optical systems 14 to 16 with respect to the variable power operation region Z.
2 and 13 are arranged side by side, and the retreat area S of the visual field switching members 2 and 3 is set between the above-mentioned components 12 and 13 and the variable power optical systems 14 to 16. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the camera according to the third aspect, the constituent elements 12 and 13 are constituent parts of distance measuring means for measuring a subject distance. According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the camera according to the first aspect, the finder components are attached to the finder block 8 which is attachable to and detachable from the camera body. Then, the retreat areas S of the visual field switching members 2 and 3 are set at positions adjacent to the variable power operation areas Z of the variable power optical systems 14 to 16 set in the finder block 8 outside the finder block 8. There is. According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the camera according to the third aspect, the guide member 24 for guiding the moving elements 14 to 16 of the variable power optical system includes the components 12, 13 and the variable power operation area Z.
It is located between and.

In the first aspect of the invention, the variable power optical systems 14 to 1 are used.
6, the zooming operation area Z and the retreat area S of the visual field switching members 2 and 3.
And are arranged in a direction orthogonal to the optical axes of the variable power optical systems 14 to 16 to suppress the thickness of the camera. According to the invention of claim 2, since the visual field switching members 2 and 3 operate in parallel with the optical axes of the variable power optical systems 14 to 16, the retreat area S is formed in the direction orthogonal to the optical axes of the variable power optical systems 14 to 16. Can be set. In the invention of claim 3, the gap between the variable power optical systems 14 to 16 and the components 12 and 13 adjacent thereto is used as the retracted area S.
In the invention of claim 4, the variable magnification optical system 14 to 1 of the finder.
The gap between 6 and the components 12 and 13 of the distance measuring means is used as the retracted area S. In the invention of claim 5, the empty space outside the finder block 8 is used as the save area S, and it is not necessary to secure the save area S in the finder block 8. In the invention of claim 6, the variable power optical system 14 to
A guide member 24 that requires a considerable length in the direction of the variable power operation 16 is disposed between the variable power operation area Z and the components 12 and 13, and the gap generated thereby is used as a retract area S. It

[0007] In the means and means for solving the above problems which explain the constitution of the present invention, the drawings of the embodiments of the present invention are used to facilitate understanding of the present invention. Is not limited to the embodiment of the invention.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 are views showing a viewfinder of a camera and its periphery according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a plan view, FIG. 2 is a front view, and FIG. 3 is a right side view. The left side of FIGS. 1 and 2 corresponds to the front side of the camera (subject side), and the upper side of FIGS. 2 and 3 corresponds to the upper side of the camera, respectively. 1 to 3, reference numeral 8 denotes a finder block that can be attached to and detached from a camera body (not shown). The finder block 8 is assembled with components (14 to 21) of a finder optical system. 1
Reference numerals 4, 15 and 16 are finder lenses, the lens 14 is incorporated in the lens holder 22, and the lenses 15, 16 are incorporated in the lens holder 23.

The lens holders 22 and 23 are supported by a zoom rod 24 so as to be movable in the front-back direction of the camera.
The zoom rod 24 is disposed obliquely below and rightward of the finder block 8 when viewed from the front side of the camera, and its axial direction is parallel to the optical axis direction of the variable power optical system constituted by the lenses 14 to 16. When the photographing optical system (not shown) of the camera is zoomed, the lens holders 22 and 2 are correspondingly moved.
3 is driven in the front-back direction of the camera by a lens cam (not shown) to change the magnification of the finder optical system. Lens 16
After passing through the lens 17, the light flux passes through the lens 17, is bent by the mirror 18, and is condensed on the real image plane RP by the lens 19. As a result, a subject image is formed on the real image plane RP. The subject image is observed by the photographer through a mirror (not shown), the prism 20 and the eyepiece lens 21.

As shown by the alternate long and two short dashes line in FIG. 1, a pair of AF lenses 12 are provided on both sides of the portion of the finder block 8 in which the variable power operation regions Z of the variable power optical systems 14 to 16 are provided.
Is attached to the holder 13 in a state of being incorporated therein. These AF lenses 12 are for projecting predetermined infrared light to the subject side in order to measure the distance to the subject, and for receiving the reflected light. One of the AF holders 13 (see FIG.
Between the holder below) and the finder block 8,
A predetermined amount of gap is provided as a retreat area S of visual field switching masks 2 and 3 described later. Zoom rod 24 described above
Is adjacent to the lower side of the save area S. 2 and 3
Then, the AF lens 12 and the holder 13 are omitted.

At the position of the real image plane RP of the finder block 8, a visual field switching mechanism is provided. The details are shown in Fig. 4.
Shown in The arrow M direction in FIG. 4 corresponds to the direction when the mirror 18 is viewed from the real image plane RP in FIG. In FIG. 4, 1 is the real image plane RP of the finder optical system (FIG. 1)
The focusing screen 5 arranged at 1 is a holder provided with a rectangular hole 5a into which the focusing screen 1 is fitted. On the holder 5, a standard visual field mask 6 for defining a viewfinder visual field corresponding to a normal photographing range and a pair of visual field switching masks 2 and 3 are sequentially superposed. The masks 2, 3 and 6 are made of a light-shielding material, and have rectangular holes 2a at the center thereof.
3a and 6a are formed. The standard visual field mask 6 is constrained at a fixed position on the holder 5 by fitting the pair of positioning holes 6b with the pair of pins 5b of the holder 5. The visual field switching masks 2 and 3 are attached to the holder 5 by fitting the elongated holes 2b and 3b with the pins 5b.

The masks 2, 3 superposed on the holder 5
A mask driving member 4 is arranged on the side of 6. A pair of shafts 4a and 4b are formed on the mask driving member 4,
The shaft 4a is fitted in the long hole 2c of the visual field switching mask 2, and the shaft 4b is fitted in the long hole 3c of the visual field switching mask 3. A mask holding plate 7 is further laid on the outside of the mask driving member 4 and the field-of-view switching mask 3. At this time, the shaft 5b of the holder 5 is pressed into a mounting hole (not shown) of the mask holding plate 7. The central axis 4c of the mask driving member 4 is inserted into a receiving hole (not shown) of the mask pressing plate 7 and is rotatably supported around the central axis 4c. The mask driving member 4 is, for example, as shown in FIG.
When rotated in the clockwise direction, the visual field switching mask 2 is pushed by the shaft 4a to move in the direction of the long hole 2b, and the visual field switching mask 3 is pulled by the shaft 4b in the direction of the long hole 3b. Moving. When the mask driving member 4 rotates counterclockwise, the visual field switching mask 2,
3 operates in reverse. The field of view of the finder is switched by the movement of the masks 2 and 3. Details will be described later.
The mask holding plate 7 is provided with a hole 7a so as not to cover the field of view of the finder defined by the masks 2, 3, and 6.

As described above, the focusing screen 1, the masks 2, 3,
6, mask driving member 4, holder 5 and mask holding plate 7
Are assembled as a set of assembly parts. The assembled assembly component is inserted into the finder block 8 through the hole 8a as shown by arrow A in FIG. 4, and is pushed into the hole 8b on the opposite side. The reticle 1 when mounted on the viewfinder block 8 is the real image plane RP of FIG.
And the visual field switching masks 2 and 3 arranged in the vicinity of the masks.
Are positioned so as to be continuous with the evacuation area S in FIG. 1 in the front-back direction of the camera.

The rear surface of the camera (eyepiece 2 in FIGS. 1 to 3)
A switching knob 9 that can be slid in the left-right direction of the camera (direction of arrow B in FIG. 4) is mounted on the surface where 1 is exposed. A cam plate 10 that slides in the same direction as the switching knob 9 and a drive arm 11 that engages with a cam groove 10a of the cam plate 10 via a cam pin 11a are provided inside the camera. The drive arm 11 rotates in the direction of arrow C around the rotation fulcrum 11b in conjunction with the sliding movement of the cam plate 10, and its tip 11c abuts the lower surface of the drive shaft 4d of the mask drive member 4. The mask drive member 4 has its drive shaft 4d driven by an urging means (not shown) such as a spring.
Is always urged in the direction of contact with. Therefore, the switching knob 9
When the slide operation is performed, the mask driving member 4 rotates in the clockwise direction or the counterclockwise direction within a predetermined rotation range according to the operation direction, and the field of view of the finder is switched. It should be noted that if the drive shaft 4d is clamped by the tip portion 11c of the drive arm 11 so that the drive shaft 4d is locked to the tip portion 11c regardless of which direction the drive arm 11 is rotated, No means is needed.

5 to 7 show switching states of the finder field by the above-mentioned masks 2, 3 and 6. 5 to 7 show the state in which the visual field switching mechanism of FIG. 4 is viewed from the upper right side in the direction of arrow M in the figure. Therefore, FIG.
The left side of FIG. 7 corresponds to the front of the camera (subject side), and the upper side corresponds to the upper side of the camera. In addition, in FIGS.
The field of view displayed in the viewfinder is shown by hatching. FIG. 5 shows a state in which the mask driving member 4 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. In this state, the visual field switching masks 2 and 3 are outside the frame of the hole 6a of the standard visual field mask 6, and only the standard visual field mask 6 defines the rectangular first visual field F1. When the mask driving member 4 is rotated clockwise from the state shown in FIG. 5 to a position approximately in the center of its moving range, the state shown in FIG. 6 is obtained. In this state, the long side of the first visual field F1 in FIG. 5 is covered with the visual field switching masks 2 and 3 by a predetermined amount to define the second visual field F2. When the mask driving member 4 is further rotated clockwise from the state shown in FIG. 6, the state shown in FIG. 7 is obtained. In this state, the first field of view F1 of FIG.
The short side of is covered with the visual field switching masks 2 and 3 by a predetermined amount to define the third visual field F2. During the above visual field switching, the visual field switching masks 2 and 3 selectively project from the finder block 8 toward the front of the camera, and the projecting portions are retracted to the retreat area S. That is, in the state of FIG. 5, the field-of-view switching mask 3 is retracted to the retreat area S, and in the state of FIG.

In the embodiment of the invention described above, the lenses 14, 15 and 16 of the finder optical system are used in the variable magnification optical system, the field switching masks 2 and 3 are used in the field switching portion, and the AF lens 12 and its holder 13 are used in the finder. Correspond to the constituent elements different from the constituent parts of FIG. It should be noted that, for example, the components of the photometric means and the strobe may be arranged on the side of the finder block, and the gap between them may be used as the retreat area of the visual field switching member. In the embodiment of the invention, one of the three fields of view is defined alternatively by two kinds of field switching members, but even if one of the two fields of view is defined alternatively by a single field switching member. Good.

[0017]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Since the retraction area of the visual field switching member is arranged on the side of the variable power operation area of the variable power optical system provided in the finder, the camera can be downsized by efficiently utilizing the limited space in the camera. In particular, according to the second aspect of the present invention, by operating the visual field switching member in parallel with the optical axis of the variable power optical system, the variable power operation area of the variable power optical system and the retracted area of the visual field switching member can be easily arranged. it can. According to the third aspect of the present invention, the gap between the variable power optical system and the constituent elements other than the finder can be effectively used as a retreat area of the visual field switching member. According to the invention of claim 4, the gap between the variable power optical system of the finder and the components of the distance measuring means can be effectively utilized as a retreat area of the visual field switching member. According to the invention of claim 5, the space outside the finder block can be used as a retreat area for the visual field switching member, and it is not necessary to secure a retreat area in the finder block, so the finder block can be downsized. In the invention of claim 6, the guide member and the retreat area of the visual field switching member, which are essential for the variable power optical system, can be efficiently arranged.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a viewfinder of a camera and its periphery according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the viewfinder of the camera and its periphery according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a right side view of the viewfinder of the camera and its periphery according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a visual field switching mechanism incorporated in the viewfinder of FIGS. 1 to 3.

5 is a view showing a state in which a standard first visual field is defined by the visual field switching mechanism of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a state in which a second visual field is defined by covering a long side of the first visual field in FIG.

7 is a diagram showing a state in which a short side of the first field of view of FIG. 5 is covered to define a third field of view.

[Explanation of symbols]

2, 3 Field-of-view switching mask 8 Finder block 12 AF lens 13 AF lens holder 14, 15, 16 Lens constituting a variable-magnification optical system of the finder 18 Mirror 20 Prism 21 Eyepiece 22, 23 Lens holder 24 Zoom rod RP Real image plane S Retraction area Z Magnification operation area

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A camera provided with a variable power optical system for changing a magnification of a finder, and a visual field switching member which appears in an optical path of the finder and switches a visual field of the finder, wherein the visual field switching member outside the optical path. A camera is characterized in that a retreat area is arranged in a direction orthogonal to an optical axis of the variable power optical system with respect to a variable power operation area of the variable power optical system. 2. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the viewfinder is a real image type viewfinder, and a real image plane of the viewfinder is on an image space side of the variable power optical system in parallel with an optical axis of the variable power optical system. A camera, wherein the visual field switching member is provided so as to switch in the visual field by moving in a direction parallel to the real image plane. 3. The camera according to claim 1, wherein components different from the components of the finder are arranged in a direction orthogonal to the optical axis of the variable power optical system with respect to the variable power region. The camera, wherein the retreat area of the visual field switching member is set between a component and the variable power optical system. 4. The camera according to claim 3, wherein the component is a component of a distance measuring unit that measures a subject distance. 5. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the viewfinder components detachably attached to the camera body are assembled with the viewfinder components, and the zooming operation of the zooming optical system is set in the viewfinder block. The camera is characterized in that the retreat area of the visual field switching member is set at a position adjacent to the area outside the finder block. 6. The camera according to claim 3, wherein a guide member for guiding a moving element of the variable power optical system is arranged between the constituent element and the variable power operation area. camera.