JPH103116A - Image pickup system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To judge the propriety of the combination of an image pickup device and an attachment between image pickup systems whose types are different from each other and which have interchangeability, and to inform a photographer of it. SOLUTION: The 1st image pickup system is constituted of a camera main body 1A being the 1st image pickup device and a lens barrel 10A being the 1st attachment which is attached to the main body 1A. The 2nd image pickup system is constituted of a camera main body 1B being the 2nd image pickup device and a lens barrel 10B being the 2nd attachment which is attached to the main body 1B. The 1st and the 2nd image pickup systems whose types are different have the interchangeability, and the 2nd lens barrel 10B can not be used in the 1st camera main body 1A or it can be used but its specification range is restricted. The respective devices constituting the 1st and the 2nd image pickup systems are formed so that the shape of the outside appearance of either of them may be different as a discrimination means by which the photographer can discriminate that they are different systems. Thus, by catching the photographer's eye, the photographer is informed of it.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image pickup system comprising, for example, a single-lens reflex camera as an image pickup apparatus and an interchangeable lens barrel as an auxiliary device called an accessory which is detachably mounted on the camera. The present invention relates to an imaging system capable of distinguishing between imaging systems that are different from each other and have compatibility at the time of mutual combination.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As an imaging system of this type, there is, for example, a single-lens reflex camera system constituted by a single-lens reflex camera which is an imaging device and a dedicated interchangeable lens barrel which is an auxiliary device thereof. In such a system, when used, for example, the mount lens provided on each mounting surface side of the camera body and the lens barrel is combined, and further rotated relatively, so that a necessary lens barrel is provided. A configuration for fixing is adopted.

In the above-mentioned single-lens reflex camera, various types of photographing screen sizes of photographic film have conventionally been available, but for convenience, a 35-mm size is generally used frequently. Therefore, the camera system using a 35 mm photographic film has the largest market distribution amount. And from this, such a 35
You will have many interchangeable lens barrels for use with mm cameras.

On the other hand, recently, IX2 which is a new standard of an advanced photo system having a format different from that of a so-called 135 film having a size of 35 mm described above.
A film called 40 type has also been proposed. And with such a new standard film, the shooting screen size is 3
Since it is slightly smaller than that of the 5 mm size, the camera and the lens barrel into which it is mounted can also be made smaller. However, it is conceived that even a camera using such a new standard film has compatibility such that a 35 mm type lens barrel can be used.

On the other hand, a single-lens reflex camera has recently been promoted for an underwater camera having a waterproof function. Even in such a single-lens reflex type underwater camera, there are a plurality of formats in which the usable depth is set with different values. According to such an underwater camera system, the size and weight of the camera body and the lens barrel attached to the camera body differ depending on the usable depth, but they are formed to be compatible with each other. I have.

[0006]

As described above, when there are a plurality of imaging systems having different imaging screen sizes or usable depths, the photographer combines the camera body and the lens barrel in each system. Before or after the combination, it must be determined whether the combination is usable or if there are any restrictions on the specifications.

For example, a camera for 135 film and a camera for 240 film having different photographing screen sizes are:
The mount with the lens barrel has the same diameter, so that the lens barrel that can be mounted on a 135 film camera can be mounted on a 240 film camera. However, on the other hand, the lens barrel that can be mounted on a 240-film camera has a part that enters the camera body for the focal length and compactness of the camera. I can't. Therefore, in such an imaging system, the photographer needs to determine the type of the camera and the lens barrel.

[0008] In addition, the determination of the type between the imaging systems is necessary when the above-described underwater cameras are combined with systems having different usable depths. That is, a combination of a camera body and a lens barrel having different usable depths is possible to provide compatibility. However, in such a case, the depth that can be used as an underwater camera is limited to the shallower device, so it is necessary to make a determination when combining the underwater cameras.

Of course, the attachments detachably attached to the camera body, which is an imaging device constituting such an imaging system, are not limited to lens barrels, but are also data back devices, strobe devices, and various other accessories. There are parts. That is, when assembling an appropriate accessory device to the camera body, it is necessary to determine whether the combination is possible or whether there is a restriction in the specification and notify the photographer. .

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and when there are a plurality of compatible imaging systems having different screen sizes and usable depths and using them in combination, each of them is used in combination. It is an object of the present invention to obtain an imaging system that can notify a photographer as to whether the photographing is possible or the restriction is imposed according to specifications.

[0011]

In order to meet such a demand, an imaging system according to the present invention comprises a first imaging device and a first attachment device detachably attached to the first imaging device. An imaging system, including a second imaging device and a second attachment device detachably assembled to the second imaging device, the second imaging system having a different format and compatibility with the first imaging system, An apparatus that configures the first imaging system and the second imaging system when the second imaging device cannot be used for the first imaging device, or when the specification range is limited even if the second imaging device can be used. Each class is provided with a discriminating means for discriminating that the systems are different from each other.

In the image pickup system according to the present invention, the image pickup device is a camera body, and the accessory device is an interchangeable lens barrel mounted on the camera body.
The discriminating means for discriminating the devices in the image pickup system is constituted by one of the external shapes. Further, in the imaging system according to the present invention, when a camera body as an imaging device and an interchangeable lens barrel as an attached device are mounted, these are devices in the first and second imaging systems. The discriminating means for discriminating is a display means obtained by exchanging the identification data signal between the control units provided respectively.

According to the present invention, when combining an imaging device and an accessory device, it is possible to determine whether or not the combination is possible due to a difference in the type of the imaging system. It is possible to easily inform the photographer of the warning of the propriety or the restriction on the specification that occurs when the combination is made, for example, by making the photographer's eyes touch by the appearance shape of the devices and the identification means by the identification display means.

The first image pickup system is, for example, a camera system using 135 film, and the second image pickup system is a camera system using 240 film, wherein the second lens barrel is mounted on the first camera. Refers to the case where it is restricted from the specification. Needless to say, the first and second imaging systems include underwater cameras having different usable depths. The appearance shape as the determination means is 24
It refers to a small-diameter extended portion that extends into the camera body by extending to the rear end of the lens barrel for the 0 film, or a mark, a character, or the like provided on the exterior of the camera and the lens barrel. Such discriminating means also includes a numerical value obtained by an identification data signal between control units provided in devices in each system, and a display means using other display marks.

[0015]

1 (A) and 1 (B) and FIG.
(A) and (B) show a first embodiment of an imaging system according to the present invention. In these figures, in this embodiment, as an image pickup apparatus constituting an image pickup system, for example, as an attachment device for detachably attaching camera bodies 1A and 1B of a single-lens reflex camera for 135 film or 240 film, respectively. Interchangeable lens barrels 10A, 10
The case of B will be described.

FIG. 1 (A) shows a conventional 135
1 shows a first imaging system including a camera body 1A of a 135 camera using a film and an interchangeable lens barrel 10A detachably attached to the camera body 1A. This camera body 1A
The lens barrel 1 is mounted on the mount 6A provided in the center of the front surface.
OA is configured to be detachably mounted. Here, 2A is a dial for setting various modes, 4A
Is a dial for setting a shutter time, and 5A is a shutter button for obtaining an exposure start signal. Also, a photographing screen 3A on a 135 film (not shown) in this camera system.
Has the size shown. The lens barrel 10A used for such a 135 camera will be described later with reference to FIG.
It is configured to be mountable to a camera using the 240 film shown in FIG.

FIG. 1B shows a camera body 1B of a single-lens reflex camera using a 240 film and a lens barrel 10B attached to the camera body. A lens barrel 10B is mounted on a mount 6B provided at the front center of the camera body 1B. Is configured to be mounted. Here, in the drawing, 2B is a dial for setting various modes, 4B is a dial for setting shutter time, and 5B is a shutter button for obtaining an exposure start signal. Also, the photographing screen 3B on the 240 film (not shown) in this camera system has the illustrated size, and is smaller than the photographing screen 3A in FIG. 1A described above.

Therefore, the camera body 1B using such a 240 film can be reduced in size as described later. Also, regarding the lens barrel 10B,
As will be described later, a small-diameter extending portion 11B extends from the rear end,
Since the extension portion 11B can be formed so as to enter the inside of the mount 6B of the camera body 1B, the total length can be reduced, and the overall size can be reduced in a state combined with the camera body 1B. .

This will be described in more detail.
The mount 6B of B is the same as the mount 6A of the camera body 1A of the 135 camera shown in FIG. That is, the lens barrel 1 currently distributed in the market as a camera system using 35 mm film or already possessed.
In order to take advantage of 0A, the camera body 1B in a camera system using a 24 mm film can be equipped with a lens 10A on the 135 camera system side.

On the other hand, on the contrary, 240
It is impossible to use the lens barrel 10B on the camera side for the camera body 1A of the 135 camera. As will be described later, when the lens barrel 10B is mounted on the camera body 1A, the small-diameter extending portion 11B at the rear end of the lens barrel 10B is attached to the camera body 1A.
This is because the mirror 18A collides during the operation of the mirror 18A by entering the rotation locus of the reflection mirror 18A in the mirror A.

In this embodiment, a color different from that of the main body of the lens barrel 10B is provided to the small-diameter extension 11B on the rear end side of the lens barrel 10B so that the photographer can be identified or warned. Alternatively, a pattern is provided as a determination unit. Therefore, when trying to mount this lens barrel 10B on the camera body 1A or the camera body 1B,
Since the color or pattern of the small-diameter extension portion 11B on the rear end side always enters the eyes of the photographer, attention can be drawn. On the contrary, since the lens barrel 10A can be mounted on any of the camera bodies 1A and 1B, the lens barrel 1A
No device like OB is required.

FIGS. 2A and 2B show the above-mentioned FIG.
It is sectional drawing which shows each optical path and built-in component of the camera system of (A) and (B), and shows the mechanical restriction | limiting relationship between the camera main bodies 1A and 1B and the lens barrels 10A and 10B.
Here, in these figures, the subject light that has passed through the lens barrels 10A and 10B before the photographing is reflected upward from the reflection mirrors 18A and 18B via the mounts 6A and 6B, and the screens 15A and 15B. Focus on the top. The photographer uses this pentagonal prism 16A, 1
It can be confirmed from behind via 6B.

When the shutter buttons 5A and 5B described above are pressed,
First, the reflection mirrors 18A and 18B are shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B.
By rotating upward as shown by the middle broken line, and subsequently opening a shutter (not shown) for a predetermined time, the subject light reaches the film shooting screens 3A and 3B, and optical recording is performed. Here, as shown in the figure, since the photographing screen 3B is smaller than the photographing screen 3A, the reflection mirror 18B is also used as the reflection mirror 18A.
May be smaller. Therefore, the screen 15B and the pentaprism 16B provided thereabove can be made smaller than the screen 15A and the pentaprism 16A, respectively.

As described above, in the first and second camera systems of different types, the mounts 6A and 6B are common, and the distances from the positions thereof to the screens 3A and 3B are the same. . Therefore, in the camera body 1B of the 240 camera, a space is generated in a space from the mount 6B to the locus of the reflection mirror 18B. The lens barrel 10B is located in this space.
Can be inserted into the small-diameter extending portion 11B on the rear end side, and the total length of the lens barrel 10B itself can be shortened.
Further, there is an effect that the size of the entire camera can be reduced.

Here, the mounts 6A, 6
The common use of the lens B allows the camera body 1B to share the lens barrel 10A.
It is extended to the telephoto side by the difference in size between A and 3B. That is, only the central portion of the subject light passing through the lens barrel 10A reaches the shooting screen 3B.

On the other hand, it is impossible to use the lens barrel 10B on the 240 side for the camera body 1A on the 135 side. That is, even if the lens barrel 10B is to be mounted on the camera body 1A, the small-diameter extending portion 11B on the rear end side enters the rotation locus of the reflection mirror 18A in the camera body 1A, and collides during the mirror operation. That's why. And to avoid this situation,
As described above, the small-diameter extension portion 11B on the rear end side of the lens barrel 10B is given a color or pattern different from that of the body of the lens barrel 10B that can identify or warn the photographer. . When attaching such a lens barrel 10B to the camera body 1A or the camera body 1B, the color or pattern of the small-diameter extension portion 11B on the rear end side is always in the eyes of the photographer, so that attention is required. Will do.

FIGS. 3A and 3B show the appearance of first and second camera systems according to a second embodiment of the imaging system according to the present invention. Here, FIG.
Parts that are the same as or correspond to those in (B) are given the same numbers, and descriptions thereof are omitted. 3A, indices 12 of the same shape are provided on the periphery of the mount 6A of the camera body 1A and the periphery of the lens barrel 10A in the 135 camera.
A, 13A. These indices 12A, 13A
Is used to determine the positional relationship between the lens barrel 10A and the camera body 1A when the lens barrel 10A is mounted on the camera body 1A. Body 1
A can be attached and fixed.

On the other hand, in FIG. 3B, two indices 12A and 12B are provided on the periphery of the mount 6B of the camera body 1B of the 240 camera, and indices 13B are provided on the outer periphery of the lens barrel 10B. Here, the indexes 12B and 13B
Have the same shape, and the index 12A is the same as the index 13A in the lens barrel 10A on the 135 camera side. The purpose of these indices is to determine the positional relationship between them, as in FIG. 3A. However, since the camera body 1B can use both of the lens barrels 10A and 10B, it is necessary to use the two indices. It has a kind of index.

Therefore, as described above, even if an attempt is made to mount the lens barrel 10B on the 240 side to the camera body 1A on the 135 side where the use of the combination is prohibited, since the respective indicators 12A and 13B are different, the photographer must You can notice before the lens is attached. In other words, in this embodiment, in each of the camera systems, the camera bodies 1A and 1B, the indicators 12A and 12B provided on the lens barrels 10A and 10B,
13A and 13B serve as determination means.

FIGS. 4A and 4B show a third embodiment of the imaging system according to the present invention. The camera system in this embodiment is different from the first and second embodiments described above in that a single-lens reflex type underwater camera system is used as an example. Here, a camera system having a two-stage waterproof function as an underwater camera is provided with compatibility, and a determination means for warning whether combination is possible is provided. In the drawings, 22A and 22B are dials for setting a mode, etc., 24A and 24B are dials for setting a shutter time, and 25A and 25B are shutter buttons.

The combination of the camera body 21A and the lens barrel 30A constituting the underwater camera system in FIG. 4A allows a depth of 100 m, and the camera body 21B and the lens constituting the underwater camera system in FIG. Each of the combinations of the lens barrels 30B is different only in the waterproof specification so as to allow a water depth of 50 m. In these systems, the sizes of the shooting screens 23A and 23B used are the same, and the mounts 26A and 26B are also the same.

Therefore, although the above two types of underwater camera systems differ only in the waterproof specification as described above, since the lens barrels are interchangeable, only the combination of the camera body 21A and the lens body 30A is used. Water depth 10
Use at 0 m is possible, and other combinations result in use at a water depth of 50 m.

In this embodiment, artificial leathers 27A, 28A, 27B, 28B are attached as discriminating means to the external appearances of the camera bodies 21A, 21B and the lens barrels 30A, 30B constituting each of the underwater camera systems described above. It is provided by doing. Here, since the artificial leather 27A, 28A and the artificial leather 27B, 28B have different colors, patterns, etc., only the combination of the artificial leathers 27A, 28A has a water depth of 1.
The photographer can surely know from the appearance of the artificial leather that the waterproofing at 00 m can be guaranteed.

FIGS. 5A and 5B and FIGS.
(B) shows a fourth embodiment of the imaging system according to the present invention, and the camera system in this embodiment includes:
This is an example of an underwater camera system similar to FIGS. 4 (A) and 4 (B) described above. The camera system having a two-stage waterproof function as an underwater camera has compatibility with the camera system. A determination means for giving a warning about the availability is provided. The same or corresponding parts as those in FIG. 4 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

In this embodiment, the camera body 21A,
21B, numerical values 32A, 32B, 33A, 33 representing the guaranteed depth are provided on the external appearance of the lens barrels 30A, 30B.
B is displayed. When these are used in combination, the maximum depth that can be used is limited by the numerical value of the camera body or the lens barrel having the smallest depth. The photographer may check the numerical value of the water depth displayed on the combined camera body and lens barrel, and use the shallower one as the allowable limit.

Further, FIGS. 5 (A) and 5 (B) and FIGS. 6 (A) and 6 (B) also disclose a fifth embodiment as an imaging system. That is, LCDs 31A and 31B as numerical value display means are provided on a part of the appearance of the camera bodies 21A and 21B, respectively, so as to display a numerical value of the allowable water depth. For example, FIG.
(A), the camera body 21A, the lens barrel 30
A can be waterproof at a depth of 100m, so LC
A display of 100 m is displayed on D31A.
In (B), since both the camera 21B and the lens 30B have a limit of 50 m, 50 m is displayed on the LCD 31B.

This is because data communication is performed between the control units provided in each of the camera body and the lens barrel, and the digital data transmitted from the lens barrel to the camera body includes: This is because the permissible water depth data is included as the identification data signal. The camera body operates to display the shallower one of the permissible depth data of the camera itself and the permissible depth data transmitted from the attached lens barrel on the LCD. Therefore, in such a configuration, the permissible water depth can be easily confirmed by reading the numerical value displayed on the LCD. The camera bodies 21A, 21B of such LCDs 31A, 31B.
It is preferable that the attachment position is provided at a place that is easy to see when the lens barrels 30A and 30B are attached.

For example, in FIG. 6A, since the lens barrel 30B with a depth of 50 m is mounted on the camera body 21A with a depth of 100 m, the camera body 21A ignores its own limit of 100 m and transmits the transmitted lens barrel 30B. Is displayed on the LCD 31A as numerical information indicating the performance as a system. In FIG. 6B, a lens barrel 30A having a water depth of 100 m is mounted on a camera body 21B having a water depth of 50 m. The identification data at the water depth of 100 m is ignored, and the self-depth of 50 m at the water depth is displayed on the LCD 31B as the performance as a system.

The present invention is not limited to the structure described in the above embodiment, and it goes without saying that the shape and structure of each part can be appropriately modified and changed. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the camera bodies 1A, 1B, 21A, 21
Although the description has been made by taking the combination of the lens B and the lens barrels 10A, 10B, 30A, 30B as an example, various other accessory parts, mainly a camera, such as a data back device, a strobe device, or a battery pack. The present invention can be applied as long as it is related to compatibility in an imaging system configured by. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the single-lens reflex camera or the single-lens reflex type underwater camera which is a still camera is exemplified as the imaging device.
The present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to an imaging system having an imaging device such as a movie camera.

[0040]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In a single-lens reflex camera using 135 film or 240 film, a combination of a camera body and a lens barrel is made compatible and a 135 lens camera of a lens barrel for 240 film is restricted from the specification. The photographer is notified that the camera cannot be mounted on the camera by the presence of a small-diameter extending portion which is an external shape of the apparatus.

[0041]

As described above, according to the imaging system of the present invention, the first imaging system including the first imaging device and the first attachment device detachably attached to the first imaging device; A second imaging system comprising a second imaging device and a second attachment device detachably attached to the second imaging device, the second imaging system having a different format from the first imaging system and having compatibility with the first imaging system. In the case where the second accessory device cannot be used or the specification range is limited even if it can be used, each of the devices constituting the first imaging system and the second imaging system includes: Since the determination means for determining that the systems are different from each other is provided, the following advantageous effects can be obtained despite the simple configuration.

That is, according to the present invention, for example, when a plurality of compatible imaging systems having different screen sizes and usable depths and having compatibility are available, it is determined whether or not each combination can be used. The restriction or prohibition from above can be reliably notified to the photographer as a notice or a warning. Therefore, there is an advantage that a user who uses a compatible imaging system has good usability, and can surely grasp the combination state and appropriately perform photographing.

In particular, according to the present invention, the imaging device is a camera body, and the accessory device is an interchangeable lens barrel mounted on the camera body, and these are devices in the first and second imaging systems. The camera body and the lens attached to the camera body are constituted by determining means for judging that there is a display means obtained by communication of an identification data signal between any of the external appearance shapes or the control units provided respectively. Combination work with the lens barrel can be performed easily and reliably.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1A and 1B show a first embodiment of an imaging system according to the present invention, in which FIG. 1A is an exploded perspective view of a first imaging system including a camera body using a 135 film and a lens barrel, and FIG. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a first imaging system including a camera body using a 240 film and a lens barrel.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing respective optical paths and built-in components of first and second imaging systems in FIGS. 1 (A) and (B).

3A and 3B show a second embodiment of the imaging system according to the present invention, wherein FIG. 3A is an exploded perspective view of a first imaging system including a camera body using a 135 film and a lens barrel, and FIG. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a first imaging system including a camera body using a 240 film and a lens barrel.

FIG. 4 shows a third embodiment of the imaging system according to the present invention, in which (A) is an exploded perspective view of a camera body and a lens barrel in an underwater camera system having a waterproof function at a depth of 100 m, (B) is an exploded perspective view of a camera body and a lens barrel in an underwater camera system having a waterproof function at a depth of 50 m.

5A and 5B show fourth and fifth embodiments of an imaging system according to the present invention, wherein FIG. 5A is an exploded perspective view of a camera body and a lens barrel in an underwater camera system having a waterproof function at a depth of 100 m. FIG. 1B is an exploded perspective view of a camera body and a lens barrel in an underwater camera system having a waterproof function at a depth of 50 m.

6A and 6B are exploded perspective views showing a case where the combination of the underwater camera systems in FIGS. 5A and 5B is reversed.

[Explanation of symbols]

1A, 1B, 21A, 21B ... camera body (first, second
3A, 3B, 23A, 23B ... shooting screen, 6A, 6B, 26A, 26B ... mount, 10A,
10B, 30A, 30B: lens barrels (first and second attachments); 11B: small-diameter extension on the rear end side of the lens (determination means); 12A, 12B, 13A, 13B: indicators (determination means); 27A, 27B, 28A, 28B ... artificial leather (discriminating means), 32A, 32B, 33A, 33B ... numerical values (display), 31A, 31B ... LCD (display means).

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A first imaging system including a first imaging device and a first attachment device detachably attached to the first imaging device, and a second imaging device and a second imaging device detachably attached to the second imaging device. A second imaging system having a different format from the first imaging system and having compatibility with the first imaging system, wherein the second imaging device cannot be used for the first imaging device, Alternatively, it is an imaging system whose specification range is limited even if it can be used, and each of the devices constituting the first imaging system and the second imaging system determines that they are different systems. An imaging system comprising a determination unit. 2. The imaging system according to claim 1, wherein the imaging device constituting the imaging system is a camera body,
The attached device is an interchangeable lens barrel attached to the camera body, and the discriminating means for discriminating these as devices in the first and second imaging systems has any one of external shapes. Imaging system. 3. The imaging system according to claim 1, wherein the imaging device constituting the imaging system is a camera body,
The attached device is an interchangeable lens barrel attached to the camera body, and the discriminating means for discriminating these as devices in the first and second imaging systems is identification data between control units provided respectively. An imaging system, which is a display unit obtained by exchanging signals.