GB1577173A - Still or cine camera a rangefinder - Google Patents

Description

(54) STILL OR CINE CAMERA WITH A RANGEFINDER (71) We, AGFA - GEVAERT AKTIEN GESELLSCHAFT, a body corporate organised according to the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany, of Leverkusen, Federal Republic of Germany, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a.patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The invention relates to still or cine cameras with rangefinders.

It has previously been proposed to provide as rangefinder a pair of measuring marks ,visible in the viewfinder and so movable relative to one another in response to adjustment of the focussing means of the camera lens that the focussing means is in correct adjustment when an object of predetermined size seen through the viewfinder fits between the marks. The measuring marks are arranged in the centre of the viewfinder, as is also usually the case with split-image or coincident type rangefinders.

Also, it has- long been known that the majority of users of low-cost cameras photograph the most important parts of the image of the picture,-even in cases where this detracts from the composition of the picture and the full utilisation of the format, resulting in typical beginners pictures with the horizon running through the centre of the picture and with the upper half of the picture empty. This is particularly so in the case of the previously proposed camera referred to above, in which the head of a person being photographed serves as the reference with regard to size. The fact that the rangefinder is arranged in the centre of the viewfinder image field results in the inexperienced camera user centreing the head exactly for the purpose of focussing and then actuating the camera immediately.

This of course means that the upper half of the picture remains to a great extent unused, producing results which are unsatisfactory from the aesthetic point of view.

The invention provides a still or cine camera, wherein a pair of measuring marks are visible in the viewfinder and are so movable relative to one another in response to adjustment of the focussing means of the camera lens that the focussing means is in correct adjustment when an object of predetermined size seen through the viewfinder fits between the marks, and wherein the marks are situated in the region of the edge of the viewfinder image field.

The fact that the measuring marks are situated in the region of the edge of the viewfinder image field causes the user, after setting the distance, to select a satisfactory image area before pressing the release member. If he has brought the head diameter between the measuring marks situated at the edge of the picture, for instance, he is then unlikely to operate the release in this position, since the most important part of the picture, that is the head, is only partly visible in the viewfinder. The invention thus encourages the inexperienced camera-user, who might forget the recommendations contained in the operating instructions and also any previous experience in the excitement of taking the photograph to choose a more favourable layout for the picture.

The measuring marks may be the opaque limits of a transparent, preferably, coloured, measuring strip, one of which may be defined by a movable slider, or may be defined by a pair of members, one of which may be movable with the other fixed or both of which may.be movable. In the case of such a pair of. members, they may be formed by pointer-like formations extending from a slider guided outside the visible area oft the viewfinder.

The viewfinder may be an Albada or bright-line viewfinder, in which case the marks will lie in the region of the same surface as that on which the viewfinder edge marks are situated.

Three still cameras constructed in accordance with the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a partly cut away front perspective view of the first camera; Figure la shows an image visible in the viewfinder of the above camera during the exposure; Figure lb shows the image visible during focussing; Figure 2 is a partly cut away front perspective view of the second camera; Figure 2a shows an image visible in the viewfinder of the second camera; Figure 3 is a part front perspective view, partly cut away, of the third still camera, showing the measuring marks; and Figure 3a shows an image visible in the viewfinder of the third still camera.

The camera of Figure 1 is a folding camera and has housing 1, a lens support 2 and a lens 3 mounted thereon, a shutter (not shown), and bellows 4. In the top part of the housing 1 there is a viewfinder 5, which may be a Newton or an Albada viewfinder, the latter being similar to a brightline viewfinder which may also be employed.

The lens 3 can be focussed by rotating a control 3a. The relative movement between a rotatable part 3b of the lens tube and a fixed part 2b of the lens support 2 is utilised to actuate a Bowden cable 6, the other end of which leads to the top of the camera housing 1. A slider 7 which projects into the viewfinder 5 is actuated by means of the Bowden cable 6. In order that the slider should be visible in sharp focus in the viewfinder it is arranged in the immediate vicinity of the front lens of the viewfinder. -If it is desired to arrange it in front of the front lens an additional cover glass may be provided for protection. The slider may be guided in a slot in the front lens; this is generally made of plastics material and is thus relatively thick, and a slot in such a lens is not particularly difficult to achieve. In the case of an Albada viewfinder the slider is arranged in the plane of the reflected image field defining marks.

A transparent coloured strip 8 arranged at the edge of the viewfinder, slightly outside the image field, is covered over by the slider 7 in such a way that the strip length visible in the viewfinder, which is dependent on the focussing of the lens 3, is as great as the width of a human head viewed through the viewfinder when that head is sharply focussed in the image plane of the camera. The image visible in the viewfinder is shown in Figure la. For focussing, the camera is tilted until the head, as shown in Figure lb, is seen through the measuring strip 8, and the focussing means 3 is rotated so that the slider 7 uncovers a length of the strip 8 which corresponds to the width of the head. The measuring distance is thus formed by the distance - between the end of the slider 7a and the fixed limit 8a of the measuring strip 8.

The image visible in the viewfinder according to Figure 1 b is such that even an inexperienced camera-user is not liable to press the camera release immediately.

Rather the user will seek a sensible image area.

Figures 2 and 2a show a further embodiment of the subject of the invention in a camera with a non-folding, tubular, body, in which the -lens is attached to a lens carrier 9 and is focussed through a gearwheel 10 and a knurled wheel 11. The spindle 12 of the knurled wheel 11 leads into the top part of the camera housing 1 and there actuates via intermediate gearing two sliders 13 and 14 which move in opposite directions and are supported by pin/slot connections. In this embodiment, the sliders are not themselves visible in the viewfinder, but only their ends 13a and 14a which are bent to form pointers and project into the actual viewfinder field at the edge.

A further embodiment is shown in Figures 3 and 3a. By means of a Bowden cable 6, two racks 15 and 16 are displaced in opposite directions when the camera is focussed. In addition, two further sliders 18 and 19 are coupled by way of further gearing 17 so that measuring areas are formed simultaneously on two adjacent sides of the viewfinder field by the pointer-like ends 15a and 16a, 18a and 19a, respectively, of the sliders. This arrangement is suitable for cameras with a rectangular picture format, since tilting of the camera in a vertical direction for range setting is more convenient than pivoting sideways, and the arrangement provides a measuring area situated at the lower edge . of the image field for both upright format and transverse form exposures. In other respects, the camera of Figures 3 and 3a is the same as that shown in Figures 2 and 2a.

The invention is not restricted to the sample embodiments described. Thus, . for example, any of the embodiments may employ a transparent measuring strip covered by sliders moving in opposite directions, or a single pointer which moves towards a fixed pointer.

It is pointed out that the camera has been described with a Newton viewfinder partly because it can be clearly illustrated.

In view of the fact that with a Newton viewfinder the pointer ends and/or the measuring strip cannot be seen in sharp focus simultaneously with the image, preference is given in practice to the Albada viewfinder already mentioned, in which the viewfinder edge marks are situated on, or in the vicinity of, the inner surface of the eyepiece lens. The pointers and/or the measuring strip and the sliders will lie in this plane with the Albada viewfinder.

Also, the pointers and / or the measuring strip may be reflected into the image field in the manner of a bright-line viewfinder.

Also, the measuring marks may be formed by a pair of masking means in any of the forms disclosed in our co-pending Application No. 29410/77 (Serial No.

1 577 174).

Finaly, the cameras may be instant picture cameras, such as those described in our co-pending Application Nos. 18028/77 and 18029/77, but they could also be still cameras not of the instant picture type, or could be cine cameras.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:- 1. A still or cine camera, wherein a pair of measuring marks are visible in the viewfinder and are so movable relative to one another in response to adjustment of the focussing means of the camera lens that the focussing means is in correct adjustment when an object of predetermined size seen through the viewfinder fits between the marks, and wherein the marks are situated in the region of the edge of the viewfinder image field.

2. A still or cine camera as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of the measuring marks is fixed and the other is defined by a member coupled to the focussing means and movable by adjustment of the focussing means.

3. A still or cine camera as claimed in claim 1, wherein each mark is defined by a respective member which is coupled to the focussing means and which is movable in an opposite direction to the other member.

4. A still camera as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the camera has a rectangular picture format and a pair of measuring marks is arranged in region of an edge of both a longer side and a shorter side of the viewfinder image field.

5. A still camera as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the or each pair of measuring marks are defined by two pointer-like formations extending from a slider guided outside the visible area of the viewfinder with the formations projecting into the image field of the viewfinder at the edge.

6. A still or cine camera as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the measuring marks are the opaque limits of a transparent measuring strip.

7. A still or cine camera as claimed in claim 6, wherein at least one of the opaque limits is formed by the end of a slider which is movable in the longitudinal direction of the measuring strip and can cover varying lengths thereof, and which is coupled to the focussing means.

8. A still or cine camera as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7, wherein the transparent strip is coloured.

9. A still camera as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the camera is an instant picture camera.

10. A still or cine camera substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (10)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. focus simultaneously with the image, preference is given in practice to the Albada viewfinder already mentioned, in which the viewfinder edge marks are situated on, or in the vicinity of, the inner surface of the eyepiece lens. The pointers and/or the measuring strip and the sliders will lie in this plane with the Albada viewfinder. Also, the pointers and / or the measuring strip may be reflected into the image field in the manner of a bright-line viewfinder. Also, the measuring marks may be formed by a pair of masking means in any of the forms disclosed in our co-pending Application No. 29410/77 (Serial No.

1 577 174).

Finaly, the cameras may be instant picture cameras, such as those described in our co-pending Application Nos. 18028/77 and 18029/77, but they could also be still cameras not of the instant picture type, or could be cine cameras.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:- 1. A still or cine camera, wherein a pair of measuring marks are visible in the viewfinder and are so movable relative to one another in response to adjustment of the focussing means of the camera lens that the focussing means is in correct adjustment when an object of predetermined size seen through the viewfinder fits between the marks, and wherein the marks are situated in the region of the edge of the viewfinder image field.

2. A still or cine camera as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of the measuring marks is fixed and the other is defined by a member coupled to the focussing means and movable by adjustment of the focussing means.

3. A still or cine camera as claimed in claim 1, wherein each mark is defined by a respective member which is coupled to the focussing means and which is movable in an opposite direction to the other member.

4. A still camera as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the camera has a rectangular picture format and a pair of measuring marks is arranged in region of an edge of both a longer side and a shorter side of the viewfinder image field.

5. A still camera as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the or each pair of measuring marks are defined by two pointer-like formations extending from a slider guided outside the visible area of the viewfinder with the formations projecting into the image field of the viewfinder at the edge.

6. A still or cine camera as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the measuring marks are the opaque limits of a transparent measuring strip.

7. A still or cine camera as claimed in claim 6, wherein at least one of the opaque limits is formed by the end of a slider which is movable in the longitudinal direction of the measuring strip and can cover varying lengths thereof, and which is coupled to the focussing means.

8. A still or cine camera as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7, wherein the transparent strip is coloured.

9. A still camera as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the camera is an instant picture camera.

10. A still or cine camera substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.