JP2000162494A - Electronic camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic camera using an image pickup element capable of making a consecutive photographing speed fast while suppressing the costincrease, and capable of taking a moving picture. SOLUTION: This camera is an electronic camera of a single-lens reflex camera type, and has an electronic camera system in which a mirror-up 25 and a shutter 71 are fully closed at the time of a consecutive photographing, a focal point adjusting(AF) operation is carried out in an exchange lens 4 side, exposure to an image pickup element 24 is controlled by diaphragm control and an electronicshutter in a bulb condition to read out an image, mirror up down, shutter opening and closing and a charging operation for each one frame are eleminated, the time lag is reduced to make fast a consecutive photographing speed, an image sample is input at any time into the element 24, and in which moving photographing and display are capable.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an electronic camera system capable of high-speed continuous photographing using an image sensor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, there has been known an electronic camera (digital camera) in which an image pickup device such as a CCD is mounted on an optical system of a single-lens reflex camera (hereinafter, referred to as a single-lens reflex camera) using a silver halide film as an imaging medium. Have been.

[0003] For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 8-262564 and "Photo Industry" (Photo Industry Publishing Company, April 1998 issue)
P97) discloses a single-lens reflex camera type electronic camera system in which exposure to an image sensor is controlled by a focal plane shutter.

[0004]

In the above-mentioned conventional single-lens reflex type electronic camera, the exposure is controlled by a focal plane shutter. Therefore, like a conventional camera using a silver halide film, a mirror is provided every frame. Up Down,
A series of operations such as an aperture opening / closing operation and a shutter opening / closing operation are performed.

[0005] Therefore, even during continuous photographing, such a series of operations are continuously repeated, and in order to improve the continuous shooting speed, the speed of the operation of each component is increased, and each operation is performed in parallel. Was thought to be done.

However, in order to speed up the operation of each component, it is necessary to improve the material and processing accuracy of each component, resulting in an increase in cost, and cannot be easily applied to a conventional low-cost camera. Was.

In order to speed up the operation by the parallel operation of each component, a complicated sequence is required.
Expensive components for processing this are required, which also leads to an increase in cost.

Further, since the mirror up / down, aperture opening / closing operation, and shutter opening / closing operation are performed for each frame to be photographed, moving images cannot be displayed on an LCD monitor or the like.

In the conventional method of detecting the focus in the camera body, the focus detection light beam to the focus detection device is cut off after the mirror in the camera body is raised during photographing, so that the subject image cannot be observed. There is also a problem that it is difficult to improve the continuous shooting speed because the mirror is always lowered when performing focus detection.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic camera system using an image pickup device which realizes a high continuous shooting speed while suppressing an increase in cost and can also shoot a moving image.

[0011]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a focus detecting means for detecting a focus state of a photographic lens by inputting a detection light beam having a predetermined F value which has passed through a photographic lens; A focus adjusting means for adjusting the focus of the photographing lens based on an output of the focus detecting means; and a diaphragm control means for controlling a diaphragm of the photographing lens, wherein the focus detection is performed before the image sampler is repeatedly exposed. A camera is provided which activates the means and the focus adjusting means, and after the focus adjustment of the taking lens is completed, narrows the aperture down to the F value at the time of photographing, thereby permitting repeated exposure of the image sample means.

Further, a photographing optical system capable of adjusting the focus and a focus detecting means for sharing a part of the optical path with the photographing optical system, inputting a light beam having a predetermined F value, and detecting a focus state of the photographing optical system. A focus adjusting means for adjusting the focus of the imaging optical system, an aperture means for controlling an aperture value of the imaging optical system, and a communication means for communicating with the mounted camera body. When the camera is set to the shooting mode and the aperture value at the time of shooting is narrowed down from the predetermined F value, the aperture means is narrowed down from the open state to the predetermined F value in response to the exposure preparation operation of the camera body,
Activating the focus detection means and the focus adjustment means, after the focus adjustment of the photographing optical system is completed, narrowing the aperture down to a predetermined aperture value at the time of photographing, sending an exposure permission signal to the camera body, and The present invention provides an interchangeable photographic lens that returns the aperture to the predetermined F-number in response to the exposure completion signal.

In the electronic camera system having the above-described configuration, in the single-lens reflex camera type digital camera, in the continuous shooting mode, the mirror up and the focal plane shutter are fully closed, and the focus adjustment (AF) operation is performed on the interchangeable lens side. In this state, the exposure to the image sensor is controlled by the aperture control and the electronic shutter in the state of the valve, and the image is read.

By this imaging operation, the time lag is reduced without performing the mirror up / down, the focal plane shutter opening / closing, and the charging operation for each frame, and the continuous shooting speed is increased. Further, since the mirror is up and the focal plane shutter is fully closed, an image sample is input to the image sensor at any time, and moving images can be captured and displayed.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a conceptual configuration of an electronic camera system according to the present invention.

In this electronic camera system, an image pickup unit 2 for picking up a light beam passing through a photographing optical system, a valve setting unit 3 for setting a valve state, an electronic shutter control unit 5 for controlling an electronic shutter, and an operation mode are set. And an operation mode setting unit 6 that performs the operation.

In such a system, when the continuous shooting mode is set by the operation mode setting unit 6, the mirror up and the focal plane shutter are fully closed, and the electronic shutter control unit 5 operates in a state where the valve setting unit 3 is operated. In addition, the exposure of the imaging unit 2 is controlled by the electronic shutter unit 5 to increase the speed of continuous shooting.

Next, an electronic camera system according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an electronic camera system (electronic camera body + interchangeable lens) and an optical path thereof according to the present embodiment.

The interchangeable lens 4 of this electronic camera system
Is composed of a photographing optical system 11, such as a focus adjusting lens 11a, an aperture 12, a beam splitter 13, a first focus detection unit 15, and the like.

In this configuration, a subject light beam from a subject to be a photographed image passes through a photographing optical system 11 and is split by a beam splitter 13, one of which is reflected toward the electronic camera body 1 a and the other is reflected by a mirror 14. To the first focus detection unit 15 side.

The first focus detection section 15 employs a known phase difference detection method, and includes a phase difference optical system unit 15a and an AF sensor 15b. The diaphragm 12 has a shutter function, can maintain a predetermined diaphragm opening, and has a function of completely blocking light.

The subject luminous flux guided through the photographing optical system 11 and into the electronic camera body 1a is converted into an infrared light cut filter 21 for cutting infrared light components, and an optical LPF (low-pass) for reducing moire. The light is incident on a main mirror 25 via a filter 22. The main mirror 25 is composed of a half mirror, and about 70% of the incident light quantity is reflected toward the finder optical system, and the remaining about 30% of the other incident light quantity passes through the main mirror 25 and is transmitted to the sub-mirror 26. After being reflected, the light is guided to the third focus detection unit 72. The third focus detection unit 72 employs a known phase difference detection method.

The subject light beam reflected by the main mirror 25 passes through a screen 27, a pentaprism 28, and a finder optical system 39 including an eyepiece 29.
It is observed as a photographed image by the photographer.

At the time of exposure in this configuration, the main mirror 2
The sub-mirror 5 and the sub-mirror 26 are retracted to the positions indicated by the dotted lines in FIG.
While the shutter 1 is open, an image is formed on an image sensor (CCD) 24 and is exposed.

It should be noted that other versions of the camera body may not include the infrared cut filter 21 and the optical LPF 22, and data may be written in advance to an EEPROM in a body microcomputer (to be described later) of the electronic camera body 1a at the time of assembly. At the time of focus detection,
The necessary data may be read out and used for focus correction.

FIG. 3 shows the first focus detection unit 15 shown in FIG.
1 shows a configuration example of a focus detection optical system (a phase difference detection optical system) that guides a subject light beam to a sensor array arranged on an AF sensor 32 in the inside.

This focus detecting optical system includes a photographing lens 11,
A field mask S, a condenser lens C, a pupil mask K having openings K1 and K2 arranged substantially symmetrically with respect to the optical axis of the photographing lens 11, and arranged behind the openings K1 and K2 corresponding to the openings K1 and K2. It is composed of re-imaging lenses H1 and H2.

The exit pupil region L1,
The light flux of the subject incident via L2 passes through the field mask S, the condenser lens C, the openings K1 and K2 of the pupil mask K, and the re-imaging lenses H1 and H2.
Sensor arrays 90L, 9 arranged opposite to H1, H2
Re-imaged on 0R.

When the photographing lens 11 is focused, that is, when the subject image I is formed on the image plane G, the subject image I is formed by the condenser lens C and the re-imaging lenses H1 and H2.
The first image I1 and the second image I2 on the secondary imaging plane P (sensor array 90L, 90R) perpendicular to the optical axis O.
Is re-imaged.

When the photographing lens 11 becomes the front focus, that is, when the subject image F is formed in front of the image forming plane G, the subject images F are moved closer to the optical axis O with each other. And the first image F1 and the second image F2 are re-imaged.

Further, the photographing lens 11 serves as a rear focus.
That is, when the subject image R is formed behind the imaging plane G, the subject images R are further away from the optical axis O and perpendicular to the optical axis O, and the first images R1 and Second image R2
Is re-imaged.

By detecting the distance between the re-formed first and second images, the in-focus state of the photographing lens 11 can be detected including the front focus and the rear focus.

More specifically, the light intensity distribution of the first image and the second image is calculated by using an AF having sensor arrays 90L and 90R.
This is realized by measuring the distance between the two images, obtained from the subject image data output of the sensor 32. However, as described above, the focus detection light flux is emitted from the exit pupil region L of the photographing lens 11.
Since the light beam that has entered through L1 and L2 is used, focus detection cannot be performed if the FNo is set to a predetermined FNo (aperture value) or more.

FIG. 4 shows an electric block diagram of the interchangeable lens 4 and the electronic camera body 1a shown in FIG.

Here, a lens microcomputer (hereinafter, referred to as a lens microcomputer) 31 functions as a control device for the interchangeable lens 4, and includes, for example, a CPU (central processing unit) 31a, a ROM 31b, a RAM 31c, and A
This is a controller having a D converter ADC 31e. A series of operations are performed according to the sequence program stored in the ROM 31b. The lens microcomputer 31 includes an EEPROM 31d therein, and can store correction data relating to focus adjustment control and the like for each camera body.

The operation of the AF sensor 32, which is a part of the first focus detection unit 15, is controlled by the lens microcomputer 31. The AF sensor data (subject image data) output from the AF sensor 32 is AD-converted by an AD converter ADC 31e in the lens microcomputer 31, and is converted into an RA signal.
It is stored in M31c.

The lens microcomputer 31 performs a focus detection calculation based on the AF sensor data, and further performs a correction based on the correction data transmitted from the body microcomputer 41 in the electronic camera body 1a to perform the focus adjustment.
The drive amount, drive direction, drive speed, etc. of a are calculated.

Here, the first focus detection section 15 is set to have characteristics such as focus detection accuracy and defocus detection range that are optimized according to the type of the interchangeable lens 4 to be mounted. The lens driving unit 34 is a lens microcomputer 31
The focus adjustment lens 11a is driven based on the control from. The aperture control unit 33 drives the aperture 12 based on the control from the lens microcomputer 31. A plurality of electrical contacts 7 for communicating between the interchangeable lens 4 and the electronic camera body 1a are provided at a portion connecting the interchangeable lens 4 and the electronic camera body 1a.

Referring to FIG. 4, the structure of each part of the electronic camera body will be described.

The body microcomputer 41 is a control device of the electronic camera body 1a, and includes, for example, a CPU (central processing unit) 41a, a ROM 41b, a RAM 41c, and an AD converter ADC 41e. Body microcomputer 4
A series of operations are performed in accordance with a sequence program stored in advance in the ROM 41b of the internal device 1.

The body microcomputer 41 has an E
EPROM 41d is provided, and focus adjustment, photometry,
Correction data relating to AWB (auto white balance) and strobe control can be stored for each camera body.

The CCD control unit 77 controls an image pickup device (CCD) 24 which takes a subject image formed by the photographing optical system 11 and converts the image into an electric signal, and converts the electric signal output from the CCD 24 into a video signal processing unit. 42 creates a video signal.

The CCD 24 is, for example, a vertical overflow drain type CCD and an interline transfer type as a charge transfer type. The configuration is shown in FIG.

The CCD 24 includes a photodiode 101 arranged two-dimensionally in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction, and a transfer gate 102 for transferring charges accumulated in the photodiode 101 to a vertical shift register 103.
A vertical shift register 103 for sequentially transferring the transferred charges in the vertical direction; a horizontal shift register 104 for sequentially transferring the charges transferred in the vertical direction by the vertical shift register 103 in the horizontal direction;
And an output unit 105 that converts the charges transferred in the horizontal direction into a voltage signal and outputs the voltage signal.

The video signal processing section 42 shown in FIG.
And a correlated double sampling circuit (CDS) 78 for removing reset noise and the like from the CCD 24 as shown in FIG.
A gain control amplifier (AMP) 79 for amplifying the output of the correlated double sampling circuit 78; an AD converter (A / D) 80 for AD-converting the output of the gain control amplifier 79 to a digital signal; And a process processing circuit 81 for performing various processes on the video signal converted into the signal. CC above
The D control unit 77 generates a drive signal such as a transfer pulse for driving the CCD 24, and a sample-and-hold pulse of the correlated double sampling circuit 78 and the AD signal.
A timing generator (TG) 82 for generating an AD conversion timing pulse of the converter 80, and a signal generator (SG) for generating a signal for synchronizing the timing generator 82 with the body microcomputer 41
83.

The recording unit 44 includes a process processing circuit 81
, A memory for storing video signals (pixel data) output from the memory, and compressing the pixel data stored in the DRAM 84 to reduce the amount of data to be recorded, and compressing the compressed data read from the recording medium 86. It comprises a compression / expansion circuit 85 for decompression and a recording medium 86 for recording the compressed still image data.

The automatic white balance circuit 87 automatically controls the white balance based on the video signal output from the video signal processing section 42. The first photometric unit 45 calculates a photometric value based on the video signal output from the video signal processing unit 42. The second focus detection unit 43 performs focus detection based on the video signal output from the video signal processing unit 42, and the focus detection result is transmitted to the lens microcomputer 31.

The AF sensor 76 is a part of the third focus detection section 62, and outputs AF sensor data from the AF sensor 76 to an AD converter (AD converter) in the body microcomputer 41.
C) The data is AD-converted by 41e and stored in the RAM 41c. The body microcomputer 41 performs a focus detection calculation based on the AF sensor data, and transmits a defocus amount which is a third focus detection value to the lens microcomputer 31.

The second photometry section 75 is provided separately from the first photometry section 45, and generates an output corresponding to the luminance of the subject based on the output of another photometry element from the CCD 24. The body microcomputer 41 converts the photometric output into an AD converter 41e.
, And stores the photometric value in the RAM 41c.

The body microcomputer 41 is connected to the first photometer 4
5 or an exposure calculation is performed based on the output of the second photometry unit 75, and the electronic shutter of the image sensor CCD 24 at the time of shooting is controlled based on the calculated shutter speed. Also,
The body microcomputer 41 transmits the calculated aperture value data to the lens microcomputer 31. During photographing, the lens microcomputer 31 controls the aperture 12 in the photographing optical system 11.

The display section 46 displays images picked up by the image pickup device CCD 24 and information inside the camera on an LCD or the like, and is controlled by the body microcomputer 41.

1RSW (first release switch)
47, 2RSW (second release switch) 48
With the switch linked to the release button, the 1RSW 47 is turned on by depressing the release button in the first step, and subsequently the 2RSW 48 is turned on by depressing the release button in the second step. The body microcomputer 41 measures the light when the 1RSW 47 is turned on.
F, and the exposure operation and the image recording operation are performed when the 2RSW 48 is turned on.

The body microcomputer 41 drives the shutter drive unit 49 for driving the shutter 71 and the mirror 25 for switching the light beam passing through the photographing lens 11 between the CCD side and the finder side when performing exposure with the CCD 24. The mirror driving unit 50 is controlled.

In the mount for mounting the interchangeable lens 4,
A plurality of electrical contacts 8 for performing communication between the electronic camera body 1a and the interchangeable lens 4 are provided.

There is a case where the flange back (distance between the lens mount and the imaging surface) of the camera body using the silver halide film (hereinafter referred to as the silver halide camera body) and the electronic camera body cannot be originally equal due to structural reasons. is there. For this purpose, it is necessary to determine whether or not focusing is achieved by adding data corresponding to the displacement of the flange back to the focus detection result in the interchangeable lens 4. EE in 41
It is stored in the PROM 41d.

The flange back deviation amount data is transmitted to the lens microcomputer 31 in the interchangeable lens 1 and used as a correction value at the time of focus detection.

The shift amount inherent to each camera body is adjusted for each camera body at the factory, but may be added to the shift amount data or separately from the EEPROM 41d.
And used as a correction value at the time of focus detection.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the configuration of the silver halide camera body 1b and the interchangeable lens 4 to which the electronic camera system according to the present embodiment is applied, and the optical paths thereof. However, the configuration of the interchangeable lens 4 is equivalent to the configuration shown in FIG.
The same reference numerals are given and the detailed description is omitted.

In FIG. 7, a subject light beam from the subject passes through the photographing optical system 11 in the interchangeable lens 4 and enters the main mirror 51. The main mirror 51 is a half mirror that splits a subject light beam.
70% of the incident light is reflected toward the finder optical system, while the remaining 30% of the incident light is
, And are reflected by the sub-mirror 52, and then guided to the third focus detection unit 53. Third focus detection unit 53
Employs a known phase difference detection method.

The finder optical system 54 includes a screen 5
5, a pentaprism 56, and an eyepiece 57, and the subject's light flux is observed as a photographed image by the photographer through this finder optical system.

At the time of film exposure, the main mirror 51 and the sub-mirror 52 are retracted to the positions indicated by the dotted lines in FIG.
The subject light beam that has passed through the taking lens 11 is exposed to the film 59 while the shutter 58 is open.

Some silver halide camera bodies of other versions do not include the third focus detection section 53. In this case, the main mirror 51 is formed of a total reflection mirror, and the light quantity of the incident light is 100%. Is reflected toward the finder optical system.

The silver halide camera body is provided with a ROM 61b and an EEPROM 61d of a body microcomputer 61, which will be described later, and it is stored that these do not have the third focus detecting section. Is transmitted to the lens microcomputer 31 in the interchangeable lens 4.

Next, the structure of each part of the silver halide camera body will be described with reference to FIG.

The body microcomputer 61 is a control device for the silver halide camera body 1b, and includes, for example, a CPU (central processing unit) 61a, a ROM 61b, a RAM 61c, and an AD
A converter (ADC) 61e is provided. A series of camera operations are performed according to a camera sequence program stored in the ROM 61b of the body microcomputer 61 in advance. The body microcomputer 61 has an EEP inside.
A ROM 61d is provided, and correction data relating to AF control, photometry and the like can be stored for each camera body.

The AF sensor data output from the AF sensor 62 disposed in the third focus detection section 53 is AD-converted by the AD converter 61e and stored in the RAM 61c. The body microcomputer 61 performs a focus detection calculation based on the AF sensor data, and transmits a defocus amount that is a third focus detection value to the lens microcomputer 31.

The photometric unit 66 generates an output corresponding to the brightness of the subject, and the body microcomputer 61 converts the photometric output from the analog-to-digital converter 61e into an AD and stores it in the RAM 61c as a photometric value.

A film drive unit 65 for winding and rewinding the film, a shutter drive unit 64 for driving the shutter when exposing the film, and a light beam passing through the photographing lens 11 shown in FIG. Mirror drive unit 6 that drives a mirror to switch to the side
3. There is a display section 67 for displaying information inside the camera by LCD, LED, etc., all of which are the body microcomputer 61.
Is controlled by

1RSW (first release switch)
68 and 2RSW (second release switch) 69
Is a switch interlocked with the release button. The 1RSW 68 is turned on when the release button is depressed in the first stage, and the 2RSW 69 is subsequently turned on when depressed in the second stage. The body microcomputer 61 performs photometry and distance measurement when the 1RSW 68 is turned on, and performs an exposure operation and a film winding operation when the 2RSW 69 is turned on.

FIG. 9A is a focus detection area in the shooting screen of the first focus detection unit 15, and FIG. 9B is a focus detection area in the shooting screen of the second focus detection unit 43 and FIG. (C)
Each of the focus detection areas in the shooting screen of the third focus detection unit 72 is shown, and these focus detection areas are almost the same.

Next, each operation of the combination of the camera body and the interchangeable lens configured as described above will be described.

The control operation of the lens microcomputer 31 will be described with reference to the flowchart "lens main" shown in FIG.

Here, the lens microcomputer 31 can cope with a plurality of versions of AF control, and the camera body has predetermined versions 1, 2, and 3. For example, version 1 is a silver halide camera body without a built-in focus detection unit, and version 2 is
D is an electronic camera body (with a built-in second focus detection unit), and version 3 is a silver halide camera body with a built-in third focus detection unit.

First, while starting up, initialization of each block in the interchangeable lens 1 is performed, mutual communication is performed with the body microcomputer on the camera side, a camera body version signal is received, and the type of the camera body and the camera body Then, the type of the focus detection value transmitted is determined (step S1).

Here, various correction data used at the time of focus detection are received. The correction data includes flange back deviation data, photographing medium (silver film, C
CD), defocus data depending on the presence or absence of an infrared cut filter in the electronic camera body, data on a permissible focusing range according to the photographing medium, prescribed data of a focus detection area according to the size of the photographing medium, and the like. .

Next, a body microcomputer communication is performed to receive an AF command and an aperture command, and to receive data such as a shooting mode (for example, a continuous shooting mode and a single shooting mode) on the camera body side and whether or not a valve is being operated. Also, necessary data on the interchangeable lens side is transmitted to the body microcomputer (step S2).

Then, it is determined whether the command transmitted from the body microcomputer is an AF command or another command (step S3). If the command is an AF command (YES), it is determined whether the command is version 1 (step S4). If the command is another command (NO), the process proceeds to step 9 described later.

If it is determined in step S4 that the version is 1 (YES), a subroutine "A" which is an AF sequence when there is no focus detection unit in the camera body is performed.
F1 "is executed (step S5), and after performing lens drive control based on the defocus amount which is the focus detection value of the first focus detection unit 15 in the lens (phase difference detection method), the process returns to step S2. If it is determined that the version is not version 1 (NO), it is determined that the version is 2 or 3, and whether the body shooting mode is the continuous shooting mode is determined (step S6).

In the case of the continuous shooting mode in this determination (YE
S) After executing a subroutine "AF4", which is a control method that emphasizes high-speed performance (step S7), after performing focus adjustment by lens drive control based on the defocus amount of the third focus detection unit 53 in the camera body. Then, the process returns to step S2. However, if it is determined that the mode is not the continuous shooting mode (N
O), a subroutine "AF3", which is a control method focusing on the focus adjustment accuracy, is executed (step S8), and the lens drive control based on the defocus amount of the first focus detection unit 15 in the lens and the third focus in the camera body. After performing AF control in combination with lens drive control based on the defocus amount of the detection unit 53 (phase difference detection method), the process returns to step S2.

If it is determined in step S3 that the command is not an AF command, the command is an aperture control command, and it is determined whether or not the mode is to limit the aperture to an aperture value that does not block the focus detection light flux of the focus detection unit 15 ( Step S9).

In this discrimination, in the case of the mode in which the focus detection light beam is limited to an aperture value that does not cause a blur (YES), the aperture value is set to be limited to a predetermined aperture value (step S10).

Then, aperture control is performed based on the set aperture value, and the aperture 12 is driven to the set aperture value (step S11).

Next, the subroutine "AF1" shown in FIG. 11 by the lens microcomputer 31 will be described.

First, a control signal is output to the first focus detection unit 15 to execute focus detection (step S2).
1). Then, the defocus amount is calculated from the output of the first focus detection unit 15 (phase difference method). The defocus amount DF is calculated based on the correction data Hd (focus deviation correction data such as flange back deviation amount data) already stored in the RAM 31b in the lens microcomputer 31 through communication with the camera body as shown in the following equation. (Step S22).

DF '= DF + Hd (1) Then transmitted from the camera body to the lens microcomputer 3
1, the focus allowable range Gd in terms of the defocus amount at the time of focus detection by the first focus detection unit 15 is calculated from the data D related to the focus allowable range stored in the RAM 31c in, for example, the following equation (2). calculate.

Gd = FNo × D (2) where FNo is an open FNo of the photographing optical system. The corrected defocus amount DF 'is compared with the allowable range Gd, and it is determined whether or not it is within the allowable range Gd (step S23). However, the allowable range Gd is data unique to the type of the camera body.

If the result of this determination is outside the allowable range Gd, (N
O) The drive amount of the focus adjustment lens 11a to be in focus from the corrected defocus amount DF 'is calculated and the focus adjustment lens 11a is driven (step S24). Thereafter, the process returns to step S21, and the above-described operation is repeated until the detected corrected defocus amount DF 'falls within the allowable range Gd. However, if it is determined that the corrected defocus amount DF 'is within the allowable range Gd (YES), the process returns.

Next, the subroutine "AF2" shown in FIG. 12 by the lens microcomputer 31 will be described.

First, it is determined whether the second focus detection value of the second focus detection unit 43 has become smaller than a predetermined value (step S3).
1). If the value is equal to or greater than the predetermined value (NO), the in-focus flag is set (step S25), and the routine returns.

However, if the second focus detection value is smaller than the predetermined value (YES), the drive direction and drive speed of the focus adjustment lens 11a are calculated based on the second focus detection value (step S32). .

Then, the focusing lens 11a is driven based on the calculated driving direction and driving speed (step S).
33).

Next, the peak of the focus detection value is determined (step S34). If it is the peak (YES), the focusing flag is set (step S35). However, if it is not the peak (NO), the focus flag is cleared (step S36), and the routine returns.

The lens microcomputer 31 includes a focusing lens 1
Control is performed so that the focus adjustment lens 11a is positioned at a position where the second focus detection value reaches a peak while moving 1a.

Next, the subroutine "AF3" shown in FIG. 13 by the lens microcomputer 31 will be described.

First, the lens microcomputer 31 outputs a control signal to the first focus detection section 15 to execute focus detection (step S41).

The defocus amount is calculated from the output of the first focus detection unit 15 (phase difference method), and this defocus amount DF is already stored in the RAM 3 in the lens microcomputer 31.
Correction data H from the camera body stored in 1c
d is corrected based on the above equation (1) (step S
42). In the case of an electronic camera body, this correction data Hd includes, in addition to the correction value relating to the flange back, a focus position shift due to a difference in spectral sensitivity between the silver halide film and the CCD, and CC.
It also includes a correction value such as a focus position shift due to the presence or absence of the D infrared cut filter.

Next, communication with the body microcomputer is performed, and the third
The focus detection value is received (Step S43). The third focus detection value indicates a defocus amount that is a focus detection result by the third focus detection unit 62 (phase difference method) in the camera body.

As described above, since the first focus detecting section 15 in the lens is set to have characteristics according to the type of the interchangeable lens 4, it is higher than the third focus detecting section 62 in the camera body. Accurate focus detection becomes possible.

On the other hand, the third camera in the silver halide camera body 1b
Since the focus detection unit 62 is set so that AF can be performed on all the interchangeable lenses that can be mounted on the silver halide camera body, characteristics such as focus detection accuracy are compared with those of the first focus detection unit 15. And inferior. However, since the first focus detection unit 15 performs highly accurate focus detection, the third focus detection unit 53 is advantageous in that the calculation time is shorter.

In consideration of such advantages and disadvantages, the output of the third focus detection unit 53 is selected at a higher speed outside the predetermined in-focus vicinity area.
The output of the focus detection unit 15 is selected to perform focus adjustment.

Next, the first focus detection value is compared with a focus allowable determination value Gd based on data transmitted from the camera body to determine whether or not focus is achieved (step S4).
4) In case of focusing (YES), return.

Here, in the case of an electronic camera body, the necessary focus adjustment accuracy is determined by the pixel pitch of the image sensor CCD. Therefore, when focusing is determined by detecting the amount of defocus by the phase difference detection method, an allowable focusing range must be set according to the pixel pitch of the image sensor CCD mounted on the electronic camera body. .

Body microcomputer 4 of electronic camera body 1a
1 has a CCD pixel pitch p.
Is stored, and the lens microcomputer 31
Is transmitted to the lens microcomputer 31 at the time of communication with.

The lens microcomputer 31 calculates the permissible focusing range Gd by, for example, the following equation (3) based on the pixel pitch data p and the FNo of the photographing optical system.

Gd = FNo × 2 · p (3) However, if it is determined in step S44 that the subject is out of focus (NO), the third focus detection value is the predetermined determination value Sd already transmitted from the camera body. It is determined whether it is within (step S45).

In this discrimination, if it is within the Sd range, (Y
ES), the first focus detection value is selected (step S46),
Drive control of the focus adjustment lens is performed based on the first focus detection value (step S48).

However, if it is determined in step S45 that the third focus detection value is not within the predetermined range Sd (NO), the third focus detection value is selected (step S4).
7) The process proceeds to step S48, where the focus adjustment lens is driven based on the third focus detection value.

As described above, when the image is not in the in-focus area (within Sd), the output of the third focus detection unit 62 is selected at a higher speed. Since the output of the single focus detection unit 15 is selected, it is possible to perform AF that achieves both high speed and high accuracy.

Next, the subroutine "AF4" shown in FIG. 14 by the lens microcomputer 31 will be described.

First, communication with the body microcomputer 61 is performed, and a control signal is output to the third focus detection unit 53 to execute focus detection, and the third focus detection value of the third focus detection unit 53 is received. (Step S51).

Next, it is determined whether or not the third focus detection value is in focus (step S52).
ES), return. However, if it is out of focus (NO), the drive amount of the focusing lens 11a to be focused from the third focus detection value is calculated and the focusing lens 11a is driven (step S53). Thereafter, the process returns to step S51, and the above-described operation is repeatedly performed until focusing is achieved.

Therefore, when the continuous shooting mode is set, the responsiveness is required, and the focus is determined based on only the focus detection result of the third focus detection unit 53 having higher speed than the first focus detection unit 15. Adjustments are made to reduce the time lag.

Next, the operation control of the body microcomputer 61 of the silver halide camera shown in FIG. 8 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

When the body microcomputer 61 starts operation by inserting a battery or turning on a power switch, a main routine shown in FIG. 15 is executed.

First, various parts in the camera body are initialized (step S61), and various correction data stored in advance in the EEPROM are read and expanded in the RAM 61c. Further, the third focus detection unit 53 is activated to start the focus detection operation.

Next, communication with the lens microcomputer 31 is performed.
The correction data (focus correction data, focus allowable range data, etc.) stored in the EEPROM 61d in the body microcomputer 61 is transmitted to the lens microcomputer 31 (step S6).
2). Further, an AF command is transmitted. The silver halide camera body includes a 135 film body and an APS film body. Since the film sizes are different, the required AF accuracy is different. The body microcomputer 61 stores the focus allowable range data D corresponding to the type of the film in an EEPROM or the like, and communicates with the lens microcomputer 31 during communication with the lens microcomputer 31.
Send to 1.

Then, it is determined whether or not 1RSW is turned on (step S63). If it is turned on (YES),
The photometric operation and exposure calculation by the photometric unit 66 are performed to calculate the shutter speed value and the exposure aperture value (step S6).
4).

Next, an AF command is issued to the lens microcomputer 31 (step S65) and a third focus detection value (step S6).
Send 6). Upon receiving the AF command, the lens microcomputer 31 performs an AF operation (see a flowchart of the lens microcomputer operation). A focus signal is received from the lens microcomputer 31 and it is determined whether or not focus is achieved (step S6).
7).

If the focus is determined by this determination (YE
S) It is determined whether or not 2RSW is turned on (step S)
68), if not in focus (NO), step S
Return to 63. If the 2RSW is turned on in step S68 (YES), the aperture data and the aperture command are transmitted to the lens microcomputer 31 in accordance with the determined aperture value based on the photometric value. The lens microcomputer 31 drives and sets the aperture 12 to a predetermined aperture value based on the aperture data (refer to the lens microcomputer flow). Thereafter, the mirror driving unit 63 controls the main mirror 5.
1 is retracted from the photographing optical path, and the shutter 58 is controlled by the shutter drive unit 64 to expose the film 59 (step S69). However, if the 2RSW is off (NO), the process returns to step S63.

When the above-described exposure operation is completed, the film 59 photographed by the film driving unit 65 is wound up,
The sheet is fed to the position of the next frame (step S70), and a series of photographing operations ends. Then, the LCD and LE of the display section 67
D and the like are displayed to indicate that the process has been completed (step S7).
1) Return to step S62.

Next, the main routine of the body microcomputer 41 in the electronic camera body 1a will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS.

A power supply S (not shown) provided on the camera body
When W is turned on or a battery is inserted, the body microcomputer 41 starts operating and executes a sequence program stored in the internal ROM 41b.

First, after initializing each block in the electronic camera body 1a (step S81), mutual communication with the lens microcomputer 31 is performed (step S82). In the communication, the type of the camera body, the type of the focus detection value transmitted from the camera body, and the focus detection parameter are transmitted to the lens microcomputer 31. As the focus detection parameters, there are data relating to a permissible focusing range when the AF operation is performed by the first focus detection unit 15 in the lens, flange back deviation data of the electronic camera body, and the like. Further, the AF command is transmitted to the lens microcomputer 31.

Next, the on / off state of the 1RSW is detected (step S83), and the control waits until the 1RSW is turned on. If the detection is OFF (NO), the second photometric unit 75 performs a photometric operation (step S85), and calculates the aperture control value of the aperture 12 and the electronic shutter speed of the CCD 24 based on the photometric value.

However, if the 1RSW is turned on by this detection (YES), an AF command is transmitted to the lens microcomputer 31 (step S84). And the lens microcomputer 3
The in-focus signal from 1 is determined (step S86), if it is in focus (YES), it is determined whether the 2RSW is turned on (step S87), and if it is out of focus (NO), the above step S83 And the AF operation is repeated.

If it is determined in step S87 that the 2RSW is off (NO), the process returns to step S83 and A
The F operation is repeated. However, if it is turned on (YES), it is determined whether or not the continuous shooting mode is set as the shooting mode (step S88). If it is determined that the continuous shooting mode is not set (NO), the following steps will be described. The flow shifts to S89, and if the continuous shooting mode has been set (YES), the flow shifts to step S99 described later. Hereinafter, description will be made also with reference to the timing chart shown in FIG.

If the continuous shooting mode is not set,
In step S89, the body microcomputer 41 performs mirror-up by the mirror driving unit 50, and then transmits exposure aperture data to the lens microcomputer 31 (step S90).
3, the aperture 12 is narrowed down to the aperture value for exposure.

Next, the CCD control section 77 turns off the signal SUB and starts accumulation of the CCD 24 (step S91).

The body microcomputer 61 includes a shutter driving unit 4
9, exposure is performed by controlling the shutter 71 at a shutter speed based on the exposure calculation (step S92).
The D control unit 77 generates a transfer pulse TGP to transfer the accumulated charges of the photodiode 101 to the vertical shift register 103.
(Step S93).

Then, in order to prevent smear, an aperture command is transmitted to the lens microcomputer 31 to stop the aperture 12.
Is completely closed, and the CCD 24 is shielded from light (step S
94).

Thereafter, the mirror is lowered (step S95), and the CCD control section 77 outputs the signal DCLK to the CCD 24 while the CCD 24 is shielded from light, and the video signal processing section 42 reads out the video signal (CCD signal). (Step S96) After performing processes such as AD conversion and compression,
The body microcomputer 41 provides the lens microcomputer 31 with:
An aperture opening command is transmitted to set the aperture 12 to the open state (step S97). Further, it is stored in the recording medium 86 (step S98).

A series of photographing operations is completed by the above operation, and the process returns to the step S82 to repeat the same operation.

Hereinafter, description will be made also with reference to the timing chart shown in FIG.

If it is determined in step S88 that the continuous shooting mode has been set, the body microcomputer 41
The mirror is raised by the mirror driving unit 50 (step S99), and the shutter 71 is set to the open state (running the first curtain, holding the second curtain) by the shutter driving unit 49 (step S10).
0).

After waiting for the timing of the vertical synchronizing signal VD (step S101), aperture data for exposure is transmitted to the lens microcomputer 31 (step S10).
2). The lens microcomputer 31 drives the aperture 12 by the aperture control unit 33 and sets the exposure aperture value.

Next, electronic shutter control is performed (step S103), that is, the CCD controller 77 outputs the transfer signal TGP to the CCD 24 after the elapse of the electronic shutter speed since the signal SUB is turned off, and the photodiode 101
Is transferred to the vertical shift register 103. An aperture command is transmitted to the lens microcomputer 31, the aperture 12 is completely closed, and the CCD 24 is shielded from light (step S104).

Then, it waits for the timing of the vertical synchronizing signal VD (step S105).
S), the CCD controller 77
Outputs a signal DCLK, reads a video signal (CCD signal) from the CCD 24 to the video signal processing unit 42 (step S106), and stores the pixel data in the DRAM 84 as it is.

Further, it is determined whether or not the 2RSW is turned on (step S107). If the 2RSW is turned on (YES), the process returns to step S101, and the shutter 71 is opened and the front curtain runs and the rear curtain is held. The exposure of the CCD 24 by the electronic shutter is repeated while the main mirror 25 and the sub-mirror 26 are kept up. Therefore, while 2RSW is on, continuous shooting is performed.

However, when 2RSW is turned off (N
O), the shutter 71 is closed by the shutter driving unit 49 [rear curtain running] (step S108), and the mirror driving unit 50 is operated.
Mirror down (step S109).

A video signal (pixel data) is read from the DRAM 84, and a command to open the aperture is transmitted to the lens microcomputer 31 (step S110). Then, after performing processing such as compression, it is stored in the recording medium 86 (step S111). As described above, according to the first embodiment, in the continuous shooting mode, the exposure is performed by the electronic shutter control of the CCD 24 while the mirror up and the shutter open state are maintained, so that the time lag of the mirror up, down, shutter open / close, and charge is performed. Does not occur. Therefore, the continuous shooting speed can be increased.

The electronic camera system according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail. The control operation of the lens microcomputer 31 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, the operation is started to initialize the blocks in the interchangeable lens 1 (step S121). Then, body microcomputer communication is performed (step S122), and AF is performed.
A command and an aperture command are received, and data such as a shooting mode (continuous shooting mode, single shooting mode, etc.) on the camera body side and whether or not a valve is being operated are performed. Also, it transmits necessary data on the interchangeable lens side to the body microcomputer. It is determined whether the command transmitted from the body microcomputer is an AF command or another command (step S123).

If the determination is that the command is an AF command, (YE
S), the process proceeds to step S124 to determine the version, and if it is another command (NO), step S134
Move to

In step S124, it is determined whether the version is version 1 or not. If the version is version 1 (YES), a subroutine "AF1", which is an AF sequence in a case where there is no focus detection unit in the camera body, is executed, and 1
After performing the lens drive control based on the defocus amount which is the focus detection value of the focus detection unit 15 (step S125).

However, if it is not version 1 (NO), it is determined whether it is version 2 (step S1).
26).

In this discrimination, if it is version 2, (YE
S), it is determined whether or not the body shooting mode is set to the continuous shooting mode (step S130). If the set mode is the continuous shooting mode (YES), it is determined whether or not the body operation is during the valve operation (step S131). If the valve is operating (YES), the subroutine "AF
2 "is executed (step S132). However, if the continuous shooting mode is not set in step S130 (NO), and if the valve mode is not set in step S131 (N)
O) Both execute the subroutine "AF3" (step S133), and control the lens drive based on the defocus amount of the first focus detection unit 15 in the lens and the defocus amount of the third focus detection unit 53 in the camera body. AF control is performed in combination with the lens drive control.
Return to 22.

If it is determined in step S126 that the version is not version 2 (NO), it is determined that the version is version 3 and whether or not the body photographing mode is set to the continuous shooting mode is determined (step S12).
7). If the set mode is the continuous shooting mode (YE
S), a subroutine "AF4" is executed (step S1).
28) Then, the process returns to step S122. If the set mode is not the continuous shooting mode (NO), a subroutine "AF3" is executed (step S129), and thereafter, the process returns to step S122. The set mode is
In the case of the version 3 and the aperture command, the operation is equivalent to that of the first embodiment.

Next, the main routine of the body microcomputer 41 in the electronic camera body 1a will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS.

A power supply S (not shown) provided on the camera body
When W is turned on or a battery is inserted, the body microcomputer 41 starts operating and executes a sequence program stored in the internal ROM 41b.

First, after initializing each block in the electronic camera body 1a (step S141), mutual communication with the lens microcomputer 31 is performed (step S142).
The communication contents are the same as in the first embodiment.

Then, it is determined whether or not 1RSW is turned on (step S143). If 1RSW is turned off (NO), a photometric operation is performed by the fifth photometric unit 75 until it is turned on (step S143). S145), the aperture control value of the aperture 12 and the electronic shutter speed of the CCD 24 are calculated based on the photometric value.

When 1RSW is turned on (YE
S), the AF command is transmitted to the lens microcomputer 31 (step S144), and the lens microcomputer 31 performs focus adjustment based on the first focus detection value.

Next, it is determined whether or not the lens is in focus based on the focus signal from the lens microcomputer 31 (step S14).
6) If it is in focus (YES), it is determined whether or not 2RSW is turned on (step S147). If it is out of focus (NO), it returns to step S143 and repeats the focus adjustment operation.

In the determination in step S147, 2
If the RSW is on (YES), the process proceeds to step S169 described later. However, when the 2RSW is off (NO), it is determined whether or not the image display mode is set to the moving image display mode (step S148).
Return to 143. Hereinafter, description will be made also with reference to the timing chart shown in FIG.

However, if the moving image display mode has been set (YES), the body microcomputer 41 performs mirror up by the mirror driving unit 50 (step S149),
The shutter driving unit 49 sets the shutter 71 to the open state [running the first curtain, holding the second curtain] (step S150).

Next, the control waits for the timing of the vertical synchronizing signal VD (step S151), and when there is a timing (YES), transmits aperture data for exposure to the lens microcomputer 31 (step S152). At this time, the lens microcomputer 31 operates the aperture 12 to perform electronic shutter control (step S153), that is, the CCD controller 77
Turns off the signal SUB, starts the charge accumulation of the CCD 24, and transfers the transfer signal TG after the elapse of the electronic shutter speed time.
P is output to the CCD 24 to transfer the charge stored in the photodiode 101 to the vertical shift register 102.

Next, the control waits for the timing of the vertical synchronizing signal VD (step S154), and when there is unming (YES), the CCD control unit 77 outputs the signal DCLK to the CCD.
24, and the video signal processing unit 42 outputs the video signal (CCD
The signal is read out (step S155) and stored in the DRAM 84 as pixel data.

However, in the present embodiment, as described in the first embodiment, C
The video signal of the CD 24 is not read. this is,
What is read here is not a still image to record,
This is for displaying a moving image on the monitor display unit 46 as a moving image, and occurrence of noise such as slight smear is not a problem. In addition, the responsiveness is improved by not performing the aperture operation.

Next, a focus detection calculation is performed by the second focus detection unit 43, the level of the high-frequency component of the video signal is detected at a predetermined sampling interval, and the second focus created by observing a change in the detection level. A detection value is calculated (step S156).

The AF command and the second focus detection value are transmitted to the lens microcomputer 31 (step S15).
7). In this case, when the lens microcomputer 31 receives the AF command, the lens microcomputer 31 executes a subroutine “AF” in FIG.
2 "is executed, and hill-climbing control is performed.

Then, the picked-up video signal is processed and displayed on the display unit 46 (step S158). In this image display, as shown in the timing chart of FIG. 23, the image data acquired in the previous frame is displayed on the LCD monitor (display unit 4).
Displayed in 6). While the 1RSW is on, images are repeatedly acquired and displayed, so that the photographer can observe them as a moving image display.

Further, based on the read video signal, the first photometry unit 45 performs photometry and exposure calculation, and determines an aperture value and an electronic shutter speed for the next frame.

Then, it is determined whether or not 1RSW is turned on (step S159). If it is turned on (YES), it is determined whether or not 2RSW is turned on (step S160). If off (N
O) The process moves to step S166.

In step S160, 2RSW
If is turned off (NO), the above step S15
Returning to step 1, the same operation is repeated to display the captured image, and the moving image display and the AF by hill-climbing control are performed. However, when the 2RSW is turned on (YES), exposure (main exposure) of the CCD 24 for a still image is performed by electronic shutter control (step S161).

Next, a command to completely block the aperture 12 from light is transmitted to the lens microcomputer 31 (step S).
162) In the state where the CCD 24 is shielded from light, the signal DCLK is output from the CCD control unit 77 to the CCD 24 and the video signal is read out without being affected by smear (Step S).
163).

Then, a command to open the aperture is transmitted to the lens microcomputer 31 (step S164). After processing such as compression is performed on the read video signal, it is recorded on the recording medium 86 (step S165). After the recording is completed, the process returns to step S142.

However, in the determination in step S159, 1
If the RSW is turned off (NO), the shutter 71 is closed [running the rear curtain] (step S166), and the mirror is lowered (step S167). Thereafter, a command to open the aperture 12 is transmitted to the lens microcomputer 31 (step S168).

In the determination in step S147, 2RSW
Is off (NO), in step S169, the body microcomputer 41 performs mirror up by the mirror driving unit 50, and then transmits exposure aperture data to the lens microcomputer 31 (step S170).
The lens microcomputer 31 controls the aperture 12 by the aperture control unit 33.
To the aperture value for exposure.

Next, the CCD controller 77 turns off the signal SUB and starts the accumulation of the CCD 24 (step S171). The body microcomputer 61 performs exposure by controlling the shutter 71 at a shutter speed based on the exposure calculation by the shutter drive unit 49 (step S172).
The CCD control unit 77 generates a transfer pulse TGP to transfer the accumulated charges of the photodiode 101 to the vertical shift register 1.
03 (step S173).

Then, in order to prevent smear, an aperture command is transmitted to the lens microcomputer 31 to stop the aperture 1.
2 is completely closed, and the CCD 24 is shielded from light (step S174). Thereafter, the mirror is lowered (step S175), the CCD controller 77 outputs the signal DCLK to the CCD 24 while the CCD 24 is shielded from light, and the video signal processor 42 reads out the video signal (CCD signal) (step S176). ), After performing processes such as AD conversion and compression, the body microcomputer 41 transmits an aperture opening command to the lens microcomputer 31 to open the aperture 12 (step S177). Further, it is stored in the recording medium 86 (step S178). Thereafter, the captured image is displayed on the display unit 46 (Step S179).

Next, the contrast method and the hill-climbing control in the second focus detection unit 43 will be described with reference to the characteristic diagram (focusing range based on the second focus detection value and the lens position) shown in FIG.

A video signal processing section 42 in the electronic camera body 1a converts an image formed on the image sensor CCD 24 by the photographing optical system 11 into a video signal. Then, a predetermined high-frequency component is extracted from the video signal in the focus detection area (see FIG. 9B) and integrated to generate a second focus detection value.

The second level which is the level of the high frequency component of the video signal
The focus detection value is, as shown in FIG.
As the sharpness of the image formed thereon increases, that is, as the focus adjustment lens 11a approaches focusing, the temperature rises sharply, and reaches a peak P when the image on the imaging device CCD24 is in focus.

Referring to the second focus detection value while moving the focus adjusting lens 11a, when the focus adjusting lens 11a is rising, it is determined that the focus adjusting lens 11a is moving in a direction approaching focusing. Conversely, when the level of the selected frequency component is falling, it is determined that the focus adjustment lens 11a is moving in a direction away from focusing.

Then, the top of the mountain is determined based on the amount of change in the second focus detection value, and the focus adjusting lens 11a is stopped at the point where the peak value is reached, or when the focus adjustment lens 11a is within a predetermined range from the peak value. It is determined that the image on the image sensor CCD24 is in focus. In the present embodiment, the focus allowable range is, for example, the range of Tc shown in FIG.

The focus adjustment control based on the second focus detection value is performed by the lens microcomputer 31 (subroutine “AF”).
2 ").

As described above, according to the second embodiment, a moving image can be displayed in a single-lens reflex type electronic camera, which cannot be displayed in the prior art. Furthermore, since the image captured in the continuous shooting is displayed, the image captured by the photographer can be confirmed immediately after the image capturing.

The electronic camera system according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail. The control operation of the lens microcomputer 31 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

In this embodiment, steps S181 to S181
Step S189 and steps S194 to S1
Step 96 is the same as step S121 to step S129 and step S134 to step S136 of the routine of the second embodiment shown in the flowchart of FIG. 20, so that the description thereof is omitted, and is different from that of the second embodiment. The characteristic parts will be described.

At step S184, version 1
If it is not (a silver halide body without a built-in focus detection unit), in step S186, version 2 (image sensor
Electronic camera body to be a CD [Built-in second focus detector]
It is determined whether or not.

In this determination, if it is version 2 (YES), it is determined whether or not the set body photographing mode is the continuous shooting mode (step S190), and if it is set to the continuous shooting mode (YES). Then, it is determined whether the body operation is during the valve operation (step S191). If it is determined that the valve is being operated (YES), the subroutine "AF1" is executed.
Is executed (step S192).

However, if the continuous shooting mode is not set in step S190 (NO) or if the valve mode is not set in step S191 (NO), the subroutine "AF3" is executed in the same manner as in the second embodiment. (Step S193), and performs AF control by lens drive control based on both the first focus detection unit 15 in the lens and the third focus detection unit 53 in the camera body.

Next, referring to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 26 and 27 and the timing chart shown in FIG. 28,
The main routine of the body microcomputer 41 in the electronic camera body 1a will be described.

Here, steps S201 to S2
Reference numeral 21 denotes steps S81 to S98 of the flowchart shown in FIGS. 16 and 17 in the first embodiment.
The detailed description here is omitted, and the routine after step S222, which is a characteristic part of the present embodiment, will be described.

First, in step S208, when the shooting mode is set to the continuous shooting mode (YES), the body microcomputer 41 performs mirror up by the mirror driving unit 50 (step S219), and the shutter driving unit 49
To release the shutter 71 (running the front curtain, holding the rear curtain)
(Step S220).

Then, the control waits for the timing of the vertical synchronizing signal VD (step S221), and transmits an aperture control command to the lens microcomputer 31 to reduce the focus detection light flux to an aperture value (step S222). The lens microcomputer 31 drives the aperture 12 by the aperture control unit 33 and sets the aperture value to the focus detection aperture value.

According to the aperture command, if the aperture value for exposure is an aperture value that increases the speed of the focus detection light, the lens microcomputer 31 determines the aperture value that does not increase the speed of the focus detection light, as shown in FIG. And drive the aperture. FIG. 29A shows a light beam area on the exit pupil used for focus adjustment (AF). Also, the diaphragm operation is shown in FIG. 3B, the diaphragm (AF) that does not block the focus detection light beam → the diagram (c), the exposure diaphragm ([exposure] electronic shutter) → the diagram (d), light shielding (image sensor reading). ing.

Next, an AF command is transmitted to the lens microcomputer 31 (step S223). Lens microcomputer 31
When the AF command is received, the focus adjustment based on the first focus detection value by the first focus detection unit 15 is performed according to the “lens main routine 3”. Then, the focus signal from the lens microcomputer 31 is received (step S224),
The process moves to the next step S225. Subsequent step S2
Since the routine from 25 to S234 is the same as that in the first embodiment, detailed description thereof will be omitted, but the routine from step S221 to step S230 is repeatedly executed while the 2RSW is on.

Therefore, when the mirror is up and the shutter is open, the focus detection operation of the first focus detection unit 15 and the focus adjustment operation of the lens microcomputer 31 based on the focus detection operation are performed.
Continuous shooting can be performed while performing the operation.

As described above, according to the third embodiment, the focus can be adjusted by the output of the focus detection unit in the interchangeable lens even during the continuous shooting operation, so that the continuous shooting speed is improved. At the same time, the focus adjustment accuracy can be improved.

Therefore, the continuous shooting speed can be improved with a low-cost configuration, and a moving image can be shot.

Although the above embodiments have been described, the present invention includes the following inventions.

(1) Image pickup means for picking up a subject image by a subject light beam passing through the image pickup optical system, valve setting means for realizing a valve shooting state, electronic shutter control means for controlling the electronic shutter operation of the image pickup means, Operation mode setting means for setting an operation mode of the camera, wherein when the operation mode setting means sets a predetermined operation mode, the electronic shutter control means operates in a state where the valve setting means is operated. And an electronic camera system wherein the electronic shutter means controls the exposure time of the imaging means.

(2) It further comprises display means for displaying an image picked up by the image pickup means. In the predetermined operation mode, when the valve setting means is operated, an image repeatedly picked up by the image pickup means is displayed. The electronic camera system according to the above (1), wherein the electronic camera system is displayed by means.

(3) The electronic camera system according to the above (1), wherein the predetermined operation mode is a continuous shooting mode.

(4) The apparatus further comprises focus detection means for performing focus detection based on an image signal output from the imaging means. In the predetermined operation mode, the focus detection means operates when the valve setting means is operated. The electronic camera system according to the above (1), wherein the focus adjustment is performed based on the output.

[0198]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, an electronic camera system using an image pickup device capable of realizing a high continuous shooting speed and capable of shooting a moving image while suppressing an increase in cost. Can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a conceptual configuration of an electronic camera system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of an electronic camera system (electronic camera body + interchangeable lens) and an optical path thereof according to the first embodiment.

3 is a diagram illustrating the concept of a focus detection optical system (a phase difference detection optical system) that guides a subject light beam to a sensor array in a first focus detection unit illustrated in FIG. 2;

4 is a diagram showing an electric block configuration of the electronic camera body and the interchangeable lens shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a CCD used in the present embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a video signal processing unit illustrated in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a silver halide camera body and an interchangeable lens and an optical path thereof according to the first embodiment.

8 is a diagram showing an electric block configuration of the silver halide camera body and the interchangeable lens shown in FIG.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a focus detection area of the focus detection unit according to the first embodiment of the first focus detection unit.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating “lens main” for describing a control operation by the lens microcomputer according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a subroutine “AF1” by the lens microcomputer shown in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a subroutine “AF2” by the lens microcomputer shown in FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a subroutine “AF3” by the lens microcomputer shown in FIG. 10;

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a subroutine “AF4” by the lens microcomputer shown in FIG. 10;

FIG. 15 is a flowchart for explaining operation control of a body microcomputer in the silver halide camera shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating a main routine of a body microcomputer in the electronic camera shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 17 is a flowchart for explanation following the main routine shown in FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a timing chart referred to for explaining the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 16 and 17;

FIG. 19 is a timing chart referred to for describing the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 16 and 17;

FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating “lens main” for describing a control operation by a lens microcomputer in the electronic camera system according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart illustrating a main routine of a body microcomputer in the electronic camera according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart for explanation following the main routine shown in FIG. 21;

FIG. 23 is a timing chart referred to for describing the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 21 and 22;

FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating an example of a focusing range based on a relationship between a second focus detection value and a lens position.

FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing “lens main” for explaining a control operation by a lens microcomputer in the electronic camera system according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 26 is a flowchart illustrating a main routine of the body microcomputer in the electronic camera according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 27 is a flow chart for explanation following the main routine shown in FIG. 26;

FIG. 28 is a timing chart referred to for describing the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 26 and 27;

FIG. 29 is a diagram illustrating a state of an aperture stop for exposure by a lens microcomputer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1a ... Electronic camera body 2 ... Imaging unit 3 ... Bulb setting unit 4 ... Interchangeable lens 5 ... Electronic shutter control unit 6 ... Operation mode setting unit 11 ... Shooting optical system 11a ... Focusing lens 12 ... Aperture 14 ... Mirror 13 ... Beam Splitter 15 First focus detection unit 15a Phase difference optical system unit 15b AF sensor 21 Infrared cut filter 22 Infrared cut filter 23 Optical LPF (low-pass filter) 25 Main mirror 25 24 Image sensor (CCD) 26 ... sub mirror 27 ... screen 28 ... pentaprism 29 ... eyepiece 39 ... finder optical system 71 ... shutter 72 ... third focus detection unit

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F-term (reference) 2H002 CC21 GA05 GA11 GA54 GA74 HA03 JA07 2H011 AA03 BA23 BA31 CA15 CA16 CA21 DA00 DA01 2H051 AA00 AA06 BA04 BA47 DA02 EA07 EA12 EA20 EB04 EB20 EC02 2H054 AA01 BB08 BB11 CA11

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A focus detecting means for detecting a focus state of a photographing lens by inputting a detection light beam having a predetermined F value that has passed through a photographing lens, and adjusting a focus of the photographing lens based on an output of the focus detecting means. Focusing control means for controlling the aperture of the photographing lens, and operating the focus detecting means and the focus adjusting means before the repetitive exposure of the image sample means is performed. A camera, characterized in that after the adjustment is completed, the aperture is narrowed down to the F-number at the time of photographing, and repeated exposure of the image sample means is permitted. 2. A photographing optical system capable of adjusting a focus, and a focus detecting means for sharing a part of an optical path with the photographing optical system, inputting a light beam having a predetermined F value, and detecting a focus state of the photographing optical system. A focus adjusting means for adjusting a focus of the photographing optical system, a diaphragm means for controlling a diaphragm value of the photographing optical system, and a communication means for communicating with the mounted camera body; Is set to continuous shooting mode,
When the aperture value at the time of shooting is smaller than the predetermined F value, the aperture means is stopped down from the open state to the predetermined F value in response to the exposure preparation operation of the camera body. Activate the adjustment means and after the focus adjustment of the photographic optical system is completed, stop down the aperture to the expected aperture value for shooting, send an exposure permission signal to the camera body, and respond to the exposure completion signal from the camera body Wherein the aperture is returned to the predetermined F value. 3. An image pickup means for picking up a subject image by a light beam of a subject passing through an image pickup optical system; a valve setting means for realizing a valve shooting state; an electronic shutter control means for controlling an electronic shutter operation of the image pickup means; Operation mode setting means for setting an operation mode of
When the operation mode setting means sets a predetermined operation mode, the electronic shutter control means sets the exposure time of the image pickup means by the electronic shutter means in a state where the valve setting means is operated. An electronic camera system characterized by controlling.