JP2000350073A - Extension unit for electronic camera and electronic camera system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an extension unit for an electronic camera, that is capable of being carried and selecting either recording with high image quality or recording with large capacity, depending on a required situation. SOLUTION: This unit 40 is provided with an HDD pack mount section 51 that mounts an HDD pack H, a grip section 60 that mounts a battery pack 61 for supplying power used for writing/reading image data to/from the HDD pack H, a screw 54 for tripod that is mounted removably on the electronic camera and connection pins 56 that are electrically connected to the electronic camera to send/receive image data.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an electronic camera using a memory card or the like as a recording medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, in an electronic camera which has become widespread and widely used, image quality, that is, the number of pixels constituting image data has been dramatically improved with the development of CCDs. Is increasing.

For this reason, in a current electronic camera in which a memory card having a nonvolatile flash ROM is a mainstream of a recording medium, a recording capacity is limited. Therefore, a memory card having a larger capacity is developed and sold one after another. It has become so.

Under such circumstances, an electronic camera equipped with a hard disk device or a magneto-optical disk device capable of recording a larger amount of image data instead of a memory card has been considered.

[0005]

However, the following problems have been encountered in the electronic camera equipped with the hard disk device and the magneto-optical disk device as described above. That is, since the recording medium has the rotating member, an extra electric power for rotating the recording medium is required for each recording / reproduction.
A battery with a large capacity is essential. Therefore, as a result, the entire electronic camera becomes large, and there is a problem that the electronic camera is not suitable for a compact electronic camera which is easily carried around.

According to the present invention, the electronic camera alone can be easily carried as a compact electronic camera, and high-quality image data can be photographed and recorded on a large-capacity recording medium. It is an object to provide an electronic camera extension unit and an electronic camera system that can be used properly.

[0007]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the object, an electronic camera extension unit according to the present invention is configured as follows.

(1) A first recording medium mounting section for mounting a first recording medium on which image data is recorded,
An electronic camera extension unit mounted on an electronic camera having a first power supply mounting section for mounting a first power supply for supplying power used for writing / reading image data to / from a recording medium, wherein: A second recording medium mounting portion provided on the unit main body, for mounting a second recording medium having a larger recording capacity than the first recording medium; and
A second power supply mounting section for supplying power used for writing / reading image data to / from the recording medium and mounting a second power supply having a power supply capacity larger than the first power supply; An extension unit for an electronic camera, comprising: a mounting mechanism detachably mounted on a camera; and data connection means electrically connected to the electronic camera for transmitting and receiving the image data.

(2) The electronic camera extension unit according to (1), wherein the unit main body includes the second power supply mounting portion and is disposed at a lateral end of the electronic camera. A grip portion, which is formed integrally with an end portion of the grip portion, is mounted on the bottom surface of the electronic camera, incorporates the second recording medium mounting portion, and connects the connection means to the bottom surface of the electronic camera. And a substantially flat plate-shaped flat portion formed at the contact portion with the contact portion.

(3) The extension unit for an electronic camera described in (2), wherein the second recording medium has a rotating member, and the second recording medium mounting part is a flat part of the flat part. It is characterized by being arranged on the grip part side.

(4) The extension unit for an electronic camera described in (2), wherein the flat portion is located at a position separated from the grip portion with the second recording medium mounting portion therebetween. And a circuit unit for executing writing / reading of the image data to / from the second recording medium and transmission / reception of the image data via the connection means using power supplied from the second power supply. And

(5) The electronic camera extension unit according to (2), wherein the electronic camera protects an insertion opening of the first recording medium into the first recording medium mounting portion. A cover is provided, and a recess is formed in the grip portion so as not to hinder opening and closing of the cover.

(6) The electronic camera extension unit according to (2), wherein a release switch for instructing a release operation of the electronic camera is provided above the grip portion. I do.

(7) The electronic camera extension unit according to (1), wherein the second recording medium is provided detachably with respect to the second recording medium holding portion, and Is characterized in that the second recording medium is disposed at a position where the second recording medium can be attached and detached even when the unit main body is attached to the electronic camera.

(8) The electronic camera expansion unit according to (1), wherein the mounting mechanism has a screw that is screwed into a tripod screw hole of the electronic camera, and the connecting means includes: It is characterized by having a plurality of contacts arranged on a circumference centered on the screw.

(9) The electronic camera extension unit according to (8), wherein the flat portion has the second recording medium at a position corresponding to a plurality of contacts constituting the connection means. And a circuit unit for executing writing / reading of image data to / from the printer and transmission / reception of the image data via the connection unit by using power supplied from the second power supply.

(10) The electronic camera extension unit according to (1), wherein the unit main body is further provided with a switch for inhibiting writing / reading of the image data to / from the second recording medium. It is characterized by having been done.

(11) The electronic camera extension unit according to the above (1), wherein the unit main body is further provided with an input terminal for supplying a DC power supplied from the outside to the power supply. It is characterized by being.

(12) The electronic camera extension unit according to (2), wherein the grip portion has a pair of members for sandwiching the electronic camera from a front side and a rear side thereof. Each of the members is provided with the second power supply mounting portion.

(13) The electronic camera extension unit according to (12), wherein a first image quality changeover switch for changing image quality is provided on a back side of the electronic camera, and the pair of members are provided. Among them, a member located on the back side of the electronic camera covers and hides the first image quality changeover switch and performs priority recording on the second recording medium in addition to the image quality changeover position of the first image quality changeover switch. A second image quality changeover switch having an image quality changeover position for instructing is also provided.

On the other hand, the electronic camera system of the present invention is configured as follows.

(14) In an electronic camera system comprising an electronic camera and an extension unit detachably mounted on the electronic camera, the electronic camera mounts a first recording medium for recording image data. A first recording medium mounting unit, a detecting unit for detecting a mounting state of the extension unit to the electronic camera, and a first power supply mounting unit for mounting a first power supply, wherein the expansion unit includes a rotating member. A second recording medium mounting unit for mounting a second recording medium having a larger recording capacity than the first recording medium, and a power used at least for writing / reading image data to / from the second recording medium. Supply and
A second power supply mounting portion for mounting a second power supply having a power supply capacity larger than that of the first power supply, a mounting mechanism for mounting the unit body of the extension unit to the electronic camera, and electrically connected to the electronic camera. An electronic camera system comprising: a connection unit for transmitting and receiving the image data.

(15) In the electronic camera system described in the above (14), the mounting means is provided with a projection for positioning with respect to the electronic camera on a contact surface with the electronic camera. The detection means is provided at a position corresponding to the projection, and detects the contact of the projection.

[0024]

1 to 5 are views showing an electronic camera system 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
The electronic camera system 10 includes an electronic camera 20 and an extension unit 40.

As shown in FIG. 1A, a photographing lens 21, an objective section 22 of an optical finder, a flash 23, and a media slot cover 26 to be described later are opened on a front surface 20a of the electronic camera 20. A concave nail mark 24 to be hooked is provided.

On the side surface 20b of the electronic camera 20,
A card slot (first recording medium mounting portion) 25 and a media slot cover 26 that covers the card slot 25 are provided. The card slot 25 is configured such that a memory card (first recording medium) M having a storage capacity of, for example, 8 MB is removably inserted.

Further, on the upper surface 20c of the electronic camera 20, a release switch 27 and an electronic camera system 10
And an LCD panel 28 indicating the number of images and the number of shots.

On the bottom surface 20d of the electronic camera 20,
As shown in FIG. 1D, a contact point 31 for connection with a connection pin 56 described later and a positioning pin 53 described later.
Are provided, and a tripod screw hole 34 is provided. Further, a battery cover 35 for replacing batteries is provided near the strobe side of the camera bottom surface 20d.

Further, inside the electronic camera 20, a battery chamber for storing a battery B (first power supply) for supplying power to the electronic camera 20 inside the battery cover 35, and a positioning pin provided inside the hole 32. A detection switch (detection means) 33 that is turned on when 53 is inserted, and a control circuit board 36 that is connected to the detection switch 33 and forms a control unit that detects whether or not the extension unit 40 is connected are provided. . This control unit also controls the display contents of the LCD panel 28.

On the other hand, the extension unit 40 is provided as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the electronic camera 2
And a flat portion 50 provided in correspondence with the bottom surface 20d of the electronic camera 20 and a side surface 20b of the front surface 20a of the electronic camera 20 provided integrally with an end of the flat portion 50.
And a grip portion 60 provided on the side.

Inside the flat portion 50, an HDD pack mounting portion (second storage medium mounting portion) 51 and a circuit board 52 disposed on the opposite side of the grip portion 60 with the HDD pack mounting portion 51 interposed therebetween are accommodated. Have been. A positioning pin 53 is provided on the upper surface of the flat part 50, and a tripod screw (attachment mechanism) to be screwed into the tripod screw hole of the electronic camera 20 described above.
54 and eight connection pins 56 provided near the circuit board 52.

The HDD pack mounting section 51 is provided as shown in FIG.
The HDD pack (second storage medium) H shown in FIG. The HDD pack H is
The housing includes a housing Ha, a 50-pin connector Hb provided on a side surface of the housing Ha, and a 1-inch hard disk Hc connected to the connector Hb and housed inside the housing Ha.

The HDD pack mounting portion 51 includes a housing 51a, a connector 51b for connection with a connector Hb of the HDD pack H, and a housing H of the HDD pack H.
and a projection 51d provided on the housing 51a for engaging an engagement portion 51f described later.
And a protective cover 51 for protecting the HDD pack mounting portion 51
e, and an engaging portion 51f provided on the protective cover 51e and engaging with the above-mentioned protrusion 51d.

The HDD cover H can be replaced with the protective cover 51e of the HDD pack mounting portion 51 even when the extension unit 40 is mounted on the electronic camera 20.

As shown in FIG. 4B, the connecting pin 56 has a flange 56a and a tip 56b inserted into a hole 55a provided on the upper surface of the flat portion 50.
A hole 55 provided in the flat portion 50 is formed in the flange portion 56a.
A compression spring 55c is coaxially arranged with the connection pin 56 between the compression spring 55c and the projection 55b provided at a position opposing a. Accordingly, the distal end portion 56b of the connection pin 56 projects from the upper surface of the flat portion 50 by a predetermined amount.

The connection pin 56 has a function of electrically connecting the circuit board 52 to the control circuit board 36 of the electronic camera 20 and a function of transmitting power of the battery pack 61 to the electronic camera 20 side. The connection pins 56 and the circuit board 5
2 can be reduced as much as possible by taking the wiring.

The flat portion 50 has a DC inlet 57 for connecting an external DC power supply such as an AC adapter and an HD for switching the operation of the HDD pack H ON / OFF.
A D switch 58 is provided.

The grip portion 60 is formed in an outer shape suitable for the photographer's grip. Further, a battery pack (second power supply) 61 is provided therein. Further, a release switch 62 is provided on the upper surface 60a of the grip portion 60. A concave portion 63 is formed on the side surface 60b of the grip portion 60. The recess 63
Is for opening and closing the media slot cover 26 even when the extension unit 40 is mounted on the electronic camera 20.

Since the release switch 62 is attached to the grip portion 60, the same operability can be obtained even when the release switch 27 of the electronic camera 20 becomes difficult to operate by mounting the extension unit 40. Obtainable.

The electronic camera system 10 configured as described above is used as follows. That is, the electronic camera system 10 has two modes: the “normal mode” and the “extended mode”.
Perform the following operations. When the extension unit 40 is not mounted, the mode is the “normal mode”, and photography is performed in the same manner as a normal electronic camera.

On the other hand, when the extension unit 40 is mounted, the "extension mode" is set. When the extension unit 40 is mounted, the tripod screw 54 of the flat portion 50 is attached to the electronic camera 2.
This is done by screwing into the 0 tripod screw hole 34. At this time, the positioning pin 53 is moved from the hole 32 to the electronic camera 2.
0, the detection switch 33 operates. As a result, the control circuit board 36 detects the attachment of the extension unit 40 and enters the “extension mode”.

On the other hand, when the tip of the connection pin 56 contacts the contact point 31, the connection pin 56 is pushed down against the spring force of the compression spring 57. As a result, the connection pin 56 and the contact 31 come into contact with each other at a predetermined contact pressure, so that the power from the battery pack 61 is reliably sent to the electronic camera 20 side, and the circuit board 52 and the control circuit board 36 Are reliably connected, and image data and release signals can be transmitted and received.

When the extension unit 40 is mounted, the HDD switch 58 is turned off so that the HD
The use of the D pack H can be stopped. That is, the rotation drive of the disk-shaped storage member in the HDD pack H and the writing and reading of the image data are stopped. In this case, the electronic camera 20 is used only as an extended power supply for supplying electric power from the battery pack 61 to the electronic camera 20.

As described above, in the electronic camera system 10 according to the present embodiment, the electronic camera 20 alone can be easily carried as a compact type electronic camera, and recording can be performed by attaching the extension unit 40 to the electronic camera 20. In addition to realizing a large increase in the number of images, high-quality image data can be taken and recorded on a large-capacity recording medium in the extension unit 40, or the continuous operation time can be extended.
It can be used properly according to the necessary situation.

Also, by mounting the extension unit 40, the grip portion 60 that is gripped in place of the electronic camera 20 is provided.
Is provided, and the battery pack 61, which is a heavy object, is built in the grip portion 60, so that the weight balance of the camera for portable use is not impaired.

Further, an HD having a rotating member that is vulnerable to vibration
If the displacement of the D-pack H is relatively small due to the swing of the camera, the D-pack H is deflected to the grip portion 60 side, thereby minimizing the influence of vibration due to camera shake or the like.

Also, by displacing the circuit portion relatively resistant to vibration to the side away from the grip portion 60 where displacement due to camera shake is large, other members vulnerable to vibration are arranged at a position close to the grip portion 60. And the effect of vibration due to camera shake or the like can be minimized.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an electronic camera system 70 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 6, the same reference numerals are given to the same functional portions as in FIG.

The electronic camera system 70 differs from the above-described electronic camera system 10 in that an extension unit 71 is used instead of the extension unit 40. The extension unit 71 includes a grip portion 72, and the grip portion 72 is shorter than the grip portion 60 described above. The grip portion (second power supply mounting portion) 72 has a battery pack (second power supply) 73 having a smaller capacity than the battery pack 61 described above. Also, no release switch is provided.

In the electronic camera system 70, the same effects as those of the electronic camera system 10 described above can be obtained.

FIGS. 7 to 9 show an electronic camera system 80 according to a third embodiment of the present invention. In these figures, the same functional parts as those in FIG. 1 described above are denoted by the same reference numerals.

The electronic camera system 80 includes an electronic camera 90
And an extension unit 100.

As shown in FIG. 7A, an eyepiece 92 of an optical finder is attached to a rear surface 90e of the electronic camera 90. "H"
Two positions of “Q” and “NORMAL” are set, and indicate high-quality recording on the memory card M and normal-quality recording on the memory card M, respectively.

Further, inside the electronic camera 90, a control circuit board 36 for controlling the entire electronic camera system 80,
Battery (first power supply) B for supplying power to the electronic camera 90
(A first power supply mounting portion) having the following.
In the control circuit board 36, the detection switch 33 detects whether or not the extension unit 100 is mounted.

On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the extension unit 100 has a flat flat portion 110 provided along the bottom surface 90d of the electronic camera 90, and is integrally formed with an end of the flat portion 110. A pair of grip portions 1 provided and arranged so as to sandwich the electronic camera 90
20, 130.

Inside the flat portion 110, an HDD pack mounting portion (second storage medium mounting portion) 111, and a pair of grip portions 120, 1 with the HDD pack mounting portion 111 interposed therebetween.
30 and a circuit board 52 arranged on the opposite side are accommodated. A positioning pin 53, a tripod screw (attachment mechanism) 54 to be screwed into the tripod screw hole 34 of the electronic camera 90 described above, and a connection pin 56 provided near the circuit board 52 are provided on the upper surface of the flat portion 110. Are provided.

The flat portion 110 has a DC inlet 57 for connecting an external DC power source such as an AC adapter.
Is provided.

The grip portions 120 and 130 have outer shapes formed to be suitable for grasping by a photographer. Also, battery packs (second power supplies) 12
1, 131 are provided to increase the power supply capacity.

A release switch 122 is provided on the upper surface 120a of the grip portion 120.

Since the release switch 122 is attached to the grip 120, the extension unit 10
Even if the release switch 27 of the electronic camera 90 becomes difficult to operate by attaching 0, the same operability can be obtained.

On the other hand, an image quality switch 132 is mounted on the rear side of the grip 130. "HQ", "NORMAL", "EXT"
HQ and EXT HQ are set, and high-quality recording on the memory card M, normal-quality recording on the memory card M, high-quality recording on the HDD pack H, and normal quality on the HDD pack H are respectively set. Shows a record.

The electronic camera system 80 thus configured is used as follows. That is, the electronic camera system 80 has two modes: “normal mode” and “extended mode”.
Perform the following operations. The extension unit 100 is connected to the electronic camera 9
If the camera is not mounted on the camera, the camera will be in the “normal mode”, and photographing is performed in the same manner as a normal electronic camera.

On the other hand, when the extension unit 100 is mounted, the "extended mode" is set. The extension unit 10
0 is mounted by screwing the tripod screw 54 of the flat part 110 into the tripod screw hole 34 of the electronic camera 90. At this time, the positioning pin 53 is inserted into the electronic camera 90 from the hole 32, and the detection switch 33 is turned on.
As a result, the control circuit board 36 detects the attachment of the extension unit 100 and enters the “extension mode”.

On the other hand, when the tip of the connection pin 56 contacts the contact point 31, the connection pin 56 is pushed down against the spring force of the compression spring 57. As a result, the connection pin 56 and the contact 31 come into contact with a predetermined contact pressure, so that the power from the battery packs 121 and 131 is reliably sent to the electronic camera 90 side, and the circuit board 52 and the control circuit The board 36 is securely connected, and image data and release signals can be transmitted and received. Further, selection of the image quality and the recording medium at the time of recording is switched by the image quality recording switch 132.

As described above, in the electronic camera system 80 according to the present embodiment, the same effects as those of the above-described electronic camera system 10 can be obtained.

Further, by providing the extension unit 100 with the image quality switch 132, the image quality of the image to be recorded can be switched with the same operational feeling as that of the electronic camera 90 alone, and the medium to be recorded can be selected. be able to. "HQ" or "NORMAL"
When is selected, the recording to the HDD pack H is stopped, so that it is used only as an extended power supply for supplying power to the electronic camera 90 from the battery packs 121 and 131. Further, since the HDD pack H can be attached and detached and replaced as needed, it is possible to cope with a large number of continuous shootings.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it goes without saying that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0068]

According to the electronic camera extension unit of the present invention, the following effects can be obtained. That is, by mounting the extension unit, the electronic camera can be used over a wider range than a single electronic camera whose image data recording capacity and continuous operation time are limited, and portability is improved by removing the extension unit.

Also, by mounting the extension unit, a grip portion for gripping is provided instead of the electronic camera, and the second power source, which is a heavy object, is incorporated in the grip portion, so that the electronic camera can be used as a portable electronic camera. Weight balance is not impaired.

Further, by deflecting the second recording medium having a rotating member which is susceptible to vibration to the grip portion side where the displacement due to the swing of the electronic camera is relatively small, the influence of vibration due to camera shake or the like is minimized. Can be suppressed.

Also, by displacing the circuit portion relatively resistant to vibration to the side away from the grip where the displacement caused by the swing of the electronic camera is relatively large, other members vulnerable to vibration are arranged at a position close to the grip. And the effect of vibration due to hand shake or the like can be minimized.

Further, by providing a concave portion in the grip portion,
Even when the extension unit is mounted, attachment / detachment of the first recording medium is not hindered and operability is not reduced.

Even if the release switch of the electronic camera becomes difficult to operate by mounting the extension unit, the same operability can be obtained by providing the release switch of the grip portion.

The large-capacity second recording medium can be replaced even when the extension unit is attached to the electronic camera.

Further, when the extension unit is mounted on the electronic camera, a screw as a mounting mechanism is screwed into the electronic camera, so that an appropriate contact pressure is obtained in the connection means, and image data is transmitted and received reliably. be able to.

Further, by providing a circuit section for controlling the operation by the connecting means and the second recording medium at a position corresponding to the connecting means, the wiring can be minimized.

By providing a switch for inhibiting the operation of the second recording medium, it is possible to cope with use only as an extended power supply for supplying power from the second power supply to the electronic camera. In addition, a DC power supply from an AC adapter or the like can be connected to a line and taken in. Further, the power supply capacity can be further increased by providing a pair of grip portions with the electronic camera interposed therebetween.

Further, by providing the image quality changeover switch in the extension unit, image quality changeover considering the second recording medium can be realized with the same operability as the electronic camera.

According to the electronic camera system of the present invention, the following effects can be obtained. That is, by mounting the extension unit, the electronic camera can be used over a wider range than a single electronic camera whose image data recording capacity and continuous operation time are limited, and portability is improved by removing the extension unit.

Further, by correctly mounting the extension unit on the electronic camera by the positioning projection formed on the extension unit side, the attachment can be detected and the connection can be reliably performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an electronic camera system according to a first embodiment of the present invention, wherein (a) is a perspective view showing an electronic camera, (b) is a perspective view showing an extension unit, and (c). Is a perspective view showing a state where the extension unit is attached to the electronic camera,
(D) is a bottom view of the electronic camera.

FIG. 2A is a perspective view showing the extension unit, and FIG.
FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the extension unit, and FIG. 3C is a perspective view showing an HDD pack incorporated in the extension unit.

3A is a perspective view showing a second recording medium mounting unit incorporated in the extension unit, FIG. 3B is a perspective view showing a protective cover, and FIG. 3C is a longitudinal section showing the second recording medium mounting unit. Area view.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams showing main parts of an electronic camera and an extension unit incorporated in the electronic camera, wherein FIG. 4A is a plan view of a connection pin, and FIG. 4B is a longitudinal sectional view of the connection pin.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a detection unit incorporated in the electronic camera.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an electronic camera system according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and is a perspective view showing a state where an extension unit is mounted on the electronic camera.

FIGS. 7A and 7B are diagrams showing an electronic camera system according to a third embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 7A is a perspective view showing the electronic camera, and FIG. 7B is a front view showing a first image quality changeover switch.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the electronic camera system,
(A) is a perspective view showing a state where the extension unit is mounted on the electronic camera, and (b) is a front view showing a second image quality changeover switch.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the electronic camera system,
(A) is a perspective view showing an extension unit, (b) is a bottom view showing an extension unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

10, 70, 80: electronic camera system 20, 90: electronic camera body 24: card slot (first recording medium mounting portion) 33: detection switch (detection means) 40, 71, 100: expansion unit 50, 110: flat portion 51, 111: HDD pack mounting section (second storage medium mounting section) 54: tripod screw (mounting mechanism) 56: connection pin (data connecting means) 60, 72, 120, 130: grip section (second power supply mounting section) 61, 121, 131: battery pack (second power supply) B: battery (first power supply) M: memory card (first recording medium) H: HDD pack (second recording medium)

Claims (15)

[Claims] A first recording medium mounting section for mounting a first recording medium on which image data is recorded; and a first section for supplying power used for imaging and writing / reading image data to / from the first recording medium. An electronic camera extension unit mounted on an electronic camera having a first power supply mounting section for mounting a first power supply, comprising: a unit main body; provided in the unit main body, and having a larger recording capacity than the first recording medium. The second mounting the second recording medium
A recording medium mounting unit, a second power supply unit provided in the unit main body, for supplying power used at least for writing / reading image data to / from the second recording medium, and having a larger power supply capacity than the first power supply. A second power supply mounting portion for mounting a power supply, a mounting mechanism for detachably mounting the unit main body to the electronic camera, and a data connection means electrically connected to the electronic camera for transmitting and receiving the image data. An extension unit for an electronic camera, comprising: 2. The unit main body incorporates the second power supply mounting portion, and is integrally formed with a grip portion disposed on a lateral end side of the electronic camera, at an end portion of the grip portion, A substantially flat flat portion which is mounted on the bottom surface of the electronic camera, incorporates the second recording medium mounting portion, and has the connection means formed at a contact portion with the bottom surface of the electronic camera. The extension unit for an electronic camera according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the second recording medium has a rotating member, and the second recording medium mounting portion is disposed on the grip portion side of the flat portion. Extension unit for camera. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the flat portion is provided at a position distant from the grip portion with the second recording medium mounting portion interposed therebetween, through which the image data is written / read to / from the second recording medium and via the connection means. 3. The extension unit for an electronic camera according to claim 2, further comprising a circuit unit for executing the transmission and reception of the image data by using the power supplied from the second power supply. 5. The electronic camera is provided with a cover for protecting an insertion opening of the first recording medium into the first recording medium mounting portion, and the grip portion does not hinder opening and closing of the cover. 3. An extension unit for an electronic camera according to claim 2, wherein a concave portion is formed. 6. An electronic camera extension unit according to claim 2, wherein a release switch for instructing a release operation of said electronic camera is provided above said grip portion. 7. The second recording medium is provided detachably with respect to the second recording medium holding part, and the second recording medium holding part is in a state in which the unit main body is mounted on an electronic camera. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second recording medium is disposed at a detachable position.
The extension unit for an electronic camera according to the above. 8. The mounting mechanism has a screw screwed into a tripod screw hole of the electronic camera, and the connecting means connects a plurality of contacts arranged on a circumference around the screw. The electronic camera extension unit according to claim 1, further comprising: 9. The flat portion includes: write / read image data to / from the second recording medium at positions corresponding to a plurality of contact points constituting the connection means; and the image data via the connection means. 9. The expansion unit for an electronic camera according to claim 8, further comprising: a circuit unit for performing transmission and reception of the power by the power supplied from the second power supply. 10. The expansion unit for an electronic camera according to claim 1, wherein a switch for inhibiting writing / reading of said image data to / from said second recording medium is further provided in said unit main body. . 11. The expansion unit for an electronic camera according to claim 1, wherein said unit main body is further provided with an input terminal for supplying a DC power supplied from the outside to said power supply. 12. The grip section has a pair of members for sandwiching the electronic camera from the front side and the back side thereof, and the pair of members are provided with the second power supply mounting section, respectively. 3. The electronic camera extension unit according to claim 2, wherein: 13. A first image quality changeover switch for changing image quality is provided on the back side of the electronic camera. Of the pair of members, a member located on the back side of the electronic camera is the first image quality changeover switch. A second image quality changeover switch is provided which covers the image quality changeover switch and has an image quality changeover position for instructing priority recording on the second recording medium in addition to the image quality changeover position of the first image quality changeover switch. The extension unit for an electronic camera according to claim 12, wherein: 14. An electronic camera system comprising an electronic camera and an extension unit detachably mounted on the electronic camera, wherein the electronic camera has a first recording medium on which a first recording medium for recording image data is mounted. 1 recording medium mounting section, detecting means for detecting a mounting state of the extension unit to the electronic camera, and a first power supply mounting section for mounting a first power supply, wherein the expansion unit has a rotating member. A second recording medium mounting section for mounting a second recording medium having a larger recording capacity than the first recording medium; and supplying at least power used for writing / reading image data to / from the second recording medium. A second power supply mounting portion for mounting a second power supply having a larger power supply capacity than the first power supply; A mounting mechanism for mounting, the electronic camera and is electrically connected, an electronic camera system, characterized in that a connecting means for transmission and reception of the image data. 15. The mounting means is provided with a projection for positioning with respect to the electronic camera on a contact surface with the electronic camera, and the detection means is provided at a position corresponding to the projection. 15. The electronic camera system according to claim 14, wherein the contact of the projection is detected.