JP2001228523A - Photographing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a photographing device capable of preventing a shutter from being inadvertently released at the time of focusing and a subject image from being blurred at the time of photographing. SOLUTION: This device is provided with an autofocusing button 12 for focusing and a shutter button 2 for photographing by opening/closing the shutter at different positions, and photographing is allowed when the button 2 is operated in a state where the button 12 is operated. Then, a switch which does not require push-in operation and which acts just when it is slightly touched is used as the button 2.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a photographing apparatus which automatically adjusts the focus when photographing a subject, and opens and closes a shutter to perform photographing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Many cameras at present have a function called an autofocus function. As shown in FIG. 6, this function first adjusts the subject to the center position of the viewfinder (not shown) in the state where the shutter button 2 of the camera 1 is not pressed (a), and in the state as shown in FIG. The focus is automatically adjusted by depressing the shutter button 2 halfway, and then the shutter button 2 is completely depressed as shown in FIG. JP-A-6-153046 and JP-A-61-278279 disclose a shutter button.
An electronic still camera that operates in three or three stages is disclosed.

[0003]

However, in such a configuration in which one shutter button is pressed halfway down to adjust the focus and then further pressed down to take a picture, it is difficult for a person who is unfamiliar with the camera to use the shutter button. Since it is not known whether the focus adjustment will be started if the shutter button is pressed down, there is a possibility that the shutter button may be pressed too much and the shutter may be released.

[0004] Even if a user is accustomed to handling the camera, if there is a time lag between the time when the shutter button is pressed halfway and the time when the shutter is completely depressed and the shutter is released, a delicate force is applied to the shutter button. There is a problem that the hand holding the camera shakes and the subject shakes the moment the shutter is released because the camera must be continued.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a photographing apparatus capable of preventing a shutter from being accidentally released during focus adjustment and a subject from being blurred during photographing.

[0006]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a photographing apparatus according to the present invention comprises a first device for adjusting a focus.
1 operation unit and 2nd shutter for opening and closing the shutter
Are provided at different positions.

In this manner, the focus can be adjusted by the first operation unit and the shutter can be opened and closed independently by the second operation unit, so that the focus can be adjusted while the shutter button is half-pressed. This eliminates the need for adjustment, and prevents the shutter from being accidentally released during focus adjustment and the subject from being blurred when the shutter button is pressed.

Here, if the second operation unit is operated while the first operation unit is operated, the focus is adjusted and the photographing is performed. Since the shutter is not released unless operated, the erroneous operation of the shutter button can be reliably prevented.

Further, if the second operation unit is constituted by a switch device which does not require a pressing operation such as a pointing device of a personal computer, a touch switch, an optical non-contact switch, etc., the operation unit is used when the shutter is released. Since no force is applied to the object, it is possible to effectively prevent the subject from being blurred due to the deep depression of the shutter button.

The first operation unit is not limited to a focus adjustment operation unit, but may be configured as an independent operation unit for permitting operation of the second operation unit.

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described.
This will be described by taking a digital camera as an example. FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a digital camera (hereinafter, simply referred to as a camera) according to the present invention when viewed from the front side. In the figure,
Reference numeral 1 denotes a camera body, on which a shutter button 2 is provided. The shutter button 2 constitutes a second operation unit in the present invention, and is used to open and close a shutter (not shown) provided inside the lens 5 to perform photographing. It is provided at the end of the upper surface of the camera body 1 so as to be operated.

The shutter button 2 is switch means that does not require a pressing operation, for example, a switch that can be operated by simple contact such as a pointing device or a touch switch used in a notebook personal computer, or a non-switch such as an optical switch. It consists of things that can be operated by touch.

Reference numeral 3 denotes a switching button for switching between an auto-focus function and a manual function, and is a button for switching whether to automatically or manually focus and stop the subject. In the present embodiment, the switching button 3 has been switched to the autofocus AF side. Reference numeral 4 denotes a display unit provided on the upper surface of the camera body 1, which is composed of a liquid crystal display or the like, and displays the remaining amount of a battery, the number of shots, and the like. Reference numeral 5 denotes a lens which collects reflected light from a subject on a light receiving unit (not shown) provided therein. Reference numeral 6 denotes a flash, which emits light when the illuminance on the subject is insufficient.

Reference numeral 7 denotes a mode dial provided on the upper surface of the camera body 1 for setting various modes. Examples of modes include face shooting,
There are various modes such as a high image quality mode and a low image quality mode in addition to types such as landscape photography, sports photography, and flower photography. The mode dial 7 also has a function of switching on / off the power. When the switching button 3 is set to the auto focus side AF, the mode dial 7
The focus is automatically adjusted according to the mode set in.

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the camera body 1 as viewed from the rear side. A loading unit 8 for loading a storage medium for storing a captured image is provided on the back of the camera body 1.
Is provided. Reference numeral 9 denotes a finder, which looks into the finder 9 and specifies a subject.
In order to adjust the focus by the auto-focus function, the subject is set to the center of the finder 9. Reference numeral 10 denotes a battery loading unit for loading a battery serving as a power supply for driving the camera body 1. Reference numeral 11 denotes a liquid crystal monitor for displaying a captured image. The liquid crystal monitor 11 displays a photographed frame number, a date, a time, and the like in addition to the photographed image.

Reference numeral 12 denotes an autofocus button constituting the first operation unit of the present invention. When the switching button 3 is switched to the autofocus AF side, the focus is adjusted by pressing the button 12. . The auto focus button 12 is a push-operation button, and is provided on the back surface of the camera body 1 and is provided at a position where the user can hold down the camera body 1 and press it with the right thumb f1. At this time, the shutter button 2 can be operated by the right forefinger f2. More specifically, when the camera body 1 is viewed from the back, the auto focus button 12 is
And at a position lower than the finder 9.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the camera body 1. As shown in FIG. In the figure, reference numeral 13 denotes a CPU constituting a control unit, which controls photographing according to a program stored in a memory 14. Reference numeral 14 denotes a memory constituting a storage unit, which includes an external memory 14a for storing a captured image, and an internal memory 14b for storing a program for controlling each unit of the camera body 1, and the like. The external memory 14a includes a storage medium loaded in the loading unit 8 described above. Reference numeral 15 denotes a photographing circuit, which includes a light receiving circuit for receiving light from a subject, a signal processing circuit for processing a received signal, and the like. Reference numeral 16 denotes a photographing control unit, which controls the shutter 17 and the aperture unit 1 in accordance with the focal point, aperture value, shutter speed, and the like calculated by the CPU 13.
8, for driving and controlling the lens 5; Reference numeral 19 denotes a display, which comprises the display unit 4 and the liquid crystal monitor unit 11 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and an LED lamp (not shown) for displaying a focus adjustment state in the viewfinder 9.

Next, the operation of the camera having the above configuration will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, when the mode dial 7 is set to the power-on state, it is determined whether or not the switching button 3 provided on the camera body 1 is set to the auto focus AF side (step S1). If the switching button 3 is set to the manual M side (step S1NO), the operation waits for the operation of the shutter button 2 (step S8), and if the shutter button 2 is operated, shooting is performed according to the focus and aperture set by the manual. Is performed (step S9).

On the other hand, when the switching button 3 is set to the auto focus side (step S1 YES), the auto focus button 1 provided on the back of the camera body 1 is set.
It is determined whether or not 2 has been pressed (step S2). If the auto focus button 12 has been pressed (step S2 YES), the setting state of the mode dial 7 (for example, high image quality mode, face image mode, etc.) is determined. (Step S3). Then, in accordance with the set state, whether or not the flash 6 is driven, a shutter speed, an aperture value, a focus, and the like are calculated (step S4).

Thereafter, until the shutter button 2 is operated, it is determined whether or not the auto focus button 12 is kept pressed (step S5). In a state where the auto focus button 12 is pressed (step S5Y).
ES) If the shutter button 2 is operated (YES in step S6), the photographing control unit 16 is driven according to the shutter speed, aperture value, and focus calculated in step S4 to perform photographing (step S7).

On the other hand, when the pressed state of the auto focus button 12 is released before the shutter button 2 is operated (step S5 NO), the operation of the shutter button 2 is not accepted, and the process returns to step S2 to return to the auto focus button 12 Wait for press. When the auto focus button 12 is pressed (YES in step S5), but the shutter button 2 is not operated (step S6).
NO), execute steps S2 to S4, and execute
The calculation of the shutter speed, the aperture value, the focus, and the like is continued for the subject set at the center of.

According to the embodiment described above, since the auto focus button 12 and the shutter button 2 are provided at different positions, the operation of adjusting the focus and the operation of opening and closing the shutter are performed independently. For this reason, the shutter button 2 is no longer half-pressed as in the related art, so that the shutter is not accidentally released during focusing and the subject is not shaken when the shutter button is pressed. In addition, since the shutter is not released unless the auto focus button 12 is pressed, erroneous operation of the shutter button 2 can be reliably prevented. Moreover,
Since a switch means that does not require a pressing operation is used as the shutter button 2, no extra force is applied when the shutter is released, and blurring of the subject can be more effectively prevented.

Further, since the auto focus button 12 is provided between the finder 9 and the shutter button 2, the auto focus function can be easily operated with the thumb. In addition, since the auto focus button 12 is provided below the finder 9, when shooting,
It is also possible to avoid such a problem that the thumb is in the way and the finder 9 cannot be seen.

FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an external perspective view when viewed from the front of the camera body 1.
In this embodiment, an autofocus button 12a having the same function as the autofocus button 12 in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 is provided on the front side of the camera body 1 and below the shutter button 2. . This button 12a is preferably provided in a portion where the right middle finger is located when operating the shutter button 2 with the right index finger. With this configuration, the focus adjustment and the photographing operation can be performed with the right index finger and the middle finger.

In the above embodiment, a digital camera has been described as an example of a photographing apparatus. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to an ordinary camera using a film. Further, in the above-described embodiment, a press-type button is used as the autofocus button. However, a button that does not require a pressing operation may be employed instead of the shutter button.

In the above-described embodiment, the auto focus button is used as a button for allowing the operation of the shutter button. However, a button for allowing the operation of the shutter button is provided independently of the auto focus button, and this button is provided. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the shutter is not released unless operated.

[0027]

According to the present invention, the shutter button is no longer half-pressed when photographing a subject, so that the shutter is not accidentally released or the image is blurred during focus adjustment.

Further, since the operation of the shutter is allowed under the condition that the operation of the focus adjustment has been performed, the malfunction of the shutter can be reliably prevented.
Since the operation unit of the shutter is constituted by switch means that does not require a pressing operation, it is possible to prevent blurring that occurs when the shutter is released.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a digital camera according to the present invention when viewed from the front side.

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the digital camera as viewed from the rear side.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of the digital camera.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the digital camera.

FIG. 5 is an external perspective view showing another embodiment of the digital camera.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an operation of a shutter button in a conventional camera.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Camera body 2 Shutter button 12, 12a Auto focus button

Claims (4)

[Claims] A photographing apparatus that automatically adjusts a focus when photographing a subject and opens and closes a shutter to perform photographing. A first operation unit for adjusting the focus and a shutter for opening and closing the shutter to photograph. An imaging device, wherein the second operation unit is provided at a different position. 2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:
The photographing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the operation section is operated, focus is adjusted to perform photographing. 3. The photographing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second operation section comprises switch means that does not require a pressing operation. 4. A camera according to claim 1, further comprising a first operation section and a second operation section, wherein the second operation section is an operation section for opening and closing a shutter for photographing, and wherein the first operation section is provided. An imaging device, wherein an operation is permitted while being operated.