JP2002333660A - Camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a camera which enables smooth performing of both of zoom/wide adjusting or focusing operation and shutter button pressing operation with one finger. SOLUTION: This camera 1 is an autofocusing type digital camera, and a camera body 10 constituting the camera 1 is equipped with a jog dial 11 for performing the zoom/wide operation and the shutter operation of the camera 1. The dial 11 can be rotated with respect to the body 10 and can be pushed into the body 10. By operating and rotating the dial 11, the zoom/wide operation of the camera 1 is performed. Focusing is performed by an autofocusing function when the dial 11 is operated to be pushed to a 1st position, and the shutter operation is performed when the dial 11 is further operated to be pushed to a 2nd position.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a camera, and more particularly to a camera provided with a jog dial and having a shutter function and a zoom / wide function or a focus adjusting function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a digital camera and a silver halide camera having a zoom / wide mechanism for performing zoom / wide adjustment and focus adjustment, and a focus mechanism have been known. In this type of camera, a zoom / wide adjustment ring and a focus ring that are coaxially rotatable with respect to the lens are provided around the lens of the camera. Further, a shutter button is provided on the camera body.

[0003] When the user rotates the zoom / wide adjustment ring and the focus ring with the thumb of one hand, zoom / wide adjustment and focus adjustment are performed. After performing zoom / wide adjustment and focus adjustment,
The user presses the shutter button with the finger of the other hand,
Shoot the subject.

[0004]

However, in the conventional camera, the zoom / wide adjustment ring and the focus ring are provided independently of the shutter button.
To smoothly perform both the zoom / wide adjustment or the focus adjustment and the pressing of the shutter button, at least two fingers, the thumb and the index finger, are necessary. Also,
Shutter button and zoom / wide adjustment ring, or
It is necessary to provide at least two components such as a shutter button and a focus ring.

Further, the camera is designed on the assumption that the operation is performed with both hands, and is configured so that the shutter button is pressed with the forefinger of the right hand and zoom / wide adjustment or focus adjustment is performed with the thumb of the left hand. Therefore, the zoom / wide adjustment ring or focus ring and the shutter button are provided so as to be separated from each other, and it is not possible to perform both zoom / wide adjustment or focus adjustment and pressing the shutter button with one hand. Have difficulty.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a camera which can smoothly perform both zoom / wide adjustment or focus adjustment and shutter button pressing with one finger of one hand.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a jog dial which is rotatable and operable to be pushed into the inside of a camera body, and performs a zoom / wide operation in accordance with the rotation of the jog dial. And a camera having a shutter function for pressing the jog dial.

Here, the jog dial preferably rotates intermittently.

Preferably, the zoom / wide operation is performed by a digital zoom / wide function or an optical zoom / wide function.

The camera provided by the present invention is preferably a digital camera or a silver halide camera.

Preferably, the rotation axis of the jog dial is oriented in the front-rear direction or the left-right direction of the camera body.

Further, according to the present invention, a jog dial is provided so as to be rotatable and operable to be pushed into the inside of the camera body, so that a fine focus adjustment operation can be performed in accordance with the rotation operation of the jog dial, and a shutter is provided for pushing the jog dial. We provide cameras with functions.

Preferably, the jog dial rotates intermittently.

Further, the jog dial is pushed to the first position to perform the focus operation by automatically adjusting the focus when the jog dial is pushed to the first position. Further, when the jog dial is pushed to the second position, the shutter function is activated. It is preferable to exert.

The camera provided by the present invention is preferably a digital camera or a silver halide camera.

Preferably, the rotation axis of the jog dial is oriented in the front-rear direction or the left-right direction of the camera body.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A camera 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the first embodiment, the present invention is applied to an autofocus type digital camera, and FIG. 1 is a rear view thereof. The camera 1 has a camera body 10 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and a jog dial 11 is rotatably provided on the upper right side of the camera body 10 when viewed from the rear surface 10A of the camera body 10. Have been. A monitor 12 on which a subject to be photographed is displayed is provided on a rear surface 10A of the camera body 10.

The jog dial 11 has a substantially disk shape, and its rotation axis is oriented parallel to a direction connecting a front surface (not shown) of the camera body 10 and a rear surface 10A, that is, a front-rear direction of the camera 1. Therefore, the rotation surface of the jog dial 11 is parallel to the rear surface 10A of the camera 1. A rotary shaft (not shown) of the jog dial 11 is rotatably supported inside the camera body 10, and a part of the jog dial 11 projects above the upper surface 10 </ b> B of the camera body 10. The jog dial 11 is configured to be intermittently rotatable. That is, the unit can rotate one unit at a time with a predetermined angle as one unit, and does not rotate freely when a relatively strong rotational force is not applied. When the jog dial 11 is viewed from the back 10A side of the camera body 1 in a counterclockwise direction,
By rotating the camera 1 in the direction of arrow A, the wide operation of the camera 1 can be performed.
The zoom operation of the camera 1 can be performed by rotating the jog dial 11 in the direction of. The zoom operation and the wide operation are performed by a digital zoom / wide function.

The jog dial 11 is provided so as to be able to be pushed in a direction inward of the camera body 10, that is, in the direction of arrow C in FIG. The configuration of the jog dial 11 that can be pushed is described in, for example, JP-A-2001-9.
No. 2584, which is well known. When the user pushes the jog dial 11 into the camera body 10, the shutter operation of the camera 1 can be performed. More specifically, when the jog dial 11 is pushed from the initial position to the first position, the focus can be adjusted by the autofocus function. When the jog dial 11 is further depressed and reaches the second position, the shutter operation of the camera 1 is performed.

When photographing a subject with the camera 1,
First, the zoom operation or the wide operation is performed by rotating the jog dial 11 clockwise or counterclockwise so that the subject is located at a desired position in the monitor 12. Next, the jog dial 11 is pushed halfway down to the first position, and the focus is adjusted by the autofocus function. Then, further move the jog dial 11 to the second
By pressing the shutter down to the position, the shutter operation of the camera 1 is performed to photograph the subject.

Conventionally, the shutter button provided on the camera body has to be operated with the right hand, and the zoom / wide adjustment ring provided on the lens has to be operated with the left hand. Since the zoom / wide operation and the shutter operation can be performed by rotating and pushing in the rotation direction and the inward direction of the camera body 10, these operations can be performed with one finger of the right hand. Operability is improved. Also,
Since the number of switches and the like can be reduced, the camera body 10 can be made small, and the degree of freedom in design can be increased.

Further, as described above, the jog dial 11 can rotate one unit at a time with a predetermined angle as one unit, and is configured not to rotate freely when a relatively strong rotational force is not applied. When the jog dial 11 is pushed inward into the camera body 10 and the circumferential force of the jog dial 11 is slightly generated, the jog dial 11 is not rotated, and is performed before the jog dial 11 is pushed. It does not affect zoom / wide operation.

The camera 1 which is a digital camera has a PLAY MODE switch and a STILL
The MODE switch is provided as an independent switch,
When the jog dial is rotated in the PLAY MODE state, the image can be displayed on the monitor one by one each time the jog dial is rotated by one unit, thereby providing a desired function. Images can be easily displayed on a monitor. Further, by pressing the jog dial while a desired image is displayed on the monitor, it is possible to provide a function such as enlargement of the display, and the operability of the camera can be improved.

Next, a camera according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the second embodiment, the present invention is applied to a digital camera of a manual focus type, and FIG. 2 is a rear view thereof. A manual focus in which the focus adjustment of the camera 2 can be performed by rotating the jog dial 21 instead of performing the zoom / wide operation of the camera by rotating the jog dial; and
The only difference from the camera 1 according to the first embodiment is that the zoom / wide operation of the camera can be performed by operating a zoom / wide operation switch provided separately from the jog dial 21.

The jog dial 21 is connected to a fine focus adjustment mechanism of the lens of the camera 2 via a drive connection mechanism (not shown), and the rotation of the jog dial 21 is transmitted to the fine focus adjustment mechanism. Jog dial 2
By rotating the lens 1, the focus can be adjusted by changing the lens position. The zoom / wide operation is performed by a zoom / zoom (not shown) provided separately from the jog dial 21.
The digital zoom / wide function is operated by operating the wide operation switch.

When photographing a subject with the camera 2,
First, the zoom / wide operation switch is operated so that the subject is located at a predetermined position in the monitor 22. next,
The fine adjustment of the focus of the camera 2 is performed by rotating the jog dial 21 in the direction of arrow D or the direction of arrow E in FIG. Finally, the shutter operation of the camera 2 is performed by pushing the jog dial 21 in the direction of arrow F in FIG.

Conventionally, the shutter button had to be operated with the right hand and the focus ring had to be operated with the left hand. However, the jog dial 21 was rotated and pushed in the three-dimensional direction, that is, in the rotation direction and inward of the camera body 20. By doing so, the focus fine adjustment operation and the shutter operation can be performed, so that these operations can be performed with one finger of the right hand, and the operability of the camera 2 is improved.

Next, a camera according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. The camera according to the third embodiment has an autofocus function and can perform a fine focus adjustment operation by a manual operation. When the jog dial is pressed inward of the camera body, the focus can be adjusted with a certain degree of accuracy at the first position. When the jog dial is further pressed inward of the camera body, the focus can be adjusted at the second position. This is different from the camera 2 according to the second embodiment in that the shutter of the camera can be released.

As in the second embodiment, the jog dial is connected to a focus adjustment mechanism of the camera lens via a drive connection mechanism, and the lens position is changed by rotating the jog dial to adjust the focus. It is possible to When the jog dial is pushed from the initial position to the first position, the focus can be adjusted with a certain degree of accuracy by the autofocus function. When the jog dial is further depressed and reaches the second position, the shutter operation of the camera is performed.

When taking an image of a subject with the camera according to the third embodiment, first, the zoom / wide operation switch is operated so that the subject is located at a predetermined position in the monitor. Next, the jog dial is pressed halfway down to the first position, and the focus is adjusted to a certain degree of accuracy by the autofocus function. Next, the jog dial is rotated to finely adjust the focus of the camera with high accuracy. Finally, the jog dial, which has been pushed down to the first position, is further pushed down to the second position, whereby the shutter operation of the camera is performed, and the subject is photographed.

Next, a camera according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the fourth embodiment, the present invention is applied to an autofocus type digital camera. FIG. 3A is a rear view, and FIG. 3B is a side view. Only the positional relationship of the jog dial 31 with respect to the camera body 30 is different from the camera 1 according to the first embodiment.

The jog dial 31 is provided so as to be rotatable with respect to the camera body 3, and its rotation axis is oriented in the left-right direction of the camera body 3 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. Accordingly, the rotation surface of the substantially disc-shaped jog dial 31 is parallel to the side surface 30 </ b> D of the camera 3 of the camera body 30. The rotation shaft (not shown) of the jog dial 31 is rotatably supported inside the camera body 30, and a part of the jog dial 31 projects above the upper surface 30 </ b> B of the camera body 30. This is the same as the camera 1 according to the embodiment. By rotating the jog dial 31 in the direction of arrow G in FIG. 3B, the wide operation of the camera 3 can be performed, and by rotating the jog dial 31 in the direction of arrow H, the zoom operation of the camera 3 is performed. be able to. Further, the focus adjustment and the shutter operation by the autofocus function of the camera 3 can be performed by pushing the jog dial 31 in the direction of the arrow I, as in the camera 1 according to the first embodiment. Further, the operation of the camera 3 when photographing the subject is the same as the operation of the camera 1 according to the first embodiment.

Since the rotation axis of the jog dial 31 is oriented in the left-right direction of the camera body 30, the rotation surface of the substantially disc-shaped jog dial 31 is positioned on the side surface 30D of the camera 3.
, And can operate the jog dial 31 in relation to the positional relationship between the subject and the photographer. Therefore, even if the user is not familiar with the zoom / wide operation, the zoom operation and the wide operation can be performed. It is possible to prevent operation by mistake.

The camera according to the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications and improvements can be made within the scope described in the claims. For example, the zoom operation and the wide operation of the cameras 1, 2, and 3 according to the present embodiment are executed by the digital zoom / wide function.
It may be a wide function, an optical zoom / wide function that manually changes the position of the lens, or a manual optical zoom / wide function, an electrically powered optical zoom / wide function, and a digital zoom / wide function. They may be used in combination. However, in the case of manual operation, in the cameras 1 and 3 according to the first and fourth embodiments, the jog dials 11 and 31 and the lens are driven and connected by a drive connection mechanism (not shown), and the position of the lens is changed.
It is necessary that the zoom lens can be changed by the rotation of the zoom lens 1 and the zoom lens 31. In the cameras 2 and the camera (not shown) according to the second and third embodiments, a zoom / wide adjustment ring is provided on the outer periphery of the lens. Must be provided.

Although the cameras 1, 2, and 3 are digital cameras, they may be silver halide cameras. In this case, as the zoom / wide function, a manual optical zoom / wide function or an electrically driven optical zoom / wide is used.

The rotation axis of the jog dial of the camera according to the second and third embodiments is oriented in the front-rear direction of the camera, but is oriented in the left-right direction of the camera body similarly to the jog dial in the fourth embodiment. It is good also as a structure which made it do.

[0037]

According to the camera described in the first, third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh aspects, the zoom / wide operation can be performed according to the rotation operation of the jog dial, and the shutter function is provided for the pressing operation of the jog dial. Since the jog dial is operated in the rotation direction and inward of the camera body with one finger of the right hand, zoom / wide operation and shutter operation can be performed, and the operability of the camera can be improved. For this reason, the camera can be held with one hand, and zoom / wide operation and shutter operation can be performed with one finger of the hand holding the camera, and shooting from a low angle or from a high position with the arm extended can be performed. It can also be used effectively for photographing.

Further, since the number of switches and the like can be reduced, the camera body can be made small, and the degree of freedom in design can be increased.

According to the cameras of the second and tenth aspects, the jog dial rotates intermittently and does not rotate freely when a relatively strong rotational force is not applied. For this reason, even if the jog dial is slightly pressed inward while the jog dial is being pushed into the camera body, it is possible to prevent the jog dial from rotating.

According to the camera of the eighth aspect, the rotation axis of the jog dial is oriented in the left-right direction of the camera body, and the jog dial is operated in relation to the positional relationship between the subject and the photographer. Therefore, even if the user is not proficient in the zoom / wide operation, it is possible to prevent the user from mistakenly operating the zoom operation and the wide operation.

According to the camera of the ninth, twelfth, thirteenth, and fourteenth aspects, the focus fine adjustment operation can be performed in accordance with the rotation operation of the jog dial, and the pressing operation of the jog dial has a shutter function. By operating the jog dial in the rotation direction and inward of the camera body with one finger, the focus fine adjustment operation and the shutter operation can be performed, and the operability of the camera can be improved. For this reason, the camera can be held with one hand, and the focus fine adjustment operation and shutter operation can be performed with one finger of the hand holding the camera, and shooting from a low angle or from a high position with the arm extended It can also be used effectively for photographing.

Further, since the number of switches and the like can be reduced, the camera body can be made small, and the degree of freedom in design can be increased.

According to the camera of the eleventh aspect, it is possible to perform a focus automatic adjustment operation for automatically adjusting the focus by pushing the jog dial to the first position.
Further, since the shutter function is exerted by being pushed to the second position, the focus is adjusted to a predetermined accuracy by the auto focus function, and the fine adjustment of the focus can be performed with the jog dial with higher accuracy. it can. Therefore, it is possible to more efficiently focus on the subject.

According to the camera of the fifteenth aspect, the rotation axis of the jog dial is oriented in the left-right direction of the camera body, and the jog dial is operated in relation to the positional relationship between the subject and the photographer. Therefore, even a user who is not familiar with the focus fine adjustment operation can easily perform the operation.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a rear view showing a camera according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear view showing a camera according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are views showing a camera according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 3A is a rear view, and FIG. 3B is a side view as seen from the left side of FIG.

[Explanation of Signs] 1, 2, 3 Camera 10, 20, 30 Camera Body 11, 21, 31 Jog Dial

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat II (reference) G03B 19/02 H04N 5/232 A 5C022 H04N 5/225 101: 00 5/232 G02B 7/11 Z // H04N 101: 00 G03B 3/00 A F term (reference) 2H011 AA01 AA03 CA01 CA21 2H044 DA02 DB02 DE04 2H051 AA00 EA25 GB13 GB20 2H054 AA01 2H100 AA14 AA18 CC07 5C022 AA13 AB66 AC31 AC52

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. A jog dial that is rotatable and operable to be pushed into the inside of a camera body to enable zooming and widening operation in accordance with the rotating operation of the jog dial, and has a shutter function for the pushing operation of the jog dial. A camera characterized by having 2. The camera according to claim 1, wherein said jog dial rotates intermittently. 3. The zoom / wide operation is performed by a digital zoom / wide function.
The described camera. 4. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the zoom / wide operation is performed by an optical zoom / wide function. 5. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the camera is a digital camera. 6. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the camera is a silver halide camera. 7. The camera according to claim 1, wherein a rotation axis of the jog dial is oriented in a front-rear direction of the camera body.
The described camera. 8. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the rotation axis of the jog dial is oriented in the left-right direction of the camera body.
The described camera. 9. A jog dial that is rotatable and operable to be pushed into the camera body, enables fine focus adjustment in accordance with the rotation of the jog dial, and has a shutter function for the push operation of the jog dial. A camera characterized by having 10. The camera according to claim 9, wherein the jog dial rotates intermittently. 11. When the jog dial is depressed to a first position, an automatic focus adjustment operation for automatically adjusting focus is enabled, and when the jog dial is depressed to a second position, the shutter function is activated. The camera according to claim 9, wherein the camera is used. 12. The camera according to claim 9, wherein the camera is a digital camera. 13. The camera according to claim 9, wherein the camera is a silver halide camera. 14. The camera according to claim 9, wherein a rotation axis of the jog dial is oriented in a front-rear direction of the camera body. 15. The camera according to claim 9, wherein the rotation axis of the jog dial is oriented in the left-right direction of the camera body.