JP2004102167A - Camera - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a camera good in handleability and low in cost. <P>SOLUTION: This camera is configured so that at least one of release buttons 110a and 110b for the left hand and right hand is depressed while depressing a menu/decision button 151. One of the release buttons is set in a usable state and a mark indicating one release button is displayed on a display screen to indicate which of the release buttons is usable. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a camera having two release buttons for a left hand and a right hand.
[0002]
[Prior art]
There has been proposed a camera in which another release button for the left hand is provided in addition to the release button for the right hand so that the release operation can be performed with the left hand of the camera. Such a camera is very convenient for a left-handed person or a user who has a right hand. Such a camera is also effective when taking a selfie. When taking a self-portrait, there are a case where it is advantageous to perform the release operation with the right hand and a case where it is advantageous to perform the release operation with the left hand depending on which end is positioned. In such a case, if release buttons are provided on the left and right sides, it is very convenient, and the situation where the arm extended for performing the release operation enters the shooting angle of view is also avoided.
[0003]
Among cameras in which such release buttons are arranged on the left and right, there is also a camera provided with a setting unit for setting each of the left and right release buttons to be usable (for example, Patent Document 1).
[0004]
In the camera of Patent Document 1, the power switch is provided with a switching function of which one of the right and left release buttons is used, and each release button is selected every time the power switch is turned on.
[0005]
However, when a user who performs a release operation with only the right hand uses the camera personally, only the release button on the right hand side needs to function, and it is rare to use a release button for the left hand. . Also, if the camera has left and right release buttons even if it is not used, and the camera can enable either the right or left release button for right-handed or left-handed people, for example, When purchasing a camera, it is sufficient if the release button on the side that the user wants to use can be set to a usable state.
[0006]
In addition, when there is a left-handed person close to me and sharing the camera, it is sufficient that there is a changeover switch and that changeover switch is set so that one of the release buttons can be used ( Patent Document 2).
[0007]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2002-40534 A [Patent Document 2]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-305293
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the camera of Patent Document 1, when a switching operation is performed to enable use of either the left or right release button, the power must be turned on and off one by one.
[0009]
In the camera of Patent Document 2, both release buttons cannot be used when performing self-photographing. Therefore, if another contact point that enables use of both release buttons is added to the changeover switch portion of Patent Document 2, the number of parts increases, the camera body becomes larger, and the cost increases. .
[0010]
Both Patent Literature 1 and Patent Literature 2 also have a problem that it is necessary to check which release button is in a usable state by looking at the setting positions of the selector switch and the selector lever.
[0011]
In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a camera that is convenient, compact, and inexpensive.
[0012]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, a camera of the present invention comprises a release button for a right hand and a release button for a left hand, and a camera that takes a picture by performing a release operation on at least one release button.
Either of the above-mentioned states where the left-hand release button can be used, the state where the right-hand release button can be used, and the state where both the left-hand and right-hand release buttons can be used Setting means for setting the state,
And holding means for holding the contents set by the setting means.
[0013]
According to the camera of the present invention, it is possible to perform setting once by the setting means without performing an operation for setting any one of the release buttons to be usable each time when the power is turned on as in the conventional camera. The setting contents are held in the holding means.
[0014]
Here, it is preferable that the camera of the present invention also includes display means for displaying the contents set by the setting means.
[0015]
When the current setting contents are displayed on the display means in this way, it is no longer possible to know which release button is in a usable state as in the conventional cameras.
[0016]
Here, the setting means has a release button change mode in which the use of the release button for the left hand, the use of the release button for the right hand, or the use of the release button for the left hand and the release button for the right hand can be freely selected. In the release button change mode, the left-hand release button, the right-hand release button, and the left-hand release button, and the left-hand release button and the right-hand release button are respectively received by pressing the release buttons for the left-hand and right-hand release buttons. It is preferable to set it to a state where it can be used.
[0017]
If the release button change mode is provided in this way, it is easy to set which release button to use by shifting to the release button change mode, and there is no need to provide a dedicated changeover switch, reducing the number of parts. Can be an inexpensive camera.
[0018]
Furthermore, this camera is a camera that takes a photograph on a photographic film loaded with a photographic film, and when the photographic film is loaded into this camera, the transition to the release button change mode is prohibited. Is preferred.
[0019]
In this way, it is possible to avoid shooting by accidentally performing a release operation when the film is loaded, thereby reducing wasteful use of the film.
[0020]
The display means may display an image including only the mark of the release button selected from the left and right release buttons on the display screen when any of the release buttons is selected. Of the left-hand release button and the right-hand release button, whichever release button can be used is indicated by lighting the lamp near the release button, the left-hand release button, the right-hand release button Of the buttons, which release button can be used may be displayed by causing the selected release button to emit light.
[0021]
The camera also has a self-shooting mode in which the camera is directed toward the photographer and the self-shooting mode is set regardless of which release button is used. Then, it is preferable to shift to a state where both release buttons can be used.
[0022]
This makes it possible to perform the release operation with either the left or right hand depending on the composition at that time, without having to bother to use both release buttons in the self-shooting shooting mode. Will be better.
[0023]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[0024]
1A and 1B are perspective views showing a camera according to the present embodiment, in which FIG. 1A is a perspective view seen from the upper front obliquely, and FIG. 1B is a perspective view seen from the upper rear obliquely.
[0025]
As shown in FIG. 1A, a projection window 102a and a light receiving window 102b of the AF apparatus and an objective window 103 of the finder are provided above the photographing lens 101. Further, a flash light emitting unit 104 is provided next to the objective window 103 of the finder.
[0026]
When the photographing lens 101 is directed toward the subject and the photographing is performed, the release button is pressed, but the camera 100 is provided with two release buttons for the right hand and the left hand.
[0027]
In addition to the right-hand and left-hand release buttons 110a and 110b, a self-shooting mode switch 120 is provided at the top of the camera. When the self-shooting mode switch 120 is switched to the self-shooting side, Switch to shooting mode.
[0028]
When the self-shooting switch 120 is switched to shift to the self-taking mode, both the right-hand release button 110a and the left-hand release button 110b are used even if either the right-hand or left-hand release button is prohibited. It becomes possible. That is, when the self-shooting switch 120 is switched to enter the self-shooting mode, the release operation may be performed with either hand.
[0029]
In the self-shooting mode 120, the position within the shooting angle of view of the subject as a subject can be visually recognized by the light in the viewing window 130 above the light receiving window 102b of the AF device. It has become. A light emitting LED is provided at the back of the viewing window, and light emitted from the light emitting LED is used as a sign and is visually recognized by the user. If this light is visible in the center of the viewing window through the viewing window, it is visually confirmed that it is located in the center, and if the light is viewed at either end of the viewing window, the light is It is visually recognized that its own position is on the visually recognized end side. In addition, when light is not visually recognized through the viewing window 130, the photographer knows that he is not located within the shooting angle of view.
[0030]
As shown in FIG. 1B, an operation unit such as a display screen 140 or a cross key 150 is provided on the rear surface of the camera 100, and any release button can be used inside the cross key 150. There is also provided a menu / decision button 151 which becomes a setting key for setting to. Above the display screen 140 is a viewfinder eyepiece 103a, and a warning lamp 103b is provided on the side of the eyepiece 103a. This warning lamp 103b is for informing the user that the self-photographing mode is set. When this warning lamp flashes, the self-shooting switch is switched to notify the user that the self-photographing mode is set. . In this way, when a normal shooting is performed while looking through the finder in spite of the self-shooting mode, the light 103b of the eyepiece 103a of the finder blinks and the user is in the self-shooting mode. It is possible to notify that there is a certain situation, and there is no possibility that the normal photographing is mistakenly performed even in the self-photographing mode. Furthermore, since shooting may be performed without looking into the eyepiece 103b of the finder, the backlight for illuminating the display screen from the camera body side also shines in the self-shooting mode so that the user can be informed that it is in the self-shooting mode. There is also. In this way, normal shooting during the self-shooting mode is prevented with a fairly high probability.
[0031]
On the display screen 140, flash flash mode setting contents of the flash light emitting unit 104, self timer setting contents, setting contents such as focus adjustment, date and time, and the like are displayed as images representing them. In addition, the setting content indicating which release button is set to be usable is also displayed in an image in which the release button is represented as a mark on a part of the camera body.
[0032]
In this image, the release button marks are shown on the left and right in the image representing the shape of the camera body when the camera body is viewed from above, and the marks corresponding to these release buttons are round in the camera of the present embodiment. It is indicated by a mark. When one of the release buttons indicated by the circle mark becomes usable, a mark representing the usable release button is displayed in black in the image, and which release button is usable for the user. Is shown.
[0033]
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the image 141 displayed on the display screen.
[0034]
If both are usable as shown in FIG. 2 (a), both marks are displayed in black. If the right-hand release button is usable as shown in FIG. 2 (b), the right-hand mark is displayed. If the left hand side release button is usable, as shown in FIG. 2C, the left hand side mark is displayed in black.
[0035]
Since the three settings shown in FIG. 2 are possible, the setting method will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the operation contents when any release button is set to a usable state.
[0036]
If the first release button 110b or the second release button 110a or both release buttons 110a and 110b are pressed while pressing the menu / decision button 151 inside the cross key 150 provided on the back of the camera as shown in FIG. It is possible to make a setting that allows the use of at least one release button.
[0037]
The camera 100 is controlled by a CPU (not shown) provided therein, and a display device having a contact point of each switch and a display screen is connected to the CPU. Each switch also includes a cross key, a menu / decision button 151 inside the cross key, and two release buttons 110a and 110b for the right and left hands. Is transmitted to the CPU. In the CPU, the content is transmitted to the display device, and the set content corresponding to the content is displayed on the display screen of the display device. A ROM storing a program is connected to the CPU, and when any switch is operated, processing corresponding to the switch operation is performed according to the procedure described in the program stored in the ROM. If any one of the menu / decision button 151 and the release buttons 110a and 110b is pressed, the CPU performs processing for making any of the release buttons usable. For example, if the detection unit in the processing procedure described in the program detects that one or both of the menu / decision button 151 and the two release buttons 110a and 110b are pressed, the use of one release button 110a is prohibited. Then, a process is performed in which the other release button 110b can be used. The contents at this time are temporarily stored in holding means such as an EEPROM, for example, and the setting contents are held unless the setting is changed.
[0038]
However, in the camera of the present embodiment, when the self-shooting mode switch 120 is switched, the CPU detects that the self-shooting mode is present, and is controlled so that the left and right release buttons can be used unconditionally.
[0039]
The camera of this embodiment is provided with a sensor for detecting that a film is loaded, and when a signal indicating that the film is loaded is output from the sensor, the camera enters the release button change mode. Transition is prohibited. In this way, it is possible to avoid a situation in which an erroneous image is taken while changing the usable release button while the film is loaded.
[0040]
As described above, when the two release buttons 110a and 110b are pressed at the same time as the menu / decision button 150, both the release buttons 110a and 110b become usable, as shown in FIG. When both marks are displayed in black and the release button for the right hand is pressed together with the menu / decision button, the release button for the right hand becomes usable and the release button for the right hand as shown in FIG. 2B. When the mark corresponding to is displayed in black and the release button for the left hand is pressed together with the menu / decision button, the release button for the left hand becomes usable and the release for the left hand as shown in FIG. A mark corresponding to the button is displayed in black.
[0041]
As described above, at least one release button can be set to a usable state by operating each of the release buttons and the menu / decision button 151 provided inside the cross switch without providing a switch. It becomes easy to operate. In addition, after a release button that can be used with a simple operation is set, it is always confirmed on the display screen which release button can be used, and the shutter button that cannot be used is pressed to lose the shutter chance. Such a mistake is not made.
[0042]
Further, when the set content is displayed on the display screen 140, even if the user forgets the set content, it can be confirmed by looking at the image on the display screen immediately.
[0043]
Although the setting method described with reference to FIG. 3 does not seem to cause a problem, when setting is performed with the method of FIG. 3, the user does not press the menu / decision button 151 but presses one of the release buttons to make a mistake. May be carried out. Therefore, if the setting is made by pressing any of the release buttons after pressing the menu / decision button 151 as shown in FIG. 4, the rate at which the image is misprinted when shifting to the release button change mode is considerable. Reduced.
[0044]
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example modified to set a release button that can be used after the menu / enter button is pressed.
[0045]
As shown in FIG. 4A, the menu / decision button 151 is pressed to enter the menu selection mode. When the menu selection mode is entered, the lower key 150d of the cross key 150 is pressed as shown in FIG. Enter the release button change mode. Here, as shown in FIG. 4C, the image 141 representing the camera body on the display screen blinks to notify the user that the release button change mode has been entered. When one of the release buttons or both release buttons is pressed as shown in FIG. 4 (d), the left-hand release button or the right-hand release button and both release buttons can be used. Any of the different states can be set.
[0046]
In this way, it is confirmed by the user that the mode has been changed to the release button change mode, and the release button is operated after the mode is changed to the release button change mode. Compared to FIG. 3, the number of shootings is extremely small. Therefore, as described above, it is not necessary to prohibit the shift to the release button change mode when the film is loaded, and the release button can be changed even when the film is loaded and shooting is being performed. Can be done. Then, for example, when people in the group are taking pictures sequentially using this camera, even if there is a person with a right hand in the group, the person with a right hand in hand is a photographer. When shooting, it is possible to change the release button that can be used from the release button for the right hand to the release button for the left hand with the film still in place, making it even easier to use. .
[0047]
According to the above description, in the camera having the setting method of FIG. 3, it is prohibited to shift to the release button change mode in view of the high possibility of erroneous shooting while the film is loaded. Even if it has the setting method of 3, it may be configured such that it is possible to shift to the release button change mode while giving priority to usability and the film is loaded.
[0048]
In addition, FIG. 5 does not display the release button setting status in the image displayed on the display screen 140, but provides lamps 111a and 111b in the vicinity of the release buttons 110a and 110b, respectively, so that the lamp on the release button side emits light. This is an example of a modification in which the user is informed of which release button is set to be usable.
[0049]
FIG. 5A shows an example in which lamps 111a and 111b are provided in the vicinity of the left and right release buttons 110a and 110b. FIG. 5B shows lamps 111c and 111d in the two release buttons 110a and 110b themselves. This is an example. In any case, the lamps 111a to 111d are always lit when the release operation is performed. Therefore, the lighting of these lamps is always visually recognized when trying to press the release button, and normal shooting in the self-shooting mode is avoided at a considerable rate.
[0050]
Thus, the user can be informed of the self-shooting mode with a simple configuration in which a light emitting diode is added in the vicinity of the release button, and a user-friendly camera can be provided. In addition, unlike conventional cameras, there is no need to provide a dedicated switch or the like, so the number of parts is reduced and the camera becomes compact and inexpensive.
[0051]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the camera of the present invention, it is possible to provide a camera that is convenient, compact, and inexpensive.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a camera of an embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a display screen that displays which release buttons are in a usable state.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an embodiment when setting which release button is to be used by using a menu / decision button;
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing another embodiment when setting which release button is used by using the menu / decision button.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example in which a lamp is provided in the vicinity of the release button, and the release button is set to be usable so that the user is informed of the release button.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Camera 101 Shooting lens 102 AF apparatus 103 Finder 104 Flash emission part 110a Left hand release button 110b Right hand release button 120 Self-shooting mode switch 130 Viewing window 140 Display screen 141 Image 150 with the release button displayed as a mark Four-way controller 151 Menu / Decision button

Claims (8)

In a camera that includes a release button for a right hand and a release button for a left hand, and that performs shooting by performing a release operation on at least one release button,
Either the state in which the left-hand release button can be used, the state in which the right-hand release button can be used, or the state in which both the left-hand and right-hand release buttons can be used Setting means for setting the state,
A camera comprising: holding means for holding contents set by the setting means. 2. The camera according to claim 1, further comprising display means for displaying contents set by the setting means. The setting means has a release button change mode in which the use of the release button for the left hand, the use of the release button for the right hand, and the use of the release button for the left hand and the release button for the right hand can be freely selected. In the button change mode, the left-hand release button, the right-hand release button, and the release buttons for both are pressed, and the left-hand release button, the right-hand release button, and both the left-hand and right-hand release are respectively received. 3. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the button is set in a state where the button can be used. This camera is a camera that is loaded with a photographic film and takes a picture on the loaded photographic film. When the photographic film is loaded into this camera, the transition to the release button change mode is prohibited. The camera according to claim 3. The display means displays an image including only the mark of the selected release button of the left and right release buttons on the display screen when any of the release buttons is selected. The camera according to claim 2. The display means includes lamps provided in the vicinity of the release button for the left hand and the release button for the right hand. When any of the release buttons is selected, the lamp in the vicinity of the selected release button is caused to emit light. The camera according to claim 2, wherein The display means includes lamps that respectively emit the left-hand release button and the right-hand release button, and when one of the release buttons is selected, the selected release button emits light. The camera according to claim 2, wherein: This camera is equipped with a self-shooting mode in which the camera is directed toward the photographer, and the self-shooting mode is set regardless of which release button is used. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the camera shifts to a state where both release buttons can be used.

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