JP2006350253A - Single lens reflex type digital camera - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a user to confirm an AF operation state by both an optical finder and an electronic finder, with a simple configuration. <P>SOLUTION: The single lens reflex type digital camera 10 is equipped with a pellicle mirror 22 as a semi-transmissive optical member which is arranged between a photographing lens system 12 and an imaging element 14. The pellicle mirror 22 transmits a part of a subject image from the photographing lens system 12, to guide it to the imaging element 14 and reflects another part of the subject image from the photographing lens system 12, to guide it to a finder optical system 20. The finder optical system 20 guides the reflected subject image to an optical finder 16. In addition, the digital camera 10 is equipped with a light emitting member 24 for irradiating pattern light indicating the AF operation state, almost under the pellicle mirror 22. A part of the pattern light irradiated from the light emitting member 24 is transmitted by the pellicle mirror 22, to be guided to the imaging element 14 and another part of the pattern light irradiated from the light emitting member 24 is reflected by the pellicle mirror 22, to be guided to the optical finder 16. An LCD 18 as the electronic finder displays the subject image which is photographed by the imaging element 14 and includes the pattern light. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a single-lens reflex digital camera including an optical viewfinder and an electronic viewfinder.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, single-lens reflex cameras capable of confirming subject image light captured with an optical viewfinder are widely known. In such a single-lens reflex camera, the optical viewfinder displays not only the subject image light but also various types of information relating to shooting conditions, for example, information on the success or failure of focusing during autofocus. Thus, the user can check the subject image light to be photographed and the photographing conditions at the same time, so that suitable photographing can be performed more easily. The display of the focus success / failure information or the like in the optical finder can be performed by, for example, the technique described in Patent Document 1. Patent Document 1 discloses a technology in which a light source that is turned on in accordance with the success or failure of focusing is provided substantially obliquely above the optical viewfinder, and light from the light source is guided to the optical viewfinder using an optical member such as a half mirror. Has been.

  By the way, in recent years, digitalization of cameras has progressed, and a large number of single-lens reflex digital cameras have been distributed (for example, Patent Document 2). In a single-lens reflex digital camera, in addition to an optical viewfinder, an electronic viewfinder (view screen) that electrically displays a subject image captured by an image sensor is also provided. The user checks the subject image by looking through either the optical viewfinder or the electronic viewfinder according to his / her preference and situation. In such a single-lens reflex digital camera, whether a user uses an electronic finder or an optical finder differs depending on the preference and situation, and therefore it is desirable that both finders always display the same information. For example, it is desirable that the information on the success or failure of focusing during autofocus is displayed on both the optical viewfinder and the electronic viewfinder.

JP 2002-287234 A JP 2001-100308 A JP 2001-42207 A

  However, although Patent Document 1 described above considers the display of the focus success / failure information on the optical viewfinder, it does not describe any focus success / failure information on the electronic viewfinder. Patent Document 3 discloses a technique for displaying information (for example, a focus evaluation value) regarding imaging conditions on both an optical finder and an electronic finder. However, in this patent document 3, information display is performed using an optical finder and an electronic finder using separate processing systems and display means, respectively. For this reason, a plurality of processing systems and display means for display are required, which complicates the overall configuration of the camera. In addition, an increase in costs accompanying an increase in the number of parts has been incurred.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a single-lens reflex digital camera that can check photographing conditions with both an optical finder and an electronic finder more easily.

  A single-lens reflex digital camera of the present invention includes a photographic lens system, an image sensor disposed on the optical axis of the photographic lens system, display means for electrically displaying a subject image photographed by the image sensor, and a subject image. An optical finder for optically displaying, a finder optical system for guiding a subject image from the photographic lens system to the optical finder, and a semi-transmissive optical member disposed between the photographic lens system and the image sensor, A light-branching optical member that transmits a part of a subject image from the photographing lens system and reflects part of the subject image to the image sensor and guides the part to the finder optical system; and a light-emitting unit that emits light indicating photographing conditions, A light emitting means provided at a position where the irradiation light is branched to the finder optical system and the image sensor by the light branching optical member and at a position off the optical path of the subject image. And features.

  In a preferred embodiment, the light emitting means is provided substantially below the optical branching optical member. In another preferred aspect, the light emitting means emits light indicating success or failure of focusing. At this time, when determining whether or not the focus is achieved based on the image data of the focus detection area designated in advance by the user in the imaging area, the light emitting unit determines whether or not the focus detection area is designated, It is desirable that a plurality of types of pattern light having different irradiation positions on the optical finder and the image sensor can be irradiated.

  In another preferred embodiment, the light emitting means can irradiate at least two kinds of pattern lights having different shapes. It is also desirable that the light emitting means can irradiate at least two types of pattern lights having different irradiation positions on the optical finder and the image sensor.

  In the present invention, the light from the light emitting means indicating the photographing condition is guided to the image pickup device and the optical finder by the optical branching optical member. Thereby, the photographing conditions can be confirmed by both the optical viewfinder and the electronic viewfinder.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a digital camera 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The digital camera 10 is a single-lens reflex camera capable of observing the same image as a subject image to be photographed with the optical viewfinder 16.

  The lens barrel 30 of the digital camera 10 accommodates a photographing lens system 12 composed of a plurality of lenses (only two lenses are shown in FIG. 1) including a focusing lens. The photographing lens system 12 is provided with a diaphragm (not shown), and the amount of subject image light transmitted through the photographing lens system 12 is appropriately adjusted. The subject image light transmitted through the photographing lens system 12 is guided to the camera body 32.

  A pellicle mirror 22 is provided inside the camera body 32. The pellicle mirror 22 is a semi-transmissive optical member, specifically a half mirror, disposed between the photographing lens system 12 and the image sensor 14. The pellicle mirror 22 functions as a light branching optical member that transmits a part of the subject image light from the photographing lens system 12 and reflects it to the image sensor 14 to guide it to the finder optical system 20. The pellicle mirror 22 is disposed at a position in front of the shutter 40 and inclined at approximately 45 degrees with respect to the optical axis of the photographing lens system 12. Then, the subject image light transmitted through the pellicle mirror 22 reaches the image sensor 14 located on the back surface thereof.

  The image sensor 14 photoelectrically converts subject image light from the photographic lens system 12. Specifically, the imaging device 14 is composed of a large number of CCD elements, and each CCD element accumulates electric charges according to the amount of received object image light from the photographing lens system 12 and outputs it as an electrical signal. . The output electrical signal is digitally converted and then transmitted to the control CPU 28.

  The control CPU 28 generates image data based on the obtained digital signal and transmits it to the LCD 18. The LCD 18 is a display means provided on the back surface of the camera, and functions as an electronic viewfinder and a playback monitor that plays back captured images. That is, when the digital camera 10 is in the shooting mode, the digital camera 10 functions as an electronic viewfinder that projects subject image light photoelectrically converted by the image sensor 14. On the other hand, when switched to the playback mode, it functions as a playback monitor that displays captured images. It also displays a menu screen necessary for operation and functions as a part of the user interface.

  The light reflected by the pellicle mirror 22 reaches the finder optical system 20 positioned above the pellicle mirror 22. The finder optical system 20 is an optical system that guides reflected subject image light to the optical finder 16, and includes a focusing screen 34, a pentaprism 36, a finder lens 38, and the like. The subject image light incident on the focusing screen 34 forms an image on the image plane and then enters the pentaprism 36. The pentaprism 36 appropriately reflects the subject image light and converts the subject image light into an erect image. The subject image light converted into an erect image is condensed by the finder lens 38 and then reaches the optical finder 16. On the optical viewfinder 16, the same subject image as the subject image picked up by the image sensor 14 is displayed.

  When shooting using such a digital camera, the user observes the subject image displayed on the optical finder 16 or the LCD 18 according to the preference and situation. Then, the focus lens is driven to perform focus adjustment. When a suitable subject image is obtained, a release button provided on an operation unit (not shown) is operated to perform imaging. As a method of focus adjustment, there are manual focus in which the user himself performs focus adjustment and auto focus (hereinafter referred to as “AF”) in which focus adjustment is automatically performed on the camera side. In the case of manual focus, the user drives the focus lens or the like so as to obtain an appropriate focus while checking the subject image displayed on the optical viewfinder 16 or the electronic viewfinder.

  In the case of AF, the user designates in advance an area to be focused among the shooting areas, that is, an AF detection area. The AF detection area is designated while observing the optical viewfinder 16 or the electronic viewfinder. The control CPU 28 of the digital camera 10 extracts image data of an area corresponding to the designated AF detection area from the image data of the subject image obtained by the image sensor 14 as AF image data, and the AF image data. Adjust the focus based on. Specifically, high-frequency components of AF image data are extracted and integrated, and an AF evaluation value that is the integration result is calculated. Then, the focus lens is driven so that the AF evaluation value is maximized. When the AF evaluation value is maximized and the focus adjustment is completed, the fact is presented to the user. When the AF operation is completed, the user operates the release button to capture the subject image.

  Here, the completion of the AF operation is usually performed by displaying a pattern indicating the fact on the finder. In the conventional film camera, since the finder is only the optical finder, it is only necessary to display the AF operation completion pattern only on the optical finder. In this case, a light source that emits pattern light is disposed in front of the optical viewfinder (position A in FIG. 1) or obliquely above (position B in FIG. 1), and the pattern light from the light source is guided to the optical viewfinder. The operation was notified.

  However, in the case of a digital camera, an electronic viewfinder (LCD) is also provided in addition to the optical viewfinder, and which one of these viewfinders is used depends on the user's preference and situation. Therefore, the pattern for notifying the completion of the AF operation needs to be displayed on both the optical finder and the electronic finder. However, with the conventional light source arrangement technique, pattern light can be displayed on the optical viewfinder, but pattern light cannot be displayed on the electronic viewfinder. Of course, by performing electrical control, it is possible to display a pattern image indicating completion of the AF operation together with the subject image on the screen of the electronic viewfinder. However, in that case, a dedicated processing system for displaying the pattern image is required, which complicates the control configuration of the digital camera. It is also conceivable that a new light source is prepared separately from the light source for the optical finder, and the pattern light is projected on the LCD by guiding the light from the light source to the image sensor. However, in that case, a new light source and a control system for controlling the light source are required, which again leads to a complicated configuration and an increase in cost.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, the light emitting member 24 that emits pattern light indicating the state of the AF operation is provided substantially below the pellicle mirror 22. Below the pellicle mirror 22, a mirror box 42 is provided. Inside the mirror box 42, in addition to the light emitting member 24 described in detail below, a photometric sensor for auto iris (hereinafter referred to as "AE"), Various control circuits and the like are accommodated. A part of the upper surface of the mirror box 42 is opened, and the light emitting member 24 is provided at a position where light can be emitted from the opening. More specifically, the light emitting member 24 is provided at a position facing the focusing screen 34 with the pellicle mirror 22 interposed therebetween. The optical axis of the light emitting member 24 is substantially perpendicular to the optical axis of the photographic lens system 12 and is inclined approximately 45 degrees with respect to the pellicle mirror 22.

  The light emitting member 24 includes an LED 44 serving as a light source, a light projecting lens 46, and a diaphragm member 48. The LED 44 includes a plurality of LED elements 49, and the LED elements 49 to be lit can be switched as appropriate. And the LED element 49 to light is changed suitably, and multiple types of pattern light from which a position and a shape differ is irradiated.

  Which of the plurality of LED elements 49 is turned on and which is turned off is controlled by the LED light emission control circuit 26 and the control CPU 28. The control CPU 28 determines the LED element 49 to be turned on or off according to the state of the AF operation, and instructs the LED light emission control circuit 26 to determine it. The LED light emission control circuit 26 turns on / off the instructed LED element 49. Specifically, when the AF operation is completed, the control CPU 28 turns on the LED element 49 that can irradiate the pattern light indicating the AF operation, and when the AF operation fails, the control CPU 28 turns on the LED element 49 that can irradiate the pattern light indicating the LED light. Instruct. Further, when the imaging process is actually started, an instruction to turn off all the LED elements 49 is given. Thereby, the reflected light of the LED element 49 is prevented from appearing in the captured image data.

  The light projecting lens 46 is disposed in close proximity to the LED 44 in the irradiation direction of the LED 44 and condenses the light emitted from the LED 44. The diaphragm member 48 is in close proximity to the light projecting lens 46 and restricts the light transmitted through the light projecting lens 46. The diaphragm member 48 prevents light diffusion and irradiates a stable pattern light. A plurality of aperture holes 48 a corresponding to the respective LED elements 49 are formed in the aperture member 48. The aperture hole 48a has a shape corresponding to the shape of the pattern light to be formed. Then, the light emitted from each LED element 49 passes through the corresponding aperture hole 48a and is converted into pattern light having a predetermined shape.

  When the AF operation is completed or when the AF operation fails, a predetermined pattern light is emitted from the light emitting member 24. The pattern light emitted from the light emitting member 24 reaches the upper side, that is, the pellicle mirror 22. The pellicle mirror 22 transmits a part of the reached pattern light and reflects a part thereof. The pattern light reflected by the pellicle mirror 22 bends approximately 90 degrees and reaches the image sensor 14. The imaging device 14 collectively photoelectrically converts the pattern light and the subject image incident from the photographing lens system 12 and A / D converts them, and transmits them to the control CPU 28. The control CPU 28 generates captured image data based on the obtained digital signal and causes the LCD 18 to display the captured image. Accordingly, the LCD 18 displays pattern light indicating the AF operation status (completed or failed) together with the subject image. The user can know the state of the AF operation by observing the presence / absence of the pattern light displayed on the LCD 18 and the mode (position, shape) of the pattern light.

  On the other hand, the pattern light transmitted through the pellicle mirror 22 reaches the finder optical system 20 as it is, and is guided to the optical finder 16 together with the subject image light. Therefore, the optical viewfinder 16 displays the pattern light indicating the AF operation status together with the subject image. The user can know the state of the AF operation by observing the presence / absence of the pattern light displayed on the optical viewfinder 16 and the mode of the pattern light.

  That is, according to the present embodiment, pattern light indicating the state of the AF operation is displayed on both the electronic finder (LCD 18) and the optical finder 16. Therefore, the user can surely know the status of the AF operation regardless of whether the electronic viewfinder 16 or the optical viewfinder 16 is used. As a result, the operability during AF shooting can be improved. Further, by utilizing the translucency of the pellicle mirror 22, pattern light can be simultaneously displayed on two views (optical viewfinder 16, LCD 18) by a single light emitting member 24 and a single LED light emission control circuit 26. it can. Therefore, the configuration of the digital camera 10, particularly the configuration of the control system related to image display on the LCD 18 can be simplified. In addition, the cost can be reduced as the number of parts is reduced.

  Next, the pattern light irradiated from the light emitting member 24 will be described in more detail. FIG. 2 is an image diagram showing a display state of the optical finder 16 or the electronic finder (LCD 18). The light emitting member 24 of the present embodiment can be irradiated with the pattern light 60 corresponding to the AF detection area. As described above, when executing AF, the user designates an area to be focused in advance as an AF detection area. In the present embodiment, this AF detection area is designated by selecting from preset candidate areas 52. Candidate areas include a central area 52a located substantially in the center of the shooting area, a right area 52b located on the right side of the central area 52a, a left area 52c located on the left side of the central area 52a, and an upper side located above the central area 52a. There are five types of area 52d and lower area 52e located below the central area 52a. The user designates an area to be focused from among the five types of candidate areas 52 as an AF detection area. This designation result is transmitted to the control CPU 28 and the focus is adjusted so that the designated AF detection area is focused.

  The LED 44 of the light emitting member 24 has five LED elements 49 corresponding to these five types of candidate areas. And each LED element 49 is position-adjusted so that when it lights, the position corresponding to a corresponding candidate area can be irradiated. For example, when the LED element 49 corresponding to the upper area 52d is turned on, the pattern light 60d can be displayed at a position corresponding to the upper area 52d of the optical viewfinder 16 and the electronic viewfinder. The LED light emission control circuit 26 determines the LED element 49 to be lit among the five LED elements 49 according to the position of the AF detection area selected by the user, and when the AF operation is completed, the LED element 49 Only light up. For example, when the user designates the upper area 52d as the AF detection area and the AF operation is completed, only the LED element 49 corresponding to the upper area 52d is turned on. As a result, the pattern light 60d is copied to the position corresponding to the designated AF detection area on the optical viewfinder 16 and the electronic viewfinder. The user can confirm the completion of the AF operation by viewing the lighting state of the pattern light 60d, and can confirm the position of the AF detection area used for the AF operation by viewing the lighting position of the pattern light 60d. This makes it possible to perform more accurate AF shooting.

  The LED 44 of the light emitting member 24 further includes an LED element 49 that is turned on when the AF operation fails. The LED element 49 is arranged at a position where the vicinity of the periphery of the imaging area 50 can be irradiated. The light emitted from the LED element 49 is transmitted through the aperture hole 48a formed in a predetermined shape, whereby the pattern light 60f having a shape different from that of the other LED elements 49, for example, a cross mark (×) shape. Pattern light 60f is formed. The user can recognize that the AF operation has failed if the specially shaped pattern light 60f is projected on the optical viewfinder 16 and the electronic viewfinder. In that case, the user adjusts so that the AF operation can be performed by changing the photographing condition.

  In this way, by changing the mode (position and shape) of the pattern light 60 according to the state of the AF operation, the user can know the state of the AF operation in more detail, and as a result, more suitable shooting can be performed. Is possible.

  In addition, the aspect of the pattern light 60 demonstrated here is an example, and if the information regarding AF operation | movement can be shown to a user, it will not be limited to the said aspect. Therefore, it is not always necessary to change the position of the pattern light 60 according to the AF detection area. Alternatively, the pattern light 60 may be irradiated only when the AF operation is completed, and the pattern light 60 may not be irradiated when the AF operation fails. Conversely, pattern light 60 indicating that may be emitted not only when the AF operation is completed and when the AF operation fails, but also in the course of the AF operation. In this embodiment, only the position and shape of the pattern light 60 are changed according to the state of the AF operation. However, the color, brightness, size, and the like of the pattern light 60 are changed according to the state of the AF operation. May be.

  Next, a flow when performing AF shooting using the digital camera 10 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When photographing with the digital camera 10, the digital camera 10 is first turned on (F10). Thereby, a lens cover (not shown) is opened, and light from the photographing lens system 12 is guided to the image sensor 14 and the optical viewfinder 16. In addition, the LCD 18 is activated to display image data obtained by the image sensor 14.

  The user operates a switch provided on the operation unit, a menu screen displayed on the LCD 18, and the like to set desired shooting conditions, for example, AF setting, presence / absence of flash (F12). If the shooting conditions can be set, then the position of the digital camera 10 is adjusted so that the desired subject is within the shooting area of the optical viewfinder 16 or the electronic viewfinder (LCD 18). Further, zoom adjustment is performed by operating a switch or the like of the operation unit so as to obtain a desired magnification.

  Subsequently, the user designates a position to be focused as an AF detection area (F14). This designation result is transmitted to the control CPU 28. If the AF detection area is set, the user half-presses the release button provided on the operation unit (S1) (F16). If the release button is half-pressed, the control CPU 28 performs photometry for AE and distance measurement for AF operation (F18, F20). The AF distance measurement is performed based on image data located in the AF detection area, that is, image data for AF. The control CPU 28 calculates the AF evaluation value of the AF image data while driving the focus lens. If the AF evaluation value reaches the maximum value, it is determined that the subject is in focus (F22).

  If it is not possible to determine that the focus lens is still in focus even after the focus lens is driven by the maximum amount, it is determined that the AF operation has failed. In this case, the LED light emission control circuit 26 is instructed to turn on the LED element 49 in response to the AF operation failure (F24). The LED light emission control circuit 26 turns on only the LED element 49 corresponding to the AF operation failure, and maintains the other LED elements 49 in the off state. When the LED element 49 corresponding to the AF operation failure is turned on, the pattern light (pattern light 60f in FIG. 2) indicating the AF operation failure is displayed on both the optical viewfinder 16 and the electronic viewfinder (LCD 18). The user can see the pattern light 60f indicating the AF operation failure regardless of whether the optical viewfinder 16 or the electronic viewfinder is used (observed). Therefore, it can be recognized immediately that the AF operation has failed. In this case, the user may change the various shooting conditions including the distance to the subject and perform shooting again.

  On the other hand, when determining that the in-focus state is achieved by the AF operation, the control CPU 28 ends the AF operation, determines the LED element 49 to be lit, and instructs the LED light emission control circuit 26 to turn on the LED element 49 ( F26). The LED element 49 to be turned on is determined according to the position of the AF detection area. That is, in the optical finder 16 and the electronic finder, the LED element 49 that can irradiate a position corresponding to the set AF detection area is turned on.

  The LED light emission control circuit 26 that has received an instruction to turn on the LED element 49 from the control CPU 28 turns on the designated LED element 49. The light from the LED element 49 is partially transmitted and partially reflected by the pellicle mirror 22 and guided to the optical finder 16 and the image sensor 14. As a result, pattern light indicating completion of the AF operation (any one of the pattern lights 60a to 60e in FIG. 2) is displayed on both the optical viewfinder 16 and the electronic viewfinder (LCD 18). Therefore, the user can recognize that the AF operation is completed regardless of which of the optical viewfinder 16 and the electronic viewfinder is used. At this time, the pattern light is displayed at a position corresponding to the set AF detection area. Therefore, the user can recognize where the focus is set in the shooting area displayed on the viewfinder. As a result, it is possible to perform suitable photographing more easily.

  The user who recognizes that the AF operation has been completed fully presses the release button (S2), and instructs to image the subject (F28). If it is detected that the release switch is fully pressed, the control CPU 28 instructs to turn off all the LED elements 49 (F30). Upon receiving this instruction, the LED light emission control circuit 26 turns off all the LED elements 49. By turning off all the LED elements 49, it is possible to prevent the pattern light from being reflected in the image data obtained by the imaging process described below. If all the LED elements 49 are turned off, then the control CPU 28 executes an imaging process (F32). Specifically, the shutter 40 is closed, and the electric charge of the image sensor 14 is wiped out in this state (image data is swept out). Subsequently, when the charge of the image sensor 14 is wiped out, the shutter 40 is opened and exposure of the captured image is started. When a predetermined exposure time has elapsed, the shutter 40 is closed and the exposure is terminated. Further, electric charges accumulated in the image sensor 14 by exposure are taken out, subjected to photoelectric conversion and A / D conversion, and image data is acquired. Then, if the obtained image data is stored as captured image data in a storage unit (not shown), the shooting is finished (F34).

  As is clear from the above description, according to the digital camera 10 of the present embodiment, the user can recognize the state of the AF operation regardless of which of the optical finder 16 and the electronic finder (LCD 18) is used. . Therefore, the user can obtain information regarding the focus that is indispensable for shooting, and more suitable shooting is possible. The display of the pattern light indicating the AF operation on both the finders is realized by the single light emitting member 24 and the single LED light emission control circuit 26. As a result, the configuration of the digital camera 10 can be simplified. Further, the cost of the digital camera 10 can be reduced with the reduction in the number of parts.

  In the present embodiment, a plurality of types of pattern light are displayed by the single light emitting member 24. Of course, a plurality of light emitting members 24 may be used. That is, as shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of types of pattern light may be formed using the two light emitting members 24a and 24b. In this case, the optical axes of the two light emitting members 24a and 24b may be parallel or may be inclined with respect to each other as shown in FIG. By using a plurality of light emitting members, the range in which pattern light can be irradiated is expanded, and more various pattern lights can be irradiated.

  In the present embodiment, the light emitting member 24 is disposed substantially below the pellicle mirror 22. In other words, the light emitting member 24 is disposed at a position where the light emitted from the light emitting member 24 directly reaches the pellicle mirror 22. However, the position is not limited to such a position, and the light emitted from the light emitting member 24 is a position where the light emitted from the light emitting member 24 is branched in two directions by the pellicle mirror 22, and is naturally provided at another position as long as it is out of the optical path of the subject image light. It may be done. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the light from the light emitting member 24 may reach the pellicle mirror 22 using some optical member. That is, the light emitting member 24 is disposed substantially obliquely below the pellicle mirror 22 so that the optical axis of the light emitting member 24 is parallel to the optical axis of the photographing lens system 12. Then, a reflective optical member 62 such as a mirror is provided between the light emitting member 24 and the pellicle mirror 22, and the light from the light emitting member 24 is bent toward the pellicle mirror 22. Even in this case, since the light from the light emitting member 24 is branched in two directions by the pellicle mirror 22, the state of the AF operation can be confirmed by both the optical finder 16 and the electronic finder (LCD 18).

  In the present embodiment, the status of the AF operation is notified by the pattern light emitted from the light emitting member 24, but other imaging conditions may be notified as a matter of course. For example, the user may be notified of the flash charging standby state, the shooting mode (for example, auto shooting mode, macro shooting mode, etc.) using the pattern light from the light emitting member 24.

It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the digital camera which is embodiment of this invention. It is an image figure which shows the display content in a finder. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of imaging | photography in AF. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the digital camera which is other embodiment. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the digital camera which is other embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Digital camera, 12 Shooting lens system, 14 Image sensor, 16 Optical finder, 18 LCD (electronic finder), 20 Finder optical system, 22 Pellicle mirror, 24 Light emitting member, 26 LED light emission control circuit, 28 Control CPU, 44 LED, 46 Projection lens, 48 Aperture member, 50 Shooting area, 52 Candidate area, 60 Pattern light, 62 Reflective optical member.

Claims (6)

A taking lens system;
An image sensor disposed on the optical axis of the taking lens system;
Display means for electrically displaying a subject image photographed by the image sensor;
An optical viewfinder that optically displays the subject image;
A viewfinder optical system that guides the subject image from the taking lens system to the optical viewfinder;
A semi-transmissive optical member disposed between the photographic lens system and the image sensor, and transmits a part of the subject image from the photographic lens system and reflects a part of the subject image to the finder optical system. An optical member for branching light that leads to
A light emitting unit that emits light indicating imaging conditions, and is provided at a position where the irradiation light is branched to the finder optical system and the image sensor by the optical branching optical member and at a position off the optical path of the subject image Light emitting means;
A single-lens reflex digital camera characterized by comprising: The single-lens reflex digital camera according to claim 1,
The single-lens reflex digital camera characterized in that the light emitting means is provided substantially below the optical member for splitting light. A single-lens reflex digital camera according to claim 1 or 2,
A single-lens reflex digital camera characterized in that the light emitting means emits light indicating success or failure of focusing. A single-lens reflex digital camera according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The single-lens reflex digital camera characterized in that the light emitting means can irradiate at least two kinds of pattern lights having different shapes. A single-lens reflex digital camera according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The single-lens reflex digital camera characterized in that the light emitting means can irradiate at least two kinds of pattern lights having different irradiation positions on the optical finder and the imaging device. A single-lens reflex digital camera according to claim 3,
When determining the success or failure of focusing based on the image data of the focusing detection area designated in advance by the user in the shooting area,
The single-lens reflex digital camera characterized in that the light emitting means can irradiate a plurality of types of pattern light having different irradiation positions on the optical finder and the image pickup device in accordance with the position of the designated focus detection region.

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