JP2007171806A - Camera - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide facility for photographing in a vertical position without adding an operation member. <P>SOLUTION: A cross button 15 and a determination button 16 are provided in such positions that a user can operate these buttons with the thumb of his or her right hand grasping a camera when holding the camera in a prescribed vertical position (right vertical position). Though these buttons 15 and 16 have a selecting function and a selection determining function generally, the same functions as a release button and a zoom button are assigned to these buttons when the camera is held in the right vertical position. Therefore, a release operation and a zooming operation in the right vertical position are easily performed. When the camera is held in the right vertical position, display 11a showing functions of buttons 15 and 16 is given, so that the user is easily informed of this state. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a camera and is intended for convenience in vertical position shooting.

  In general, a camera is basically taken in a horizontal position, and a grip part, a release button, and the like are arranged appropriately for a horizontal position. For this reason, the release button operation in the vertical position shooting is not easy for the photographer, and often causes camera shake. Some high-grade single-lens reflex cameras include a camera that is fixedly provided with a grip for a vertical position and a release button, or a camera that is detachable (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-010626

  For convenience of vertical position shooting, it is desirable to provide a separate release button for the vertical position as described above. However, in a compact type camera that is smaller than a single-lens reflex camera, a new operation button and associated switch are provided. Since it is difficult to secure a space for arranging patterns and the like, and the cost is increased, it is not adopted at present.

The present invention is applied to a camera having a release button and an operation unit different from the release button. The operation unit is provided at a position where it can be operated with a finger of a hand holding the vertical position shooting grip unit of the camera, and the operation unit includes a vertical position function including a shooting instruction function equivalent to the release button and functions other than the vertical position function Can be assigned alternatively.
The invention of claim 2 is provided with a detection device for detecting the posture of the camera, and permits assignment of the vertical position function to the operation unit when a predetermined vertical position and posture are detected. In the invention of claim 3, the allocation of the vertical position function to the operation unit is permitted in accordance with a predetermined operation.
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the arrangement of the photographing lens and the light emission window is determined so that the light emission window of the flash device is positioned above the photographing lens when the camera is held at a predetermined vertical position.
In the invention of claim 5, when the vertical position function is not assigned to the operation unit, a function for selecting one of a plurality of options is assigned to the operation unit.
In the invention of claim 6, the operation section is provided on the surface facing the direction opposite to the subject at the time of shooting. In the seventh aspect of the invention, the operation unit is located on the upper right side of the surface when the camera is held at a predetermined vertical position. In the invention of claim 8, when the display device is provided on the surface and the vertical position function is not assigned to the operation unit, a function for selecting one of a plurality of displays on the display device is assigned to the operation unit.
According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, the operation unit can perform a plurality of types of operations, and when the vertical position function is assigned, at least an instruction for a shooting preparation operation and a shooting instruction can be performed by the operation unit. According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, when the vertical position function is assigned, at least a photographing instruction and a zooming instruction of the photographing lens can be performed by the operation unit.
In the invention of claim 11, when the vertical position function is assigned to the operation unit, the fact is notified. In the invention of claim 12, a notification that clearly indicates the function assignment state to the operation unit is performed. According to the thirteenth aspect of the invention, a warning is generated when the camera is in a vertical position opposite to the predetermined vertical position.
In the invention of claim 14, the vertical position photographing gripping part is provided with an auxiliary member for assisting the gripping of the gripping part.

  According to the present invention, a vertical position function including a shooting instruction function equivalent to the release button and a function other than the vertical position function are selectively assigned to an operation unit provided at an easy position for vertical position shooting. Since this is possible, the convenience of vertical position shooting can be achieved without adding an operation member.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electronic camera according to the present invention as seen from the front, and shows a normal lateral position and posture. On the upper surface of the camera body, a release button 1 is provided on the left side of the figure. The release button 1 can be pressed halfway for instructing a shooting preparation operation such as AF and full-pressing for instructing a shooting operation. In addition, a photographing lens 2 is provided on the front side of the camera body on the right side, and a light emitting window 3 of a flash device is provided on the left side of the camera body. Is provided. The finger hook 4 has a concave shape.

  When the camera is held in the vertical position, as shown in FIG. 2, the camera can be securely held by holding and gripping the finger rest 4 with the three fingers of the right hand. As described above, since the finger hook 4 is for ensuring the grip of the camera, it is not limited to the concave shape, and may be a convex shape, or may be configured by attaching a non-slip rubber or the like.

  The vertical position in FIG. 2 is a posture in which the left side surface (right side as viewed from the photographer) of the camera in the normal horizontal position faces upward, and this is the normal vertical position in the camera. In this posture, since the light emission window 3 comes on the photographing lens 2, natural lighting is obtained. Incidentally, in the case of the reverse vertical position, the subject is illuminated from below, so there is a possibility that the shadows will appear unnatural and the viewer will feel uncomfortable.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the camera in the normal lateral position as viewed from the back. A color liquid crystal monitor 11 capable of displaying images, menu screens, and the like is provided on the back of the camera. By sequentially updating and displaying the captured image on the liquid crystal monitor 11 (through image display), the liquid crystal monitor 11 can be used instead of the viewfinder.

  On the right side of the LCD monitor 11, in order from the top, a zoom button 12 for instructing zooming of the taking lens 2, a menu button 13 for displaying a menu screen, and shooting / playback switching for switching between shooting mode and playback mode. A button 14, a cross button 15 having a plurality of functions, and an enter button 16 positioned at the center of the cross button 15 are provided. A projection 17 for holding the vertical position is provided below the liquid crystal monitor 11 so as to extend in the horizontal direction.

  In the front side position, the release button 1 is located on the upper right side and the zoom button 12 is located on the upper right side when viewed from the photographer. Therefore, the release button 1 can be easily operated with the index finger of the right hand holding the camera, and with the same thumb. The zoom button 12 can be easily operated. The zoom button 12 is zoomed down when the left side is pressed, and zoomed up when the right side is pressed.

  The cross button 15 is generally an operation member for switching various modes at the time of shooting and selecting an image at the time of reproduction, and four operations (pressing the upper, lower, left and right operation units 15U, 15D, 15L, 15R respectively) Hereinafter, an up / down / left / right operation) is possible. In the shooting mode, a mode switching function is assigned to the cross button 15, and the flash operation mode can be set by the upper operation, the macro mode can be set by the lower operation, and the self-timer mode can be set by the left operation. Note that selectable modes are not limited to these.

  On the other hand, in the playback mode, an image selection function is assigned to the cross button 15. This is an operation for selecting an image to be displayed from a plurality of thumbnail images, and an up / down / left / right operation is used to change a selection candidate up / down / left / right. By pressing the enter button 16 after selecting the image, the selection of the image is confirmed and the image is enlarged and displayed.

Next, vertical position shooting in this camera will be described.
FIG. 4 is a view of a state where the camera is held in the vertical position as viewed from the back side. As can be seen from the drawing, the right side of the camera body shown in the figure is the vertical position photographing grip portion of the camera. Holding the thumb of the right hand so as to be applied to the convex portion 17 increases the holdability at the base of the thumb and contributes to the reduction of camera shake. Also, with this gripping method, the screen of the liquid crystal monitor 11 is not covered with a finger, and there is no problem in using the monitor 11 as a finder.
In addition, since the convex part 17 is also for improving the hold property of the camera, it may be a concave part or may be configured by attaching a non-slip rubber or the like.

  By the way, in the normal vertical position, the release button 1 is located on the left side as viewed from the photographer, and the zoom button 12 is also located on the left side. Therefore, it is difficult to operate them with the finger of the right hand in the gripping method shown in the figure. is there. On the other hand, the cross button 15 and the decision button 16 are located at the upper right on the back (front for the photographer), and in the gripping method shown in the figure, the right thumb naturally hits the cross button 15 and the decision button 16. It is easy to press 16.

  Therefore, in the normal vertical position, a function corresponding to the full press of the release button 1 is assigned to the decision button 16, and a function corresponding to the half press is assigned to the lower operation portion 15D of the cross button 15. The operation of the lower operation unit 15D is a right operation in the normal vertical position, and a shooting preparation operation is performed by a right operation with the right thumb, and shooting can be performed by pressing the decision button 16 with the same finger while maintaining the right operation.

  On the other hand, a zoom instruction operation function is provided to the left and right operation portions 15L and 15R of the cross button 15 in the normal vertical position. The operations of the left and right operation units 15L and 15R are the up and down operations in the normal vertical position, respectively, and the up operation can zoom in and the down operation can zoom in. For example, the zoom function may be assigned to the up / down operation units 15U and 15D, and the half-press function may be assigned to either of the left / right operation units 15L and 15R. In this case, zooming is performed by a left / right operation at the normal vertical position, and thus the operation feeling is the same as that of the zoom button 12.

  By doing as described above, it is possible to perform the shooting preparation operation, the shooting operation, and the zoom operation without difficulty while keeping the camera firmly in the vertical position without newly adding a release button or a zoom button for the vertical position.

  When a function for vertical position shooting (hereinafter referred to as a vertical position function) is assigned to the cross button 15 and the decision button 16, it is desirable to notify the photographer accordingly. FIG. 5 shows an example of this, and it is understood that the vertical position function is assigned by performing display such as 11a on the liquid crystal monitor 11, and which function is assigned to either the cross button 15 or the decision button 16. It becomes clear whether it is. In addition, the alerting | reporting method and alerting | reporting location are not limited to this.

Next, camera control including function assignment to the cross button 15 and the determination button 16 will be described.
FIG. 6 is a control block diagram of the camera. The subject luminous flux that has passed through the photographic lens 2 is picked up by the image sensor 31 and converted into an electrical image signal, and then subjected to various processing by the image processing circuit 32 to generate image data. The image data is temporarily stored in the buffer memory 34 via the CPU 33 and finally recorded in the external memory 35.

  The CPU 33 is connected to the liquid crystal monitor 11, an operation switch group 36 including a plurality of operation switches, and an attitude sensor 37. The operation switch group 36 includes a power switch and switches that are linked to operations of the release button 1, the zoom button 12, the shooting / playback switching button 14, the cross button 15, and the enter button 16 described above. The posture sensor 37 detects the horizontal position and vertical position of the camera and inputs them to the CPU 33 as is well known. As for the vertical position, it can be detected whether it is a normal vertical position or a reverse vertical position.

7 and 8 show the procedure of camera control by the CPU 33. FIG.
FIG. 7 shows the main program. When it is confirmed in step S1 that the power switch is turned on, it is determined in step S2 whether the photographing mode or the reproduction mode. In the reproduction mode, the above-described image selection function is assigned to the cross button 15 and the decision button 16 in step S3. Note that this processing is not necessary when the image selection function is already assigned.

  In step S4, playback mode processing is performed. This is a process of displaying an image recorded in the external memory 35 on the liquid crystal monitor 11. For example, one of a plurality of thumbnail images is selected with the cross button 15 and the selected image is enlarged by operating the decision button 16. Display. If none of the above operations are performed, the process directly returns to step S1.

  If it is determined in step S2 that the shooting mode is selected, it is determined in step S5 whether or not the camera is in the vertical position based on the output of the attitude sensor 37. If it is not the normal vertical position (for example, in the case of the horizontal position or the reverse vertical position), the above-described mode switching function is assigned to the cross button 15 and the decision button 16 in step S6, and the process proceeds to step S10. If the mode switching function has already been assigned, this process is unnecessary.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S5 that the position is the vertical position, it is determined in step S7 whether or not the vertical position function is assigned to the cross button 15 and the determination button 16. If step S7 is affirmed, the process proceeds to step S10 as it is, and if not, it is determined in step S8 whether or not the determination button 16 is operated alone. The single operation here refers not to an operation as a decision following a selection operation for an image or the like, but to an operation with only the decision button 16.

  If the single operation has not been performed, the process proceeds to step S6. If the single operation has been performed, the vertical position function is assigned to the cross button 15 and the decision button 16 in step S9, and the fact that the vertical position function has been assigned is indicated to the liquid crystal monitor 11. Display and go to step S10. Thereby, an operation equivalent to half-pressing with the cross button 15 and a zooming operation, and an operation equivalent to full-pressing with the decision button 16 are possible.

  As described above, the vertical position function is assigned to the cross button 15 and the determination button 16 by performing a specific operation (here, the determination button operation) after holding the camera in the normal vertical position. Since the vertical position function is not assigned when the camera is not in the normal vertical position or when a specific operation is not performed even in the normal vertical position, an operation contrary to the will of the photographer can be prevented. In particular, since the vertical position function is not assigned in the reverse vertical position, there is an effect of suppressing flash photography (unnatural lighting) in the reverse vertical position. When the posture sensor 37 detects the reverse vertical position, it is desirable to prompt the photographer to change the posture to the normal vertical position by giving a warning. The warning may be a display, sound, or both.

FIG. 7 shows details of mode switching, zooming, and photographing processing in step S10.
In step S101, it is determined whether or not the vertical position function is assigned to the cross button 15 and the determination button 16. If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S102, and it is determined whether or not the release button 1 is half-pressed or the lower operation unit 15D is operated. If none of them is operated, the process proceeds to step S103, and it is determined whether or not any of the zoom button 12 and the left and right operation units 15L and 15R is operated. If neither is operated, the process returns, and if any is operated, zooming is performed according to the operation.

  If step S102 is affirmed, a shooting preparation operation such as AF or exposure calculation is performed in step S105, and the process proceeds to step S106. In step S106, it is determined whether or not the release button 1 is fully pressed or the enter button 16 is operated. If step S106 is denied, the process returns to step S102, and if affirmed, shooting is performed in step S107. The term “photographing” as used herein refers to a series of processes from imaging by the above-described imaging device to image recording. Then return.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S101 that the vertical position function is not assigned, the process proceeds to step S108. In this case, since the mode switching function is assigned, a mode switching process is performed in step S108. This indicates processing for selecting the flash photography mode, the macro mode, and the like in accordance with the operation of the cross button 15 as described above. If the cross button 15 is not operated, the process proceeds directly to step S109. Steps S <b> 109 to S <b> 113 and S <b> 107 are normal shooting / zoom processing by operating the release button 1 and the zoom button 12.

  Note that the operation member to which the vertical position function is assigned is not limited to the cross button or the determination button as described above as long as it is an operation member that is easily operated in the normal vertical position. For example, a half-press / full-press equivalent function may be assigned to a single operation member that can be operated in two steps. In addition, the function assigned as the vertical position function only needs to include at least the release function, and there is no need for zooming, or a function other than zooming may be added. Further, the allocation function other than the vertical position function is not limited to the above-described mode switching and image selection, and may be a menu item selection or the like.

  Further, the vertical position function is assigned by pressing the enter button after setting the camera in the normal vertical position, but the operation member operated at this time is not limited to the enter button. Alternatively, the vertical position function may be assigned simply by setting the vertical position, or the vertical position function may be assigned when the normal vertical position is held for a predetermined time.

The perspective view which looked at the camera in one embodiment of the present invention from the front side, and shows a regular side position. In the same figure as FIG. 1, the vertical position is shown. The camera is seen from the back side and shows the front side position. In the same diagram as FIG. 3, the vertical position is shown. The figure explaining the operation and display in a normal vertical position. The control block diagram of a camera. The main flowchart explaining camera operation. The flowchart which shows the detail of mode switching, zoom, and imaging | photography process.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Release button 2 Shooting lens 3 Light emission window of flash device 4 Finger hook 11 Liquid crystal monitor 11a Display 12 Zoom button 15 Cross button 16 Decision button 17 Convex part 33 CPU
37 Attitude sensor

Claims (14)

In a camera provided with a release button and an operation member different from the release button,
The operation unit is provided at a position that can be operated by a finger of a hand holding a vertical position shooting grip unit of the camera, and the operation unit includes a vertical position function including a shooting instruction function equivalent to the release button, and the vertical position A camera characterized in that functions other than functions can be assigned alternatively.   The camera according to claim 1, further comprising a detection device that detects a posture of the camera, and permitting the vertical position function to be assigned to the operation unit when a predetermined vertical position and posture are detected.   The camera according to claim 1, wherein the vertical position function is allowed to be assigned to the operation unit in accordance with a predetermined operation.   The arrangement of the photographing lens and the light emission window is determined so that the light emission window of the flash device is positioned above the photographing lens when the camera is held in a predetermined vertical position. Camera described in.   The camera according to claim 1, wherein when the vertical position function is not assigned to the operation unit, a function for selecting any one of a plurality of options is assigned to the operation unit. .   The camera according to claim 1, wherein the operation unit is provided on a surface facing a direction opposite to a subject when photographing.   The camera according to claim 6, wherein the operation unit is located on an upper right side of the surface when the camera is held at a predetermined vertical position.   A display device is provided on the surface, and when the vertical position function is not assigned to the operation unit, a function for selecting one of a plurality of displays on the display device is assigned to the operation unit. The camera according to claim 6 or 7.   The operation unit can perform a plurality of types of operations, and when the vertical position function is assigned, at least an instruction for a shooting preparation operation and an instruction for the shooting can be performed by the operation unit. The camera according to any one of the above.   9. The operation unit according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of types of operations are possible, and when the vertical position function is assigned, at least the photographing instruction and the zooming instruction of the photographing lens can be performed by the operation unit. The camera according to any one of the above.   The camera according to claim 1, wherein when the vertical position function is assigned to the operation unit, the fact is notified.   The camera according to claim 11, wherein the notification is notification that clearly indicates a function assignment state to the operation unit.   The camera according to claim 1, wherein a warning is generated when the camera is in a vertical position opposite to a predetermined vertical position.   The camera according to claim 1, wherein an auxiliary member for assisting gripping of the grip portion is provided in the vertical position photographing grip portion.

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