JP2011076096A - Camera - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a camera including an image display part, which protects the display screen of the image display part without troublesomeness, and achieves downsizing when it is carried or it is housed. <P>SOLUTION: In the digital camera 10, transition of respective modes such as carrying (housing), taking a still image, taking a moving image, taking a still image, carrying (housing) is automatically performed in this order by a CPU 50 by easy operation that a grip part 22 is consecutively moved to a first position, a second position and a third position. Since a user clearly knows in what mode the digital camera 10 is set currently according to the form of the grip part 22, he (she) can intuitively perform operation corresponding to the operation mode. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a camera, and more particularly to a digital camera provided with an image display unit, which can maintain the holding property by the grip part when photographing, and protect the image display part by the grip part when carrying or storing. .

  In Patent Document 1, a substantially rectangular parallelepiped camera body provided with a photographic lens and an image sensor, and a monitor for displaying a subject image captured by the image sensor are provided on the back surface, and can be rotated to the side of the image pickup unit. There is disclosed a digital camera having a grip portion coupled to the.

  According to this digital camera, when storing or carrying, the camera body is rotated with respect to the grip portion so that the camera body and the grip portion are flat. Is rotated 90 degrees forward with respect to the grip portion to take a photographing posture.

  In other words, the digital camera disclosed in Patent Document 1 whose shape is deformed when stored (portable) and at the time of shooting is provided with a box-shaped camera body that is rotatable with respect to the box-shaped grip portion. While rotating in the photographing direction, the camera body is rotated so that the entire camera becomes a flat box shape when stored or carried.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-212366

  However, the camera disclosed in Patent Document 1 has only a structure in which the camera body and the grip portion are relatively rotatably connected, and the monitor provided on the grip portion is protected when being carried or stored. In order to do this, a dedicated cover must be prepared and attached to the monitor, which is troublesome.

  On the other hand, in an interchangeable lens type camera having a large lens barrel, in order to stably hold the camera during shooting, the user's right hand holds the grip portion of the camera body and the left hand holds the lens barrel.

  However, a camera equipped with a large lens barrel has poor portability because the grip part is provided so as to protrude sideways, and if the grip part is made small for the purpose of forcibly improving portability, There is a drawback that the weight balance between the main body and the lens barrel is deteriorated, the retainability is lowered, and the operability is deteriorated.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and in a camera equipped with an image display unit, the display screen of the image display unit can be protected without bothering and can be downsized when being carried or stored. An object is to provide a camera that can be achieved. More specifically, to achieve the contradictory purpose of having good portability and storage property even in a camera having a large lens barrel and not having a thin shape, while having a holding property like a camera during operation. Provide a camera that can.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has a camera body provided with a photographing lens and an image display unit, and a grip part connected to the camera body so as to be able to bend and stretch, and the grip part is bent. A first position that covers the image display unit, a second position that is extended and functions as a grip for still image shooting, a third position that functions as a grip for moving image shooting, and a grip for image playback It is possible to move to a functioning fourth position.

  Moreover, it is preferable that the grip portion of the present invention includes a shooting button for still image shooting, a recording button for moving image shooting, and a playback button.

  According to the camera of the present invention, it is possible to protect the display screen of the image display unit without bothering, to achieve downsizing when being carried or stored, and to maintain the characteristics of the camera during operation. However, it is possible to achieve the contradictory purpose of obtaining good portability and storage even in a camera having a large lens barrel and not having a thin shape.

Overall perspective view when digital camera of embodiment is in still image shooting mode Whole perspective view which shows the state of the accommodation form of the digital camera of embodiment Overall perspective view when the digital camera of the embodiment is in the video shooting mode The perspective view which removed the photographing lens from the digital camera of an embodiment 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a digital camera of an embodiment The top view which shows 3 forms of the digital camera of embodiment A flowchart showing the operation of the digital camera of the embodiment

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a camera according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  A digital camera 10 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 includes a camera body 16 provided with a photographing lens 12 having a large lens barrel and a liquid crystal monitor 14 (image display unit) as shown in FIG. It is comprised from the grip part 22 connected through the hinge shafts 18 and 20 so that bending and extending was possible.

  In the digital camera 10, the grip portion 22 is bent by the hinge shafts 18 and 20 as shown in FIG. 2, and the grip portion 22 is extended by the hinge shafts 18 and 20 as shown in FIG. And a third position bent over the second position (see FIG. 1) in the opposite direction to the first position (see FIG. 2) as shown in FIG. It is configured to be movable. The photographic lens 12 is a lens unit in which a lens unit and a CCD (solid-state imaging device) are integrated, and is detachably attached to the front part of the camera body 16 via a lens mount. And can be exchanged. The appearance of the digital camera 10 with the taking lens 12 removed is shown in FIG. The position of the grip part 22 in this case is the fourth position.

  Further, a click mechanism for restricting the position of the grip portion 22 to the first position shown in FIG. 2 is provided on the hinge shafts 18 and 20 to restrict the position of the grip portion 22 to the second position shown in FIG. A stopper for restricting the moving angle is provided on the hinge shaft 18, and a stopper for restricting the rotation angle and restricting the rotation angle is provided on the hinge shaft 20 at the third position shown in FIG. 3. Although the click mechanism and the stopper are not shown in the figure, the click mechanism may be a known mechanism that restricts movement at the position by fitting the concave portion and the convex portion, or may be another mechanism. In addition, the stopper is provided with a stopper member that abuts on the hinge shafts 18 and 20 and a member that is rotated relative to the hinge shafts 18 and 20, and the hinge shafts are brought into contact with each of the stopper members. The thing of the mechanical structure which restrict | limits the rotation of 18 and 20 may be used.

  The first position in FIG. 2 shows a state when the digital camera 10 is carried or stored, and shows a state where the surface of the liquid crystal monitor 14 provided on the back surface of the camera body 16 is protected by the grip portion 22. Yes. In this state, when the grip portion 22 is rotated in the opening direction (extension direction) with respect to the camera body 16, the arm 24 and the grip portion 22 are rotated with respect to the camera body 16 by the hinge shafts 18 and 20, respectively. As shown in FIG. 1, the camera body 16 and the grip portion 22 are linearly deformed as shown in FIG. 2, and the grip portion 22 is located at a second position protruding to the side of the camera body 16. In this second position, a photographing button 28 is provided on the upper surface of the grip portion 22 so that it can be operated with the index finger 26 of the right hand 24 shown by the two-dot chain line of the user holding the grip portion 22. When this shooting button 28 is operated, one shot or continuous shooting still image shooting is performed. Further, a zoom button 32 that is a still image operation system is provided on the back surface of the grip unit 22 so that the user can operate the thumb 30 of the right hand 24 indicated by a two-dot chain line. At this time, the recording (REC) button 34 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) used for moving image shooting is hidden.

  When the grip portion 22 is moved to the third position shown in FIG. 3, the recording button 34 provided on the inner side surface of the grip portion 22 is exposed and operated by the thumb 30 of the right hand 24 indicated by the user's two-dot chain line. This makes it possible to shoot a moving image. When the grip portion 22 is folded in the opposite direction from this state and returned to the state of FIG. 2, it is easy to carry and the screen of the liquid crystal monitor 14 is covered and protected by the grip portion 22.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the various operation button groups arranged on the back surface of the grip unit 22 include a zoom button 32, a playback button 36, a photo mode button 38, a menu / OK button 42, a cross key 40, and the like in order from the top.

  The zoom button 32 is operated when the focal length is adjusted to the tele side or the wide side. The zoom button 32 is also operated in the still image shooting mode and the moving image shooting mode. The reproduction button 36 is operated when it is desired to immediately reproduce the captured image. The playback button 36 is operated in the image playback mode in the still image shooting mode and the moving image shooting mode. The photo mode button 38 is a button for switching between color shooting and monochrome shooting, and is operated only in the still image shooting mode. The menu / OK button 40 is an operation having both a function as a menu button for instructing to display a menu on the screen of the liquid crystal monitor 14 and a function as an OK button for instructing confirmation and execution of selection contents. Key. The cross key 40 is provided so as to be tiltable in four directions, up, down, left, and right, and is used as an operation key for instructing selection of various setting items in setting of a menu or the like, change of setting contents, and deletion of a recorded image. The shooting button 28 provided on the upper surface of the grip portion 22 can be operated only in the still image shooting mode, and the focus adjustment is performed when the half-pressing operation is performed. Through the CCD.

  By the way, in the digital camera 10 according to the embodiment, the power is turned off at the first position shown in FIG. 2, and the power is automatically turned on when the grip portion 22 is extended and located at the second position shown in FIG. When turned on, the mode is automatically set to the still image shooting mode. Further, when the grip portion 22 is bent and positioned at the third position shown in FIG. 3, the power ON state is maintained and the operation mode is automatically switched to the moving image shooting mode. This power ON / OFF and mode switching will be described later.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the digital camera 10, and the overall operation of the digital camera 10 is comprehensively controlled by the CPU 50.

  The CPU 50 functions as a system control circuit unit that controls the camera system according to a predetermined program, and performs various calculations such as an automatic exposure (AE) calculation, an automatic focus adjustment (AF) calculation, and a white balance (WB) adjustment calculation. Functions as a calculation means.

  The ROM 54 connected to the CPU 50 via the bus 52 stores programs executed by the CPU 50 and various data necessary for control. The EEPROM 56 stores CCD pixel defect information, various constants / information related to camera operation, and the like. Has been.

  The memory (SDRAM) 58 is used as a program development area and a calculation work area for the CPU 50, and is also used as a temporary storage area for image data and audio data. A recording unit (HDD) 60 is a temporary storage memory dedicated to image data, and can be erased by operating the cross key 40 of the digital camera 10.

  The digital camera 10 has a media socket 62 on the outer side surface (see FIG. 1) of the grip portion 22, and a recording medium 64 is attached to the media socket 62. The form of the recording medium 64 is not particularly limited, and various media such as an xD-picture card, a semiconductor memory card represented by SmartMedia (trademark), a portable small hard disk, a magnetic disk, an optical disk, and a magneto-optical disk are used. Can do.

  The media controller 66 performs necessary signal conversion in order to exchange input / output signals suitable for the recording medium 64 mounted in the media socket 62.

  The digital camera 10 also includes a USB interface unit 68 as communication means for connecting to a personal computer or other external device. By connecting an external device to a connector, which is a communication terminal, connected to the USB interface unit 68 via a USB cable (not shown), data such as image data can be exchanged with the external device. . Of course, the communication method is not limited to USB, and other communication methods may be applied.

  Next, the still image and moving image shooting function of the digital camera 10 will be described.

  When the grip portion 22 is moved to the second position or the third position as shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 3 to set the still image shooting mode or the moving image shooting mode, power is supplied from the battery 70 to the CPU 50 via the power circuit 72. At the same time, power is supplied to the imaging unit including the CCD 74, and the camera is ready to take a picture.

  The taking lens 12 is an optical unit that includes a lens portion 76 and a mechanical shutter 78 that also serves as an aperture. The photographing lens 12 is electrically driven by a lens driving unit 80 and a diaphragm driving unit 82 controlled by the CPU 50, and zoom control, focus control, and iris control are performed.

  The subject light that has passed through the photographing lens 12 forms an image on the light receiving surface of the CCD 74. A large number of photodiodes (light receiving elements) are two-dimensionally arranged on the light receiving surface of the CCD 74, and red (R), green (G), and blue (B) primary color filters corresponding to each photodiode. They are arranged in a predetermined arrangement structure. The CCD 74 has an electronic shutter function for controlling the charge accumulation time (shutter speed) of each photodiode. The CPU 50 controls the charge accumulation time in the CCD 74 via the timing generator 84. Instead of the CCD 74, another type of image sensor such as a MOS type may be used.

  The subject image formed on the light receiving surface of the CCD 74 is converted into a signal charge corresponding to the amount of incident light by each photodiode. The signal charge accumulated in each photodiode is sequentially read out as a voltage signal (image signal) corresponding to the signal charge based on a drive pulse given from the timing generator 84 in accordance with a command from the CPU 50.

  The signal output from the CCD 74 is sent to an analog processing unit (CDS / AMP) 86, where the R, G, B signals for each pixel are sampled and held (correlated double sampling processing), amplified, and then A / Applied to the D converter 88. The dot sequential R, G, B signals converted into digital signals by the A / D converter 88 are stored in the memory 58 via the image input controller 90.

  The image signal processing circuit 92 processes the R, G, and B signals stored in the memory 58 in accordance with a command from the CPU 50. That is, the image signal processing circuit 92 includes a synchronization circuit (a processing circuit that converts a color signal into a simultaneous expression by interpolating a spatial shift of the color signal associated with the color filter array of the single CCD), a white balance correction circuit, It functions as an image processing means including a gamma correction circuit, a contour correction circuit, a luminance / color difference signal generation circuit, etc., and performs predetermined signal processing while utilizing the memory 58 in accordance with a command from the CPU 50.

  The RGB image data input to the image signal processing circuit 92 is converted into a luminance signal and a color difference signal by the image signal processing circuit 92 and subjected to predetermined processing such as gamma correction. The image data processed by the image signal processing circuit 92 is recorded in the recording unit 60.

  When outputting a captured and reproduced image to the liquid crystal monitor 14, the image data is read from the recording unit 60 and sent to the video encoder 94 via the bus 52. The video encoder 94 converts the input image data into a predetermined display signal (for example, an NTSC color composite video signal) and outputs it to the liquid crystal monitor 14. A through image at the time of shooting is directly displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 14 from the image signal processing circuit 92 via the bus 52 and the video encoder 94.

  When the shooting button 28 is pressed halfway and S1 is turned on, the digital camera 10 starts AE and AF processing. That is, the image signal output from the CCD 74 is input to the AF detection circuit 96 and the AE / AWB detection circuit 98 via the image input controller 90 after A / D conversion.

  The AE / AWB detection circuit 98 includes a circuit that divides one screen into a plurality of areas (for example, 16 × 16) and integrates RGB signals for each divided area, and provides the integrated value to the CPU 50. The CPU 50 detects the brightness of the subject (subject brightness) based on the integrated value obtained from the AE / AWB detection circuit 98, and calculates an exposure value (shooting EV value) suitable for shooting. According to the obtained exposure value and a predetermined program diagram, the aperture value and the shutter speed are determined, and the CPU 50 controls the electronic shutter and iris of the CCD 74 to obtain an appropriate exposure amount.

  The AE / AWB detection circuit 98 calculates an average integrated value for each color of the RGB signals for each divided area during automatic white balance adjustment, and provides the calculation result to the CPU 50. The CPU 50 obtains an integrated value of R, an integrated value of B, and an integrated value of G, obtains a ratio of R / G and B / G for each divided area, and R of these R / G and B / G values. The light source type is discriminated based on the distribution in the color space of / G, B / G, etc., and the white balance adjustment value suitable for the discriminated light source type is set so that, for example, each ratio value is about 1. The gain value (white balance correction value) for the R, G, and B signals of the balance adjustment circuit is controlled to correct the signal of each color channel. If the gain value of the white balance adjustment circuit is adjusted so that the above-described ratio values are values other than 1, an image in which a certain color remains can be generated.

  The AF control in the digital camera 10 is, for example, a contrast AF that moves a focusing lens (a moving lens that contributes to focus adjustment among the lens optical systems constituting the lens unit 76) so that the high-frequency component of the G signal of the video signal is maximized. Applies. That is, the AF detection circuit 96 cuts out a signal in a focus target area set in advance in a high-pass filter that passes only a high-frequency component of the G signal, an absolute value processing unit, and a screen (for example, the center of the screen). An area extraction unit and an integration unit that integrates absolute value data in the AF area are configured.

  The integrated value data obtained by the AF detection circuit 96 is notified to the CPU 50. The CPU 50 calculates a focus evaluation value (AF evaluation value) at a plurality of AF detection points while moving the focusing lens by controlling the lens driving unit 80, and determines a lens position where the evaluation value is a maximum as a focus position. To do. Then, the lens driving unit 80 is controlled to move the focusing lens to the obtained in-focus position. The calculation of the AF evaluation value is not limited to a mode using the G signal, and a luminance signal (Y signal) may be used.

  The shooting button 28 is half-pressed, AE / AF processing is performed when S1 is turned on, the shooting button 28 is fully pressed, and the shooting operation for recording starts when S2 is turned on. The image data acquired in response to S2 ON is converted into a luminance / color difference signal (Y / C signal) in the image signal processing circuit 92, subjected to predetermined processing such as gamma correction, and then stored in the memory 58. The

  The Y / C signal stored in the memory 58 is compressed according to a predetermined format by the compression / decompression circuit 100 and then recorded on the recording medium 48 via the media controller 66. For example, a still image is recorded in JPEG format.

  Thereafter, when the playback button 36 is operated, the compressed data of the final image file (last recorded file) recorded in the recording unit 60 or the recording medium 64 is read out. When the file related to the last recording is a still image file, the read image compression data is decompressed to an uncompressed YC signal via the compression / decompression circuit 100, and via the image signal processing circuit 92 and the video encoder 94. Is output to the liquid crystal monitor 14. Thereby, the image content of the file is displayed on the screen of the liquid crystal monitor 14.

  Next, automatic switching between power ON / OFF of the digital camera 10 and modes (portable / storage (OFF) / still image shooting mode / moving image shooting mode) will be described.

  A switch for turning on / off the power of the digital camera 10 and a switch for switching the mode are embedded in hinge shafts 18 and 20 that connect the camera body 16 and the grip portion 22 shown in FIG. By changing the form of the unit 22, it can be switched to OFF / still image shooting mode / moving image shooting mode.

  As shown in FIG. 5, a switch (position detection means) 102 for detecting the rotation angle of the hinge shaft 18 with respect to the camera body 16 and a switch (position detection means) 104 for detecting the rotation angle of the hinge shaft 20 with respect to the arm 24 are used. Information indicating the rotation angles of the hinge shafts 18 and 20 is output to the shape detection unit 108 via the hinge angle detection circuit 106. When the shape detection unit 108 confirms that the grip portion 22 has moved to the second position based on information from the switches 102 and 104, the CPU (switch means: first switching means) 50 The digital camera 10 is turned on and the operation mode is set to the still image shooting mode. When the shape detection unit 108 confirms that the grip unit 22 has moved to the third position based on the information from the switch 104, the CPU 50 maintains the power ON of the digital camera 10 and sets the operation mode. Switch from still image capture mode to still image capture mode.

  By the way, the digital camera 10 incorporates an attachment / detachment detection unit (attachment / detachment detection means) 110 that detects attachment / detachment of the photographing lens 12 with respect to the camera body 16, and can detect whether the photographing lens 12 is attached / detached. For example, the attachment / detachment detection unit 110 is configured such that the lens unit detection switch is pushed by a nail or the like on the photographing lens 12 side.

  When the photographing lens 12 is attached to the camera main body 16, as described above, the OFF / still image photographing mode / moving image photographing mode is configured to be switched, and the photographing lens 12 is removed from the camera main body 16. In this form, it is switched to the OFF / player mode. This switching is executed by the CPU (second switching means) 50.

  In the player mode at the fourth position of the grip portion 22 shown in FIG. 4, a moving image, a still image, music, or the like recorded on the recording medium 64 is reproduced. The speaker may be the camera body 16 or may be provided in the grip portion 22. Thus, when the photographing lens 12 is mounted, the user only has to change the form of the digital camera 10 to the portable shape of FIG. 2, the still image photographing mode shape of FIG. 1, and the moving image photographing mode shape of FIG. When the lens 12 is removed, it can be recognized that it is not used as the digital camera 10 and can be used as a photo player or a music player.

  6A, 6B, and 6C are plan views of the digital camera 10 at three positions where the position of the grip portion 22 is regulated by the click mechanism.

  6A shows a first position covering the liquid crystal monitor 14, FIG. 6C shows a second position in the still image shooting mode, and FIG. 6B shows a time in the moving image shooting mode. Is the third position.

  When the grip portion 22 is positioned at the third position as shown in FIG. 6B, the grip portion 22 approaches the gravity center position W of the camera body 16 and the user holding the grip portion 22 as shown in FIG. The grip part 22 can be held without bending the wrist 25 of the right hand 24. For this reason, it becomes the shape of the grip part 22 suitable for long-time imaging | photography. As a result, the digital camera 10 can be easily held like a camera suitable for moving image shooting. In this case, the user generally starts shooting moving images by holding the grip portion 22 with the right hand 24 and operating the recording button 34, and the left hand is not used particularly for holding the digital camera 10. Further, in this moving image shooting mode, the shooting button 28 is set by the CPU 50 so as not to operate. Therefore, even if the shooting button 28 is inadvertently pressed, moving image shooting is not hindered.

  As described above, in the digital camera 10 of the embodiment, when the photographing lens 12 is attached, the form of FIG. 1 is the still image photographing mode, the form of FIG. 2 is the power OFF, and the form of FIG. When the photographing lens 12 is not attached, the form of FIG. 1 displays the player mode, the form of FIG. 2 turns off the power, and the form of FIG. As an example, if an error message is displayed and then the power is turned off and other settings such as vertical / horizontal conversion display in the player mode are made, it is convenient to switch the vertical / horizontal display with one touch.

  Next, a method of using the digital camera 10 configured as described above will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG.

  First, when the grip portion is extended from the first position of the power OFF to the second position or bent to the third position and the power is turned on (S100), the detachment detection unit 110 attaches the photographing lens 12. Whether it is present or not is detected (S110). At this time, when it is detected that the taking lens 12 is mounted and then the grip portion 22 is not in the folded (bent) first position (S120), the power ON state continues. (S130).

  Thereafter, when the shape (form) of the grip section 22 is the form shown in FIG. 3 (S140), the CPU 50 changes the mode of the digital camera 10 to moving image shooting by the output from the shape detection section 108 based on the switches 102 and 104. The mode is set (S150). Further, when the shape (form) of the grip unit 22 is the form of FIG. 1 (S160), the CPU 50 changes the mode of the digital camera 10 to the still image shooting by the output from the shape detection unit 108 based on the switches 102 and 104. The mode is set (S170). When the form of the grip portion 22 is neither the form of FIG. 3 nor the form of FIG. 1, an error message “Fix the grip in the locked position” is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 14 (S180).

  On the other hand, if it is detected in S110 that the photographic lens 12 is not attached to the camera body 16 by the attachment / detachment detection unit 110, in this case, if the grip unit 22 is in the form shown in FIG. Turned on (S200), the CPU 50 sets the mode of the digital camera 10 to the player mode (S210). If the grip portion 22 is in the form of FIG. 2 (S220), the power is turned off (S230), and if the grip portion 22 is neither in the form of FIG. 1 nor in the form of FIG. An error message “fix the grip in the locked position” is displayed on the monitor 14 (S240).

  As described above, according to the digital camera 10 of the embodiment, in the state where the photographing lens 12 is mounted on the camera body 16, the mode can be obtained by simply moving the grip portion 22 to three positions that the grip portion 22 can take. Can be switched to the appropriate mode. In addition, in a state where the photographic lens 12 is not attached to the camera body 16, the mode can be switched to an appropriate mode simply by moving the grip portion 22 to two positions that the grip portion 22 can take. Therefore, the digital camera 10 is very convenient for the user.

  The basic feature of the digital camera 10 according to the embodiment is that the grip portion 22 is bent with respect to the camera body 16 at the time of carrying or storing, so that the liquid crystal monitor 14 of the camera body 16 is covered at the first position. It can be positioned. Accordingly, the liquid crystal monitor 14 can be covered with a separate cover independent from the digital camera 10 without being covered with the grip portion 22 constituting the digital camera 10, and the grip portion 22 is bent by a simple operation. Since the liquid crystal monitor 14 can be covered, the user does not feel bothered. Furthermore, since the grip portion 22 that protrudes laterally from the camera body 16 is bent, the digital camera 10 as a whole is reduced in size, and portability and storage are improved.

  On the other hand, at the time of shooting, since the grip portion 22 is extended and protrudes to the side of the camera body 16, that is, at the second position that functions as a grip, a shape that is easy to grip can be achieved during use. .

  Therefore, according to the digital camera 10, it is possible to obtain good portability and storage property even in a camera having a large photographic lens barrel and not having a thin shape while having a holding property like a camera at the time of operation. Can achieve conflicting objectives.

  At the time of shooting, the user holds the grip portion 22 with the right hand 24 and operates the shooting button 28 as shown in FIG. 1, and in the case of the camera body 16, particularly the large shooting lens 12, with a left hand (not shown). The lens barrel of the taking lens 12 is held like a camera. Therefore, it becomes a form suitable for one shot photography.

  When the grip portion is positioned at the third position shown in FIG. 3, the grip portion 22 approaches the gravity center position W of the camera body 16 as shown in FIG. 6C, and the grip portion as shown in FIG. Since the grip part 22 can be held without bending the right wrist of the user who holds the grip 22, the grip part 22 is suitable for long-time shooting.

  As a result, the digital camera 10 can be easily held like a camera suitable for moving image shooting. In this case, the user generally starts moving image shooting by holding the grip portion 22 with the right hand 24 and operating the recording button 34, and the left hand is not particularly used to hold the camera body 16. Further, in this moving image shooting mode, the shooting button 28 is set by the CPU 50 so as not to operate. Therefore, even if the shooting button 28 is inadvertently pressed, moving image shooting is not hindered.

  As will be repeatedly described, by a simple operation of continuously moving the grip portion 22 to the first position, the second position, and the third position, mobile (storage) → still image shooting → video shooting → still image shooting → The CPU 50 can automatically perform the transition of each mode of carrying (storing). In addition, since the user can clearly know which mode the digital camera 10 is currently in by the form of the grip portion 22, an operation corresponding to the operation mode can be performed intuitively.

  Further, the CPU (switching means) 50 may disable the power supply of the digital camera 10 when the grip portion 22 is in the first position, and may enable the power supply ON at the second position. Thereby, since the power supply of the digital camera 10 is invalidated at the first position, which is a mode when being carried, erroneous operation when being carried can be prevented.

  Further, the CPU (selection state switching means) 50 can select the still image shooting mode when the grip portion 22 is located at the second position, and the grip portion 22 is located at the third position. If it is, the movie shooting mode can be selected. That is, the mode is not forcibly switched based on the position of the grip part 22, but a mode suitable for the position can be selected according to the position of the grip part 22.

  In the embodiment, the digital camera 10 provided with the liquid crystal monitor 14 in the camera main body 16 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the digital camera does not include the liquid crystal monitor 14 in the camera main body 16. Even when the grip portion 22 is bent, it is preferable to cover the back surface of the camera body 16 when carrying and storing.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Digital camera, 12 ... Shooting lens, 14 ... Liquid crystal monitor, 16 ... Camera body, 18, 20 ... Hinge shaft, 22 ... Grip part, 24 ... Arm, 50 ... CPU, 62 ... Media socket

Claims (3)

  A camera body provided with a photographic lens and an image display unit, and a grip part connected to the camera body so as to be able to bend and stretch, and the grip part is bent to cover the image display part; Can be moved to a second position that is extended and functions as a grip during still image shooting, a third position that functions as a grip during moving image shooting, and a fourth position that functions as a grip during image playback Camera characterized by.   The grip portion is formed of a cube, and includes two operation buttons that can be operated as a shooting button for still image shooting and a recording button for moving image shooting, and the two operation buttons are provided on different surfaces of the cube. The camera according to claim 1 arranged. The surface on which one of the two operation buttons of the grip portion is disposed and the one operation button are covered by the camera body in the second position, and the one operation button is operated by the one operation button. Configured impossible,
The surface where both operation buttons of the two operation buttons are arranged and both the operation buttons are exposed in the third position, and both the operation buttons are configured to be operable. Camera described in.

Images