JP2011197497A - Imaging apparatus with diopter adjustment mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve such a problem that since a diopter adjustment using an optical diopter adjustment mechanism is performed while viewing the image of a subject projected in a viewfinder, difficulty of the adjustment is affected by brightness of the image projected in the viewfinder, and it is difficult to adjust diopter in a dark photographing space, and when the diopter is adjusted while viewing numerals, characters, etc., displayed in the viewfinder for diopter adjustment, the adjustment is performed while operating a release button or the like many times, and while displaying the numerals and characters again, and accordingly, a shutter release opportunity is missed during the operations.SOLUTION: By linking the diopter adjustment mechanism with display in the viewfinder, the display in the viewfinder is prevented from being shut off during the diopter adjustment. Further, display for the diopter adjustment is also performed on a liquid crystal monitor disposed on the back face of a camera body. Accordingly, the diopter adjustment can be performed while viewing the display for the diopter adjustment projected on the liquid crystal monitor, without looking into the viewfinder.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image pickup apparatus having a viewfinder capable of adjusting diopter, and particularly relates to display of information relating to photographing at the time of diopter adjustment.

  The viewfinder with an optical diopter adjustment mechanism provided in single-lens reflex cameras is mainly used to ensure a field of view that matches the eyesight of the photographer during shooting when the photographer looks into the viewfinder. It is a mechanism provided. Specifically, the photographer moved the diopter adjustment lens manually by operating the diopter adjustment member while looking through the viewfinder arranged in the single-lens reflex camera, and adapted to the photographer's visual acuity This is a mechanism to ensure visibility.

JP-A-8-95124

  In Patent Document 1, since information for diopter adjustment is displayed in the viewfinder, the diopter adjustment is performed while the photographer looks into the viewfinder provided in the camera, so that the diopter adjustment lens is attached to the photographer. A diopter adjustment mechanism that can be set to a position suitable for visual acuity is shown.

  Specifically, at the time of diopter adjustment, the photographer adjusts the diopter displayed in the viewfinder based on information obtained from the viewfinder using operation members provided on the camera such as a release button. It is shown that diopter adjustment is performed by selecting a condition suitable for the photographer from the selection display for the user.

  However, in general, diopter adjustment using an optical diopter adjustment mechanism is based on the degree of out-of-focus or the number displayed in the viewfinder while visually recognizing the subject image displayed in the viewfinder. -This may be done by adjusting the degree of out-of-focus of the character or autofocus area frame. Accordingly, the ease of diopter adjustment tends to depend on the amount of light guided into the viewfinder.

  For example, in a place such as a theater, the space for photographing is very dark, and it is difficult to adjust diopter. This is because it is difficult to visually recognize the subject image through the viewfinder under such a small amount of light. Therefore, it may be necessary to adjust the diopter while looking at the degree of out-of-focus such as numbers / characters displayed on the display unit in the viewfinder and the autofocus area frame.

  However, in the viewfinder, if the number, letters, etc. are displayed for a short time, if diopter adjustment is performed in the dark place as described above, it is more than when diopter adjustment is performed under bright place. take time. Specifically, since it is necessary to make adjustments by operating the release button of the camera many times and redisplaying the numbers / characters, a photo opportunity may be missed during this time.

  A first invention made to solve the above problems is an imaging apparatus having a viewfinder capable of diopter adjustment and an information display unit, and a display object displayed on the information display unit during a diopter adjustment operation It is an imaging device characterized by continuously displaying.

The second invention is
The imaging apparatus has a control unit,
The viewfinder detects a plurality of finder optical system lenses including a diopter adjustment lens, a diopter adjustment unit that moves the diopter adjustment lens in the optical axis direction, and a diopter adjustment operation of the diopter adjustment unit, A detection unit for sending diopter adjustment operation information to the control unit,
The control unit processes the information sent from the detection unit, calculates a stop position of the diopter adjustment lens after the diopter adjustment operation, and additionally displays the stop position on the display object. Process,
In addition, if it is determined that diopter adjustment is being performed based on the information, the current position of the diopter adjustment lens is displayed on the information display unit, and the display is continued. The imaging apparatus according to Item 1.

The third invention is
In the imaging apparatus, the information display unit is disposed in a place other than the viewfinder or the viewfinder,
The display object is displayed with light emission in the information display unit, and when diopter adjustment operation is started, the display object is displayed with light emission with higher intensity than the display state before diopter adjustment start. It is an imaging device as described in above.

The fourth invention is
The diopter adjustment unit manually moves the diopter adjustment lens in the optical axis direction,
The control unit can record at least one stop position of the diopter adjustment lens moved by the manual operation for each manual operation, and the stop position recorded for each manual operation can be recorded. The imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein at least one or more places can be displayed on the information display unit.

  By linking the diopter adjustment mechanism with the display in the viewfinder, it is possible to continuously display letters and numbers that are displayed during superimpose, etc., and the display may disappear during diopter adjustment. Is prevented. Furthermore, since the diopter adjustment display is also displayed on the LCD monitor on the back of the camera body, the diopter adjustment display displayed on the LCD monitor is viewed without looking through the viewfinder. The degree adjustment operation can be performed.

It is an external appearance perspective view of the back of the camera main body 1 which implemented this invention. It is the figure which looked at the camera main body 1 from the back side. It is a cross-sectional view of the viewfinder 1c. It is a block diagram of control of diopter adjustment. It is a figure of the display method of a liquid crystal monitor. It is a figure of the display method in a viewfinder. It is a flowchart figure of control of diopter adjustment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the camera body 1 is provided with a power dial 1a, a release button 1b, and a viewfinder 1c.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a diopter adjustment dial 1 e and an eyepiece lens 1 d are arranged on the viewfinder 1 c on the upper surface of the camera body 1. A liquid crystal monitor 1 f is disposed on the back surface of the camera body 1.

  The diopter adjustment dial 1e is disposed on the side surface of the viewfinder 1c disposed on the upper surface of the camera body 1 so as to be rotatable via a shaft (not shown).

  As shown in FIG. 3, in the viewfinder 1c, there is a lens group constituting the optical system of the viewfinder, and a lens G1, a lens G2, a lens G3, and a lens G4 are arranged from the subject side.

  The lens G2 is a diopter adjustment lens G2, and the lens G4 is an eyepiece lens 1d. When adjusting the diopter, the lens G2 moves in the optical axis direction by operating the diopter adjusting dial 1e.

  Further, the diopter adjustment dial 1e is provided with a rotary encoder 1h via a shaft portion (not shown).

  The sensor used in this embodiment is a rotary encoder. However, in addition to the rotary encoder, any sensor having a function of detecting the position of an object such as a position sensor, a brush encoder, or a photo interrupter can be used.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the camera body 1 is provided with a camera CPU 1i for controlling the functions of the camera, and in particular, a series of diopter adjustments are performed based on the operation of the photographer.

  The rotary encoder 1h in this embodiment is a device that detects the rotation of the diopter adjustment dial 1e, and generates an output signal corresponding to the rotation angle when the diopter adjustment dial 1e is rotated. Therefore, the rotary encoder 1h detects the rotation angle of the diopter adjustment dial corresponding to the operation of the photographer.

  At the time of diopter adjustment of the viewfinder 1c, if the diopter adjustment dial 1e is rotated clockwise, the diopter adjustment lens G2 moves toward the subject, and if it is rotated counterclockwise, it moves toward the photographer. .

  At this time, the rotary encoder 1h disposed on the shaft portion (not shown) of the diopter adjustment dial 1e detects the rotation of the diopter adjustment dial 1e via the shaft portion (not shown), and information on the rotation is obtained. Is sent to the camera CPU 1i.

  The camera CPU 1 i controls all control of the camera body 1. Therefore, in the camera CPU 1i, the rotation amount and the rotation direction of the rotary encoder 1h are calculated based on the above information, and the position of the diopter adjustment lens G2 is obtained.

  Further, during the operation, a process of continuing superimpose display on the display unit 1g in the viewfinder or displaying information in the viewfinder is also performed.

  Next, position detection, position recording, and display control of the diopter adjustment lens G2 during diopter adjustment will be described.

  The photographer looks into the subject from the viewfinder 1c and rotates the diopter adjustment dial 1e to adjust the diopter suitable for the photographer's visual acuity.

  By rotating the diopter adjustment dial 1e, the rotary encoder 1h detects the rotation, converts the detected rotation into a signal, and sends the signal to the camera CPU 1i.

  When the camera CPU 1i receives the signal transmitted from the rotary encoder 1h, the processing unit of the camera CPU 1i performs a process for starting the diopter adjustment mode, and calculates the rotation angle and the rotation direction of the diopter adjustment dial 1e. . Subsequently, the current position of the diopter adjustment lens G2 is obtained based on the calculated rotation angle and rotation direction.

  If the current position of the diopter adjustment lens G2 is obtained, the current position is displayed on the display unit 1g and the liquid crystal monitor 1f in the viewfinder. When this processing is performed, the display object state such as letters / numbers, autofocus area frames, and the like emits light stronger than before the diopter adjustment is started.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, after the processing, the current position after the movement of the diopter adjustment lens G2 is displayed on the display unit 1g and the liquid crystal monitor 1f in the viewfinder.

  From FIG. 6, the photographer can confirm the position of the set diopter adjustment lens G2 by looking at the display unit 1g in the viewfinder. Further, from FIG. 5, the composition and color tone of the image to be taken are confirmed by observing the liquid crystal monitor 1f, and at the same time, the position of the set diopter adjusting lens G2 is set as in the display unit 1g in the viewfinder. This makes it possible to adjust the diopter. At this time, if the position of the diopter adjustment lens G2 is confirmed using the liquid crystal monitor 1f, the position can be confirmed without looking into the viewfinder 1c.

  As long as the rotary encoder 1h detects the rotation of the diopter adjustment dial 1e, the display relating to the diopter adjustment in the viewfinder 1c and the liquid crystal monitor 1f is continued. In particular, the display of the autofocus area frame is continued on the display unit 1g in the viewfinder.

  If the diopter adjustment is completed, the diopter adjustment dial 1e is stopped, and if the diopter adjustment dial 1e is not moved for a certain period of time, the diopter adjustment mode is terminated and the display unit 1g in the viewfinder is displayed. The stop position of the displayed diopter adjustment lens G2 disappears.

  If the display on the display unit 1g in the viewfinder is stopped, the stop position of the diopter adjustment lens when the rotation operation of the diopter adjustment dial 1e is stopped is stored in the recording unit of the camera CPU 1i.

  Further, when the rotation operation of the diopter adjustment dial 1e is stopped, the diopter adjustment is completed, and the release button 1b is pressed down to the first release position for photographing, the diopter adjustment mode is ended, and the display unit 1g in the viewfinder is displayed. The stop position of the displayed diopter adjustment lens G2 disappears. Thereafter, the stop position of the diopter adjustment lens G2 is stored in a recording unit in the camera CPU 1i.

  After the stop position of the diopter adjustment lens G2 is stored in the recording unit in the camera CPU 1i, if an operation member such as the diopter adjustment dial 1e is not operated, the display unit 1g in the viewfinder or the liquid crystal monitor 1f is displayed. The diopter adjustment display is not made.

  If the diopter adjustment dial 1e is operated again, the disappeared display is displayed on the display unit 1g and the liquid crystal monitor 1f in the viewfinder.

  Next, a specific diopter adjustment operation using the display of the viewfinder 1c and the liquid crystal monitor 1f will be described with reference to FIGS.

  The first photographer operates the diopter adjustment dial 1e to move the diopter adjustment lens G2 to a desired position. The stop position of the diopter adjustment lens G2 after the movement is set as a position U1, and the position is stored in the camera CPU 1i. Thereafter, the second photographer moves and stops the diopter adjustment lens to a different position. At this time, the stop position is set as a position U2, and the position is stored in the camera CPU 1i.

  Since the camera CPU 1i stores the position U1 and the position U2, the position U1, the position U2, and the lens mark are displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 1f by an indicator. Further, the diopter adjustment lens G2 displays the amount and direction of movement from the position U1 to the position U2. The lens mark indicates the current position of the diopter adjustment lens G2.

  Since the photographer can visually recognize the position U1, the position U2 and the lens mark displayed on the indicator on the liquid crystal monitor 1f, it is possible to grasp the two positions without looking through the viewfinder.

  Therefore, when the first photographer takes a picture again after the second photographer takes a picture, the second photographer takes the second mark by aligning the lens mark with the position U1 on the liquid crystal monitor 1f while viewing the indicator display. It is possible to return the diopter adjustment lens G2 moved by the photographer to the position U1 already set by the first photographer.

  Next, a control system related to diopter adjustment of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In STEP 1, the camera body 1 is turned on and the camera is activated.

  In STEP2, when the diopter adjustment dial 1e is rotated for diopter adjustment operation, the diopter adjustment mode is started. Proceed to STEP 3.

  In STEP 3, if the diopter adjustment mode is entered, diopter adjustment is possible. From this point of time, display by superimposition of characters / numbers, autofocus area frames, etc. is performed on the display unit 1g in the viewfinder. A similar display is made on the liquid crystal monitor 1f. If the diopter adjustment dial 1e is rotated, the camera CPU 1i determines that the diopter is being adjusted, the diopter adjustment mode is continued, and the display is also continued.

  If the diopter adjustment operation is completed in STEP 3, the process proceeds to STEP 4. If the release button 1b is operated for photographing, the process proceeds to STEP 5.

  In STEP 4, if the diopter adjustment operation is completed and the diopter adjustment dial 1e has not been operated for a certain period of time, the process proceeds to STEP 6. If it is still in operation, go to STEP2.

  In STEP 5, if the release button 1b is half-pressed, the diopter adjustment mode is terminated, and the process proceeds to STEP 6.

  The diopter adjustment mode is ended by ending the diopter adjustment operation or by half-pressing the release.

  In STEP 6, after completion of the diopter adjustment mode, the superimposed display of characters / numbers, autofocus area frames, etc. on the display unit 1g in the viewfinder is not displayed.

  In STEP 7, the set stop position of the diopter adjustment lens G2 is stored in the camera CPU 1i.

  In STEP 8, the stored stop position of the diopter adjustment lens G2 is displayed on the display unit 1g and the liquid crystal monitor 1f in the viewfinder.

  In STEP 9, the displayed stop position of the diopter adjustment lens G2 is confirmed. If readjustment is necessary, the process proceeds to STEP2. If readjustment is not necessary, proceed to STEP 10 to complete the operation.

  The above is a description of the present invention using examples. The present invention is not limited to this embodiment. The present invention can be implemented in various modes without departing from the gist of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Camera body 1a Power dial 1b Release button 1c Viewfinder 1d Eyepiece 1e Diopter adjustment dial 1f LCD monitor 1g Display unit 1h in viewfinder Rotary encoder 1i Camera CPU
G1 Lens G1
G2 Diopter adjustment lens G3 Lens G3
G4 Lens G4

Claims (4)

An imaging device having a diopter-adjustable viewfinder and an information display unit,
An image pickup apparatus that continuously displays a display object displayed on the information display unit during a diopter adjustment operation. The imaging apparatus has a control unit,
The viewfinder detects a plurality of finder optical system lenses including a diopter adjustment lens, a diopter adjustment unit that moves the diopter adjustment lens in the optical axis direction, and a diopter adjustment operation of the diopter adjustment unit, A detection unit for sending diopter adjustment operation information to the control unit,
The control unit processes the information sent from the detection unit, calculates a stop position of the diopter adjustment lens after the diopter adjustment operation, and additionally displays the stop position on the display object. Process,
In addition, if it is determined that diopter adjustment is being performed based on the information, the current position of the diopter adjustment lens is displayed on the information display unit, and the display is continued. Item 2. The imaging device according to Item 1. In the imaging apparatus, the information display unit is disposed in a place other than the viewfinder or the viewfinder,
The display object is displayed with light emission in the information display unit, and when diopter adjustment operation is started, the display object is displayed with light emission with higher intensity than the display state before diopter adjustment start. The imaging device described in 1. The diopter adjustment unit manually moves the diopter adjustment lens in the optical axis direction,
The control unit can record at least one stop position of the diopter adjustment lens moved by the manual operation for each manual operation, and the stop position recorded for each manual operation can be recorded. The imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein at least one place can be displayed on the information display unit.

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