JP2014236243A - Adaptor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an adaptor that enables preferable photographing.SOLUTION: An adaptor 30 comprises: a first coupling part 35 coupled with a camera body 10; a second coupling part 36 coupled with a lens barrel 20; a communication unit 32 for communicating with the camera body 10 coupled with the first coupling part 35; an opening and closing member provided on a light path of light travelling from the second coupling part 36 to the first coupling part 35; and a control unit 32 that normally performs opening driving of the opening and closing member 31, and when a communication unit 32 receives an instruction transmitted from the camera body 10 if an exposure time of an imaging element 11 of the camera body 10 coupled with the first coupling part 35 is longer than a prescribed time, performs closing driving of the opening and closing member 31 for a time as long as the exposure time.

Description

  The present invention relates to an adapter in an interchangeable lens camera system.

  A mount conversion adapter for attaching an interchangeable lens for a single-lens reflex camera to a camera that is not a single-lens reflex type is known (see Patent Document 1). In the mount conversion adapter, one mount is a lens mount for a 35 mm single-lens reflex camera, and the other mount is a lens mount for another type of camera.

  In general, a 35 mm single-lens reflex camera system has a mechanical focal plane shutter on the camera body side and no shutter mechanism on the interchangeable lens side. On the other hand, some camera systems that are not single-lens reflex cameras omit the mechanical shutter mechanism on the camera body side.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-91388 JP-A-8-51571

  When an interchangeable lens for a single-lens reflex camera is attached to a camera that is not a single-lens reflex camera with the mount conversion adapter described above, there may be a case where neither a camera body nor an interchangeable lens has a mechanical shutter. In this case, the noise reduction processing described in Patent Document 2, that is, the fixed pattern noise generated in the image sensor is obtained by subtracting the dark exposure image acquired by closing the shutter from the normal exposure image acquired by opening the shutter. There was a problem that the process of reducing cannot be performed. The subject of this invention is providing the adapter which enables suitable imaging | photography.

  The adapter according to the present invention includes a first coupling unit coupled to the camera body, a second coupling unit coupled to the lens barrel, and a communication unit communicating between the camera body coupled to the first coupling unit. The opening / closing member provided on the optical path of the light traveling from the second coupling portion to the first coupling portion, and normally the opening / closing member is driven to open, and the exposure time of the image sensor of the camera body coupled to the first coupling portion And a controller that closes and drives the opening / closing member with the same length as the exposure time when an instruction transmitted from the camera body is received by the communication unit when the time is longer than the predetermined time.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the adapter which enables suitable imaging | photography can be provided.

1 is a perspective view illustrating an interchangeable lens camera system including an intermediate adapter according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing explaining the principal part of the camera system of FIG. It is a flowchart explaining the flow of the imaging | photography process which camera CPU performs. 10 is a flowchart for explaining a flow of photographing processing executed by a camera CPU of Modification 1;

  Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an interchangeable lens camera system including an intermediate adapter according to an embodiment of the present invention. The intermediate adapter 30 of the present embodiment is an adapter that is used when the mount standard is different between the camera body 10 and the interchangeable lens 20 and neither the camera body 10 nor the interchangeable lens 20 has a mechanical shutter.

  In FIG. 1, the camera system includes a camera body 10, an intermediate adapter 30, and an interchangeable lens 20. The camera body 10 is a camera body in the first camera system configured to attach an interchangeable lens in conformity with the first mount standard. For example, the first camera system does not include a mechanical shutter (focal plane shutter) in the camera body 10 and constitutes a camera system combined with an interchangeable lens incorporating a lens shutter.

  The interchangeable lens 20 is an interchangeable lens in the second camera system configured to be attached to the camera body in accordance with a second mount standard different from the first mount standard. The second camera system constitutes, for example, a 35 mm single-lens reflex camera system in which the interchangeable lens 20 is not provided with a lens shutter but the camera body is provided with a mechanical shutter (focal plane shutter). The intermediate adapter 30 is used when the interchangeable lens 20 constituting the second camera system is attached to the camera body 10 constituting the first camera system.

<Camera body 10>
The camera body 10 is provided with a mount portion 15 of the first mount standard. A terminal group 14 is provided at a predetermined position on the inner peripheral side of the mount portion 15. The terminal group 14 constitutes a power supply line from the camera body 10 to the intermediate adapter 30 (interchangeable lens 20) and a communication line between the camera body 10 and the intermediate adapter 30 (interchangeable lens 20).

  In the camera body 10, the image sensor 11 is provided behind the mount portion 15. A shutter button 16 is provided on the upper portion of the camera body 10. The pressing operation of the shutter button 16 is a shooting instruction for the camera body 10.

<Intermediate adapter 30>
The intermediate adapter 30 has a substantially cylindrical shape. One surface of the intermediate adapter 30 is provided with a first mount portion 35 that conforms to the first mount standard (that is, fits with the mount portion 15 of the camera body 10). A terminal group 34 is provided at a predetermined position on the inner peripheral side of the first mount portion 35. The terminal group 34 constitutes a power supply line from the camera body 10 to the intermediate adapter 30 and a communication line between the camera body 10 and the intermediate adapter 30.

  On the other surface of the intermediate adapter 30, a second mount portion 36 that conforms to the second mount standard (that is, fits with the mount portion 26 of the interchangeable lens 20) is provided. A terminal group 37 is provided at a predetermined position along the circumference of the second mount portion 36. The terminal group 37 constitutes a power supply line from the intermediate adapter 30 to the interchangeable lens 20 and a communication line between the intermediate adapter 30 and the interchangeable lens 20. The shape of the intermediate adapter 30 is not limited to the cylindrical shape, and may be other shapes.

  The first mount part 35 of the intermediate adapter 30 is detachable from the mount part 15 of the camera body 10. Further, the second mount portion 36 of the intermediate adapter 30 can be attached to and detached from the mount portion 26 of the interchangeable lens 20 described later. When the intermediate adapter 30 is attached to the camera body 10, the terminals of the terminal group 14 on the camera body 10 side and the terminals of the terminal group 34 on the intermediate adapter 30 side are electrically connected to each other.

<Interchangeable lens 20>
The interchangeable lens 20 is provided with a mount portion 26 of the second mount standard. A terminal group 27 is provided at a predetermined position along the circumference of the mount portion 26. The terminal group 27 constitutes a power supply line from the intermediate adapter 30 to the interchangeable lens 20 and a communication line between the intermediate adapter 30 and the interchangeable lens 20. When the interchangeable lens 20 is attached to the intermediate adapter 30, the terminals of the terminal group 37 on the intermediate adapter 30 side and the terminals of the terminal group 27 on the interchangeable lens 20 side are electrically connected to each other.

  FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a main part of the camera system of FIG. FIG. 2 illustrates only a configuration necessary for describing the present embodiment, and illustration and description of other configurations are omitted. In FIG. 2, the interchangeable lens 20 includes an imaging optical system 21, a diaphragm 22, a lens CPU 23, a lens driving unit 24, and a diaphragm driving unit 25. The interchangeable lens 20 is supplied with electric power from the intermediate adapter 30 side via the terminal group 27 and the terminal group 37.

  The imaging optical system 21 forms a subject image on the imaging surface of the imaging element 11 in the camera body 10. The imaging optical system 21 includes a plurality of lenses 21a to 21c, and includes a focusing lens 21b for adjusting the focal position of the imaging optical system 21.

  The lens CPU 23 includes a microcomputer, a memory, and peripheral circuits thereof, and controls each part in the interchangeable lens 20. A lens driving unit 24 and a diaphragm driving unit 25 are connected to the lens CPU 23. The lens CPU 23 further communicates with the adapter CPU 32 of the intermediate adapter 30 via the terminal group 27 and the terminal group 37.

  The lens driving unit 24 includes an actuator such as a stepping motor, and moves the focusing lens 21b forward and backward in the optical axis direction (left and right direction in FIG. 2) in response to an instruction from the lens CPU 23. The diaphragm drive unit 25 controls the aperture of the diaphragm 22 in accordance with an instruction from the lens CPU 23.

  The intermediate adapter 30 includes an adapter CPU 32 and a lens shutter device 31. The intermediate adapter 30 receives power from the camera body 10 via the terminal group 34 and the terminal group 14. The power supplied from the camera body 10 is also sent to the interchangeable lens 20 via the terminal group 37 and the terminal group 27.

  The adapter CPU 32 is composed of a microcomputer, a memory, its peripheral circuit, and the like. The adapter CPU 32 communicates with the camera CPU 12 of the camera body 10 via the terminal group 34 and the terminal group 14, and communicates with the lens CPU 23 of the interchangeable lens 20 via the terminal group 37 and the terminal group 27. Communicate with. In the present embodiment, communication between the camera CPU 12 and the lens CPU 23 is possible via the adapter CPU 32.

  The lens shutter device 31 is provided on the optical path in the intermediate adapter 30. The lens shutter device 31 performs opening / closing control of the shutter by a control signal from the adapter CPU 32. When the lens shutter device 31 closes the shutter, the optical path of the subject light traveling to the image sensor 11 is blocked. When the lens shutter device 31 opens the shutter, the optical path of the subject light opens, and the subject light advances to the image sensor 11. An opening / closing instruction for the lens shutter device 31 is sent from the camera CPU 12 to the adapter CPU 32. The lens shutter device 31 is normally left open.

  The camera body 10 includes an image sensor 11, a camera CPU 12, and a display unit 13. The image sensor 11 is configured by, for example, a CMOS image sensor, captures a subject image, and outputs an image signal. The camera CPU 12 is composed of a microcomputer, a memory and its peripheral circuits, and controls each part of the camera system. The display unit 13 is configured by a liquid crystal panel or the like, and reproduces and displays an image acquired by the image sensor 11.

<Description of flowchart>
An example will be described in which a dark exposure image (hereinafter referred to as a dark image) is acquired and noise reduction processing is performed using the intermediate adapter 30 when neither the camera body 10 nor the interchangeable lens 20 has a mechanical shutter. The noise reduction processing performed here removes dark current noise that tends to occur during long-time shooting. That is, the dark image data acquired in a state where the shutter device 31 is closed and the image sensor 11 is shielded from the normal exposure image data obtained by photographing the subject with the shutter device 31 opened, is subtracted in pixel units, and the photographed image is obtained. To reduce noise contained in.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the flow of photographing processing executed by the camera CPU 12 in the camera system illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. The camera CPU 12 activates the process of FIG. 3 when the noise reduction process is turned on. The program according to FIG. 3 is stored in a memory in the camera CPU 12.

  In step S1 of FIG. 3, the camera CPU 12 starts photometry and proceeds to step S2. Specifically, the image sensor 11 is started to acquire a live view image at a predetermined frame rate (for example, 60 fps), and photometric processing is performed based on the acquired image signal. The camera CPU 12 obtains an exposure value based on the photometric result while sequentially displaying the live view image on the display unit 13, and determines the ISO sensitivity, the aperture value, and the shutter speed.

  In step S2, the camera CPU 12 determines the presence / absence of a shooting instruction operation. If the shutter button 16 is fully pressed, the camera CPU 12 makes a positive determination in step S2 and proceeds to step S3. If the shutter button 16 is not fully pressed, the camera CPU 12 makes a negative determination in step S2 and returns to step S1. . When returning to step S1, the camera waits for a shooting instruction while repeating the photometry process.

  In step S3, the camera CPU 12 performs a shooting process. The camera CPU 12 controls the determined ISO sensitivity, aperture value, and shutter speed to cause the image sensor 11 to acquire an image, and proceeds to step S4.

  In step S4, the camera CPU 12 determines whether or not the shutter speed Tv controlled at the time of image acquisition in step S3 is higher than 1 second. If Tv is higher than 1 second, the camera CPU 12 makes an affirmative decision in step S4 and proceeds to step S5. If lower than 1 second, the camera CPU 12 makes a negative decision in step S4 and proceeds to step S7.

  In step S5 which proceeds when the shutter speed Tv is higher than 1 second, the camera CPU 12 records the acquired image data on a recording medium (not shown), and proceeds to step S6. In step S6, the camera CPU 12 determines whether an end operation has been performed. For example, when the switching operation to the reproduction processing mode is performed, the camera CPU 12 makes an affirmative determination in step S6 and ends the process of FIG. If the camera CPU 12 is not switched to the reproduction processing mode, the camera CPU 12 makes a negative determination in step S6 and returns to step S1. When returning to step S1, the above-described processing is repeated.

  In step S7 that proceeds when the shutter speed Tv is lower than 1 second, the camera CPU 12 sends an instruction to the adapter CPU 32 of the intermediate adapter 30 to drive the lens shutter device 31 closed, and proceeds to step S8. In step S8, the camera CPU 12 controls the ISO sensitivity, aperture value, and shutter speed to be the same as those at the time of image acquisition in step S3, causes the image sensor 11 to acquire an image, and proceeds to step S9. The image acquired in this case is a dark image in which the image sensor 11 is shielded from light by the lens shutter device 31.

  In step S9, the camera CPU 12 performs a noise reduction process for subtracting the image data acquired in step S8 from the image data acquired in step S3, and then proceeds to step S10. In step S10, the camera CPU 12 sends an instruction to the adapter CPU 32 of the intermediate adapter 30, drives the lens shutter device 31 to open, and proceeds to step S5. In step S5, the camera CPU 12 records the image data after the noise reduction processing on a recording medium (not shown), and then proceeds to step S6.

  In the above description, the example in which the noise reduction process is performed when the shutter speed Tv is lower than 1 second has been described. However, the value of the shutter speed Tv for determining whether the noise reduction process is necessary is not limited to 1 second, and is appropriately changed. It doesn't matter.

According to the embodiment described above, the following operational effects can be obtained.
(1) The intermediate adapter 30 is an adapter CPU 32 that communicates between the mount unit 35 coupled to the camera body 10, the mount unit 36 coupled to the interchangeable lens 20, and the camera body 10 coupled to the mount unit 35. And the shutter device 31 provided on the optical path of the light traveling from the mount portion 36 to the mount portion 35, and the exposure of the image pickup device 11 of the camera body 10 coupled to the mount portion 35. When an instruction transmitted from the camera body 10 when the time is longer than the predetermined time is received by the adapter CPU 32, an adapter CPU 32 is provided that closes the shutter device 31 for the same length as the exposure time. As a result, when the mount standard is different between the camera body 10 and the interchangeable lens 20, and there is no mechanical shutter in the camera body 10 or the interchangeable lens 20, the fixed pattern resulting from the image sensor 11 is used. The intermediate adapter 30 that enables processing to reduce the influence of noise can be provided.

(2) In the intermediate adapter 30, the instruction is transmitted from the camera body 10 for a process of reducing noise generated in the image sensor 11 in the camera body 10. Thereby, complicated processing for controlling the camera body 10 side from the intermediate adapter 30 side is unnecessary, and the intermediate adapter 30 can be simply configured.

(3) In the intermediate adapter 30, the interchangeable lens 20 for a single-lens reflex camera is coupled to the mount portion 36. Therefore, by using the intermediate adapter 30, the interchangeable lens 20 of a mount standard for a single-lens reflex camera can be It can be used in combination with a camera body 10 of another mount standard.

(4) In the intermediate adapter 30, the camera body 10 that is not mounted with the shutter device is coupled to the mount portion 35, and therefore, by using the intermediate adapter 30, the camera body 10 adopting a mount standard different from that of a single-lens reflex camera. Can be used in combination with an interchangeable lens 20 of another mount standard.

(Modification 1)
Instead of providing the shutter device 31 in the intermediate adapter 30, an ND (Neutral Density) filter may be provided. The ND filter attenuates light passing through the intermediate adapter by a predetermined amount. The ND filter is configured to be movable between the optical path of the subject light and the outside of the optical path. The adapter CPU 32 of the first modification causes the ND filter to be inserted on the optical path in response to an instruction from the camera CPU 12. Thereby, the subject image formed on the image sensor 11 becomes dark. On the other hand, the adapter CPU 32 retracts the ND filter from the optical path in response to an instruction from the camera CPU 12. Thereby, the subject image formed on the image sensor 11 becomes brighter. The normal position of the ND filter is a position retracted from the optical path.

  In the first modification, an example will be described in which a long daytime shooting process is performed using an intermediate adapter equipped with the ND filter when the aperture control of the interchangeable lens 20 is not performed from the camera body 10. FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining a flow of photographing processing executed by the camera CPU 12 in the camera system of the first modification. The camera CPU 12 activates the process of FIG. 4 when the daytime long second shooting process is turned on. The program according to FIG. 4 is stored in a memory in the camera CPU 12.

  In step S21 of FIG. 4, the camera CPU 12 starts photometry and proceeds to step S22. Specifically, the image sensor 11 is started to acquire a live view image, and photometric processing is performed based on the acquired image signal. The camera CPU 12 obtains an exposure value based on the photometric result while sequentially displaying the live view image on the display unit 13, and determines the ISO sensitivity and the shutter speed. In the case of the first modification, since the diaphragm 22 is not controlled, the diaphragm value is fixed (for example, an open value).

  In step S22, the camera CPU 12 determines the presence / absence of a shooting instruction operation. If the shutter button 16 is fully pressed, the camera CPU 12 makes a positive determination in step S22 and proceeds to step S23. If the shutter button 16 is not fully pressed, the camera CPU 12 makes a negative determination in step S22 and returns to step S21. . When returning to step S21, the camera waits for a shooting instruction while repeating the photometry process.

  In step S23, the camera CPU 12 determines whether or not the determined shutter speed Tv is lower than 1/4000 seconds. The camera CPU 12 makes an affirmative determination in step S23 when Tv is lower than 1/4000 seconds, and proceeds to step S24. If it is determined that a higher speed is required than 1/4000 seconds, the camera CPU 12 makes a negative determination in step S23. Proceed to step S27.

  In step S24 that proceeds when Tv is slower than 1/4000 seconds, the camera CPU 12 performs a photographing process. The camera CPU 12 controls the determined ISO sensitivity and shutter speed to cause the image sensor 11 to acquire an image, and proceeds to step S25.

  In step S25, the camera CPU 12 records the acquired image data on a recording medium (not shown) and proceeds to step S26. In step S26, the camera CPU 12 determines whether an end operation has been performed. For example, when the switching operation to the reproduction processing mode is performed, the camera CPU 12 makes a positive determination in step S <b> 26 and ends the process of FIG. 4. If the switching operation to the reproduction processing mode is not performed, the camera CPU 12 makes a negative determination in step S26 and returns to step S21. When returning to step S21, the above-described processing is repeated.

  In step S27, which proceeds when it is determined that the shutter speed Tv needs to be higher than 1/4000 seconds, the camera CPU 12 sends an instruction to the adapter CPU 32 of the intermediate adapter, and inserts an ND filter (moves on the optical path). Proceed to S28. In step S <b> 28, the camera CPU 12 causes the image sensor 11 to acquire an image at the shutter speed obtained by controlling the determined ISO sensitivity and the amount corresponding to the attenuation by the ND filter at a low speed, and the process proceeds to step S <b> 29. The image acquired in this case is a captured image that has been exposed for a long time compared to step S24.

  In step S29, the camera CPU 12 sends an instruction to the adapter CPU 32 of the intermediate adapter, retracts the ND filter (moves outside the optical path), and proceeds to step S25.

  According to the modified example 1 described above, the mount standard is different between the camera body 10 and the interchangeable lens 20, and the diaphragm of the interchangeable lens 20 is not controlled from the camera body 10 side (or the interchangeable lens has a diaphragm). Even if it is not provided), it is possible to shoot long seconds during the day. Thus, for example, the intermediate adapter 30 enables various photographic expressions such as expressing a waterfall or a mountain stream to flow with a long exposure time, or exposing a waterfall or mountain stream in a long time so that a passerby is not captured in the city. Can provide.

  In the description of the first modification, the example in which the ND filter is moved onto the optical path when it is determined that the shutter speed Tv faster than 1/4000 seconds is necessary based on the photometric result has been described. The value of the shutter speed Tv that becomes a boundary of whether or not to move the ND filter on the optical path is not limited to 1/4000 seconds, and may be changed as appropriate. In a general camera, the maximum shutter speed is about 1/4000 seconds. For this reason, in the description of the modified example 1, 1/4000 second is used as an example. If the maximum shutter speed is 1/8000 sec, the value of the shutter speed Tv as a boundary for whether or not to move the ND filter onto the optical path may be 1/8000 sec.

  Further, instead of determining whether or not to move the ND filter on the optical path according to whether or not the fastest shutter speed is required, overexposure (or the risk) is determined based on the photometric result. You may comprise so that it may determine according to it.

(Modification 2)
The intermediate adapter 30 may be configured to include both the shutter device 31 and the ND filter.

(Modification 3)
An aperture stop may be provided in the intermediate adapter 30 so that light can be blocked by this stop. The diaphragm in this case can reduce light from a state in which subject light to the image sensor 11 is not limited (dimmed) to a state in which light is reduced by 100% (that is, a light shielding state). The state where light is blocked by the diaphragm and the state where the diaphragm is opened correspond to the state where the shutter device 31 is closed and the state where the shutter device 31 is opened, respectively.

(Modification 4)
The intermediate adapter 30 may be configured to include a filter other than the ND filter (for example, a polarization filter, a soft focus filter, etc.).

  The above description is merely an example, and is not limited to the configuration of the above embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Camera body 11 ... Image pick-up element 15, 26, 35, 36 ... Mount part 20 ... Interchangeable lens 30 ... Intermediate adapter 31 ... Shutter apparatus 32 ... Adapter CPU

Claims (6)

A first coupling unit coupled to the camera body;
A second coupling portion coupled to the lens barrel;
A communication unit for communicating with the camera body coupled to the first coupling unit;
An opening / closing member provided on an optical path of light traveling from the second coupling portion to the first coupling portion;
Normally, the opening / closing member is driven to open, and an instruction transmitted from the camera body is received by the communication unit when the exposure time of the image sensor of the camera body coupled to the first coupling unit is longer than a predetermined time. And a controller that drives the opening / closing member to close with the same length as the exposure time;
An adapter comprising: The adapter according to claim 1,
The adapter, wherein the instruction is transmitted from the camera body for a process of reducing noise generated in the imaging device in the camera body. The adapter according to claim 1 or 2,
A dimming member provided movably between an optical path of light traveling from the second coupling section to the first coupling section and outside the optical path;
The control unit further moves the dimming member out of the optical path, and an instruction transmitted from the camera body in order to make the exposure time of the imaging element longer than a predetermined time in the camera body. The adapter is configured to move the dimming member onto the optical path when received by the optical path. The adapter according to claim 3,
The adapter is transmitted from the camera body when the camera body is overexposed. In the adapter as described in any one of Claims 1-4,
An adapter, wherein a lens barrel for a single-lens reflex camera is coupled to the second coupling unit. In the adapter according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
An adapter, wherein a camera body not equipped with a shutter device is coupled to the first coupling unit.

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