JP2527942Y2 - Electronic still camera - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial application field] The invention relates to an electronic still camera using a magnetic recording medium as a recording medium.

2. Description of the Related Art As is well known, an electronic still camera using a magnetic disk cartridge as a recording medium instead of a conventional photosensitive film has been provided. The magnetic disk cartridge has a square flat thin cartridge in which a magnetic disk as a recording medium is rotatably housed, and an electronic still camera using the magnetic disk cartridge can repeatedly use the recording medium, and can record captured images. It has the same advantages as a video camera, such that it can be immediately reproduced by a display device such as a CRT via a video processor.

This conventional electronic still camera is designed so that the magnetic disk cartridge is horizontally arranged in an exterior body covering the camera body to perform a recording or reproducing operation, and therefore, the shape of the exterior body covering the camera body is as follows. It has a simple rectangular flat box shape with a built-in photographic lens optical system at the center in the front-rear direction.
No. 8).

That is, as shown in FIG. 3, one example of a conventional electronic still camera of this kind is a camera 1 in which an exterior body 1A for covering the camera body is formed in a rectangular flat box shape, and a front face 1a. The photographing lens 2 is disposed substantially at the center, and the finder eyepiece 3 is disposed at the corresponding rear surface, and the lens optical system is disposed at the center in the front-rear direction. In the upper portion near the rear of one side 1b, there is provided a cartridge insertion / removal opening 4 for removably mounting the magnetic disk cartridge in a horizontal position at a predetermined position in the camera body. Is provided with a zooming operation member 5 formed by a seesaw switch. Although not shown, a main switch and a release member are naturally provided.

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the conventional electronic still camera configured as described above, no special consideration is given to the arrangement of the release member and the focal length switching operation member. Therefore, the operability is poor, and there is a risk of missing a photo opportunity. Further, it is desirable that an electronic still camera, which is characterized by being smaller and lighter than a video camera, can perform photographing by switching the focal length while holding it stably with one hand.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an electronic still camera of this type that can perform smooth shooting while holding it stably with one hand, effectively suppress camera shake, etc., and has improved operability. To be.

[Means and Actions for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the electronic still camera according to the present invention has a generally flat box shape as a whole, and is positioned so as to be biased toward one side edge of the camera. Built-in imaging optics,
The exterior body in which the thickness dimension of the part in which the imaging optical system is incorporated is relatively large, and the imaging optical system in which the thickness dimension of the exterior body is relatively large on the upper surface of the exterior body is incorporated. A release member which is disposed at a position where the camera is held in a shooting posture and is operated by a part of a gripping finger, and a focal length switch which is disposed at a position close to the release member on the upper surface of the exterior body. Operating member.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a camera showing one embodiment of the present invention, which is drawn from above a rear girth.

The electronic steel camera 11 has an exterior body 11A that covers the camera body and is formed in a shape exhibiting a flat rectangular box shape. A lens optical system is provided so as to penetrate in the direction. And the shooting lens of this optical system
12 is exposed on the front of the camera, and on the corresponding back,
A viewfinder eyepiece 13 such as an optical viewfinder or an electronic viewfinder (EVF) is provided in an exposed manner. In the lens optical system, the upper part of the lens barrel is exposed on the upper surface of the exterior body 11A covering the camera body, and the protruding exposed portion 14 is disposed at a position biased to one side edge side of the exterior body. The left and right upper surfaces of the projecting and exposed portions 14 of the exterior body 11A covering the camera body are formed as inclined surfaces respectively inclined toward the left and right side edges. . That is, the thickness dimension of the part in which the lens optical system (imaging optical system) is built is relatively large.

When the right edge of the exterior body 11A that covers the camera body is gripped by the right hand, the protruding exposure portion 14 is at a position where the tip of the gripping finger applied to the upper surface thereof can sufficiently reach. A zooming operation member 15 formed by a zoom ring as a focal length switching operation member adjacent to the eyepiece portion 13 immediately before the finder eyepiece portion 13 is provided at the rear of the projecting exposure portion 14. It is rotatably arranged, and a release member 16 is arranged immediately before the zooming operation member 15. As shown in the enlarged view of FIG. 2, the zooming operation member 15 is configured to rotate around the lens optical axis, and when rotated clockwise around the lens optical axis. A zoom switch (not shown) performs a zoom operation on the wide crocodile. When the zoom switch is rotated counterclockwise, a zoom operation on the telephoto crocodile is also performed by the zoom switch. A non-slip knurl is engraved on the outer peripheral surface of the zoom ring so that the ring can be easily rotated. The zooming operation member 15 thus configured
Right before the finder eyepiece 13, the upper part thereof is exposed, and the release member 16 and the release member 16 are connected to the projecting exposure part 14.

Further, on the rear surface where the finder eyepiece 13 is provided, a main switch 17 is provided at a position below the eyepiece 13 and biased toward one side edge where the release member 16 is provided, Display window 18 and strobe switch on the left,
A group of mode switch operation buttons 19 to 22 such as a drive switch, a self-timer switch, and a buzzer switch are provided. In addition, on one side of the exterior body 11A covering the camera body,
Like the conventional camera, an insertion opening (not shown) for loading a magnetic disk cartridge as a recording medium into the camera body is provided.

The electronic still camera of the present embodiment configured as described above holds the camera in a photographable state by gripping the right edge of the exterior body 11A covering the camera body of the camera 11 with the right hand. At the time of grasping, in the camera 11 of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 2, the index finger F is brought into contact with the zooming operation member 15, the middle finger is put on the release member 16, and the ring finger and little finger are put on the projecting exposing portion 14. The upper body 11A is put on, and the thumb is brought into contact with the bottom surface of the exterior body 11A covering the camera body. The exterior body 11A covering the camera body is firmly grasped by four fingers except the index finger F. In this way, since the fingertip rests on the projecting and exposed portion 14 at the upper part of the lens barrel, the fingertip is prevented from slipping, and the camera 11 can be securely held with one hand.

When performing the zooming operation in this state, if the zooming operation member 15 is rotated in the desired zoom direction by the abdomen of the index finger F, a quick zooming operation can be performed while the camera 11 is stably held. In addition, since the main switch and release member can be operated with one hand, operability is good, the time from when the power is turned on to when shooting is shortened, shooting can be performed without missing a photo opportunity, and power saving Become. Furthermore, since the release member 16 and the zooming operation member 15 are disposed in the portion where the lens optical system is built, the moment length between the portion pressed by the gripping finger and the optical system is minimized, and therefore, In addition, there is no possibility that the vibration when the camera is operated by operating these members while gripping the camera is amplified by the moment length, and the camera shake is not increased, and the camera shake can be effectively suppressed. A release member 16 and a zooming operation member are also provided.
15 are arranged close to each other, for example, the exterior body
In the inside of 11A, a portion where a printed board for each of these members is required can be made into one board, and the cost can be reduced.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to operate the focal length switching operation member and the release member while holding the camera stably with one hand. It is easy to operate and has good operability, and can shoot without missing a photo opportunity.

In addition, in this type of electronic still camera, which has a flat shape and is likely to cause camera shake, a release member and a focal length switching operation member are provided at a portion where the imaging optical system is built in, so that the holding member is pressed with a gripping finger. The moment length between the part and the optical system is minimized, and therefore, there is no possibility that the vibration when the camera is gripped and these members are operated is amplified by the moment length and the camera shake is increased. Further, since the release member and the focal length switching operation member are arranged close to each other, for example, it is possible to use a single printed circuit board for each of the parts where a printed circuit board for each of these members is required.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electronic still camera showing one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an enlarged front view of a zooming operation member, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an example of a conventional electronic still camera. It is. 11 Camera 11A Exterior 13 Finder eyepiece 15 Zooming operation member (focal length switching operation member) 16 Release member 17 Main switch F Finger grip

Claims (1)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] 1. A substantially box-like shape as a whole,
An exterior body in which an imaging optical system is built so as to be biased toward one side edge of the self, and a thickness dimension of a portion in which the imaging optical system is built is relatively large, and A release member that has a relatively large thickness dimension of the exterior body, is disposed at a portion where the imaging optical system is built, and is operated by a part of a gripping finger in a state where the camera is gripped in a shooting posture; An electronic steel camera, comprising: a focal length switching operation member disposed at a position close to the release member on the upper surface of the exterior body.