JP2604913B2 - Camera with built-in strobe - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a camera with a built-in flash.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a program shutter frequently used in a lens shutter type compact camera, a shutter time and an opening diameter are uniquely determined in accordance with the luminance of a subject. There is also known a flashmatic mechanism in which an autofocus device and a strobe are incorporated in a camera using such a program shutter, and the strobe emits light at a timing when the program shutter reaches an aperture diameter corresponding to a subject distance detected by the autofocus device. Have been.

In such a camera with a built-in flash, for example, when photographing a person subject in a bright background,
Even in so-called backlight scenes, daytime sync photography using a strobe can be easily performed, which is very convenient. In addition, when shooting a person with a night scene in the background, the aperture time of the program shutter is extended to enable night scene portrait mode shooting that improves not only the person but also the background depiction. Is coming.

[0004]

However, when performing daylight synchro photography in a backlight scene as described above, the main subject is sometimes easily overexposed, and the main subject is white in the finished print photograph. In some cases, he was dissatisfied. Also, in night view portrait mode shooting, especially when there is lighting such as street lamps in the background, the whole picture tends to be a dim light like a sunset view and it tends to be a print photograph lacking the night atmosphere, which is also unsatisfactory Often remained.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and prevents overexposure of a main subject when performing daylight synchro photography in backlight, where the brightness of the main subject is lower than the background. It is an object of the present invention to provide a camera with a built-in strobe that enables daylight synchro photography by approaching an appropriate exposure and reduces the amount of exposure of the background during nighttime portrait photography to create a night atmosphere.
Further, it is another object of the present invention to enable delicate exposure control at the time of daytime synchro photography or night view portrait photography to be arbitrarily and easily performed according to the photographer's intention.

[0006]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a flashmatic mechanism for emitting a strobe when a program shutter reaches an opening diameter corresponding to a subject distance, and a photographing mechanism. A shooting mode input means for switching a mode to a daytime synchro shooting mode;
In the daytime synchro photographing mode, a flash exposure control means for emitting a flash before the program shutter reaches the aperture diameter determined by the flashmatic mechanism is used. In the second invention, the flashmatic mechanism, a photographing mode input means for switching a photographing mode to a night scene portrait photographing mode, and a program shutter reaches an aperture determined by the flashmatic mechanism in the night scene portrait photographing mode. Exposure control means for controlling the opening and closing of the program shutter so that the strobe light is emitted when the exposure is performed and the exposure is smaller than the appropriate exposure amount corresponding to the brightness of the external light obtained from the photometric element. It is. According to a third aspect of the present invention, each of the photographing modes is set by a card member having a concave and convex shape at the tip, and a fourth aspect of the present invention is configured such that when a special photographing mode is selected, the brightness of the subject is reduced. In response to this, the mode is automatically switched to the daylight synchronized shooting mode or the night view portrait shooting mode.

[0007]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, if the switching means is switched to the daylight synchronized photographing mode and the photographing is performed, the strobe light is emitted before the strobe control means reaches the opening diameter of the program shutter determined by the flashmatic mechanism. , The contribution of the strobe light is slightly reduced. Further, according to the second aspect, when the photographing is performed by switching the switching means to the night view portrait photographing mode, the exposure control means performs the proper exposure calculated based on the film sensitivity information and the photometric value obtained from the photometric element. Exposure, and the contribution of the external light component is slightly reduced. Further, according to the third or fourth aspect, a low-cost photographing mode input unit can be realized with a simple member configuration.

[0008]

1 and 2 show a camera with a built-in strobe according to an embodiment of the present invention. The camera has a photographing lens 10, a strobe light emitting section 11, projection / reception windows 12 and 13 for autofocus, a subject on the front. Photometric window 14 for luminance detection,
The viewfinder objective window 15 has the main switch 1
6. A shutter button 18 is provided, and a finder eyepiece window 19 is further provided on the back. When the main switch 16 is turned on, power is supplied to each circuit unit, and a lens barrier (not shown) is opened to enter a shooting standby state. Thereafter, when the subject is looked through the finder eyepiece window 19 and the shutter button 18 is half-pressed, focusing and photometry are automatically performed, and when the shutter button 18 is continuously pressed, photographing is performed. As described later in detail, a photographing mode input device 29 is provided on the upper surface of the camera, and the photographer can perform photographing according to the photographing mode selected here.

[0009] An infrared light active system is used as the autofocus system. And the light emitting window 1
Near-infrared light from an IRED 20 (infrared light-emitting diode) built in the back of the camera 2 is projected onto a subject located on the focus frame 21 shown in FIG. Light is received by a PSD 22 (semiconductor position detector) built in the back of the exposure. The PSD 22 outputs a photoelectric signal corresponding to the distance to the subject according to the incident position of the near-infrared light to A.
The signal is input to the FIC 23, and the AFIC 23 calculates a subject distance by performing a distance measurement operation based on the photoelectric signal.
To send to. The light receiving window 13 incorporates an IR filter 25 that cuts visible light and transmits only near-infrared light. A photometric element 26 such as CdS is built in the depth of the photometric window 14, and the detected subject luminance information is converted into digital photometric data via an A / D converter 31 for exposure control to the CPU 24. Is entered. A film sensitivity input device 33 for reading the DX code of the photographic film is provided in the film loading chamber of the camera, and the film sensitivity data detected by the film sensitivity input device 33 is input to the CPU 24.

The CPU 24 receives not only operation signals from the various operation buttons 17 but also signals from a photographing mode input device 29 which also uses the card member 30. The photographing mode input device 29 is for inputting a photographing mode intended by the photographer to the camera, and as shown in FIG.
Is inserted into the insertion chamber 31, and a switch array 31a provided in the back of the insertion chamber 31. Card member 3
0 is prepared for each of various shooting modes, and the unevenness 30a at the tip is different for each shooting mode. And
When the card member 30 corresponding to the intended photographing mode is inserted into the insertion chamber 31, the switch row 31a is selectively turned on / off according to the unevenness 30a at the tip, and the on / off data is input to the CPU 24. With this, CPU2
Reference numeral 4 denotes an exposure calculation based on photometric data from the photometric element 26, film sensitivity data from the film sensitivity input device 33, and mode data from the photographing mode input device 29. When an appropriate exposure value is calculated by this exposure calculation, C
The PU 24 reads the shutter open / close control data satisfying the appropriate exposure value with reference to the ROM 28 and sends the read data to the driver IC 36. The CPU 24 transmits a clock pulse 37 for opening and closing the shutter to the driver IC 36 in conjunction with the full depression of the shutter button 18.

A well-known program shutter 34 for performing a triangular exposure operation and a trapezoidal exposure operation according to the mode of exposure control is incorporated in the taking lens 10. The program shutter 34 is driven to open and close by a pulse motor 35. The combination of the shutter time and the aperture diameter of the program shutter 34 is predetermined in accordance with the exposure value, and the combination is written in the ROM 28 as shutter opening / closing control data. When the shutter opening / closing control data is sent to the driver IC 36 and the clock pulse 37 is supplied, the pulse motor 35 starts rotating.

The strobe device 40 includes a strobe light emitting unit 11 whose guide number is determined in advance, and automatically emits light when the brightness is low. That is, in the normal photographing mode in which no card member 30 is inserted into the insertion chamber 31 of the photographing mode input device 29, when the photometric value detected by the photometric element 26 is below a certain level, the AFIC 23
The flash timing data corresponding to the time required for the program shutter 34 to have an appropriate aperture diameter based on the subject distance information obtained from
Sent to Then, a shutter release is performed, and at the moment when the program shutter 34 reaches the aperture diameter corresponding to the subject distance, the strobe light emitting unit 11 emits light, and so-called flashmatic strobe light emission control is performed.

First, the operation of the above-described configuration is described.
The case of the standard shooting mode not using 0 will be described.
The main switch 16 of the camera is turned on to be in a shooting preparation state. In this shooting preparation state, the strobe mode has been selected in advance as the low-luminance automatic emission mode. Peek through the finder eyepiece window 19, perform framing, and adjust the focus frame 21 to the subject.
When 8 is pressed halfway, the distance of the object portion located on the focus frame 21 is measured by the autofocus device. At the same time, photometry is started by the photometry device 26. The exposure value is determined by the program AE based on the photometric value of the photometric element 26 and the film sensitivity information as described above. Then, the CPU reads shutter open / close control data corresponding to the exposure value from the ROM 28 and sends the data to the driver IC 36. At this time, when the determined exposure value becomes an exposure value of, for example, “EV10” or less, the CPU 24 responds to the time until the opening diameter of the program shutter 34 reaches the opening diameter determined by the flashmatic mechanism. The emitted light timing data is sent to the flash device 40.

The driver IC 36 stores the shutter opening / closing control data, and upon receiving the shutter opening / closing clock pulse 37, starts the forward rotation of the pulse motor 35 and adds the number of the clock pulses 37. The pulse motor 35 is rotated forward until it reaches the same value as the shutter opening / closing control data. When the addition of the number of pulses reaches the same value as the data, the rotation of the pulse motor 35 is reversed and the number of pulses is subtracted from the value of the data. When the value obtained by this subtraction becomes "0", the reverse rotation of the pulse motor 35 is stopped, and an open / close operation completion signal of the program shutter 34 is sent to the CPU 24. Thereby, the CPU 24 detects the end of the opening / closing operation of the program shutter, and stops sending the clock pulse 37. FIG. 5 shows the triangular exposure at the time of the shutter time “t ₀ ” of the program shutter 34 at this time.

When the flash device 40 receives the light emission timing data, the flash device 40 stores the data and stores the data in the CPU.
When the clock pulse 37 for opening and closing the shutter is received from 24, the clock pulse 37 is subtracted from the value of the data. When the value obtained by the subtraction becomes "0", the strobe light emitting section 11 emits light. After that, the flash device 40 sends a light emission completion signal to the CPU 24. This causes the CPU 24 to stop sending the clock pulse 37. For example, subject distance 2m, film sensitivity IS
Assuming that O: 100 and the guide number of the strobe light is GN16, the CPU 24 determines the opening diameter of the program shutter 34 to be "F8" by the flashmatic mechanism. Then, the time “t ₂ ” to reach “F8” is calculated by triangular exposure with the shutter time “t ₀ ” shown in FIG. 5, and the flash timing data corresponding to this time “t ₂ ” is sent to the strobe device 40. , The opening diameter of the program shutter is "F
At the time when "8" is reached, the flash light emitting section 11 emits light.
Thus, flash photography is performed with proper exposure.

Next, a case where a human subject is photographed in a bright background as shown in FIG. 4 will be described. Under such subject conditions, the photographer inserts the card member 30 corresponding to the daylight sync photographing mode among the card members 30 corresponding to the various photographing modes described above into the insertion chamber 31 provided in the camera body. At this time, the insertion chamber 3
A mode signal indicating that daytime synchro-photography is to be performed is input to the CPU 24 from the switch row 31a provided in the switch 1. When the CPU 24 determines the daylight synchro shooting mode based on the mode signal, the CPU 24 performs arithmetic processing according to the program for the daytime synchro shooting mode stored in the ROM 28, and reaches the opening diameter of the program shutter 34 determined by the flashmatic mechanism. The flash device 40 is controlled so as to emit light before.

For example, the subject distance is 2 m, the film sensitivity I
Assuming that SO: 100 and the guide number of the strobe: GN16, the flash timing data corresponding to the time “t ₁ ” to reach the aperture diameter “F11” is stored in the strobe device according to the program of the daylight synchro shooting mode stored in the ROM 28. Send to 40. As a result, the strobe device 40 sets the opening diameter of the program shutter 34 to “F11”.
At this point, the strobe light emitting unit 11 is caused to emit light, and the contribution of the strobe light is slightly reduced as compared with the case where flash photography is performed simply by flashmatic control.

Next, as shown in FIG. 6, description will be given of a case where a portrait is photographed against a night view. Under such subject conditions, the photographer inserts into the card member 30 insertion chamber 31 in the night view portrait photography mode. At this time, the switch array 31a provided in the insertion chamber 31
A mode signal indicating that night view portrait shooting is performed is input to the PU 24. The CPU 24 determines the daytime synchro shooting mode based on the mode signal, and
The arithmetic processing is performed according to the night view portrait shooting mode program stored in the OM 28, and the exposure is performed at a value lower than the appropriate exposure value calculated based on the film sensitivity information and the photometric value obtained from the photometric element 26. The shutter opening / closing control data is transmitted to the driver IC 36.

For example, the subject brightness LV4, the film sensitivity ISO: 100, the lens F value: F4, the subject distance 2m,
FIG. 7 shows an exposure diagram of the program shutter when the guide number of the strobe is GN16. ROM28
According to the program of the night view portrait shooting mode stored in the program, the shutter time of the program shutter 34 gives a value 3 EV lower than “t ₀ = 1 second” that gives an appropriate exposure value, and “t ₁ = (1 / 8) seconds ”. The flash device 40 causes the flash light emitting unit 11 to emit light when the aperture diameter of the program shutter 34 becomes “F8” by the flashmatic mechanism. As a result, the contribution of external light is reduced as compared with the case where proper exposure is simply performed based on the film sensitivity information and the photometric value obtained from the photometric element 26.

In the above embodiment, the setting of each photographing mode is switched by the dedicated card member 30, respectively.
As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the special shooting mode button 5
0 may be provided. The special photographing mode button 50 is operated by the photographer when the condition does not correspond to a normal subject condition, for example, under a special subject condition as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6. When the special shooting mode button 50 is operated, the CPU 24 refers to the photometric value obtained from the photometric element 26, and when the photometric value is equal to or more than a certain value, automatically switches to the above-described daylight synchro shooting mode, and the value is equal to or less than the certain value. Sometimes, the mode is automatically switched to the above-mentioned night view portrait shooting mode. Then, shutter opening / closing control data suitable for these photographing modes is read from the ROM 28, and the same exposure control as in FIGS. 5 and 7 is performed.

[0021]

As described above, according to the present invention, the special photographing mode can be set by a simple operation. When the daylighting synchronous photographing mode is selected, the strobe light emitting means is determined by the flashmatic mechanism. Because the flash fires before reaching the aperture of the program shutter, the exposure of the subject illuminated with some natural light can be made close to the proper exposure when shooting against backlight. You can avoid making mistakes. Also, when the night view portrait mode is selected, the exposure control means performs exposure at a value lower than the appropriate exposure value calculated based on the film sensitivity information and the photometric value obtained from the photometric element. In the photographing of the subject, the background can be prevented from becoming bright and a bright print photograph such as a sunset can be prevented, and the atmosphere at night can be described as it is.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a circuit configuration of a camera using the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external view of a camera using the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a main part of a photographing mode input device.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a backlight scene.

FIG. 5 is an exposure program diagram in a daytime synchro imaging mode.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a night scene portrait scene.

FIG. 7 is an exposure program diagram in a night view portrait shooting mode.

FIG. 8 is an external view of a camera using another embodiment of the present invention.

9 is a block diagram schematically showing a circuit configuration of the camera shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Strobe light emission part 26 Photometry element 28 ROM 29 Photographing mode input device 30 Card member 31a Switch row 33 Film sensitivity input device 34 Program shutter 50 Special photography mode button

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] A shutter blade and an aperture blade are commonly used.
Program shutter and program shutter opening
A predetermined aperture whose aperture is predetermined according to the subject distance
Flash gusset that fires a flash when it reaches the diameter
And a click mechanism, the built-in strobe camera having an imaging mode input means for inputting various photographing modes intended by the photographer to the camera, cut to the shooting mode is daytime synchro photographing mode by the photography mode input unit conversion When you get it, you can
During the execution of the shooting program in black shooting mode.
In accordance with the generated light emission timing data , a strobe is fired before reaching a predetermined aperture diameter determined by the flashmatic mechanism, and only the flashmatic mechanism is used.
The contribution of the strobe light more than in normal flash photography
A camera with a built-in strobe, comprising a strobe exposure control means for performing control to lower the strobe. 2. The photographing mode input means includes a plurality of switches.
Switches in a row, and this switch row
Insert operation toward
The tip has an uneven shape that selectively turns on and off the switches
2. The camera with a built-in strobe according to claim 1, further comprising a card member provided in the camera. 3. A shutter blade and an aperture blade are commonly used.
The maximum aperture diameter is determined according to the brightness of the subject.
Program shutter in normal shooting mode
The aperture of the camera shutter is predetermined according to the subject distance.
The flash when the specified aperture is reached
And a flash-matic mechanism, each intended by the shooting party
The shooting mode input means for inputting the shooting mode to the camera
In the camera with a built-in strobe provided, the shooting mode input means switches from the normal shooting mode.
It is switched to the specific mode, and when the subject brightness obtained from the photometric device is above a predetermined value, automatically switched to the intermediate sync shooting mode day, sync shooting medium day
In the shadow mode, in the process of executing the shooting program
According to the generated light emission timing data, the flash
Reach the specified opening diameter determined by the schmatic mechanism
Flash is fired in front, only flashmatic mechanism
Contribution ratio of strobe light than normal strobe shooting
A flash built-in camera, comprising: a flash exposure control unit for controlling so as to reduce the image quality. 4. A shutter blade and an aperture blade are commonly used.
The maximum aperture diameter is determined according to the brightness of the subject.
Program shutter and opening diameter of program shutter
To a predetermined aperture diameter determined in advance corresponding to the subject distance
Flashmatic that fires a strobe when it reaches
And a mechanism, turtles a variety of shooting modes to the intention of the shooting's
Built-in strobe with shooting mode input means to input to camera
In the camera, the shooting mode is set to the night view port by the shooting mode input means.
When the mode is switched to the rate shooting mode,
Shutter is determined by the flashmatic mechanism.
The flash fires when the aperture reaches
After the flash fires, the program shutter
Before reaching the appropriate opening diameter calculated based on the
Control the closing of the program shutter, and
Control to reduce the contribution of external light compared to when shooting with
A camera with a built-in strobe, comprising: 5. The photographing mode input means includes a plurality of switches.
Switches in a row, and this switch row
Insert operation toward
The tip has an uneven shape that selectively turns on and off the switches
5. The camera with a built-in strobe according to claim 4, comprising a card member provided in the camera. 6. A shutter blade and an aperture blade are commonly used.
In normal shooting mode, the maximum aperture diameter
Program shutter and program shutter
The aperture diameter of the shutter is predetermined according to the subject distance.
A flash that fires a flash when it reaches the specified aperture
And a Sshumachikku mechanism, various intended by the shooting's shooting
Equipped with shooting mode input means for inputting the shadow mode to the camera
In the camera with a built-in strobe, the shooting mode input means switches the camera from the normal shooting mode.
The camera is switched to the special shooting mode and
Night scene portrait when the brightness of the subject falls below a certain value
The camera automatically switches to shooting mode,
In flash shooting mode, the flashmatic mechanism is used.
Light is emitted-in flash upon reaching a predetermined opening diameter that is
And the program shutter
Before reaching the proper opening diameter calculated by
The shutter with the proper aperture diameter is controlled by controlling the closing of the system shutter.
Exposure that controls so that the contribution of external light is lower than when shadows
A camera with a built-in strobe, comprising light control means .