JP2803894B2 - camera - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to automatic step exposure shooting, that is, shooting performed by shifting the exposure value for each frame (hereinafter referred to as “AEB”).
The camera is configured to be capable of performing "shooting", and the mode for performing the shooting is referred to as "auto bracket mode". This is called "one-shot focus shooting", and a mode for performing the shooting is called "one-shot mode", and shooting in which a focusing operation is continuously performed on a subject (hereinafter, referred to as "servo focus shooting"). Mode "servo mode").

[Prior Art] Recent cameras are highly electronically controlled. For example, a camera is configured to automatically execute a shooting technique conventionally performed by a professional photographer with a single button operation. Cameras are also increasing.

The camera manufactured and sold by the present applicant is one of such highly electronically controlled cameras, and has a well-known AEB photographing function.

The AEB shooting function is, for example, a function of continuously and automatically performing shooting with an appropriate exposure value, shooting with overexposure, and shooting with underexposure in this order.

Known AEB photographing apparatuses include the following two types of operation systems, and these two types of apparatuses are separately mounted for each camera model.

The first AEB device is of an operation type in which a set number of shots are continuously taken with one release button operation at the time of AEB shooting, and the second AEB device performs a shutter operation only while the release button is pressed. This is an operation type in which the AEB is continuously performed only during the leverage.

Conventionally, the AEB device of the first operation type and the AEB device of the second operation type have not been mounted on the same camera.

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] The above-mentioned known camera having the AEB photographing function has the following problems.

In general, when taking AEB shots of static objects such as landscapes, it is easier to use AEB exposure for a set number of shots continuously with a single release, but on the contrary, when taking a AEB shot of a moving object, the release button is used. If the shutter is released only while the button is pressed, it is easier to use and it is easier to catch a photo opportunity. This is because if the AEB exposure is performed continuously for the set number of times with a single release while shooting a moving object, a good shutter chance appears during the AEB exposure and the shutter cannot be released even if you want to release it. This is because you miss a chance.

Therefore, the object of the present invention is easy to use both when AEB photographing a static body and AEB photographing a moving object,
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved camera that can take a photograph with an optimal exposure without missing a photo opportunity at the time of shooting.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the camera according to the first aspect of the present invention operates the shooting operation member in an auto bracket mode in which shooting is performed by shifting the exposure value for each frame. Then, the first mode in which shooting is performed in the auto bracket mode continuously for a predetermined number of frames even after the operation is released, and the shooting in the auto bracket mode only while the operation member is operated. And a second mode for performing, and when a shooting state suitable for shooting a stationary body is set, the first mode is selected, and when a shooting state suitable for shooting a moving body is set, A selection means for selecting the second mode is provided.

Similarly, in the camera according to the second aspect of the present invention, when the shooting operation member is operated in the auto bracket mode in which the exposure value is shifted for each frame and shooting is performed, the predetermined value is set even if the operation is released. A first mode in which shooting is performed in the auto bracket mode continuously for a number of frames,
A second mode for performing shooting in the auto bracket mode is provided only while the operation member is being operated, and when a one-shot mode in which focus is locked once and shooting is performed is set as the auto focus mode, And selecting means for selecting the second mode when a servo mode for repeatedly focusing is set as the autofocus mode by selecting the first mode.

[Operation] In the camera according to the first aspect of the present invention, when a photographing operation member is operated when a photographing state suitable for photographing a stationary body is set, a predetermined number of continuous frames is obtained even if the operation is canceled thereafter. Select the first mode to perform AEB shooting and set the second mode to continuously perform AEB shooting only while the shooting operation member is operated when the shooting state suitable for shooting moving objects is set. Acts as a choice.

Further, in the camera according to the second aspect of the present invention, when the one-shot mode in which the focus is locked once and the shooting is performed is set as the auto mode, when the shooting operation member is operated, the operation is canceled thereafter. Also, when the first mode in which AEB shooting is performed continuously for a predetermined number of frames is selected and the servo mode in which focus is repeatedly set as the auto focus mode is set, only while the shooting operation member is operated It works so as to select the second mode for continuously performing AEB photography.

[Embodiment] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the electrical configuration of the camera according to the present invention.

In FIG. 2, 1 is a microcomputer for controlling the operation of the entire camera, 2 is a motor control circuit in the lens for controlling an optical system drive motor (lens drive motor and aperture blade drive motor) in the lens barrel, 3 is a liquid crystal display circuit for driving the liquid crystal of the liquid crystal display device of the camera, 4 is a switch sense circuit for detecting the state of various detection switches,
Reference numeral 5 denotes a strobe light emission dimming control circuit for controlling a strobe device; 6, a focus detection circuit for detecting a focus of a photographing lens;
Is a photometric circuit having a built-in photometric element, 8 is a shutter control circuit that controls the drive of the shutter, 9 is a feed motor control circuit that controls a film feed motor, SW1 is a switch that starts the operation of the camera, SW2 Is a switch that is turned on in conjunction with the release of the release button, the X contact is a switch that turns on when the leading of the shutter's front curtain ends,
It is.

A double line drawn between the microcomputer 1 and each circuit is a serial data bus DBUS provided between the input / output port of the microcomputer 1 and each circuit, and the microcomputer is connected via the data bus DBUS. 1 and each circuit perform data communication. Also, the control signals for controlling each circuit by the microcomputer 1 are drawn between the microcomputer 1 and each circuit by a two-dot chain line.

The motor control circuit 2 in the lens performs serial communication with the microcomputer 1 via the data bus DBUS while receiving the LCOM signal from the microcomputer 1.
The motor drive information is received by serial communication, and the motor in the lens barrel is driven and controlled by the information. At the same time, various information (focal length etc.) of the lens is transmitted to the microcomputer 1 by serial communication.

The liquid crystal display circuit 3 is a circuit for driving a liquid crystal display (not shown) for notifying a photographer of each photographing information of the camera, for example, shutter speed, aperture value, ISO sensitivity, number of films, and the like. 3 is a data bus DBU while receiving the DPCOM signal from the microcomputer 1.
Serial communication with the microcomputer 1 is performed via S. The display data is received by serial communication, and the liquid crystal display is driven according to the data.

The switch sense circuit 4 is a circuit for reading the state of a switch for setting each photographing condition and the state of the camera by the photographer and sending the read state to the microcomputer 1. The switch data is sent to the microcomputer 1 by serial communication via the bus DBUS.

The strobe light control circuit 5 controls the strobe light and TTL
This circuit controls the light emission stop function by dimming. The circuit 5 performs serial communication with the microcomputer 1 via the data bus DBUS while receiving the STCOM signal from the microcomputer 1, and receives data related to strobe control. And various controls for the strobe device.

The focus detection circuit 6 is a line sensor for performing AF by the existing phase difference detection method and a circuit unit for storing and reading out the information. The focus detection circuit 6 is controlled by the microcomputer 1.

The photometric circuit 7 performs photometry of the subject, and sends a photometric output to the microcomputer under the control of the microcomputer 1. The microcomputer 1 performs A / D conversion of the sent photometric output and uses it for setting exposure conditions (aperture, shutter speed).

The shutter control circuit 8 performs advance control of a shutter first curtain and a rear curtain (not shown) according to a control signal of the microcomputer 1.

The feeding circuit 9 feeds (winds up and rewinds) the film according to a control signal from the microcomputer 1.

The switch SW1 is a switch linked to a button for starting the operation of the camera. When the microcomputer 1 recognizes that the switch SW1 is turned on, the microcomputer 1 starts photometry, distance measurement, and display.

Switch SW2 is linked with the camera's release button.
When the microcomputer 1 recognizes that W2 has been turned on, the exposure operation starts.

The X contact turns on when the leading edge of the shutter is completed.
Then, it serves to notify the flash light emission dimming control circuit 5 of the flash light emission timing.

Next, the operation of the camera of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 1 and FIGS. 3 to 7.

(101): First, with the power supply connected to the microcomputer 1, the switch SW1 is OFF or ON.
It is determined whether it is in the state. Here, switch SW1 is OFF
If the switch is in the ON state, the power is turned off. If the switch SW1 is in the ON state, the process proceeds to (102) to perform photometry and distance measurement.

(102): Photometry / distance measurement and calculation (103): After the photometry / distance measurement, it is determined whether the switch SW2 is OFF or ON. Switch SW2 is O
In the FF state, the ON / OFF determination of the switch SW1 of (104) is performed, and when the switch SW2 is in the ON state, the process proceeds to the release sequence of (105) and thereafter.

(104): When the switch SW2 is in the OFF state in the ON / OFF determination of the switch SW2 in (103), it is determined whether the switch SW1 is in the OFF state or the ON state. When the switch SW1 is OFF, turn off the power. When the switch SW1 is ON, (10
Return to 2) metering / ranging.

(105): For the proper value (aperture value / shutter speed value for obtaining proper exposure) calculated by photometry in (102),
Set the aperture value and shutter speed value in consideration of the correction amount set in AEB. FIG. 3 shows an example 1 in which three images including an appropriate AEB correction are set at ± 1 step and three images are taken. FIG. 4 shows an example 2 in which the AEB correction is performed in one stage and only the under side is corrected, and four images including proper ones are taken. In the case of Example 1 shown in FIG. 3, the AEB continues to be released for <-1>, <proper>, <+1>, <-1>, <proper>, <+1>, <-1>. In the case of Example 2 shown in FIG. 4, <proper>, <−
1>, <-2>, <-3>, <proper>, <-1>, <-
2>, <-3>, <appropriate>... Continue to cancel the AEB. Here, “appropriate” is obtained by the latest photometry.

(106): Exposure is performed with the aperture value and shutter speed value determined in (105).

(107): Here, the AF mode is set to the one-shot mode (1
It is determined whether the camera is in focus lock mode when the subject is in focus) or servo mode (mode that always keeps track of the subject). In the case of the servo mode, return to the initial (101), and in the case of the one-shot mode Is set so that AEB exposure is performed continuously for the number of AEB sheets in one release (10
Go to 8).

(108): The number of AEBs is decremented. AEB here
The number of sheets is 3 for proper and over-under 1 each, 5 for proper and over-under 2 each, 7 for proper and over-under 3 each, and so on. Also,
There may be a case where the number of appropriate and over or under 1 is 2, the number of appropriate and over or under 2 is 3, the number of appropriate and over or under 3 is 4, and so on.

(109): It is determined whether or not the number of AEBs is 0 or 0. If the number is 0, the release sequence ends and the process returns to the beginning (101). If it is not 0, the process proceeds to the step (106) following the (105) AEB process.
Exposure, and continue AEB shooting.

The table in FIG. 5 shows that the switch SW2 (release button) is used when the AF mode is the one-shot mode (the mode in which focus is locked once the subject is focused) and the servo mode (the mode in which the subject is always tracked). This shows how the processing of AEB differs depending on whether) is ON or OFF.

From the table, it can be seen that when the AF mode is Servo, the switch can be released by turning on the switch SW2, and it is strong in taking a photo opportunity. The AEB processing at this time is as shown in the table. Next, AF
When the mode is one-shot, the shutter cannot be released where you want to shoot even if the switch SW2 is turned on.However, the AEB exposure is performed continuously for the set number of shots with one release. It can be understood that the troublesomeness that can be continued is eliminated.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, in the camera according to the present invention, when a still subject is shot by AEB, one-shot operation of the release button may be performed by selecting one-shot focus shooting. In addition, AEB
When shooting, by selecting servo focus shooting, AEB shooting is performed only while the release button is pressed. Therefore, in the camera of the present invention, the AEB
Not only is the operation for taking a picture easy, but also a photograph with a proper exposure can be taken without missing a photo opportunity during AEB shooting of a moving subject.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing a characteristic operation of the camera of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an electric configuration of the camera of the present invention, and FIGS. 3 and 4 show photographing conditions in the case of AEB photographing. FIG. 5 shows a switch in the camera of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a relationship between SW2 and AEB shooting. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... microcomputer 2 ... lens motor control circuit 3 ... liquid crystal display circuit 4 ... switch sense circuit 5 ... strobe light emission dimming control circuit 6 ... focus detection circuit 7 ... photometry circuit 8 ... Shutter control circuit 9: Feed motor control circuit

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] An auto-bracket mode in which an exposure value is shifted for each frame to take a picture, and when a photographing operation member is operated, a predetermined number of frames continue continuously even if the operation is canceled thereafter. A first mode in which shooting is performed in the auto bracket mode, and a second mode in which shooting is performed in the auto bracket mode only while the operation member is being operated, and shooting suitable for shooting a stationary body When a state is set, the first mode is selected, and when a shooting state suitable for shooting a moving object is set,
A camera provided with a selection means for selecting the second mode. 2. An auto bracket mode in which an exposure value is shifted for each frame to take a picture, and when a photographing operation member is operated, a predetermined number of frames continue continuously even if the operation is canceled thereafter. A first mode in which shooting is performed in the auto bracket mode, and a second mode in which shooting is performed in the auto bracket mode only while the operation member is being operated. Then, when the one-shot mode in which the focus is locked and shooting is set, the first mode is selected, and when the servo mode for repeatedly focusing is set as the autofocus mode, the second mode is set. A camera comprising a selection means for selecting.