JP2872684B2 - Imaging equipment - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a photographing device such as a camera and an interchangeable lens,
In particular, the present invention relates to a photographing apparatus equipped with a focusing mechanism and a variable focal length mechanism.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a photographing apparatus having a photographing lens with a variable focal length includes a focusing operation member for moving a focusing lens to a photographing lens unit and a focus for moving a lens or a lens group for varying a focal length. Having a variable distance operation member, the user operates the focusing operation member and the focal length variable operation member separately while photographing while looking at the viewfinder,
The focal length changing operation and the focusing operation have been performed.

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] In the conventional photographing apparatus as described above, since the operation for focusing and the operation for changing the focal length must be performed separately, the operation is complicated. When photographing an object moving toward the camera continuously, the photographer must perform both the focusing operation and the focal length changing operation at the same time. However, it is very difficult to take a photograph of the intended image.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an improved camera which can be operated much more easily than a conventional photographing apparatus, and which can photograph a subject moving toward a photographer as a photograph intended by the photographer. To provide a photographing device.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, in a photographing apparatus having a variable focal length, an actual subject is viewed on a screen such as a finder and the size of the subject in the screen is reduced. A setting switch for setting, detecting and storing the subject distance and the focal length when the size of the subject in the screen is set by the setting switch, and when the subject distance changes, the subject distance after the change is detected. Calculating a focal length at which the size of the subject in the screen becomes the size set by the setting switch based on the detected subject distance after the change and the stored subject distance and the focal length; For changing the focal length to the calculated focal length.

According to this, the size of the subject in the screen can be freely set to a desired size for the actual subject while the photographer views the actual subject on the screen such as a viewfinder. Therefore, the moving subject can be easily photographed with a fixed size as compared with the conventional photographing apparatus.

[Operation] In FIG. 1, the object is first photographed at the shooting distance shown in FIG.
It assumed to be the position of A _1. At this time, the photographer performs a predetermined focusing operation using a known autofocus function. Simultaneously or after focusing, the focal length of the photographing lens is changed by operating the variable focal length operation member 41 to move the zoom ring 4 back and forth in the optical axis direction. Set to be.
Here, the setting switch 27 provided on the camera body is turned on.

The movement of the photographing distance A ₁ and the focal length f ₁ at that time by the introduction of the setting switch 27 reads from each of the detecting means 7 and 9, is stored in the control circuit 18, then the object is to the position of the photographing distance A ₂ Suppose you did. Here again perform the same focusing operation as described above, reads the photographing distance A ₂ in the focusing operation, sequentially from the photographing distance detection unit 7, wherein The focal length f ₂ of interest is calculated in the control circuit 18 drives the variable focus motor 8 through the drive circuit 11 to where the value of the focal length value of the detection means 9 and the focal length f ₂ is coincident with the pinion gear 8a The zoom ring 4 is moved forward and backward via the rack gear 4a. Then, by pressing a release button (not shown), a predetermined photometric operation is performed, the shutter operation is completed, and the photographing operation is completed.

Embodiment An embodiment of a photographing device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a first embodiment of a photographing apparatus according to the present invention. In this embodiment, the photographing apparatus of the present invention is displayed as a single-lens reflex camera.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a focusing lens group for performing a focusing operation;
1a is a focusing lens holding frame for holding the focusing lens group 1, 1b is a projection for rotating the focusing lens holding frame around the optical axis,
1c is a helicoid for moving the focusing lens holding frame 1a forward and backward in the optical axis direction when rotated, 2 is a variator lens group, 2a is a first moving frame holding the variator lens group 2, and 2b is a first movement. Projection of frame 2a, 3 is a compensator lens group, 3a is a second moving frame holding compensator lens group 3, 3b is a projection of second moving frame 3a, 4 is first moving frame 2a
A zoom ring having a cam groove engaging with the projection 2b of the second moving frame 3a and a cam groove engaging with the projection 3b of the second moving frame 3a and capable of moving straight along the optical axis direction, and 4a is formed on the zoom ring 4. The rack gear 5 has an axial groove 5a that engages with the projection 1b of the focusing lens holding frame 1a, and the operating ring is rotatably fitted on the zoom ring 4, and 6 rotates the focusing lens holding frame 1a. A focusing motor for transmitting the rotation of the focusing motor to the focusing lens holding frame 1; and 7, a change in the relative position of the sliding resistor 7b with respect to the brush 7a. A photographing distance detecting means 8 for detecting a photographing distance corresponding to the amount of movement of the focusing lens group 1, and a variable focus 8 for moving the zoom ring 4 in the optical axis direction by rotating a pinion gear 8a to perform a variable focal length operation. Motor for distance. Reference numeral 9a denotes a brush which is in sliding contact with a sliding resistance 9b provided on the zoom ring 4. A focal length detecting means 9 for detecting the focal length of the taking lens from the relative position change between the two is connected to the brush 9a. 10 is a photographing lens fixing unit, 11 is a driving circuit for driving the focusing motor 6 and the variable focal length motor 8,
Reference numeral 12 denotes a lens RO in which data specific to the photographing lens, such as a focusing value of the photographing lens and a limit value of a variable focal length operation, is written.
M and 13 are mounts for detachably connecting the photographing lens unit and the camera unit, 14 is a quick return mirror made to transmit a part of light beams, and 14a is a part of the quick return mirror transmitted through the quick return mirror 14. A sub-mirror for guiding the light beam to the distance measuring unit 17, a photographing body 15 such as a film or a CCD or a photographing tube for recording a subject image formed by the photographing lens, and a display state 16 of the mechanism according to the present invention. Display means.

Reference numeral 18 denotes a control circuit for performing various controls based on information obtained by the photographing distance detecting means 7, the focal length detecting means 9, and the lens ROM 12. 26 is a relay lens, 27 is a setting switch used to set the shooting distance and focal length, 28 is a control circuit
Reference numeral 18 denotes a power source connected to the motors 6 and 8 and the like. Reference numeral 41 denotes a variable focal length operation member for causing the variable focal length mechanism to perform a variable focal length operation.

The focusing motor 6, the variable focal length motor 8, and the variable focal length member 41 are electrically connected to the drive circuit 11, and the drive circuit 11 is connected to the arithmetic circuit 18. Further, the photographing distance detecting means 7 and the focal length detecting means 9
The lens ROM 12, the display means 16, the distance measuring unit 17, and the setting switch 27 are also electrically connected to the control circuit 18.

FIG. 2 is a view showing the principle of optical operation in the photographing apparatus of the present invention shown in FIG.

In FIG. 2, in the position of the shooting distance A ₁ only away M ₁ from the image plane M of the subject of the magnitude y 'is placed imaging member, setting this time, the taking lens L is the focal length f ₁ It is assumed that the subject y 'is imaged on the imaging body at the size of y.

Then, the shooting distance to the moving object y 'to the position of M ₂
When changed to A _2, subject y 'to image the same size as y and when a to M _1, the photographing lens L is the taking lens L such that the focal length of f _2' focal length Needs to be changed. Therefore, to find f ₂ in this state,
From the focal length f ₁ and the shooting distance A _{1 of the} shooting lens L and the shooting distance A ₂ after moving the subject Holds, if f ₁ , A ₁ , A ₂ are determined
f ₂ can be calculated. It is also possible to correct the value of f ₂ in response to the shooting distance by adding an arbitrary coefficient equation.

In the camera of the present invention, lens positioning control is performed based on the above equation.

Next, camera operation and lens positioning control in the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 1, first, the subject is at the shooting distance shown in FIG.
It assumed to be the position of A _1. At this time, the photographer performs a predetermined focusing operation using the well-known autofocus function in the above configuration. Simultaneously or after focusing, the variable focal length operation member 41 is operated to move the zoom ring 4 in the optical axis direction to change the focal length of the photographing lens,
The subject is set in the viewfinder so as to be the size intended by the photographer. Here, the setting switch 27 provided on the camera body is turned on. The setting position of the setting switch 27 is not limited to the camera unit, but may be on the photographing lens side.

With the introduction of the setting switch 27 reads the shooting distance A ₁ and the focal length f ₁ at that time from the respective detecting means 7 and 9, is stored in the control circuit 18. Then the object is moved to the position of the photographing distance A _2. Here, the same focusing operation as described above is performed again, and during this focusing operation, the photographing distance detecting means 7 is successively used.
Reads the photographing distance A ₂ from calculated by the focal length f ₂ of the control circuit 18 for the purpose pursuant to the above equation, the driving circuit
Through 11 to where the value of the focal length value of the detection means 9 and the focal length f ₂ are identical drives a variable focus motor 8, advancing and retracting the zoom ring 4 via the pinion 8a and the rack gear 4a.

After that, by pressing a release button (not shown), a predetermined side light operation is performed, the shutter operation is completed, and the photographing operation is completed. However, the data stored in the control circuit 18 by the setting switch 27 is cleared by an off switch (not shown) or turning off the power supply 28.

Next, the above-described series of operations will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. Here, it is assumed that the photographing lens shown in FIG. 1 is a zoom lens having a focal length of 35 mm to 70 mm and the photographable distance is from infinity (∞) to the shortest photographing distance b. In this case, there are countless combinations of the focal length and the photographing distance in the area surrounded by the broken line. However, in the camera of the present invention, the photographing distance A1 and the focal length are _{first determined} based on the above-described equation. the combination of the focal length f ₂ when the shooting distance a ₂ by setting f ₁ is automatically calculated as follows.

That, Range 5 m, the subject in the viewfinder focal length 40mm and looked like a Z _1. At this time, A ₁ = 5000m
It is stored in the control circuit 18 as m, f ₁ = 40 mm. After that, the subject moves away to 8m. Since the object is visible at the same size at this time finder and Z _1, i.e. the focal length f ₂ by the equation to shoot at the same size as when a subject 5m is Is calculated. This can be seen that the combination of photographable object distance and the focal length in the same state as Z ₁ is a line ▲ ▼ above. Similarly, if the set by f ₁ = 64 mm in the state of Z ₂ in A ₁ = 5 m for larger pictures of the object from Z _1, the combination of time this will be present on the extension of the upper ▲ ▼ . However, if the object moves to A ₂ = 8 m in this state, the focal length f ₂ needs to be set to 102.4 mm, but the shooting lens is limited to 70 mm.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, from the shooting distance of about 5.46 m to infinity, the variable focus operation limit value of the shooting lens is read from the lens ROM 12, and when the calculated value exceeds the limit value, the calculated output value is fixed to the focal length of 70 mm, That is, the control circuit 18 is set so that the driving of the variable focal length motor 8 is stopped and only the focusing operation can be continuously performed. Similarly, the same operation is performed during the period between the triangles on the closest side, that is, from 2.73 m to b.

Further, ▲ ▼ when set in a state of Z ₃ in the upper position deviates from the shortest photographing distance b at point C. As described above, when the shooting distance reaches the focusing operation limit, that is, even when the focusing operation reaches the focusing limit value stored in the lens ROM 12, the variable focus operation calculation output value is fixed. ing.

Further, when the focusing operation reaches infinity, a finite value which can be regarded as a calculationally infinite value, such as 10 ⁵ m, as a value of the shooting distance is calculated as an output value of the focal length detecting means.

In this embodiment, the variable focal length operation is in the form of a well-known linear zoom mechanism in which the operation ring 5 moves forward and backward in the optical axis direction, but the variable focal length operation is performed by rotating the zoom ring 4 around the optical axis. It is possible to take a form of a known rotary zoom performed by the camera.

The photographing lens of the present embodiment is a known four-group type zoom lens, but the zoom type is a two-group zoom or a known rear focus type zoom in which a focusing operation is performed by moving a lens group inside the photographing lens. As for shooting lens types such as lenses and optically corrected zoom lenses, there are a lens group that performs focusing operation and a lens group that performs variable focal length operation continuously or intermittently, and shooting is performed according to each operation. It is sufficient that the distance and the focal length have a structure that can be detected by an appropriate detecting means.

Further, in this embodiment, the interchangeable lens type autofocus single-lens reflex camera is configured such that the photographing lens unit and the camera unit are coupled by the mount 13, but the photographing lens unit and the camera may be integrally formed. Further, in the present embodiment, the focusing motor 6 used for autofocusing is disposed on the photographing lens side. However, the focusing motor 6 is provided in the camera unit and the focusing operation is performed via the coupler mechanism of the mount. A known automatic focusing camera may be used. Similarly, even if the variable focal length motor 8 is disposed on the body side, the same operation as in the present embodiment can be performed.

In addition, a power source which is a driving source for performing various operations of the present embodiment may be configured to be supplied from outside the variable focal length photographing apparatus.

By using the variable focal length photographing apparatus shown in the above embodiment, for example, when photographing a car or a child approaching or moving away, by setting the size of the subject to be photographed in advance with the setting switch 27, The focal length is automatically determined in cooperation with the autofocus mechanism, and the photographer can take a picture simply by capturing the subject in the viewfinder and determining the composition without operating the photographing lens. That is, according to the present invention, the operation involved in shooting is simplified, and it is possible to concentrate on setting the composition and to minimize blur caused by operating the shooting lens during shooting. This has the effect of significantly reducing the burden on the photographer. Also, when shooting a baseball game, players are located at different shooting distances, but by capturing the player you want to shoot in the viewfinder, you can shoot the player in the same size, Immediately after shooting a player trying to take a shot, the runner sliding into the home base can be instantly and accurately framed and photographed, which has the effect of capturing more shutter opportunities.

In particular, when the present invention is applied to a camera that continuously shoots, such as a movie camera, the effect is enormous. Further, even in the case of a shooting device such as a movie camera which is not of a type for continuously shooting, a control circuit such that the variable focal length operation is performed only when the release button is half-pressed immediately before the shooting operation is started. If the signal is output from 18, the time for energizing the variable focal length motor can be shortened, and the power saving effect can be exhibited.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the photographer first sets the composition based on the combination of the photographing distance and the focal length, and then follows the subject without operating the photographing lens unit, thereby releasing the release button. Just press to shoot.

Embodiment 2 FIG. 4 is a view showing a second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the power supply 28, the control circuit 18, the distance measuring unit 17, and the setting switch 27 are mounted on the photographing lens side. Further, a half prism 29 for introducing a part of the light beam of the photographing lens into the distance measuring unit 17 is added. Further, an operation completion display member 30 is provided for notifying the photographer that the variable focal length operation has matched the output value of the control circuit 18.

The operation in the second embodiment is almost the same as the operation in the first embodiment, except that the operation is performed by a signal issued from the control circuit 18 when the variable focal length operation is executed up to the point where the output value of the control circuit 18 matches. The function different from the first embodiment is that the completion display member 30 displays the operation completion by sound or light emission. The other operations are the same as those in the first embodiment, and the description is omitted.

When the photographer presses the release button when the display is performed by the member 30, the photographing is completed.

In the second embodiment, since all components related to the present invention are mounted on the photographing lens side, the photographing of the first embodiment can be performed simply by attaching the photographing lens of FIG. 4 to a conventional single-lens reflex camera or a conventional movie camera. An imaging device having the same function as the device can be realized. In the photographing apparatus of the second embodiment, since the operation completion display member 30 is provided, it is possible to confirm whether or not the above-described operations are being executed reliably without looking through the viewfinder. There is.

(Embodiment 3) The third embodiment of the present invention is a photographing apparatus having the same configuration as the configuration shown in FIG. 1, but in addition to the configuration shown in FIG. Focal length switch
40 and the configuration shown in FIG.
The switches 39 and 40 may be provided on the camera side on the photographing lens side.

FIG. 5 is a view showing the viewfinder 31 and the focal length display window 32 in the photographing devices of the first and second embodiments, and FIG. 6 shows a display state in the focal length display window 32.

In FIG. 5, reference numeral 33 denotes a pointer for displaying a focal length, reference numeral 34 denotes a display mark indicating an output value of the control circuit 18, reference numeral 36 denotes a focus frame indicating a distance measurement range at the time of automatic focusing, and reference numeral 37 denotes whether the subject is in focus. The focus mark 38 indicates an automatic variable focal length mark indicating whether or not the camera is in the automatic variable focal length state.
And a focal length display unit for displaying the focal length detected by the control unit.

(A) In the above configuration, when both the automatic focusing changeover switch 39 and the automatic variable focal length changeover switch 40 are automatically set, the photographing apparatus shown in FIG. 4 operates in the first embodiment shown in FIG. The state is exactly the same as that shown in FIG. At this time,
The automatic focusing mark 37 and the automatic variable focal length mark 38 are turned on. At the same time, the focal length display window 32 shows (k) in FIG.
As shown in the figure, the pointer 33 indicates the focal length value. In the above state, the variable focal length operation is performed by operating the variable focal length operation member 41 and driving the variable focal length motor 8, and when the setting switch 27 is turned on at an appropriate place, the photographing distance and the focus at this time are set. The distance is stored in the control circuit 18, and the display mark 34 is displayed adjacent to the pointer 33. Next, when the subject moves away, the automatic focusing operation is performed, and at the same time, the focal length value corresponding to the shooting distance is output from the control circuit 18, and the variable focal length operation is automatically performed, and the focal length display is performed. When the pointer 33 and the display mark 34 in the window 32 move upward in parallel, the subject moves further away, and when the focal length value from the control circuit 18 becomes equal to or longer than the long focal length value of the photographing lens,
As shown in FIG. 6 (m), the pointer 33 and the display mark 34 move to the upper limit of the focal length display window 32, and the display mark 34 flashes to indicate that the variable focal length operation has reached the limit. Is performed as it is, and as the shooting distance becomes infinity. Similarly, even when the subject approaches, the display mark 34 starts blinking when the variable focal length operation reaches the limit on the short focal length side, and the focusing operation is performed until the shooting distance becomes the shortest shooting distance.

When the variable focus operation member 41 is operated after the setting switch 27 is turned on, the focal length value stored in the control circuit 18 is erased by turning on the setting switch 27, and the state before the setting switch 27 is turned on is returned. By turning on the setting switch 27 again, a new set value is stored in the control circuit 18 and a new combination becomes possible. Further, clearing and updating of the set value are performed by the same operation as in the first embodiment.

(B) Next, when the automatic focusing for the subject becomes inoperable due to problems such as brightness, an automatic focusing changeover switch
Switch 39 to manual. At this time, the automatic focusing mark 37 disappears, and the automatic variable focal length mark 38 lights up. Also,
If the setting switch 27 has already been turned on, the focal length display window 32 shows the state shown in FIG.
If 27 is not turned on, the state shown in FIG. 6 (k) is shown. By manually rotating the operation ring 5 to perform a focusing operation and then operating the variable focal length operation member 41, When the setting switch 27 is turned on after setting an appropriate focal length, the state shown in FIG. 6 (l) is obtained. Thereafter, when the focusing operation is performed by manually rotating the operation ring 5, the photographing distance is detected by the photographing distance detecting means 7, and a predetermined calculation is performed by the control circuit 18 based on the detected value.
Since the variable focal length operation is automatically performed according to the output value of the above, the same display as the display by the above-mentioned automatic focusing is performed on the focal length display window 32. In order to change the set value when the setting switch 27 is turned on, the variable focal length operation member 41 may be operated as described in (a) or by the method described in the first embodiment.

(C) Further, when the automatic focusing changeover switch 39 is automatically switched to the automatic variable focal length changeover switch 40, the automatic focusing mark 37 is turned on and the automatic variable focal length mark 38 disappears. Here, when the setting switch 27 is not turned on, it is in the state shown in FIG. 6K as in the above-mentioned cases (a) and (b), and the variable focal length operation member 41 is operated to perform the variable focal length operation. . When the setting switch 27 is turned on at an arbitrary focal length, the state shown in (l) of FIG. 6 is obtained. When the subject moves away, the above-described predetermined calculation is performed by the automatic focusing operation, and the obtained focal length is shown. The display mark 34 moves upward as shown in FIG. Here, by operating the variable focal length operation member 41 and performing the variable focal length operation, the pointer 33 is moved so as to be aligned with the display mark 34, so that the subject can be photographed with the size at the time when the setting switch 27 is turned on. Become. If the pointer is intentionally deviated from the position of the display mark 34 when the setting switch 27 is turned on, the subject becomes larger or smaller than the subject when the setting switch 27 is turned on.

The change of the set value by the setting switch 27 in this operation state is not performed by the variable focal length operation member 41, and can be performed only in the same procedure as in the first embodiment.

(D) In the present embodiment, the form of the interchangeable lens type single lens reflex camera shown in the first embodiment is adopted. If the lens is attached, whether the lens is suitable for the present invention is determined by the control circuit 18 based on the identification signal written in the lens ROM 12. In the case of a non-conforming lens, as shown in FIG. The pointer 33 and the display mark 34 are not distinguished from each other. For this purpose, a warning such as a nonconformity mark may be displayed.

According to the present embodiment, the variable focal length operation operation state can be checked at a glance by looking at the display means 16. As described above, if manual focusing by visual observation is possible even when the automatic focusing operation cannot be performed, by switching the focusing operation to manual operation, the same operation as shown in (a) can be performed. Therefore, there is an effect that the automatic variable focal length photographing can be performed under a wider photographing condition while the influence of the deterioration of the photographing condition is minimized.

Further, according to the example shown in (c), even when the variable focal length operation is manually performed, the operation can be performed while looking at the display means 16 so that the pointer 33 and the display mark 34 can be easily photographed by the means of matching. There is an effect that a variable focal length operation corresponding to the distance can be performed. This means that a known automatic focusing interchangeable lens having a photographing distance detecting unit and a focal length detecting unit in a variable focal length operation and having data of the photographing lens in a lens ROM can be used as a camera. The setting switch 27 on the side and the display means 16 shown in this embodiment
By constructing the arithmetic circuit 18 and the like, the conventional interchangeable lens for automatic focusing can be used, and there is an effect that more interchangeable lenses can be used. As shown in FIG. Therefore, erroneous operation when an inappropriate photographing lens is attached is prevented beforehand.

(Embodiment 4) FIG. 7 is a drawing showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
It has an independent finder unit that can change the angle of view by moving part of the optical system, and moves the taking lens group to perform variable focal length operation according to the angle of view set by the finder unit. Takes the form of a camera configured to do so.

In the same figure, reference numeral 17 denotes a distance measuring unit that independently measures a shooting distance to a subject, 18 denotes a control circuit, 19 denotes a finder unit for setting an angle of view at the time of shooting, and 19a denotes a finder unit that moves within the finder unit. A moving lens to change the angle of view, 20 is a fixed part, 21 is a front group lens,
Reference numeral 22 denotes a rear group lens, and the front group lens 21 and the rear group lens 22
A known two-unit zoom type photographing lens is constructed in which a variable focal length operation is performed by changing the position, and a focusing operation is performed by moving the front group lens 21 forward and backward. A driving motor 23 is a driving source for the focusing operation and the variable focal length operation. Reference numeral 24 denotes a finder position detecting means for detecting the angle of view set by detecting the position of the moving lens 19a. 25 is an angle-of-view setting member for setting the angle of view in conjunction with the moving lens 19a. 27 is a setting switch.
28 is a power supply. 43 is a front group gear for moving the front group lens 21 forward and backward while rotating by the helicoid mechanism 1c, 44 is a front group clutch for connecting the rotational force of the drive motor 45 to the front group gear 43 so as to be connectable and disconnectable, 46 is a rear group gear for moving the rear group lens 22 forward and backward. 47 is a rear group clutch for connecting and disconnecting the rotational force of the drive motor 45 similarly to the front group clutch 44, and 48 is a front group gear 43 that reduces the rotation of the drive motor 45.
And a drive gear unit for transmitting to the rear group gear 46.

Further, the distance measuring unit 17, the driving motor 23, the finder position detecting means 24, the power supply 28, the photographing distance detecting means 7, and the focal length detecting means 9 are electrically connected to the control circuit 18, respectively. The rear group clutch 47 is connected to the control circuit 18
The transmission of the driving force is switched by a signal from the controller.

In the above configuration, by operating the angle-of-view setting member 25 while looking at the finder unit 19,
Move a to set the angle of view. At this time, the focal length of the photographing lens corresponding to the angle of view set in the finder unit 19 by the finder position detection means 24 is calculated by the control circuit 18, the drive motor 23 is driven, the drive gear unit 48 is operated, and the Group clutch 44 connected and front group gear
At the same time as 43, the front group lens 21 is moved by the helicoid mechanism 1c, and at the same time, the rear group lens 22 is moved by the rear group gear 46 with the rear group clutch 47 connected. In parallel, the positions of the front lens group 21 and the rear lens group 22 are respectively determined by the photographing distance detecting means 7.
And the above-described control circuit
When the front group lens 21 and the rear group lens 22 have moved to the positions calculated by 18, the front group clutch 44 or the rear group clutch 47 are released by the signal of the control circuit 18, respectively, and the front group lens 21 and the rear group After holding the group lens 22 at the focal length position corresponding to the angle of view set by the viewfinder unit 19, the driving motor 23 is stopped. Next, the setting switch
The shooting distance to the subject is measured by the distance measuring unit 17 by inserting 27, and is stored in the control circuit 18 together with the focal length value at this time. Thereafter, when the release button (not shown) is half-pressed, the photographing distance is measured by the distance measuring unit 17, the light amount is measured by the light measuring unit (not shown), and the optimal aperture value and shutter speed are calculated by the control circuit 18. At this time, if the shooting distance of the subject has not changed from when the setting switch 27 is turned on, the moving amount necessary for focusing the front group lens 21 is calculated by the control circuit 18 based on the shooting distance, and the calculated value is The driving motor 23 is rotated until the position coincides, the front group clutch 44 is connected, the front group gear 43 is rotated, and the position of the front group lens 21 is detected by the photographing distance detection means 7 and moved. When the predetermined position is reached, the front group clutch 44 is released and the front group lens 21 is held, so that the driving motor 23 is stopped. Thereafter, an exposure operation is performed based on the exposure value calculated based on the data of the photometric unit, and the subject image is recorded on the imaging body 15. However, when the shooting distance when the setting switch 27 is turned on and the shooting distance when the shutter button is half-pressed are different, the calculation shown in the first embodiment is calculated from the shooting distance and the focal length when the setting switch 27 is turned on and the shooting distance when the release switch is half-pressed. The focal length equal to the size of the subject when the setting switch 27 is turned on is calculated by the control circuit 18 according to the method. Next, the front group lens 21 and the rear group lens 22 drive the drive motor 23 after connecting the front group clutch 44 and the rear group clutch 47 so that the calculated focal length is attained. Each clutch is released and held at a predetermined position while the position is detected by the distance detecting means 9. At this time, it is needless to say that the front lens group 21 is held after being moved to a position obtained by adding a focusing operation moving amount corresponding to a photographing distance to a predetermined focal length position. Thereafter, as described above, the exposure operation is performed with the exposure value determined by the data of the photometric unit, and the photographing is completed.

After that, the same operation as described above is performed up to the focal length position corresponding to the angle of view set in the viewfinder unit 19, and the front group lens 21 and the rear group lens 22 are moved and held, and a series of operations is completed I do. Arithmetic circuit with setting switch 27
The data stored in the memory 18 is cleared when the setting switch 27 is turned on again.
The camera functions as a general auto-focus camera with a variable focal length photographing lens in which only the focal length of the photographing lens according to the angle of view set in the above is set.

According to this embodiment, even in a camera having an independent finder unit for setting the angle of view, if the size of the object is set in advance, the object moves independently of the setting of the angle of view in the finder unit. The focal length corresponding to the shooting distance is automatically calculated, and shooting can be performed.
After setting, the angle of view of the viewfinder unit 19 is kept wide so that the subject can be tracked easily in the viewfinder even if the subject moves. Since the number of operation operations is small, there is an effect of increasing a photo opportunity.

(Embodiment 5) The configuration of this embodiment is the same as that of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 4, but only the procedure for setting the combination of the photographing distance and the focal length and the method of calculating the focal length in the control circuit 18 are used. This is different from the second embodiment.

In this embodiment, the combination of the photographing distance and the focal length of the subject is input to the control circuit 18 using the setting switch 27 at two places while performing the focusing operation and the variable focal length operation automatically or manually. As described above, this embodiment is different from the above-described embodiments in that the combination of the photographing distance and the focal length is incorporated in two places in advance in the setting operation of the setting switch 27, so that the predetermined focal length is obtained from the photographing distance at the time of photographing. It is characterized in that the calculation formula for calculation by the control circuit 18 can be transformed into various forms.

 This will be described below with reference to FIG.

Here, the photographing distance set by the setting switch 27 for the first time and the focal length were obtained by A ₁ and f ₁ , respectively, and those set by the second time were obtained by A ′ ₂ and f ′ ₂ , and immediately before the photographing operation. When the shooting distance and a _3, f ₃ the focal length to be calculated by the control circuit 18, the longest focal length of the taking lens f _MAX, the shortest focal length f _MIN, the shortest photographing distance b, or to, the eighth When the combination of A ₁ ≠ A ′ ₂ and f ₁ ≠ f ₂ as shown by the circled point P in the figure is set by the setting switch 27, f ₃ becomes Calculate with the formula.

Next, when a combination that satisfies A ₁ ≠ A ′ ₂ and f ₁ ≠ f ₂ is set, it is calculated by f ₃ = f ₁ .

Also, when a combination that satisfies A ₁ = A ′ ₂ and f ₁ ≠ f ₂ is set, f ₃ = f ₁ when A ₃ ≦ A ₁ , f ₃ = f ₂ when A ₃ > A ₁ …… is calculated.

Further, when a combination that satisfies A ₁ = A ′ ₂ and f ₁ = f ₂ is set, that is, when the setting switch 27 is turned on twice with the same shooting distance and focal length, That is, it is calculated by the same calculation as the equation of the first embodiment.

However the focal length f ₃ determined by ,,,, equation described above when similarly f ₃ ≧ f _MAX in the first embodiment f ₃ = f _MAX, when the f ₃ ≦ f _MIN f ₃ = f
_MIN is calculated. Or after the focal length f ₃ are calculated as capturing the same operation is performed in the first embodiment is completed.

According to the present embodiment, by setting the combination of the focal length and the photographing distance in two places in advance, it is possible to arbitrarily set the calculation formula for calculating the photographing distance at the time of photographing, and to photograph the car traveling on the circuit. When you can anticipate the movement of the subject in advance, such as when shooting, set the composition of the subject at the start of shooting and the composition at the end of shooting first to respond to changes in the shooting distance of the subject. As a result, a composition that changes with a very natural connection from the start to the end of shooting can be obtained, and there is an effect that continuous shooting can be performed in an easy-to-use manner and with an accurate change in the angle of view.

Further, since the photographer can intentionally change the operation state of the automatic variable focal length operation, there is an effect of increasing the degree of freedom of photographing.

In the present embodiment, the setting point by the setting switch 27 is set at two places, and the calculation formula calculated by the setting point is shown in the form of a linear expression. It is apparent that the same effect as in the present embodiment can be obtained even if the following equation is used as the calculation equation.

FIG. 9 is a circuit diagram of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 4 of the present invention. The photographing apparatus of each of the above-mentioned embodiments includes a release switch SW-1 operated by a first stroke of a release button (not shown). Release switch SW-2 which operates in the second stroke, the distance measuring circuit 17, the photographing distance detecting means 7, the focal length detecting means 9, the setting switch 2 shown in FIGS. 1 and 4.
7, variable focal length operation member, ie, zoom switch 41,
Focus mechanism auto / manual switch 39
(Automatic focus changeover switch), auto / manual changeover switch 40 of the zoom mechanism (automatic variable focal length changeover switch) The distance limit information, zoom limit information, and the like stored in the ROM 12 in the lens are extracted to perform the various calculations described above. And a control circuit for driving a focusing motor 6, a zoom motor 8, a mirror 14, an aperture and a shutter (not shown) via a driver, and performing various displays in a viewfinder.
18, etc.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a program executed by the control circuit 18 shown in FIG. 9 in the photographing apparatus of each of the above embodiments.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, the photographer can see the actual subject on the screen such as the viewfinder and set the size of the subject in the screen. Can set the size of a desired subject freely for an actual subject. After setting the size of the subject on the screen in this way, even if the subject distance changes, the focal length automatically changes so that the size of the subject on the screen becomes the set size. With this configuration, a moving subject can be easily photographed in a fixed size as compared with a conventional photographing apparatus.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a view showing a schematic configuration of a photographing apparatus according to the first and third embodiments of the present invention. FIGS. 2 and 3 are views for explaining the principle of operation of the photographing apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a view showing a schematic configuration of the second and fourth embodiments of the photographing apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a front view of a finder section of the photographing apparatus of the first and third embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a view showing an operation state of the finder section shown in FIG. 5, FIG. 7 is a view showing a photographing apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. Diagram showing the relationship with distance,
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an electrical configuration of the photographing apparatus of the present invention, and FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a sequence operation performed by the control circuit 18. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Focusing lens group 2 ... Variator lens group 3 ... Compensator lens group 4 ... Zoom 5 ... Operation ring 6 ... Focusing motor 7 ... Shooting distance detecting means 8 ... Variable focal length Motor 9: focal length detection means 11, motor drive circuit 12: lens ROM, 13: mount 14: quick return mirror 15: imaging body 16, display means 17: distance measuring unit, 26 relay lens 27 setting switch 28 power supply 41 variable focal length operation member 18 control circuit 32 focal length display window 39 automatic focus changeover switch 40 automatic variable focus Distance switch 37 Focus mark 36 Focus frame 38 Automatic variable focal length mark 42 Focal length display 19 Finder unit 19a Moving lens 21 Front lens 22 Rear Group lens, 23 drive Motor 24 ...... finder position detecting means 25 ...... angle setting member, 43 ...... front group gear 46 ...... RLG gear, 45 ...... drive motor 44 ...... front group clutch, 47 ...... RLG clutch

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A photographing apparatus having a variable focal length, wherein a setting switch for setting a size of a subject in a screen while viewing an actual subject on a screen, and a size of the subject in the screen by the setting switch. Is detected and stored when the object distance is set, and when the object distance is changed, the changed object distance is detected and based on the changed object distance and the stored object distance and the stored focal distance. Means for calculating a focal length at which the size of the subject in the screen becomes the size set by the setting switch, and changing the focal length of the device to the calculated focal length. . 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a finder, wherein the setting switch is a switch for setting a size of the subject in the finder screen while watching an actual subject reflected on the screen of the finder. The photographing device according to claim 1.