JP3217054B2 - Camera with automatic focusing device - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a camera, and more particularly, to a camera that measures a shooting distance to a subject and automatically adjusts a focus.

[Related Art] In recent years, cameras having a so-called autofocus function for automatically adjusting a focus have been increasing. Generally, such a camera has a configuration in which a distance measurement frame indicating a position where a distance of a subject is measured is displayed in a finder, and a photographer is notified of which subject is in focus.

In JP-A-60-64334 and JP-A-60-64335, a ranging frame is displayed in a finder until a focus signal is output, and when a focus lock is performed simultaneously with the output of the focus signal, it is measured. A camera in which a distance frame is deleted is disclosed.

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] In the conventional camera as described above, the focus is locked at the same time as the focusing, so that when the subject is a moving object,
The focus shifts over time. Therefore, there is a possibility that the camera is out of focus at a photo opportunity. On the other hand, if focus locking is not performed even after focusing in order to avoid this problem, it is unclear which subject is in focus if the distance measurement frame has been erased, which is inconvenient.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and allows focus lock to be arbitrarily performed.
Moreover, it is an object of the present invention to provide a camera in which the display in the viewfinder does not hinder the composition or the like.

[Means for Solving the Problems] A camera having an automatic focus adjustment device according to the present invention includes:
Detecting means for detecting the focus state of the subject; and lens driving means for driving the photographing lens based on the detection output of the detecting means, and the focus by the detecting means after the in-focus state is detected. In a camera having a mode in which state detection and driving by the lens driving unit are continuously performed, a display unit that displays a focus frame indicating an area to be focused in a viewfinder, and based on a user input during the mode. Commanding means for instructing not to drive the photographing lens by the lens driving means, and in the mode, the focus frame by the display means even after the detecting means detects that the lens is in focus. Is maintained, and in response to the command output of the command means, the focus It is obtained and a display control means for changing a display form of the over-time display.

[Operation] In the present invention, even if the in-focus state is detected in the mode in which the detection of the focus state by the detection means and the driving by the lens driving means are continued even after the in-focus state is detected, even if the in-focus state is detected. Since the state detection lens is driven continuously, the display of the focus frame is also maintained, and the focus frame display is displayed by the display means only when instructed not to drive the photographing lens by the lens driving means in the mode. Changes so as not to disturb the composition and the like.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of a camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, light incident through a photographing lens 9 is reflected by a finder mirror 4, enters a pentaprism 1 through a reticle 3 and a transmissive liquid crystal (LCD) 2, and then passes through a finder lens 18. And enters the photographer as an image. On the other hand, of the light incident on the finder mirror 4, a part of the light amount necessary for focus detection passes through the mirror 4 and is incident on the focus detection unit 8 by the sub mirror 5. The focus detection unit 8 includes an optical system necessary for performing focus detection, and includes a sensor, a data output unit, and the like. The data output from the focus detection unit 8 is input to the control circuit 7, and the control circuit 7 outputs data for controlling the focus detection sensor, the sequence, and the LCD drive circuit 6 based on the input data. The LCD drive circuit controls the transmission type liquid crystal 2 based on the control data output from the control circuit 7 and performs various liquid crystal displays.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a specific configuration of the focus detection unit 8 in FIG.

In the figure, the light reflected from the sub-mirror 5 in FIG. 1 is formed into four sets of light beams by a re-imaging lens 12 via a condenser lens 14 and imaged on a CCD substrate 11. The autofocus (hereinafter referred to as "AF") method in this embodiment is a known phase difference detection method. Here, the aperture mask 13 is set so as to be superimposed on the re-imaging lens 12, and its opening removes unnecessary light coming from the condenser lens 14 for focus detection. The CCD substrate 11 has a pair of line sensors corresponding to four detection areas consisting of focus detection areas a, b, c and d which will be described later.
11-a, 11-b, 11-c and 11-d are formed thereon.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a state of a photographing screen of a camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, the CCD screen 1 shown in FIG.
A distance measurement area corresponding to each line sensor formed on 1 is shown.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a specific configuration of a line sensor in the CCD substrate 11 shown in FIG.

In the figure, the reference part is composed of 1-1, 2-1 and 3-1 and the reference part is composed of 1-2, 2-2, 3-2 and 4-2. Reference numbers 1-1 and 1-
2, 2-1 and 2-2, 3-1 and 3-2 and 4
Each set of -1 and 4-2 is a corresponding reference portion and reference portion, and performs focus detection by correlating the image of the reference portion with the image of the reference portion while shifting the image. is there. The reference unit 2-1 does not use the entire data obtained by the line sensor at once, but divides the data into three blocks a, b, and c as shown in FIG. Focus detection is performed by comparing with 2-2.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration of a control unit according to one embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, a control circuit (microcomputer μC)
7 receives inputs from various switching means. The switch _SMD is an area mode changeover switch, and when turned on, an on signal is input to the port P1. The switch S _CP is used to switch the spot area of the distance measuring area.
Input an ON signal. The switch _SFL is a focus lock switch, and an ON signal is input to the port P3 by the ON signal. The switch S1 is a switch made by pressing the release button one step, and when turned on, an ON signal is input to the port P4 to start the AF operation. Then, the ON / OFF state of the switch S1 is determined based on the input of the port P5. The switch _SM is a main switch of the camera, and when it is turned on, an on signal is input to the port P7. The buzzer BZ emits a warning sound by a one-shot pulse from the control circuit 7.

On the other hand, data is input from the focus detection unit 8 to the control circuit 7, and control data for controlling the focus detection unit 8 is output from the control circuit 7. The control output of the control circuit 7 is transmitted to the transmission type liquid crystal (L) through the liquid crystal controller (LCD C) 6.
CD) 2 and a light emitting element (LED) 23 are controlled. further,
The control output of the control circuit 7 is a lens drive circuit (LE / C) 20
To control the driving of the autofocus lens. Further, data indicating the lens position is input from the lens (LE) 21. From the photometric circuit (LM) 22, data corresponding to the subject luminance is input to the control circuit 7.

Figure 6 is a diagram showing a control flow performed by the closing of the main switch S _M.

Before describing the flow, the display in the viewfinder will be described.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the situation in the finder that switched by the on-mode switches S _MD.

The screen shown in the upper left column is controlled by the area value AR1, and shows the largest area including all of the distance measurement areas a to c in FIG. 3 as the distance measurement frame. The state in the center of the upper column is a diagram showing a state of the distance measurement frame controlled by the area value AR2, and shows a state in which a focus is detected by the blocks a and b of the reference unit 2-1 in FIG. ing. The upper column right is the area value AR3
4 shows a state of a distance measurement frame controlled by the control unit, and shows a state in which focus detection is performed based on the block of the reference unit 2-1c in FIG.

The lower left column shows a so-called frameless state in which no distance measurement frame is displayed.

Figure 11 is switched by the on-mode switches S _MD switch-on and spot switch S _SP, is a diagram showing a state of the distance measurement frame in spot mode.

In the figure, the distance measurement frame represented by the area value AR3 corresponds to the distance measurement area a in FIG. 3, and the distance measurement frame represented by the area value AR4 corresponds to the distance measurement area in FIG. b, and the ranging frame represented by the area value AR5 is the third ranging frame.
This corresponds to the distance measurement area c in the figure, and the area value AR6
The distance measurement frame represented by に よ っ て corresponds to the distance measurement area value d in FIG. As shown in the figure, when the spot switch is turned on, the position of the distance measurement frame changes sequentially and cyclically.

FIG. 12A to FIG. 12T are views showing a display according to each photographing situation in the viewfinder. In particular, FIG. 12A shows all the displays in the viewfinder.

In the figure, a display 31 shows a ranging frame in a wide state when the area value is AR1, and a display 32 shows an area value.
A distance measurement frame based on AR2 is shown, and a display 33 indicates a distance measurement frame based on the area value AR4.
The broken line corresponds to the distance measurement area in FIG. 3, and is not actually displayed in the viewfinder. The display 34 is displayed when the subject in each ranging frame is within the depth of the subject. The display 35 is displayed when the one-shot switch S _ON / _C is turned on, the display 36 is lit green when focusing, and the display 37 is displayed when the focus is locked. Things. Although the display 36 is shown as a circle in the figure, when it is not lit or blinking,
Nothing is actually displayed in the viewfinder.

As described above, there are various display functions in the viewfinder, and the photographing situation can be accurately grasped by the photographer, thereby improving usability.

Hereinafter, the control contents will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First enters this routine by the closing of the main switch S _M, one-shot switch S _ON in step S1 / _C
It is determined whether or not is turned on. When the switch is turned on, the one-shot flag ONSF is set to 1 and the process proceeds to step S3 to display the distance measurement area. When the main switch _SM is turned on, a flag is set as an initial value when displaying the distance measurement frame.
DISPF is set to 1, the flag ONSF set at the time of one-shot AF is set to 1, the area value is set to AR1, the distance measuring area value SPAR of the spot is set to AR3, and the other flags are reset.

Next, in step S4, it is determined whether or not the mode switch is on. When this switch is on, it is determined in step S5 whether or not the flag SPMF indicating the spot area mode is 1. This flag is 1
At this time, SPMF is set to 0 in step S7, and the flag DISPF is set to 1 in step S8, and then the process proceeds to step S9. When the spot mode flag is not 1, the value of the flag DISPF is converted in step S6, and then in step S9, the spot flag is changed.
SPF is set to 0. In step S10, data of the photographing lens is input, and in step S11, the aperture value AFAV ₀ that can be AF is a predetermined value,
For example, it is determined whether it is 6.7 or more. Aperture AFA
When V ₀ is larger than the predetermined value, the imaging lens whether a reflection telephoto lens is determined (S13). When the taking lens is a reflective telephoto lens, the area value is set to AR3 in step S15. That is, in a reflective telephoto lens, the area value is
This is because the focus cannot be detected unless AR3, that is, the smallest ranging frame state.

If the taking lens is not a reflective telephoto lens, step S1
In step 4, the area value AR is set to AR2. Next, in step S16, the spot flag SPF is set to 1, and the flow advances to step S17.

On the other hand, if the mode switch has not been turned on in step S4, the process of steps S5 to S16 is not performed, and the process proceeds directly to step S17.

Next, in step S17, it is determined whether or not the mode switch _SMD is turned on. When this switch is on, it is determined in step S25 whether the spot switch _SSP is on. That is, only when the mode switch and the spot switch are ON at the same time, the process proceeds to step S26, and after setting the spot mode flag SPMF to 1, it is determined whether or not the spot flag SPF is 1 in step S27. When the spot flag is 1, the area value AR2 is set to AR3 in step S29, and the spot flag is set to 1
If not, set the area value AR to the spot area value SPAR, then set the flag DISPF to 1 in step S30 and repeat the step.
Return to S1.

On the other hand, if the mode switch is not on in step S17, it is determined whether or not the flag SPMF is 1 in step S18. If the flag is not 1, the process returns to step S9. If the flag is 1, it is determined in step S19 whether or not the spot switch is turned on. When the spot switch is turned on, it is determined in a step S20 whether or not the flag SPF is "1". When this flag is 1, the area value AR is set to AR3 in step S23, and the process proceeds to step S24. When the spot flag SPF is not 1,
In step S21, the area value changes cyclically as AR3 → AR4 → AR5 → AR6 → AR3. Then, in step S22, the area value selected in step S21 is set as the area value AR,
After setting the spot area value SPAR to the area value AR in step S24, the process returns to step S1.

7 to 7C are diagrams showing a control flow performed when the release button is pressed in the first step, that is, when the AF start switch S1 is turned on.

When the switch S1 is turned on, an initial value of a flag is set in step S40. That is, a control flow for once determining the flag FLF to be set when the focus is locked, the flag AFEF to be set when the camera is in focus, and the defocus amount DF from the defocus amounts DF ₂ and DF ₄ to _{6 is} executed once. Then, the flags of the set flag 1STF are set to 0.

Next, flags ONSF, AFEF, FLF, AR1-6, DP2F, DP4F ~
The value of the flag MCROF set when DP6F, DISPF, LCF and the photographing magnification β ≧ 1/10, that is, set in the macro mode, is output to the data display circuit, and the AF area is displayed based on this data. Next step
Apex photometric value B _V is input in S42, the exposure value EV is determined based on this value, the control F value F _NOC is determined based on the exposure value EV.

Next, in step S43, AF data based on the position of the taking lens is input. Then, in step S44, the distance data D is input according to the information based on the photographing lens.
At S44, focal length data f is input. At step S46, a photographing magnification β (β = f / D) is calculated based on these data.

Next, it is determined whether or not the imaging magnification β is 1/10 or more. When the photographing magnification is equal to or more than the value, the macro photographing is performed. Therefore, the flag MCROF is set to 1 in step S48, and when the photographing magnification is less than the value, the flag MCROF is set to 0 in step S49.
After that, the process proceeds to step S50. Next, in step S50, the flag LCF indicating that focus detection is not possible is set to 0, and each distance measurement area a
To L, flags LCFa to LCF indicating that focus detection is not possible in the distance measurement frame at the area value AR2 and the area value AR4 to 6,
_After setting each of ₄ to ₆ to 0 and setting the flag LCF2 to 0, focus detection for each ranging area is performed in step S51.

Then respectively sets a flag LCFa~c and LCF ₄ ~ ₆ illustrates a focus undetectable state of focus undetectable areas in step S52. The undetectable focus state occurs when the contrast value is low or the reliability of the distance measurement is low.

And processing the focus undetectable areas defocus amount DFa~c and DF ₄ ~ ₆ in step S53, as a large defocus amount DF as usually not taken.

Next, in step S54, the defocus amount DF of the area where the focus cannot be detected is calculated. Next, in step S55, the flag LCF
It is determined whether or not a to c are all set.
If all the flags have been set, the flag LCF2 indicating the center ranging area is set to 1 in step S57, and then step S58
When all the flags LCFa to LCFc are not set, the defocus amount DF2 in the central area is obtained by a predetermined calculation based on the values of the defocus amounts DFA, DFb, and DFc, and the process proceeds to step S58.

In step S58, it is determined whether or not the area value AR is 1. When this area value is 1, step S5
At 9 it is determined whether or not the flags LCF2 and LCF4 to LCF6 are all set. When all the flags are set, the flag LCF is set to 1 in step S61, and the process returns to step S41 to display the AF area.

When all of the flags are not set in step S59, after calculating the defocus amount DF described in detail below in step S60, the process proceeds to step S62. In step S62, it is determined whether or not the focus lock switch is turned on. When this switch is turned on, the flag FLF is set to 1 in step S63, and then step S6
Proceed to 6. On the other hand, when the focus lock switch _SFL is not on, it is determined in step S64 whether the focus lock switch has been turned off from on. When the focus lock switch is turned off, the flag FLF is set to 0 in step S65, and when the focus lock switch is not turned off, the process directly proceeds to step S66. In step S66, it is determined whether or not the flag FLF is 1.
If this flag is not 1, it is determined in step S67 whether the defocus amount DF is equal to or smaller than a predetermined value K. When the defocus amount is equal to or smaller than the predetermined value K, the flag AFEF is set to 1 in step S68.

On the other hand, when the defocus amount DF is not less than the predetermined value K,
In step S69, it is determined whether or not the flag AFEF is 1. When this flag is 1, the flag O is set in step S70.
It is determined whether or not NSF is 1. When this flag is not 1, lens drive is started based on the defocus amount DF in step S71.

Next, in step S72, it is determined whether the lens has been driven by a predetermined amount. If not, it is determined in step S73 whether or not the focus lock switch _SFL has been turned on in step S73. If the switch is not on, the process returns to step S72. If the switch is on, the flag FLF is set to 1 in step S74, and the process proceeds to step S75 to stop lens driving.

On the other hand, if the lens has been driven by the predetermined amount in step S72, the flow directly advances to step 75 to stop driving the lens. Further, the flag AFEF is set to 0 in step S76, and then the flow advances to step S77. When the flag ONSF is 1 in step S70, the process similarly proceeds to step S77.

After displaying the ranging frame in which the subject is within the depth of field in step S77,
In S78, it is determined whether the switch S1 is on. When this switch is on,
Returning to S41, the above operation is repeated, but if the switch S1 is not turned on, the display in the viewfinder is turned off (step S79), and then the process returns.

On the other hand, when the area value AR is not 1 in step S58, the process proceeds to step S80, and it is determined whether or not the area value AR is 2. If the area value AR is not 2, the area is determined in step S81.

When it is determined that the area is 3, it is determined in step S82 whether or not the flag LCF3 indicating that the focus cannot be detected is 1. If this flag is 1, the flag LCF is set to 1 in step S92, and the process returns to step S41. Flag LCF3
If is not 1, DF3 is adopted as the defocus amount DF in step S83, and then the process proceeds to step S66.

When it is determined that the area is 4, whether or not the flag LCF4 is 1 is determined in a step S84. If the flag is 1, the process proceeds to step S92 via step S92.
Proceed to 41. If this flag is not 1, step S85
After adopting DF4 as defocus amount DF in step S66
Proceed to.

When it is determined that the area is 5, whether or not the flag LCF5 is 1 is determined in a step S86. When this flag is 1, the process similarly proceeds to step S41 via step S92. If this flag is not 1, step S87
After adopting DF5 as the defocus amount DF in step S66
Proceed to.

When it is determined that the area is 6, whether or not the flag LCF6 is 1 is determined in a step S88. When this flag is 1, the process proceeds to step S92 via step S92.
Proceed to 41. When this flag is not 1, the defocus amount
After adopting DF6 as DF, the process proceeds to step S66.

On the other hand, when the area value AR is 2 in step S80, it is determined in step S90 whether the flag LCF2 is 1. When this flag is 1, the process proceeds to step S41 via step S92. If this flag is not 1, DF2 is adopted as the defocus amount DF in step S91, and then the process proceeds to step S66.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing specific contents for determining the defocus amount DF in step S60 of FIG. 7B.

In the figure, it is determined whether or not the flag FLF is 1 in a step S100. If this flag is 1, the process returns as it is. If it is not 1, the process returns to step S101.
It is determined whether or not 1STF is 1. When this flag is not 1, the flag is set to 1 in step S102, and then in step S103, it is determined whether or not the flag MCROF indicating whether or not shooting is in the macro mode is 1. When this flag is 1, it is determined in step S104 whether the flag LCF2 is 1. When this flag is not 1, DF2 is adopted as the defocus amount DF in step S105, and the current area value AR is adopted as the area value ARi in step S106.

On the other hand, when the flag MCROF is not 1 in step S103,
After excluding the data of the focus detection area in which the focus cannot be detected in step S107, for example, the area value ARi is set to be in focus based on the closest focus detection area or the area where the current defocus amount DF is the smallest. decide. Step S10
When the flag LCF2 is 1 at 4, the process similarly proceeds to step S107, and the area value ARi is determined.

Then, in step S111, the defocus amount DF obtained in step S107 is set as the determined defocus amount LDF, and the distance measurement area value ARi determined in step S112 is returned as the determined value LAR.

On the other hand, when the flag 1STF is 1 in step S101, it is determined in step S108 whether the LCF of the LAR area is set. If not set, step S1
09 After the defocus amount DF and the defocus amount DFi certain distance measurement area with whether the absolute value of the difference between the defocus amount LDF and the defocus amount DF which has been determined in step S110 that the predetermined value K ₁ or more Is determined. The predetermined value K ₁ is a predetermined value K greater than that used in step S67 in FIG. 7B. Step S1 when the absolute value is not greater than the predetermined value K ₁
Proceed to 11, but when a predetermined value K ₁ or more, the process proceeds to step S113, the defocus amount DF2 or DF ₄ ~ for LDF and the focus detection
Find the minimum difference from ₆ . And the defocus amount DF
The the ARi the ranging area of the corresponding and DF _A. Then the DF _A is adopted as the defocus amount in step S114, step S
Absolute value of the difference between the LDF and DF at 115 is whether or not a predetermined value K ₁ or more is determined. When less than the predetermined value K _1, the process proceeds to step S111, the flag AFEF a predetermined value K ₁ or more when step S116 is determined whether it is 1. When the flag is 1, the flag FLF is set to 1 (step S117), and the process returns. When the flag is not 1, the process proceeds to step S103.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a specific content of a routine for displaying the distance measurement area within the depth of field in step S77 of FIG. 7B.

First, in step S120, it is determined whether the flag FLF is 1. When this flag is not 1, in step S134,
The process returns after setting the flag FLIF to 0. Flag FLF is 1
In step S121, whether the flag FLIF is 1 is determined. If this flag is not 1, step
After setting the flag FLIF to 1 in S122, the buzzer is notified in step S123. When the flag FLIF is 1 in step S121,
The process directly proceeds to step S124 without notifying the buzzer.

In step S124, the focal length f and the control aperture value F _NOC
The depth of field DP is obtained based on And step
S125: Depth of field flags DP2F and DP4 to 6 for each area
After setting F to 0, it is determined in step S126 whether or not the defocus amount DF2 of the area 2 is equal to or less than half the depth of field DP. If the depth of field is not more than half the depth of field, the flag DP2F is set to 1 in step S127, and then the process proceeds to step S128. If DF2 is not within the half depth of field, the process directly proceeds to step S128. move on.

In steps S128, S130, and S132, it is determined whether or not the defocus amount of each of the distance measurement areas 4, 5, and 6 is at a half depth of field. Similarly, when the defocus amount is at a half depth of field, the corresponding flag is set to 1 and the routine returns.

[Effect of the Invention] As described above, the present invention can be applied to a mode in which the detection of the focus state by the detecting means and the driving by the lens driving means are continued even after the in-focus state is detected. Even if it is detected, the detection of the focus state and the driving of the lens are continuously performed, so that the display of the focus frame is maintained. Then, it is possible to arbitrarily prevent the driving of the photographing lens by the lens driving means, and the display form of the focus frame display by the display means only when instructed not to drive the photographing lens by the lens driving means. Changes. This change makes it easy to understand that the stop of the photographing lens has been instructed, and does not hinder the composition or the like, thereby improving usability.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a main part of a camera according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a specific configuration of a focus detection unit in FIG. 1, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a view showing the arrangement of the distance areas, FIG. 4 is a view showing the specific arrangement of the CCD substrate of FIG. 2 corresponding to the distance measurement areas of FIG. 3, and FIG. FIG. 6 is a flowchart diagram which is started by turning on a power switch according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 7A to 7C are flowchart diagrams which are controlled by turning on a switch S1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. 8 is a flowchart showing the specific contents of the defocus amount determination in the step in FIG. 7B, FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the specific contents of the depth of field display routine in the step in FIG. 7B, and FIG. FIG. 1 shows a mode according to an embodiment of the present invention. Diagram showing a condition of the distance measurement frame in switching switched finder by the on switch, the
FIG. 11 is a view showing a state of a ranging frame in a finder switched by turning on a spot switch according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 12A to 12T are various types of views in a finder according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure showing a display situation in a state. In the figure, 2 is an LCD display unit, 6 is an LCD drive circuit, 7 is a control circuit, 8 is a focus detection unit, 11 is a CCD substrate, 12 is a re-imaging lens, 13 is an aperture mask, 14 is a condenser lens, and 15 is a condenser lens. Shooting screen, 18 is a finder lens, 20 is a lens drive circuit, 21 is a shooting lens, 22 is a photometric circuit, 23 is a light emitting element, S
_MD is an area mode switch, S _SP is a spot area switch, S _FL is a focus lock switch, S ₁ is A
F start switch, the S _ON / _C one-shot continuous change-over switch, the S _M main switch, BZ is a buzzer. In the drawings, the same reference numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts.

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Masataka Hamada 2-3-13 Azuchicho, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Osaka International Building Minolta Camera Co., Ltd. (72) Hiroshi Otsuka 2-chome Azuchicho, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka No. 3-13 Osaka Kokusai Building Minolta Camera Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hiroshi Ueda 2-3-13 Azuchicho, Chuo-ku, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture Osaka Kokusai Building Minolta Camera Co., Ltd. (56) References -288816 (JP, A) JP-A-2-89001 (JP, A) JP-A-60-64335 (JP, A)

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] A detecting means for detecting a focus state of a subject;
Lens driving means for driving the photographing lens based on the detection output by the detection means, and the detection of the focus state by the detection means and the driving by the lens driving means even after the in-focus state is detected. A camera having a continuous mode, a display means for displaying a focus frame indicating an area to be focused in a finder; and a driving of the photographing lens by the lens driving means based on a user's input during the mode. Command means for instructing not to perform, and in the mode, the display of the focus frame by the display means is maintained even after the detection means detects that the object is in focus, and the command means Table for changing the display mode of the focus frame display by the display means in response to the command output of A camera having an automatic focusing device, comprising: 2. The camera according to claim 1, wherein said display control means erases the display of the focus frame in response to a command output from said command means.