JP3397381B2 - camera - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a camera having a strobe automatic light emission mode in which strobe light is emitted when the subject brightness obtained by the photometric means is below a predetermined brightness, and a strobe forced light emission mode in which the strobe is forcibly fired . It is about improvement.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a relatively high-grade camera, for example, with a built-in strobe, is normally used in a strobe automatic light emission mode (a mode in which a strobe light is automatically emitted if the subject brightness is darker than a predetermined brightness). However, as shown in FIG. 6, by repeatedly operating the strobe light emission mode switching operation member 51 provided in the camera, the "strobe automatic light emission mode" is changed to the "strobe forced light emission mode" or the "strobe light emission mode". It is possible to switch between the flash off mode, and the "slow sync mode" for shooting a person against the background of the nightscape. At this time, as shown in FIG. 7, the LC arranged on the upper surface of the camera or the like.
On the D display, automatic light emission (no display), strobe forced light emission display 63, strobe light emission prohibition display 62, 63 →
Mode display such as slow sync display 61 → automatic light emission (no display) is performed, and it is possible to inform the user which flash mode is currently selected.

In the conventional flash photography, the red-eye reduction lamp is pre-illuminated for a predetermined time in order to reduce the red-eye phenomenon that occurs when a person is a subject. The irradiation time (predetermined time) of this red-eye alleviation lamp is the time required to obtain the red-eye alleviation effect more, and therefore, the predetermined time is such that the acceptance of the release start signal of the camera is prohibited. .

However, in consideration of the problem of the release time lag when shooting a moving subject, in this type of camera, the red-eye reduction lamp switching button 52 shown in FIG. 6 is operated to reduce the red-eye reduction. It is possible to switch between the lamp irradiation mode and the red-eye reduction lamp irradiation prohibition mode (the red-eye reduction lamp irradiation mode display is turned off), and these states can be confirmed on the LCD display. In FIG. 7, the display 64 is displayed in the red-eye reduction lamp irradiation mode, and the display 64 is turned off in the red-eye reduction lamp irradiation prohibition mode.

[0005]

However, as described above, when the camera is provided with a large number of selectable strobe modes, it is necessary to confirm which state the current mode is on the LCD display. However, in a relatively inexpensive camera, the LCD display cannot be provided due to cost constraints, and consequently, it is not possible to set a plurality of strobe modes, and a strobe forced-flash operation button and a strobe-flash prohibition operation button are available. However, slow sync photography was not possible. Therefore, this type of camera has a disadvantage that it is not possible to photograph a night view and a person together.

Further, in this type of camera that does not have an LCD display, it is not possible to select the above-mentioned prohibition of irradiation of the red-eye reduction lamp because the button operation is prevented from being complicated and various statuses cannot be displayed. It was In other words, the pre-irradiation is always performed for a predetermined time by the red-eye reduction lamp for flash photography. Therefore, there is always a predetermined release time lag during flash photography.

[0007] The onset Ming purpose (object of invention), without increasing the operation <br/> button, in forced strobe flash mode
It is to provide a camera capable of taking appropriate pictures .

[0008]

[0009]

To achieve the above Symbol purpose SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention according to claim 1, in a camera capable of selectively setting a plurality of modes including a forced strobe flash mode for forcibly electronic flash In addition, an operation unit for selectively setting a mode used for shooting from among the plurality of modes and a photometric unit for measuring subject brightness are provided.
Strobe forced flash mode is set by the operation unit
When the subject brightness obtained by the photometric means is
If it is higher than the body brightness, it changes according to the brightness of the subject.
The shutter is controlled at the time of
The second subject brightness is lower than the first subject brightness
If it is lower than the subject brightness, it changes according to the subject brightness.
The shutter control is performed at the
Warning is given and the subject brightness obtained by the photometric means is
Between the first subject brightness and the second subject brightness
If the shutter is released for a certain second in consideration of the effects of camera shake,
It is a camera that is designed to be controlled .
When the flash is set to forced flash mode, the subject
When the brightness is higher than the first subject brightness, the effect of camera shake
Therefore, the flash photography is performed at a time that varies according to the subject brightness, and the subject brightness is higher than the second subject brightness.
If it is lower, it may change according to the brightness of the subject
The effect of camera shake is unavoidable while controlling the shutter
Therefore, a warning is issued by the warning means , and so-called slow sync photography is performed to shoot the main subject against the background of the night view.
The brightness of the object is the brightness of the first subject and the brightness of the second subject.
If it is between the degrees,
The flash photography is performed at a fixed time .

Further, in order to achieve the above Symbol purpose, the present invention according to claim 2, a light measuring means for measuring the luminance of the object, a lamp unit for reducing red-eye of a subject,
The first switch that turns on when half-pushed and the switch that turns on when fully-pushed
Shutter release switch having a second switch for
And a switch, the camera obtained subject luminance has at least a forced strobe light emitting mode for forcibly electronic flash auto flash mode and flash performing flash light emission when the following predetermined subject luminance at the light measuring means, a strobe automatic when the light emission mode is selected, the first
The lighting is started by turning on the second switch while the lamp means is started by turning on the first switch for a predetermined time.
When the flash forced light emission mode is selected and the reception of the release signal generated is prohibited, the first switch
The second switch is turned on at any time regardless of whether the lamp means is turned on for a predetermined time.
The camera is provided with a control unit that allows the reception of a release signal generated by the camera. Therefore, by selecting the flash forced light emission mode, it is possible to perform shooting in which release is prioritized over red-eye reduction. .

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described in detail below based on the illustrated embodiments.

1A and 1B are views showing the appearance of a camera according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1A is a top view, FIG. 1B is a front view, and FIG. 1C is a side view.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 is a main switch, and 2 is a strobe light emitting section. Reference numeral 3 is a flash forced operation button for setting the flash forced flash mode, and 4 is a flash discharge prohibited button for setting the flash discharge prohibited mode. If none of these is set, the flash automatic flash mode is set. Is set.
Reference numeral 5 is a red-eye reduction lamp, 6 is a lens barrel, 7 is a release button, and 8 is a photometric unit.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the main structure of the camera.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 10 denotes various switch input sections which are turned on and off by operating the main switch 1 and the operation buttons 3, 4, and 7 described above, and 11 a light projecting element for AF driven by an IRED drive circuit 12. IRE where is
D (infrared light emitting diode), 13 is a PSD (semiconductor position detector) that is a light receiving element for AF, 14 is a photometric sensor, and 15 is the amount of extension of the lens barrel 6 based on distance measurement information. A lens position detecting photo interrupter, 16 is a shutter drive circuit for controlling the opening / closing of the electromagnetically driven shutter 17 based on the shutter time selected from the obtained photometric value, and 18 is a shutter opening / closing detection for detecting the open / closed state of the electromagnetically driven shutter 17. It is a photo interrupter for.

Reference numeral 19 denotes a red-eye reduction lamp drive circuit for controlling a red-eye reduction lamp 20 (corresponding to 5 in FIG. 1) for reducing the red-eye phenomenon of the subject, and reference numeral 21 blinks when the subject luminance is in a low luminance state and camera shake. An LED for issuing a warning, 22 is a strobe circuit for causing a strobe light emitting portion 23 (corresponding to 2 in FIG. 1) to emit light when the subject brightness is low, or when the strobe is forcibly emitting light, and 24 is a power source for this circuit. A power supply circuit for supplying the power, 25 is an AF drive motor that extends and retracts the lens barrel 6, 26 is a film feed motor, 27 is a motor drive circuit that controls the drive of the motors 25, 26, 28 Is a sequence controller that controls the camera sequence.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the relationship between subject brightness and shutter speed in each strobe mode.

Next, the operation of the sequence controller 28 shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 and the flowcharts shown in FIGS.

When power is supplied from the power supply circuit 24, the camera is PUC (reset) as an initial state, and the operation from step 101 is started.

In step 101, it is determined whether or not the main switch 1 is turned on via the switch input section 10. If it is turned on, the process proceeds to step 102 to check which strobe mode is selected. . Specifically, it is determined based on the state of the flash forced light emission switch 3 or the flash emission prohibition switch 4 provided on the side surface of the camera. At this time, if none of the operation buttons 3 and 4 is set, it means that the mode of automatically emitting light with low brightness is selected.

Next, in step 103, the state of the switch SW1 which is turned on by half-pressing the release switch 7 is determined, and if it is turned on, the process proceeds to step 104,
Drive the IRED 11 via the IRED drive circuit 12,
Distance measurement information is calculated from the subject reflected light signal obtained by the PSD 13. Next, in step 105, subject brightness information (photometric value) is obtained via the photometric sensor 14.

Next, it is judged whether or not the photometric value obtained in the above step 105 is EV9.5 or more, and if so, the process proceeds to step 107, and if not, step 11
Proceed to 9.

First, the case where the obtained photometric value is EV9.5 or more will be described.

When the photometric value is EV9.5 or more, the routine proceeds from step 106 to step 107, where it is checked whether or not the strobe mode is the strobe forced light emission mode. if,
If it is the strobe forced light emission mode, the process proceeds to step 108, and the shutter time based on the photometric value at that time is selected from the solid line A in FIG. Next, the routine proceeds to step 109, where the red-eye reduction lamp 20 is driven via the red-eye reduction lamp drive circuit 19.
Light up. The red-eye reduction lamp 20 is driven for a predetermined time (for example, 1.25 seconds) until the next step is executed regardless of the subsequent sequence.

Next, at step 110, the state of the switch SW2 which is turned on by fully pressing the release button 7 is determined, and if it is turned on, the red eye alleviating lamp 2 is turned on.
Even if the predetermined time has not elapsed since 0 was turned on, the process proceeds to step 111 to prioritize the release, and the AF drive motor 25 and the lens position detecting photointerrupter 15 are used to move the lens barrel 6 to the distance measurement information described above. The focus is adjusted by driving to the position based on. Next, the routine proceeds to step 112, where the shutter opening / closing detection photointerrupter 18 is used to control the electromagnetically driven shutter 17 based on the selected shutter time, and at the same time, the strobe light emitting section 23 is caused to emit light via the strobe circuit 22. That is, the exposure operation using the strobe light is performed. Then step 113
Then, the lens barrel 6 is returned to the initial position, and in the next step 114, the photographing frame is wound up via the feeding motor 26.

If the photometric value is EV9.5 or more, but the flash forced emission mode other than the flash forced emission mode, that is, the flash emission prohibited mode or the flash automatic emission mode is selected in step 107, the steps from step 107 to step 107 are performed. Proceeding to 115, the shutter time based on the photometric value at that time is selected from above the solid line A in FIG. Then, the process proceeds to step 116, and the release button 7 is fully pressed to turn it on.
The state of the switch SW2 to be turned on is determined, and if the switch SW2 is turned on, the process proceeds to step 117, and like step 111,
Using the AF drive motor 25 and the lens position detecting photo interrupter 15, the lens barrel 6 is driven to a position based on the above distance measurement information to perform focus adjustment. Next, in step 118, the electromagnetically driven shutter 17 is controlled through the shutter open / close detection photointerrupter 18 based on the selected shutter time. In this case, since EV is 9.5 or higher, a normal exposure operation is performed without using strobe light. After that, the process proceeds to step 113 described above, the previous lens barrel 6 is returned to the initial position, and in the next step 114, the photographing frame is wound up via the feeding motor 26.

Next, the case where the photometric value obtained in step 105 is less than EV9.5 will be described.

In this case, step 106 to step 1
In step 19, it is checked whether or not the strobe light emission prohibit mode is set, and if so, the process proceeds to step 120. Since the flash emission is prohibited here even though the brightness is low, there is a risk of camera shake.
Flashes 1 to give the warning. And step 115
Then, the process advances to B'and D in FIG. 3 to select the shutter time according to the photometric value at that time. After that, the operations of steps 116 → 117 → 118 → 113 → 114 described above are executed.

As a result, bulb photography can be performed by low-speed shutter opening control without strobe light emission.

If it is determined in step 119 that the strobe light emission prohibit mode is not set, the flow proceeds to step 121 in FIG. 5 to check whether or not the strobe automatic light emission mode is selected as the strobe mode. As a result,
If not, that is, if it is in the strobe forced light emission mode, the routine proceeds to step 122, where the photometric value obtained at step 105 is EV7.0 this time.
It is determined whether or not the above, and if so, step 12
Go to 3. Then, here, the shutter speed corresponding to the photometric value at that time is selected from the upper part of FIG.
Fixed to 0 "seconds). After that, it is during flash photography, so steps 109 → 110 → 111 → in FIG. 4 described above.
The operations 112 → 113 → 114 are executed.

As a result, it becomes possible to perform flash photography without camera shake.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 122 that the photometric value is less than EV 7.0, step 1
24, the shutter speed corresponding to the photometric value at that time is selected from C and D in FIG. Then, the routine proceeds to step 125, where there is a fear of camera shake due to the slow sync photography being performed, so the LED 21 is made to blink to give a warning. After that, step 109 → 1 in FIG. 4 described above
The operations of 10 → 111 → 112 → 113 → 114 are executed.

As a result, even with an inexpensive camera of this kind, the handshake warning is issued as described above. Therefore, slow sync photography with the night view as the background is properly performed (a tripod or the like is used due to the handshake warning). You can do it because it will encourage you to shoot.

If it is determined in step 121 that the automatic flash discharge mode is selected as the flash mode, steps 121 to 1 are executed.
As shown in B and D'in FIG. 3, the shutter speed is fixed to "1/60" regardless of the photometric value at that time. Therefore, at this time, since there is little possibility of camera shake, the warning is not displayed, and the process immediately proceeds to step 127 to turn on the red-eye reduction lamp 20 via the red-eye reduction lamp drive circuit 19. Then press the release button 7
The state of the switch SW2 for N is discriminated, and if it is ON, the routine proceeds to step 129, where it is discriminated whether or not a predetermined time, for example, 1.25 seconds has elapsed since the red-eye reduction lamp 20 was turned on. . If it has not elapsed, even if the switch SW2 is turned on, the release operation is not started, and the predetermined time that can surely eliminate the red-eye phenomenon is awaited. After that, when it is determined that the red-eye reduction lamp 20 is turned on for a predetermined time, the following steps 111 → 112 → 11 in FIG.
The operation of 3 → 114 is executed.

As described above, the relationship between the subject brightness and the shutter speed in each strobe mode is controlled by "A-B-D '" in the automatic strobe light emission mode in FIG. Controlled by "A-B'-D", and in this case, LE in the range of "B'-D" less than EV9.5
A handshake warning is issued by blinking D21. Also, in the strobe forced light emission mode, by controlling with "A-B-C-D", the camera shake does not occur during the strobe light emission of EV9.5-EV7.0 mainly in the room or in the shade of trees. EV7.0 for shooting night scenes by fixing the shutter speed to "1/60" seconds
Below, warning of camera shake is issued by blinking the LED 21,
It encourages the photographer to hold the camera securely and use a tripod to enable slow-sync photography such as portrait photography against a night view.

According to the above-described embodiment, in the strobe forced light emission mode, the shutter opening control is gradually extended in accordance with the brightness of the subject at a predetermined brightness or less (less than EV 7.0 in the embodiment). In addition, since the display for handshake warning is displayed, it is possible to shoot a person against a night view without setting a dedicated shooting mode (slow sync mode). That is, it is not necessary to increase the number of operation buttons in the strobe mode, and the complicated operation of the operation buttons is unnecessary. Further, this eliminates the need for the strobe mode state display, and therefore, even with an inexpensive camera without an LCD display, it is possible to take an image of a person against a night view.

In the strobe forced light emission mode, since the switch SW2 that is turned on by fully pressing the release button is permitted even when the red-eye reduction lamp for preventing the red-eye phenomenon of the subject is lit, the release time lag may be a problem. In this case, the operation switch for turning off the red-eye reduction lamp and the status display are not required. Therefore, even with an inexpensive camera, the red-eye reduction function and the small release time lag can be preferentially selected, and the function can be further enhanced.

As described above, according to the present invention as set forth in claim 1, when the subject brightness is higher than the first subject brightness in the state where the forced strobe light emission mode is set.
Is not affected by camera shake, it varies according to subject brightness.
Flash for a second and the subject brightness is set to the second
If the brightness is lower than the body brightness, it changes according to the brightness of the subject.
The shutter control is performed every second and the effect of camera shake is
Since this is unavoidable, a warning means is used to warn that, and the main subject is photographed against the background of the night view, so-called slow sync photography is performed, and the subject brightness is the first subject brightness.
And the second subject brightness, the effect of camera shake
I will shoot a flash at a certain time so that I will not receive
It is sea urchin.

Therefore, it is possible to perform slow sync photography without increasing the operation buttons for setting the flash mode.

According to the invention of claim 2 ,
By selecting the flash forced-flash mode, it is possible to shoot with priority on release rather than red-eye reduction.

Therefore, without increasing the number of operation buttons,
By selecting the flash mode, it is possible to arbitrarily switch between shooting that makes use of the red-eye reduction function and shooting that prioritizes the small release time lag.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view of a camera according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of the camera of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a relationship between subject brightness of the camera and shutter speed in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation of the camera of FIG.

5 is a flowchart showing a continuation of the operation of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a camera for explaining a conventional example.

7 is a diagram showing various display states on an LCD display provided in the camera of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

2,23 Strobe emission part 3 Flash forced-flash operation button 4 Flash off button 7 Release button 8 Metering unit 14 Photometric sensor 19 Red-eye reduction lamp drive circuit 20 red eye relief lamp 21 LED for warning of camera shake 22 Strobe circuit 28 Sequence controller

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) Reference JP-A-5-19328 (JP, A) JP-A-4-30133 (JP, A) JP-A-4-9832 (JP, A) JP-A-5- 61107 (JP, A) JP 5-19343 (JP, A) JP 6-51366 (JP, A) Actual flat 4-67630 (JP, U) Actual flat 2-95021 (JP, U) 61-5938 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G03B 15/05 G03B ^7/ 00-7/28

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A camera capable of selectively setting a plurality of modes including a strobe forced-flash mode in which a strobe is forced to emit light, and an operation for selectively setting a mode used for shooting from among the plurality of modes. comprising a part, and a light measuring means for measuring the object luminance, strike by the operation unit
When Robo forced flash mode is set,
The subject brightness obtained in the step is higher than the first subject brightness
If the shutter fluctuates according to the brightness of the subject
The brightness of the subject obtained by the photometric means
Note that the brightness of the second subject is lower than that of the first subject.
If it is extremely low, it will change depending on the brightness of the subject.
Not only is it controlled by
The subject brightness obtained by the photometric means is the first subject.
If the brightness is between the brightness of the second subject and the brightness of the second subject,
Shutter control should be performed at a fixed time considering the effect
A camera that is characterized by what it has done. 2. A photometric means for measuring the brightness of an object,
Lamp means to alleviate the red-eye effect of the image, and press halfway
Turns on in the first state and fully pressed state
A shutter release switch having a second switch
And the subject brightness obtained by the photometric means
Automatic flash emission that flashes when the brightness is lower than the body brightness
Flash mode and flash forcible flash
In a camera having at least
When the automatic flash mode is selected, the first
Where the lamp means starts lighting when the switch is turned on
It occurs when the second switch is turned on during lighting for a fixed time.
Prohibiting the release signal reception and setting the flash compulsory flash mode
Mode is selected, the first switch is turned on.
Lighting of the lamp means for a predetermined time
Regardless of inside, by turning on the second switch at any time
Provided with control means to allow acceptance of the release signal generated.
A camera that is characterized by the fact that it has been taken .