JP4996710B2 - Digital camera - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a digital camera, and more particularly to a single-lens reflex digital camera capable of continuous shooting.

  Conventionally, in a single-lens reflex type camera (hereinafter abbreviated as a single-lens reflex camera), a quick return mirror built in one frame is moved once to an optical path retreat position to perform photographing. In addition, a camera that performs continuous shooting of a plurality of frames while keeping the quick return mirror raised for one release operation is known. With regard to this type of technology, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a camera that enables high-speed shooting of a plurality of frames with a single mirror drive while holding incident light of an optical system on the image sensor side. In addition, cameras that realize continuous shooting at about 8 frames / second in a so-called continuous shooting mode are also in practical use.

JP-A-8-278541

  By the way, when it is desired to capture a decisive moment in a subject moving at a high speed, a sports photograph, or the like, a deviation of several milliseconds to several tens of milliseconds may cause a situation in which the photographing timing is missed. Further, a camera capable of continuous shooting at about 8 frames / second has a shooting interval of 100 to 125 msec, and is highly likely to miss the timing described above.

On the other hand, with regard to moving image shooting, in general, cameras on the market perform shooting every 1/60 sec. Even in this case, the shooting interval is 16.7 msec, and the response at high speed is insufficient. It is. Furthermore, in the case of moving images, there is still a problem that unnecessary shooting is performed because the photographer's intention to capture a moment is not met.
An object of the present invention is that the number of shots in one mirror drive sequence can be switched between one frame and a plurality of frames without changing the time of the entire sequence, and a desired moment can be shot with a simple operation. There is to do.

Digital camera according to the main first aspect of the present invention includes an imaging device that performs imaging by receiving an object light beam, and an observation optical system for observing an object by receiving the object light beam, the observation optical system the subject light flux a first position for guiding the above the subject light flux retracted from the optical path of the object light beam and the reflecting mirror movable to a second position for guiding the above image pickup device, the reflecting mirror from the first position One frame shooting mode means for causing the image sensor to perform one image pickup during a predetermined period in which the image sensor is moved to the second position and moved again to the first position; and for the image sensor during the predetermined period. a plurality of frames shooting mode means for causing the imaging of any number, and shooting mode selection means for executing either the 1-frame shooting mode means and said plurality of frames shooting mode means, when the plurality of frames shooting modes And imaging count setting means for setting the number of times of imaging, and a control means for controlling the shooting based on the selection result of the photographing mode selection means, said plurality of image pickup in the case of the plurality of frames shooting mode, the one frame It is executed before and after the timing when the image is taken in the shooting mode.

According to the present invention, the number of shots in one mirror drive sequence can be switched between one frame and a plurality of frames without changing the time of the entire sequence, and if a plurality of frames are selected, a fast moving subject or the like can be accurately captured. It is possible to provide a digital camera that can capture a desired moment with a simple operation.

1A and 1B are a front view and a side view of a digital camera according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The external appearance perspective view which looked at the digital camera from the back side. The block diagram which shows the system configuration | structure of the electric system of the digital camera. 3 is a time chart for explaining in detail a basic imaging operation by the digital camera. 4 is a time chart for explaining in detail a shooting operation in a continuous shooting mode (three frames shooting) by the digital camera. 4 is a time chart for explaining in detail a shooting operation in a continuous shooting mode (5-frame shooting) by the digital camera. 6 is a flowchart for explaining in more detail a photographing operation by the digital camera. 9 is a flowchart for explaining in detail processing related to setting of the number of shots by the digital camera according to the second embodiment of the present invention. 7 is a flowchart for explaining in detail another process related to setting of the number of shots by the digital camera. 9 is a timing chart illustrating in detail a shooting operation in a continuous shooting mode (10 frames shooting) by the digital camera according to the third embodiment of the present invention. 10 is a timing chart for explaining a characteristic strobe light emission operation (during single frame shooting) of the digital camera according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. 10 is a timing chart for explaining a characteristic strobe light emission operation (during three-frame shooting) of the digital camera according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. 10 is a timing chart for explaining a characteristic strobe light emission operation (during five-frame shooting) of the digital camera according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a digital camera according to the first embodiment of the present invention. More specifically, FIG. 1A is a front view of the digital camera, and FIG. 1B is a side view of the digital camera. FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the digital camera of FIG. 1 viewed from the back side.
As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the digital camera 1 includes a body unit 2 and a lens unit 3 that can be attached to the body unit 2.
That is, the lens unit 3 is composed of a plurality of lenses, and has a photographing lens 4 for guiding a photographing light beam to an imaging element 14 (described later) in the body unit 2.

  On the other hand, in the body unit 2, a battery 10 that supplies power to each part in the body unit 2 is provided. A quick return mirror (reflection mirror) 5 that reflects the photographic light beam is disposed on the optical path of the photographic light beam that has passed through the photographic lens 4, and a finder screen is provided on the optical path of the reflected light of the quick return mirror 5. 6, a pentaprism 7 and an eyepiece optical system 8 are disposed. A photometric unit 9 is provided in the vicinity of the eyepiece optical system 8. Further, a distance measuring mirror 11 is provided behind the quick return mirror 5, and a distance measuring unit 12 for performing automatic distance measurement is provided on the optical path of the reflected light from the distance measuring mirror 11. ing. The central portion of the quick return mirror 5 is a half mirror, and a part of the light beam is transmitted when the quick return mirror 5 is down (position shown; first position). When the quick return mirror 5 is up (second position), the distance measuring mirror 11 is folded. Further, behind the quick return mirror 5, on the optical path of the photographing light beam, a focal plane shutter 13, an image pickup device (imager) 14 such as a CCD for photoelectrically converting a subject image that has passed through the optical system, and this image pickup. A main circuit board 15 provided with the elements 14 and the like, and a monitor 16 for displaying a subject image captured by the imaging element 14 are provided.

As shown in FIG. 2, the display unit 20, the shutter button 21, the sub dial 22, the shooting mode dial 23, the main switch 24, and the shooting number button 27 are provided on the upper surface of the body unit 2 of the digital camera 1. Is provided. A finder eyepiece 26, a monitor 16, and a main dial 25 are provided on the back surface of the body unit 2.
More specifically, the display unit 20 is for displaying shooting information and the like of the camera. The shutter button 21 is used to perform a shooting operation of the camera, and includes a two-stage release switch. The main dial 25 and the sub dial 22 are dials for selecting various modes and numerical values. The main switch 24 is a switch for switching on / off the power of the digital camera. The shooting mode dial 23 is a dial for selecting an exposure control method, for example, an exposure control method such as program AE, aperture priority AE, shutter speed priority AE, or manual. The number of shots button 27 is a button for setting the number of frames for continuous shooting. For example, in the initial state, one frame shooting is performed. When the number-of-shots button 27 is pressed once, three-frame shooting is performed. When the button is pressed twice, the number of frames is set to return to the initial state.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of the electric system of the digital camera in the first embodiment of the present invention. As described above, the digital camera 1 according to this embodiment includes the body unit 2 and the lens unit 3. Hereinafter, each part will be described in detail.
The lens unit 2 includes a lens motor unit 30, a lens driving circuit 31, an aperture motor unit 32, an aperture driving circuit 33, and an in-lens data memory 34. The lens motor unit 30 is a unit for moving the photographing lens 4 described above in the optical axis direction. The movement of the lens motor unit 30 in the optical axis direction is controlled via a lens driving circuit 31 from a control circuit 40 (described later) in the body unit 2. The aperture motor unit 32 is controlled from the control circuit 40 via the aperture drive circuit 33 and drives an aperture that limits the light beam incident on the image sensor 14. The in-lens data memory 34 stores various data used in the lens unit 3 such as the F value and focal length of the photographing lens 4. Each part in the lens unit 3 is controlled in accordance with a command from the control circuit 40 in the body unit 2.

  On the other hand, the body unit 2 has a control circuit 40 that controls each part in the digital camera 1. The control circuit 40 includes an imaging device (imager) 14, a mirror drive circuit 41, a shutter drive circuit 43, a distance measurement circuit 45, a photometry circuit 46, a memory 47, a storage circuit 48, a switch input unit 50, a display drive circuit 51, The image display circuit 53, the imager driving circuit 55, the strobe driving circuit 57, the lens driving circuit 31 in the lens unit 3, the aperture driving circuit 33 and the in-lens data memory 34 are connected.

  The image sensor 14 is composed of an imager capable of high-speed readout with multiple channels. The mirror drive circuit 41 is for driving the motor unit 42, and when the motor unit 42 is driven, the quick return mirror 5 is rotationally moved to the up position and the down position. The shutter drive circuit 43 is a circuit for driving the shutter unit 44 constituting the focal plane shutter 13. By driving the shutter unit 44, the opening and closing of the focal plane shutter 13, that is, the shutter speed is controlled. The distance measuring circuit 45 is for driving the distance measuring unit 12, and the distance from the digital camera 1 to a subject (not shown) is measured by driving the distance measuring unit 12. The photometry circuit 46 is a circuit for driving the photometry unit 9. The photometric circuit 46 performs photometric processing based on the light flux from the pentaprism 7. The memory 47 temporarily stores predetermined control parameters necessary for camera control and photographing data before writing to a recording medium, and is provided so as to be accessible from the control circuit 40. The recording circuit 48 is a circuit for recording an image picked up by the image pickup device 14 on a recording medium 49 as data. The switch input unit 50 includes a shutter button 21, a sub dial 22, a shooting mode dial 23, a main switch 24, a shooting number button 27, and the like. The display drive circuit 51 is a circuit for driving the display unit 52 including the display unit 20 provided on the upper surface of the camera. The image display circuit 53 is a circuit for driving a monitor unit 54 including the monitor 16 provided on the back side of the camera. The imager drive circuit 55 is a circuit for driving the imager drive unit 56 in the optical axis direction. The strobe drive circuit 57 is a circuit for driving and controlling the strobe light emitting unit 58.

  Hereinafter, a basic imaging operation by the digital camera according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the timing chart of FIG. In the figure, tA indicates a time lag from the second release, and tB indicates an image disappearance time of the finder.

  When the shutter button 21 is pressed and the second release is turned on, the control circuit 40 drives the aperture motor to rotate forward after a predetermined time to narrow the aperture (not shown), and further starts the quick return mirror 5 up. When the quick return mirror 5 is completely raised, the control circuit 40 drives the focal plane shutter 13 included in the shutter unit 44 by the shutter drive circuit 43 to be in the open state, and after the second release is turned on, the time tA Imaging with the image sensor 14 is performed at the elapsed timing.

Although the quick return mirror 5 is increased by the finder image disappearance time, the control circuit 40 lowers the quick return mirror 5, reversely drives the aperture motor to return the aperture to the initial state, and turns on the motor to release the shutter. The unit 44 is mechanically charged and all operations are completed.
The control means described in the claims corresponds to the control circuit 40 and the like, and the number-of-shooting setting means, the shooting mode selection means, the single frame shooting mode means, and the multiple frame shooting mode means correspond to the switch input unit 50 and the like. It is.

Next, with reference to the timing chart of FIG. 5, a shooting operation in the continuous shooting mode (three frames shooting) by the digital camera according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.
In the following description, the configuration diagrams of FIGS. 1 to 3 will be referred to as appropriate. In the figure, tB represents the image disappearance time of the finder, tI1 is the interval between the first frame and the second frame, tI2 is the interval between the second frame and the third frame (tI1 = tI2 = 3.3 msec), and t1 is Release time lag until one frame shooting, t2 indicates a release time lag until two frame shooting (corresponding to a standard release time lag), and t3 indicates a release time lag until three frame shooting.

  When the shutter button 21 is pressed and the second release is turned on, the control circuit 40 drives the aperture motor to rotate forward after a predetermined time to narrow the aperture (not shown), and further starts the quick return mirror 5 up. Then, when the quick return mirror 5 is completely raised, the control circuit 40 drives the focal plane shutter 13 included in the shutter unit 44 by the shutter driving circuit 43 to be in the open state, and the release time lags t1, t2, t3. The image sensor 14 performs three consecutive imaging operations. That is, in the continuous shooting mode, the control circuit 40 performs a total of three times at a shooting timing in the normal shooting mode, twice before and after the timing, and at a predetermined interval tI1, tI2 (= 3.3 msec). It will be controlled to perform the shooting of the number of times.

  Although the quick return mirror 5 is increased by the finder image disappearance time, the control circuit 40 lowers the quick return mirror 5, reversely drives the aperture motor to return the aperture to the initial state, and turns on the motor to release the shutter. The unit 44 is mechanically charged, thus ending all operations. In order to realize the above photographing operation, this embodiment employs an imager with an element shutter capable of continuous shooting at about 300 frames / sec.

Next, with reference to the timing chart of FIG. 6, the shooting operation in the continuous shooting mode (5-frame shooting) by the digital camera according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.
In the following description, the configuration diagrams of FIGS. 1 to 3 will be referred to as appropriate. In FIG. 6, tB indicates the image disappearance time of the finder, tI1 indicates the interval between the first frame and the second frame, tI2 indicates the interval between the second frame and the third frame, and tI3 indicates the third frame and the fourth frame. The interval, tI4 is the interval between the fourth frame and the fifth frame (tI1 = tI2 = tI3 = tI4 = 2.0 msec), t1 is the release time lag until one frame shooting, t2 is the release time lag until two frame shooting, t3 is 3 Release time lag until frame shooting (corresponding to a standard release time lag), t4 means release time lag until 4 frames shooting, and t5 means release time lag until 5 frames shooting.

  When the shutter button 21 is pressed and the second release is turned on, the control circuit 40 drives the aperture motor to rotate forward after a predetermined time to narrow the aperture (not shown), and further starts the quick return mirror 5 up. When the quick return mirror 5 is fully raised, the control circuit 40 drives the focal plane shutter 13 included in the shutter unit 44 by the shutter driving circuit 43 to open, and the release time lags t1, t2, t3, t4. , T5, the image sensor 14 performs five consecutive imaging operations. That is, in the continuous shooting mode, the control circuit 40 once at the basic timing in the normal shooting mode, before and after the basic timing, twice at the timing of the predetermined intervals tI2 and tI3, before and after the basic timing, and at the predetermined interval tI1 + tI2. , TI3 + tI4, and control is performed so that a total of five shootings are performed twice.

Hereinafter, with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 7, the photographing operation by the digital camera according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described in more detail. Here, FIGS. 1 to 3 are referred to as appropriate.
When the shutter button 21 is half-pressed and the first release (hereinafter abbreviated as 1R) is turned on (step S1), distance measurement by the distance measurement unit 12 and light measurement by the light measurement unit 9 are performed (steps S2 and S3). Then, it is determined whether the subject brightness is sufficient (whether or not it is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value) (step S4). If not enough, the flash emission amount is calculated (step S5), and the flag F for flash emission is calculated. Is set to 1 (step S6), the process proceeds to step S7, and the processing of steps S1 to S7 is repeated until the second release (hereinafter abbreviated as 2R) by fully pressing the shutter button 21 is turned on.

  When 2R is turned on (step S7), the quick return mirror 5 is raised and the lens is narrowed down (step S8), and it is determined whether or not the continuous shooting mode (multiple frame shooting mode) is set (step S9). . Here, in the continuous shooting mode, the shutter front curtain magnet included in the shutter unit 44 is turned off (step S10), the image sensor 14 is reset (step S11), and the state of the flag F relating to the strobe emission is set. Is detected (step S12), and when F = 1, the strobe light emission unit 58 performs strobe light emission (step S13). On the other hand, when F = 0, the data of the image sensor 14 is read (step S14), the processes of steps S11 to S14 are repeated as many times as the exposure setting number, and a plurality of frames are imaged (step S15). When the process is completed, the shutter rear curtain magnet is turned off (step S16), and the process proceeds to step S23 and subsequent steps.

  On the other hand, when it is not the continuous shooting mode, the shutter front curtain magnet included in the shutter unit 44 is turned off (step S18), the image sensor 14 is reset (step S19), and the state of the flag F related to the strobe emission is changed. If it is detected (step S20) and F = 1, strobe light emission is performed by the strobe light emitting unit 58 (step S13). On the other hand, after this strobe light emission or when F = 0 in step S20, the data of the image sensor 14 is read (step S21), the shutter rear curtain magnet is turned off (step S22), and the steps after step S23. Proceed to processing. In this way, the quick return mirror 5 is lowered and the lens aperture is opened (step S23), mechanical charging is performed (step S24), the flag F relating to strobe light emission is set to 0 (step S25), and this operation is terminated.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the first position for guiding the subject light flux to the observation optical system and the subject light flux are retracted from the optical path of the subject light flux and the subject light flux is imaged. And a control circuit for controlling the image sensor 14 to perform imaging a plurality of times during a predetermined period when the quick return mirror 5 is in the second position. A digital camera with 40 is provided.

  Then, a single frame shooting mode in which the imaging element 14 performs one imaging in a predetermined period in which the quick return mirror 5 is in the second position, and a plurality of times for the imaging element in the predetermined period. There is provided a camera that can select one of a plurality of frame shooting modes for performing imaging and perform imaging. That is, according to the digital camera according to the first embodiment of the present invention, in the single-lens reflex camera equipped with the element shutter, the time of the entire photographing sequence remains the same, and the driving sequence of one quick return mirror is the same. Since the number of shots can be selectively switched between one frame and a plurality of frames, if a plurality of frames are selected, it is possible to shoot accurately capturing an object that moves quickly.

(Second embodiment)
Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. Since the configuration is substantially the same as that shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the same components will be described with the same reference numerals.
In the first embodiment described above, the number-of-shots button 27 is in the initial state for single-frame shooting, and when the number-of-shots button 27 is pressed once, three-frame shooting is performed. Although the number of frames has been set, in the second embodiment, the shooting number button 27 is initially pressed for one frame shooting, and when the shooting number button 27 is pressed once, three frame shooting is pressed twice. When five-shot shooting is performed three times, the number of frames is set to return to the initial state. Furthermore, the number can be set to an arbitrary number by turning the main dial 24 with the number-of-shots button 27 turned on. Hereinafter, these characteristic processes will be described in more detail. The single frame shooting mode means and the multiple frame shooting mode means described in the claims correspond to the shooting number button 27, the main dial 25, and the like.

First, with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 8, a process for setting the number of shots by the digital camera according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.
When the control circuit 40 detects that the number of shots button 27 has been pressed (step S31), it sets the number of shots according to the number of times the number of shots button 27 has been pressed. That is, if the button is pressed once, the number of shots is set to three. If the button is pressed twice, the number of shots is set to five. If the button is pressed twice, the number of shots is set to one. Setting is performed (steps S32 to S36).

Next, with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 9, another process related to setting the number of shots by the digital camera according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.
When the number of shots button 27 is pressed (step S41), the set number of shots is displayed on the display unit 20 included in the display unit 52 (step S42), and it is detected whether or not the main dial 25 has been rotated. (Step S43). In step S43, if the main dial 25 is not rotated, the process returns to step S41. If the main dial 25 is rotated, it is detected whether or not a predetermined number of pulses are generated (step S44).

If a predetermined number of pulses are not generated in step S44, the process returns to step S41. If a predetermined number of pulses is generated, it is detected whether the set number of shots is the upper limit value (step S45). ). In step S45, if the number of shots is the upper limit value, the process returns to step S41.
On the other hand, if it is not the upper limit value, it is detected whether it is the lower limit value (one sheet) (step S46). If the value is the lower limit in step S46, the process returns to step S41. On the other hand, if it is not the lower limit value, it is detected whether or not the main dial 25 has rotated counterclockwise (step S47). If the main dial 25 rotates counterclockwise in step S47, +2 is added to the currently set number of shots (step S48), and it is detected whether or not the set number of shots has been reached (step S49). ).
If the upper limit is reached in step S49, the process returns to step S42 and the above process is repeated. On the other hand, if the upper limit is not reached, the number of shots after the addition is displayed on the display unit 20 included in the display unit 52, the process returns to step S41, and the above operation is repeated.

  On the other hand, if the main dial 25 does not rotate counterclockwise in step S47, -2 is subtracted from the currently set number of shots (step S51), and the set number of shots is set to the lower limit (one). It is detected whether or not (step S52), and when the lower limit is reached, the process returns to step S42 and the above operation is repeated. On the other hand, if the lower limit is not reached, the number of shots after subtraction is displayed on the display unit 20 included in the display unit 52 (step S53), and the process returns to step S41. If the number of shots button 27 is not pressed in step S41, the process is exited.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the first position for guiding the subject light flux to the observation optical system and the subject light flux are retracted from the optical path of the subject light flux and the subject light flux is imaged. The quick return mirror 5 that is movable to the second position for guiding to 14 and the quick return mirror 5 at the second position are controlled to cause the image sensor 14 to take an arbitrary number of images during a predetermined period. A digital camera provided with a control circuit 40 is provided.

  Further, the number-of-imaging-number setting means (the number-of-shots button 27 for setting the number of times of imaging in the multi-frame imaging mode in which the imaging element performs imaging of any number of times during a predetermined period in which the reflecting mirror is in the second position. , A main dial 25) and a digital camera provided with a control circuit 40 for controlling photographing based on the setting of the number of times of imaging. And a one-frame shooting mode in which the imaging element 14 performs one imaging during a predetermined period in which the reflecting mirror moves from the first position to the second position and then to the first position. There is provided a digital camera provided with a control circuit 40 for selecting a shooting mode of a plurality of frame shooting modes in which the imaging element 14 performs an arbitrary number of imagings in the predetermined period and controlling shooting. Furthermore, it is possible to further include an imaging number setting means for setting the number of imaging times in the multiple frame shooting mode, and to control shooting based on the selection result of the shooting mode selection means.

  That is, according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the number of shot frames can be made variable in a camera that can switch the number of shots in one mirror drive sequence. This is realized by adopting an imager with an element shutter capable of continuous shooting at about 300 frames / second, for example. In the continuous shooting mode, a set number of images can be taken evenly at a predetermined interval before and after the exposure reference position.

(Third embodiment)
In the digital camera according to the second embodiment described above, the number of shots can be arbitrarily set. However, the digital camera according to the third embodiment is based on such a concept, and has a continuous shooting mode. In some cases, when the number of set images is large and the shooting before and after the exposure reference position is insufficient, shooting is performed behind the exposure reference position. More specifically, when shooting is performed behind the exposure reference position, the timing for lowering the quick return mirror 5 is delayed so that a sufficient time required for the shooting can be secured. Since the configuration of the digital camera according to the third embodiment is substantially the same as that shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, duplicate description is omitted here, and the same configuration is described using the same reference numeral.

Next, with reference to the timing chart of FIG. 10, the shooting operation in the continuous shooting mode (10 frames shooting) by the digital camera according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.
In the following description, the configuration diagrams of FIGS. 1 to 3 will be referred to as appropriate. In the figure, tB 'indicates the image disappearance time of the finder, and tI indicates the interval between frames.
When the shutter button 21 is pressed and the second release is turned on, the control circuit 40 drives the aperture motor to rotate forward after a predetermined time to narrow the aperture (not shown), and further starts the quick return mirror 5 up. Then, when the quick return mirror 5 is completely up, the control circuit 40 drives the focal plane shutter 13 included in the shutter unit 44 by the shutter drive circuit 43 to an open state, and continuously 10 times with a release time lag tI. Are picked up by the image pickup device 14. That is, in the continuous shooting mode, the control circuit 40 controls to take a total of 10 shots by delaying the time for which the quick return mirror 5 is lowered. The quick return mirror 5 is increased by the finder image disappearance time including this delay, but the control circuit 40 lowers the quick return mirror 5 and reversely drives the aperture motor to return the aperture to the initial state. Then, the motor is turned on and the shutter unit 44 is mechanically charged, thus completing all the operations.
In order to realize the above photographing operation, this embodiment employs an imager with an element shutter capable of continuous shooting at about 300 frames / sec.

  As described above, according to the third embodiment of the present invention, the first position for guiding the subject light flux to the observation optical system and the subject light flux are retracted from the optical path of the subject light flux and the subject light flux is imaged. The quick return mirror 5 that can be moved to the second position to guide the image 14, and the imaging element 14 can be imaged a plurality of times within a predetermined period when the mirror 5 is in the second position. When performing the plurality of times of imaging, if the imaging operation is performed a predetermined number of times or more and the predetermined period is exceeded, the timing for moving the mirror 5 from the second position to the first position is less than the predetermined number of times. There is provided a digital camera including a control circuit 40 that performs control so as to delay the image capturing at the time of imaging. In addition, when the control circuit 40 performs the plurality of times of imaging in the multiple-frame shooting mode, when the imaging operation is performed a predetermined number of times and the predetermined period is exceeded, the mirror 5 is moved from the second position to the second position. It is also possible to delay the timing of moving to the position 1 as compared with the case of imaging less than the predetermined number of times.

  That is, according to the third embodiment of the present invention, in a camera capable of switching the number of shots in one mirror drive sequence, a required number is set, and the quick return is controlled by the control circuit according to the number. By delaying the down timing of the mirror 5, the number of images can be taken.

(Fourth embodiment)
In the fourth embodiment, a device for controlling the flash emission is further added to the first to third embodiments described above. That is, in the fourth embodiment, in the camera capable of switching the number of shots in one mirror drive sequence as described above in the second and third embodiments described above, the flash is synchronized with each exposure. Is flashed.
The configuration of the digital camera according to the fourth embodiment is the same as that shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, and therefore, a duplicate description will be omitted, and the same components will be described with the same reference numerals.

The characteristic strobe light emission operation of the digital camera according to the fourth embodiment will be described below with reference to the timing charts of FIGS. Since these FIGS. 11 to 13 overlap with FIGS. 4 to 6, only the characteristic part related to strobe light emission will be described here.
The example of FIG. 11 performs one shooting operation. In this case, the control circuit 40 causes the strobe light emitting unit 58 to emit light in synchronization with the exposure timing of the image sensor 14. In the example of FIG. 12, the photographing operation is performed three times. In this case, the control circuit 40 synchronizes with each exposure timing (release time lags t1, t2, t3) of the image sensor 14, and the strobe light emitting unit 58. Is controlled to emit light. The strobe emission times ts1, ts2, and ts3 in the figure are the same interval.

  In the example of FIG. 13, the photographing operation is performed five times. In this case, the control circuit 40 controls the strobe light emitting unit 58 in synchronization with the timing of each exposure of the image sensor 14 (release time lags t1 to t5). Control to emit light. The flash emission times ts1, ts2, ts3, ts4, and ts5 in the figure can be taken by changing the exposure state of each frame according to the relationship of ts1 <ts2 <ts3 <ts4 <ts5.

  As described above, according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, the first position for guiding the subject light flux to the observation optical system and the subject light flux are retracted from the optical path of the subject light flux and the subject light flux is imaged. A quick return mirror 5 that is movable to the second position and a light emission signal for causing the strobe device that emits light to the subject to emit light, and the mirror 5 is in the second position for a predetermined period. There is provided a digital camera including a control circuit 40 that allows the imaging element 14 to perform imaging a plurality of times and output the light emission signal in synchronization with each imaging.

  Furthermore, according to the fourth embodiment, the multi-frame shooting mode means (the number of shots) that causes the imaging element 14 to perform imaging a plurality of times during a predetermined period when the reflecting mirror 5 is in the second position. Button 27 and main dial 25), and the control circuit 40 controls the light emission signal to be output in synchronization with each of the imaging in the multi-frame shooting mode. That is, according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, the strobe light emitting section can be caused to flash in synchronization with the exposure timing of each set number of shots. At this time, the energy of the strobe can be used efficiently.

  The embodiment of the present invention has been described above, but the present invention is not limited to this, and various improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, the above-described technique can be applied not only to a digital camera but also to various devices that perform imaging using an image sensor.

  1: digital camera, 2: body unit, 3: lens unit, 4: photographing lens, 5: quick return mirror, 6: finder screen, 7: pentaprism, 8: eyepiece optical system, 9: photometry unit, 10: battery 11: Distance measuring mirror, 12: Distance measuring unit, 13: Focal plane shutter, 14: Image sensor, 15: Main circuit board, 16: Monitor.

Claims (1)

An image sensor that picks up an image by receiving a subject light beam;
An observation optical system for observing an object by receiving the object light beam,
A first position for guiding the subject light flux to the observation optical system, a reflecting mirror for moving the object light beam and retracted from the optical path of the object light beam into a second position for guiding the above image pickup device,
Single-frame shooting mode means for causing the imaging device to perform one image pickup during a predetermined period in which the reflecting mirror moves from the first position to the second position and then moves to the first position again. ,
A plurality of frame shooting mode means for causing the image pickup device to take an arbitrary number of times during the predetermined period;
A shooting mode selection means for executing either the single frame shooting mode means or the multiple frame shooting mode means;
Imaging number setting means for setting the number of imaging times in the multiple frame shooting mode;
Control means for controlling photographing based on the selection result of the photographing mode selecting means;
Comprising
2. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of imaging operations in the multiple frame shooting mode are performed before and after timing when the imaging is performed in the single frame shooting mode.

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