JP5532565B2 - camera - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a digital single lens reflex camera.

  Cameras with interchangeable lenses, such as digital single-lens reflex cameras, can be photographed at a high magnification by attaching a telephoto lens. With such a telephoto lens, a large subject image is projected, and if a high-luminance subject such as the sun enters the photographing lens during photographing, the photographer's eyes may be damaged.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known a camera that displays an image on an image display unit when subject luminance is lowered during shooting using a finder (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2006-94133 A

  The conventional camera is intended to improve the visibility when the luminance of the subject is low, and no consideration is given to the case where the luminance of the subject is high. Therefore, it has been desired to provide a camera that does not damage the photographer's eyes even when a high-luminance subject enters the photographing lens.

An object of the present invention is to provide a camera that does not damage the photographer's eyes even when high-luminance subject light enters the photographing lens.

The present invention solves the above problems by the following means.
According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an optical member that refracts incident subject light to form a subject image on the exit side, an imaging unit that captures a subject image formed by the optical member, and the optical member. A finder capable of visually recognizing the formed subject image, an approach detecting means for detecting the photographer's approach to the vicinity of the finder, a photometric means for detecting the luminance of the incident subject light, and the imaging means. Between the display means for live view display of the captured image, the reflection position for reflecting the subject light that has passed through the optical member toward the viewfinder side, and the retracted position for not reflecting the subject light that has passed through the optical member toward the viewfinder side. The brightness of the subject light detected by the rotating mirror configured to be rotatable and the photometric means is equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold, and the approach detection unit approaches the photographer. Control means for rotating the rotating mirror from the reflection position to the retracted position and controlling the display means to perform the live view display when detected, the control means comprising the photometry The display means is controlled to continue the live view display when the luminance of the subject light detected by the means decreases to less than the predetermined threshold after the luminance exceeds the predetermined threshold. Camera.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a camera that does not damage the photographer's eyes even when high-luminance subject light enters the photographing lens.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, embodiments of a camera according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Each figure shown below is provided with an XYZ orthogonal coordinate system for ease of explanation and understanding. In this coordinate system, the direction toward the left as viewed from the photographer at the camera position (hereinafter referred to as the normal position) when the photographer shoots a horizontally long image with the optical axis A horizontal is defined as the X plus direction. Further, the direction toward the upper side in the normal position is defined as the Y plus direction. Further, the direction toward the subject at the normal position is taken as the Z direction.

  FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a camera 1 according to the first embodiment. The camera 1 is a digital single-lens reflex camera, and includes a camera body 2 and a lens barrel 3 that is detachably attached to the camera body 2.

  The lens barrel 3 includes a plurality of photographing lenses 4 and an aperture unit 5 on which subject light A is incident. The photographing lens 4 is an optical member that refracts incident subject light A and emits it to the camera body 2 side. The diaphragm unit 5 adjusts the amount of subject light A passing through the photographing lens 4 and is controlled mechanically or electrically. 1, 4, and 5, the subject light incident on the lens barrel 3 is referred to as “subject light A”, and the subject light that has passed through the lens barrel 3 and is guided into the camera body 2. This is referred to as “subject light A1”.

  The camera body 2 includes a mirror unit 10, a finder optical system 20, a photometric optical system 30, a finder 40, an imaging unit 7, a display panel 8, and the like.

  The display panel 8 is provided on the back surface of the camera body 2 and is configured by a liquid crystal display that displays a subject image captured by the imaging unit 7 and information related to an operation. A state in which the subject image captured by the imaging unit 7 is displayed on the display panel 8 is referred to as a live view.

  The mirror unit 10 includes a main mirror 11 and a sub mirror 12. The mirror unit 10 is provided at a position where the light from the photographing lens 4 is incident, and causes the subject light A1 to be incident on the finder optical system 20, or the shutter 6 and the imaging unit 7, as will be described later.

  The main mirror 11 reflects the subject light A1 to the finder optical system 20, and a semi-transmissive mirror having a characteristic of transmitting a part of the light is used at the center. Accordingly, the main mirror 11 transmits a part of the subject light A1 and causes the subject light A1 to enter the sub mirror 12. Further, the main mirror 11 has a rotating portion 13 at the end, and is configured to be rotatable inside the camera body 2 as indicated by a broken line and a solid line.

  The sub mirror 12 is a reflection mirror that reflects a part of the subject light A 1 transmitted through the main mirror 11 to the distance measuring sensor 51. The sub mirror 12 is attached to the main mirror 11 so as to be rotatable, and the sub mirror 12 is folded into the main mirror 11 by the rotation and is erected on the back side of the main mirror 11. The distance measuring sensor 51 is disposed in the vicinity of the sub mirror 12. The distance measuring sensor 51 detects the defocus amount of the subject image in a predetermined distance measuring area set in the screen.

  The main mirror 11 and the sub mirror 12 reflect the subject light A1 to the finder optical system 20 and the distance measuring sensor 51, respectively, at fixed positions indicated by broken lines before photographing. Due to the reflection to the finder optical system 20, the photographer can observe the subject in the finder 40. When a release button (not shown) is pressed for photographing, the main mirror 11 is rotated by the rotating unit 13 and retracted to the finder optical system 20, and at the same time, the sub mirror 12 is rotated to the main mirror 11. It is folded so that it overlaps, and it becomes the state of a solid line (mirror up). As a result, the subject light A1 is incident on the shutter 6 and the imaging unit 7 arranged on the rear side of the mirror unit 10, and photography is possible.

  The shutter 6 is disposed behind the mirror unit 10, and subject light A1 is incident when the mirror unit 10 is ready to shoot. The shutter 6 includes a plurality of shutter blades (not shown), opens and closes the shutter blades in response to a shooting instruction by a release button or the like, and makes the subject light A1 enter the imaging unit 7.

  The imaging unit 7 is a part that images a subject, exposes the subject light A1, converts it to an electrical image signal, and outputs it to an image processing unit (not shown). The imaging unit 7 is configured by an imaging element such as a CCD or a CMOS.

  The viewfinder optical system 20 includes a viewfinder screen 21, a pentaprism 22, and an eyepiece lens 23. The finder screen 21 is disposed above the mirror unit 10, and the subject light A1 reflected by the mirror unit 10 is projected onto the finder screen 21 to form a projected image. Light from the projected image on the finder screen 21 is guided to the eyepiece lens 23 by the pentaprism 22, and is guided from the eyepiece lens 23 to the finder 40. Thus, the photographer can look into the viewfinder 40 and observe the subject image. The viewfinder 40 is disposed on the rear side of the eyepiece lens 23. The viewfinder screen 21 branches part of the light from the projected image and guides the branched light to the photometric optical system 30 via the pentaprism 22.

  The photometric optical system 30 includes a photometric unit 31 such as a prism or a lens and a photometric sensor 32. The photometry unit 31 causes the branched light from the pentaprism 22 to enter the photometry sensor 32. The photometric sensor 32 detects the luminance of the subject light A1 based on the incident branched light.

  The camera body 2 is provided with an approach detection unit 42. The approach detection unit 42 is arranged at a position close to the finder 40 on the back side of the camera body 2, and functions as a detection unit that detects the approach of the photographer when the photographer brings his face close to the viewfinder 40. An infrared sensor or the like can be used as the approach detection unit 42. By providing the approach detection unit 42 to detect the photographer, the light amount control of the subject light A1, which will be described later, is avoided when there is no photographer.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the camera body 2. In FIG. 2, the same parts as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals. Hereinafter, each part will be described.

  The image processing unit 14 performs processing such as noise removal, A / D conversion, color correction processing, size change, and encoding on the image signal output from the imaging unit 7 to create digital image data. This image data is temporarily stored in the DRAM 18.

  The EEPROM 16 is a non-volatile memory that retains stored information even when the camera 1 is turned off, and stores input information such as user settings and custom settings.

  The ROM 17 stores a program necessary for the operation and control of the camera 1 as well as initial values and setting values necessary for executing this program.

  The DRAM 18 is a volatile memory in which stored information is erased when the power of the camera 1 is turned off. In addition to the above-described image data, the data necessary for the image processing unit 14 and the control unit 15 to perform processing. Is temporarily stored.

  The memory card I / F (interface) unit 19 is a writing / reading device having a function of recording image data stored in the DRAM 18 on the memory card 100 and reading image data recorded on the memory card 100. is there. A memory card 100 is detachably mounted in a memory card slot (not shown) of the memory card I / F unit 17.

  The control unit 15 is a circuit that controls the overall operation of the camera 1 and is configured by a microprocessor.

  In the control unit 15, when the release button 24 is half-pressed, the lens driving amount is calculated based on the defocus amount of the subject image detected by the distance measuring sensor 51. By transmitting information on the lens driving amount to a lens control unit (not shown) on the lens barrel 3 side, focus adjustment is performed by the lens internal motor of the lens barrel 3. Alternatively, by driving an in-body motor (not shown) based on the lens driving amount, the driving force may be transmitted to the lens barrel 3 side through the coupling mechanism to adjust the focus.

  In addition to the luminance of the subject light A1 by the photometric sensor 32, the lens information of the lens barrel 3 mounted, lens information such as the open F value, the focal length, etc., the control unit 15 also has a shooting mode set by the user. An appropriate exposure value is calculated based on sensitivity information input from a sensitivity setting unit (not shown). Then, an aperture value and a shutter speed value corresponding to the exposure value are selected and transmitted to the aperture unit 5 or a shutter unit (not shown) to perform exposure control.

  Further, when the luminance of the subject light A1 detected by the photometric sensor 32 of the photometric optical system 30 is equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold, the control unit 15 causes the main mirror 11 to subject the subject light not to be reflected to the viewfinder 40. The rotation unit 13 is controlled to be retracted from the optical path of the light A1, and the subject light A1 is guided from the shutter 6 to the imaging unit 7 so that the image captured by the imaging unit 7 is displayed on the display panel 8. I have control.

  In addition, various control members, control circuits, detection units, and the like are connected to the control unit 15, but illustration and description thereof are omitted here.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of light amount adjustment in the camera of the first embodiment.

  In step S11, the control unit 15 determines whether or not the luminance of the subject light A1 detected by the photometric sensor 32 is equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold value. Here, when the luminance of the subject light A1 is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold, the process proceeds to step S12.

  In step S12, the control unit 15 determines whether or not the approach detection unit 42 has detected the approach of the photographer. Here, when the approach of the photographer is not detected, the processing of this routine is terminated. In this case, since the photographer does not look into the viewfinder 40, the light amount adjustment of the subject light A1 is not performed.

  On the other hand, when the approach of the photographer is detected in step S12, the control unit 15 proceeds to step S13 and controls the rotating unit 13 to rotate the main mirror 11 in the direction of the viewfinder optical system 20. Do up. At this time, the sub mirror 12 is folded so as to overlap the main mirror 11. Since the subject light A <b> 1 is input to the imaging unit 7 by this mirror up, the imaging of the subject by the imaging unit 7 is performed.

  In subsequent step S <b> 14, the control unit 15 controls the display panel 8 to display a captured subject image, and performs live view display. The live view display allows the photographer to continue shooting while looking at the display panel 8.

  In this embodiment, when the luminance of the subject light A1 becomes less than a predetermined threshold value or when the photographer is no longer detected by the approach detection unit 42, the control unit 15 causes the main mirror 11 and the sub mirror 12 to move. Mirror down to the original position. As a result, the photographer can view the subject again with the viewfinder 40.

  In addition to the above control, in the present embodiment, the brightness of the image displayed on the display panel 8 can be reduced. That is, the control unit 15 reduces the luminance of the image on the display panel 8 by controlling the voltage to the display panel 8 during live view display performed when the luminance of the subject light A1 is equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold. It is.

As mentioned above, according to this embodiment, there exist the following effects.
(1) When the light amount of the subject light A1 is equal to or larger than the threshold value, the subject light A1 is blocked on the finder 40 side by mirror-up, so even if a high-brightness subject enters the photographing lens 4, the photographer's eyes Will not hurt. Further, when the amount of the subject light A1 is equal to or greater than the threshold value, the display panel 8 performs live view display for displaying the subject image, so that the photographer can continue photographing without using the viewfinder 40.
(2) The mirror up and live view display are controlled only when the approach detection unit 42 detects approach, and when there is no photographer approach, these controls are not performed. 7 wasteful operation can be prevented.
(3) In the live view display performed together with the mirror up, when the brightness of the image is reduced, the brightness of the image is also reduced on the display panel 8 side, so that the photographer's eyes are not damaged.
(Second Embodiment)

  FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the camera 1A according to the second embodiment. Inside the camera body 2A of the camera 1A, the mirror unit 10, the shutter 6, the image pickup unit 7, the finder optical system 20, the photometric optical system 30, and the finder 40 are arranged as in the first embodiment. A display panel 8 for displaying a subject image and operation information is provided on the back side of the camera body 2A.

  In addition to the above, a light control panel 46 is provided in the camera body 2A of the present embodiment. The light control panel 46 is disposed below the finder screen 21 of the finder optical system 20 (on the upstream side of the optical path of the subject light A1), and is positioned between the finder screen 21 and the main mirror 11. The light control panel 46 is a liquid crystal panel, and is connected to a power supply circuit (not shown) controlled by the control unit 15 (FIG. 2).

  The dimming panel 46 operates so as to shield all of the subject light A1 when a predetermined voltage is applied from the power supply circuit and to transmit all of the subject light A1 when no voltage is applied. However, the relationship between voltage application and light shielding / transmission may be reversed. When the luminance of the subject light A1 detected by the photometric sensor 32 exceeds a predetermined threshold value, the control unit 15 controls the power supply circuit to apply a predetermined voltage so that the entire subject light A1 is shielded. . Further, when the luminance of the subject light A1 becomes less than a predetermined threshold, the control unit 15 controls the power supply circuit to stop the application of voltage so that the entire subject light A1 is transmitted.

  In the present embodiment, when the luminance of the subject light A1 detected by the photometric sensor 32 exceeds a predetermined threshold, the control unit 15 controls the power supply circuit so that the subject light A1 is shielded. A predetermined voltage is applied to. As a result, the subject light A1 guided to the viewfinder 40 is blocked. Therefore, even when a high-luminance subject enters the photographing lens 4, the photographer does not hurt his eyes.

In the present embodiment, since a liquid crystal panel is used as the light control panel 46, there is no mechanical drive portion. For this reason, mounting on the camera body 2 is facilitated. Further, depending on the type of the liquid crystal panel, not only the subject light A1 can be completely shielded but also the amount of light can be reduced. When dimmed in this way, the photographer can visually recognize the subject image in the viewfinder 40 without feeling glare.
(Third embodiment)

  FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a camera 1B according to the third embodiment. Inside the camera body 2B of the camera 1B, the mirror unit 10, the shutter 6, the imaging unit 7, the finder optical system 20, the photometric optical system 30, and the finder 40 are arranged in the same manner as in the first embodiment, and the rear surface of the camera body 2B. On the side, a display panel 8 for displaying a subject image and operation information is provided.

  In the present embodiment, a reflective optical system 25 is provided instead of the pentaprism 22 of the finder optical system 20. The reflection optical system 25 is formed as a structure in which a first mirror 26, a second mirror 27, a third mirror 28, and a side mirror (not shown) are combined from the viewfinder screen 21 side. These members such as mirrors 26, 27, and 28 reflect the subject light A 1 so that the incident subject light A 1 is guided to the finder 40, and are configured to function in the same manner as the pentaprism 22. .

  At least one mirror in the reflection optical system 25 is configured so that the angle of the reflection surface can be changed. In the present embodiment, the first mirror 26 is supported by a hinge shaft 29, and is configured to be rotatable to a displacement position 26b indicated by a chain line deviated from a fixed position when the hinge shaft 29 is rotated. Has been. The hinge shaft 29 is connected to a hinge motor 53, and the hinge motor 53 is connected to a motor drive unit 55. The motor drive unit 55 is connected to the control unit 15 (FIG. 2). And it is comprised so that the 1st mirror 26 may rotate between a fixed position and a displacement position by being controlled by the control part 15. FIG. When the first mirror 26 is at the displacement position 26b, the subject light A1 is set to be reflected so as not to enter the finder 40.

  In the present embodiment, the control unit 15 controls the motor driving unit 55 when the luminance of the subject light A1 detected by the photometric sensor 32 becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold value. By this control, the motor drive unit 55 drives the hinge motor 53 to rotate the first mirror 26 from the fixed position to the displacement position 26b via the hinge shaft 29. According to this, since the subject light A1 does not enter the finder 40, even if a high-luminance subject enters the photographing lens 4, the photographer's eyes are not damaged.

In the present embodiment, the control unit 15 controls the motor drive unit 55 when the luminance of the subject light A1 becomes less than a predetermined threshold value or when the photographer is no longer detected by the approach detection unit 42. Then, the first mirror 26 is rotated to a fixed position. As a result, the photographer can view the subject again with the viewfinder 40.
(Deformation)

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications and changes as described below are possible, and these are also within the scope of the present invention.
(1) In the first embodiment described above, live view display is performed when the luminance of the subject light A1 exceeds a predetermined threshold, but the live view is displayed even if the luminance of the subject light A1 becomes less than the predetermined threshold. The display may be continued. Further, in the live view display, the live view display may be ended when the photographer performs some operation.
(2) Although an example in which an optical finder is used as the finder 40 has been shown, the present invention is not limited to this and may be an EVF (electric view finder).
(3) In each of the above embodiments, the example in which the present invention is applied to a digital single-lens reflex camera in which a lens barrel is detachably attached to the camera body has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. There is no. That is, any camera provided with at least a lens barrel and a viewfinder can be applied. For example, a high-power zoom lens can be integrated with the camera body and applied to the camera.

  The first to third embodiments described above can be used in appropriate combination, but the configuration of each embodiment is apparent from the drawings, and detailed description thereof is omitted. Further, the present invention is not limited by the embodiments described above.

It is sectional drawing of the camera concerning 1st Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the functional structure of the camera main body in 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the light quantity adjustment in the camera of 1st Embodiment. It is sectional drawing of the camera concerning 2nd Embodiment. It is sectional drawing of the camera concerning 3rd Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  1, 1A, 1B: camera, 5: aperture unit, 7: imaging unit, 8: display panel, 10: mirror unit, 11: main mirror, 13: rotating unit, 15: control unit, 20: finder optical system, 25: reflection optical system, 26: first mirror, 32: photometric sensor, 40: finder, 42: approach detection unit, 46: light control panel, 55: motor drive unit

Claims (2)

An optical member that refracts incident subject light and forms a subject image on the exit side;
Imaging means for imaging a subject image formed by the optical member;
A viewfinder capable of visually recognizing the subject image formed by the optical member;
An approach detection means for detecting a photographer's approach to the vicinity of the viewfinder;
A photometric means for detecting the luminance of the incident subject light;
Display means for displaying live images of the images taken by the imaging means;
A rotating mirror configured to be rotatable between a reflection position that reflects the subject light that has passed through the optical member toward the viewfinder side and a retreat position that does not reflect the subject light that has passed through the optical member toward the viewfinder side ; ,
The Der luminance is equal to or larger than a predetermined threshold value of the detected subject light by the photometric means is, and when said approaching of the photographer by the approach detection unit is detected, rotating to the retracted position said pivoting mirror from the reflecting position And a control means for controlling the display means to perform the live view display ,
The display means is configured to continuously perform the live view display when the luminance of the subject light detected by the photometric means decreases to less than the predetermined threshold after the luminance exceeds the predetermined threshold. A camera characterized by controlling . The camera according to claim 1,
The camera according to claim 1, wherein the control means reduces the display brightness in the live view display when the brightness of the subject light detected by the photometry means is not less than a predetermined threshold .

Images