JPH01180532A - Camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To contrive-facilitating use by a photographer by storing and saving the data for showing a photographing condition of every photograph in a memory part, storing it in the memory part and outputting this data to an output part. CONSTITUTION:A data storing means 107b stores such data as a shutter speed and a diaphragm value, an F-number and a focal distance of a photographic lens, or an ISO value, etc., which are obtained at every frame, in a memory part 103 together with data for showing a frame number of this frame is accordance with a wind start signal. In case an ISO and drive switches 105b, 105c are both turn-on, a data output means 107c reads out data of an address (n) of some frame portion of a film in the memory part 103, and sends out these data to a display part 101. In such a way, data for showing a photographing condition is surely obtained and the data can be utilized as necessary.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) This invention relates to a camera, and in particular, each time a photograph is taken, the camera automatically stores data indicating the photographing conditions at that time. This invention relates to a camera equipped with a function capable of outputting this data in response to a photographer's request.

(Prior Art) In order to obtain a desired photograph using a camera, it is necessary to take the photograph with a predetermined appropriate exposure amount, no matter the brightness of the subject. Therefore, the photographer manually or the camera automatically sets the photographing conditions to appropriate ones.

Various parameters can be considered to determine the shooting conditions, but generally speaking, the brightness of the shooting lens, the focal length of the shooting lens, the shutter speed and aperture value during shooting, and the ISO of the film are listed. I can do it. Then, some photographers record data indicating the photographing conditions including these parameters each time they take a photograph, in a recording notebook, for example, and use it as a reference for improving the quality of the photograph.

(Problem to be solved by the invention) However, it is difficult for each photographer to manually write data indicating the shooting conditions in a record notebook, etc., when shooting in special environments such as extremely cold places or underwater, or when shooting continuously. When taking photographs on a regular basis, it is not possible to do so, and therefore, after the photographs are completed, when it is necessary to know under what conditions the photographs were taken, it is difficult to obtain that data. There are some problems.

As people who love photography, we would like to find some way to solve these problems.

This invention was made in view of these points,
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a camera that is equipped with a function that allows the camera to automatically store data indicating the photographing conditions at the time of photographing, and to utilize this stored data as necessary. It is about providing.

(Means for solving the problem) In order to achieve this objective, the inventors of this application:
? ! We conducted various studies. In recent cameras, it is necessary to read information indicating the brightness of the photographic lens, the focal length of the photographic lens, the Is○ of the film, etc.;
The camera itself automatically measures the brightness of the subject and determines the appropriate shutter speed and aperture value according to the brightness, and takes good photographs based on this information. We focused on In general, we have focused on the fact that the above-mentioned problems can be solved by proactively utilizing data indicating photographing conditions that are automatically obtained as described above.

Therefore, according to the camera of the present invention, there is provided a memory section, a means for storing and saving data indicating photographing conditions for each photograph in the memory section, and an output section for transmitting the data stored in the memory section. It is characterized by comprising a means for outputting.

In carrying out the present invention, it is preferable that the above-mentioned output section be a display section provided in the camera.

In addition, various shooting conditions can be considered to be stored in the memory section, and it is preferable to use at least a shutter speed and an aperture value. Lens focal length, F number,
It is most convenient to store information such as whether or not a strobe is used and the date and time of photography.

(Function) According to such a configuration, every time a photo is taken, data indicating the conditions for taking the photo is automatically stored and saved in the memory section. In addition, the type of data to be stored in the memory section can be arbitrarily determined according to the photographer's request.
It is possible to improve the convenience of use.

On the other hand, the data stored in the memory section can be output or displayed on a display section provided in the camera, for example. The photographer can use this data by copying the displayed data.

(Embodiment) Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, it should be understood that these drawings are only schematic representations to the extent that the present invention can be understood, and that the dimensions, shapes, and arrangement 1fEfl of each component are not limited to the illustrated examples.

Further, in each figure, the same components are designated by the same reference numerals.

The following embodiments are examples in which the present invention is applied to an interchangeable lens camera for silver halide photography, which is equipped with an automatic focusing (AF) function and a photographic lens with a built-in lens ROM. There is. However, the present invention is not limited to the camera having the structure described in this embodiment, but can be applied to cameras having other structures such as a lens shutter camera, an interchangeable lens camera equipped with only an AE function, and even an electronic still camera. It is clear that it can also be applied to

First, an example of the configuration of the camera of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1(A) and 1(8). Incidentally, FIG. 1(A) is a block diagram schematically showing the structure of this camera.

In FIG. 1(A), 51 indicates a photographing lens, and 81
indicates a camera pod to which a photographing lens 51 is attached. Note that this photographic lens 51 may be replaced with various lenses having different brightness, focal length, etc. depending on the photographer's photographic purpose, or in the case of this embodiment, various configurations as described below may be used. Contains ingredients.

This photographing lens 51 includes a lens system 53 including a lens 52 that is movable along the optical axis and contributes to focusing, and a driving force transmission mechanism that transmits driving force from a driving source on the camera body 81 side to the movable lens 52. 54.

Roughly speaking, this photographic lens 51 includes a lens ROM 55,
A lens-side electrical contact group 56 is provided to electrically connect between the photographing lens 51 and the camera body 81.

Note that this lens ROM 55 contains this photographing lens 51.
It stores lens-specific information such as the focal length of the camera and the F number indicating the brightness of the photographic lens.

In addition, when the photographic lens 51 is a zoom lens,
Each lens-specific information that changes with zooming is stored in this lens ROM. A code plate is prepared in advance inside the zoom lens so that the code can be changed by rotating the zoom ring.
Lens specific information corresponding to zooming is read from the lens ROM by this code. In addition, the photographing lens 51
The lens-specific information is transmitted to the camera body 81 side via the lens-side and body-side electrical contact groups 56 and 99 (details will be described later).

On the other hand, the camera body 81 includes a main mirror 83, a sub mirror 85, a tip plate 87, and a pentagonal prism 89.
an imaging unit 91 that contributes to automatic focusing, and a light receiving element 93a that measures the brightness of the subject.

93b, a drive mechanism 95 for driving the movable lens 53 in the photographic lens 51, a Jiken smoke 97 used for advancing the film frame by frame, and a body-side electrical contact group 99 corresponding to the lens-side electrical contact group 56; Equipped with.

Roughly speaking, the camera body 81 includes a display section 101 that displays information indicating the operating status of the camera, a memory section 103 that stores various information necessary for photographing, and a memory section 103 that stores various information necessary for photographing.
Switch unit 10 for transmitting the photographer's intention to the camera
5 and a control unit (CP) that controls various operations for photographing.
U) with +07.

In the present invention, data indicating photographing conditions is stored in the memory unit 103, but depending on the situation, it may be desirable to store the data until development and printing are completed. Therefore, in a case where it is necessary to save data even after the main power of the camera is turned off, and when the memory section 103 is configured as a RAM''C-,
Battery backup is required. In addition, the memory section 103 is an E2PROM (Electrical
y-Erasable-Programmable-R
OM) is preferable because it provides flexibility in the data retention period.

Further, the switch unit 105 in this embodiment includes a release switch 105a, a first switch 105b, a second switch 105c, and an up/down switch 105d. The first switch 105b has a neutral point, and when turned on to one contact side, it becomes an ISO selection mode switch that puts the camera in a mode in which IS○ information can be selected, and when turned on to the other side, the camera is set to exposure compensation. This is an exposure compensation value selection mode switch that allows you to select a value. The second switch 105c has a neutral point like the first switch 105b, and when turned on to one side, the camera is set to a mode that allows you to select whether to operate the camera in single shooting, quick shooting, or timer shooting. When turned to the other side, it becomes an exposure program selection mode switch that puts the camera in a mode in which exposure programs can be selected. In addition, the down switch 105d has a neutral point so that the camera can
When in any one of the SO2 exposure correction value, drive, and exposure program selection modes, the conditions of that mode are switched by operating it to the up or down side. Note that several conditions are preset for each mode, and these conditions are stored in the memory unit 103.
It is stored in advance. Then, when the up/down switch 105d reaches the neutral point, the selected condition or the condition of that mode is set.

Note that even if the camera is set to a mode for switching IS○ information by the first switch 105b, if the film in the camera is DX film, priority is given to the IS○ information that is automatically read by the camera.

Next, with reference to FIG. 1(8), the configuration of the portion of the CPU 107 according to the present invention will be explained. Figure 1 (B)
1 is a block diagram schematically showing the functional means of a portion of the CPU 107 according to the present invention, together with connections with the components already explained using FIG. 1(A).

In this embodiment, the CPU 107 includes functional means such as the conventionally known exposure control means 107a and automatic focusing means (not shown), as well as the following functional means.

In FIG. 1(B), 107b is means (sometimes abbreviated as data storage means) for storing and saving data indicating the photographing conditions at the time of photographing each photograph in the memory unit 103.
shows. The operation of this data storage means 107b will be described later, but in this embodiment the data storage means 107
b is an exposure control means 107a and a release switch 10;
5a, it is connected to the sequence motor 97 and the lens ROM 55.

Further, 107c indicates means (sometimes abbreviated as data output means) for causing the output section to output data indicating the photographing conditions stored and saved in the memory section 103. The operation of this data output means 107c will be described later, but this data output means 107C is connected to an output section for outputting data and means for giving a data output instruction to this data output means 107C. In this example,
This output section is a display section 101, and means for giving data output instructions are a first switch 105b, a second switch 105G, and an up/down switch 105 of the switch section 105.
The switch group consists of C.

Further, the exposure control means 107a reads the IS○ value of the film and measures the brightness of the subject, determines the appropriate exposure amount based on these, and stores this exposure jl in the memory section 103.
The appropriate shutter speed and aperture value are determined by checking with the exposure control program line stored in the camera.

Explanation regarding data indicating photographing conditions> Data indicating photographing conditions at the time of photographing each photo (frame by frame) will now be explained. Various kinds of data can be considered as this data, and specifically, the following can be mentioned.

First, the brightness (F number) of the photographic lens and the focal length of the photographic lens can be mentioned. In other words, if you change the shooting lens for each frame of film, or if you use a zoom lens and change the zoom position M for each frame, the F number and focal length information between the shooting lenses will differ for each frame. Become. Therefore, these pieces of information are used as data indicating the photographing conditions. These data regarding the photographic lens are as follows: Lens R
It can be obtained from OM55.

Further, the shutter speed and aperture value at the time of photographing are also data indicating the photographing conditions, and these are the most important data indicating the photographing conditions of each frame.

Also, information indicating the type of exposure program set by the second switch 105c and the up/down switch 105d, roughly, the first switch 105b and the up/down switch +05d! When exposure compensation is performed using the camera, the compensation value is also a type of data indicating the shooting conditions. Furthermore, information indicating whether or not a strobe was used can also be cited as data indicating photographing conditions. Further, the IS○ information of the film stored in the camera body 81 is also an important type of data indicating shooting conditions. These data are read into the exposure control means 107a during exposure control.

Further, the exposure control means 107a is connected to the data storage means 105b.
supply these data to.

The data storage means 107b stores data such as the above-mentioned shutter speed and aperture value, F number and focal length of the photographing lens, and ISO value obtained for each frame in the memory unit 103 for each frame. In addition, all of the above-mentioned data are stored in the memory section 1.
03, and the type of data to be stored can be changed depending on the design.

Note that since the ISO information is a common value for the same film, it is stored in the memory unit 103 every time a photo is taken, that is, every frame.
For example, it may be stored only when storing the photographing conditions for the first or last frame of a film. Then, when outputting data indicating photographing conditions, it is used as common data for each frame. In this way, the capacity of the memory section 103 can be reduced.

Further, the data indicating the photographing conditions for each frame is not limited to the above-mentioned example, and may be other data. - Examples include those described below.

Modern cameras are equipped with a clock mechanism, which makes it easy to write the date and time the photo was taken. Therefore, such information indicating the photographing date and time can also be used as a type of information indicating photographing conditions. By storing information indicating the shooting date and time of each frame in the memory unit 103 as a type of data indicating the photographic conditions for each frame, it is possible to store information indicating the shooting date and time of each frame in case the same film is left in the camera for a long period of time. However, even if film deterioration factors affect the photographing of each frame, it is possible to judge whether the photographing conditions are acceptable or not, taking into consideration the changes in the film over time.

Shooting J2
An example of the operation of storing data indicating the photographing conditions for each photograph in the memory unit 103 and the operation of outputting this data from the memory unit in the camera of the above-described embodiment will be explained with reference to FIGS. do. 2 is a flowchart schematically showing the operation of the data storage means 107b, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart schematically showing the operation of the data outputting means 107c.

Note that the timing for storing the data indicating the shooting conditions for each photo (frame) in the memory unit 103 can be set at an appropriate time depending on the design, but at least the photometry etc. for shooting the next frame are in progress. The period must be before the photographing is performed and the data indicating the photographing conditions of the frame is held in a register in the CPU 107 or in a RAM (not shown). Therefore, in this embodiment, the data is stored after the photographing of a certain frame is completed and during the opening period when the film is being wound up to the next frame. Such data storage is possible, for example, by storing a signal indicating that the sequence motor 97 is being driven by C.
This can be executed by performing the detection while the PU 107 is detecting and this detection signal is being output.

Data Storage Operation> The IS○ information of the film mounted on the camera body 81 is taken into the CPU 107 by, for example, reading the DX code of the film. Note that this ISO information is a common value for each frame in a film, so in this embodiment, it is necessary to store it in the memory unit 103 only when storing the shooting conditions for the first frame of the film. There is.

Further, the photographic lens 51 attached to the camera body 81
Lens specific information such as F number and focal length (if the photographing lens 51 is a zoom lens, lens specific information compatible with zooming) is transferred from the lens ROM 55 to the CPU 1.
Imported into 07.

The subject is brought into focus by automatic focusing means. Further, the exposure control means 107a takes into consideration the exposure program mode, exposure compensation value, etc. set using the first, second and up/down switches 105a, 105b and 105cM, and determines the appropriate exposure amount according to the brightness of the subject. The resulting shutter speed (TV) and aperture strength (AV) are determined, respectively.

When the preparation for photographing is completed in this way, the camera notifies the photographer of this through display in the viewfinder and/or sound.

The photographer is using release switch 105a! When pressed down (step II+ in FIG. 2), exposure control is performed according to the predetermined edge and Tv (step 112).

When the exposure is completed, that is, when the photographing for one frame is completed, the Z-Kensmoke 97 is driven and the film is wound (step +13).

Further, in response to this winding start signal, the film end detection and film start are started (step 114). This timer for detecting the end of film is preset to a value indicating a certain predetermined time that is longer than the time required to wind the film for -frames, and outputs an overflow signal when this predetermined time has elapsed. It is something. This timer for detecting the end of film may be a timer normally provided in the control section 101, or may be a timer provided exclusively.

Further, in response to this winding start signal, the data storage means 10
7b causes the memory unit 103 to store data indicating the frame number of this frame and data indicating the conditions at the time of photographing this frame (step 115). The data indicating the shooting conditions for the frame stored in the memory unit 103 is changed depending on the camera design, but specifically, as already explained, the data includes the shutter speed and aperture value at the time of shooting, and the shooting lens. F of
This information includes the number, focal length, and exposure program.

The data storage means 107b also monitors the signal from the film winding completion switch (step 116). When the signal from the winding completion switch is received, film winding is stopped (step 117).
Next, move on to preparing to shoot the next frame (step +18)
), then the processes of steps 111 to 115 are executed. As a result, data indicating the photographing conditions for each photograph (frame) can be stored in the memory unit 103.

On the other hand, in step 116, when the completion signal from the winding switch does not arrive, the data storage means 107b
monitors the overflow signal from the above-mentioned film end detection timer (step 119). When receiving the overflow signal, the data storage means 107b stops winding the film (step 12).
o) Lock the release mechanism (step +21)
Then, a signal is output that causes the display unit 101 to display an indication that the film is out, and the photographer is notified of this fact (step 122).

<Data Output Operation> Next, an example of a method for outputting data indicating photographing conditions stored in the memory unit 103 will be described. In this embodiment, the data output instruction is performed using the first switch +05b, the M switch 105c, and the up/down switch +05dt of the switch section 105, and the data is output on the display section 1.
This will be explained using an example of outputting to 01.

The data output means 107c is used by the photographer to
05b to the ISO selection mode side (the ISO switch is referred to as ON), and the second switch l05c! It monitors whether the drive selection mode side (the drive switch is referred to as ON) is set (steps 131 and 132 in Fig. 3).
). If both the ISO and drive switches are ON, the data at address n for a certain frame of the film in the memory section 103 is read out (step 133). Then, these data are sent to the display section 101 (step 134).

In this embodiment, at the start of data output, the address for the first frame of the film is first designated, and the data in that address is output.

The display unit 101 displays data indicating the photographing conditions sent from the data output means 107c. When displaying this, it is recommended to display a special display or make a part of the display blink so that the photographer can understand that the display indicates the shooting conditions for each frame. suitable.

The displayed data is written down and utilized in a recording notebook, for example, by the photographer.

- When the frame worth of data is displayed, the data output means 1
07c monitors the instruction signal from the up/down switch 105d (steps 135 and 136).

When the up/down switch 105d is in the position indicating the up signal, first check whether the address for the next frame in the memory section has exceeded the last frame of the film, that is, if it is a 24-exposure film, the 25th or higher frame is selected. (Steps 135, 137)
, if it exceeds, an error is displayed (step +51)
), if there is data for the next frame, the data stored at address n+1 of the memory section 103 is read out, and these data are sent to the display section 101 (steps 137, 138, 134).

On the other hand, if the up/down switch 105d is in the position indicating the down signal, first check whether the address in the memory section is lower than the first frame of the film. Step 136 to check whether the address indicates the next lower frame.
141), and if it is lower, an error is displayed (step 151). Furthermore, if there is a photographed frame on the lower side, the data stored at address n-1 of the memory section 103 is read out, and these data are sent to the display section +01 (steps 131, 142, 134).
).

If no signal is input from the up/down switch, it enters a standby state (steps 143 and 144).

In this way, data indicating the photographing conditions for each photograph (frame) stored in the memory unit 103 is output.

Note that the period for saving each piece of stored data varies depending on how the data is used and the storage capacity of the memory unit 103, so it should be set appropriately according to the design. For example, the data related to the previous film is saved until the next new film is loaded into the camera body and the film is started, and when the new film is started, the data related to the previous film is saved. It may also be possible to erase data related to the film.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned example, and various modifications as described below can be made.

In the embodiment, the output section is the display section 10) provided in the camera body, but a new output port may be provided instead of the display section or in parallel.

Then, the data in the memory section may be supplied to, for example, a separately prepared printer via this output port and printed by this printer.

In addition, in the embodiment, the switch section 10 provided in the camera body
Although the display is started by using the switch group No. 5, it is of course possible to provide other dedicated switches.

(Effects of the Invention) As is clear from the above explanation, according to the camera of the present invention, for each frame (each photo) of the film, data indicating the shooting conditions at the time of shooting that frame, automatically stored in the camera's memory. Therefore, even when photographing under such severe conditions that the photographer is unable to write down the data indicating the photographing conditions of each photograph, or when taking snapshots, the data indicating the photographing conditions can be reliably obtained.

Further, even in the case of normal photography, the burden on the photographer can be reduced.

On the other hand, the data stored in the memory section can be output or displayed on the display section provided in the camera 1, for example, as desired, so the stored data can be used as necessary.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1(C) is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of the camera of the present invention, and FIG. 1(B) provides an explanation of the CPU included in the camera of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1(A). 2 is a flow chart mainly showing the operation of the data storage means, and FIG. 3 is a flow chart mainly showing the operation of the data output means. 51... Photographing lens, 52... Movable lens 53... Lens system, 54... Driving force transmission mechanism 55... Lens ROM 56... Lens side electrical contact group 81... Camera body , 83 River Main Mirror 85
...Sub mirror, 87...Focus plate 89...
・Pentagonal prism 91 - Imaging unit, 93a, 93b - Light receiving element 95...Movable lens drive mechanism 97...Sequence motor 99...Camera body side electrical contact group +01...Display unit, +03 ...Memory section 105...Switch section 105a...Release switch 105b...First switch 105c...Sumiji switch 105d...Up/down switch 107...C
PU 107a...Exposure control means 107b...Data storage means 107c indicating photographing conditions
...Data output means indicating photographing conditions. Patent applicant Asahi Optical Co., Ltd.

Claims (4)

[Claims] (1) A memory unit, means for storing and saving data indicating photographing conditions for each photograph in the memory unit, and means for outputting the data stored in the memory unit to an output unit. A camera characterized by: (2) The camera according to claim 1, wherein the output section is a display section included in the camera. (3) The camera according to claim 1, wherein the data is a shutter speed and an aperture value. (4) The camera according to claim 1, wherein the data is one or more selected from an ISO value, an exposure correction value, exposure program information, a photographic lens focal length, and an F number.