JPH01206326A - Auto focus camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To simultaneously photograph a night scene being in an infinity position and an object, positioned in a comparatively short distance by moving a focusing lens to the infinity position and allowing a flash device to emit a flash at a light emission timing which is controlled, under a light scene photographing mode. CONSTITUTION:When a night scene photographing mode has been set by a photographing mode setting means 14, in case a flash device 1C is allowed to emit a flash, a focusing lens is driven to an infinity position irrespective of distance measuring data and this position is held, and the flash device 1C is allowed to emit a flash at a light emission timing which is controlled by a light emission control means 8. In case an object does not enter into depth of focus by an operation, it is corrected by moving a position of the focusing lens being in the infinity position to the closest focusing distance side. In such a way, a night scene being in a distance corresponding to the infinity and the object, positioned in a comparatively short distance can be photographed by a correct exposure in a satisfactory focus state without giving unnecessary anxiety and confusion to an operator of a camera.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention (a) Technical Field The present invention relates to an autofocus camera, and more specifically, an autofocus camera that has a built-in or attachable flash device that projects auxiliary light onto a subject based on a predetermined guide number. , relates to an autofocus camera having a normal shooting mode in which normal shooting operations are performed.

(b) Prior art In recent years, camera operations have become increasingly automated, and autofocus cameras now include not only an autofocus mechanism but also an autoexposure mechanism and a flash device (hereinafter referred to as a "strobe") linked to this mechanism. is widely put into practical use. Among them, the strobe is built into the camera body, and in order to increase the compactness of the camera when the strobe is not in use, the strobe is stored inside the camera body, and only when the strobe is in use, it has a pre-given protruding habit. There is a so-called pop-up strobe that is configured to automatically project a predetermined length to prevent the occurrence of the so-called red-eye phenomenon. (This is generally done manually.)

Distance measurement and photometry using the autofocus mechanism and autoexposure mechanism are often performed by pressing the camera's release button to the first stroke, and the photometry data at this time is used to control the pop-up strobe. Determine whether or not to make it stand out, and implement it.
Thereafter, by pressing the release button to the second stroke, a shooting operation is performed based on the distance measurement data and photometry data obtained from the distance measurement and photometry of the first stroke, and at this time, the flash pops up (protrudes). If so, it is configured to emit light. In other words,
As a matter of course, a pop-up strobe is configured so that it does not emit light when it is retracted, but emits light when it is extended.

By the way, when photographing a night view as a subject, the subject is generally a distant view like the background, and the distance is treated as infinity (hereinafter abbreviated as "ω") in the automatic focusing mechanism. Therefore, it is not wrong to think that this is a distance that the strobe light projected from the strobe cannot reach. In such a case, it is reasonable to think that the strobe should not emit light.

However, as mentioned above, this type of strobe will remain protruding unless manually operated to store it, and if you try to take a night scene in this state, if you follow the above idea, you will not be able to use the strobe. This means that it will not emit light.

Therefore, the operator (user) is worried that there may be a malfunction or operational error because the strobe does not emit light even though it is popped up. In other words, the unambiguous principle that the strobe emits light when it is in the protruding state and does not emit light when it is in the retracted state is lost, creating a problem in that the operator is given an unnecessary sense of anxiety.

Also, if a conventional strobe is configured to always emit light when it is ejected, when photographing a night scene, you may want to place a person relatively close to the scene with the night scene in the background. . For example, if you are taking a commemorative photo of children at an amusement park at night with a large Ferris wheel in the background, you need to decide whether to focus on the background or the children, and which subject to set the exposure for. It is not always easy to make an accurate judgment as to whether a better photograph can be obtained by using a camera, and until now there has been no camera that has the ability to satisfy both of these requirements at the same time.

(c) Purpose The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and its purpose is to capture a night view at an infinite distance from a relatively close distance without giving unnecessary anxiety to the camera operator. To provide an autofocus camera capable of photographing a subject located at the same time in good focus and with appropriate exposure.

(d) Configuration In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 has a built-in or attachable flash device that projects auxiliary light onto a subject based on a predetermined guide number,
An autofocus camera having a normal shooting mode that performs normal shooting operations includes a photometry means that measures the brightness of the subject and outputs photometric data corresponding to the brightness, and a photometer that measures the distance to the subject and responds to this. a distance measuring means for outputting distance measurement data; an aperture value calculation means for calculating an aperture value corresponding to an aperture diameter of an aperture that provides appropriate exposure by flashmatic calculation based on the distance measurement data and the guide number; a light emission control means for controlling the light emission timing so that the flash device emits light when the flash device is opened to an aperture diameter corresponding to the aperture value; and an infinite position on the optical axis corresponding to the infinite position and the closest position of the subject; A lens driving means for driving a focusing lens between a close position and a photographing mode setting means for selectively setting either a night view photographing mode for performing an operation for photographing a night view or the above-mentioned normal photographing mode. and when causing the flash device to emit light in the night scene shooting mode, the focusing lens is driven to the infinity position and held at this position regardless of the distance measurement data, and is controlled by the light emission control means. The present invention is characterized in that the flash device is configured to emit light at the light emission timing.

Further, the invention according to claim 2 is an automatic focusing device that has a built-in or attachable flash device that projects auxiliary light onto a subject based on a predetermined guide number, and has a normal shooting mode that performs normal shooting operations. In the camera, a sub-light means for measuring the brightness of the subject and outputting photometric data corresponding to the luminance, a distance measuring means for measuring the distance to the subject and outputting the corresponding distance measuring data, and the above-mentioned an aperture value calculation means for calculating an aperture value corresponding to an aperture diameter of an aperture that gives appropriate exposure by flashmatic calculation based on distance measurement data and the guide number; a light emission control means for controlling a light emission timing so as to cause the flash device to emit light; and a focusing lens is driven between an infinity position and a close position on an optical axis corresponding to an infinity position and a close position of a subject. a lens driving means, a depth determining means for determining whether or not the subject is within the depth of focus of the photographing optical system determined from the aperture value calculated by the flashmatic calculation and the focal length of the photographing lens; and a photographing mode setting means for selectively setting either a night scene photographing mode in which an operation is performed to photograph a night scene or the above-mentioned normal photographing mode, and when causing the flash device to emit light in the night scene photographing mode, the above-mentioned If the subject is not within the depth of focus, the focusing lens, which is at the infinity position, is moved to the closest position for correction.

Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be specifically described based on the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of an autofocus camera according to the present invention, and FIGS. 2 to 4 are flowcharts showing the operational sequence of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a strobe system as a flash device that projects auxiliary light onto a subject (not shown) based on a preset guide number;], a, lb, lc
All of these constitute the above-mentioned strobe system 1, and among them, 1a has a light emission signal (TS) and a status signal (TUS) at its input terminal.
) and outputs a charging completion signal (COK) from the output terminal, 1b forms a part of this circuit section 1a, and is a main capacitor for generating high voltage. 1c is driven by circuit section 1a and outputs the above-mentioned The strobe system 1 is a light emitting unit that projects an auxiliary light when a light emitting signal (TS) is input, and when not in use, it is housed in the camera body (not shown) and has a protruding habit, and is attached to a locking member. (not shown) to maintain the stored state, and is configured to protrude outside the camera body by releasing the lock.

2 is a magnet for releasing the locking member; 2a;
is a magnet drive circuit that drives the magnet 2 by receiving a start signal (STR) at its input terminal.

3 is a pop-up system, which is similar to the strobe system 1 above.
When the common contact 3a is grounded, the down contact 3b is opened (no connection), and the common contact 3a is connected to the up contact 3c, as shown in FIG. The light emitting part 1c of is protruding (
The state signal (TUS) at L level indicating that the POP UP is in effect is output.

4 is an open contact 4a which works in conjunction with a lens barrier (none of which is shown) that freely opens and closes the front surface of the photographic lens of the camera body.
is grounded, the closing contact 4)+ is connected to the power source V, and is a lens barrier opening/closing switch having a common contact 4c. R
LI and Rb2 are release switches each having one end connected to the common contact 4c of the barrier opening/closing switch 4, and are linked to a release button (not shown) on the camera body.
When the release button is pressed halfway (first stroke), the release switch RLI is turned on, and when the release button is pressed fully (second stroke), Rb2 is turned on while RLI remains on.

5 is the release switch RLI, the other end of which is connected to the input end of RL2, and the corresponding release signal (RLI
) and (Rb2), and a control signal (C
This is a switch input section that sends and receives TL.

6 receives the above-mentioned release signal (RLI) at the input terminal, measures the brightness of the subject, and outputs photometric data (AE) corresponding to this.
This is a photometering unit that outputs a photometer. Reference numeral 7 designates a distance measuring unit as a distance measuring means that receives a photometry end signal (FIN) at an input end, measures the distance to the subject, and outputs distance measurement data (AF) corresponding thereto.

8 and 9 constitute the main parts of the embodiment, and of these, 8 has an aperture signal (S B), which will be described later, at the input terminal, the above photometric data (AE), the above charge completion signal (COK), and the above state. Upon receiving the signal (T.U.S.), the darkest data corresponding to the lowest brightness of the subject, the strobe seconds data for opening and closing the shutter at a certain time when using the strobe, etc. are pre-stored inside. Memory MR such as ROM and RAM that temporarily stores the above photometric data (AE), etc.
I, outputs photometric data (AE) and a close signal (CS) corresponding to the darkest data above, and outputs a light emission signal (TS).
This is a light emission control section as a light emission control means that controls the light emission of the strobe system 1 and sends and receives the control signal (CTL) to the input/output terminal. Note that the photometry end signal (FIN) is also output from the output end, and the timing of this output will be described later.

Reference numeral 9 receives the distance measurement data (AF) and the status signal (TUS) at its input end, and includes a ROM in which guide number data and photographic lens ω position data of the strobe system 1 are stored. Distance data (A
Memory MR2 consisting of RAM for temporarily storing F) etc.
and receives the status signal (TUS), and when it is at the L level, calculates an aperture value corresponding to the aperture diameter of the aperture that provides proper exposure based on distance measurement data (AP) and guide number data; A so-called flashmatic (hereinafter abbreviated as rFMJ) calculation is performed, the aperture value that is the calculation result is output as an aperture signal (SB), and the distance measurement data (AF) is directly converted into drive data (DV).
An FM calculation section 9a is located within this FM calculation section 9 and serves as an aperture value calculation means for transmitting and receiving the control signal (CTL) to the input/output end. Then, it is determined whether the subject is within the depth of focus determined from the aperture value, etc., the ω position data is corrected, and the drive data (DV
) is a depth determination unit as a depth determination means that outputs as follows. Note that a winding signal (WD) is also output from the output end, which will be described in detail later.

Reference numeral 10 denotes a lens control unit as a lens drive control means that receives drive data (DV) at an input terminal and controls a stepping motor 10a that drives a photographing lens (not shown) including a focusing lens.

Reference numeral 11 denotes a film feeding section that receives the winding signal (WD) and controls a winding motor lla that winds up a film (not shown). 12 receives the release signal (RL2) and the closing signal (CS) and controls the opening and closing operations of the shutter member 12a which also serves as an aperture. For example, the signal is set at H level when the shutter member 12a starts to open, and when it finishes closing. This is a shutter control section that outputs a synchronization signal (syc) that becomes L level at .

Reference numeral 13 denotes a general control section that controls the light emission control section 8, FM calculation section 9, depth determination section 9a, and switch input section 5 by sending and receiving the above-mentioned control signal (CTL).

Note that the circuit section 1a, the light emission control section 8, and the FM calculation section 9
Each input terminal receiving the status signal (TUS) of the switch input section 5 and the input terminal to which the other terminals of the I-noise switches RLI and RL2 are connected are configured to be pulled up internally. Therefore, the signal levels at these input terminals are normally held at H level, and become effective as signal inputs when inverted to L level.

14 to 16 are one of the main parts of the present invention, and one end of 14 is connected to the common contact 4c of the lens barrier opening/closing switch 4, and the other end is connected to the pulled-up input end of the switch input section 5. A photographing mode switch (hereinafter simply referred to as "mode switch") 15 as a photographing mode setting means consisting of a push button switch is provided in the above-mentioned switch input unit 5, and every time a signal from the mode switch 14 is received, A mode flag 16 is made of, for example, a T-type flip-flop, the state of which is reversed, and 16 receives a mode signal (m) corresponding to the state of the mode flag 15 and displays the currently set shooting mode, for example, a liquid crystal display. This is a shooting mode indicator (hereinafter simply referred to as a "mode indicator") consisting of a device, etc.

In addition, in the initial state, the mode flag is cleared and becomes the L level indicating the normal shooting mode, and when the mode switch 14 is pressed once (operated), it is inverted to the H level indicating the night view mode, and when it is pressed again, it is set to the L level again. It is configured to be reversed.

Further, the start signal (STR) is configured to be output from a brightness determination section (not shown) when the photometric data (AE) falls below a predetermined reference value or when determining backlight.

FIG. 5 is an aperture characteristic diagram showing the aperture characteristics of the shutter member 12a and the light emission timing of the strobe system 1.

In FIG. 5, the vertical axis S represents the opening diameter of the shutter member 12a, and the horizontal axis t represents time. Reference numeral 17 indicates a characteristic curve showing the aperture characteristics. Of this characteristic curve 17, 18 indicates a rising portion indicating the opening operation of the shutter member 12a, 19 indicates a flat portion indicating the maximum opening diameter S4, and 20 indicates the closing operation of the shutter member 12a. This is the descending part. That is, the shutter member 12a begins to open at time 10, reaches the maximum opening diameter S4 at time t4, and maintains this state until L5.
4 to t5 is referred to as the maximum opening time), it starts closing from t5 and finishes closing at t6.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating the night view mode.

21 is the camera, 1 is the strobe system mentioned above (when extended)
, 22 is an object at a relatively short distance L1, 23 is a night view such as a large Ferris wheel located at a long distance L2, and 24 is strobe light projected from the strobe system 1.

The operation of this embodiment configured in this way is shown in FIGS. 2 to 4.
This will be explained along the flowchart in the figure.

First, the normal shooting mode (hereinafter referred to as
(simply referred to as "normal mode") will be explained with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. Note that the mode flag 15 is in its initial state.

First, when the operator opens the lens barrier of the camera body, the lens barrier opening/closing switch 4 is brought into the state shown in FIG. 1, that is, the common contact 4c is connected to the open contact 4a. Then, when the operator presses the release button (not shown) to the first stroke and presses it halfway, the release switch RLI is closed. At this point the second
The flowchart in the figure starts from "rRLl-○N". Then, in the first conditional branch "Night view mode?", the switch input section 5 checks the mode flag 15, and since it is the normal mode in this case, the light emission control section 8 and the FM Notifying the calculation unit 9 that it is the normal mode, and outputting a release signal (RLI) corresponding to the release switch RLI, the flowchart is N.

Branch into.

In the next "photometry operation", the photometry section 6 that receives the release signal (RLl) starts photometry and outputs photometry data (AE) corresponding to the brightness of the subject.

It is assumed that the photometric data (AE) is EV5.

In the next "light emission preparation operation", the light emission control unit 8
The photometric data (AE) is received and stored in the memory MRI. On the other hand, the brightness determination section (not shown) is configured to, for example,
The standard value of 9 is compared with the above EV5. In this case, the photometric data (AE) is lower, so the start signal (STR)
) and receives the start signal (STR), the magnet drive circuit 2a drives the magnet 2 and releases the locking member. At the same time, the common contact 3a of the pop-up switch 3 is switched from the down contact 3b to the up contact 3c as shown in FIG. The circuit section 1a of the strobe system 1, which receives the L-level status signal (TUS) output from the pop-up switch 3, starts charging the main capacitor 1b.
Continue charging until the voltage reaches 00V). When a predetermined voltage is reached, a charge completion signal (COK) is output.

In the next "distance measurement operation", the charge completion signal (COK
), the light emission control unit 8 receives the photometry end signal (FIN).
Upon receiving this, the distance measuring section 7 starts distance measurement and outputs distance measurement data (AF) corresponding to the distance to the subject. Now, suppose that the distance to the subject is 8 m, and the FM calculation unit 9 receives this ranging data (AF) and stores it in the memory MR.
Store in 2.

At the next conditional branch "Is it a projecting state?", the FM calculation unit 9 checks the status signal (T
If the guide number of strobe system 1 given in advance is turned on in "Execute FM calculation", the F number (: aperture value) is calculated by the calculation F number = Gn / 8 (m), and this aperture value An aperture signal (SB) corresponding to the aperture signal (SB) is output to the light emission control section 8. In the next question "Is it within the depth of focus?", the depth determining unit 9a determines whether the 8 m object is within the focal brightness. In this case, assuming that the depth is within the depth range, the ranging data (AF) corresponding to the above 8 m is output again as driving data (DV), and the flowchart branches to YES.

The lens control unit 10 that received this drive data (DV)
In the next "lens drive", the stepping motor 10
a to drive the photographing lens to a focusing position corresponding to the above 8 m. Then, the flowchart in FIG. 2 reaches point (3) and moves to FIG. 3.

In addition, in FIG. 2, the operation from the above-mentioned "Protruding state?" which branches to YES to the above-mentioned "Distance measurement data correction" is as follows.
This will be referred to as "calculation/correction operation." Furthermore, the operation of the second cap body will be referred to as a "photography preparation operation."

Now, moving to ■ in Figure 3, do you want to continue the first conditional branch rRL1 operation? ” and next conditional branch rRL2 operation? ”, the general control unit 13 sends the release switches RLI and RL2 to the switch input unit 5 via the control signal (CTL).
Check the status.

In other words, as mentioned above, if the operator holds the release button halfway down, "RL2@Sakurai?"
Branch to o and continue rRL1 operation again? ” and repeat this operation. If you release the above half-press state, will you continue rRL1 operation? ” is branched to No, and at the next “lens initial position”, the comprehensive control unit 13 instructs the FM calculation unit 9 to that effect, and the FM calculation unit 9 outputs the initial position data as drive data (DV). In response to this, the lens control unit 10 drives the photographing lens to an initial position N (for example, a position on the close distance side). Then, all operations are completed at the next rENDJ.

Now, when the release button is further pressed to the second stroke from the half-pressed state, the release switch RLI and RL2 are closed, and the switch input section 5 outputs a release signal (RLI) corresponding to this.

(RL2) respectively, and the flowchart is the above r
Is there RL2 operation? ” branches to YES.

Shutter control section 1 receiving this release signal (RL2)
2, in the next "shutter opening operation", the shutter member 12a, which has shutter blades that also serve as aperture blades, starts to open from time 10 as shown in the rising part 18 in FIG. raise the level. On the other hand, the FM calculation section 9 receives the rise of the synchronized signal (SYC).
Is this fact? On the other hand, upon receiving this synchro signal, the light emission control section 8 executes the next conditional branch rpop.
UP? Check the signal level of the status signal (TUS) at J, and in this case it is L level, so the flowchart is Y.
Branches to ES and outputs an aperture signal (SB
), for example, at time t2 in FIG. 5, a light emission signal (TS) is output, and upon receiving this, the circuit section 1a causes the light emitting section 1c to start emitting light.

On the other hand, as a matter of course, when the status signal (TUS) is at H level, that is, when the strobe system 1 is housed in the camera body, the light emission control section 8 does not output the light emission signal (TS), and the light emission section 1c emits light. do not start. That is, this latter operation is shown in the flowchart as rpop
UP? This corresponds to the case where J is branched to NO.

The brightness of the subject increases in response to the auxiliary light projected from the light emitting unit 1c, and the photometry unit 6 measures the changes (increases) in this brightness moment by moment and sends the corresponding photometry data (AE) to the light emission control unit. Output to 8. In the next "shuttle closure operation", the shutter control unit 12 compares the predetermined strobe time with the photometric data (AE), and if the photometric data (AE) is faster than the strobe time, the strobe time is changed. At the point in time,
In the opposite case, a closing signal (CS) is output to the shutter control section 12 after the seconds corresponding to the photometric data (AE) have elapsed, and the shutter member 12a is closed.

At the next "mode flag clear", the synchronization signal (sy
c) The control signal (C
The switch input unit 5 clears the mode flag 15 via the TL), but since the mode flag 15 is in its initial state, nothing changes in this case.

Next, the above-mentioned "lens initial position" is executed, and in the next "film feeding", the FM calculation section 9 refers to the memory MR2,
Because I remember that there was a rising edge of the synchro signal (SYC) as mentioned above.

In other words, since it remembers that a photograph has been taken, it outputs a winding signal (WD) when it detects the fall of the synchro signal (syc). The shooting was completed by driving the 1
Wind up a frame of film. All operations end with the next rENDJ.

In the above explanation, the photometric data (AE) is the second reference value EV.
We have described the case of EV5, which is 9 or less, but if the photometric data (AE) is the reference value EV9 or more, the shooting 4! Among the preparation operations, the above-mentioned "light emission preparation operation", the above-mentioned "calculation/correction operation", and the "stroboscopic light emission" in FIG. 3 are omitted (not executed).

Next, the night view mode, which is the main part of the present invention, will be explained. First, the night view mode setting operation will be described with reference to FIG.

At a desired time, the operator presses the mode switch 14. At this point, the flowchart in Figure 4 has changed to "mode switch ○
Starts with "N". In the next "Night view mode flag ○N",
In response to the output of the mode switch 14, the mode flag 15 is inverted to the H level, and the mode signal (m) rises to the H level. Upon receiving this, the mode display 16 displays characters or symbols indicating the night view mode in the next "night view mode display", and ends the night view mode setting operation in the next rENDJ. The operator then knows from the display that the camera has been set to night view mode.

Here, when the release button is pressed halfway, the release switch (RLI) is closed, the flowchart in Fig. 2 starts from rRLl-ONJ, and the control signal (CTL) is
The switch input section 5 notifies the light emission control section 8 and the FM calculation section 9 of the night view mode via the switch input section 5. In other words,"
Is it night view mode? " branches to YES, and in the next "photometering data substitution", the light emission control unit 9 presets the darkest data (for example, EV2) corresponding to the lowest luminance ranging data (AE) stored in the ROM. degree) is transferred (assigned) to the memory MRI. Next conditional branch rPOP D.

Is it WN? ”, the light emission control unit 8 checks the status signal (TUS). If the status signal (TUS) is at L level, the process branches to NO, and if the status signal (TUS) is at H level, the process branches to YES. In this case, it is assumed that the strobe system 1 is at H level, that is, the strobe system 1 is in the retracted state.

In the next "distance measurement data substitution J, the FM calculation unit 9
(1) The position data corresponding to the ranging data (AF) of the ω position stored in the OM is transferred (substituted) to the memory MR2. Next, the FM calculation unit 9 checks the status signal (TtJS) at "Is it a protruding state?" and branches to No, and then the next "Is it a protruding state?"
In "Lens Drive", the lens drive section 1o receives the drive data (DV) whose content is the ω position data, and drives the photographing lens (focusing lens) to the (1) position.

Next, the operation moves to step (2) in FIG. 3, but the explanation will proceed by omitting operations that overlap with those in the normal mode described above. When the operator presses the release button to the second stroke, the "shutter opening operation" is triggered by the release signal (RL2) and executed from O, and the next rpop UP? J branches to No, and the next "shirt shirt closing operation" starts at time 5 and ends at time 6 based on the closing signal (CS) corresponding to the darkest data. In the next "mode flag clear" mode flag 15 is cleared and inverted to L level, and along with this, the mode signal (m) falls to L level, and mode indicator 1
6, the display contents are switched from night view mode to normal mode. Below, "Lens initial position" and "Film feeding"
Executes and ends with END.

Next, is the above rPOP DOWN in FIG. 2? ”
A description will be given of the night view mode in the case of branching to No, but operations that overlap with the above-mentioned normal mode will be omitted as appropriate. "
The FM calculation section 9 executes "flash preparation operation" and "distance measurement operation", and in "rFM calculation execution", calculates the aperture value corresponding to the distance measurement data (AF) and outputs the aperture signal (SB). The above ψ position data in the ROM is transferred to the memory MR2.

Assuming that the subject is within the depth of focus, then "lens drive"
In response to drive data (DV) containing the above ω position data, the lens control unit 10 drives the photographing lens to the ω position. Therefore, the night scene 23 located at a long distance L2 is in focus. Assume that the operator presses the release button to the second stroke.

If the light emission timing according to the aperture signal (SB) corresponding to the distance L1 to the subject 22 in FIG. 6 is 1 at the time point in FIG. Time t when the maximum opening diameter reaches S4
Light is emitted with a small aperture diameter S1 at a time t1 much earlier than 4, which means that the aperture is isometrically stopped down and the depth of focus becomes deep.

Therefore, the strobe light 24 emitted for 611 hours from time t1
The object 22 that is irradiated also falls within the depth of focus and is in focus. The closing signal (C
S) is not output.

The maximum diameter S4 is maintained from time t4, and the "shutter closing operation" starts from time t5 and ends at t6.

In other words, by using the sufficiently long maximum aperture time t4 to t5 corresponding to the darkest data, it is possible to photograph the night scene 23, which is beyond the reach of the strobe light 24, with approximately appropriate exposure.

As described above, according to this embodiment, when the strobe system 1 is popped up (protruding) under the night view mode, the photographing lens is driven to the ■ position regardless of the distance measurement data (AF). , the aperture value is calculated based on the distance measurement data (AF), and the light emission timing of the strobe system 1 is controlled thereby.
Both have the advantage of being able to take pictures with proper exposure and in focus within the same screen, and therefore have the advantage of expanding the shooting range and opportunities to take pictures.

In addition, when the strobe system 1 is popped up in night view mode, it always fires at the second stroke of the release button, and when it is not popped up, it does not fire, so there is one exception. There is no need to provide this, and there is an advantage that it does not cause unnecessary anxiety or confusion to the operator.

Furthermore, in order to maintain the above-mentioned principle, even if the strobe light 24 is emitted at the time of pop-up, there is not only no problem of overexposure of the subject 22 at the short distance L1, but also a proper exposure and This has the advantage of being able to take pictures with good focus.

In addition, in night view mode, when the strobe system 1 is not popped up, the I-Robo does not emit light, and the ψ position data is substituted for the ranging data (AF).
Since the configuration is configured so that the darkest data is substituted for the photometric data (AE), there is no need to uselessly fire the strobe for distant scenes (night scenes) that the strobe light would not normally reach, and moreover, it is possible to properly expose night scenes. Moreover, you can take pictures with good focus.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit thereof.

For example, when focusing on a night scene (a long-distance subject) under night scene mode, the subject 22 at side ratio jlL1 does not fall within the depth of focus of the photographing optical system,
In other words, when the conditional branch "Is it within the depth of focus?" in Figure 2 is branched to NO, the position data transferred (substituted) from the ROM to the memory MR2 in the next "range data correction" is moved to the closest side. It may be corrected. In this case, there is an advantage that it is possible to prevent the subject 22 from becoming out of focus, and there is no need to impose a large sacrifice on the night view 23.

Further, in the above embodiment, a camera is described that has a built-in strobe system 1 in which flash preparation operations such as pop-up and charging are automatically performed.
is not limited to a built-in type, so-called external type attached to the camera may be used, and it may also be fixedly built-in without being popped up.Also, the above-mentioned light emission can be activated by manual operation of the light emission button. A forced light emitting type in which a preparatory operation is activated may also be used. In particular, when using this forced flash type strobe system, since the above-mentioned principle is maintained, there is no need to make an exception where the flash does not fire even if the flash button is pressed in night view mode.
This has the advantage of not causing anxiety or confusion to the operator.

In addition, in "Substitution of photometric data" in Fig. 2, it was stated that the darkest data stored in the ROM is transferred to the memory MR1, but it is not limited to the darkest data, and a fixed time can also be used.
Furthermore, if the night scene 23 is photometrically possible, photometry may be performed and the photometric data (AE) may be used.

Furthermore, a CAS switch 25 may be connected to the input end of the light emission control section 8, so that various information about the film, typified by the above-mentioned S○ sensitivity, may be read from the film cartridge.

(e) Effects As detailed above, the invention according to claim 1 allows the focusing lens to be set to infinity without relying on the distance measurement data from the distance measurement means when the flash device fires in the night scene shooting mode. According to claim 2, the flash device is driven to a remote position, and the flash device is configured to emit light when the aperture is opened to an aperture diameter corresponding to an aperture value obtained based on the distance measurement data and the guide number. The described invention is configured to correct the position of the focusing lens at infinity if the subject is not within the depth of focus when the flash device emits light in the night view mode. It is possible to photograph a night scene at a distance corresponding to infinity and a subject located at a relatively close distance in the same screen with good focus and appropriate exposure without causing unnecessary anxiety or confusion to the camera operator. We can provide you with an autofocus camera.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of an autofocus camera according to the present invention, FIGS. 2 to 4 are flowcharts showing the operating order of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, and FIG.
The aperture characteristic diagram showing the aperture characteristics of the shutter member and the light emission timing of the strobe system, FIG. 6 is a schematic % formula explaining the night view mode. 2a... Magnet drive circuit. 3...Pop-up switch, 4...
Lens barrier open/close switch, RLI, RL2...
・Release switch, 5... Switch input section, 6... Photometering section, 7... Distance measuring section, 8... Light emission control section, 9...・・・・・・
FM calculation unit, 9a... Depth determination unit, 10... Lens control unit, 11... Film feeding unit, 12... Shutter control unit, 13 ... General control unit, 14 ... Shooting mode switch (mode switch), 15 ... Shooting mode flag (mode flag), 16 ... Shooting mode display device (mode display), 21...camera, 22...subject, 23...night view, 25...CAS switch. Patent applicant Rico Co., Ltd. − −1−°2

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) In an autofocus camera that has a built-in or attachable flash device that projects auxiliary light onto the subject based on a predetermined guide number and has a normal shooting mode that performs normal shooting operations, the brightness of the subject is A photometer that measures the distance to the subject and outputs photometric data corresponding to the measured distance; a distance measuring device that measures the distance to the subject and outputs the corresponding distance measuring data; and a distance measuring device that measures the distance to the subject and outputs the corresponding distance measuring data, and an aperture value calculation means for calculating an aperture value corresponding to an aperture diameter of an aperture that provides appropriate exposure by flashmatic calculation; A light emission control means for controlling the light emission timing, a lens driving means for driving a focusing lens between an infinity position and a close position on an optical axis corresponding to an infinity position and a close position of a subject, and a lens drive means for photographing a night view. a photographing mode setting means for selectively setting either a night scene photographing mode in which an operation is performed and the above-mentioned normal photographing mode; The automatic apparatus is characterized in that it is configured to drive the camera to the infinite position regardless of the distance measurement data, maintain this position, and cause the flash device to emit light at the light emission timing controlled by the light emission control means. focus camera. (2) In an autofocus camera that has a built-in or attachable flash device that projects auxiliary light onto the subject based on a predetermined guide number and has a normal shooting mode that performs normal shooting operations, the brightness of the subject is A photometer that measures the distance to the subject and outputs photometric data corresponding to the measured distance; a distance measuring device that measures the distance to the subject and outputs the corresponding distance measuring data; and a distance measuring device that measures the distance to the subject and outputs the corresponding distance measuring data, and an aperture value calculation means for calculating an aperture value corresponding to an aperture diameter of an aperture that provides appropriate exposure by flashmatic calculation; a light emission control means for controlling the light emission timing; a lens driving means for driving a focusing lens between an infinity position and a close position on the optical axis corresponding to the infinity position and a close position of a subject; and the above-mentioned flashmatic calculation. a depth determination means for determining whether or not the subject is within the depth of focus of the photographing optical system determined from the aperture value calculated by and the focal length of the photographing lens; and a night scene for performing an operation for photographing the night scene. A photographing mode setting means is provided for selectively setting either a photographing mode or the normal photographing mode, and when the flash device is activated in the night scene photographing mode, the subject is within the depth of focus. If not, the autofocus camera is configured to correct the position of the focusing lens from the infinity position by moving it to a close-up side.