JPH04287035A - Camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily and surely switch an area from an ordinary exposure area to a panoramic photographing area with simple constitution by providing an aperture varying means. CONSTITUTION:Signals from a teleswitch, a wide switch, a macro switch, a panorama switch which command the rotating direction and the rotating quantity of a normal/reverse rotating motor 37 and an opening/closing detecting switch turned on and off by the opening/closing of a rear cover are inputted to a CPU which receives the input of a mode change-over switch. When a mode is switched to a panoramic photographing mode by moving a slide knob, the CPU drives the normal/reverse rotating motor 37 via a motor driving circuit based on the on-signal of the panorama switch, which turns a can ring 36 to a prescribed rotary angle area where a panorama sector gear 36b can be engaged with a pinion 39. Thereby, a pinion 33 is turned, and a panorama photographing aperture can be formed by moving a pair of light shielding plates 30 until it is abutted with a stopper 29a.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a camera having functions suitable for use in panoramic photography.

0002

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Panoramic photography refers to a photography and printing technique that produces horizontally long printed photographs without using a fixed width above and below the film frame. In order to prevent this constant width from top to bottom from being used for drawing, the constant width from top to bottom of the film frame is usually shielded from light.

By the way, this light shielding device has a complicated structure, especially in a dual-purpose camera that allows panoramic photography by switching the photography mode. For this reason, the number of manufacturing steps is large, making it difficult to avoid increased costs.

0004

[Object of the Invention] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and although it has a simple configuration, it is capable of easily and reliably switching from a normal exposure area to a panoramic shooting area. The purpose is to obtain a camera.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a photographic optical system that forms an image of light transmitted through a photographic lens on a film, an exposure area on the film, a normal exposure area, and a reduction in the vertical length of this exposure area. The present invention is characterized in that it includes an aperture variable means for mechanically switching to a horizontally long panoramic exposure area.

The present invention also provides a cam ring that drives a zoom lens by its rotation, a photographic optical system that forms an image of light transmitted through the photographic lens on a film, and an exposure area on the film that is different from the normal photographic range. an aperture variable means for mechanically switching between a normal exposure area corresponding to the normal exposure area and a panoramic exposure area that is laterally longer than the normal photographing range; and an aperture variable means interlocked with the cam ring in a specific rotation angle area of the cam ring , is characterized in that it has interlocking means for switching between the normal exposure area and the panoramic exposure area.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A camera equipped with a panoramic photographing mode according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the illustrated embodiments. As shown in FIG. 4, the camera 21 includes a zoom finder system 23 directly above a zoom photographing lens system 22. 4 in the diagram
8 is the rear lid.

As shown in detail in FIG. 5, the camera 21 includes:
A mode changeover switch 24 is provided. This mode changeover switch 24 is operated by a slide knob 24a to switch between power off, panoramic shooting mode Panorama, zoom shooting mode Zoom, and macro shooting mode Macr.
o is selected.

FIGS. 1 to 3 show specific examples of a mechanism for mechanically switching the size of the photographing aperture (exposure area) between normal photography and panoramic photography. Shooting aperture (aperture) 2
A film cartridge chamber 27 and a spool chamber 28 for winding up the film are provided at both ends of the body 26 having a diameter of 5. The photographing aperture 25 determines the photographing range (size of photographic frame) in normal photographing.

A photographing aperture 25 is provided on the entire surface of the body 26.
Light-shielding plate guides 29 are formed above and below on both sides. The light-shielding plate guide 29 guides a pair of light-shielding plates 30 located above and below in a vertically slidable manner. As shown in Figure 2,
It can be moved to an advanced position where it abuts the stopper 29a of the light shielding plate guide 29. At this advanced position, the light-shielding plate 30 partially covers the upper and lower portions of the photographing aperture 25, forming a panoramic photographing aperture 25P.

The pair of upper and lower light shielding plates 30 include:
One end 31a of the leaf spring 31 is fixed, and the other ends 31b of the pair of leaf springs 31 are respectively fixed to a pair of vertical rack plates 32. A pair of rack plates 3
2, racks 32a are formed on surfaces facing each other, and one pinion 33 is meshed with the pair of racks 32a at the same time. The pair of rack plates 32 are urged to move away from each other by (one) tension spring 34, that is, in a direction in which the pair of light shielding plates 30 are located outside the photographing aperture 25, and the separated ends thereof are , is regulated by a stopper 35. Due to its elasticity, the leaf spring 31 reliably brings the light shielding plate 30 into contact with the stopper 29a in the panoramic photographing state shown in FIG. 2, and reliably retracts the light shielding plate 30 from the photographing aperture 25 in the normal photographing state shown in FIG. act.

The zoom photographing lens system 22 includes a cam ring 36, and a zoom gear 36a and a panoramic sector gear 36b are provided on the outer periphery of the cam ring 36. The zoom gear 36a meshes with a pinion 38a driven by a forward/reverse rotation motor 37 and a reduction gear train 38, and the panoramic sector gear 36b connects the pinion 33 with the shaft 3.
3a, it can mesh with a pinion 39 coupled coaxially.

The cam ring 36 may be of any type as long as its rotation changes the focal length of the zoom lens system. Although the present invention does not require a specific configuration of the zoom lens system, FIG. 7 is a developed view showing an example of the cam ring 36. This cam ring 36 has two cam grooves 40 and 41 for driving the simplest zoom lens system consisting of two front and rear groups. ), and the cam groove 41 guides the rear lens group (same), which is also guided in a straight line. The cam grooves 40 and 41 each have a macro transition section d2 and a panoramic transition section d3 on both sides of the zoom section d1. The cam ring 36 has a focal length of 28 to 70 in the zoom range d1.
In the macro transition section d2, only the front group lens is moved forward by a certain distance so that macro photography can be performed, and in the panoramic transition section d3, the front group lens Rotate idly without moving the lens or rear group lens.

Panoramic sector gear 36b and pinion 39
are engaged with the cam ring 36 during idle rotation in the panoramic transition section d3, and as a result, the pinion 33 rotates. When the pinion 33 rotates, the rack plates 32 move toward each other, and as a result, the pair of light shielding plates 30 move until they come into contact with the stopper 29a, as shown in FIG. 2, and the panoramic shooting aperture 25P opens. can get. A zoom section d1 and a macro transition section d2 of the cam ring 36 in which the panoramic sector gear 36b and the pinion 39 do not mesh.
Then, the rack plate 32 is pulled by the force of the tension spring 34,
As shown in FIG. 3, the light shielding plate 30
Evacuate from.

The zoom gear 36a of the cam ring 36 also includes:
An interlocking gear 42 with the zoom finder system 23 is engaged. A shaft 42a coaxial with the interlocking gear 42 is extended rearward and connected to the reduction gear train 20, and the final pinion (not shown) of the reduction gear train 20 is connected to a cam plate of a zoom finder system (not shown). It meshes with the rack formed in the. As a result, the zoom finder system 23
The viewfinder field of view obtained can be changed as shown in FIG. In this example, zoom shooting lens system 2
The focal length of 2 is from 28mm (WIDE) to 70mm (T
ELE), it can shift to panoramic shooting mode at the wide end, and it can shift to macro shooting mode at the telephoto end. From TELE to WIDE, viewfinder field of view 5
2 does not change, and in Macro, the macro finder field of view 52M moves downward to correct parallax, and Pa
In norama, the panoramic finder field of view 52P becomes horizontally elongated in accordance with the aspect ratio of panoramic photography. In order to make the viewfinder field of view a panoramic viewfinder field of view, in addition to mechanically restricting the field of view in this way, draw two frame lines at a certain distance from above and below within the field of view, and Although there is a panoramic finder field of view, the present invention does not care about its configuration. When the power is turned off, the horizontally elongated panoramic finder field of view 52P is maintained as it is.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a control system that performs the above operations. The CPU 45 that receives input from the mode changeover switch 24 includes a teleswitch TS and a wide switch W that command the rotation direction and amount of rotation of the forward/reverse rotation motor 37.
Signals are input from the macro switch MS, the panoramic switch PS, and the opening/closing detection switch 44, which is turned on and off when the rear cover 48 is opened and closed. The CPU 45 controls the motor drive circuit 46 in response to inputs from these switch means.
The forward and reverse rotation motor 37 is driven forward and backward through the pinion 38a, zoom gear 36a, and panoramic sector gear 36b.
, pinion 39, interlocking gear 42, and reduction gear train 20, the final pinion (not shown) of the zoom finder system, the pinion 33 constituting the aperture variable means,
and a pinion (not shown) of the field frame variable mechanism. The tele switch TS and wide switch WS are turned on or off by operating operating members (not shown), and the macro switch MS and panoramic switch PS are turned on or off in accordance with the position of the slide knob 24a shown in FIG. 5.

Therefore, when the slide knob 24a is moved to switch to the panoramic shooting mode, the CPU 45 drives the forward/reverse rotation motor 37 via the motor drive circuit 46 based on the ON signal of the panorama switch PS.
The panoramic sector gear 36b connects the cam ring 36 to the pinion 3.
Rotate it to a specific rotation angle range where it can engage with 9. As a result, the pinion 33 is rotated, and the pair of light shielding plates 30 move until they come into contact with the stopper 29a, as shown in FIG. 2, thereby forming the panoramic photographing aperture 25P. Therefore, the mode selector switch 24 is set to Panor.
By simply switching to AMA, the exposure area on the film can be mechanically and reliably switched from the normal exposure area corresponding to the normal shooting range to the panoramic exposure area that is laterally longer than the normal shooting range.

Furthermore, when the rear cover 48 is opened and the opening/closing detection switch 44 is turned on, the CPU 45 drives the forward/reverse rotation motor 37 via the motor drive circuit 46 and gear train to retract the zoom photographing lens system 22. drive to the side and position it in the storage position, which is the most contracted state. At this time, the panoramic sector gear 36b meshes with the pinion 39 due to the rotation of the cam ring 36, so that the pair of light shielding plates 30 are slid in the vertical direction and advance to abut against the stopper 29a of the light shielding plate guide 29, as in the case of Panorama. Move to position. Therefore, when the rear cover 48 is opened and a film is loaded, it is possible to prevent problems such as fingers or the tip of the film from entering the photographing opening 25 and staining the photographing lens.

Although this embodiment applies the present invention to a camera having a macro photographing area, the present invention can of course also be applied to a camera having no macro photographing area.

[0020]

[Effects of the Invention] As is clear from the above explanation, although the camera of the present invention has a simple configuration, it is possible to easily and reliably switch from a normal exposure area to a panoramic exposure area using the aperture variable means. , you can take panoramic shots.

Furthermore, according to the second aspect of the invention, since the aperture variable means can be operated using the rotational movement of the cam ring, it is possible to obtain a camera capable of panoramic photography with an extremely simple configuration. can.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a mechanism for converting the shooting range between normal shooting and panoramic shooting in a zoom shooting optical system of a camera to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing the operating state of the photographing range conversion mechanism of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front view showing the photographing range conversion mechanism in an operating state different from that shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an overall external view of a camera to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a mode conversion switch included in the camera of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a front view showing stepwise changes in the field of view of the camera in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a developed view showing an example of a cam ring of a zoom photographing optical system.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a drive system for a zoom photographing optical system and a finder optical system.

[Explanation of symbols]

21 Camera 22 Zoom shooting lens system 24 Mode selection switch 25 Photography aperture 25P panoramic shooting aperture 29 Shade plate guide 29a Stopper 30　Light blocking plate 31 Leaf spring 32 Rack board 32a Rack 33 Pinion 34 Tension spring 35 Stopper 36 Cam ring 36a Zoom gear 36b Panoramic sector gear 37 Forward/reverse rotation motor 38 Reduction gear train 38a pinion 39 pinion 40 Cam groove 41 Cam groove 44 Open/close detection switch 45 CPU 46 Motor drive circuit 48 Rear lid d3 Panoramic transition section PS Panorama switch

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A photographic optical system that forms an image of light transmitted through a photographic lens on a film; an exposure area on the film is a normal exposure area, and a horizontally long panorama in which the vertical length of this exposure area is reduced. and an aperture variable means for mechanically switching between exposure areas. 2. A cam ring that drives a zoom lens by its rotation; a photographic optical system that forms an image of light transmitted through the photographic lens on a film; an aperture variable means for mechanically switching between a normal exposure area and a panoramic exposure area that is laterally longer than the normal photographing range; the aperture variable means is interlocked with the cam ring in a specific rotation angle area of the cam ring; A camera comprising: interlocking means for switching between the area and the panoramic exposure area. 3. In claim 1, the variable aperture mechanism includes: a body having a photographing aperture that determines a normal photographing area; a pair of light-shielding plates that can variable shade upper and lower portions of the photographing aperture of this body; A camera comprising an advance/retreat control mechanism for controlling the advance/retreat of the light shielding plate between a retracted position from the photographing aperture and a light shielding position protruding partially above and below the photographing aperture. 4. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the camera is provided with a normal shooting mode and a panoramic shooting mode. 5. In claim 4, the advance/retreat control mechanism comprises:
The camera holds the pair of light-shielding plates at the retracted position in the normal photography mode, and advances them to the light-shielding position in the panoramic photography mode. 6. In claim 2, the interlocking means is a panoramic sector gear provided on a part of the outer periphery of the cam ring, and meshes with the panoramic sector gear in a specific rotation angle region of the cam ring to drive the aperture variable means. A camera with a pinion.