JPH0440437A - Camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To facilitate the operating of a camera in the mode of photographing in which the exposure value is change automatically step by step at every exposure action (AEB photographing) for a still body and a moving body by providing a selecting means so that a photographer can freely select the AEB photographing, one-shot focus photographing and servo-focus photographing. CONSTITUTION:When the one-shot focus photographing and the AEB photographing are selected, the AEB photographing for only the prescribed number of sheets is continuously performed with the same focusing in accordance with one-shot release operation. When the servo-focus photographing and the AEB photographing are selected, the AEB photographing is continuously performed in the state of always continuing a focusing action for an object only when the release operation is continuously performed. Thus, the operation for performing the AEB photographing for the still object is made easy, addition to this, the picture with the optimum exposure can be taken without missing a shutter chance in the case of performing the AEB photographing for the moving object.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a camera configured to perform AEB photography (automatic stepwise exposure photography), and in particular, in addition to the AEB photography function, one-shot focus photography (based on the subject The present invention relates to a camera that has a function of selectively performing servo focus photography (photography in which the focus is locked once the object is in focus) and servo focus photography (photography in which the focus operation continues on the subject).

[Conventional technology] Modern cameras are highly electronically controlled, and for example, cameras are configured so that they can automatically perform shooting techniques that were previously performed by professional photographers with the touch of a button. There are also an increasing number of cameras.

The camera manufactured and sold by the present applicant is one of such highly electronically controlled cameras, and is equipped with a well-known AEB photographing function.

The AEB photographing function is, for example, a function that continuously and automatically performs photographing with an appropriate exposure value, photographing with overexposure, and photographing with underexposure in this order.

There are two types of known AEB photographing devices as described below, and these two types of devices are installed separately for each camera fffl.

The first AEt1 device operates in such a way that during AEB shooting, it takes a set number of consecutive shots with a single release button operation, and the second AEB device allows the shutter to operate only while the release button is pressed. This is an operation type in which AEB photography is performed continuously only during the lever.

Conventionally, the AEB device of the first operating type and the A E II device of the second operating type have not been mounted on the same camera.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] The above-mentioned known cameras having an AEB photographing function have the following problems.

Generally, when taking AEB photographs of still objects such as landscapes, it is more convenient to use the AEB camera for a set number of consecutive exposures with one release; however, on the other hand, when taking AEB photographs of moving objects, It is more convenient to use and makes it easier to capture photo opportunities if the shutter can only be released while the button is pressed.

This is because when shooting a moving object, if AEB exposure is performed continuously for the set number of images in one release, even if a good photo opportunity appears during AEB exposure and you want to release the shutter, you will not be able to release the shutter. This is because you will miss out on opportunities.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to be easy to use when photographing a static object with AEB and with AuB when photographing a moving object, and to be able to take an optimally exposed photograph without missing a shutter opportunity when photographing a moving object with AEB. The goal is to provide an improved camera that can.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In the camera of the present invention, when one-shot focus shooting (shooting in which focus is locked once the subject is in focus) and AEB@Shadow are selected, one-shot release operation (for example, is a release operation in which you press the release button once with your finger and then immediately take your finger off the button).
EB Photographic means and servo focus photography (
For example, when following a moving subject, automatic focusing is performed continuously without locking the focus) and AE
When B shooting is selected, AEB shooting is performed without continuing to focus on the subject only while the release operation is being performed continuously (that is, only while the release button is held down). Since a means for continuously performing AEB photography of a stationary subject and an AEB photography of a moving subject can be performed more easily than with conventional cameras.

[Function] When one-shot focus photography and AEB i-shading are selected when photographing a still subject, if the photographer performs a one-shot release operation, a predetermined number of images will be continuously photographed with AEB. On the other hand, when servo focus photography and AEB photography are selected when photographing a hyperactive subject, AEB photography is performed only while the photographer presses the release button.

[Examples] Examples of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the electrical configuration of a camera according to the present invention.

In FIG. 2, 1 is a microcomputer that controls the operation of the entire camera; 2 is an in-lens motor control circuit that controls the optical system drive motor (lens drive motor and aperture blade drive motor) in the lens barrel; 3 is a liquid crystal display circuit that drives the liquid crystal of the camera's liquid crystal display device; 4 is a switch sense circuit that detects the states of various detection switches; 5 is a switch sense circuit that detects the states of various detection switches;
is a strobe light emission control circuit that controls a strobe device,
6 is a focus detection circuit that detects the focus of the photographic lens; 7 is a photometering circuit that has a built-in photometry element; 8 is a shutter control circuit that controls the drive of the shutter; 9 is a feed motor that controls the film feed motor. In the control circuit, SWI is a switch that starts camera operation, SW2 is a switch that is turned on in conjunction with the pressing operation of the release button, and X contact is a switch that is turned on when the front curtain of the shutter finishes running. .

The double line drawn between the microcomputer-1 and each circuit is the serial data bus DBUS provided between the human output port of the microcomputer-1 and each of the circuits.
Data communication is performed between the microcomputer 1 and each circuit via the data bus DBUS. Furthermore, the two-dot chain lines drawn between the microcomputer 1 and each circuit are control signals for controlling each circuit by the microcomputer 1.

The lens inner control circuit 2 is a microcomputer.
While receiving the LCOM signal from 1, the data bus DBU
Serial communication is performed with the microcomputer-1 via S. Motor drive information is received and received through serial communication, and the motor in the lens barrel is driven and controlled using that information. At the same time, various information about the lens (focal length etc.
, ) are sent to the microcomputer-1 via serial communication.

The liquid crystal display circuit 3 is a circuit for driving a liquid crystal display (not shown) for informing the photographer of various photographic information of the camera, such as shutter speed, aperture value, ISO sensitivity, number of film sheets, etc. 3 performs serial communication with the microcomputer-1 via the data bus DBLIS while receiving the DPCOM signal from the microcomputer-1. Display data is received and received through serial communication, and the liquid crystal display is driven according to the data.

The switch sense circuit 4 is a circuit that reads the status of the switch used by the photographer to set various photographing conditions and the status of the switch indicating the status of the camera and sends it to the microcomputer-1.
While receiving the SWCOM signal from the microcomputer 1, the switch data is sent to the microcomputer 1 by serial communication via the data bus DBUS.

The strobe light emission control circuit 5 controls strobe light emission and TTL.
This is a circuit that controls a light emission stop function that performs flash control.While receiving the STCOM signal from the microcomputer 1, this circuit 5 performs serial communication with the microcomputer 1 via the data bus DBUS, and performs communication related to strobe control. It receives and receives data and performs various controls on the strobe device.

The focus detection circuit 6 is a line sensor for performing AF using the existing phase difference detection method, and a circuit unit for reading out the accumulation thereof, and is controlled by the microcomputer-1.

The photometry circuit 7 measures the light of the subject, and outputs the photometry output under the control of the microcomputer 1.
send to The microcomputer 1 A/D converts the sent photometric output and uses it to set exposure conditions (aperture, shutter speed).

The shutter control circuit 8 controls the movement of the leading and trailing shutter curtains (not shown) in accordance with control signals from the microcomputer 1.

The feeding circuit 9 feeds (winds and rewinds) the film in accordance with control signals from the microcomputer-1.

The switch SWI is a switch that is linked to a button that starts the operation of the camera, and when the microcomputer-1 recognizes that the switch SWI has been turned on, the microcomputer-1 starts photometry, distance measurement, and display.

The switch SW2 is linked to the release button of the camera, and when the microcomputer 1 recognizes that SW2 has been turned on, the exposure operation starts.

The X contact turns ON when the shutter's first curtain completes its travel.
L, serves to notify the strobe light emission control circuit 5 of the timing of strobe light emission.

Next, the operation of the camera of this embodiment will be explained with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 1 and FIGS. 3 to 7.

(101): First, the power supply is microcomputer-1
It is determined whether the switch SWI is in the OFF state or the ON state while the switch SWI is connected to the OFF state. Here, if the switch SWI is in the OFF state, turn the power to 0FFL, and if the switch SWI is in the ON state, proceed to (102).
Performs photometry and distance measurement.

(102): After photometry/distance measurement and calculation (103)/photometry/distance measurement, switch SW2 is turned OFF.
It is determined whether it is in the F state or the ON state. If the switch SW2 is in the OFF state, the ON10FF determination of the switch SWI is made in (104), and if the switch SW2 is in the ON state, the process moves to the release sequence starting from (105).

(104) : (103) (7) Switch SW2
If the switch SW2 is in the OFF state in the NO ON10 FF judgment, it is determined that the switch SW1 is in the OFF state or
Determine whether it is in the N state. Switch SWI is OFF
In the case of 0FFL/ when the power is on, and when the switch SWI is on, the process returns to photometry/distance measurement (102).

(105): The appropriate value calculated in (102) (
Aperture value and shutter speed value to obtain proper exposure)
, set the aperture value and shutter speed value in consideration of the correction amount set in AEll. FIG. 3 shows Example 1 when three shots are taken, including the correct one, with AEB correction of ±1 stop. FIG. 4 shows an example 2 in which the AEB is corrected in one step, only the underside is corrected, and four shots are taken, including the appropriate one. Third
In the case of example 1 shown in the figure, <-1>, <appropriate><41>
, <-t>, <appropriate>, (+l),
<-t> . . . continues until AEB is canceled.

In addition, in the case of Example 2 shown in Figure 4, <appropriate>, <-
1>, <-2>.

<-3>, <appropriate>, <-1>,
AEB for <-2>, <-3>suitable>...
continues to be released. Here, "appropriate" is determined by the latest photometry.

(106): Expose using the aperture value and shutter speed determined in (105).

(107): Here, determine whether the AF mode is one-shot mode (a mode that locks the focus once it focuses on the subject) or servo mode (a mode that constantly follows the subject), and if it is servo mode, , return to the beginning (101), and in one-shot mode,
Proceed to step (108) so that the number of AEB frames can be continuously exposed by one release.

(108): Decrement the AEB number. The AEB number mentioned here is appropriate and over/under 81.
The number of cards is 3, 2 each of legal and over-under, 5, 83, legal and over-under, 7, and so on. Also, if there is one correct and over or under, it is 2, if there are two correct and over or under, it is 3,
If the appropriate number is 3 over or under, then 4, etc. can also be considered.

(109): Determine whether the number of AE8 sheets is 0 or not 0,
When it is 0, the release sequence is finished and the first (10
Returning to step 1), if it is not 0, the AEB processing in (105) is followed by the exposure in (106), and AEB photography is continued.

The table in Figure 5 shows that switch SW2 (release button )
This shows how the AEB processing differs depending on whether it is ON or OFF.

From the table, when the AF mode is servo, turn switch SW2 to O.
You can release the shutter on the N-side, which shows that it is strong against photo opportunities. The AEB processing at this time is as shown in the table. Next, when the AF mode is one shot, switch SW2
I can't release the camera at the point I want to take with ONL, but 1
Since AEB exposure is performed continuously for the set number of images with each release, there is no need to keep pressing the release button when taking AEB photographs of still objects.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, in the camera according to the present invention, when AEB photography of a still subject is performed, one-shot focus photography is selected and the release button only needs to be operated once. In addition, moving subjects can be photographed using AE.
When performing B photography, by selecting servo focus photography, AEB photography is performed only while the release button is pressed. Therefore, with the camera of the present invention, not only is the operation easy when performing AEB photography of a stationary subject, but also a photograph with proper exposure can be taken without missing a photo opportunity even during AEB photography of a moving subject.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a flowchart showing the characteristic operation of the camera of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the electrical configuration of the camera of the invention, and Figs. 3 and 4 show the shooting conditions for AEB shooting. The diagram shown in FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the relationship between switch SW2 and AEB photography in the camera of the present invention. 1... Microcomputer 2... In-lens motor control circuit 3... Liquid crystal display circuit 4... Switch sense circuit 5... Strobe light emission control circuit 6... Focus detection circuit 7...・Photometering circuit 8...Shutter control circuit 9...Feeding motor control circuit and 4 others

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. Means for executing AEB photography (photography in which the exposure value is automatically changed in stages for each exposure operation) and one-shot focus photography (for locking the focus once the subject is in focus); A means for executing servo focus shooting (shooting that continues to focus on the subject), a means for executing AEB shooting, one-shot focus shooting, and servo focus shooting at the discretion of the photographer. When AEB photography and one-shot focus photography are selected, a predetermined number of images can be taken according to the one-shot release operation (the operation of pressing the release button once and then immediately releasing the finger from the button). a means for continuously performing focus lock AEB photography;
The camera is characterized by having means for continuously performing focus unlock AEB photography only while a release operation is continuously performed when EB photography and servo focus photography are selected. 2. A means to execute AEB photography (photography in which the exposure value is automatically changed step by step with each exposure operation) and one-shot focus photography (photography in which the focus is locked once the subject is in focus) A means for performing servo focus shooting (shooting that continues focusing on the subject); a manual selection means for the photographer to select AEB shooting; and a means for performing one-shot focus depending on the camera's shooting mode, etc. Automatic selection means automatically selects either shooting or servo focus shooting, and when AEB shooting or one-shot focus shooting is selected, one-shot release operation (pressing the release button once with a finger and then pressing the button) means for performing focus lock AEB photography for a predetermined number of consecutive images in response to an operation in which a finger is immediately removed from A camera characterized in that it has a means for continuously performing focus unlock AEB photography. 3 means for executing AEB photography, automatic subject type discrimination means for automatically determining whether the subject is a moving object or a still body, means for executing one-shot focus photography, and means for executing servo focus photography. and automatic selection means for automatically selecting either one-shot focus photography or servo focus photography according to the determination result by the automatic subject type determination means; means for selecting AEB photography; When shot focus photography is selected, a means for continuously performing focus lock AEB photography for a predetermined number of images in response to a one-shot release operation, and when AEB photography and servo focus photography are selected, the release operation is continuously performed. A camera characterized by comprising means for continuously performing focus unlock AEB photography only while the focus unlock AEB photography is being performed.