JPH046309B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Technical Field of the Invention) The present invention relates to the structure of a small and lightweight video camera.

(Background of the Invention) A conventional video camera has a camera body that includes a photographic lens, an imaging device that receives image information from the photographic lens and converts it into an electrical signal, and an optical viewfinder that visually recognizes the subject. It consisted of an electronic viewfinder section that reproduces the image of the subject converted into electrical signals by the imaging device using a small cathode ray tube, and a grip section that the photographer holds to hold the video camera. The conventional video camera grips include a pistol grip shown in FIG. 1 and a lens grip shown in FIG. 2. A video camera equipped with a pistol grip as shown in Figure 1 has a protruding grip, making it difficult to carry.Also, when carrying the camera, the grip is folded to the bottom of the main body to make it less protruding, which improves portability. However, the overall volume remains the same, making it difficult to downsize. Furthermore, the video camera equipped with the lens grip shown in FIG. 2 has the disadvantage that the lens side becomes large because the grip portion is added to the photographing lens.

(Object of the Invention) An object of the present invention is to solve these drawbacks and provide a video camera that is smaller and lighter than conventional video cameras and has a good appearance.

(Example) An example of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5. 3 shows a perspective view, FIG. 4 shows a plan view, and FIG. 5 shows a side view. The video camera main body 1 shown in FIG. 3 includes at least an image pickup tube, which is an image pickup device, or a solid-state image pickup device (MOS type device, CCD, etc.). The video camera body 1 is box-shaped, with a photographing lens 2 on the front part 1a, an electronic viewfinder 3 on the side part 1b, hand belt attachment parts 4a and 4b on the side part 1c, and a VTR on the top part 1d, as shown in FIG. A remote control switch 5 and a zooming switch 6 are installed. The photographing lens 2 normally uses an electric zoom lens driven by electricity, but zooming can also be performed by manual operation. The photographing lens 2 is the video camera body 1.
It is removably attached to the front part 1a of the camera using a C-mount or the like. The electronic viewfinder 3 receives an electrical signal of image information of a subject from an imaging device, reproduces an image of the subject from the electrical signal, and is rotatably coupled to the side surface 1b of the video camera body 1. hand belt attachment part 4a,
4b are fixed to both ends of the side surface 1c of the video camera body 1, and the hand belt 4 is attached thereto. The zooming switch 6 is a seesaw switch, and is configured such that when one end T of the switch is pressed, the electric zoom lens is driven toward the telephoto side, and when the other end W is pressed, the electric zoom lens is driven toward the wide-angle side. The VTR remote control switch 5 is composed of a button switch, which is turned on when pressed once and turned off when pressed again, and controls a video cassette recorder (not shown) connected to the video camera by a camera cable (not shown).

The video camera body 1 is formed to have a thickness and shape that allows a standard photographer to comfortably and naturally hold it in his/her hand. In particular, the side surface 1c of the video camera body 1
is formed so that it can be held naturally, and the photographer inserts the finger other than the thumb of the hand between the side part 1c and the hand belt 4 from below, and the hand and the video camera body 1 are held together.
By adjusting the hand belt 4 so that the hand belt 4 is in close contact with the hand belt 4 and can be held securely, stable photography can be achieved. Furthermore, as can be understood from FIGS. 3 and 4, the heavy photographic lens 2 is placed near the hand belt 4 on the front part 1a of the video camera body 1.
In other words, since the photographer is placed closer to the side where the video camera is held, the weight is well balanced and easier to hold. Furthermore, the video camera body 1
As for the electrical circuits built into the unit, the balance will be better if you arrange things in the same way as described above.

When the electronic viewfinder 3 is in position A as shown in Figure 5, it is at the photographer's eye level position (the position where the photographer can look in the horizontal direction).
When in position B, it is best to shoot at the photographer's weight level position (the position where the photographer can look horizontally and vertically downward), and when in position C. When shooting, it is best to shoot from a high-level position (a position where the photographer can look horizontally and vertically upwards).
In addition, the photographer can freely select and fix a position of the electronic viewfinder 3 other than those mentioned above to facilitate photography.

First, when the photographer takes a picture at the eye level position (position A) shown in FIG.
The video camera main body 1 is held by inserting four fingers other than the thumb of the right hand from below between the side surface portion 1c and the side surface portion 1c, and placing the thumb on the back surface portion 1e side. At this time, the VTR remote control switch 5 provided on the top surface 1d of the video camera body 1 is pressed and operated with the index finger, and of the zooming switch 6 provided next to the VTR remote control switch 5, W is pressed with the index finger. , T are pressed and operated with the middle finger.

Next, if the photographer wants to shoot from a low angle, use the waist level position (position B) shown in Figure 5.
The electronic viewfinder 3 is set in the hand belt 4 and the side part 1c, and the four fingers other than the thumb of the right hand are inserted from above between the hand belt 4 and the side part 1c, and the above-mentioned switch is operated with the thumb. At that time, as explained above, you can adjust the hand belt 4 to securely hold the video camera body 1 with one hand, and as an aid, hold the electronic viewfinder 3 with the other hand for more stable shooting. Ru.

Next, if the photographer desires high-angle photography, set the electronic viewfinder 3 at the high-level position (position C) shown in FIG.
hold. For example, it is effective for photographing a specific person in a crowded place.

As mentioned above, in this embodiment, the VTR remote control is used so that the photographer can hold and operate the video camera with one hand (right hand in this embodiment) at three shooting positions (eye level position, waist level position, and high level position). Operation parts such as a switch 5 and a zooming switch 6 are provided on the upper surface part 1d,
and the thickness of the side surface portion 1c of the video camera body 1;
By forming the shape and adjusting the hand belt 4, the right hand can be fitted onto the video camera body 1, and the electronic viewfinder 3 is rotatably attached, allowing the photographer to select the desired shooting position. This allows you to take pictures with one hand.
The VTR remote control switch 5 may be provided on the back surface 1e and configured to be pressed with the thumb.

In addition, when the photographer carries the video camera around after shooting, the shooting lens and video camera body of conventional pistol grip video cameras protrude downward from the photographer's hand, so there is a risk of accidentally hitting an obstacle or dropping the camera. In addition, since a video camera with a lens grip has a grip on the photographic lens section, the video camera body protrudes from the photographer's hand toward the thumb side, resulting in an unbalanced weight, making it difficult to accidentally drop or carry around. However, according to the present invention, when carrying around the video camera, the video camera can be placed in the palm of the hand by lowering the hand from the state where the video camera body 1 is held at the eye-level position (which is frequently used when taking pictures). The video camera can be held between your arm and body in a hanging position, allowing you to carry it around while keeping it protected. In addition, the chances of accidentally dropping the video camera or hitting an obstacle can be reduced compared to the conventional method.
Moreover, even when placing the camera, it can be placed stably. Furthermore, since you can immediately switch from carrying a video camera to shooting at eye level, you can take pictures without missing a moment's opportunity to take pictures.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the illustrated embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments. In this embodiment, the view finder is an electronic view finder, but the view finder is not limited to this, and may be an optical view finder, for example. Also,
Connect the electronic viewfinder 3 to the video camera body 1
The electronic viewfinder 3 may be configured to be separable from the electronic viewfinder 3, and may also be configured to be provided with an operating section such as a zooming switch or a VTR remote control switch so that it can be remotely controlled. In addition, the operating units such as the zooming switch 6 and the VTR remote control switch 5 of this embodiment may be further installed on the bottom surface of the video camera body 1 on the opposite side to the top surface 1d, and used when shooting at waist level. good.

(Effects of the Invention) As described in detail above, in the present invention, since the camera is configured so that the photographer can take pictures by directly holding the video camera body, there is no need to provide a separate grip part, and therefore the volume for the grip is reduced. This makes it possible to make the video camera smaller and lighter than usual, and because the grip part is eliminated, it can be manufactured at low cost. Also,
Even when the photographer carries the video camera, the video camera can be held stably in the photographer's hand, and since the grip part is no longer required, there are fewer uneven parts, and the camera has a smart shape and a good appearance.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 and 2 show the prior art of the present invention,
FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a video camera with a pistol grip, and FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a video camera with a lens grip. 3 to 5 show an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the video camera, FIG. 4 shows a plan view of the video camera, and FIG. 5 shows a side view of the video camera. shows. Explanation of the symbols of the main parts: 1...Video camera body (grip), 2...Photographing lens, 3...Electronic view finder.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A video camera body comprising a photographic lens, an imaging means for converting image information of a subject from the photographic lens into an electrical signal, an operating means, and a viewfinder section for visually recognizing the subject. In the video camera, the video camera body has a thickness that can be held by hand, a holding portion is provided on one side of the main body that is parallel to the optical axis of the photographing lens, and a viewfinder portion is provided on the side opposite to the one side. What is claimed is: 1. A video camera, characterized in that it is rotatably provided, and a photographing lens is provided at a position biased toward the one side of the front of the main body. 2. The video camera according to claim 1, wherein the operating means is provided at a position biased toward the one side surface on the top surface of the video camera main body. 3. The video camera according to claim 2, wherein the photographing lens is a zoom lens, and the operating means is a zooming switch. 4. The video camera according to claim 1, wherein the operating means is provided at a position biased toward the one side on the back of the video camera main body. 5. Claim 4, wherein the operating means is a switch for starting and stopping photographing.
Video camera as described in section. 6. The view finder is an electronic view finder, and the operating means is a switch for starting and stopping shooting, and is provided in the view finder section, and the view finder section is separable from the video camera body. A video camera according to claim 1, characterized in that: