JPH0545557A - Camera provided with automatic zooming function - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve handleabllity by making it possible to freely perform a manual zooming operation without the need of a special operation even in the case,that an automatic zooming mode is selected, and making it possible to return from the manual zooming state to the automatic zooming state again. CONSTITUTION:When a zooming mode selection switch 13 is operated by a photographer so as to select the automatic zooming mode and a 1st release switch 9 is turned on, a control part 1 makes a range finding part 6 range-find and also makes the range finding data stored in the RAM 2a of an automatic zooming mode deciding part 2, and also a target zoom position which is fixed by the range finding data and prescribed magnification data is calculated by the control part 1 itself, and a DC motor 5 is controlled to be driven based on the calculation result, and then, a variable power lens 3a is set on the target zoom position. Even in the case that the automatic zooming mode is selected, the manual zooming is preferentially performed only by operating telescopic/ wide switches 11 and 12.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a camera having an auto-zoom function, and more particularly, to a manual zoom function by operating a manual zoom switch including a telephoto switch and a wide-angle switch, and a ratio of a focal length to a subject distance. The present invention relates to a camera having an auto-zoom function for automatically zooming so as to have a predetermined ratio.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, a camera equipped with an auto-zoom function in accordance with the multifunctionalization of a camera and zooming so that a subject is always shown in the same size even if the shooting distance changes is commercially available.

For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 53-113527 (hereinafter referred to as "first publication") discloses a variable power lens group corresponding to a subject distance so that an output magnification of a magnification calculation circuit has a predetermined value. A constant-magnification photographing device in a variable-magnification lens system is disclosed for the purpose of facilitating lens group adjustment during constant-magnification photographing by servo-controlling movement.

That is, a signal corresponding to the object distance is applied from the object distance detection signal detecting means to the calculating means.
Then, the calculating means outputs the position signal of the variable magnification lens group corresponding to the focal length which is the current magnification designated by the photographing magnification designating means.

Then, the output of the above-mentioned calculation means and the output of the variable power lens group position detection means are compared by a comparator, and when the movement of the variable power lens group is servo-controlled through a drive circuit, the position of the lens group is changed. Determined automatically. As a result, even if the shooting distance changes due to easy adjustment, it is possible to perform normal-size shooting.

Further, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-220118 (hereinafter referred to as "second publication"), calculation is performed based on the focal length information and the output information of the distance measuring means and the ratio setting means to calculate the actual subject. A camera with auto zoom that can automatically set the ratio occupied by the main subject in the shooting image frame so that shooting is performed with the ratio in the shooting image frame matching the ratio set by the ratio setting means. It is disclosed.

Specifically, in the camera described in the second publication, when a photographer selects and sets a ratio with a ratio setting means using a changeover switch or the like prior to photographing, this ratio is input to the computing means. To be done.

Subsequently, the photographer looks into the viewfinder and composes and releases the main subject so that it comes to the center of the viewfinder. The distance to the main subject is measured by the distance measuring means, and the distance measurement data is obtained. Is input to the calculation means. This computing means is configured to obtain a focal length at which a predetermined magnification is obtained from the ratio and the distance measurement data, and to control the motor drive circuit so that the focal length becomes the focal length to obtain a composition that matches the ratio. Has been done.

Therefore, with the zoom lens stopped,
If you press the release button, you can take a picture at the set ratio.

As described above, in both the first and second publications, the zoom focal length with a constant magnification is obtained from the distance measurement data, and the zoom position is automatically zoomed.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the flow of the auto-zooming operation in this case. In FIG.
First, when the first release switch is turned on, photometry is performed by the photometry means in step S1, and distance measurement of a subject is performed in step S2.

In step S3, since the flag "1" is set in advance when auto zooming is selected,
The process proceeds from step S3 to step S4 and returns when auto zooming is not selected.

In step S4, the zoom focal length f = L / B, that is, the target zoom position is set so that the subject of the distance measurement data L obtained in step S2 can be photographed at the set magnification value B of the auto zoom. Find the next step S
Go to 5.

In this step S5, the above-mentioned step S4
It is determined whether or not the zoom position obtained in step 1 is the target zoom position. If the result of the determination is that it is the same as the current zoom position, the flow branches to YES to return, and if it is different from the current zoom position, The process branches from step S5 to NO and proceeds to step S6.

In step S6, zooming is performed so that the difference between the zoom position obtained in step S4 and the current zoom position becomes 0, and when the difference becomes 0, the process returns.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing a photographing processing procedure after auto-zooming according to the flow chart of FIG. 6. It is judged in step S7 whether or not the first release switch is turned on, and as a result of the judgment, If the first release switch is off, the process returns. If the first release switch is on, the process proceeds from the ON side of step S7 to step S8.

In this step S8, it is judged whether or not the second release switch is turned on. If it is not turned on, from the OFF side of step S8 to step S7.
If it is turned on, it is turned on in step S8.
From the side to step S9.

In step S9, processing necessary for photographing the subject such as focusing and exposure is performed, the shutter is activated, and after the photographing is finished, the film is wound up by one frame,
To return.

Further, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-296208 (hereinafter referred to as "the third publication"), when the mode is manually released after setting the automatic focal length mode, the mode setting is prohibited until the next release is performed. By doing so, a zooming control device for a camera is disclosed, which is capable of taking an intended image even when the constant magnification mode is set and improving the usability.

That is, in the first invention, when the manual zoom operation is performed after the auto zooming,
Unless the automatic zoom is released and the shutter is released, the automatic zoom is prohibited thereafter. In the second invention, the automatic zoom control is performed by the first half-press of the release when the automatic zoom mode is set. Is canceled, then manual zoom becomes effective,
After that, until the auto-zoom mode is reset, the auto-zoom mode is not restored even if the release button is pressed halfway again.

[0021]

As described above, some conventional cameras having a manual zoom function have a constant magnification so that an intended subject can be photographed in a constant size even if the subject distance changes. Shooting modes, that is, those to which an auto zoom mode is added are appearing.

That is, as described with reference to FIG. 6, when the first release switch is turned on, the zoom focal length position is automatically zoomed to a constant magnification with respect to the subject distance at that time. There is.

With such a configuration, for example, it is possible to frame the upper half of a person with the same size regardless of the subject distance, and shoot an image suitable for the portrait.

However, if the composition formed by the auto-zoom is slightly different from what the camera user desires, the telephoto (hereinafter "tele") / wide-angle (hereinafter "wide") switch zoom is operated to obtain the desired image. Even if the composition is shifted so that the composition becomes like that, there is a problem that if the shutter release is pressed halfway again, the original auto zoom is restored, and changing the composition of the corner becomes meaningless.

In such a case, in the camera having the conventional auto-zoom function, it is necessary to operate the tele / wide switch after canceling the auto-zoom, which is troublesome and inconvenient. ..

Further, as in the case of the camera with auto-zoom described in the third publication, even in the auto-zoom mode, it is possible to operate at a zoom position where the magnification is shifted by the tele / wide switch. However, in the first invention, if the tele / wide switch is operated after the auto zoom of half-pressing the release button, the auto-zoom mode will be canceled, and if the shooting is not performed thereafter, the release half-length will be changed to a different object distance. Even if it is pressed, the prohibition of the auto zoom continues, and a special operation is required to return to the auto zoom mode again, which is not convenient.

In the second aspect of the invention, it is inconvenient if the automatic zoom mode is canceled every time the release button is pressed halfway, even though the automatic zoom mode should be convenient and can be used regularly.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to automatically zoom the camera while the user of the camera operates the manual zoom switch even while the automatic zoom mode is being selected. Auto zoom can improve the usability of the auto zoom operation by prohibiting the auto zooming and taking a picture with any composition, and by easily canceling the auto zooming prohibition without activating the shutter. It is to provide a camera having a function.

[0029]

In order to achieve the above object, a camera having an auto-zoom function of the present invention has a manual zoom function by operating a manual zoom switch including a telephoto switch and a wide-angle switch, as well as an object distance. In a camera having an auto-zoom function that automatically zooms so that the ratio of focal lengths becomes a predetermined ratio, a distance measuring unit that measures a subject distance and outputs distance measuring data, and the distance measuring unit outputs the distance measuring data. An auto-zooming means for automatically zooming the variable magnification lens from the current zoom focal length to a target focal length determined by the distance measurement data and the above-mentioned predetermined ratio, and an auto-zoom mode and a manual zoom switch for zooming by this auto-zooming means. Select the manual zoom mode for zooming by operation. System selection means, a start operation switch for performing shooting start at the time of shooting and auto zooming start at the time of selecting the auto mode, and storage means for storing and holding at least the previous distance measurement data measured by the distance measuring unit, When the manual zoom switch is operated when the auto zoom mode is selected, the manual zooming is preferentially executed, and the auto zooming is prohibited at least until the startup operation switch is operated to start auto zooming and is released. And means.

Further, the control means of the camera having the auto-zoom function of the present invention compares both the distance measurement data of this time by the distance measurement unit with the previous distance measurement data stored in the storage means to perform both measurements. When it is determined that the distance data is substantially the same, auto zooming is prohibited, and when it is determined that the two distance measurement data are not substantially the same, an auto zoom operation determination unit for canceling the prohibition of auto zooming is included. It is characterized by being configured.

Further, the control means of the camera having the auto-zoom function according to the present invention compares the distance measurement data of this time by the distance measurement section with the previous distance measurement data stored in the storage means. If it is determined that both distance measurement data are approximately the same, auto zooming is prohibited even if the target focal length of this time's distance measurement data is different from the current zoom focal length, and both distance measurement data are substantially the same. If it is determined that the zooming is not performed, the automatic zooming operation determining means for canceling the prohibition of the auto zooming is included.

[0032]

In the present invention, when the start operation switch is operated when the auto zoom mode is selected by the zoom mode selecting means, the distance measuring section measures the distance to the object to obtain the distance measuring data and stores it in the storing means. The variable power lens is zoomed to the target focal length determined by the distance measurement data thus obtained.

When the manual zoom switch is operated during the selection of the automatic zoom mode, the manual zooming can be executed with priority. In this state,
It continues until the auto zoom is activated and deactivated by the activation switch.

At the time of distance measurement after the next time, the distance measurement data stored in the storage means and the distance measurement data of this time are compared by the auto-zoom operation determination section in the control means, and the result of the comparison is If it is determined that both distance measurement data are substantially the same, auto zooming is prohibited even if the target focal length based on the current distance measurement data and the current zoom focal length differ, but both distance measurement data If it is determined that they are not the same, the prohibition of auto zooming is released.

To cancel the auto zooming, when the manual mode is selected by the zoom mode selecting means, it is unconditionally canceled.

[0036]

Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of an embodiment of a camera having an auto zoom function according to the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 is a control unit as a central processing unit for controlling the entire camera, and a microcomputer is used here.

The control section 1 includes an automatic zoom operation determination section 2. This automatic zoom operation determination unit 2
Is composed of a RAM 2a as a storage unit and a comparison unit 2b.

The RAM 2a stores the distance measurement data at the time of the previous release-on, and the comparison unit 2b stores this R data.
The previous distance measurement data stored in the AM 2a is compared with the current distance measurement data at the time of release-on. Based on the comparison result of the comparison unit 2b, the auto zoom operation determination unit 2 permits the auto zooming ( The prohibition is released) and the prohibition is determined.

On the other hand, 3 is a lens barrel for holding the variable power lens 3a, and also includes a focusing lens feeding mechanism and a shutter mechanism. This zoom lens 3a is extended by the zoom DC motor 5. The zoom DC motor 5 is driven and controlled by the control unit 1.

Further, according to the driving of the lens barrel section 3,
The brush 3b is adapted to move. That is, the brush 3b is attached to a predetermined portion of the lens barrel portion 3 and moves along with the driving of the lens barrel portion 3.

The brush 3b slides on a resistance plate which constitutes the zoom position detector 4, and a constant voltage is applied to one end of the zoom position detector 4 from the controller 1. The other end of the zoom position detector 4 is grounded.

Brush 3 sliding on the zoom position detector 4
From b, focal length information according to the sliding position (hereinafter, "Z
P ”) is detected, and this ZP is the ZP of the control unit 1.
Input is made to the control unit 1 from the terminal 1a.
In the control unit 1, this ZP can be converted from analog to digital to know the lens barrel position and eventually the focal length f.

The control unit 1 includes a first release switch 9,
The second release switch 10 is connected, the first release switch 9 is turned on by pressing the shutter button one step (half-press), and the second release switch 10 is turned on by pressing the shutter button two steps. Is.

A distance measuring unit 6 and a photometric unit 7 are also connected to the control unit 1, and when the first release switch 9 is turned on, the distance measuring unit 6 measures the distance to the object under the control of the control unit 1. ,
The distance measurement data is output to the control unit 1, and the control unit 1 transfers the distance measurement data to the RAM 2a and inputs the distance measurement data to the comparison unit 2b.

Similarly, the first release switch 9
When is turned on, the control unit 1 outputs a photometry command of the subject to the photometry unit 7. The photometric data of the subject by the photometric unit 7 is output to the control unit 1, and the control unit 1 calculates the shutter speed from the photometric data and the film sensitivity.

A film feeding unit 8 is also connected to the control unit 1. In the film feeding unit 8, the second release switch 10 which is one of the start operation switches is turned on,
Each time the shutter is activated and the exposure for one frame of the film is completed, the drive is controlled by the control unit 1 and
When the frames have been fed and the shooting of all frames has been completed, the control unit 1
The film is rewound under the control of the.

The control unit 1 is connected with a wide switch 11 as a wide-angle switch, which is one of the manual zoom switches that is turned on when the variable power lens 3a is driven to the wide side. Similarly, when the zoom lens 3a is operated to the tele side, one of the manual zoom switches is turned on, and the tele switch 12 as a telephoto switch is also connected.

The wide switch 11 and the tele switch 12 are manual zoom switches for manual zooming, but when the wide switch 11 or the tele switch 12 is operated even in the auto zoom mode, manual zooming takes precedence. Is configured to be.

Further, the zoom mode selection switch 13 is connected to the control section 1. The zoom mode selection switch 13 is a switch that alternately switches between the automatic zoom mode and the manual zoom mode each time the zoom mode selection switch 13 is turned on to select the zoom mode.

When the first release switch 9 is turned on while the zoom mode selection switch 13 is selecting the auto zoom mode, the control section 1 and the DC motor 5 are turned on.
The lens barrel portion 3, the variable power lens 3a, and the zoom position detection portion 4 are configured to execute the auto zoom function.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flow charts of FIGS. First, a processing procedure when the auto zoom mode in FIG. 2 is selected will be described.

In the flowchart of FIG. 2, the control unit 1 determines in step S11 whether the current zoom mode by the zoom mode selection switch 13 as the zoom mode selection means is the manual zoom mode or the automatic zoom mode.

If the result of this determination is that it is currently in the auto-zoom mode, the operation proceeds from the auto-zoom mode side in step S11 to step S12, the auto-zoom flag is set to 0, and in step S13 the tele / wide flag (TW) is set.
The flag) is set to 0, and it is determined in step S14 whether or not the zoom mode selection switch 13 is on.

If the result of this determination is that the zoom mode selection switch 13 is on, it waits until it is turned off, and if it is off, the process returns.

If the result of determination in step S11 is that the current mode is the manual zoom mode, the processing routine branches to the manual mode side in step S11, and the process proceeds from step S11 to step S15 and in step S15. The auto zoom flag is set to 1, the auto zoom mode is set, the first release switch 9 is turned on for the first time in step S16, the 1st flag is set to 1, and the process proceeds to step S14.

That is, in the flow chart of FIG. 2, if the current mode is the manual zoom mode, the mode is switched to the auto zoom mode. Conversely, if the current mode is the auto zoom mode, the manual zoom mode is switched to the zoom mode. The process of switching by the selection switch 13 is shown.

Next, referring to the flow chart of FIG.
The procedure of auto zooming after the release switch 9 is turned on will be described. Zoom mode selection switch 13
When the auto zoom mode is selected by the operation of, the first release switch 9 is turned on in step S21, the control unit 1 issues a photometry command to the photometry unit 7 in step S22, Make photometry.

This photometric data is taken into the control unit 1, and the control unit 1 calculates the shutter speed from the photometric data, the film sensitivity, and the like.

Next, in step S23, the control unit 1 issues a distance measurement command to the distance measurement unit 6, causes the distance measurement unit 6 to measure the subject distance, and outputs the distance measurement data to the control unit 1.

Next, in step S24, in the present case,
Since the auto zoom flag is set to 1, the process proceeds to step S25. Here, if the auto zoom flag is not 1, in other words, if it is not the auto zoom mode,
If the process returns and the auto-zoom flag is 1, in other words, if it is the auto-zoom mode, step S25.
Proceed to.

In step S25, it is determined whether or not the 1st flag is 1, that is, whether or not the first release switch 9 is turned on for the first time. If the 1st flag is not 1, (2
If it is the second time or later), the ranging data is RA in step S26.
Whether or not it is equal to the distance measurement data stored in M2a,
That is, it is determined whether or not the previous distance measurement data is unchanged, in other words, whether or not the distance to the previous subject is equal to the current distance, and if they are equal, the process returns.

The determination as to whether or not the previous distance measurement data and the current distance measurement data are the same does not require strict agreement, but variations in the focusing device, some movement of the subject, etc. are taken into consideration. And, it has an appropriate tolerance.

If the subject distance is different from the previous one and if the 1st flag is 1 in step S25, the process proceeds to step S27. In step S27, the distance measurement data of the subject measured in step S23 is stored in the RAM 2a.

In such an auto zoom mode,
If the tele or wide flag is 1 in step S28, that is, before or immediately after the first release switch 9 is turned on, the wide switch 11 or the tele switch 1 is set.
When 2 is turned on, the TW flag is set to 1 in the process of the subroutine of the teleswitch of FIG. 4 or the subroutine of the wide switch 11 of FIG.
The process proceeds from the YES side of step S28 to step S29.

When the teleswitch 12 is turned on at an appropriate time, the processing procedure shown in the flowchart of the subroutine of FIG. 4 is executed, and every time the teleswitch 12 is operated in step S41 of FIG. After zooming in, the TW flag 1 is set in step S42 and the process returns.

As described above, if the TW flag 1 is set in step S28 of FIG. 3, the automatic zoom is prohibited even when the automatic zoom mode is selected. Therefore, in step S26, the last distance measurement data in the RAM 2a and the first distance measurement data in the auto zoom mode are used.
Even if the subject is different from the distance measurement data before the release switch 9 is turned on, if the tele switch 12 is turned on and the manual zoom is performed before the first release switch 9 is turned on, the automatic zoom is prohibited. Will be.

Similarly, when the wide switch 11 is turned on before or immediately after the first release switch 9 is turned on and the processing shown in the flowchart of the subroutine of FIG. 5 is executed, that is, the step of FIG. S51
The zoom is down according to the operation of the wide switch 11, and the automatic zoom is prohibited even when the TW flag 1 is set in accordance with the ON operation of the wide switch 11 in step S52.

Therefore, in step S28 of FIG.
If the TW flag is 1, it means that the manual zoom was performed by the operation of the tele switch 12 or the wide switch 11 during the auto zoom mode. Therefore, in this step S28, the TW flag is returned to “0”, It is set in a state in which auto zooming can be performed by turning on the first release 9 next time.

As described above, in step S26, the RAM
Even if the distance measurement data in 2a and the distance measurement data this time are different, if the wide switch 11 (or the tele switch 12) is turned on before the first release switch 9 is turned on and manual zooming is performed. , This time auto zoom will be prohibited.

This is an inconvenience that the photographer is not satisfied with the composition by the auto zooming, and the composition set by the manual zooming is automatically zoomed by the ON operation of the first release 9 and returned to the composition by the auto zooming. This is to avoid it.

After that, the first release switch 9 that controls the automatic zooming is released from being turned on (not taking a picture),
Moreover, even if the first release switch 9 is immediately turned on,
When shooting the same subject (same subject distance), RA
The previous distance measurement data stored in M2a and the current distance measurement data at the time of the first release switch 9 are the same, and auto zoom is prohibited again. This is for the same subject as the previous time, so that the composition of the previous time can be utilized (in other words, respected) and the image can be taken as it is.

This automatic zoom is permitted only in the first
Before turning on the release switch 9, the tele switch 1
This is limited to the case where neither the wide switch 11 nor the wide switch 11 is operated and the subject distance is different from that in the previous distance measurement. In other words, by this, when the state in which the auto zooming is necessary is brought, the original state in which the auto zooming is possible is restored without requiring a special manual operation.

When the tele switch 12 or the wide switch 11 is turned on / off before the first release 9 is turned on, the TW flag 1 is set.
From the YES side of step S28, the process proceeds to step S29, the TW flag is set to 0, the process proceeds to next step S32, and the 1st flag is set to 0.

On the other hand, in step S28, TW
When it is determined that the flag is 0, in other words, before the first release 9 is turned on, the wide switch 11 and the tele switch 1
If both 2 are not operated, the automatic zoom mode is still in effect, and the process directly proceeds to step S30.

In step S30, as described above, when the target object is located at the position corresponding to the distance measurement data L, the zoom focal length f (f = L / B), that is, the target zoom position is calculated.

Based on the target position (f) of the automatic zoom calculated in this way, in the next step 31, the control unit 1 drives and controls the zoom DC motor 5 to extend the variable power lens 3a. , Perform auto zooming.

When the auto-zooming operation is completed, the routine proceeds to step S32, where the first release (distance measuring) operation is completed, and thereafter, the 1st flag is set to 0 and the routine returns.

Next, when the second release switch 10 is turned on, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 7, the shutter is activated, the auto-zoomed and focused subject is exposed, and one frame of film is exposed. Is taken.

Upon completion of photographing one frame, the control unit 1
The film feeding unit 8 is driven and controlled to wind up one frame of film to prepare for the next shooting.

As described above, according to this embodiment, even when the automatic zoom mode is selected by operating the zoom mode selection switch 13, the first release switch 9 is turned on and the control unit 1 After the automatic zoom is performed by the drive control of the camera, and before the first release 9 is turned on, the wide switch 11 or the tele switch 12 is turned on and the manual zoom operation is performed to zoom to the desired zoom position of the camera user. This can be done without requiring a special switching operation.

Moreover, in the case of manual zooming, if the subjects are at the same subject distance, even if the first release switch 9 is turned on again, the original auto zoom will not be restored,
Shooting can be executed with the composition once set.

On the other hand, it is possible to return to the original auto-zoom because the tele switch 12 or the wide switch 11 is not operated before the first release switch 9 is turned on (in other words, at any zoom position). Only when the distance measurement data of the previous time and the distance measurement data of this time are different (when trying to measure the distance to an object at a different distance). With such a configuration, even in the auto zoom mode, the manual zoom operation becomes effective depending on the intention of the camera user.
This has the advantage that shooting can be performed with the desired composition.

In addition, since it is not necessary to perform a special switching operation or a photographing operation to restore the state of the manual mode zoom operation in the automatic zoom mode to the state of the automatic zoom mode again, this point is also convenient. It can be improved significantly.

The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and within the scope not departing from the gist thereof,
Various modifications can be made.

For example, when the automatic zoom mode is selected, when manual zooming is performed and then the first release switch 9 is turned on / off to restore the automatic zoom mode, the previous distance measurement data and the current distance measurement data are It is also possible to return to the auto zoom mode without making a comparison.

[0088]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, the automatic zoom mode and the manual zoom mode can be arbitrarily switched by the zoom mode selecting means, and the manual zoom switch can be selected during the automatic zoom mode selection. Manual zooming can be performed with priority over auto zooming simply by operating, and the state of manual zooming in this way can be maintained at least until the startup operation switch is activated and the activation operation is cancelled. Even if the desired composition is formed by manual zooming, the inconvenience of changing the desired composition by operating the auto-zooming function by operating the start-up switch is eliminated, and the state of manual zooming while selecting the auto zoom mode is eliminated. Again from autozoom To be returned to the grayed state, simply,
Provides a camera with a convenient and easy-to-use auto-zoom function that does not require switching the zoom mode selection means or performing a shooting operation, simply by re-operating the start-up operation switch (auto-zooming start-up operation). can do.

According to the invention described in claim 2,
If the distance measurement data when the start operation switch was operated the last time and the distance measurement data when the operation switch was operated this time are approximately the same, it is assumed that the same subject is at the same subject distance and this auto zooming Since it was prohibited, you can use it for shooting without breaking the composition formed by the previous zooming, and eliminate the waste of overlapping zooming to form the same composition,
As a result, it is possible to provide a camera having an auto-zoom function that can prevent unnecessary consumption of the power battery and shorten the processing time.

Further, according to the invention described in claim 3,
Distance measurement data when the start operation switch was operated last time,
If the distance measurement data when the start operation switch is operated this time is approximately the same, not to mention that the previous zooming was performed by auto zooming,
Even if the previous time was performed by manual zooming while the auto zoom mode is selected, in other words, even if the target focal length is deviated, auto zooming is prohibited, so I want to shoot with the same composition as last time. It is possible to provide a camera having an auto-zoom function capable of performing shooting according to the photographer's intention without any special operation.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of an embodiment of a camera having an auto zoom function according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an automatic zoom mode selection procedure in the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a flow of a manual zooming operation while the automatic zoom mode is selected in the same embodiment.

4 is a flowchart showing a subroutine at the time of operating a teleswitch in the embodiment of FIG.

5 is a flowchart showing a subroutine at the time of operating the wide switch in the embodiment of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a flow of operations in a conventional camera having an auto zoom function in an auto zoom mode.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a flow of a zooming operation of a camera having a conventional auto zoom function.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 control section 1a ZP terminal 2 auto zoom operation determination section 2a RAM 2b comparison section 3 lens barrel section 3a variable magnification lens 4 zoom position detection section 5 zoom DC motor 6 distance measuring section 7 photometric section 8 film feeding section 9 1st Release switch 10 Second release switch 11 Wide switch 12 Tele switch 13 Zoom mode selection switch

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A camera having a manual zoom function by operating a manual zoom switch including a telephoto switch and a wide-angle switch, and an automatic zoom function for automatically zooming so that a ratio of a focal length to a subject distance becomes a predetermined ratio. In the above, the distance measuring unit that measures the subject distance and outputs the distance measuring data, and the target focal length determined by the distance measuring data output from this distance measuring unit and the above predetermined ratio are automatically adjusted from the current zoom focal length. The auto zooming means for zooming the variable magnification lens, the zoom mode selecting means for selecting the auto zoom mode for zooming with this auto zooming means and the manual zoom mode for zooming by operating the manual zoom switch, and the shooting start at the time of shooting and the above Auto zooming when auto mode is selected Start-up operation switch for starting, storage means for storing and holding at least the previous distance measurement data measured by the distance measuring section, and manual zooming takes precedence when the manual zoom switch is operated when the auto zoom mode is selected A camera having an auto-zoom function, comprising: a control means for prohibiting auto-zooming until at least the start-up operation switch is auto-zooming start-up operation and the start-up operation is released. 2. The control means compares the current distance measurement data by the distance measuring section with the previous distance measurement data stored in the storage means, and determines that both distance measurement data are substantially the same. In this case, it is configured to include an auto-zoom operation determination unit that cancels the prohibition of auto-zooming when it is determined that the auto-zooming is prohibited and the distance measurement data is not substantially the same. A camera having an auto-zoom function according to item 1. 3. The control means compares the distance measurement data of this time by the distance measurement unit with the previous distance measurement data stored in the storage means, and determines that both distance measurement data are substantially the same. In this case, even if the target focal length based on the current distance measurement data and the current zoom focal length are different, auto zooming is prohibited.If it is determined that the above two distance measurement data are not substantially the same, prohibition of auto zooming is prohibited. The camera having an auto-zoom function according to claim 2, wherein the camera has an auto-zoom operation determination means for canceling the operation.