JPH0675157A - Camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve operability by automatically making an automatic zoom function effective after a fixed time even when the photographing of one frame is not executed. CONSTITUTION:The changing direction of a focal distance by a manual set means 12b is instructed to a zoom lens changing the focal distance by motor- driven by a zoom driving device 18. Since the focal distance for obtaining photographing magnification corresponding to an object can be set by an automatic zoom set means 12a, the zoom lens is actuated by detecting manual operation from the outside. A time after an automatic zoom inhibition means 12c temporarily inhibiting the action of the set means 12a is actuated is counted and the inhibition state of the set means 12a is released by an inhibition release means 12d after the prescribed time. Then, the automatic zoom function is automatically made effective after the fixed time even when the photographing of one frame is not executed and the operability is improved.

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 for obtaining a photographing magnification according to a subject, and temporarily prohibiting the auto-zoom function to obtain an arbitrary magnification. Regarding

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, the automation of cameras has advanced, and the number of cameras having an auto zoom function has been increasing. The auto-zoom function determines the size of the subject, changes the focal length of the shooting lens, and automatically controls the magnification that determines the proportion of the subject within the shooting angle of view so that it is always within a certain range. Is.

However, even when photographing is performed by such an auto-zoom function, depending on the subject or the composition intended by the photographer, the magnification is larger than that determined by the auto-zoom function, or In some cases, it may be desirable to shoot at a small magnification.

Therefore, even if the auto-zoom function is set, this auto-zoom function is temporarily prohibited so that the user can operate the zoom lens at any magnification desired by the photographer.
For example, JP-A-2-298929 and 1-296.
No. 208 or Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-201328.

JP-A-2-298929,
JP-A-1-296208 or JP-A-2-201
The structure described in Japanese Patent No. 328 has an automatic zooming means for electrically changing the focal length of the taking lens, and when performing automatic zooming, the automatic zoom data is set by the automatic zoom data setting means. Further, when zooming is performed by manual operation, a signal for manual operation is applied from the zoom start signal output means to the electric zoom means. Then, by outputting a manual zoom operation start signal from this zoom start signal output means,
The auto-zoom prohibiting means is configured to temporarily prohibit the auto-zoom operation.

Further, the setting of the prohibition state by the auto-zoom prohibiting means is canceled by the resetting means upon completion of one-frame shooting or resetting of the zoom mode.

That is, in the above-mentioned conventional example, when the user wants to arbitrarily change the focal length of the taking lens in the auto zoom mode, the photographer manually operates the telephoto or wide-angle switch for the manual zoom. By this operation, an output signal is generated from the zoom start signal output means, the auto-zoom prohibiting means is activated to temporarily prohibit the auto-zoom function, and the photographing lens is operated by the signal from the telephoto or wide-angle switch operated by the photographer. It can be changed electrically to any focal length.

Therefore, even in the auto zoom mode, the photographer can photograph by arbitrarily changing the focal length by operating the manual zoom switch at the telephoto or wide-angle position. After the shooting of one frame is completed, the auto zoom mode is enabled again by the resetting means.

As described above, the temporary prohibition state of the auto-zoom function is automatically released upon completion of the one-frame shooting. However, it is not released unless one frame is shot, and the auto-zoom function is temporarily prohibited. The condition continues. That is, when the photographer does not take a photograph by the release operation because the subject is changed after operating the manual zoom switch, the auto-zoom prohibition means continues to temporarily prohibit the auto-zoom function. .
Therefore, in the next shooting scene, it is not possible to shoot by the auto zoom even though the auto zoom mode is available. In this case, in order to perform auto zoom photography, it is necessary to set the auto zoom mode again by using the zoom mode setting switch, and the operability is not good.

[0010]

As described above, in the configurations described in JP-A-2-298929, 1-296208, and 2-201328, the auto-zoom function once set is set. The temporary prohibition state cannot be canceled automatically unless one frame is photographed, which is problematic in terms of operability.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a camera with improved operability by automatically enabling the auto-zoom function after a lapse of a certain time without taking a picture of one frame. .

[0012]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a zoom lens for changing a focal length by an automatic means, an instruction of a changing direction of the focal length by a manual setting means, and a photographing magnification according to a subject by an automatic zoom setting means. In the camera capable of setting the focal length, it is possible to operate by detecting a manual operation from the outside to temporarily prohibit the operation of the automatic zoom setting means, and the automatic zoom prohibiting means. And a prohibition canceling means for canceling the prohibition state of the auto zoom setting means when a predetermined time has elapsed.

[0013]

According to the present invention, the auto-zoom prohibiting means operates by detecting a manual operation from the outside, temporarily prohibits the operation of the auto-zoom setting means, and the prohibition canceling means operates after the operation of the auto-zoom prohibiting means. Since the time is counted and the prohibition state for the auto-zoom setting means is released when the scheduled time elapses, the auto-zoom function is automatically activated after a predetermined time elapses without taking one frame, for example. Is improved.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the camera of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 2, 11 is a camera body, and inside this camera body 11, a microcomputer (CPU) 12 shown in FIG. 1 for controlling the entire camera is provided. Further, various operation switches including a liquid crystal display (LCD) 13 and a main switch 14 are provided on the upper surface of the camera body 11.

The liquid crystal display 13 is a main switch.
Since 14 is in the ON state, it becomes active,
Various modes, a film counter, the presence / absence of battery capacity, etc. are displayed according to the output signal from the microcomputer 12. The main switch 14 is a switch for turning on / off the operation of the entire camera, and is configured to maintain the on / off state by a slide mechanism.

The output signal is input to the microcomputer 12 as shown in FIG. 1, and when the main switch 14 is in the on state, the liquid crystal display 13 and the microcomputer 12 are in the operating state as described above. When the main switch 14 is operated in the off state, the display on the liquid crystal display 13 disappears, and the microcomputer 12 shifts to the standby mode with low power consumption. In this standby mode, predetermined control is not performed even if various switches are operated.

On the other hand, 16 is a release switch, and this release switch 16 is composed of a first switch 16a and a second switch 16b which are sequentially turned on in association with a pressing operation.
It has a step structure. Here, the first switch 16a is turned on when the release switch 16 is half pressed, and the second switch 16b is turned on when the release switch 16 is fully pressed. The output signals of the first switch 16a and the second switch 16b are input to the microcomputer 12 as shown in FIG.

In addition, the microcomputer 12 turns on the first switch 16a to turn on the camera body 11
The distance measuring device 17 shown in FIG. 1 provided therein is operated to start the distance measuring operation. Then, based on the output signal from the distance measuring device 17, the subject distance and the focal length for auto zoom are calculated. Next, based on the calculation result, if the camera is set to the auto zoom mode, the zoom drive device 18 is operated, the photographing lens 19 shown in FIG. 2 is electrically changed to a predetermined focal length, and the focus is further adjusted. The drive device 20 is operated to bring it to the in-focus position.

That is, the microcomputer 12 has an auto-zoom setting means 12a for setting the focal length for obtaining the photographing magnification according to the subject.

When the manual zoom mode is set instead of the automatic zoom mode, only the focusing operation is performed.

After that, the microcomputer 12 starts the photometric operation by the photometric device 21, and the second switch 16b is turned on to perform the exposure calculation based on the luminance signal output from the photometric device 21 and to perform the calculation. According to the result, the exposure control device 22 is operated, the shutter and the diaphragm are controlled, and the photographing operation is completed. Further, thereafter, a film winding motor (not shown) is operated to wind the film one frame.

Further, a telephoto switch 24 and a wide-angle switch
Denoted at 25 are independent push button switches that are normally off and are turned on by a pressing operation, and are used for a manual zoom operation. That is, when the camera mode is set to the manual zoom mode or the automatic zoom temporary prohibition mode, the taking lens 19 can be changed to an arbitrary focal length by operating the telephoto switch 24 and the wide-angle switch 25. . For example, while the telephoto switch 24 is turned on, the microcomputer 12 that receives the signal from the telephoto switch 24 electrically changes the focal length of the taking lens 19 to the telephoto side by the zoom drive device 18. Also, while the wide-angle switch 25 is turned on,
A zoom driving device 18 electrically changes the focal length of the taking lens 19 to a wide angle side.

That is, the microcomputer 12 has a manual setting means 12b for instructing the changing direction of the focal length based on the signals from the telephoto switch 24 and the wide-angle switch 25.

Further, 27, 28 and 29 are the first and second, respectively.
The third mode setting switch is an independent push button switch which is always off and is turned on by a pressing operation. The output signals of the first, second and third mode setting switches 27, 28 and 29 are input to the microcomputer 12 as shown in FIG.

Here, the first mode setting switch 27
Is for setting the zoom mode. The microcomputer 12 sets the zoom mode to the “auto zoom mode” and the “manual zoom mode” each time the first mode setting switch 27 is changed from off to on by the operation of the photographer. These two modes are alternately set so as to be either "mode". Note that these modes are sequentially updated and displayed on the liquid crystal display 13 for each setting.

The second setting mode switch 28 is
The shooting drive mode is set, and the microcomputer 12 sets the shooting drive mode to "one shot" or "self-shooting" every time the second setting mode switch 28 changes from OFF to ON by the operation of the photographer. Each mode is sequentially set to be cycled so that either "timer shooting" or "continuous shooting" is set. These modes are also sequentially updated and displayed on the liquid crystal display 13 for each setting.

Further, a third mode setting switch 29
Is for setting an exposure program, and the microcomputer 12 causes the "standard program" and the "shutter speed priority program" each time the third mode setting switch 29 is changed from off to on by the operation of the photographer. ,
Each mode is sequentially and repeatedly set so that one of the "depth of field-focused programs" is set. These modes are also sequentially updated and displayed on the liquid crystal display 13 for each setting.

On the other hand, 31 is the automatic zoom temporary prohibition (AZ
C) switch, and this auto zoom temporary prohibition switch 31
Is a push button switch that is normally off and is turned on by a pressing operation. The output signal of the auto zoom temporary inhibition switch 31 is, as shown in FIG.
Entered in. And this microcomputer 12
When the zoom mode is set to the auto zoom mode, the auto zoom temporary prohibition switch 31 is turned on to enter the auto zoom temporary prohibition mode to temporarily prohibit the auto zoom function.

That is, the microcomputer 12 has an auto-zoom prohibiting means 12c which operates by detecting a manual operation from the outside and temporarily prohibits the operation of the auto-zoom setting means 12a.

Further, the main switch 14 is changed from the off state to the on state by the operation of the photographer,
The microcomputer 12 is operated to start the operation of the liquid crystal display 13 to perform a predetermined display, and the photographing lens 19 is set at a predetermined position. Thereafter, while the main switch 14 is on, the microcomputer 12
Are the various release switches 16 and telephoto switch 2 described above.
4. The output signals of the wide-angle switch 25, the first, second and third mode setting switches 27, 28 and 29 and the auto-zoom temporary prohibition switch 31 are respectively received and the respective functions are executed.

Next, the processing performed by the microcomputer 12 will be described using a flowchart. FIG. 3 shows the main routine. After the start, the initial setting is performed (step 1). In this initial setting, the auto zoom mode temporary prohibition (AZC) flag for temporarily prohibiting the auto zoom function is reset to "0".
In addition, an interval timer counter (IN
CNTR) is also reset to "0".

Next, it is judged whether the main switch 14 is on or off (step 2). At this time, main switch 14
When the LCD is turned off, the LCD display 13
Is turned on (step 3), and the state of the camera at that time is displayed.

Next, the first switch of the release switch 16
It is determined whether 16a is turned on (step 4). If it is turned on, a subroutine (step 30) for turning on the first switch 16a is executed.

On the contrary, when the first switch 16a is not turned on, it is judged whether the zoom mode is the automatic zoom mode or the manual zoom mode (step 5). Then, in the case of the auto zoom mode, it is determined whether or not the auto zoom temporary prohibition switch 31 is turned on (step 6). When the auto-zoom temporary prohibition switch 31 is turned on, the auto-zoom mode temporary prohibition flag is set to "1" (step 7). On the other hand, if the auto-zoom temporary prohibition switch 31 is not turned on, it is determined whether the auto-zoom mode temporary prohibition flag is set to "1" (step 8).

When the auto-zoom mode temporary prohibition flag is not set to "1", it is next determined whether the first mode setting switch 27 is on or off (step 9). If the first mode setting switch 27 is turned on, the "auto zoom mode" and the "manual zoom mode" are set in order to set the zoom mode to either the "auto zoom mode" or the "manual zoom mode". A sub-routine (step 50) for turning on the first mode setting switch 27 is alternately executed.

On the other hand, the first mode setting switch
If 27 is not turned on, it is next determined whether the second mode setting switch 28 is on or off (step
Ten). If the second mode setting switch 28 is turned on, the shooting drive mode is set to “single shot”,
In order to set either "self-timer shooting" or "continuous shooting", a sub-routine (step 11) for sequentially circulating and setting each mode is executed.

If the second mode setting switch 28 has not been turned on, then it is determined whether the third mode setting switch 29 is on or off (step 12).
Then, if the third mode setting switch 29 is turned on, the exposure program should be set to either the "standard program", the "shutter speed priority program", or the "depth of field priority program". A subroutine (step 13) for sequentially and repeatedly setting each mode is executed. If the third mode setting switch 29 is not turned on, the process returns to step 1 and the process is repeated thereafter.

If the zoom mode is set to the manual zoom mode in step 5, or if the auto-zoom mode temporary prohibition flag is set to "1" in step 7 or step 8, the manual zoom is performed. A signal from the telescopic switch 24 or the wide-angle switch 25 for operation is accepted. That is, it is determined whether the telephoto switch 24 is turned on by the operation of the photographer (step 14),
While the telephoto switch 24 is on, a subroutine (step 15) for electrically changing the focal length of the taking lens 19 to the telephoto side by the zoom driving device 18 is executed. Further, it is determined whether the wide-angle switch 25 is turned on (step 16), and while the wide-angle switch 25 is on, the taking lens 19
A subroutine (step 17) for electrically changing the focal length of (1) to the wide-angle side by the zoom drive device 18 is executed.

As described above, when the zoom mode is the manual zoom mode, and even in the auto zoom mode, the auto zoom temporary prohibition switch 31 is turned on to set the auto zoom mode temporary prohibition flag to "1". In this case, the signal from the telephoto switch 24 or the wide-angle switch 25 is accepted, and the photographing lens 19 can be set to an arbitrary magnification by the operation of the photographer.

The interval timer counter (INCNTR) used for timekeeping is also reset to "0" (step 18) and the process returns to step 2.

On the other hand, when the auto zoom mode is set and the auto zoom mode temporary prohibition flag is not set to "1", the signal from the telephoto switch 24 or the wide angle switch 25 is not accepted. Therefore, zoom driving is not performed even if the photographer operates the telephoto switch 24 or the wide-angle switch 25.

In the auto zoom mode, the first switch-on process subroutine (step 30) executed by turning on the first switch 16a of the release switch 16 automatically adjusts the magnification according to the subject. Is set. The subroutine (step 30) of the first switch-on process will be described with reference to FIG.

In this subroutine (step 30), it is first judged whether or not the first switch 16a is turned on for the first time (step 31). If it is the first time, the distance measuring device 17 shown in FIG. 1 is operated. Distance measurement is performed to calculate the subject distance and the focal length for auto zoom (step 32).
That is, as the distance measuring device 17, for example, within 3
We use distance measurement for each point (left / middle / right). In addition to the subject distance, we also determine the size and position of the subject from the combination of distance measurement data for each of the left / middle / right points. It is possible to obtain the zoom value corresponding to this subject, that is, the focal length of the taking lens 19.

Next, it is judged whether the zoom mode is the auto zoom mode (step 33), and if the zoom mode is the auto zoom mode, it is judged whether the auto zoom mode temporary prohibition flag is set to "1" (step 34). If the auto-zoom mode temporary prohibition flag is not set to "1", that is, if the auto-zoom mode temporary prohibition state is not set, the zoom drive device 18 is operated according to the zoom value according to the subject, and the automatic zoom control is performed. Do (step 35). By this operation, the taking lens 19 changes to the focal length according to the subject.

Next, the focus drive device 20 is operated according to the subject distance to perform focus drive control (step 36). By this operation, the taking lens 19 is brought into a focused state at the set focal length. Note that step 23
If the zoom mode is determined to be the manual zoom mode in,
Alternatively, if it is determined in step 24 that the auto-zoom mode temporary prohibition flag is set to “1” even in the auto-zoom mode, the auto-zoom control is not performed and the telescopic switch 24 or the wide-angle switch 25 is set. Focus drive control is performed for the taking lens 19 having the different zoom value.

Next, the photometric device 21 shown in FIG. 1 is operated to perform photometry (step 37), and then exposure calculation is performed based on the luminance signal (step 38). After this, it is judged whether the second switch 16b of the release switch 16 is on or off (step 39). If the second switch 16b is turned on, the release sequence (step 40) is started and a series of exposure control is performed. That is, mirror up (not shown), aperture control, shutter control, mirror down, and film frame winding are sequentially executed to complete the shooting of one frame.

Next, it is judged whether or not the current state is the auto-zoom temporary prohibition mode, that is, whether the auto-zoom mode temporary prohibition flag is "1" (step 41). If the flag is "1", it is reset to "0" (step 42). By this operation, the auto-zoom temporary prohibition mode is released, so that the "auto-zoom" mark is displayed on the liquid crystal display 13 (step 43) and the process returns. In addition,
If the auto-zoom mode temporary prohibition flag is not "1", it returns as it is.

As described above, when the release switch 16 is turned on, the subroutine (step 30) causes 1
After the frame shooting is completed, the state of the auto-zoom mode temporary prohibition flag is checked, and if it is "1", it is always reset to "0" to return to the auto-zoom mode.

Next, another means for canceling the automatic zoom temporary prohibition mode and returning to the automatic zoom mode will be described. In the main routine of FIG. 3, when the main switch 14 is operated from the on state to the off state, the liquid crystal display 13 is turned off (step 19), and the microcomputer 12 shifts to the low power consumption standby mode (step 20). To do. Therefore, thereafter, the processing shown in the flowchart is not executed.

In this state, when the main switch 14 is turned on again, the microcomputer 12 is interrupted and activated, and starts running from the start of the flowchart. Therefore, the initial setting (step 1) surely resets the auto-zoom mode temporary prohibition flag to "0". That is, if the main switch 14 is turned off and then turned on again, even if the auto-zoom temporary prohibition mode is set before the off-operation, it can be reliably reset to return to the auto-zoom mode.

Next, another means for canceling the automatic zoom temporary prohibition mode will be described with reference to the first mode setting switch ON processing subroutine (step 50) shown in FIG.

First, when the first mode setting switch 27 is turned on in the automatic zoom temporary prohibition state, the automatic zoom mode temporary prohibition flag is reset to "0". However, even if the auto-zoom mode temporary prohibition flag is reset to "0", it does not return to the auto-zoom mode but shifts to the manual zoom mode.

In this subroutine (step 50), it is first judged whether or not the first mode setting switch 27 has been turned on for the first time (step 51), and if it is the first time, the current zoom mode is the automatic zoom mode. It is determined whether there is any (step 52). If the current zoom mode is the auto zoom mode, set the manual zoom mode, reset the auto zoom mode temporary prohibition flag to "0", and
13 Turn off the "Auto-zoom" mark displayed on the top (step 53). Therefore, even if the automatic zoom mode has been used up to now and the automatic zoom temporary prohibition mode has been set, the automatic zoom mode temporary prohibition flag is surely reset to "0" by the processing of step 43. However, in this case, even if the auto-zoom mode temporary prohibition flag is reset to "0", the auto-zoom mode is not restored, but the manual mode is entered. If it is determined in step 42 that the auto zoom mode has not been set up to now, the auto zoom mode is set and the "auto zoom" mark is lit on the liquid crystal display 13 (step 44).

Thus, the subroutine (step 40)
Then, every time the first mode setting switch 27 is turned on, either the automatic zoom mode or the manual zoom mode is set alternately.

Next, another means for canceling the auto-zoom temporary prohibition mode and returning to the auto-zoom mode will be described with reference to the interval timer interrupt processing routine shown in FIG.

This interruption is a fixed time, for example, 250 ms.
This interrupt processing routine is executed periodically while the main routine is being executed. First, the register is saved because it is an interrupt processing routine (step 61).
Interval timer counter (INCNT
R) is incremented by +1 (step 62). The interval timer counter is reset to "0" by the initial setting (step 61) of the main routine shown in FIG. 3, and is incremented by +1 every time the interrupt processing is performed, that is, every 250 ms, as described above. .

Next, it is judged whether or not the count value of the interval timer counter is a set value (for example, "16") (step 63). This count value is "1"
6 ″, that is, 16 × 250 ms = 4 seconds have elapsed, and it is further determined whether or not the auto zoom flag is on (step 64), and the auto zoom mode temporary prohibition flag is set to “1”. If it is, that is, in the auto zoom temporary prohibition mode,
Reset the auto-zoom mode temporary prohibition flag to "0" (step 65), and then "auto-zoom" on the liquid crystal display 13
The mark is turned on (step 66), the register is restored (step 67), and the interrupt processing routine ends.

Even if the count value becomes "16",
If it is determined in step 24 that the auto-zoom mode temporary prohibition flag is not set to "1", no processing is performed, the register is restored (step 67), and the interrupt processing routine ends.

Here, the interval timer counter is
Although it is reset to "0" by the initial setting (step 1) of the main routine, in addition to this, all push button type operation switches, that is, the release switch 16, the telephoto switch 24 and the wide-angle switch 25, the first and second switches. And the third
One of the mode setting switches 27, 28, 29
When one is turned on, it is reset to "0" (step 16). In other words, the interval timer counter is not reset to "0" unless all these operation switches are turned on. Therefore, if no operation is performed on the camera after the AZC switch 31 is turned on and the auto-zoom mode temporary prohibition flag is set to "1", the interval timer counter is not reset. After a lapse of time, the auto-zoom mode temporary prohibition flag is reset to "0", the auto-zoom temporary prohibition mode is canceled, and the auto-zoom mode is restored.

That is, the microcomputer 12 measures the time after the operation of the auto-zoom prohibiting means 12c for temporarily prohibiting the auto-zoom function by the auto-zoom setting means 12a, and when the scheduled time, for example, 4 seconds, elapses,
It has prohibition canceling means 12d for canceling the prohibition state for the automatic zoom setting means 12a.

With this arrangement, in the auto zoom mode, the photographer sets the auto zoom temporary prohibition switch 31 to the auto zoom temporary prohibition state in order to obtain an arbitrary magnification. If you do not perform the procedure, the camera automatically returns to the auto-zoom mode until the next shooting, and you do not need to set the auto-zoom mode again like you used to. Is possible,
Operability is improved. That is, in general, since there is a considerable time until the next shooting, the interval timer counter reaches the set value of 4 seconds and the auto-zoom mode temporary prohibition flag is reset to "0". .

Returning to FIG. 6, it is determined in step 63 that the count value of the interval timer counter is the set value "16".
If the auto zoom mode temporary prohibition flag is set to "1" in step 68, it is determined whether the "0" bit of the interval timer counter is "1" (step 69). Then, the "0" bit of the interval timer counter alternately becomes "1""0" every time +1 is incremented in the interval timer counter, that is, every 250 ms. When the interval timer counter is "1", the "auto zoom" display on the liquid crystal display 13 is turned off (step 70), and when the interval timer counter is "0", the display is turned on (step 66). As a result, in the auto zoom temporary prohibition state in which the auto zoom mode temporary prohibition flag is set to "1", the "auto zoom" mark on the liquid crystal display 13 blinks every 250 ms, indicating that the auto zoom temporary prohibition state is currently set. Is displayed.

7 to 9 show display examples of the liquid crystal display 13, and FIG. 7 shows the case of the auto zoom mode, in which the "auto zoom" mark is displayed statically. Also, FIG.
Is in the manual zoom mode, and the "auto zoom" mark is off. Further, FIG. 9 shows a state in which the auto-zoom mode is temporarily prohibited, and the "auto-zoom" mark 13a is repeatedly turned on and off at a cycle of 250 ms as described above.
As a result, the display blinks twice per second.

In the above embodiment, the automatic zoom temporary prohibition switch 31 is used as the automatic zoom prohibition means 12c for temporarily prohibiting the automatic zoom function in the automatic zoom mode.
However, the auto-zoom temporary prohibition switch 31 may be omitted, and the auto-zoom function may be temporarily prohibited by turning on the telephoto switch 24 or the wide-angle switch 25 in the auto-zoom mode.

[0066]

According to the camera of the present invention, the prohibition canceling means cancels the prohibition state for the auto-zoom setting means when the scheduled time elapses. Therefore, for example, a fixed time elapses even if one frame is not photographed. For example, the auto zoom function is automatically enabled, so if you do not take a picture due to a change in the subject after setting the auto zoom temporary prohibition state, the auto zoom function will automatically Return to zoom mode. Therefore, unlike the conventional case, it is not necessary to set the automatic zoom mode again, and it is possible to immediately shoot in the automatic zoom mode, and the operability can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a camera of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external view of the same as above.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a main routine of the same microcomputer.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of first switch-on processing of the above.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of a first setting switch-on process of the same.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of an interrupt processing routine of the above interval timer counter.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an auto zoom mode of the liquid crystal display device.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a manual zoom mode of the liquid crystal display device.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a case of an automatic zoom temporary prohibition state in the same as above.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 Camera body 12a Auto zoom setting means 12b Manual setting means 12c Auto zoom prohibition means 12d Prohibition canceling means 18 Zoom drive device 19 Taking lens

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A zoom lens for changing a focal length by an automatic means, an instruction of a changing direction of the focal length by a manual setting means, and a setting of a focal length for obtaining a photographing magnification according to a subject by an automatic zoom setting means. In the enabled camera, it operates by detecting a manual operation from the outside and temporarily stops the operation of the auto-zoom setting means, and measures the time after the operation of the auto-zoom prohibiting means. And a prohibition canceling means for canceling the prohibition state for the automatic zoom setting means when a predetermined time elapses.