JPH07168085A - Multipoint focus detecting camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make transition to photographing at once as well as to reduce the number of failed photographs by setting a camera forcibly once to an automatic mode when a power source is made in a circuit as well as when a lens is changed and so on. CONSTITUTION:A power switch 3 is made by a photographer, an operation part of an operational control part 41 reads a program in a memory 45, starting its operation. First of all, this operational control part 41 stores an automatic mode in a memory 46 for storing each mode irrespective of the mode so far stored. In brief, in this multipoint focus detecting camera, any selection of a focus detecting area for focusing a lens can be done by both manual and automatic modes, but when power is made in a circuit as well as when a lens change is carried out, even if the preceding mode is the manual one, the automatic mode is once set up without fail. With this constitution, before the power is made as well as before the lens is changed, such a necessity as doing a picture taken after confirming whether being photographed by the automatic mode or not becomes useless.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a multi-point focus detection camera that performs a focusing operation based on focus detection information measured in a specific focus detection area among a plurality of focus detection areas.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a camera provided with a focus detecting means, a focus detecting area 8 is provided at the center of a finder field 9 as shown in FIG.
The focus is detected by the method described above, and the lens is driven so that the lens is focused on the subject in the focus detection area 8.

However, in the case of the structure in which the focus detection area 8 is located at the center of the finder field 9 as shown in FIG. 10, if the main subject that the photographer wants to photograph is not in the center of the finder field 9, it is not the main subject. You will be shooting with the subject in focus.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 11, a plurality of focus detection areas 8 are provided in the finder field 9, and a specific area is selected from the areas to focus the lens on the subject in the selected area. A camera configured in is proposed. Regarding which area is selected from the plurality of focus detection areas 8 in such a camera,
Two methods are known. One is a method of accepting selection of one focus detection area from the plurality of focus detection areas 8 from the photographer, performing focus detection on the accepted focus detection area, and focusing on a subject in this area. The other is that the focus detection is performed for all areas of the multipoint focus detection area 8 and the obtained focus detection data is processed according to a certain reference to determine the area in which the main subject is present. It is a method of focusing on. In this case, as a reference for determining the focus detection area, for example, the focus detection area closest to the camera can be selected. Conventionally, these 2
Among the two methods, a camera is known that includes the former as a manual mode and the latter as an automatic mode, and has both of them so that the both can be used as desired by the photographer.

[0005]

The conventional manual mode described above has the advantage that the composition of the photographer is emphasized and the photograph intended by the photographer can be taken, but on the other hand, the focus is always on the set area, so the manual mode If you forget that it is set to mode, you may be able to take a picture that does not focus on the main subject. On the other hand, the automatic mode automatically selects a specific area to focus on the main subject, so if a professional or high amateur sometimes wants a special composition, it will focus on something other than the main subject. There is a risk that But for most photographers,
Even in professionals and high amateurs, in normal cases, it is possible to take a picture that focuses on the main subject in automatic mode, and there are few failures.
Therefore, assuming that a beginner uses a multi-point focus detection camera, the above-mentioned manual mode is not often used,
I can imagine that there are more people to shoot in the automatic mode.
Also, assuming that the same camera is used by multiple people, the person who used it is still set to the manual mode, and without knowing that, shooting is done and the main subject is focused. You might end up taking a picture that you haven't.
In such a case, many people notice that they were photographed in the manual mode after printing, and it is often impossible to retake them. In order to prevent such a failure, it is not convenient to use because it is necessary to confirm which mode has been set in the related art each time shooting is performed.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a multi-point focus detection camera capable of manually and automatically selecting a focus detection area, which is easy to use with few shooting failures.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, a multi-point focus detection camera according to the first aspect of the present invention comprises:
It has a function to perform focus detection for multiple focus detection areas, accepts selection of a specific area from the multiple focus detection areas from the user, and uses the focus detection information for the specific area to focus the attached lens. In order to focus the lens by using the manual mode for determining the amount of lens movement necessary for the purpose of determining the specific area by using the focus detection information of the focus detection means, and using the focus detection information of the determined area. It has a calculation means having an automatic mode for obtaining a necessary lens movement amount, and a setting means for setting the calculation means in which mode. Further, a power supply detecting means for detecting that the setting means is powered on is also arranged. When the power detection means detects that the power is turned on, the setting means forcibly sets the automatic mode regardless of which mode has been set in the calculation means. To do.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the multipoint focus detection camera is provided with a lens mounting detecting means for detecting that the lens is mounted, and the setting means has a lens mounting detecting means for mounting the lens. If detected, the automatic mode is set in the calculation means.

Further, according to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided lens information reading means for reading lens information representing the characteristics of the lens from the lens mounted on the multipoint focus detection camera, and the setting means is read by the lens information reading means. If the lens information does not include the predetermined specific information,
The arithmetic mode is set to the automatic mode.

[0010]

In the multipoint focus detection camera of the first aspect of the present invention described above, when the power switch is pressed to turn on the power,
The automatic mode is set in the calculation means. Further, in the multipoint focus detection camera according to the second aspect of the present invention, the automatic mode is set in the calculation means when the lens mounting detection means detects the lens exchange.

With such a configuration, the automatic mode is always set regardless of whether the image was taken in the manual mode or in the automatic mode before the last use or before the lens exchange. It is not necessary to check whether the automatic mode or the manual mode is set before. As a result, even if you set the manual mode the last time you used it or before changing the lens and forget it, the automatic mode will be set, so that you can match the main subject except when you want a special composition. The risk of taking an unfocused photograph is greatly reduced, and the usability of the multi-point focus detection camera can be improved. This is particularly convenient when the photographer is a beginner or when a plurality of people reuses one camera. Also, it is known that even if a professional or a high amateur shoots with a special composition, it will be set to the automatic mode by turning on the power or exchanging the lens, so whether it is set to the automatic mode before shooting. It is not necessary to check whether the mode is set, and when it is desired to set the manual mode, the manual mode can be changed immediately, so that the usability can be improved.

In the multipoint focus detection camera according to the third aspect of the present invention, the lens information reading means reads the lens information from the mounted lens, and the setting means includes the specific information which is read in advance. Whether or not to set the automatic mode in the calculation means depends on whether or not it is.

Since professionals and high amateurs may desire to photograph with a special composition, they often use the manual mode as compared with ordinary photographers. In the third aspect, when the lens information includes the specific information, it is determined that the photographer is a professional or a high amateur, and the setting unit does not forcibly set the automatic mode. However, if the lens information does not include the specific information, it is determined that the lens information is not for professionals or high amateurs, and the automatic mode is forcibly set. The specific information included in the lens information is often used by professionals and high amateurs, but information representative of a lens that a general photographer rarely uses is used. For example, in the case of a lens whose focal length is longer than a predetermined value, F value is brighter than a predetermined value, and depth of field is shallower than a predetermined value, it is often used by professionals and high amateurs, so it is compulsory. Although it is not set to the automatic mode, it can be configured to forcibly set the automatic mode in the other lenses. Further, for example, the lens information of a lens having a long focal length, a large F value, and a shallow depth of field stores specific information indicating that it is often used by professionals and high amateurs, and the calculating means is stored. Can be configured to detect if this information is included in the lens information and set the automatic mode if this information is not included.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A multi-point distance measuring camera according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

First, the structure of the multipoint focus detection camera according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

As shown in FIG. 1, the multi-point focus detection camera of the first embodiment comprises a camera body 1 and a replaceable lens 2.

A lens system (not shown) including a focusing lens system 31 and a gear train 32 for moving the focusing lens system 31 in the direction of the optical axis 44 for focusing are arranged in the lens 2. Has been done.

The camera body 1 is provided with a power switch 3 for turning on and off the entire power of the camera body 1, a release button 4, and a viewfinder eyepiece window 11. Further, a mirror 36, an AF sensor 37 for focus detection in a plurality of areas, a focus detection information selection unit 42 for selecting focus detection information, a mode change button 6 and a command dial 1 for accepting switching between a manual mode and an automatic mode from a photographer.
0, a mode display unit 5 for displaying the selected mode, a selection lever 7 for accepting the selection of the focus detection area from the photographer, a focus detection area display unit 43 for displaying the selected focus detection area, and focus detection and focusing. An arithmetic control unit 41 for controlling the operation is arranged. Further, an AF motor 39 for sending a driving force to the gear train 32 of the lens 2 and the gear train 3
8. An AF motor controller 40 for controlling the AF motor 39 is arranged. Since FIG. 1 mainly shows a portion used for focusing and focus detection, an optical system for taking an image,
Although a shutter, a photographing film, etc. are not shown, these are also arranged.

The driving force of the gear train 38 in the camera body 1 is applied to the portion where the camera body 1 and the lens 2 are connected.
Couplings 33, 34 for transmitting to the gear train 32 in the lens 2 are arranged. Further, a lens mounting switch 35 that detects that the lens 2 has been replaced is provided on the camera body 1 side.

The mode change button 6 and the command dial 10 accept switching of two modes of the automatic mode and the manual mode from the photographer. The mode is set by the photographer rotating the command dial 10 while pressing the mode change button 6.

One of the two modes is the manual mode, which is one of the focus detection areas 58a, 58b, 58c.
One area is received from the photographer by operating the focus detection area selection lever 7, and the focusing lens system 31 is focused on this area for shooting. In the manual mode, one of the focus detection areas 58a to 58c is selected by sliding the area selection lever 7, and the focus detection areas are switched one after another each time the slide is performed.

The other mode is the automatic mode, which is the focus detection areas 58a, 58b, 5b shown in FIG.
The area where the main subject is present in 8c is calculated by the arithmetic control unit 41.
Is calculated by arithmetically processing the focus detection information, and the focusing lens system 31 is focused on the determined area for shooting.

The arithmetic and control unit 41 includes the lens mounting switch 3
5, the power switch 3, the focus detection information selection unit 42, the mode change button 6, and the focus detection area selection lever 7, receive signals from these and process them, and the AF motor control unit 40 and the focus detection area display unit 43. , Mode display 5
In response, the signal is output to give an instruction. Further, the arithmetic control unit 41 includes memories 45 and 46. A program for operating the arithmetic control unit 41 is stored in the memory 45 in advance. The memory 46 stores the mode set in the mode change button 6 and the area selected by the focus detection area selection lever 7. Although not shown, the arithmetic control unit 41 includes an arithmetic unit, and the arithmetic unit reads a program in the memory 45 and operates it. Further, the arithmetic control unit 41 always causes the mode display unit 5 to display the mode (automatic mode or manual mode) stored in the memory 46.

In this embodiment, the AF sensor 37 has a structure shown in FIG.
As described above, the amount of deviation between the subject corresponding to the three focus detection areas 58a, 58b, and 58c arranged in a horizontal row in the central portion of the finder field 59 and the focus of the focusing lens system 31 is measured.

The appearance of the camera of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b).

The power switch 3, the release button 4, the focus detection area display section 5, the mode change button 6 and the command dial 10 are arranged on the upper part of the camera body 1. Further, a finder eyepiece window 11 and an area selection lever 7 are provided on the back surface of the camera body 1.

Next, the configuration of the lens mounting switch 35 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 (a) to 3 (c). Figure 3
(A) shows a state before the lens 2 is mounted, and a pin 14 and a coil spring 15 for urging the pin 14 toward the lens 2 are placed in a recess provided in the body side mount 13. Further, an insulator 16 such as a plastic, a metal piece (conductor) 17, and a flexible substrate 18 electrically connected to the metal piece 17 are attached to the base of the mount 13. The flexible board 18 is electrically connected to the arithmetic and control unit 41. In the state before mounting the lens 2, as shown in FIG. 3A, the tip of the pin 14 is
The length of the pin 14 is adjusted so that it projects from the mount surface and the rear end of the pin 14 is not in contact with the metal piece 17. When the lens 2 is in the process of being attached, as shown in FIG.
, The pin 14 is pushed by the lens-side mount 12 and retracts from the mount surface, and the rear end of the pin 14 has the metal piece 1
Contact 7. As a result, a signal is generated and transmitted to the arithmetic control unit 41. FIG. 3C shows a state when the mounting of the lens 2 is completed, and when the tip of the pin 14 falls into the recess provided in the lens mount 12, the pin is located at the position of FIG. 3A. Return, leave the metal piece 17,
The mounting signal is cut off. Therefore, the signal from the lens mounting switch 35 is generated only when the lens 2 is attached or replaced.

The operation of the multipoint focus detection camera of this embodiment will be further described with reference to FIG.

First, when the power switch 3 is turned on by the photographer, the arithmetic unit of the arithmetic control unit 41 causes the memory 45 to operate.
Load the program in and start the operation according to it. First, in step 103, the arithmetic control unit 41
The automatic mode is stored in the memory 46 for storing the mode, regardless of the mode stored until then. Next, in step 104, the lens mounting switch 35
Then, it is determined whether or not the lens replacement signal is sent. If a signal indicating lens replacement is sent,
Returning to step 103, the automatic mode is stored in the memory 46. If the signal indicating lens exchange has not been sent, the routine proceeds to step 105.

In step 105, when a mode change signal is sent from the mode change button 6, the memory 4
The mode in 6 is rewritten to the manual mode, and step 10
Go to 6. If not sent, the process proceeds to step 109. In step 107, the focus detection area selection lever 7 reads which of the focus detection areas 58a, 58b, 58c is shown, and stores this in the memory 46.
To store. Then, the read focus detection area is displayed on the focus detection area display unit 43, and the process proceeds to step 109 (step 108). The photographer has a viewfinder eyepiece window 1
It is possible to select the area while looking at 1 and confirming the display in the focus detection area 58a or the like selected in the focus detection area display unit 43 in the viewfinder field.

In step 109, it is judged whether or not a release signal has been sent from the release button 4, and if it has been sent, the process proceeds to step 110, and if it has not been sent, steps 103 and thereafter are repeated. Therefore,
In the multipoint focus detection camera of this embodiment, the automatic mode is always set once when the power is turned on and when the lens is replaced, and the mode change button 6 and the command dial 10 are operated to change the mode. Shooting is done in automatic mode unless instructed to change. When the photographer wants to perform photographing in the manual mode, the photographer may change the mode while checking the mode display unit 5.

In step 109, when the release signal is sent from the release button 4, the calculation control section 41
Is detected by the AF sensor 37 via the focus detection information selection unit 42.
To perform focus detection. The light flux that has passed through the focusing lens system 31 is deflected and guided by the mirror 36 to the AF sensor 37. The AF sensor 37 performs focus detection on the portions corresponding to the focus detection areas 58a to 58c using this light flux, and sends the focus detection result (focus detection information) to the focus detection information selection unit 42 (step 1).
10).

In step 111, the arithmetic and control unit requests the focus detection information selection unit 42 to send the necessary focus detection information. At this time, the arithmetic control unit 41 causes the memory 46 to
If the mode stored in is read, and this is the automatic mode, the three focus detection areas 58a to 58c are detected.
It is requested to send the focus detection information of the above to the arithmetic control unit 41. When the mode stored in the memory 46 is the manual mode, the three focus detection areas 58a to 5a
Of the focus detection information 8c, only the focus detection information of the selected area stored in step 107 is instructed to be sent to the arithmetic control unit 41. The focus detection information selection unit 42 selects necessary focus detection information and sends it to the arithmetic control unit 41, and the arithmetic control unit 41 acquires this (steps 112 and 11).
9).

In the automatic mode, the arithmetic control unit 41 determines that the three focus detection areas 5 acquired in step 112
The focus detection information of 8a to 58c is arithmetically processed by an already well-known algorithm to determine which of the three focus detection areas 58a and the like the main subject is present and determine the area to be focused (step). 113). After the area is determined, a signal is sent to the focus detection area display unit 43 to determine the focus detection area (for example, the focus detection area 5
8a) is displayed separately from other areas (step 1)
14).

The calculation control section 41 selectively uses the focus detection information in the determined focus detection area 58a to selectively focus the focus lens system 31 to focus the focus lens system 3.
The drive amount of the AF motor 39 according to the movement amount of 1 is calculated. Then, this drive amount is sent to the AF motor control unit 40 to instruct the drive (step 116).

The AF motor control section 40 includes an arithmetic control section 41.
The AF motor 39 is driven by a predetermined amount based on the signal indicating the driving amount sent by the CPU (step 116). The driving force is the gear train 38 and the coupling 34 in the camera,
The signal is transmitted to the gear train 32 in the lens via 33, the focusing lens system 31 is moved to the focusing position, and the focusing is completed (step 117). The arithmetic and control unit 118 notifies the photographing optical system, the shutter, and the like that focusing is completed, instructs photographing, returns to step 109, and waits for the next release signal (step 118).

In the manual mode, step 119
Then, the information of the focus detection area 58a selected by the focus detection area selection lever 7 is set to the focus detection information selection unit 4
Since it is sent from No. 2, the process proceeds to step 115 as it is, and the drive amount of the AF motor 39 is calculated using the focus detection information and sent to the AF motor control unit 40 as a signal.

As described above, in the multi-point focus detection camera of the first embodiment, the focus detection area to be focused can be selected in the manual mode and the automatic mode. When the replacement is performed, the automatic mode is always set once even if the previous mode is the manual mode. This eliminates the need to check each time before turning on the power or before changing the lens whether the camera was shooting in automatic mode or manual mode. When shooting is desired, shooting may be performed as it is, and when shooting is performed in the manual mode, the mode may be changed to improve operability.

Therefore, when the photographer is a beginner, or when a plurality of people are using one camera, etc., without noticing that the setting is the manual mode, which occurs conventionally, I misunderstood that it was in automatic mode and took a picture,
It is possible to significantly reduce the failure of taking a picture that is out of focus with the main subject. Even if it is used by professionals and high amateurs, the main subject is usually focused in the automatic mode unless special composition is desired, so it is considered that there are few failures even if the forced mode is set once. Further, since it is known that the automatic mode is once set when the power is turned on or the lens is exchanged, if the user wants to shoot in the manual mode, the mode can be changed.

In the above-described first embodiment, the automatic mode is set both when the power is turned on and when the lens is replaced, but the automatic mode is set only in either case. Of course, it is also possible.

Next, the operation of the multipoint focus detection camera of the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

When the power switch 3 is turned on by the photographer, the arithmetic unit of the arithmetic control unit 41 reads the program in the memory 45 and starts the operation in accordance with this.
First, in step 133, the arithmetic control unit 41 communicates with the lens CPU 61 via the lens contacts 62 and 63,
The lens data is received and stored in the memory 46. In the next step 134, the stored lens data is read out and it is identified whether or not the criteria for considering the lens as used by a professional or a high amateur are satisfied. This criterion is predetermined and included in the program in the memory 45.
In this embodiment, for example, 400 / 2.8 or 80-200
A lens with a bright F value such as /2.8 is discriminated from a lens used by professionals and high amateurs. If it is determined that the lens is used by a professional or a high amateur, the forcible automatic mode is not set, and the process proceeds to step 137. Therefore, since the mode used before the power is turned on remains in the memory 46, if this mode is the manual mode, the manual mode is as it is.
If the automatic mode is set, the automatic mode is set as it is. If it is determined that the lens is not used by professionals or high amateurs, the automatic mode is forcibly set once, and the process proceeds to step 135.

In step 135, the arithmetic control unit 41
The automatic mode is stored in the memory 46 regardless of the mode stored until then, and the process proceeds to step 137.

In step 137, it is determined whether or not a lens replacement signal has been sent from the lens mounting switch 35. If a signal indicating lens replacement is sent, the process returns to step 133 to communicate with the replaced lens 2 and store the lens data in the memory 46. If the signal indicating lens exchange has not been sent, the process proceeds to step 138.

In step 138, when the mode change signal is sent from the mode change button 6, the memory 4
Change the mode in 6. If the mode stored in the memory 46 before the change is the automatic mode, step 10
Go to 6 and rewrite to the manual mode, then the next step 1
At 07, the focus detection area selection lever 7 reads which of the focus detection areas 58a, 58b, 58c is shown, and stores it in the memory 46. Then, the read focus detection area is displayed on the focus detection area display unit 43, and the process proceeds to step 144 (step 10
8). The photographer can select an area while looking through the viewfinder eyepiece window 11 and confirming the display in the focus detection area 58a selected in the focus detection area display unit 43 in the viewfinder field. If the mode stored in the memory 46 before the change is the manual mode, it is set to the automatic mode in step 140, and the mode is set in step 144.
Proceed to.

In step 144, it is judged whether or not a release signal is sent from the release button 4, and if it is sent, the process proceeds to step 110. If it is not sent, the process returns to step 133 and the above-mentioned steps are performed. Repeat and wait for the release signal. Therefore, in the multipoint focus detection camera of the present embodiment, when it is determined that the mounted lens is not the lens used by professionals and high amateurs on the basis of a predetermined standard, the automatic mode is always set once. , Mode change button 6 and command dial 10
Shooting is performed in automatic mode unless is operated to instruct the mode change. When the photographer wants to perform photographing in the manual mode, the photographer may change the mode while checking the mode display unit 5.

Since steps 110 and subsequent steps are the same as those in the first embodiment, description thereof will be omitted.

As described above, in the multi-point focus detection camera of the present embodiment, it is discriminated whether or not the attached lens is a lens used by professionals and high amateurs, and by this, the automatic mode is forced once. Determine whether to set. If it is determined that the lens is not used by professionals or high amateurs, once the automatic mode is set regardless of whether the manual mode or the automatic mode was set before the power was turned on or the lens was replaced. To do. This eliminates the need to check each time before turning on the power or before changing the lens whether it was shooting in the automatic mode or the manual mode before shooting.
If the user wants to shoot in the automatic mode, the shooting can be performed as it is, and if the user wants to shoot in the manual mode, the mode can be changed to improve the operability. Therefore, when the photographer is a beginner or when multiple people are using one camera, etc., the automatic mode can be used without noticing that the setting is the manual mode, which has occurred conventionally. It is possible to significantly reduce the mistake of taking a picture that is misleading and taking a picture that is not focused on the main subject.

Further, when it is identified that the lens is used by professionals or high-level amateurs who have been attached, it may be desired to photograph with a special composition, and the manual mode is used as compared with general users. Often. Further, in the case of such a photographer, the mistake of misunderstanding that the setting is the manual mode is the automatic mode is less than that of a normal photographer or a beginner. Therefore, in the present embodiment, when the photographer discriminates from the mounted lens that the photographer is a professional or high amateur, it is not forcibly set the automatic mode once, but used before power-on or before lens replacement. Leave the mode you were doing.

Next explained is a multipoint focus detection camera according to the third embodiment of the invention.

The multi-point focus detection camera of the third embodiment is a camera capable of using the focus detection function as a focus aid for notifying the photographer of whether or not the subject is in focus when shooting with manual focus (MF). Is. When using the focus detection function as a focus aid, it does not perform the operation of actually driving the lens to focus, but just like in AF, the focus detection area is selected or determined in the automatic mode or manual mode. Then, it is determined whether or not the lens is focused on the subject in this area, and the result is notified to the photographer.

When the focus detection function is used as a focus aid during MF shooting, shooting is performed assuming that the automatic mode is set, and when the manual mode is actually set, the focus selected in the manual mode is selected. Detection area,
The shooting may fail because the area in which the subject recognized by the user as the main subject is different. Therefore, in this embodiment, when the AF-MF changeover switch is changed over to the MF side, the automatic mode is compulsorily set to prevent the above failure.

The structure of the multipoint focus detection camera of the third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 8, the multi-point focus detection camera of this embodiment has the same structure as the camera of the second embodiment, but the lens 2 receives MF-AF switching from the photographer. The AF changeover switch 201 is arranged. The MF-AF changeover switch 201 is the lens CPU 6
Connected to 1. Further, in the field of view of the finder eyepiece window 11, a focus state display section 202 is arranged for displaying to the photographer whether or not the lens 31 is in focus. The rest of the configuration is similar to that of the camera of the second embodiment, so its explanation is omitted. Also, the lens mounting switch 35 is
Not placed.

When the power switch 3 is turned on by the photographer, the arithmetic unit of the arithmetic control unit 41 reads the program in the memory 45 and starts the operation in accordance with the program.
First, the arithmetic control unit 41 communicates with the lens CPU 61 via the lens contacts 62 and 63, receives lens data, and stores it in the memory 46. Further, whether the AF-MF changeover switch 201 is set to AF or MF is determined via the lens CPU 61 via the calculation control unit 4.
It is transmitted to 1. Even when the setting state of the AF-MF changeover switch 201 is changed (step 162), it is notified to the arithmetic and control unit 41 (step 163).

When the arithmetic control unit 41 receives the fact that the setting has been switched to the MF photographing setting, in step 134,
The automatic mode is stored in the memory 46 regardless of the mode stored until then, and the process proceeds to step 138.

When a mode change signal is sent from the mode change button 6 in step 138, the mode in the memory 46 is changed by the operations of steps 139, 140, 106, 107 and 108. Step 13
The operations of 9, 140, 106, 107, and 108 have been described in the steps of the second embodiment, and thus description thereof will be omitted.

Next, if the release button 4 has not been half pressed, the process returns to step 162 (step 17).
1).

When the release button 4 is half-depressed, focus detection is performed, and information on the focus detection area is acquired according to the focus detection area selection mode stored in the memory 16. When the setting is manual mode, only the information of the specified focus detection area is acquired, and when it is the automatic mode, all focus detection areas are acquired and the area where the main subject is located is calculated. (Steps 110, 111, 119, 111, 113,
114).

In both the manual mode and the automatic mode, the calculating means determines whether the current position of the focusing lens system 31 is in focus in the selected or determined area. It is determined by a known method (step 17
7, 184), and the result is displayed on the focus state display unit 202. The photographer can move the focusing lens system 31 to the focused state while checking the display. The arithmetic control unit 41 detects whether or not the focusing lens system 31 is driven by the manual focus operation by a known method (steps 186 and 179), and if it is driven, a step of acquiring focus detection information again (step). 119, 11
Returning to 2), if it is not driven, it is checked whether or not the release button 4 has been pressed (steps 186, 17).
9) Then, the process returns to steps 186 and 179 and the above-described operation is repeated until the button is completely pressed. If the release button 4 has been pressed all the way down, shooting is performed (step 18).
8, 181).

Therefore, while looking through the viewfinder, the photographer uses the focusing lens system 31 until the focused state is displayed on the focused state display section 202 or the focused state is deviated by a desired amount. When the camera is driven manually and is in a satisfactory in-focus state, the user can press the release button 4 to take a picture.

As described above, in the multi-point focus detection camera of the third embodiment, when the focus detection function is set to MF, the automatic mode is forcibly once set. Therefore, when the focus detection function is used as the focus aid, the automatic mode is set. It is convenient because there is no need to check whether it is set to or manual mode. Since the photographer who wants to perform the focus aid in the manual mode knows that the automatic mode has been forcibly set once, the photographer can change the mode only by operating the mode change button 6 without checking the mode. Also, as in the past, when shooting with the intention of setting it to automatic mode, it is actually set to manual mode, so I will trust the focus aid to shoot and take a failure picture. It can be significantly reduced.

[0063]

As described above, according to the present invention, in a specific case such as when the power is turned on or when the lens is replaced,
Regardless of the mode that was set up to then, by forcibly setting the automatic mode once, you can immediately start shooting without worrying about the focus detection area selection mode, and rarely take failed photos A multi-point focus detection camera with good operability can be provided.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a multipoint focus detection camera according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

2 (a) is a perspective view of the camera showing the appearance of the multipoint focus detection camera of FIG. 1. FIG. (B) The rear view which shows the external appearance of the multipoint focus detection camera of FIG.

3A is a partial cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a lens mounting switch 35 of the multipoint focus detection camera of FIG. (B) Partial sectional view showing the state in the middle of mounting the lens on the lens mounting switch 35 of (a). (C) Partial sectional view showing a state in which a lens is mounted on the lens mounting switch 35 of (a).

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation of the multipoint focus detection camera shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the multipoint focus detection camera according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the multipoint focus detection camera according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the multipoint focus detection camera shown in FIG.

8 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the multipoint focus detection camera shown in FIG.

9 is an explanatory diagram showing the positions of focus detection areas of the multipoint focus detection camera shown in FIG. 1. FIG.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing positions of focus detection areas of a conventional focus detection camera.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing positions of focus detection areas of a conventional multipoint focus detection camera.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Camera, 2 ... Lens, 3 ... Power switch, 4 ... Release button, 5 ... Mode display section, 6 ... Mode change button, 7 ... Area selection lever, 8, 58a, 58b, 58
c ... focus detection area, 9 ... viewfinder field, 10 ... command dial, 11 ... viewfinder eyepiece window, 31 ... focusing lens system, 32 ... gear train, 33, 34 ... coupling, 35 ... lens mounting switch, 36 ... mirror , 37 ...
AF sensor, 38 ... Gear train, 39 ... AF motor, 40 ...
AF motor control unit 41 ... Calculation control unit 42 ... Focus detection information selection unit 45, 46 ... Memory 61 ... Lens CP
U, 201 ... MF-AF changeover switch, 202 ... Focusing state display section.

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A multi-point focus detection camera having a function of performing focus detection for a plurality of focus detection areas, wherein a selection of a specific area from the plurality of focus detection areas is accepted from a user, and the accepted identification is performed. A manual mode for acquiring the focus detection information about the area, and an automatic mode for acquiring the focus detection information about the plurality of focus detection areas and an automatic mode for determining the specific area; It has a setting means for setting in which mode the calculation is performed, and a power supply detecting means for detecting that the power is turned on. When the power supply detecting means detects the power on, the setting means A multi-point focus detection camera, characterized in that the automatic mode is set regardless of whether the mode previously set in the calculation means is the manual mode or the automatic mode. 2. The lens mounting detection device according to claim 1, further comprising a lens mounting detection unit that detects that the lens is mounted, and when the lens mounting detection unit detects mounting of the lens, the setting unit causes the calculation unit to operate. A multipoint focus detection camera, characterized in that the automatic mode is set. 3. The lens information reading means according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising lens information reading means for reading lens information representing a feature of the lens from the mounted lens, wherein the setting means is arranged to store the lens information read by the lens information reading means. A multipoint focus detection camera characterized in that the automatic mode is not set in the calculation means when the predetermined specific information is included. 4. A multi-point focus detection camera having a function of performing focus detection for a plurality of focus detection areas, wherein a selection of a specific area from the plurality of focus detection areas is accepted from a user, and the accepted identification is performed. A manual mode for acquiring the focus detection information about the area, and an automatic mode for acquiring the focus detection information about the plurality of focus detection areas and an automatic mode for determining the specific area; A setting unit for setting which mode is used for calculation, and a lens mounting detection unit for detecting that the lens is mounted, and when the lens mounting detection unit detects mounting of the lens, the setting is performed. The means sets the automatic mode regardless of whether the mode previously set in the computing means is the manual mode or the automatic mode. Multi-point focus detection camera. 5. A multi-point focus detection camera having a function of performing focus detection on a plurality of focus detection areas, wherein a selection of a specific area from the plurality of focus detection areas is accepted from a user, and the specified identification is accepted. A manual mode for acquiring the focus detection information about the area, and an automatic mode for acquiring the focus detection information about the plurality of focus detection areas and an automatic mode for determining the specific area; It has a setting means for setting in which mode the calculation is performed, and a lens information reading means for reading lens information representing the characteristics of the lens from the mounted lens, and the lens information read by the lens information reading means is stored in advance. When the specified information is not included, the setting unit is configured so that the mode previously set in the arithmetic unit is the manual mode. A multi-point focus detection camera, characterized in that the automatic mode is set regardless of whether the camera is in the automatic mode or the automatic mode. 6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising mode change accepting means for accepting an instruction to switch from the automatic mode to the manual mode from a user, wherein the setting means is configured such that the mode change accepting means is in a mode. A multi-point focus detection camera, characterized in that the manual mode is set in the calculation means when a change is accepted. 7. A multi-point focus detection camera having a function of performing focus detection for a plurality of focus detection areas, comprising: an autofocus mode for automatically focusing an attached lens; Focus mode selecting means for accepting any selection from the user among the manual focus modes for manual focusing, and selection of a specific area from the plurality of focus detection areas from the user, and the specific area received A manual mode for acquiring the focus detection information, and an arithmetic means having an automatic mode for acquiring the focus detection information about the plurality of focus detection areas and determining a specific area, and which mode for the arithmetic means And a setting means for setting whether or not to calculate with the focus mode selection means. When the selection of the waste mode is accepted, the setting unit sets the automatic mode regardless of whether the mode previously set in the calculation unit is the manual mode or the automatic mode. camera.