JPH08171150A - Composite camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To prevent the needless shutter sound of a still camera from being recorded because of misoperation when a video camera is operated in order to take an animation. CONSTITUTION: A still camera control part 105 detects whether or not the animation is taken and whether or not a release switch 114 is depressed, and a switch 113 for detecting whether a recording medium on which an optical image is recorded is mounted in the still camera is also provided. In the case where the switch 114 is depressed when a VTR part 104 for taking a moving picture is operated, the still camera control part 105 detects whether or not two conditions, that the moving picture is taken and that the recording medium is not mounted in the still camera, are satisfied. In the case where the two conditions are not satisfied, release operation is not performed even when the switch 114 is depressed, so that the shutter operation which is not accompanied by taking the still picture is not performed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a compound camera in which a still camera has other functions, and more particularly, a movie video camera for recording a moving image using a magnetic tape or the like, and a still image using a silver halide photographic film. The present invention relates to a compound camera that combines a still camera that captures images.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a video camera and a still camera have been constructed separately. However, in recent years, it has been proposed to incorporate a still camera in the grip of a video camera and configure them in the same housing, or to replace the viewfinder of a single-lens reflex still camera so that the video camera unit can be attached. .

For example, in US Pat. No. 3,546,375, a still image and a moving image are made different by arranging a movable mirror in the optical path of a photographing objective lens and selectively switching the position of the movable mirror. It is disclosed that each recording medium is recordable.

Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 57-96444 discloses an optical photographing unit for photographing a silver salt film, which is detachably provided in the main body of the video camera integrally or separately.

Further, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-185533 discloses a compound camera with a confirmation function for displaying an image signal from a photoelectric conversion image pickup device corresponding to an image formed on a silver salt film on a monitor. .

[0006]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional compound camera, when the moving image is recorded by the video camera and the still image is photographed by the still camera at the same time, the driving sound of the shutter of the still camera is generated. No sufficient consideration was given to the effects of film winding sound, etc. on audio recording by video cameras.

In particular, when recording is being performed by the video camera and the silver salt film is not mounted, or when the silver salt film is mounted and a predetermined number of images have already been photographed and cannot be photographed, the still camera is used. Even if the release button of the still camera is mistakenly pressed, for example, as the recording trigger button when there is no intention to shoot, the shutter is released, and an extra shutter sound is recorded on the recording medium of the video camera.

Further, even if the user intends to take a picture with the still camera while recording with the video camera, a predetermined number of pictures have already been taken even if the silver salt film is not attached or the silver salt film is attached. If it is impossible, even if the release button of the still camera is pressed, the film is not photographed and an extra shutter sound is recorded on the recording medium of the video camera.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems.
An object of the present invention is to solve the problem that useless shutter sound of a still camera is recorded due to an operation mistake while operating a video camera for shooting a moving image.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention is a compound camera having a recording means and an image pickup means using a mechanical image pickup mechanism, and whether or not the recording means operates. Recording operation detection means for detecting whether or not an image recording medium is attached to the image pickup means, and start instruction means for activating the operation of the mechanical image pickup mechanism. And controlling the imaging operation of the mechanical imaging mechanism based on the outputs of the recording operation detecting means and the recording medium presence / absence detecting means, and the recording medium presence / absence detecting means attaches the image recording medium to the imaging means. Is not detected, and the recording operation detecting means detects that the recording means is operating, the start instruction means is disabled. Characterized by comprising a means.

One aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the mechanical image pickup mechanism includes a shutter portion, a mirror portion, and a recording medium driving portion.

According to one aspect of the present invention, in a composite camera capable of simultaneously recording a moving image and sound with a video camera and a still image with a still camera, the moving image is recorded by the video camera. Recording detection means for detecting whether or not a recording medium of the still camera is mounted on the still camera, and recording medium presence / absence detection means for detecting whether or not the recording medium of the still camera is mounted on the still camera. A mechanical shutter provided in an optical path for supplying an image, a release switch for activating the opening / closing operation of the mechanical shutter, and a shutter control means for controlling the opening / closing operation of the mechanical shutter. The shutter control means is configured to operate by the recording detection means when the release switch is operated. When an image is recorded and the recording medium presence / absence detecting unit detects that the recording medium is not mounted, the mechanical shutter is controlled so as not to be opened / closed. .

Further, according to one aspect of the present invention, in a compound camera capable of simultaneously recording a moving image and sound by a video camera and shooting a still image by a still camera, the moving image is recorded by the video camera. Recording detection means for detecting whether or not recording is performed, photographing possibility detection means for detecting whether or not photographing by the still camera is possible based on the state of the recording medium of the still camera, and recording medium of the still camera A mechanical shutter provided in the optical path for supplying an optical image of the subject to the shutter, a release switch for activating the opening / closing operation of the mechanical shutter, and a mechanical shutter for controlling the opening / closing operation of the mechanical shutter. Shutter control means, the shutter control means being configured to detect the recording when the release switch is operated. When the moving image is recorded by the means and the photographing possibility detecting means detects that the still camera cannot photograph, the mechanical shutter is controlled so as not to open and close. And

Further, according to one aspect of the present invention, the photographing enable / disable detecting means is a recording medium presence / absence detecting means for detecting whether or not the recording medium of the still camera is mounted on the still camera, and the still camera. Recording medium remaining amount detecting means for detecting the amount of a photographable portion of the recording medium, and the shutter control means records a moving image by the recording detecting means when the release switch is operated. In addition, the recording medium is detected by the recording medium presence / absence detecting means, and the recording medium remaining amount detecting means does not have a photographable portion, or the recording detecting means detects a moving image. Is recorded and the recording medium presence / absence detecting unit detects that the recording medium is not mounted, the mechanical Yatta is characterized by controlling so as not to perform opening and closing operation.

[0015]

According to the present invention, when the start instruction means of the still camera is operated during recording, the recording medium for recording the optical image is the recording medium for recording the optical image following the detection of whether the recording operation is performed. Is attached to the
When the recording medium is not attached to the still camera, the start instruction means is controlled so that the start instruction of the mechanical imaging mechanism is not issued even if the start instruction means is operated. Even if there is a mistake in operation, the inconvenience of accidentally recording a useless shutter sound without taking a still picture is prevented.

According to another feature of the present invention, when the release button of the still camera is pressed while operating the video camera to shoot a moving image, it is detected whether or not the moving image is being taken. Then, it is detected whether or not a recording medium for recording an optical image is attached to the still camera.If the recording medium is not attached to the still camera, the release button is pressed and the release button is pressed. Since it is controlled so that the operation is not performed, for example, even if there is an operation mistake when pressing the release button by mistake for the recording trigger button, there is the inconvenience that a useless shutter sound is not accidentally recorded without taking a still picture To be prevented.

Further, according to another feature of the present invention, when shooting with a still camera is impossible, the release operation is controlled so as not to be performed during shooting of a moving image even if the release button is pressed. For example, even if a recording medium for recording an optical image is attached to the still camera, the release operation is not performed even if the release button is pressed when there is no remaining image-capable amount on the recording medium. Controlled. Therefore, it is possible to more reliably prevent the inconvenience of erroneously recording a useless shutter sound that does not accompany still photography.

[0018]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining the system control configuration of the compound camera of this embodiment.
In FIG. 1, 101 is an optical system that collects light from a subject, and 102 is an image sensor that converts the light collected by the optical system 101 into an electrical signal. 103 is the image sensor 10
Reference numeral 104 denotes a camera signal processing unit for converting the electric signal from 2 into a video signal, and 104 records the video signal from the camera signal processing unit 103 and transmits to the still camera control unit 105 whether or not the recording operation is being performed. The VTR unit (recording detection means) that outputs the recording operation detection signal 115.

Reference numeral 105 denotes a still camera control section (shutter control means) for controlling the shutter of the still camera, and 106 is controlled by a feed motor control signal 107 from the still camera control section 105 to detect the mechanical cam position of the feed motor. The feed motor unit outputs a signal 116. Reference numeral 108 denotes a feeding encoder (recording medium remaining amount detecting means) that detects the amount of movement of the film and outputs an encoder signal 109. Reference numeral 110 denotes a mechanical shutter unit that performs a shutter operation, and the still camera control unit 1
The control signal 112 from 05 is input, and the detection signal 111 for detecting the shutter curtain is output to the still camera control unit 105.

Reference numeral 113 is a film presence / absence detection switch (recording medium presence / absence detection means) for detecting whether or not a film is loaded in the compound camera, and 114 is a release switch for performing a shutter release operation.

Next, the operation of the compound camera of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First,
When the release switch 114 is pressed in step S00, the VTR unit 104 is pressed in step S01.
Detects if the camcorder is currently recording,
The result is output to the still camera control unit 105 as a recording operation detection signal 115. Still camera control unit 105
If not recording, a predetermined shutter speed is set in step S04, a shutter release operation is performed in step S05 to take a silver salt photograph, and the operation ends in step S07.

On the other hand, if recording is being performed in step S01,
In step S02, the film presence / absence detection switch 1
It is detected from the output signal of 13 whether or not the film is loaded. Then, as a result of the detection, if the film is not loaded, the shutter release operation is prohibited in step S06, and the operation is ended in step S07.

If the film is loaded in step S02, the feeding encoder 108 is loaded in step S03.
From the encoder output signal 109 output from, the remaining number of filmable films is calculated. If there is no film left to shoot, step S
In 06, the shutter release operation is prohibited, and step S
The operation ends at 07.

If, as a result of the calculation in step S03, there is a film that can be photographed, step S04
In step S05, a predetermined shutter speed is set. In step S05, a shutter release operation is performed to take a silver halide photograph, and in step S07, the operation ends.

By operating as described above, when shooting with a still camera is impossible, such as when there is no film that can be taken, the release switch 114 is pressed by mistake during recording. Also, the shutter release operation is prohibited. Therefore, unnecessary shutter sound is not recorded on the recording medium of the video camera. In addition, the shutter can be released freely even if shooting with a still camera is not possible during recording, so it is possible to visually check the shutter operation etc. with the back cover of the compound camera open. become.

In this embodiment, the feeding encoder 108 for outputting the encoder signal 109 representing the amount of movement of the film is provided, but this is omitted and the activation of the release operation is judged only by whether or not the film is mounted. You may do it. In addition, whether or not shooting with a still camera is possible by providing a means for detecting whether or not there is enough light for shooting with a still camera, in addition to the presence or absence of film mounting and the remaining amount of film. You may make it detect.

Next, the structure of the compound camera of this embodiment is shown in FIG.
And FIG. 4 will be described. FIG. 3 is a left side view for explaining the function of the compound camera of the present invention. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 1 denotes an exterior cover which constitutes the present device, and is composed of several parts such as fastening parts such as screws.

Reference numeral 2 is a lens unit for capturing an image on a silver salt film, 3 is a lens unit 2 and a lens barrel for holding lens elements, 4 is an iris diaphragm for silver salt still photography, and 5 is silver. It is a salt film.

In this embodiment, the lens unit 3 is a zoom lens, and a variable magnification lens element group that can move on the optical axis in conjunction with an automatic or manual zoom operation,
And a focusing lens element group driven by information from an automatic focus adjusting device described later.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a mechanical shutter device corresponding to the shutter unit 110 shown in FIG. 1 and arranged immediately in front of the silver salt film 5, and is composed of a shutter curtain 6a, a shutter frame 6b and the like. Reference numeral 7 is a semitransparent thin film mirror for allocating an image from the subject to the silver salt film 5 side and the video image pickup device side, 7a is an optical axis incident from the subject side, and 7b is transmitted through the semitransparent thin film mirror 7. The optical axes 7c and 7d reaching the silver salt film side are the optical axes reflected by the semitransparent thin film mirror 7. A reflective thin film mirror may be used instead of the semitransparent thin film mirror 7.

Denoted at 8a and 8b are field lenses provided on the optical axis 7c for adjusting the pupil of the subject image. Reference numeral 9 is a reflection mirror for deflecting the photographing optical axis 7c, and 10 is a reduction lens unit provided on the optical axis 7d.
Is included.

Reference numeral 12 is an optical low-pass filter, and 13 is a solid-state image pickup device. Reference numeral 40 denotes an aerial image formed at a position equivalent to the silver salt film 5, and the reduction lens unit 1
The image is re-imaged on the solid-state image sensor 13 via 0. Behind the semitransparent thin film mirror 7 is a sub-mirror which can be retracted at the time of photographing, and guides a part of photographing light to the automatic focus detection device 15.

The automatic focus detection apparatus in this embodiment is a conventionally known phase difference shift detection method, and compares a plurality of images generated by light beams passing through a plurality of different regions of the photographing lens and compares the images on the surface of the silver salt film 5. The defocus amount and the direction are detected, but since the subject image is always obtained on the solid-state image sensor 13, the blur-type automatic focus adjustment is performed based on the high-frequency image signal from the solid-state image sensor. It may be performed, or a composite method with the shift method of the present embodiment may be used.

Reference numeral 16 denotes a light shielding plate, which is constructed so that it can be retracted at the time of photographing to prevent light leakage because the semitransparent thin film mirror 7 is used. Reference numeral 17 denotes a back lid unit which is provided so as to be openable and closable when the silver salt film 5 is loaded. In this embodiment, a 135 type silver salt film is used, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a drop-in type film or a disc type film may be used.

Reference numeral 18 denotes an electronic viewfinder unit, which outputs an image at the time of video shooting and silver salt still shooting, or an image at the time of video playback to a small liquid crystal screen 19 and observes it through a reflecting mirror 20 and an eyepiece lens 21. . The electronic viewfinder unit 18 is rotatable about a rotary shaft 22 as a spindle.

In the structure shown in FIG. 3, the iris diaphragm 4 for silver salt still photography is always kept open during video recording of a video, and a predetermined amount is set when a release switch for silver salt still photography described later is pressed. It is narrowed down to the diameter. Therefore, at the time of shooting a moving image, the exposure is controlled only by the video diaphragm unit 11 in the reduction lens unit 10, and the proper exposure can be obtained by changing the accumulation time of the image sensor and the gain of the signal processing system as necessary.

Reference numeral 23 denotes a secondary battery which is removably attached to the lower part of the apparatus, and is a common single power source for supplying all power used by the apparatus. An openable and closable barrier 25 having a strobe 24 is provided in front of the lens unit 3. Reference numeral 26 is a microphone for recording audio during video shooting, and 27 is an external terminal as an interface with an external device such as a television or a stereo device.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the compound camera of this embodiment, in which 28 is a cartridge chamber for the silver salt film 5, and 2
Reference numeral 9 is a spool for winding the silver salt film 5. In this embodiment, a prewind system is adopted in which the last frame is wound up on the spool in advance when the film is loaded and the exposed frames are sequentially rewound during shooting. It should be noted that the film presence / absence detection switch 113 of FIG. 1 detects the mounting of the film, for example, depending on whether or not the film is wound around the spool 29, or the cartridge itself is loaded at a predetermined position in the cartridge chamber 28. Whether or not the film is loaded is detected depending on whether or not the film is loaded.

Reference numerals 30 and 31 are a zoom driving motor and a focus driving motor of the taking lens. Reference numeral 32 is a zoom button arranged at a position that can be operated by the photographer's right hand, and 33 is a main mode selection switch that also serves as a power switch. Depending on the position of the switch, there are three modes of off, video reproduction, and video recording. Has been made available for selection.

The off mode prohibits both video and still shooting operations, the video playback mode permits video playback operations and still shooting operations, and the video recording mode allows video recording operations and still shooting operations. This is the mode to allow.

Reference numeral 34 is a trigger button for video moving image shooting, and 35 is a shutter button for silver salt still shooting that can be used when shooting silver salt still alone or simultaneously shooting silver salt still. Also, on the side opposite to the operation member, a program exposure mode or a portrait mode with a large number of open apertures,
A mode selection dial 36, which can be selectively used in both moving image shooting and still shooting, such as a sports mode in which shutter speed is prioritized and a backlight mode, is provided.

The photometry is feedback-controlled in accordance with the brightness signal level of the solid-state image pickup device 13 corresponding to the various modes. In this embodiment, the image pickup device for video is electrically divided into areas and is also used as a photometric device.
A dedicated photometric element may be arranged separately.

Reference numeral 37 is a video tape cassette housing portion arranged on the right side of the lens unit 2. In this embodiment, a video tape having a tape width of 8 mm is used as a video recording medium. The video tape cassette storage section 37
Has a recording mechanism including a head cylinder, a capstan, a pinch roller, etc., and has a control panel 38 for controlling recording / reproducing, fast-forwarding, rewinding, stopping, etc. of video on its upper surface, and automatic loading of a video tape 53a. An eject button 39 or the like for instructing a take-out operation is arranged.

As described above, the compound camera of this embodiment has the VTR when the release switch 114 is pressed.
Is recording, and if recording is in progress, it is detected by the feed encoder 108 and the film presence / absence detection switch 113 whether or not shooting with a still camera is possible. By not performing the shutter release operation, the sound of the sky shutter is not recorded. Further, since the shutter can be freely released when the recording is not being performed, it is possible to visually confirm the operation of the shutter with the back cover open.

When a reflection type thin film mirror is used in place of the semitransparent thin film mirror 7, the shutter release operation should not be performed during recording and when shooting is not possible as described above. Thus, it is possible to prevent the recorded image of the video camera from becoming completely black during the operation of the reflective thin film mirror due to the useless shutter operation that does not accompany still photography.

Next, as another embodiment, consider a compound camera in which a still camera is combined only with recording means. The compound camera of this embodiment detects whether or not a recording means such as a VTR is operating and also detects whether or not a film is mounted at a predetermined position of the camera, and based on these detection results, the camera The image pickup operation is controlled, and the release operation is disabled when it is not detected that the film is mounted at the predetermined position of the camera and that the recording means is operating. To control. According to the compound camera of the present embodiment, even if a release operation is mistakenly made, it is possible to prevent the inconvenience that a useless shutter sound is erroneously recorded on the recording means without taking a still picture.

[0048]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the start instruction means of the still camera is operated during recording, an optical image is recorded after detecting whether or not the recording operation is performed. It is detected whether or not the recording medium is attached to the still camera. If the recording medium is not attached to the still camera, the start instruction of the mechanical imaging mechanism is issued even if the start instruction means is operated. Since it is controlled so that even if there is an operation error that mistakenly operates the start-up instruction means, it is possible to prevent the inconvenience of accidentally recording a useless shutter sound that does not accompany still photography.
Good shooting can be performed.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when the release button of the still camera is pressed while operating the video camera for shooting a moving image, it is possible to detect whether or not the moving image is being shot. Next, it is detected whether or not a recording medium for recording an optical image is attached to the still camera. If the recording medium is not attached to the still camera, the release operation is performed even if the release button is pressed. Therefore, even if you make a mistake in pressing the release button by mistake for the recording trigger button, you can prevent the inconvenient recording of useless shutter sound that does not accompany still photography. Can
Good shooting can be performed.

According to the third aspect of the invention, when the two conditions are satisfied: the moving image is being photographed and the still camera is not equipped with a recording medium for recording an optical image. The release operation is not performed even when the release button is pressed, so if the movie recording is not performed, the release operation can be performed freely even if the recording medium is not attached to the still camera. Can be done. Therefore, for example, by pressing the release button with the back cover open, the release operation can be performed and the operation of the shutter can be visually confirmed as in the conventional case.

Further, according to the invention of claim 4, since the recording medium is not attached to the still camera or the remaining amount of the recording medium is insufficient, the still camera cannot photograph the moving image. In this case, the release operation is controlled so that the release operation is not performed even if the release button is pressed. Therefore, it is possible to more reliably prevent the inconvenience of erroneously recording a useless shutter sound that does not accompany still photography.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, when the reflection type mirror is used, the shutter release operation is not performed during recording and when photographing is not possible. It is possible to prevent the recorded image of the video camera from becoming completely black during the operation of the reflective mirror due to the useless shutter operation without taking a picture.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining a system control configuration of a compound camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the compound camera of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of a compound camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the compound camera of FIG.

[Explanation of reference numerals] 1 optical system 2 image sensor 3 camera signal processing unit 4 VTR unit 5 still camera control unit 6 feeding motor unit 7 feeding motor control signal 8 feeding encoder 9 encoder signal 10 shutter unit 11 detection signal 12 Control signal 13 Film presence / absence detection switch 14 Release switch 15 Recording operation detection signal 16 Mechanical cam position detection signal

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Internal reference number FI Technical indication H04N 5/765

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A composite camera comprising a recording means and an imaging means using a mechanical imaging mechanism, a recording operation detecting means for detecting whether or not the recording means is operating, and an image recording on the imaging means. A recording medium presence / absence detecting unit for detecting whether or not a medium is mounted, a start instruction unit for activating the operation of the mechanical imaging mechanism, a recording operation detecting unit and a recording medium presence / absence detecting unit. The image pickup operation of the mechanical image pickup mechanism is controlled based on the output, the fact that the image recording medium is not attached to the image pickup means is not detected by the recording medium presence detection means, and the recording operation is detected. A composite camera, comprising: a control unit that disables the start-up instruction unit when the recording unit detects that the recording unit is operating. 2. The mechanical imaging mechanism comprises a shutter section,
The compound camera according to claim 1, comprising a mirror unit and a recording medium driving unit. 3. A composite camera capable of simultaneously recording a moving image and a sound by a video camera and a still image by a still camera, and detecting whether or not the moving image is recorded by the video camera. Recording medium detection means for detecting whether or not the recording medium of the still camera is attached to the still camera, and an optical path for supplying an optical image of a subject to the recording medium of the still camera. A shutter provided for the mechanical shutter, a release switch for activating the opening / closing operation of the mechanical shutter, and a shutter control means for controlling the opening / closing operation of the mechanical shutter. The means is such that when the release switch is operated, a moving image is recorded by the recording detection means and When the recording medium presence detection means detects that the recording medium is not mounted,
A compound camera, characterized in that the mechanical shutter is controlled so as not to open and close. 4. A composite camera capable of simultaneously recording a moving image and a sound with a video camera and a still image with a still camera, and detecting whether or not the moving image is recorded by the video camera. Recording detection means for detecting the possibility of photographing by the still camera based on the state of the recording medium of the still camera, and an optical image of the subject on the recording medium of the still camera. A mechanical shutter provided in the optical path, a release switch for activating the opening / closing operation of the mechanical shutter, and a shutter control means for controlling the opening / closing operation of the mechanical shutter, The shutter control means records a moving image by the recording detection means when the release switch is operated. In addition, the composite camera controls the mechanical shutter so that the mechanical shutter does not perform the opening / closing operation when it is detected that the still camera is not capable of shooting. 5. A recording medium presence / absence detecting means for detecting whether or not the recording medium of the still camera is mounted in the still camera, and the photographing possible / impossible detecting means is capable of photographing. The shutter control means includes a recording medium remaining amount detecting means for detecting the amount of the portion, and the shutter control means records a moving image by the recording detecting means when the release switch is operated, and The recording medium is mounted by the non-detection means and the recording medium remaining amount detection means does not have a photographable portion on the recording medium, or the moving image is recorded by the recording detection means and the recording is performed. When the medium presence / absence detecting unit detects that the recording medium is not loaded, the mechanical shutter does not open / close. Composite camera according to claim 4, characterized in that the controlled so.