JPH08186755A - Video camera provided with still camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To eliminate the inconvenience that an important scene can not be photographed by setting the time required for stopping the storage operation of a video camera after a video trigger switch is operated to sufficiently long time. CONSTITUTION: The signal showing the depressing of a trigger button is counted by a mode microcomputer 41 after the standby time for preventing the malfunction due to the chattering of a switch passes, and if the trigger ON is continued after the second time T2 seconds passes, it is judged that the trigger is turned ON continuously. At this stage, the second time T2 is set to 500ms and the recording of a moving image is prevented from being stopped if the button is not continued to be depressed for the time which is clearly different from the time at the starting time of the first video recording. Thus, since the video recording is not stopped in so far as the button is continued to be depressed for clearly intentional long time of 500ms, an inconvenience is not generated even if the trigger button for photographing moving image is depressed by mistake although a shutter button for still should be originally depressed, when a still image is photographed during the recording of the moving image.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a video camera with a still camera, and more particularly to a video camera with a still camera, which is suitable for use as a compound camera in which a still camera using a silver halide photographic film and a movie video camera are integrally configured. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, at the time of an event such as an athletic meet or an arts and crafts event, while shooting with a video camera for recording a moving image on a recording medium such as a magnetic tape, a still camera using a silver salt film is used. There have been many requests to use and record still images.

In addition, it is sometimes troublesome to carry both the video camera and the still camera separately when carrying them on a trip or the like. In order to meet these demands, various video cameras with a still camera in which the video camera and the still camera are integrated have been proposed.

For example, in US Pat. No. 3,546,375, a movable mirror is arranged in the optical path of an objective lens for photographing, and the position of the movable mirror is selectively switched, so that a still image and a moving image are recorded on different recording media. It is disclosed that each is recordable.

Alternatively, Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 57-96444 discloses a video camera body in which an optical photographing section for photographing on a silver salt film is integrally or separately provided on the main body in a detachable manner. There is.

Further, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 185533/1989 proposes a compound camera with a confirmation function for displaying on a monitor an image signal from a photoelectric conversion image pickup device corresponding to an image formed on a silver salt film. .

[0007]

However, the operability that would otherwise occur due to the above-mentioned conventional example in which the apparatus that originally handles the moving image and the still image separately is integrally configured is prevented, and the user is prevented from doing so. There was not enough consideration to be able to shoot as intended.

For example, a conventional video camera with a still camera has two trigger buttons, one for starting and stopping moving image shooting and the other for a shutter button for shooting a still image. There was a problem that I pressed the shutter button wrongly.

In order to reduce the above-mentioned pressing error, for example, in a compound camera disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-261336, a trigger button for recording a moving image and a shutter button for recording a still image. Were individually arranged on different surfaces of the device, but this had the problem of poor operability of the buttons.

By the way, if the user presses the shutter button for recording a still image in an attempt to stop the recording of the moving image, the recording of the moving image will be performed excessively and an extra still image will be taken. And yes, these aren't fatal problems.

On the contrary, when the shutter button for still image recording is intended to be pressed and the trigger button for moving image recording is pushed (or both are pushed at the same time), the still image is being recorded right now. There was a problem that the decisive moment to record became the worst situation in which the recording of the moving image was stopped and the still image could not be recorded.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and when recording a moving image, the video recording can be performed by pressing the moving image recording trigger button and the still image recording shutter button by mistake. The purpose is to reduce the possibility of accidental suspension.

[0013]

A video camera with a still camera according to the present invention comprises a video camera for recording moving image information on a first recording medium and a still camera for recording still image information on a second recording medium. In a still camera-equipped video camera, the first trigger means for starting and stopping the recording operation of the video camera, and the second trigger means for starting the exposure operation of the still camera. The time required from the pressing of the first trigger means until the recording operation of the video camera is stopped until the exposure operation of the still camera is started after the second trigger means is pressed. It is set to be sufficiently long compared to the required time.

Another feature of the present invention is that
In a video camera with a still camera integrally provided with a video camera for recording moving image information on a first recording medium and a still camera for recording still image information on a second recording medium, a recording operation of the video camera First trigger means for starting and stopping the
The still camera further comprises a second trigger means for starting the exposure operation of the still camera, and an operation mode setting means for setting an operation mode of the video camera. The setting result of the operation mode setting means is the still camera and the video. In the operation mode in which both cameras can be used simultaneously, the time required from the pressing of the first trigger means to the stop of the recording operation of the video camera is
If it is set sufficiently long compared to the time required to start the exposure operation of the still camera after the trigger means is pressed, and if the operation mode in which only the video camera can be used is set, The time required from the pressing of the first trigger means until the recording operation of the video camera is stopped is set shorter than the time set in the operation mode in which both the still camera and the video camera can be used. I have to.

[0015]

Since the present invention comprises the above technical means, when the first trigger means is pressed while the moving image information is being recorded on the first recording medium by using the video camera, The time elapsed since the first trigger means is pressed is measured, and the process of stopping the recording operation of the video camera is performed only when the pressing continues for a preset time. Even if the first trigger means is momentarily pressed, the recording operation of the video camera is not stopped.

According to another feature of the present invention, when the setting result of the operation mode setting means is an operation mode in which both the still camera and the video camera can be used at the same time, the first trigger is used. Since the process of stopping the recording operation of the video camera is performed only when the pressing of the means continues for a preset time, even if the first trigger means is momentarily pressed, the video camera is stopped. The recording operation of will not be stopped. On the other hand, when the operation mode in which only the video camera can be used is set, the recording operation of the video camera is stopped immediately after the first trigger means is pressed.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a video camera with a still camera according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining the configuration of the system control means in the compound camera of this embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1, the structure of the composite camera of this embodiment is roughly classified into a camera microcomputer 40 for controlling acceptance of operation inputs such as zoom, exposure, and autofocus.
And a mode microcomputer 41 for controlling the release and mode setting of the camera body, and a mechanical microcomputer 42 for driving and controlling the tape recording / reproducing servomechanism. The system control means is constituted by these microcomputers 40 to 42. It is attached to 43. In addition to the above, the electric circuit section of the composite camera of the present embodiment includes an audio signal processing board 44,
It has a strobe board 45, a power supply board 46, and the like.

FIG. 2 shows a still shutter button 35.
(See Fig. 5) and trigger button 3 for shooting video movies.
4 (see FIG. 5) is a flowchart showing the control procedure of the mode microcomputer 41 performed according to the input situation of 4 (see FIG. 5), and the following description will be made with reference to this flowchart.

Step S101: It is judged whether the video trigger is on or off. This is because when the video movie shooting trigger button 34 is operated in the video non-recording state, a signal generated in response to the operation is input to the mode microcomputer 41 and the mechanical microcomputer 42. The video trigger is turned on / off.

Step S102: It is judged whether or not the trigger ON state continues. This determination is made by the mode microcomputer 41, and after the waiting time for preventing malfunction due to chattering of the switch elapses,
This is performed by starting the operation of the taunter that counts the elapsed time of the signal indicating that the trigger button 34 is pressed.

The preset first time T
If the trigger ON state continues until after 1 second has elapsed, it is determined that the trigger ON continues and the next step S103
If not, the process returns to step S101. Here, in the present embodiment, the first
The time T1 of is set to 30 ms so that video recording can be started even with a momentary input. However, the first
The time T1 is not limited to this.

Step S103: The video camera is driven. This is a process of starting video recording by the mode microcomputer 41 and the mechanical microcomputer 42. Step S104: It is determined whether or not the video trigger is ON. In this determination, when the trigger button 34 for capturing a moving image is pressed again in the video recording state, a signal indicating the pressing is input to the mode microcomputer 41 and the mechanical microcomputer 42.
This is performed by detecting the input signal, and if the video trigger is ON, the process proceeds to the next step S105,
If not, the process returns to step S103.

Step S105: It is determined whether or not the trigger ON is continued. In this determination, the mode microcomputer 41 counts the signal indicating the pressing of the trigger button 34 after the waiting time for preventing the malfunction due to the chattering of the switch, and the trigger O is kept until the second time T2 seconds elapses.
If N continues, it is determined that the trigger is ON and the moving image recording operation is ended. When it is determined that the processing is not continued, the process returns to step S103 and the above-described processing is repeated.

Here, in the present embodiment, the second time T2 is set to 500 ms and the recording of the moving image does not stop unless the button is kept pressed for a time which is clearly different from the start of the first video recording. I chose The second time T
2 is a sufficiently long residence time compared with the time from the pressing of the still shutter button 35 to the recording of a still image.

As a result, the video recording does not stop unless the user presses the apparently long time of 500 ms, so that a still image can be taken while recording the moving image.
Even if the user presses the still shutter button 35 by mistake and presses the moving image capturing trigger button 34, no inconvenience occurs.

Therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent the worst situation in which video recording is stopped even though a still image was intended to be taken, and neither video recording nor still image recording is possible. You can

The second time T2 is not limited to the length described above, and may be shorter or longer. However, it is preferable to set the second time T2 so that the relationship of T2> T1 is satisfied with respect to the first time T1.

One of the reasons is that it is possible to prevent a chance of taking a picture by starting the driving of the video camera quickly when recording is started.

As another reason, the still shutter button 35 is often pressed relatively quickly. Therefore, if the user intentionally presses the still shutter button 35 and presses the video movie recording trigger button 34, the microcomputer determines whether the trigger button 34 is mistakenly pressed or the movie recording is intentionally stopped. This is because it is advantageous that the second time T2 is sufficiently long.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Note that the same operations as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In the second embodiment, the simultaneous recording mode in which a still image can be captured during video recording, the video mode in which capturing of a still image is prohibited during video recording, and only the still image are captured. The still mode in which recording by the video camera is prohibited can be selected.

These three modes are arranged on the mode selection dial 36 (see FIG. 5) and are used according to the preference of the user. In FIG. 3, step S200:
It is determined whether or not the simultaneous recording mode is set. If simultaneous recording is possible, the process proceeds to step S101. If simultaneous recording is not possible, the process proceeds to step S201. Here, the operation when the video trigger in step S101 is ON is the same as in the first embodiment described above.

Next, steps S201 to S20
5, the operation in the video mode will be described. Step S201: It is judged whether or not the video trigger is turned on. This is because when a signal indicating that the trigger button 34 for video moving image shooting is turned on is output in the video non-recording state, this signal is input to the mode microcomputer 41 and the mechanical microcomputer 42, so that it is detected. To make a decision. Here, since the operation mode at this time is the video mode, the input of the still shutter button 35 is prohibited by not accepting a signal.

Step S202: It is judged whether or not the video trigger ON state continues. This judgment is made by the mode microcomputer 41 starting the counting operation of the counter after the waiting time for preventing the malfunction due to the chattering of the switch from the signal from the trigger button 34.
The video trigger ON state is the third time T3.
If it continues until after 2 seconds, it is judged that the trigger ON is continued and the process proceeds to the next step, and if not, the process returns to step S201.

Here, in the present embodiment, the third time T3 is set to the trigger ON duration in the simultaneous recording mode, that is, 30 ms, which is the same as the first time T1, and the change of the input time due to the mode difference is eliminated. ing. However, the length of the third time T3 is not limited to this.

Step S203: Video camera drive processing is performed. This processing is performed by operating the respective units for recording by the video camera by the mode microcomputer 41 and the mechanical microcomputer 42. Step S204: It is determined whether the video trigger is ON. This is to detect whether or not the trigger button 34 for shooting a video movie is pressed again in the video recording state. If it is determined that the video trigger is ON, step S2 is performed.
Go to 05. If not, step S20
I am going to go back to 3.

Step S205: It is judged whether or not the trigger ON state continues. This judgment is made by the mode microcomputer 4 after the waiting time for preventing the malfunction of the signal from the trigger button 34 due to the chattering of the switch.
If 1 starts counting and continues until the fourth time T4 seconds later, it is determined that the trigger ON state is continued and the process proceeds to the next step to stop the video recording. If not, the process returns to step S203.

Here, in the second embodiment, the fourth time T4 is set to the same length as the third time T3, and T
4 = T3. That is, the fourth time T4 is set to be the same as the video start time T1 = 30 ms in the simultaneous recording mode. This is because in the video mode, since the input by the still shutter button 35 is prohibited, even if the start and stop times are the same, no mistake is made.

As described above, in the second embodiment, the operation suitable for each photographing mode is performed to prevent the recording from being unintentionally interrupted due to an erroneous pressing. , The time required to judge whether or not the trigger ON state continues is shortened. Therefore, the moving image recording by the video camera can be stopped immediately when the trigger button 34 is pressed.

FIG. 4 is a left side view for specifically explaining the structure of the compound camera of the present invention. In FIG.
Reference numeral 1 denotes an exterior cover that constitutes the present device, and is composed of several parts such as fastening portions 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.

A shutter device 6 is 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.

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. 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 the present embodiment is a conventionally known phase difference shift detection method, and compares a plurality of images generated by light fluxes passing through a plurality of different areas 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 is a light shielding plate, which is constructed so that it can be retracted at the time of photographing in order 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 reproduction to a small liquid crystal screen 19 and observes it through a reflection mirror 20 and an eyepiece lens 21. . The electronic viewfinder unit 18 is rotatable about a rotary shaft 22 as a spindle.

In the configuration shown in FIG. 4, the iris diaphragm 4 for silver salt still photography is always maintained in the open state during video recording of a moving image, and when the 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 detachably attached to the lower portion 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. 5 is a top view of the compound camera of this embodiment, in which 28 is a cartridge chamber of 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.

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 luminance 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 denotes 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 on its upper surface for controlling recording / reproduction of video, fast forward, rewind, stop, etc., and automatic loading / unloading of a video tape. An eject button 39 or the like for instructing an operation is arranged.

[0058]

As described above, according to the present invention, a video camera for recording moving image information and a still camera for recording still image information are integrally provided in a compound camera. When the camera and the still camera can be used at the same time, the time required from the operation of the video trigger switch to the stop of the recording operation of the video camera is set to be sufficiently long. Depending on the operation method, it is necessary to clearly identify whether the operation to stop the recording operation of the video camera was performed or the operation was mistaken for the still shutter button for recording still image information. Will be possible.

As a result, even when the still image is shot by pressing the still shutter button while recording a moving image by the video camera, even if the trigger button for shooting a video image is accidentally pressed. Since the video recording does not stop unless the trigger button is kept pressed for a predetermined time or longer, it is possible to eliminate the inconvenience that an important scene cannot be photographed.

According to another feature of the present invention, operation mode setting means for setting an operation mode is provided,
When the setting by the operation mode setting means is set to an operation mode in which both the still camera and the video camera can be used at the same time, the pressing of the first trigger means is performed only for a preset time. Only when it continues, the process of stopping the recording operation of the video camera is performed, and even if the first trigger means is momentarily pressed, the recording operation of the video camera is not stopped. In the operation mode in which only the video camera can be used, the recording operation of the video camera is stopped immediately after the first trigger means is pressed. As a result, it is possible to eliminate the inconvenience that an important scene cannot be photographed as described above, and in the operation mode in which only the video camera can be used, the recording operation is performed immediately after pressing the first trigger means. The effect that can be stopped is obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a first embodiment of a video camera with a still camera of the present invention and showing a schematic configuration of a system control means.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the first embodiment of the video camera with a still camera of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the second embodiment of the video camera with a still camera according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view showing a configuration of a video camera with a still camera according to the present invention.

5 is a top view of the video camera with a still camera shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Camera body exterior 2 Lens unit 4 Iris diaphragm for silver salt 5 Film 7 Semi-transparent thin film mirror 10 Reduction lens unit 11 Aperture unit for video 13 CCD 40 Camera microcomputer 41 Mode microcomputer 42 Mechanical microcomputer 43 Video signal processing board 44 Audio signal processing board 45 Strobe board 46 Power board

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A video camera with a still camera integrally provided with a video camera for recording moving image information on a first recording medium and a still camera for recording still image information on a second recording medium. A first trigger means for starting and stopping the recording operation of the video camera and a second trigger means for starting the exposure operation of the still camera are provided, and the first trigger means is pressed. The time required to stop the recording operation of the video camera is set to be sufficiently longer than the time required to start the exposure operation of the still camera after the second trigger means is pressed. This is a video camera with a still camera. 2. A video camera with a still camera integrally provided with a video camera for recording moving image information on a first recording medium and a still camera for recording still image information on a second recording medium, wherein: First trigger means for starting and stopping the recording operation of the video camera, second trigger means for starting the exposure operation of the still camera, and operation for setting the operation mode of the video camera When the operation mode setting means is set to an operation mode in which both the still camera and the video camera can be used simultaneously, the first trigger means is pressed. From the second to the stop time of the recording operation of the video camera
Set sufficiently long compared to the time required to start the exposure operation of the still camera after the trigger means of is pressed, and when the operation mode in which only the video camera can be used is set, The time required from the pressing of the first trigger means to the stop of the recording operation of the video camera is set shorter than the time set in the operation mode in which both the still camera and the video camera can be used. A video camera with a still camera.