JPH1096984A - Camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a misoperation even by a person inexperienced in the operation of a camera by eliminating the need of increasing the number of final control elements such as switches for a photographing mode, a function, etc., even if the number of incorporated photographing modes and functions is increased. SOLUTION: When a switch part 5 is operated to select a consecutive photographing mode, a switch for changing the focal distance of a photographic lens, for instance, a zooming switch is unrelated to the change in the focal distance and the number of shots for consecutively photographing is changed by the operation of the switch. When the zooming switch consists of two switches of a tele-switch for changing the focal distance to a long focal distance side and a wide switch for changing the focal distance to a short, focal distance side, the number of the shots is increased by the tele-switch and deceased by the wide switch.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention enables a user to further select the state of a camera when a predetermined mode is selected from various modes provided in the camera. The present invention relates to a camera characterized in that an operation unit for giving a predetermined operation to the camera is used as a selecting means.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Cameras equipped with an automatic exposure device, an automatic focusing device, an automatic film feeding device and the like have been widely used so that photographing can be easily enjoyed. With these devices and functions, the photographer focuses on the subject by simply pointing the camera at the subject and pressing the release button, and performs exposure with the exposure according to the subject brightness. Wind up one frame and set the next frame in the aperture.

[0003] In order to increase the functions of this type of popular type camera and to perform a wider range of photographing, various photographing modes and date functions are provided.

[0004]

However, the provision of these photographing modes and the increase of functions are accompanied by an increase in the number of operation units for mode switching, and the number of switches is increased. In view of the fact that the user of the popular camera is relatively unfamiliar with the operation of the camera, the chance of erroneous operation increases.

By the way, for example, in a camera provided with a continuous shooting mode so as to perform so-called continuous shooting in which a plurality of exposures can be performed by operating a single release button, the number of shots at the time of continuous shooting is changed. Cameras that can be used have been developed. When performing continuous shooting with a camera that can perform continuous shooting, the photographer points the camera at the subject, sets the desired focal length of the shooting lens, determines the composition, and sets the continuous shooting mode. Is selected, and a release button or the like is pressed. That is, it may not be necessary to change the focal length after the continuous shooting mode is selected. On the other hand, in order to be able to change the number of shots, it is necessary to provide an operation unit so that the operation can be performed from the outside, as described above.

The present invention has been made in view of the fact that, for example, in a camera having a continuous shooting mode, an operation for changing the focal length may not be performed after the continuous shooting mode is selected. When an operation specific to the selected mode is performed, an operation unit provided in the camera is provided so as to perform this specific operation using another operation unit of the camera which does not need to be operated when the mode is selected. It is an object of the present invention to provide a camera that does not need to be increased and has improved operability.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, a camera according to the present invention has a continuous shooting mode in which a shutter blade is opened and closed a plurality of times continuously by a shooting start operation, and a single shooting mode. In a camera provided with a variable focus lens device for changing a focal length of a shooting lens while selecting a normal shooting mode for opening and closing and performing shooting, an external operation is performed to change the focal length of the shooting lens. In the state where the continuous shooting mode is selected, the number of shots for continuous shooting is changed by operating the focal length changing operation unit.

When a continuous shooting mode switch is turned on and the continuous shooting mode is selected in order to perform continuous shooting, the camera is switched to the continuous shooting mode. When the release button is operated, the photographing lens moves from the reference position to the focus position obtained by the autofocus device. Then, at this in-focus position, the shutter blades are opened and closed a predetermined number of times, and exposure is performed that number of times. When the number of exposures is completed, the taking lens returns to the initial position.

In the opening / closing operation of the shutter blades, if the film is wound up one frame at a time after the shutter blades are closed, continuous shooting can be performed, and if the film is not wound up, shooting by multiple exposure can be performed. .

In the state where the continuous shooting mode is selected, the focal length of the shooting lens is not changed even if the focal length changing operation unit is operated.
That is, the number of shots is changed.

When the normal photographing mode is selected, when the focal length changing operation section is operated, the focal length of the photographing lens is changed.

In a mechanism in which the focal length is changed to the long focal length side and the short focal length side by different switches, the number of shots is increased or decreased depending on the type of switch. In view of the above, the camera according to the second aspect of the present invention provides a camera in which the focal length changing operation unit moves the focal length of the photographing lens to a long focal length side and a wide switch by moving the focal length changing operation unit to a short focal length side. The number of shots is increased by operating a tele switch, and the number of shots is decreased by operating a wide switch.

When the tele switch is operated in the normal photographing mode, the focal length of the photographing lens is moved to the long focal length side. Therefore, it can be recognized that the tele switch has a function of increasing the set value. In the shooting mode, the switch is provided with a function of increasing the number of shots, and conversely, the wide switch for moving to the short focal length side is provided with a function of reducing the number of shots, so that the operator can easily operate the switch. Can be identified.

In view of the fact that the camera is provided with various modes so as to make photographing more enjoyable and has a function of changing the focal length, the camera according to the third aspect of the present invention has the following features. In a camera equipped with a variable focal length lens device for changing a focal length of a photographing lens while changing a camera state by selecting an appropriate mode as desired from a plurality of modes, changing a focal length of the photographing lens A focal length changing operation unit operated externally to perform the operation, and in a state where a predetermined mode among the plurality of modes is selected, the operation of the focal length changing operation unit relates to the selected mode. The change of the set value is performed.

In the case where the focal length changing operation unit is separately provided for changing to the long focal length side or the short focal length side, the focal length changing operation unit is provided as in the camera according to the fourth aspect of the present invention. The change operation unit includes a tele switch for moving the focal length of the taking lens to the long focal length side and a wide switch for moving the focal length of the taking lens to the short focal length side. The setting value is reduced by an operation.

Furthermore, in view of the fact that the camera is provided with a plurality of modes and not only an operation section for changing the focal length but also an operation selection means for performing various operations, Item 5 is a camera according to the invention.
A mode selecting means for selecting an appropriate mode from a plurality of modes as desired and setting the state of the camera; and an operation selecting means for operating the camera to perform a predetermined operation. When the predetermined mode is selected, the operation given to the operation selecting means has no relation to the predetermined operation, and changes the set value related to the selected mode. Features.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a camera according to the present invention will be specifically described based on a preferred embodiment shown in the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, the configuration of the continuous photographing mode is mainly composed of a CPU 1. This C
The PU 1 and the shutter circuit 2 are connected via a release information line 2a, and subject luminance information obtained by an automatic exposure circuit (AE circuit) 3 is transferred to a CP via a luminance information line 3a.
U1 and based on the subject brightness data, C
Information about exposure such as shutter speed and aperture is exchanged between the PU 1 and the shutter circuit 2. The shutter circuit 2 includes a stepping motor for performing a focusing drive for moving a photographing lens from an initial position serving as a reference for autofocusing to a focusing position, and opening and closing shutter blades. Further, the CPU 1 and the autofocus circuit (AF circuit) 4 are connected by an AF information line 4a, and information regarding the subject distance is exchanged between the CPU 1 and the AF circuit 4.

The switch section 5 includes a main switch for putting the camera into a standby state, a release button for releasing the shutter, a zoom switch for driving the photographing lens for a zoom camera, and a self switch for performing self-timer photographing. In addition, a switch for a continuous shooting mode for performing a plurality of releases by pressing the release button once is included, and ON / OFF signals of these switches are sent to the CPU 1 via the switch signal line 5a. It has to be entered.

The CPU 1 sends a liquid crystal display (LC)
D) LCD display information is output to 6 via a display signal line 6a. Based on the liquid crystal information, camera information at that time, such as the number of frames of a film that can be taken, the state of a shooting mode, and the remaining battery power , Shooting date and time are displayed on the LCD 6.

Further, the CPU 1 is connected to the strobe circuit 7 via a strobe photographing information line 7a, and information regarding whether or not to emit a strobe and a state of charge of the strobe is exchanged between the CPU 1 and the strobe circuit 7. You.

The control procedure of the camera configured as described above when the continuous shooting mode is selected will be described with reference to FIGS.

When the camera is in a standby state in which the camera can be used for photographing, the CPU 1 monitors the switch unit 5 every predetermined time, and when any switch of the switch unit 5 is operated, The process corresponding to the operated switch is executed. When the switch of the continuous shooting mode is operated to perform continuous shooting, FIG.
Is performed, and it is determined whether or not a mode switch (mode SW) related to continuous shooting is turned on (step 201). At this time, the mode switch
Is turned off, the continuous shooting is stopped, so this flow is stopped and the camera is set to the standby state. If the mode SW is ON, step 2
In step 02, it is determined whether the previous mode (previous mode) is the continuous shooting mode or the normal mode. That is, the continuous shooting mode is set and reset alternately by turning on the mode SW.
When the previous mode is the continuous shooting mode, the continuous shooting mode is required to be reset by turning on in step 201, so the process proceeds to step 221 to reset the continuous shooting mode, that is, the normal mode. The normal mode, which is a shooting mode, is set, and after confirming that the mode switch has been turned off (step 222), the process returns to the standby state.

If the mode is the normal mode in step 202, the continuous shooting mode is selected by turning on the mode switch, so that the continuous shooting mode is set (step 203).

Then, it is determined whether a tele switch (TELESW) of the zoom switch, that is, a switch operated when the photographing lens is moved to the long focal length side, is ON / OFF (step 204). In this case, the mode S
W is ON, and in conjunction with ON of the mode SW,
The zoom switch does not function as a switch for moving the taking lens. If the tele switch is on, the set shot count is incremented (step 205), and after the tele switch is turned off (step 206), the process proceeds to step 207. If the tele switch is turned off in step 204, the process proceeds to step 207 without counting up.
Proceed to.

In step 207, a wide switch (WIDESW) of the zoom switch, that is, an ON / O switch of a switch operated when the photographing lens is moved to the short focal length side.
Determine FF. If the wide switch is ON, the count of the set number of shots is reduced (step 208), and after the wide switch is turned OFF (step 209), it is confirmed that the mode SW is OFF (step 210). If the wide switch is OFF in step 207, the process proceeds to step 210 without counting down, and waits for the mode SW to be turned off. When the mode switch is turned off, the mode returns to the standby state. In step 210, the mode switch
Is ON, the process returns to step 204 and steps 204 to 209 are repeated.

The steps 205 and 20
The number of shots to be counted up or down in 8 is the number of shots for continuous shooting when performing continuous shooting, and when neither the tele switch nor the wide switch is operated as described above. The number of shots initially set for continuous shooting is set without counting up or counting down. Also,
When counting up, a shot number larger than the initially set shot number is set, and when counting down, a smaller shot number is set.

When the release button of the switch section 5 is operated while the camera is in a standby state,
The flow shown in FIG. 3 is executed.

When the release button is pressed,
The switches in two stages are sequentially turned on. The release operation is not performed in the first stage, and the case where the first stage switch is turned on is indicated by a broken line in the time chart shown by SP in FIG. Is shown.

When the release button is operated, initial processing is performed (step 301), and then DX processing is performed (step 302). This initial processing is for putting the camera in a state suitable for performing the release processing, and includes unnecessary flags such as flags set in the previous release processing or various processings in the previous stage. Is performed.
In the DX processing, processing such as a shutter is performed so that exposure according to film sensitivity can be performed.

Then, photometry for measuring the subject brightness is performed by the AE circuit 3 (step 303), and the CPU 1 sets the AE based on the information on the measured subject brightness.
An operation is performed (step 304). Next, the subject distance is measured (AF ranging) by the AF circuit 4 (step 305), and the distance data is sent to the CPU 1. Also, if the subject brightness is insufficient due to the result of the AE operation (step 304), or to perform flash photography by operating a flash photography switch of the switch unit 5, the flash processing such as charging the flash is performed. Is performed (step 306), and flashmatic processing (FM processing) for flash photography is performed based on the subject brightness and the subject distance (step 307).

As shown in the time chart of FIG. 4, the steps 303 to 307 are executed in a state where the first stage of the release is pressed.

Then, in a state where the release button is pressed down to the second stage (portion indicated by a solid line in SP in FIG. 4), the stepping motor is turned on to drive the focusing of the photographing lens.
(Step 308), the photographing lens is set to the initial position which is the reference position, and it is confirmed whether or not the photographing lens has been set to the initial position.
A flag is set (step 309). Next, it is determined whether or not the mechanical NG flag is set (step 310). If the mechanical NG flag is set, the photographing lens cannot be brought into focus. (Step 317), the execution of this flow is stopped.

If the mechanical NG flag is not set in step 310, the flow advances to step 311 to move the taking lens to the in-focus position by the stepping motor (LD).

Then, it is determined whether or not the photographing mode is the continuous photographing mode (step 312). If the photographing mode is not the continuous photographing mode, only one release is performed. To perform an exposure process (EXP). In this exposure processing, the shutter blades are closed after being opened, and this opening / closing operation is performed by a stepping motor for driving the focusing of the photographing lens. If the camera is in the continuous shooting mode, the flow advances to step 314 to perform a continuous shooting process. The continuous shooting mode is set in step 203.

In the continuous shooting process in step 314, the shutter blade is opened and closed a predetermined number of times while the photographing lens is driven to the in-focus position in step 311 to perform a predetermined number of shots of exposure. The number of shots is a preset appropriate value (for example, three shots) when neither the tele switch nor the wide switch is operated, and the tele switch or the wide switch while the continuous shooting mode switch is turned on. Is operated, and the count is incremented in step 205, the number of shots is increased (for example, 4 shots).
When the countdown is performed at 08, the number of shots is reduced (for example, 2 shots).

When the exposure processing in step 313 or the continuous shooting processing in step 314 is completed,
Proceeding to step 315, the photographing lens is returned to the reference initial position (LR). Next, similarly to the step 309, it is determined whether or not the photographing lens is at the initial position. If the lens is not at the initial position, a mechanical NG flag is set (step 316), and the power is turned off (step 3).
17).

When the exposure process is performed in step 313, as shown in the time chart of the stepping motor in FIG. 4, after the second stage of the release is turned on, the photographing lens is driven in focus (LD). Subsequently, exposure (E
XP), the taking lens returns to the initial position (L
R). In this case, exposure is performed only in the portion indicated by the time chart.

When the continuous shooting process of step 314 is performed, the photographing lens is not driven to return even after the exposure of the portion indicated by 終了 is completed, and the exposure indicated by で is performed and set. When the predetermined number of exposures are completed, the photographing lens is driven to return.

In the subroutine of the continuous photographing process at step 314, if the loaded film is wound up by one frame each time the shutter blade closes, continuous shooting can be performed and the film is not wound up. By doing so, it is possible to perform shooting by multiple exposure.

The fact that the camera is in the continuous shooting mode and the number of shots in the continuous shooting are set by L.
Displaying the information on the CD 6 is desirable because the photographer can check the information.

[0042]

As described above, according to the camera of the present invention, when the continuous shooting mode is selected, for example, when the continuous shooting mode is selected, the operation of the operation unit for changing the focal length of the shooting lens allows the continuous shooting to be performed. Can be increased or decreased. For this reason, it is not necessary to separately provide an operation unit for increasing or decreasing the number of shots, and it is possible to reduce the risk of an erroneous operation due to an increase in the number of operation units of the camera.

Further, the number of shots is increased by the operation unit for changing the focal length, the operation unit for changing to the long focal length side, and the number of shots is reduced for the operation unit for changing to the short focal length side. Therefore, the length of the focal length and the increase / decrease of the number of shots correspond to each other, and it is easy for the operator to identify which switch increases / decreases the number of shots.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing hardware for configuring a continuous shooting mode according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart executed when a mode switch for selecting a continuous shooting mode is operated.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart when a release button is operated to execute a release operation.

FIG. 4 is a time chart at the time of a release operation.

[Description of Signs] 1 CPU 2 Shutter circuit 3 Automatic exposure circuit (AE circuit) 4 Autofocus circuit (AF circuit) 5 Switch section 6 Liquid crystal display (LCD) 7 Strobe circuit

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Takao Umezu 1-324 Uetake-cho, Omiya-shi, Saitama Fuji Photographic Machine Co., Ltd. (72) Michihiro Shiina 1-324 Uetake-cho, Omiya-shi, Saitama Kouki Co., Ltd.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A continuous shooting mode for continuously opening and closing a plurality of shutter blades by a shooting start operation;
In a camera provided with a variable focal length lens device for changing a focal length of a photographing lens while performing photographing by selecting a normal photographing mode for performing a single opening and closing, in order to change a focal length of the photographing lens, An externally operated focal length changing operation unit, wherein in the state where the continuous shooting mode is selected, the number of shots for continuous shooting is changed by operating the focal length changing operation unit. And the camera. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the focal length changing operation unit comprises a tele switch for moving the focal length of the taking lens to a long focal length side and a wide switch for moving the focal length of the photographing lens to a short focal length side. 2. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the number of shots is decreased by operating the wide switch. 3. A camera provided with a variable focus lens device that can set a state of the camera by selecting an appropriate mode as desired from a plurality of modes and change a focal length of the shooting lens. A focal length changing operation unit that is externally operated to change the focal length, and in a state in which a predetermined mode among the plurality of modes is selected, the operation is performed by operating the focal length changing operation unit. A camera for changing a set value related to the mode. 4. The focal length changing operation section comprises a tele switch for moving the focal length of the taking lens to a long focal length side and a wide switch for moving the focal length to a short focal length side, and the setting is performed by operating the tele switch. 4. The camera according to claim 3, wherein the setting value is increased and the set value is decreased by operating a wide switch. 5. A mode selecting means for selecting an appropriate mode from a plurality of modes as desired and setting the state of the camera, and an operation selecting means for operating the camera to perform a predetermined operation, When a predetermined mode is selected and operated by the mode selecting means, the operation given to the operation selecting means has no relation to the predetermined operation and a setting value related to the selected mode is set. A camera characterized by making changes.