JPH11119283A - Automatic light quantity ratio bracketing photographing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To simply and easily set each emitted strobe light quantity, in a photographing with plural kinds of illumination. SOLUTION: A flashing tube 2 and a reflector 3 for adjusting the interval among a Fresnel lens 15, the reflector 3 and the flashing tube 2, so as to obtain an illuminating angle coincident with the focal distance of a photographic lens attached to a camera, can be set to a transmitter and a receiver according to the state of an operation mode input means 8. A flashing device 1 connected to the camera is set in a transmission state and the flashing tube 2 and the reflector 3 constituting a flashing device for actually irradiating a subject in a spatial far position are set in reception states, to be used. In the transmission state, the flashing tube 2 generates a light pulse signal for controlling the emitted light quantity, etc., of each receiver and in the reception state, a photodetector 11 and a receiving means 10 control the light pulse signal for indicating the emitted light quantity, a flashing state, etc., transmitted by the flashing device in the transmission state and a receiving microcomputer 4 controls the flashing of the flashing tube 2, with a flashing control means 16, to attain illumination with a desired light quantity for the subject.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for automatically changing the light emission ratio of each of the strobes in a multi-flash photographing using a plurality of strobes, based on a reference set light intensity ratio. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic light-ratio-ratio bracketing photographing device that performs photographing by causing the photographing to be performed.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, photographing using a plurality of strobes is widely performed in a photo studio or the like, and the light emission amount of each individual strobe is, for example, the ratio of the light emission amount of a strobe which illuminates a main subject from front and left and right in portrait photography. The photographing is performed by setting the amount of light of the strobe and the position of the strobe based on some basic settings such as about 1: 4.

[0003]

However, in actual photographing by the above-mentioned conventional method, a test light emission is performed after setting the light emission amount of each of a plurality of strobes, and an aperture corresponding to the light amount of the strobe is determined. However, it is necessary to perform a test shooting with an immediate development camera, etc., and set the light amount ratio again or set the strobe position again based on the finished result, which is very difficult especially for general amateurs In addition, there is a problem that it takes time to prepare for shooting.

[0004]

According to the present invention, a plurality of flash light emitting means for illuminating an object and a reference for setting a reference light amount ratio of each of these flash light emitting means are provided. Light amount ratio setting means, light amount ratio change amount setting means for setting each light amount ratio change amount, and counting means for counting the number of times of shooting, according to the progress of shooting using flash light emission,
The reference light amount ratio and the light amount ratio calculating means for calculating the respective light emission amounts of the plurality of flash light emitting devices for illuminating the subject according to the light amount ratio change amount, and a plurality of light amount ratio calculating means based on the calculation results of the light amount ratio calculating means. Light emission control means for controlling the amount of light emission of each flash of the flash light emitting device, wherein the light emission amount of each flash device is set for each of the plurality of flash devices. In an automatic light amount ratio variable bracket photographing apparatus that performs auto bracket photographing by controlling according to the ratio, setting means for setting light amount ratio data for each time, and each time based on the light amount ratio data set by the setting means, An operation means for calculating the light emission amount for each flash device; and a communication means for communicating the light emission amount data calculated by the operation means to each flash device, the light emission transmitted by the communication means being provided. Controlling the amount of light emission of each flash device each time according to the data. In claim 3, the setting means and the arithmetic means are provided in a camera and a flash device connected to the camera, and the communication means is The flash device is configured by optical communication for performing optical communication between the flash device and each flash device, and the communication of the light emission amount data is communicated to each of the flash devices by optical communication by light emission of the flash device.

[0005] With the above arrangements, in photographing using artificial lighting such as a plurality of strobes, the light quantity ratio of each artificial lighting can be determined based on the reference light quantity ratio to advance a predetermined number of pictures. Accordingly, by automatically changing the light amount ratio of each artificial light by a predetermined amount, an artificial light photograph having an optimum light amount ratio can be easily obtained.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a drawing which best illustrates the features of the present invention, wherein 1 is a first flash light emitting device, 2 is a flash light emitting tube such as a Xe tube which is a light emitting means, and 3 is a light emitting means. Reference numeral 15 denotes a Fresnel lens for efficiently irradiating the generated light to the subject.

Reference numeral 4 denotes a microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as a microcomputer) for controlling the entire flash device. Reference numeral 5 denotes a flash mode setting means of the flash device. Reference numeral 6 denotes selection means for setting items such as a reference light amount ratio and a change amount of the light amount ratio. 8 is a strobe operation mode input unit, 9 is a display unit such as a liquid crystal display, 10 is an optical signal receiving unit when used as a wireless slave strobe, and 11 is a photo. An optical signal receiving element 12 such as a diode is a connection terminal for connecting to a camera (not shown). 13 is a motor control means, 1
Reference numeral 4 denotes a motor, which adjusts the distance between the Fresnel lens 15, the reflector 3, and the flash tube 2 so that the irradiation angle matches the focal length of the photographing lens mounted on the camera (not shown).

The other flash light emitting devices 102 and 103 are exactly the same as the flash light emitting devices described above, and can be set as a transmitting device and a receiving device depending on the state of the operation mode input means, and can be connected to a camera. Flash light emitting device 1
Is set to a transmission state, and a flash light emitting device 10 constituting a flash light emitting device that actually irradiates a subject at a spatially separated position
2 and 103 are used in the receiving state.

In the transmission state, the two flash tubes generate an optical pulse signal for controlling the amount of light emitted from each of the receiving devices, and in the receiving state, the light emitting device in which the light receiving element 11 and the receiving means 10 are transmitting transmits. The receiving microcomputer 4 controls the light emission of the flash arc tube 2 via the light emission control means 16 to receive the light pulse signal indicating the light emission amount, the light emission state, and the like, and illuminates the object with a desired light amount.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the entire flash light emitting device, and the same parts as those in FIG.

FIG. 2A is a front view of the flash light emitting device, and FIG. 2B is a rear view. Reference numeral 8 in FIG. 3B denotes a three-stage switch for setting the operation mode of the flash light emitting device.
In the figure, the leftmost state is a normal flash light emitting device, the middle state is a transmission state, and the right state is a reception state.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the three-stage switch in the flash light emitting device 1 is used in the middle state, and the flash light emitting devices 102 and 103 are used in the right state.

FIG. 3 shows an example of the display means 9, which is constituted by liquid crystal in the present embodiment. Reference numeral 21 denotes a display of a light emission mode of a camera (not shown), reference numeral 23 denotes a display of a focal length of a lens attached to the camera (not shown), and reference numeral 24 denotes an aperture of a lens attached to the camera (not shown). 25 is a display indicating that the flash light emitting device is in the transmission mode, 26 is a display indicating that the light ratio control of the A and B two artificial lighting devices is performed, and 27 is an automatic light ratio bracketing. Numeral 28 is a display indicating the light amount ratio of the artificial lighting device to be controlled.

FIG. 3A shows a display of the first automatic light intensity ratio bracketing. The light intensity ratio display bar 28 has a reference light intensity ratio of 1: 1 and a light intensity ratio change amount of 1 step when the width is one step. : 1
2: 1 and 1: 2 are displayed on the basis of.
The 1 mark flashes.

On the other hand, in FIG. 3B, when the second image is photographed, 2:
2: 1 on the light intensity ratio display bar to indicate that the image is taken at 1.
Blinks, and at the same time, in FIG.
1: 2 blinks to indicate that the image is taken. FIG. 3D shows a state in which a series of automatic light-ratio bracketing imaging has been completed. In the present embodiment, the processing ends when three frames have been captured. In the case of setting to perform automatic light intensity ratio bracketing continuously, FIG.
Returning to (a), the automatic light intensity ratio bracketing is repeated.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a method of setting automatic light intensity ratio bracketing. In FIG. 4 (a), a setting button 6 which is a selection mode setting means of the flash light emitting device shown in FIGS. When the light amount ratio bracketing is set, the ARB mark 27 of the display means 9 blinks. FIG.
(B) shows a state in which the + button among the +/- buttons, which is the set amount setting means of 7, is pressed once to set the automatic light quantity ratio change amount to 1/2 step. Similarly, FIG. 4C shows a state in which the + button is further pressed once to set the automatic light amount ratio change amount to one step.

In FIG. 4D, when the setting button 6 as the selection mode setting means is pressed again to set the light amount ratio setting state in the state where the automatic light amount ratio bracketing is set,
The RATIO mark 26 flashes, and in this state, the set value of the light amount ratio itself is reduced by one step from FIG. This shows a state where the reference light amount ratio has shifted to 2: 1.

Next, the flow of the present system will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

The following steps are abbreviated as "S".

When photographing is started by pressing a shutter button of a camera (not shown), the camera causes the flash light emitting device 1 connected to the camera, which is set to a transmission mode, to emit light.
Connecting flash instruction of group A strobe to camera 1
2 using a known serial communication (S1).
00).

The flash light emitting device 1 receives a light emission instruction from the camera, and receives the second flash device 10 set in the A group.
A pre-light emission command is transmitted by causing the flash light emission tube 2 to emit a pulse light to the light emission tube 2 (S101).

The second flash light emitting device 102 in which the pulse light emission from the flash light emitting device 1 is set to the group A is received by the light receiving element 11 and the receiving means 10 (not shown) in the second flash light emitting device. Then, a predetermined pre-emission is received for the subject, and the reflected luminance is measured (S102).

The camera receives the pre-emission of the flash light emitting device of group A irradiated to the subject, and measures the reflected luminance (S103).

Next, the camera issues a flash instruction of the group B strobe to the flash light emitting device 1 connected to the camera (S104).

The flash light emitting device 1 receives a light emitting instruction from the camera, and receives the flash light from the third flash device 10 set in the B group.
The preflash command is transmitted by causing the flash tube 2 of the flash device 1 to emit a pulse to the flash device 3 (S105).

The third flash light emitting device 103 in which the pulse light emission from the flash light emitting device 1 is set to the B group is received by the light receiving element 11 and the receiving means 10 (not shown) in the third flash light emitting device. Then, a predetermined pre-emission is performed on the subject (S106).

The camera receives the pre-emission of the flash light emitting device of group B irradiated to the subject, and measures the reflected luminance (S107).

Next, the flash light emitting device 1 receives A: B from the camera.
An A: B strobe light ratio is transmitted in response to a strobe light ratio inquiry. This light amount ratio information is created by adding or subtracting the above-mentioned reference light amount ratio and light amount ratio change amount each time the flash light emitting device 1 takes a picture (S108).

When the camera receives the light amount ratio information from the flash light emitting device 1, the process proceeds to S110 to calculate the main light emission amount of the A: B strobe (S109).

The luminance of the reflected light of the subject due to the pre-emission emitted by the A-group strobe measured in S103 and S10
Based on the luminance of the subject reflected light due to the pre-emission emitted by the group B strobe measured in step 7 and the A: B strobe light amount ratio information received in step S109, the camera calculates the main light emission amounts of the group A strobe and the group B strobe ( S11
0).

The camera instructs the flash light emitting device 1 to emit light of the group A strobe and the group B strobe calculated in step S110 and the light emission instruction (S111).

The flash light emitting device 1 makes the flash light emitting tubes 2 emit pulses for each of the flash light emitting devices of the group A and the group B based on the main light emission amount of the group A strobe and the group B strobe light received from the camera, thereby performing the main light emission. The command and each light emission amount are transmitted (S112).

The second flash light emitting device 102 receives the main light receiving command from the flash light emitting device 1 and the light emission amount of the A group by the light receiving element 11 and the receiving means 10 in the second flash light emitting device, and outputs the light to the subject. A predetermined main light emission is performed (S113).

The third flash light emitting device 103 receives the main light receiving command from the flash light emitting device 1 and the light emission amount of the B group by the light receiving element 11 and the receiving means 10 in the third flash light emitting device, and outputs the light to the subject. A predetermined main light emission is performed (S114).

It should be noted that the main light emission control for each photographing is 3
In the case of performing the auto bracket shooting twice, each light emission amount of the flash device in each group for each time is calculated in S110, and the light emission amount information of each time is transmitted to the flash devices of each group, and for each light emission, The light emission amount may be controlled according to the calculated value, or before each photographing is performed, the light emission amount for that time is calculated in S110,
The calculation result may be transmitted to the flash units of each group, and the light emission amount may be controlled each time. By automatically performing the above-described operation each time shooting is performed, it is possible to easily perform photography with different light distributions. Further, in the above description, the flash light emitting device on the transmitting side and the flash light emitting device on the receiving side are described as communicating with an optical signal using flash light emission, but it is also possible to perform communication with light emission of a high-brightness LED or the like, Needless to say, connection may be made by signal lines instead of wireless.

Further, the present invention can be similarly applied to a case where a plurality of light emitting portions are provided by an integrated flash light emitting device.

(Correspondence between the Invention and the Embodiment) In the above embodiment, the flash light emitting devices 102 and 103 correspond to the plurality of flash light emitting means of the present invention, and the microcomputer 4, the selection item setting means 6 and the set amount The setting means 7 corresponds to the reference light amount ratio setting means and the light amount ratio change amount setting means, the microcomputer 4 corresponds to the counting means of the number of times of photographing and the light amount ratio calculating means, and the light emission control means 16 corresponds to the individual flash light emission amount. It corresponds to the light emission control means for controlling.

[0038]

As described above, according to the present invention, the light amount ratio is automatically changed every time photographing is performed based on a preset reference light amount ratio and a variable amount of light amount ratio. As a result, it is possible to easily perform flash photography with a variable light amount ratio, and to easily take a photograph with an optimal light distribution.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a multiple-light shooting system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a change state of a light amount ratio according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a setting state of a light amount ratio change amount according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the camera strobe system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 102, 103 Flash light emitting device 2 Flash light emitting tube 3 Reflector shade 4 Microcomputer 5 Light emission mode setting means 6 Setting item selecting means 7 Setting amount setting means 8 Strobe operation mode input means 9 Display means 10 Receiving means 11 Optical signal receiving element 12 connection terminal 13 motor control means 14 motor 15 Fresnel lens 16 light emission control means

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of flash light emitting means for illuminating an object, a reference light quantity ratio setting means for setting a reference light quantity ratio of each of these flash light emitting means, and a light quantity ratio change amount setting for each light quantity ratio change amount Means, and a counting means for counting the number of times of photographing, a plurality of flash light emitting devices that illuminate a subject according to the reference light amount ratio and the light amount ratio change amount in accordance with the progress of photographing using flash light emission. An automatic light quantity comprising: a light quantity ratio calculating means for calculating each light emission quantity; and a light emission control means for controlling individual flash light emission quantities of a plurality of flash light emitting devices based on a calculation result of the light quantity ratio calculation means. Ratio bracketing photography device. 2. An automatic light-ratio-ratio variable bracket photographing apparatus that performs auto-bracket photographing by controlling the amount of light emitted for each of a plurality of flash devices in accordance with a set ratio of the amount of emitted light for each flash device. Setting means for setting the light quantity ratio data of each time; calculating means for calculating the light emission amount for each flash device based on the light quantity ratio data set by the setting means; and the light emission amount calculated by the calculating means Providing communication means for communicating data to each flash device,
An automatic light-ratio-ratio variable bracket photographing device, wherein the light emission amount of each flash device is controlled in accordance with the light emission amount data communicated by the communication means. 3. The setting means and the arithmetic means are provided in a camera and a flash device connected to the camera, and the communication means comprises optical communication for performing optical communication between the flash device and each flash device. 3. The photographing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the communication of the light emission amount data is communicated to each of the flash devices by optical communication based on light emission of the flash device.