JP2000356806A - Camera used for both of silver salt photographing and electronic image pickup - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To eliminate the loss of the quantity of object light falling on an optical finder and to attain the miniaturization of a camera. SOLUTION: An electronic image pickup device is provided with an area sensor 17 converting an object image to an electric signal and an LCD monitor 37 displaying an image signal outputted from the sensor 17. A silver salt photographing device is constituted so that the object image is imprinted on a silver salt film 20. Then, an image pickup action is executed by the electronic image pickup device by interlocking with an exposure action executed on the film 20 by the silver salt photographing device. This camera is constituted so that an optical path switching element 11 is arranged at one surface out of the reflection surfaces of a pentagonal prism 10 guiding objective luminous flux to a finder eyepiece part 12. Besides, the sensor 17 is arranged at the back surface of the element 11.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention has both functions of an electronic image pickup device having an electronic image pickup device for converting a subject image into an electric signal, and a silver halide photographing device for photographing the subject image on a silver halide film. The present invention relates to an improvement in a camera for both silver halide photography and electronic imaging.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, cameras having both functions of an electronic image pickup device having an image pickup device for converting a subject image into an electric signal and a silver halide photographing device for projecting the subject image on a silver halide film have been developed. ing.

[0003] For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-113599.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2000-214, describes a camera for both a silver halide film photograph and an electronic still photograph, which makes it possible to take a photograph when one of them cannot photograph. In the embodiment of the above publication, a splitter is provided on the path from the pentaprism to the eyepiece, and the finder eyepiece and the CC are provided.
The finder light is guided to D.

[0004]

However, in the technique described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 5-113599, since the finder light is guided to both the eyepiece and the CCD, the amount of light incident on each of them decreases. I will. In particular, if the amount of light guided to the eyepiece is small, the viewfinder becomes dark and difficult to see.

Further, if the finder light is mechanically switched to the eyepiece and the CCD, a complicated mechanism is required.
There is a problem that the miniaturization of the camera is impaired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide both silver halide photography and electronic imaging without losing the amount of light incident on an optical finder and without impairing miniaturization of a camera. It is to provide a camera.

[0007]

That is, the present invention relates to an electronic imaging device having an electronic imaging device for converting a subject image into an electric signal, and a monitor for displaying an image signal output from the electronic imaging device. A silver halide photographing device for projecting a subject image onto a silver halide film, and performing an imaging operation by the electronic imaging device in conjunction with an exposure operation on the silver halide film by the silver halide photographing device. In a camera for both salt photographing and electronic imaging, a pentaprism for guiding a subject light beam to a finder eyepiece, and one of the reflection surfaces of the pentaprism can electrically control light as well as a transmission state and a reflection state. An optical path switching element is disposed, and the electronic image pickup element is disposed on a back surface thereof.

In the camera for both silver halide photography and electronic imaging according to the present invention, an electronic imaging device includes an electronic imaging device for converting a subject image into an electric signal, and an image signal output from the electronic imaging device. And a monitor for displaying. Further, the silver halide photographing device prints the subject image on a silver halide film. Then, an imaging operation by the electronic imaging device is performed in conjunction with an exposure operation on the silver halide film by the silver halide imaging device. In this camera for both silver halide photography and electronic imaging, the luminous flux of the subject is guided to the finder eyepiece by the pentaprism. In addition, an optical path switching element that can electrically control the light in both the transmission state and the reflection state is disposed on one of the reflection surfaces of the pentaprism. Further, the electronic image pickup device is disposed on the back surface of the optical path switching device.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a camera for both silver halide photography and electronic imaging according to an embodiment of the present invention.

First, the configuration of the silver halide photographing apparatus will be described.

In FIG. 1, a photographing lens for forming a subject image includes a positive lens 1 and a negative lens 3.
An aperture mechanism 2 is disposed in the taking lens. Behind the negative lens 3, there is provided a movable mirror 4 having a substantially central portion serving as a half mirror and rotatable in the direction of arrow A in the figure. A sub-mirror 5 is provided on a central rear portion of the movable mirror 4 so as to reflect the subject light downward.

A separator optical system 6 composed of two optical systems for separating two images is arranged in the direction of the reflection optical axis of the sub-mirror 5 and substantially perpendicular to the drawing. A line sensor 7 is disposed at a position where the image of the subject is formed by the separator optical system 6. The sub-mirror 5, the separator optical system 6, the line sensor 7, and the like constitute a focus detection device using a known phase difference method.

A focusing plate 9, a pentaprism 10, and an optical path switching element 11 are provided on the reflected optical path of the movable mirror 4.
A finder eyepiece optical system 12 is provided. The optical path switching element 11 is arranged on one surface of the pentaprism 10. Then, on the back side of the optical path switching element 11,
Imaging optical system 15, imaging aperture 16, and area sensor 17
Is arranged. In FIG. 1, an optical path switching element 1
1 controls the light beam to be reflected, and the object light beam is guided to the finder eyepiece optical system 12.

Although the pentaprism is used as a member for guiding the subject light beam to the finder eyepiece, a prism or a roof mirror may be used as the pentaprism.

Further, in the present embodiment, the optical path switching element 11 has a liquid crystal structure, and the liquid crystal driving circuit 31
Controls the transmission state and the reflection state. Here, when the optical path switching element 11 is in the transmitting state, the subject image is formed on the area sensor 17 through the optical path switching element 11, the imaging optical system 15, and the imaging stop 16. The optical path switching element is a liquid crystal whose transmission state and reflection state can be controlled, and is described in "NATURE Vo1392 AP".
RIL 1998 ".

The imaging of the subject image will be described later.

Behind the movable mirror 4, a shutter 1 is provided.
9 and a silver halide film 20 are arranged. When the movable mirror 4 is raised and the shutter 19 is opened, a subject image is formed on the silver halide film 20 and is exposed. A magnetic recording layer (not shown) is formed on the silver halide film 20, and the magnetic head 2 is in contact with the magnetic recording layer.
1 is arranged. The magnetic head 21 is for magnetically recording various information.

The positive lens 1 and the negative lens 3 of the photographing lens
Is driven by a zoom / focus drive circuit 26, and the aperture mechanism 2 is driven and controlled by an aperture drive circuit 27. Similarly, the movable mirror 4 is controlled by a mirror drive circuit 28, the line sensor 7 is controlled by a line sensor drive circuit 29, and the shutter 19 is controlled by a shutter drive circuit 30.

The CPU 25 controls the entire camera. Then, the CPU 25 calculates the interval between the two images based on the signal input via the line sensor driving circuit 29, and calculates the driving amount data of the photographing lens for driving to the in-focus position. This drive amount is transferred to the zoom / focus drive circuit 26, which changes the focal positions of the positive lens 1 and the negative lens 3 of the photographing lens.

The zoom / focus drive circuit 26 includes drive sources such as known electromagnetic motors and ultrasonic motors, driver circuits for controlling these drive sources, and an encoder device for detecting the position of a lens. Etc. are included.

Based on a subject luminance value output from an area sensor drive circuit 32 described later, a film sensitivity detected by a film sensitivity detection circuit (not shown), and a program chart (not shown), the CPU 25 The obtained aperture value and shutter speed of the aperture mechanism 2 are calculated. Thus, the drive of the shutter 19 is controlled at the calculated shutter speed.

The magnetic head 21 is driven by the output of a magnetic head drive circuit 34. Further, when the photographing of one frame of the silver halide film 20 is completed, the film drive circuit 35 performs a winding operation of the film 20. The magnetic recording by the magnetic head 21 is executed during the film winding operation.

The switch input unit 41 is provided with a power switch 47 for starting operation of the camera in conjunction with a button (not shown).
A first release switch 48 that is turned on in conjunction with a half-press operation of a release button (not shown), a second release switch 49 that is turned on in conjunction with a full-depression operation of a release button (not shown), and a push button (not shown) And a plurality of switches such as an operation switch such as a continuous shooting mode setting switch 50 and a detection switch of a mechanical system operation.

Next, the configuration of the electronic image pickup apparatus will be described.

The area sensor 17 is controlled by an area sensor drive circuit 32. The formed subject image is converted into an analog video signal and output to a signal processing circuit 33. The signal processing circuit 33 performs predetermined signal processing including conversion of the analog video signal into a digital signal. The output of the signal processing circuit 33 is stored in a DRAM 39 which is a volatile memory which can be written at a high speed, or an image is synthesized with characters and the like by an image synthesis circuit 38 and displayed on an LCD monitor 37.

Further, the signal processing circuit 33 reads the processed signal from the volatile memory DRAM 39 at a predetermined timing, and transfers and stores the processed signal to the flash memory 40 which is a nonvolatile memory. This flash memory 40
Is electrically rewritable and is used for recording an electronic image because the storage of the electronic image is maintained even when the power switch of the camera is off.

The angle of view of the imaging optical system 15 is substantially the same as the angle of view of the shortest focus (the so-called wide end) of the positive lens 1 and the negative lens 3 of the photographing lens. The focal length of the negative lens 3 is the zoom / focus drive circuit 2
6, the electronic image after the signal processing is enlarged / reduced (electronic zoom) to obtain the angle of view between the electronic image displayed on the LCD monitor 37 and the latent image recorded on the silver halide film 20. Approximately match.

In the strobe light emission, the light emitting tube 43 emits light by the output of the strobe circuit 36, the light is reflected by the reflector 44, and further condensed by the Fresnel lens 45 to irradiate the subject. The angle of view of the light emission of the strobe is substantially the same as the angle of view at the shortest focus (the so-called wide end) of the positive lens 1 and the negative lens 3 of the photographing lens.

The zoom / focus drive circuit 26 described above,
Aperture drive circuit 27, mirror drive circuit 28, line sensor drive circuit 29, shutter drive circuit 30, liquid crystal drive circuit 3
1, signal processing circuit 33, magnetic head drive circuit 34, film drive circuit 35, strobe circuit 36, DRAM 39,
The flash memory 40 and the switch input unit 41 are connected to the CPU 25 via a data bus 55, and data is exchanged. The operation of these drive circuits is controlled by the CPU 25.

Next, the operation of the camera thus configured will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining this camera subroutine "main sequence".

When a power source (battery) is loaded into the camera, C
The operation of the PU 25 is started, and a subroutine "main sequence" is called.

Then, in step S1, it is determined whether or not the power switch 47 of the camera is turned on. Here, when it is on, the process proceeds to step S4, and when it is off, the process proceeds to step S2.

In step S2, an instruction to turn off the display is given to the LCD monitor 37. Next, in step S3,
Standby processing 1 is performed. This standby processing 1
Before stopping the operation of the so-called CPU 25,
This is for setting conditions for the PU 25 to start operating again. In the standby process 1, the operation is set to start when the power switch 47 is turned on. Then, the operation of the CPU 25 is stopped. When the standby is released, the subroutine "main sequence" is executed from the beginning.

On the other hand, if the power switch 47 is turned on in step S1, the process proceeds to step S4, where the positive lens 1 and the negative lens 3 of the photographing lens are extended from the retracted position to the wide position. In the following step S5,
The main capacitor (not shown) included in the strobe circuit 36 is charged.

In step S6, the timer 1 built in the CPU 25 starts counting. This timer is a counter that is counted up every predetermined time. The counter value is cleared to 0 (reset), and counting is started.

Then, in step S7, it is determined whether or not the first release switch 48 is turned on by pressing a first release button (not shown).
Here, if it is off, the process proceeds to step S12, and if it is on, the process proceeds to step S8.

In step S 8, the optical path switching element 11 is set in a transmitting state by the output of the liquid crystal driving circuit 31, and the area sensor 17 performs photometry. When metering is completed,
The output of the liquid crystal drive circuit 31 allows the optical path switching element 11
Is made to be in a transmission state. A subject brightness value is output from the area sensor drive circuit 32, and the subject brightness value is input to the CPU 25 via the signal processing circuit 33.

In step S9, the interval between the two images is obtained based on the signal input via the line sensor driving circuit 29, and the driving amount data of the photographing lens for driving to the in-focus position is calculated. The drive amount is transferred to the zoom / focus drive circuit 26, which changes the focal position of each of the lenses 1 and 3 of the photographing lens.

In step S10, an appropriate exposure is performed by a known technique based on the subject luminance value obtained in step S8, a program chart (not shown), and a film sensitivity detected by a film sensitivity detection circuit (not shown). The obtained aperture value and shutter speed of the aperture mechanism 2 are calculated.

Next, in step S11, a subroutine "photographing sequence" to be described later is called, and an image is taken by the area sensor 17 and the silver halide film 20 is exposed.

On the other hand, in step S12, it is determined whether or not a continuous shooting mode setting button (not shown) is pressed and the continuous shooting mode setting switch 50 is turned on. Here, when it is determined that the continuous shooting mode setting switch 50 is not turned on, the process proceeds to step S14, and when it is determined that the continuous shooting mode setting switch 50 is turned on, step S14 is performed.
Then, the continuous shooting mode flag is set.

In step S14, it is determined whether the power switch 47 of the camera is on. Here, when the power switch 47 is on, the process proceeds to step S15, and when the power switch 47 is off, the process proceeds to step S2.

When a predetermined time elapses after the counting of the timer 1 is started in step S6, the timer 1 overflows. Therefore, in step S15, it is determined whether or not the timer 1 overflows.
Here, if an overflow has occurred, the process proceeds to step S16. If an overflow has not occurred, the process proceeds to step S16.
7 and the subsequent processing is repeatedly executed. This is because when an operation switch such as a power switch is not operated even after a predetermined time has elapsed, the CPU is used to save energy.
25 is in the standby state.

In step S16, an instruction to turn off the display is made on the LCD monitor 37. Next, in step S17, standby processing 2 is performed. This standby process 2 is for setting conditions for restarting the operation of the CPU 25 after the stop before stopping the operation of the CPU 25, similarly to step S3 described above.

In the standby mode 2, the power switch 47, the first release switch 48, and the second
Release switch 49, continuous shooting mode setting switch 5
It is set so that the operation is started by a change of 0. Then, the operation of the CPU 25 is stopped. When the standby 2 is released, the processing is executed from the step S5.

Next, referring to the flowchart of FIG.
The operation of the subroutine "photographing sequence" will be described.

First, in step S21, a control signal is sent to the signal processing circuit 33 so that the LCD monitor 37 is turned off. Next, in step S22, the variable N is set to 1
Is substituted. Then, in step S23, the second
The state of the release switch 49 is determined.

Here, if the second release switch 49 has not been turned on, the flow shifts to step S24. In step S24, the state of the first release switch 48 is determined. If the first release switch 48 has not been turned on, the process returns to the main routine (not shown). On the other hand, if the first release switch 48 is on, the determination in step S23 is repeated.

If the second release switch 49 has been turned on, the flow shifts to step S25, where the aperture driving circuit 2
By the output of 7, the aperture mechanism 2 is narrowed down to the set aperture value. The aperture value is determined by a known technique in advance in a main routine (not shown) based on subject brightness, film sensitivity, a program diagram, and the like.

Then, in step S26, it is determined whether or not the continuous shooting mode flag is set. If it is determined that the continuous shooting mode flag is set, the process proceeds to step S33. If it is determined that the continuous shooting mode flag is not set (single frame shooting mode), the process proceeds to step S27.

In step S27, a subroutine "imaging" described later is executed. Next, in step S28, the movable mirror 4 is retracted outside the imaging optical path by the output of the mirror driving circuit 28. Then, in step S29, the shutter 1
9 is driven to control the shutter speed to the set shutter speed value. The shutter speed value is determined in advance in a main routine (not shown), like the aperture value.

In step S30, the signal processing circuit 33 which has received the capture permission signal captures an analog image signal from the area sensor 17 and converts it into digital image data by a known method. In step S31, the digital image data is subjected to predetermined signal processing (for example,
After conversion to display data is performed, the DRAM 3
9 is transferred and stored. Thereafter, the variable N is incremented in step S32.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S26 that the continuous shooting mode flag is set, the movable mirror 4 is retracted outside the shooting optical path by the output of the mirror driving circuit 28 in step S33. Then, in step S34, the shutter 19 is driven by the output of the shutter drive circuit 30 so that the shutter speed is controlled to the set shutter speed value.

Next, in step S35, the movable mirror 4 retracted in the "mirror up" routine in steps S28 and S33 is returned to a normal position in the photographing optical path. Then, in step S36, the aperture mechanism 2 which has been in the narrowed-down state in the "narrowing-down" routine is returned to the open state.

In step S37, the film drive circuit 3
With the output of 5, the silver halide film 20 is wound up by one frame. At this time, predetermined data is magnetically recorded on the magnetic recording layer (not shown) of the silver halide film 20 by the magnetic head 21, but a detailed description is omitted because it is a known technique.

Next, in step S38, the continuous shooting mode flag is referred to. Here, when the continuous shooting mode is set, the process proceeds to step S42, and when the single frame shooting mode is set, the process proceeds to step S39.

In step S39, a display operation is instructed to the signal processing circuit 33. Thereby, the LCD monitor 37
Is displayed. Subsequently, step S4
At 0, the digital image data stored in the DRAM 39 is compressed. Then, in step S41, the compressed digital image data is stored in the flash memory 40.

On the other hand, if the continuous shooting mode has been set in step S38, the flow shifts to step S42 to determine whether the content of the variable N has been counted up to 6. This is because the number of frames in one continuous shooting mode is limited to five frames. If the shooting of five frames has not been completed in the continuous shooting mode, the above-described step S23 is performed.
When the process is terminated, the process returns to the main routine (not shown).

If the amount of film consumption in the continuous shooting mode is ignored, there is no problem even if the number of frames is set to five or more.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the above-described subroutine "imaging".

In step S51, the output of the liquid crystal drive circuit 31 is controlled so that the optical path switching element 11 is in a transmission state. As a result, the luminous flux of the subject passes through the optical path switching element 11, and the imaging optical system 15 and the imaging diaphragm 16
And enters the area sensor 17 to form an image.

Next, in step S 52, an imaging instruction signal is sent to the area sensor drive circuit 32. The imaging operation is controlled by the area sensor drive circuit 32, and the imaging operation of the area sensor 17 is started in response to the imaging instruction signal.

Then, in step S53, the imaging operation is performed by the area sensor 17 for a predetermined time, and it is determined whether or not the imaging is completed. Here, when it is determined that the process has been completed, the process proceeds to step S54, and when it is not completed, the same determination is repeated.

The area sensor drive circuit 32 transmits a capture permission signal to the signal processing circuit 33. In the signal processing circuit 33 receiving the permission signal, the analog image signal is taken in from the area sensor 17 and converted into digital image data by a known method. The digital image data is transferred to the DRAM 39 after predetermined signal processing (for example, conversion into display data) is performed.

In step S54, the output of the liquid crystal drive circuit 31 is controlled so that the optical path switching element 11 is in a reflection state. Thereby, the subject light beam is reflected by the optical path switching element 11, passes through the finder eyepiece optical system 12, and can be observed again.

As described above, in the camera according to the first embodiment, normally, the optical path switching element is in the reflection state,
It is possible to observe the subject image from the viewfinder,
When imaging or photometry is performed by the area sensor, the optical path switching element is in a transmission state.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the main sequence of the camera according to the second embodiment.

The flowchart shown in FIG. 5 is a subroutine for executing the main sequence of the camera.

In the flowchart of FIG. 5, steps S61 to S73, S76, S77 and S8
0 and S81 are steps S1 to S13, S14, S15 and S16 of the flowchart of FIG.
Since the process is the same as S17, the description is omitted here.

When a power source (battery) is loaded into the camera, C
The operation of the PU 25 is started, and a subroutine "main sequence" is called. Next, steps S1 to S1
2. After the processing in S13 is performed, it is determined in step S74 whether an optical path switching operation button (not shown) has been turned on. Here, when it is determined that the switch is turned on, the process proceeds to step S75, and when it is determined that the switch is not turned on, the process proceeds to step S76.

In step S75, the optical path switching element 11
Is switched to transmission or reflection. That is, the state is switched to the reflection state if the current state is the transmission state, and to the transmission state if the state is the current reflection state.

If the power switch 47 is turned on in step S76, the flow shifts to step S77 to determine whether or not the timer 1 overflows. Here, if the timer 1 has not overflown, the flow proceeds to step S78, and if it has overflowed, the flow proceeds to step S80.

In step S78, a subroutine "imaging" is executed. Then, in a step S79,
The display on the LCD monitor 37 is turned on. Thereafter, the flow shifts to step S67. Since imaging is continuously repeated, a moving image is displayed on the LCD monitor screen, and substitutes for an optical finder.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the subroutine "imaging" called in the above-described subroutine "imaging sequence".

In the second embodiment, the subroutine "photographing sequence" is the same as the flowchart in FIG.

First, in step S91, it is determined whether the optical path switching element 11 is in the transmitting state or the reflecting state. Here, if it is in the transmission state, the process proceeds to step S92 to perform imaging, but if it is in the reflection state, the imaging is not performed and the subroutine "imaging sequence" is performed.
Return to

In step S92, an image pickup instruction signal is sent to the area sensor drive circuit 32. Then, in step S93, the output of the liquid crystal drive circuit 31 controls the optical path switching element 11 to be in the reflection state.

As described above, according to the second embodiment,
The state of the optical path switching element can be switched between the reflection state and the transmission state by the operation member. When the light path switching element is set to the reflection state, it is possible to observe the subject image from the finder. On the other hand, when the light path switching element is in the transmission state, imaging by the area sensor becomes possible, and The displayed electronic image is displayed on the monitor.

[0082]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a camera for both silver halide photography and electronic imaging which does not cause loss of the amount of light incident on the optical viewfinder and does not impair the miniaturization of the camera. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a camera for both silver halide photography and electronic imaging according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a subroutine “main sequence” of the camera according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a step S11 in the flowchart of FIG. 2;
3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of a subroutine "photographing sequence" of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a step S27 in the flowchart of FIG. 3;
9 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the subroutine "imaging" of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a subroutine “main sequence” of the camera according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a step S78 in the flowchart of FIG. 5;
9 is a flowchart for explaining a subroutine "imaging" called in the subroutine "imaging sequence" of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 positive lens, 2 aperture mechanism, 3 negative lens, 4 movable mirror, 5 submirror, 6 separator optical system, 7 line sensor, 10 pentaprism, 11 optical path switching element, 12 finder eyepiece optical system, 15 imaging optical system, 16 imaging Aperture, 17 area sensor, 19 shutter, 20 silver halide film, 21 magnetic head, 25 CPU, 26 zoom / focus drive circuit, 27 aperture drive circuit, 28 mirror drive circuit, 29 line sensor drive circuit, 30 shutter drive circuit, 32 area sensor drive circuit, 33 signal processing circuit, 34 magnetic head drive circuit, 35 film drive circuit, 36 strobe circuit, 37 LCD monitor, 38 image synthesis circuit, 41 switch input section, 47 power switch, 48 first release switch, 49 2nd release switch , 50 continuous shooting mode setting switch, 55 data bus.

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat II (Reference) H04N 5/225 H04N 5/225 Z

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An electronic image pickup device comprising: an electronic image pickup device for converting a subject image into an electric signal; a monitor for displaying an image signal output from the electronic image pickup device; A silver-salt photographing and electronic image-capturing camera, wherein the camera performs a photographing operation by the electronic image-capturing device in conjunction with an exposure operation of the silver-salt film by the silver-salt photographing device. A pentaprism for guiding a subject light beam to a finder eyepiece; and an optical path switching element capable of electrically controlling light in both a transmission state and a reflection state on one of the reflection surfaces of the pentaprism. A camera for both silver halide photography and electronic imaging, wherein the electronic imaging device is arranged on the back. 2. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a quick return mirror for selectively guiding a subject light beam to a finder optical system and a film surface, and transmitting the optical path switching element prior to the retracting operation of the quick return mirror. 2. The camera according to claim 1, wherein imaging is performed by an element. 3. The camera according to claim 1, further comprising an operation member capable of switching between a transmission state and a reflection state of the optical path switching element.