JP2002048968A - Camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a camera easily used even at the time of no-finder photographing. SOLUTION: When a self-photographing mode is set by operating a self- photographing mode setting switch 62, image pickup by an area sensor 64 for converting a subject image into an electrical signal and the display of the picked-up image on an LCD monitor 38 by a display control circuit 85 are repeated while the camera is set in the self-photographing mode. At such a time, the circuit 85 superimposes a frame (AF target mark) showing the range- finding range within an image pickup plane on a displayed picture displayed on the monitor 38 by a superimposing circuit 86 incorporated in the circuit 85.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a camera capable of capturing an image of a subject with an electronic image sensor and displaying the image on a monitor device such as a liquid crystal display device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a current camera, a self-photographing function is indispensable.

In this self-photographing operation, the photographer usually looks at the viewfinder to determine the photographing composition, and then presses the release button to start counting the time of self-photographing. At this time, it is necessary to fix the camera using a tripod or the like.

[0004]

However, the self-photographing function mounted on an actual camera is not very easy for a photographer to use.

That is, carrying a tripod is a burden on the photographer, and is not often used. Therefore, at the time of self-photographing, it is necessary to place the camera somewhere, for example, on the hood of a car, etc., but in such a case, the photographing posture often does not become free, and the photographer cannot look into the finder, In other words, it is possible that no finder shooting is forced. If the composition cannot be determined properly, especially in the case of an AF camera, the distance of an object other than the subject is measured, and as a result, there is a possibility that a blurred photograph is obtained.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and has as its object to provide a camera which is easy to use even when photographing with no viewfinder.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, a camera according to the present invention comprises: a photographing lens; an exposing means for exposing a subject image to a silver halide film through the taking lens; Prior to the exposure operation by AF, an AF unit that measures the distance of a specific portion in the shooting screen and adjusts the focus of the shooting lens according to the result, and an electronic imaging device for converting the subject image into an electronic image Monitor means for displaying an image picked up by the electronic image pickup element, and image pickup of the subject image by the electronic image pickup element in synchronization with the operation of the exposure means, and monitoring of the picked-up image after the end of the exposure operation. A first mode for displaying on the means and a second mode for repeating the imaging operation by the electronic imaging device and the display operation by the monitor means prior to the exposure operation are selectively set. Wherein the mark indicating the distance measurement range of the AF means is superimposed on the subject image displayed on the monitor means when the second mode is selected and set. And

According to the camera of the present invention, prior to the exposure operation, when the second mode in which the image pickup operation by the electronic image pickup device and the display operation by the monitor means are selected and set, the display on the monitor means is performed. AF on subject image
Since the mark indicating the distance measurement range of the means is superimposed, the composition can be easily set while looking at the monitor means at the time of no finder shooting.

The second mode is a self-photographing mode.

In order to achieve the above object, a camera according to the present invention comprises: an exposing means for exposing a subject image to a silver halide film; an imaging means for taking the subject image by an image sensor; Monitor means for displaying an image taken by the camera, control means for repeating the image pickup operation of the image pickup means and the display operation of the monitor means, distance measuring means for measuring a distance of a subject within a specific range in a photographing screen, and the control means A superimposing means for superimposing a mark indicating the range of the distance measuring means during display by the means.

That is, according to the camera of the present invention, when an image periodically picked up by the image pickup means is displayed on the monitor means,
The superimposing means superimposes the mark indicating the distance measurement range of the distance measuring means for measuring the distance of a subject within a specific range in the shooting screen. Can be easily done.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

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

The camera for both silver halide photography and electronic imaging is
It has a portion related to the silver halide imaging device and a portion related to the electronic imaging device.

In a portion relating to the silver halide photographing apparatus, a photographing lens for forming a subject image is composed of a positive lens 10 and a negative lens 12, and an aperture mechanism 14 is disposed in the photographing lens. The drive of the aperture mechanism 14 is controlled by an aperture drive circuit 16. Behind the negative lens 12, there is provided a movable mirror 18 having a substantially central half mirror, and a sub-mirror 20 is provided on the central rear surface of the movable mirror 18 so as to reflect the subject light downward. Is provided. A separator optical system 22 composed of two optical systems for separating two images is arranged in the direction of the reflection optical axis of the sub-mirror 20 and in a direction substantially perpendicular to the drawing. A line sensor 24 is arranged at a position where the subject image is formed by the separator optical system 22, and the line sensor 24 is connected to a line sensor drive circuit 26. The sub mirror 20 and the separator optical system 2
2. A focus detection device based on a known phase difference method for measuring a distance in a specific portion, for example, a central portion in the photographing screen, is constituted by the line sensor 24 and the like.
Calculates the distance between the two images based on the signal input via the line sensor drive circuit 26, 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 30, and the focal positions of the lenses 10 and 12 of the photographing lens are changed. The zoom / focus drive circuit 30 includes known drive sources such as an electromagnetic motor and an ultrasonic motor, a driver circuit for controlling these drive sources, and an encoder device for detecting the position of a lens. It is.

A focusing plate 32, a pentaprism 34, and a finder eyepiece optical system 36 are arranged on the reflected light path of the movable mirror 18. In the present embodiment, the reason that this optical finder is provided in addition to a liquid crystal (LCD) monitor 38 described later for monitoring a subject is that the camera operator does not take a picture while looking at the LCD monitor 38, but rather an optical finder. This is because photographing while looking into the camera improves the holding performance of the camera and makes it easier to prevent camera shake and the like.

The above-mentioned movable mirror 18 is driven by a mirror driving circuit 40, and the shutter 42 is driven by a shutter driving circuit 44. When the movable mirror 18 is raised and the shutter 42 is opened, a subject image is formed on the silver halide film 46 and is exposed. It should be noted that the aperture value of the aperture mechanism 14 for obtaining an appropriate exposure is based on a subject brightness value output from an area sensor drive circuit 48 described later, a film sensitivity detected by a film sensitivity detection circuit (not shown), and a program chart (not shown). The CPU 28 calculates the shutter speed and the shutter speed, and the shutter 42 is driven and controlled at the calculated shutter speed.

A magnetic recording layer is formed on the silver halide film 46, and a magnetic head 50 is arranged so as to be in contact with the magnetic recording layer. The magnetic head 50 magnetically records various information and is driven by the output of the magnetic head drive circuit 52. Further, a film driving circuit 54 is provided in the camera body, and when the photographing of one frame is completed, the above-mentioned silver film 46 is wound up. The magnetic recording by the magnetic head 50 is performed during the winding operation.

The switch input unit 56 includes a first release switch 58 that is turned on in conjunction with a half-press operation of a release button (not shown) and a second release switch that is turned on in conjunction with a full-depression operation of a release button (not shown). 60, a self-photographing mode setting switch 62 linked to a push button (not shown)
And a plurality of switches such as a switch for detecting the operation of a mechanical mechanism. The self-photographing mode setting switch 62 functions as a self-photographing mode setting means. When the self-photographing mode is set by the self-photographing mode setting switch 62, operation of a release button or a remote control receiving circuit (not shown) is performed. When a predetermined regular signal is received, the process proceeds to a shooting sequence described later.

Next, parts related to the electronic image pickup apparatus will be described.

An image pickup lens for forming an object image on an area sensor 64 as an electronic image pickup device is a positive lens 6.
6 and a negative lens 68, and a fixed diaphragm mechanism 70 is disposed in the imaging lens. The area sensor 6
4 is controlled by the area sensor drive circuit 48, converts the formed subject image into an analog video signal, and outputs the analog video signal to the signal processing circuit 72. The signal processing circuit 72 performs predetermined signal processing including conversion of the analog video signal into a digital signal.

The output of the signal processing circuit 72 is stored in a DRAM 74 which is a volatile memory which can be written at a high speed, sent to a display control circuit 85, and sent to the LCD monitor 38.
Will be displayed. Further, the signal processing circuit 72 reads out the processed signal from the DRAM 74 at a predetermined timing, and transfers and stores the processed signal to the flash memory 76 which is a non-volatile memory. 38 can also be displayed. The flash memory 76 can be electrically rewritten,
Since the storage of the electronic image is retained even when the power switch of the camera is off, it is used for recording the electronic image.

A superimpose circuit 86 is built in the display control circuit 85, and the display image is displayed on the display control circuit 85.
A target mark (a frame indicating a distance measurement range in the imaging screen) can be superimposed.

The imaging angle of view of the lenses 66 and 68 of the imaging lens is substantially the same as the imaging angle of view of the shortest focus (the so-called wide end) of the lenses 10 and 12 of the imaging lens related to the silver halide imaging apparatus. When the focal lengths of the lenses 10 and 12 are changed by the zoom / focus drive circuit 30, the electronic image after signal processing is enlarged or reduced (electronic zoom).
By doing so, the angle of view of the electronic image displayed on the LCD monitor 38 and the angle of view of the latent image recorded on the silver halide film 46 substantially match.

In the strobe light emitting section, the light emitting tube 80 emits light by the output of the strobe circuit 78, the light is reflected by the reflector 82, further condensed by the Fresnel lens 84, and irradiates the subject. The angle of view of the light emission of the strobe is substantially the same as the angle of view of the shortest focus (so-called wide end) of the lenses 10 and 12 of the photographing lens related to the silver halide photographing apparatus.

The angle of view of the area sensor 64 and the angle of view of the strobe light may be coordinated with the zoom operation of the lenses 10 and 12 of the photographing lenses related to the silver halide photographing apparatus so that the angles of view coincide. good.

The above-described aperture drive circuit 16, line sensor drive circuit 26, zoom / focus drive circuit 30, mirror drive circuit 40, shutter drive circuit 44, magnetic head drive circuit 52, film drive circuit 54, signal processing circuit 72,
The DRAM 74, the flash memory 76, and the flash circuit 78 are connected by a data bus 86, and exchange data. And the operation of each of these circuits,
The CPU 28 performs overall control.

Next, the operation of the camera for both silver halide photography and electronic imaging according to the present embodiment configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

That is, when the power switch of the camera is turned on, the operation of this flowchart is started.
A timer (not shown) configured in the CPU 28 is reset and started (step S1). This timer is a counter that counts up at predetermined time intervals. Here, the counter value is cleared (reset) to 0, and counting is started. Note that by reading the value of this counter as appropriate, it is possible to detect the elapsed time from the start of counting.

Next, it is determined whether or not the first release switch 58 is turned on by pressing the first release button (step S2). Here, when the first release switch 58 is on, the process proceeds to step S5 described later. If the first release switch 58 is off, it is determined whether a remote control receiving circuit (not shown) has received a remote control signal (step S3).

If a remote control signal has been received, it is further determined whether a flag F_SELF provided in the CPU 28 has been set (step S4). This flag F_SELF is a flag that is set when the camera is set to the self-photographing mode. When the flag F_SELF is set, a shooting sequence described in detail later is executed (step S).
5). That is, when the first release switch 58 is turned on, or when a remote control signal is received when the self-photographing mode is set, the flow shifts to the photographing sequence. That is, the remote control signal is received only when the camera is set to the self-photographing mode.

If it is determined in step S3 that no remote control signal has been received, or if a remote control signal has been received but it has been determined in step S4 that the self-photographing mode has not been set, then It is determined whether the self-photographing mode setting switch 62 has been turned on (step S6).

Here, the self-photographing mode setting switch 6
2 has been turned on, the flag F_SEL
It is determined whether or not F is set, that is, whether or not the self-photographing mode is currently set (step S7). If it is determined that the self-photographing mode has already been set, the flag F_SELF is cleared, that is, the self-photographing mode is released (step S).
8). If it is determined that the self-photographing mode is not set, the flag F_SELF is set, that is, the self-photographing mode is set (step S9), and then the timer is reset and started (step S10).

Thus, in step S8, the flag F_S
After clearing the ELF, resetting / starting the timer in step S10, or when determining in step S6 that the self-photographing mode setting switch 62 is not turned on, is the flag F_SELF set? (Step S1)
1).

If it is determined that the flag F_SELF has not been set, it is determined whether five minutes have elapsed since the timer started counting (step S12), and five minutes have still elapsed. If it is determined that there is not, the process returns to step S2, and the above-described processing is repeated. On the other hand, if it is determined that 5 minutes have elapsed, a display-off instruction is output to turn off the power to the LCD monitor 38 (step S13), and then the CPU 28 stops operating in a so-called stop mode. Transition. The release of the stop mode is performed by operating a release button, a self-photographing mode setting button, a power switch (not shown), and the like. Note that the display off in step S13 is performed by LC
This is performed irrespective of the energization status of the D monitor 38. However, it goes without saying that the energization status of the LCD monitor 38 may be determined and turned off only when it is on.

If it is determined in step S11 that the flag F_SELF has been set,
Next, it is determined whether ten minutes have elapsed since the start of counting by the timer (step S14). And
If it is determined that ten minutes have elapsed, the flag F_SELF is cleared to release the self-photographing mode (step 15), and the power to the LCD monitor 38 is turned off (step S16). Return to S2.

If it is determined that 10 minutes have not yet elapsed, it is determined whether or not the timer has counted the next 100 ms (step S17). It returns to step S2.
On the other hand, if it is determined that 100 ms has been measured, that is, every 100 ms, the processing from the next step S18 is performed.

That is, first, an imaging instruction signal is sent to the area sensor drive circuit 48 (step S18). Here, the control of the imaging operation is performed by the area sensor drive circuit 48, and the area sensor 64 starts the imaging operation in response to the imaging instruction signal. Area sensor 6
When the imaging operation is completed in step 4, the area sensor drive circuit 48 transmits a capture permission signal to the signal processing circuit 72. The signal processing circuit 72 receiving this capture permission signal
Captures an analog image signal from the area sensor 64 and converts it into digital image data by a known method (step S19). The digital image data is
After performing predetermined signal processing (for example, conversion into display data), the data is transferred to and stored in the DRAM 74 (step S20). Then, a display operation is instructed to the signal processing circuit 72, and the energization of the LCD monitor 38 is turned on, and the captured image is displayed on the LCD monitor 38 via the display control circuit 85 (step S21). On this occasion,
By the superimpose circuit 86, as shown in FIG.
The display image 100 displayed on the CD monitor 38 includes an AF
The distance measurement frame (AF target mark 101) is displayed in a superimposed manner. Thereafter, the process returns to step S2, and the above processing is repeated.

With the above processing, this camera operates as follows.

That is, the above steps S2 to S5
When the first release button is pressed or the camera is set to the remote control shooting mode and a predetermined remote control signal is received, the process proceeds to a shooting sequence described later.

The above steps S6 to S1
By the process of 0, the setting / release to the self-photographing mode is performed every time the self-photographing mode setting switch 62 is operated.

Then, through the processing of steps S17 to S21, the camera repeatedly performs image capturing every 100 ms after the camera is set to the self-photographing mode.
The captured image is displayed on the LCD monitor 38. The camera operator can easily set the composition while watching the display on the LCD monitor 38. At this time, the AF target mark 101 is superimposed on the display image 100.

The steps S14 to S14
When 10 minutes have passed since the self-photographing mode was set by the process in step 16, the self-photographing mode is canceled and the display on the LCD monitor 38 is turned off, so that battery consumption can be suppressed.

Further, after five minutes have passed without any operation by the processing of steps S12 and S13, the mode is shifted to the stop mode, so that the consumption of the battery can be suppressed.

Next, referring to FIG.
The subroutine of the photographing sequence called by will be described.

That is, first, photometry is performed by the area sensor 64, the subject brightness value is output from the area sensor drive circuit 48, and is input to the CPU 28 via the signal processing circuit 72 (step S51). Further, the CPU 28 obtains the interval between the two images based on the signal input via the line sensor driving circuit 26, and calculates the driving amount data of the photographing lens for driving to the in-focus position (step S52). In addition. This drive amount is transferred to the zoom / focus drive circuit 30, and the focal positions of the lenses 10 and 12 of the photographing lens are changed. Then, based on the subject luminance value obtained in step S51, a program chart (not shown), and a film sensitivity detected by a film sensitivity detection circuit (not shown), an aperture mechanism 14 capable of obtaining an appropriate exposure by a known technique. The aperture value and shutter speed are calculated (step S53).

Here, it is determined whether or not a remote control signal has been received (step S54). In other words, this shooting sequence determines whether the remote control signal is received and called when the camera is set to the self-shooting mode, or whether the first release switch 58 is operated and called.

When it is determined that no remote control signal has been received, that is, when the first release switch 58 is operated to call the shooting sequence, the second
Check the state of the release switch 60 (step S
55) If it is determined that it is not turned on,
The state of the first release switch 58 is checked (step S56). Then, the first release switch 58
If it is determined that is not turned on, the timer is reset / started (step S57), and the process returns to the main routine of FIG. If it is determined that the first release switch 58 is turned on, the process returns to step S55.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S55 that the second release switch 60 has been turned on, then
It is determined whether the flag F_SELF is set (step S58). Then, this flag F_SE
If it is determined that LF is set, or if it is determined in step S54 that a remote control signal has been received, a delay (delay time) is provided (step S59), and the flag F_SELF is cleared. Then, the self-photographing mode is cleared (step S60).
In the self-photographing mode, the delay time is about 10 seconds when the release button is pressed, and about 3 seconds in the case of remote control photographing. Blinks at a predetermined cycle.

Thereafter, or in step S5
If it is determined in step 8 that the flag F_SELF is not set, then the aperture mechanism 14 is narrowed down to the aperture value calculated in step S53 by the output of the aperture drive circuit 16 (step S61). Thereafter, the movable mirror 18 is retracted out of the photographing optical path by the output of the mirror driving circuit 40 (Step S62).

At the same time, an image pickup instruction signal is sent to the area sensor drive circuit 48 (step S63). Here, the control of the imaging operation is performed by the area sensor drive circuit 48, and the area sensor 64 starts the imaging operation in response to the imaging instruction signal. Area sensor 6
When the imaging operation is completed by the step 4, the area sensor drive circuit 48 transmits a capture permission signal to the signal processing circuit 72.

Further, the shutter 42 is driven by the output of the shutter drive circuit 44 to control the shutter speed to be the shutter speed value calculated in step S53 (step S64).

On the other hand, the signal processing circuit 72 which has received the above-mentioned fetch permission signal fetches the analog image signal from the area sensor 64 and converts it into digital image data by a known method (step S65). The digital image data is transferred to and stored in the DRAM 74 after performing predetermined signal processing (for example, conversion to display data) (step S66).

Then, the movable mirror 18 retracted in the above step 62 is returned to a normal position in the photographing optical path (step S67), and the aperture mechanism 14 that has been stopped down in step S61 is returned to the open state (step S67). S
68). Thereafter, the silver halide film 46 is wound up by one frame by the output of the film drive circuit 54 (step S).
69). In this case, predetermined data is magnetically recorded on the magnetic recording layer of the silver halide film 46 by the magnetic head 50, but a detailed description thereof is omitted because it is a known technique.

Then, the display operation is instructed to the signal processing circuit 72, the LCD monitor 38 is turned on, and the taken image is displayed on the LCD monitor 38 via the display control circuit 85 (step S70). At this time, the superimposing of the AF target mark 101 by the superimposing circuit 86 is not performed. The digital image data stored in the DRAM 74 is compressed (step S71), and the compressed digital image data is stored in the flash memory 76 (step S7).
2). Then, the process proceeds to step S57, resets and starts the timer, and returns to the main routine of FIG.

Although the present invention has been described based on one embodiment, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications and applications are possible within the scope of the present invention. It is.

In other words, the so-called moving image display in which image pickup and monitor display are repeated is not only effective in the self mode, but also in the case of performing no finder shooting (a shooting mode in which a photographer shoots without looking through the finder), the AF target mark May be superimposed on the image.

In short, an AF target mark is displayed in a shooting mode in which a composition or the like is determined while looking at a monitor screen prior to silver halide shooting, and an AF target mark is displayed in a check after shooting.
If the target mark is not displayed, the camera becomes very easy to use.

[0059]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention,
An electronic imaging device having an electronic imaging device for converting a subject image into an electric signal, and a silver halide photography and electronic imaging combined camera having both functions of a silver halide photography device for projecting the subject image on a silver halide film, a camera When the camera is set to the self-photographing mode, the image is repeatedly taken at predetermined time intervals after the self-photographing mode is set, and the taken image is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor together with the AF target mark. Can realize an easy-to-use self-photographing mode in which composition can be easily set while looking at a liquid crystal monitor. In addition, since a self-photographing mode is canceled and a display on a liquid crystal monitor is turned off when a predetermined time elapses after the self-photographing mode is set, a camera capable of minimizing battery consumption of the camera can be provided. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a view showing an operation flowchart of the camera of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a state in which an AF target mark is superimposed and displayed on a display image displayed on an LCD monitor.

FIG. 4 is a view showing a flowchart of a shooting sequence subroutine in FIG. 2;

[Explanation of symbols]

 28 CPU 38 LCD monitor 46 Silver film 58 First release switch 60 Second release switch 62 Self-photographing mode setting switch 64 Area sensor 72 Signal processing circuit 74 DRAM 76 Flash memory 85 Display control circuit 86 Superimpose circuit

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04N 5/225 G02B 7/11 C G03B 3/00 A F term (Reference) 2H011 DA05 2H051 GA03 GA09 GA17 2H054 BB07 2H102 AA44 CA02 CA34 5C022 AA13 AB15 AB17 AB27 AB30 AB67 AC03 AC32 AC42 AC52

Claims (3)

[Claims] A photographing lens; an exposing means for exposing a subject image to a silver halide film through the photographing lens; and a distance measuring a specific portion in a photographing screen prior to an exposing operation by the exposing means. AF means for adjusting the focus of the photographing lens according to the result, an electronic image pickup device for converting the subject image into an electronic image, monitor means for displaying an image taken by the electronic image pickup device, and exposure means A first mode in which the electronic image pickup device captures the subject image in synchronization with the operation of the above, and displays the captured image on the monitor means after the end of the exposure operation; Setting means for selectively setting an image pickup operation by an image pickup device and a second mode for repeating a display operation by the monitor means, wherein a setting is made when the second mode is selected and set. The camera, characterized in that superimposing a mark indicating the distance measuring range of the AF means the subject image displayed on the monitor means. 2. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the second mode is a self-photographing mode. 3. Exposure means for exposing a subject image to a silver halide film, imaging means for capturing the subject image with an image sensor, monitor means for displaying an image captured by the imaging means, and A control unit that repeats an imaging operation and a display operation of the monitor unit; a distance measurement unit that measures a distance of a subject within a specific range in a shooting screen; and a distance measurement range of the distance measurement unit during display by the control unit. And a superimposing means for superimposing a mark to be indicated.