JP2771004B2 - Camera with automatic focus detection device - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an autofocus camera that focuses on a plurality of different subjects in consideration of the depth of field.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, this type of camera has a distance measurement position in the center of the screen as described in Japanese Patent Application No. 61-236841,
It is proposed to measure the distance by shaking the camera for different subjects, obtain the defocus amount of each subject, and operate the camera with aperture value and lens position control to bring each subject into focus. ing.

Further, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-76964, in an autofocus camera capable of measuring a distance at a plurality of positions, the amount of defocus at a plurality of points is detected at the same time, so that a plurality of objects are brought into focus. A camera that operates a camera by controlling an aperture value and a lens position in consideration of the depth of field has been proposed.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

On the other hand, a plurality of focus detection areas are provided as a normal auto focus mode, and an arbitrary one of the areas is selected by a photographer's will to focus on a subject located in the area. An arbitrary point autofocus mode (first autofocus mode) to be performed and, for example, the closest object is automatically selected and focused based on the focus detection result in each area among the objects captured in a plurality of areas. There is also known a camera which has an automatic focus mode (second auto focus mode) for automatically selecting an area to be matched, and which is capable of selecting these two modes. 1
The photographing mode (normal depth, normal depth,
A first depth-priority mode) and a shooting mode (auto depth, second depth-priority mode) in which the defocus amount is obtained in each area by a single operation of the operation member and each object is brought into focus. When the first auto focus mode is selected, the photographer dares to select the focus detection area, so that when the second depth priority mode is selected, focusing is performed. Often the focus will be different from the will of the person. Conversely, when the second auto-focus mode is selected, the photographer often wants to perform the focusing automatically and perform the photographing as simply as possible. If the priority mode is selected, the operation becomes complicated and the time until focusing becomes longer, which is contrary to the photographing intention of the photographer who has selected the second autofocus mode.

[Means for solving the problem]

In view of the above, the present invention includes, as its configuration, a focus detection unit that independently detects a focus state with respect to a plurality of different areas of a photographing screen, and an arbitrary one of the different areas as determined by an operator. A first auto focus mode in which a focusing lens is set as a focus detection target area, and a photographic lens is driven and focused on an object in the set area based on a focus state detected by the focus detection means. And evaluating the respective focus states detected by the focus detection means on the object in each area with the plurality of areas as focus detection target areas, selecting one focus state, and selecting the selected focus state. A camera equipped with an automatic focusing device having a second autofocus mode for driving a taking lens based on the Each time the material is operated, at each operation time of the operation member based on each focus state detected by the focus detection means for an object captured in a predetermined one area at each operation time A first depth-priority mode in which each object captured in the area is focused by obtaining a lens drive amount for bringing the respective objects into a focused state; At least two of the objects captured in each of the regions based on the respective focus states detected by the focus detection means with respect to the objects captured in the respective regions
Depth priority focusing processing means having a second depth priority mode for performing focusing by obtaining a lens drive amount for bringing both objects into focus. When operating, the first depth priority mode is selected when the first autofocus mode is set as the autofocus mode, while the first depth priority mode is selected when the second autofocus mode is set. 2. A camera which is provided with a selection means for selecting a depth-first mode, performs matching between the selected auto-focus mode and the depth-first mode, and performs shooting in the depth-first mode without violating the photographing purpose of the photographer. Is provided.

〔Example〕

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing an embodiment of a camera provided with the automatic focusing apparatus according to the present invention. First, the configuration of each unit will be described.

In the figure, PRS is a camera control device, for example, an internal C
This is a one-chip microcomputer having a PU (Central Processing Unit), ROM, RAM, and A / D conversion functions. The PRS performs a series of camera operations such as an automatic exposure control function, an automatic focus adjustment function, and a display function film winding / rewinding operation according to a camera sequence program stored in the ROM. The PRS uses the communication signals SO, SI, SCLK, and the communication selection signals CLCM, CSDR, and CDDR to communicate with the peripheral circuits of the camera body and the in-lens control device to control the operation of each circuit and lens. I do.

SO is a data signal output from the PRS, SI is a data signal input to the PRS, and SCLK is a synchronous clock of the signals SO and SI.

LCM is a lens communication buffer that supplies power to the lens power supply terminal VL when the camera is in operation and that the selection signal CLCM from the PRS has a high potential level (hereinafter, “H”).
And the low potential level is abbreviated as “L”), it is a communication buffer between the camera and the lens.

When the PRS sets CLCM to 'H' and sends predetermined data from SO in synchronization with SCLK, the LCM outputs the respective buffer signals LCK and DCL of SCLK and SO to the lens via the camera-lens communication contact. Output to At the same time, the signal DL from the lens
A buffer signal of C is output to SI, and PRS is synchronized with SCLK.
Enter lens data from.

DDR is a switch detection and display circuit, and the signal CDD
It is selected when R is 'H' and is controlled from PRS using SO, SI, SCLK. That is, the display of the display member DSP of the camera is switched based on the data sent from the PRS,
The superimpose display LEDs _{1 to 3} are selectively operated, and the PRS is notified by communication of the on / off state of various operation members of the camera.

SW1 and SW2 are switches interlocked with a release button (not shown). SW1 is turned on when the release button is pressed in the first stage, and SW2 is subsequently turned on when pressed in the second stage. PRS
Performs photometry and automatic focus adjustment when SW1 is on, and performs exposure control and subsequent film winding with SW2 on as a trigger.

SW2 is connected to the "interrupt input terminal" of the PRS, which is a microcomputer. An interrupt is generated by turning on SW2 even during execution of the program when SW1 is on, and control can be immediately transferred to a predetermined interrupt program.

MTR1 is a motor for feeding the film, and MTR2 is a motor for the mirror up / down and the shutter spring change. The forward and reverse rotations are controlled by respective drive circuits MDR1 and MDR2. Signals M1F, M1R, M2 input to MDR1 and MDR2 from PRS
F and M2R are motor control signals.

MG1 and MG2 are magnets for starting the leading and trailing curtains of the shutter, respectively, are energized by the signals SMG1 and SMG2 and the amplification transistors TR1 and TR2, and the shutter is controlled by the PRS.

The signal DCL input in synchronization with LCK of the in-lens control circuit LPRS is command data from the camera to the photographing lens LNS, and the operation of the lens in response to the command is predetermined. LPRS analyzes the instruction according to a predetermined procedure,
Operation of focus adjustment and aperture control, operation status of each part of lens from output DLC (drive status of focus adjustment optical system, drive status of aperture, etc.) and various parameters (open F number, focal length, defocus amount vs. focus adjustment) And outputs the coefficient of the movement amount of the optical system.

The embodiment shows an example of a zoom lens. When a focus adjustment command is sent from the camera, the focus adjustment motor LTMR is driven by the signals LMF and LMR according to the drive amount and direction sent at the same time. Then, the focus adjustment is performed by moving the focus adjustment optical system in the optical axis direction. The movement amount of the optical system is monitored by the pulse signal SENCF of the encoder circuit ENCF and counted by a counter in the LPRS, and when the predetermined movement is completed, the LPRS itself sets the signals LMF and LMR to 'L' and sets the motor LMTR Control.

Therefore, once the focus adjustment command is sent from the camera, the camera control device PRS does not need to be involved in driving the lens at all until the driving of the lens is completed. Further, when a request is received from the camera, the contents of the counter can be transmitted to the camera.

When an aperture control command is sent from the camera, a known stepping motor DMTR for driving the aperture is driven in accordance with the number of aperture stages sent simultaneously.

E · NCZ is an encoder circuit attached to the zoom optical system, and LPRS receives a signal SENCZ from ENCZ to detect a zoom position. The lens parameters at each zoom position are stored in the LPRS, and when requested by the PRS on the camera side, the parameters corresponding to the current zoom position are sent to the camera.

SPC is a photometric sensor for exposure control that receives light from the subject through the taking lens, and its output SSPC is PR
The signal is input to the analog input terminal of S, and after A / D conversion, is used for automatic exposure control according to a predetermined program.

ISO is a means of reading film sensitivity.
The code is electrically read, and the read film sensitivity signal SISO is input to the PRS.

SDR is a drive circuit of the line sensor device SNS for focus detection, and is selected when the signal CSDR is 'H', SO, SI.SCLK
Is controlled from the computer PRS using

Signals SEL1 and S given from computer PRS to drive circuit SDR
EL2 is a signal for selecting any one of the image signal outputs of the sensor array pair SNS1, SNS2, SNS3, and outputs the image signal of the selected sensor array pair after the end of the accumulation.

The output VIDEO of the drive circuit SDR is an image signal obtained by calculating the difference between the image signal from the sensor device SNS and the dark current output, and then amplifying the gain with a gain determined by the luminance of the subject.

The dark current output is an output value of a light-shielded pixel in the sensor row, and the drive circuit SDR holds the dark current output value in the capacitor by a signal DSH from the computer PRS and outputs the dark current output from another pixel in the sensor row. Differential amplification with the image signal.

The VIDEO is connected to the analog input terminal of the computer PRS. The computer PRS converts the signal to A / D and stores the digital value in a predetermined address on the RAM sequentially.

TINTE1 is a signal indicating that the electric charge accumulated in the sensor array has become appropriate, and the computer PRS receives this and executes reading of an image signal.

CK1 and CK2 are clocks for generating a drive clock for the sensor device SNS.

The accumulation operation of the sensor device SNS is started when the computer PRS sets the signal CSDR to “H” and sends out a predetermined “accumulation start command” to the drive circuit SDR.

As a result, photoelectric conversion of the subject image is performed by the sensor, and charges are accumulated in the photoelectric conversion element portion of the sensor. When this potential reaches a predetermined lens, the drive circuit SDR outputs the signal TIN
TE1 is set to 'L'.

The computer PRS receives this and outputs a predetermined waveform to the clock CK2.

The drive circuit SDR generates a clock based on CK2 and supplies it to the sensor device SNS.The sensor device SNS outputs an image signal by the clock, and the computer PRS synchronizes with the CK2 which is outputting by itself, and an internal A / D converter. The VIDEO input to the analog input terminal by the conversion function is sequentially stored at a predetermined address of the RAM as a digital signal after A / D conversion.

2 and 3 are explanatory views of the display of the superimposed distance measurement visual field, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a main part. In the figure, LED1 to LED3 are display LEDs, which correspond to the display patterns 31-1 to 31-3 on the focus glass in FIG. 3, respectively. 30
Is a finder field frame. When the display LED emits light, the light flux is guided to the display pattern portion on the focus glass by the light projection lens 24 and the movable half mirror 20, as shown in FIG.

At this time, a Fresnel lens is provided on the exit surface 24a of the light projecting lens 24, and one display unit is configured to emit light from one LED by the action of the Fresnel lens.

The positions of the display patterns 31-1 to 31-3 are in a positional relationship corresponding to the respective sensor row pairs of the sensor device SNS of FIG.
Focusing display can be performed by selectively causing the LED 3 to emit light.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. When the camera is powered on, all RAM in the microcomputer PRS is cleared, each input / output port is initialized, and the program starts control from START.

 Step 70 Determine whether the switch SW1 is ON.

If SW1 is ON, the flow branches to step 78 to perform photometry and focus detection control.

If SW1 is OFF, the flow branches to step 70-1. Assuming that SW1 is now OFF, the operation from step 70-1 will be described below.

Step 70-1 Determine the depth mode. A mode in which a plurality of defocus amounts are detected to perform lens driving and aperture control in consideration of the depth is referred to as a depth mode. This mode is set manually by the photographer in step 74 described later.

In the depth mode, the operation proceeds to step 70-2. In the other modes, the operation proceeds to step 70-5.

Step 70-2 The distance measuring point set in step 72 described later is determined. The distance measuring points to be set include four modes of a left area, a central area, a right area, and an entire area of the screen. The left area is the distance measurement field of the sensor SNS-1 in FIG. 4, the center area is the distance measurement field of the sensor SNS-2, the right area is the distance measurement field of the sensor SNS-3, and the entire area. Corresponds to the distance measurement field of view of the sensors SNS-1 to SNS-3.

When one of the left, center, and right regions is selected, the process proceeds to step 70-3, and when the entire region is selected, the process proceeds to step 70-4.

Step 70-3 switch detects a change from ON SW ₁ to OFF to change the flag of the depth mode. That is, if the flag depth state 1 is set, the flag is changed to the depth state 2, and if the depth state 2 is set, the flag is changed to the depth state 3. Note that when the depth state 3 is set, the flag is not changed.

Also excisional to "L" flag JF detects a change from on to off of the switch SW _1.

Step 70-4 Clear parameters and flags related to depth. (The depth mode itself is not cleared.) Step 70-5 Initialize the parameters related to AF (auto focus) operation.

Step 71 It is determined whether or not the distance measuring point switch (FD-SW) is ON.

If the AF point switch (FD-SW) is ON, the process branches to step 72 to switch the AF point.

If the FD-SW is OFF, the process branches to step 73. Switch
The FD-SW is a predetermined switch in the SWS SWS of FIG.

Step 72 The focus point is switched. While the AF points are being switched, the currently set AF points are displayed by the superimpose display, and the AF points are switched by a switch (referred to as dial SW) that turns on and off in conjunction with the operation of the dial. .

For example, every time the dial SW is turned by a predetermined amount,
The setting area is switched as follows: center area → left area → all area (automatic selection mode). This dial SW is also a switch in the switch group SWS in FIG. When the entire area is set, the superimposed display of all the ranging points is displayed.

Step 73 Determine whether the setting switch of the AE mode is ON. If the AE mode SW (a predetermined switch in the switch group SWS in FIG. 4) is ON, the flow branches to step 74; otherwise, the flow branches to step 75.

Step 74 Change the AE mode. The mode is switched in the order of manual mode → shutter speed priority AE mode → aperture priority AE mode → program mode → desp mode by turning on / off the dial SW. When the dial is reversed, the mode is switched in the reverse order. Also,
During AE mode, the external display shows which mode is set.

 Step 75 Determine whether the timer is in progress.

During the timer, return to step 70 to perform SW sensing. The timer is set while switches such as the FP.SW, AE mode switch, and dial switch are being operated, and the timer is turned off after a certain period of time without operating these switches.

Step 76 Turn off various displays before entering the software standby state.

Step 77 Set the microcomputer PRS to the software standby state.

In this software standby state, not only the microcomputer itself, but also the functions of the clock and other built-in peripheral modules are stopped, greatly reducing the current consumption.However, as long as the specified voltage is applied, the microcomputer PRS registers And the data in the internal RAM are retained.
The release of the software standby state is performed by the change of each switch SW. When the standby is released, the control is executed from START.

In the above operations of steps 70 to 77, the AF point switching mode is set with FPSW and the AF point is selected with the dial SW.On the other hand, the AE mode switch is set to the AE mode and the dial switch is set. The AE mode is selectively set.

Next, the operation when the switch SW1 is turned on will be described.

When switch SW1 is turned on, the process proceeds to step 78, where AE
It is determined whether or not the depth mode is set as the mode. If the depth mode is not set, a step is performed.
Step 79 when depth mode is set to 79
Proceed to.

Step 79 When the mode is not the depth mode, a normal focus detection operation is performed. Here, the focus detection operation means lens driving based on the amount of defocus detected at the selected ranging point when the ranging point is previously selected by the photographer. On the other hand, in the automatic selection mode, it is assumed that the lens is driven based on the closest defocus amount among the defocus amounts at the respective distance measurement points.

Step 80 It is determined whether or not a distance measuring point has been designated.

When the distance measuring point is set to any one of right, center and left, the process branches to step 81, and when the automatic selection mode is set, the process branches to step 82 to control the auto depth. That is, when the automatic selection mode is set in the depth mode, the automatic selection mode is set.

Step 81 A depth operation to be described later for determining a depth width by performing a plurality of distance measurements at one distance measurement point is performed.

 Step 82 The auto depth control described later is performed.

Step 83 The output of the photometric sensor is A / D converted, and the aperture value, shutter speed, etc. are calculated according to the set mode.

Step 84 During the above AF routine (NOMAL DEPTH, AVT
When focus is achieved at O, DEPTH, NOMAL AF), the JF flag is set, and branching is performed using that flag.

 JF = ‘H ′ (in focus state) branches to step 85.

 JF = ‘L ′ (out-of-focus state) branches to step 70.

Step 85 If the camera is in focus, it indicates that the camera is in focus (in the case of NOMAL DEPTH, it indicates that the processing of the depth state at that time has been completed). In addition, NOMAL DEPTH, A
Displays the superimposition of the AF point set with UTO DEPTH or NOMAL AF.

In particular, when the superimposed display stores the previous in-focus state and performs display only once at the first time, the power consumption is reduced and the appearance in the finder is not bothersome.

Step 86 The release button is pushed deeper
It is determined whether or not SW2 has been turned on.If it is determined that SW2 has been turned on, the flow advances to step 87 to branch to a release sequence (not shown), and the aperture control and the aperture control are performed in accordance with the control value determined in step 83.
Shutter control is performed, film feed control is performed, and the process returns to START.

Next, the subroutine operation of NOMAL DEPTH executed in step 81 will be described with reference to FIG.

Step 50-1: It is determined whether or not NOMAL DEPTH has been performed for the first time. At the first time, the flag depth state is set to 1 and the flag JF is set to "L" at step 50-2. If it is not the first time, go to step 51.

Step 51 There are three depth states, 1 to 3, and the JF flag is set to "H" when the operation of one state is completed as described later. In step 70-3 of the main routine, the state is updated as described above, and the JF flag is set to “L”. Here, the JF flag is checked to determine whether or not the status has been updated. If JF = 'H' (the status has not been updated), the step is performed.
The flow branches to 62 to return to the main routine. If JF = 'L' (the state has been updated), the flow branches to step 52 to perform processing according to each state.

Step 52 Branches according to each depth state.

 In the depth state 1, the process branches to 53.

 In the depth state 2, the process branches to 54.

 In the depth state 3, the process branches to 58.

If it is now the first execution of the NOMAL DEPTH subroutine, the process proceeds to step 53.

 Step 53 Perform normal AF operation.

That is, the image signal is accumulated by the sensor in the one ranging area selected in step 72 of FIG. 1 described above, the amount of defocus is calculated based on the image signal, and the lens is driven for the amount of defocus. Of the subject at the selected distance measuring point. When the defocus amount which is considered to be in focus at the time of calculating the defocus amount is obtained, the JF flag is set to 'H' and the lens is not driven.

After focusing on step 53, the process returns to step 62, and the above-mentioned steps 83 to 86 are performed.

At this time, if the switch SW1 is held in the ON state, the steps 70, 78, 80 and 81 are executed again.

In executing the NOMAL DEPTH subroutine again, the process proceeds to step 51 without executing step 50-2. At this time, if the JF flag is “L”, steps 52 and 53 are executed again, and if the subject at the distance measuring point is in focus, the flag JF becomes “H”. If the switch SW1 is maintained in the ON state even after the NOMAL DEPTH subroutine is executed again in this manner, the above operation is repeated, but since the JF flag is set to 'H', the subsequent NOMAL DEPT is repeated.
In the H subroutine, step 53 is not executed, and the lens is kept in focus.

When the switch SW1 is turned off after focusing on the subject in the processing of the depth state 1 in this manner, the step becomes 7
Go to 0,70-1,70-2,70-3.

In step 70-3, as described above, since the change of the switch SW1 from ON to OFF is detected, the flag depth state is set to 1
And the JF flag is set to 'L'.
Accordingly, the switch SW1 is turned on again, and the NOM in step 81 is set.
When the AL DEPTH subroutine is executed again, the process proceeds to step 54.

Step 54 Accumulation of the image and the amount of defocus by the sensor at the distance measuring point (the same distance measuring point as in the depth state 1) selected for the second object different from the object focused in the depth state 1 Ask for. The defocus amount is stored in a predetermined RAM, and the flow advances to step 55.

Step 55 The lens drive amount is calculated from the defocus amount detected in step 54, and the lens is driven. The lens driving is performed by transmitting a lens driving command and a lens driving amount to the lens via the lens communication buffer LCM.

Step 56 It is checked whether or not the lens has stopped. When the driving of the lens is completed, the flow branches to step 57.

Step 57 Since depth state 2 has been completed, JF is set to "H".

When the switch SW1 is turned off after the processing of the depth state 2 is completed in this way, step 70-3 is executed as described above, the flag depth state is advanced to 3, the JF flag is set to "L", and the switch SW1 is turned on again. And then NOMAL DEPTH again
The subroutine is executed. In the NOMAL DEPTH subroutine, since the depth state has advanced to 3, step 58 is performed.

Step 58 The aperture value is calculated from the amount of defocus detected in step 54.

The aperture value is calculated by dividing the detected amount of defocus by the minimum circle of confusion = 35 μm, and the apex value of this value is the AV value.

Step 59 An intermediate position is determined from the lens position in the depth state 1 and the lens position in the depth state 2, and the lens is driven to the intermediate position.

Step 60 It is checked whether or not the lens has shifted to the intermediate position. If the lens stops at the intermediate position, the process proceeds to Step 61.

Step 61 Since depth state 3 has been completed, JF = 'H'
To

As described above, in the NOMAL DEPTH subroutine, the lens is located at an intermediate position between the lens positions at which the objects located at different positions at the selected ranging point are focused, and the aperture value for keeping both objects within the depth at that time. Asked,
After the release operation, shooting is performed with this aperture value.

Next, the operation of the AUTO DEPTH subroutine of step 82 in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

As described above, the AUTO DEPTH is automatically selected when the depth mode is selected and the automatic selection mode of the ranging field is selected.

Step 40 The detection of the defocus amount of a plurality of distance measuring points (each point on the left side, the center, and the right side) is independently performed.

The microcomputer PRS sends an accumulation start command to the drive circuit SDR to start accumulation. When the storage end signal is transmitted from the drive circuit SDR, the microcomputer PRS inputs the image signal of the sensor. When the image signals of all sensors are read into the specified RAM,
A known correlation operation is performed to obtain a defocus amount at each ranging point.

Step 41 Calculate the auto depth. This calculation is performed as follows.

Based on the image signal at each of the above-mentioned ranging points, a flag is set for each of the ranging points which can be measured. Difference α = def Fd between the defocus amount of the closest object (def F) and the defocus amount of the most infinite object (def N) among the defocus amounts at the distance measurement points of the set flag.
ef N /

The value obtained by dividing α by the minimum circle of confusion = 35 μm is used as the aperture value.
The apex value AV is obtained.

An intermediate amount between the above defocus amounts def F and def N is obtained.
(Def F + def N) / 2 This value is converted into a lens drive amount using optical data unique to the lens and data such as pulse pitch of the lens drive motor.

Step 42 It is determined whether or not the lens drive defocus amount (def F + def N) / 2 calculated in step 41 is smaller than the focusing threshold. If it is smaller than the focusing threshold value, the process branches to step 45. Step if greater than threshold
Branch to 43.

Step 43 The lens is driven by the lens drive amount calculated in step 41.

Step 44 Waits for the end of the lens drive of the drive amount in Step 43, and proceeds to Step 46 when the lens stops.

Step 45 If the focus is determined in step 42, the process branches here.

First, JF is set to "H", and a flag for performing superimpose display corresponding to the ranging point within the depth is set.

 Step 46 Return to the main routine.

As described above, in AUTO DEPTH, the aperture value and lens position control for automatically focusing both the farthest and the closest subjects among the subjects measured at each ranging point should be performed automatically. Become.

Also, since the flag corresponding to the focus detection point within the depth at step 45 is set, the light emission indicating the focus detection point within the above depth at step 85 after completion of the AUTO DEPTH subroutine is set. The diodes LED ₁ , LED ₂ and LED ₃ light up to indicate this to the photographer.

Further, when the switch SW1 is turned off after the AUTO DEPTH process, the flag relating to the auto depth, the calculated aperture value, the defocus amount, etc. are all cleared in step 70-4 of FIG. Therefore, in order to perform the auto-depth processing again after the SW1 is turned off, if the switch SW1 is turned on, the above-described auto-depth processing will be executed again.

Note that in the normal depth processing, even if the switch SW3 is turned off after the depth state 3 processing, the flag and the like relating to the depth processing are not cleared but are kept in that state.

〔effect〕

As described above, since the auto depth mode is automatically selected in conjunction with the setting of the automatic selection mode for the ranging points, it is easy to understand the correspondence between the selection of the ranging points and the two depth modes, and it is difficult to cause erroneous operations etc. It can provide a sex camera.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing a flow chart for explaining the operation of the camera according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a structural view showing a configuration of a finder optical system used in the camera of the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing an embodiment of a camera according to the present invention, and FIGS. 5 and 6 each illustrate a subroutine operation in the flowchart of FIG. FIG. PRS: Microcomputer SNS: Sensor LNS: Photographic lens device

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A focus detecting means for independently detecting a focus state for a plurality of different areas of a photographing screen, and an arbitrary one of the different areas is set as a focus detection target area by an operator's will. A first autofocus mode in which a photographing lens is driven and focused on an object in the set area based on a focus state detected by the focus detection means, and focus detection is performed on the plurality of areas. Evaluate each focus state detected by the focus detection means with respect to an object in each area as an object area, select one focus state, and drive a photographing lens based on the selected focus state. In a camera equipped with an automatic focusing device having a second autofocus mode for focusing on Each object captured in the area at each time of operation of the operating member based on each focus state detected by the focus detection means for the object captured in one predetermined area at a point. A first depth-priority mode in which focusing is performed by obtaining a lens driving amount for bringing both objects into focus, and an object which is captured in each of the plurality of regions by operating the operating member once. Then, based on each focus state detected by the focus detection means, a lens drive amount for bringing at least two of the objects captured in the respective regions into a focused state is determined. A depth-priority focusing processing means having a second depth-priority mode for performing the focusing is provided. When the first autofocus mode is set as the focus mode, the first depth priority mode is selected, and when the second autofocus mode is set, the second depth priority mode is selected. A camera characterized by comprising a selection means for performing the selection.