Abstract: An apparatus for imaging an object has an image sensor that comprises a plurality of pixels. The plurality of pixels is matrix-arrayed along vertical and horizontal directions. The apparatus also has an image sensor driver that drives the image sensor, and the image sensor driver is capable of reading image-pixel signals of neighboring pixels among the plurality of pixels while mixing the image-pixel signals. The apparatus also has a pixel addition setting processor that sets the number of pixel addition with respect to at least one of at least one row and at least one column. The pixel addition setting processor sets different numbers of pixel addition to different pixel areas. The image sensor driver reads the image-pixel signals in response to the set number of pixel addition.

Abstract: In a photographing apparatus, a low-pass selector controller (processor) is configured to perform a plurality of photographing operations including an LPF-ON photographing operation, which obtains an image signal from an image sensor in a state where the image sensor has been LPF driven by the image-shake correction device (driver) and obtains an optical low-pass filter effect, and an LPF-OFF photographing operation, which obtains an image signal from the image sensor in a state where the image sensor has not been LPF driven by the image-shake correction device (driver) and does not obtain an optical low-pass filter effect.

Abstract: A zoom lens system includes a positive first lens group, a negative second lens group, a positive third lens group and a positive fourth lens group, in that order from the object side, wherein distances between adjacent lens groups thereof change during zooming. The third lens group includes a positive first sub-lens group, a positive second sub-lens group and a negative third sub-lens group. The third sub-lens group consists of a single negative lens element. The following conditions (1) and (2) are satisfied: 6.0<f1Gp/fw<9.0??(1), and 1.3<f3Gp/f4Gp<2.0??(2), wherein fw designates the focal length of the entire zoom lens system at the short focal length extremity, f1Gp, f3Gp and f4Gp designate the focal lengths of the first, third and fourth lens groups, respectively.

Abstract: A stage apparatus includes a base member, a movable member which moves relative to the base member, thrust generators which generate thrust forces against the movable member, and a position detector which detects a translation position and a rotational position of the movable member relative to the base member. An interaction of the thrust forces causes the movable member to at least one of: translate, rotate, translate while rotating, and translate after rotating relative to the base member. The position detector includes permanent magnets fixed to one of the movable member and the base member, and pairs of magnetic sensors fixed to the other of the movable member and the base member. The position detector detects the translation position and the rotational position of the movable member relative to the base member based on detection signals input from the pairs of magnetic sensors.

Abstract: An electronic apparatus or an imaging apparatus includes a body, and a displayer provided with a display screen, the displayer being supported by the body to be movable relative to the body. The displayer is configured to be selectively set at different positions including a stand-by position and a plurality of tilt positions, at which the display screen tilts in different directions relative to an orientation of the displayer set at the stand-by position. The displayer is configured to be selectively moved directly to the plurality of tilt positions rather than via the stand-by position. A support mechanism including a movable member is also disclosed.

Abstract: In the photographing apparatus and the photographing control method, a processor can set one of a still-image photographing mode, and a specified photographing mode other than the still-image photographing mode. An LPF controller allows the optical low-pass filter effect to be obtained by moving the movable member via a driver when the processor has set a photographing mode to the still-image photographing mode, and prohibits an obtaining of the optical low-pass filter effect, obtained by moving the movable member via the driver, when the processor has set the photographing mode to the specified photographing mode.

Abstract: A photographing apparatus includes a photographing optical system having a diaphragm and a photographing lens; an image sensor; a driver which drives a shake-correction member in a plane orthogonal to the optical axis to make the object-emanating light rays incident on pixels of the image sensor that have different in detection colors to obtain an optical low-pass filter effect, wherein the image sensor and/or a lens element-constitutes the shake-correction member; a retriever which retrieves information on an aperture diameter of the diaphragm and on a resolving power of the photographing lens; and a drive controller which varies a range of the pixels, having different detection colors and on which the object-emanating light rays are incident, in accordance with the information on the aperture diameter of the diaphragm and/or on the resolving power of the photographing lens to vary the optical low-pass filter effect.

Abstract: A zoom lens system includes a negative first lens group, a positive second lens group, a negative third lens group and a positive fourth lens group, in that order from the object side. Upon zooming from a short focal length extremity to a long focal length extremity, at least the first lens group, the second lens group and the fourth lens group are moved in the optical axis direction of the zoom lens. The third lens group includes a negative first sub-lens group and a negative second sub-lens group, in that order from the object side, the second sub-lens group is provided with a negative single lens element and a positive single lens element, and an air lens is formed between the negative single lens element and the positive single lens element.

Abstract: A zoom lens system includes a positive first lens group, a negative second lens group, a positive third lens group and a positive fourth lens group, in that order from the object side, wherein distances between adjacent lens groups thereof change during zooming. The third lens group includes a positive first sub-lens group, a positive second sub-lens group and a negative third sub-lens group. The third sub-lens group consists of a single negative lens element. The following conditions (1) and (2) are satisfied: 6.0<f1Gp/fw<9.0??(1), and 1.3<f3Gp/f4Gp<2.0??(2), wherein fw designates the focal length of the entire zoom lens system at the short focal length extremity, f1Gp, f3Gp and f4Gp designate the focal lengths of the first, third and fourth lens groups, respectively.

Abstract: A zoom lens system includes a negative first lens group, a positive second lens group, a negative third lens group and a positive fourth lens group, in that order from the object side. Upon zooming from the short to long focal length extremities, at least the first lens group, the second lens group and the fourth lens group are moved in the optical axis direction. The third lens group includes a negative first sub-lens group and a negative second sub-lens group, in that order from the object side. The second sub-lens group is provided with a negative single lens element and a positive single lens element, wherein an air lens is formed between the negative single lens element and the positive single lens element.

Abstract: An apparatus for imaging an object is equipped with an image sensor comprising a plurality of pixels; a charge-reading processor that reads out accumulated charges in a given pixel via a pixel circuit of the charge accumulated pixel; and a noise-reading processor that reads out noise signals from a pixel circuit for a given pixel. The noise-reading processor reads noise signals from a pixel circuit for a pixel that is an object of noise acquisition, in parallel with the reading of accumulated charges by the charge-reading processor.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a body provided with an image sensor; a displayer configured to display an image obtained via the image sensor, the displayer being supported by the body to be movable relative to the body; a connecting member provided with first and second connecting portions; a first support portion provided on one of the body and the displayer, the first connecting portion of the connecting member being connected to the first support portion in a rotatable manner about a spherical center thereof relative to the one of the body and the displayer; and a second support portion provided on the other of the body and the displayer, the second connecting portion of the connecting member being connected to the second support portion in a rotatable manner about a spherical center thereof and in a linearly-movable manner relative to the other of the body and the displayer.

Abstract: A number of lenses are provided in a lens barrel along the optical axis direction, and two lenses, among the multiple lenses, are structured so that their inclination can be adjusted independently. Tilt adjustments for a lens frame of one lens, which is arranged on the opening side of the lens barrel in the optical axis direction, can be made through an opening of the lens barrel. The other lens frame of the other lens, which is arranged in the middle of the multiple lenses, is structured so that inclination adjustments can be made through throughholes that are provided to penetrate the peripheral surface of the lens barrel in the diameter direction.

Abstract: A photographing apparatus includes an image sensor configured to convert an object image formed by a photographing optical system, of the photographing apparatus, into electrical pixel signals, the photographing optical system including an optical element; and a photographing controller configured to control a photographing operation, in which a set of images for use in an image-synthesizing operation are photographed. During the photographing operation, the image sensor and the optical element are sequentially moved relative to each other from a reference position to relative positions in a direction different to a direction of the optical axis, wherein every time the photographing controller obtains a photographed image at each relative position, the photographing controller determines whether or not the photographed image satisfies usage testing-requirements for a constituent: image of the set of images.

Abstract: An image shake correction device, comprising: an image correction unit configured to correct image shake by moving with respect to an optical axis; and a locking ring provided rotatably about the optical axis. In this configuration, the image correction unit comprises at least one locked projection formed to protrude in an optical axis direction, the locking ring comprises at least one locking projection formed to protrude in the optical axis direction, and at a predetermined rotational position of the locking ring, the at least one locking projection contacts the at least one locked projection and thereby locks the image correction unit.

Abstract: A lens barrel includes a lens drive ring actuated to drive a lens group along an optical axis, a driving direction detector detecting a driving direction of the lens drive ring, an actuator actuating the lens drive ring, a power transmission mechanism transmitting a driving force of the actuator to the lens drive ring, a manual operation member to manually move the lens drive ring, and a lens-driving controller controlling the actuator to drive the lens drive ring to move the movable lens group. When the lens drive ring is driven, the lens-driving controller controls a driving output of the actuator according to whether or not a first driving direction of the lens drive ring detected immediately before the lens drive ring is driven and a currently-detected second driving direction of the lens drive ring are mutually identical.

Abstract: An optical device includes an optical system including a plurality of lens groups, at least one lens group being a movable lens group moving in an optical axis direction, and a movable frame to move the movable lens group. The movable frame includes a driving source, a drive screw, a lens supporting frame, and maintaining an integrated state relative to the movable lens group, a plurality of arms disposed in a position to face the drive screw and being openable and closable relative to the drive screw with a single opening and closing axis as a support axis, the plurality of arms including a first arm and a second arm, and a biasing spring configured to apply a biasing force to the first arm in a direction in which the first arm approaches the drive screw, wherein the lens supporting frame is further configured to support the biasing spring.

Abstract: A mechanism for attaching and detaching a tripod seat, comprising: a first tripod seat unit; and a second tripod seat unit to which the first tripod seta unit is detachably attached, wherein: one of the first tripod seat unit and the second tripod seat unit has a first fixing member and a second fixing member formed to be screwed together; the other of the first tripod seat unit and the second tripod seat unit has an attachment part brought to be in pressure contact with the second fixing member by screwing the first fixing member to the second fixing member; and by bringing the attachment part to be in pressure contact with the second fixing member, the first tripod seat unit is fixed to the second tripod seat unit.

Abstract: An eyepiece optical system includes a focal-plane plate, having a positive refractive power on one side and a diffusion surface on the other side thereof; a reflector which reflects light rays of an object image, formed on the diffusion surface, a predetermined number of times; an optical lens group, by which the object image is observed, in that order along an optical path from the object side to the viewing side; and a condenser lens element, having a positive refractive power, provided between the focal-plane plate and the reflector, the condenser lens element having an aspherical surface formed on at least one side thereof. At least one of the aspherical surface of the condenser lens element has a profile, when viewed macroscopically, such that the positive refractive power thereof increasingly weakens with respect to a direction away from the optical axis.

Abstract: A zoom lens system includes a positive first lens group, a negative second lens group, a positive intermediate lens group, and a negative image-side lens group. Upon zooming from the short to long focal length extremities, a distance between the first and second lens groups increases, and a distance between the second and intermediate lens groups decreases. The image-side lens group consists of two lens elements. The following conditions are satisfied: ?6.0<f1/f2<?4.3, ?5.4<f1/fIMG<?3.9, and 0.3<D2/fw<3.0. f1, f2 and fIMG designate the focal lengths of the first, second and the image-side lens groups, respectively. D2 designates a distance between the second lens group and the intermediate lens group, at the short focal length extremity. fw designates the focal length of the zoom lens system at the short focal length extremity.