Abstract: A lens assembly for an automatic focusing camera having an automatic focusing mode and a manual focusing mode comprises an optical system including a lens group shiftable along an optical axis to perform a focusing operation, a focusing operation member rotatable around the optical axis to shift the lens group along the optical axis to perform the focusing operation, a power drive device for power driving the focusing operation member, a focusing handling member rotatable around the focusing operation member to perform the focusing operation manually, a connection element including a plurality of engaging recesses formed in an outer periphery of the focusing operation member at predetermined intervals in a circumferential direction, and a connecting member shiftable in a radial direction to engage with one of the recesses, the connecting element being adapted to transmit the rotation of the manual focusing handling member to the focusing operation member through the connecting member, and a changing-over devi

Abstract: A photo-taking lens assembly having a movable lens movable in the direction of the optic axis thereof comprises electric moving means including an electric rotating member electrically rotatively driven to move the movable lens, manual moving means including a manually operable member extraneously manually operable to move the movable lens, and means for combining the amounts of movement of the movable lens by the electric moving means and the manual moving means during the operation of the electric rotating member and the manually operable member.

Abstract: A bayonet mount structure for an interchangeable photographic lens unit comprises cooperable lens unit and camera mounts with an optimum arrangement of bayonet pawls, a lock slot and pin for determining rotational position, coupling shafts through which a driving force for auto-focusing is transmitted to the lens unit, electrical contacts for transmitting electrical signals between the lens unit and the camera body, and a mechanical signal surface and signal detector for transmitting optical performance information, such as minimum F-number of the lens unit, to the camera body.

Abstract: In a photographing lens barrel having a manual operation ring and a stationary ring, a device for locking said manual operation ring is provided. The locking device includes a lock member projecting from one of said two rings, a lock part formed on the other ring to engage with said lock member, and a lock-operating member movable between a lock position and an unlock position. The lock operating member is biased toward said locking position by spring means and is held in said unlock position by limiting means.

Abstract: An intermediate lens tube to be mounted between an interchangeable lens and a camera body is provided with means for transmitting an information signal from the interchangeable lens to the camera body. Said information transmission means includes correction means for transmitting a corrected information signal to the camera body only when vignetting takes place in the intermediate lens tube.

Abstract: In an interchangeable lens for a camera, at least three terminals are provided on the fixing cylinder of the lens. A variable diaphragm resistor exhibiting a resistance value corresponding to the diaphragm value set by the diaphragm drive ring of the lens and a variable range resistor exhibiting a resistance value corresponding to the film-to-subject distance set by the range ring of the lens are series connected between two of the terminals. A resistance value representing the guide number information is generated between the two terminals. The remaining one of the terminals is connected to the junction between the variable diaphragm resistor and the variable range resistor, and a resistance value representing the diaphragm information or the range information is generated between the remaining one terminal and the two terminals.

Abstract: The invention presents a mirror driving device for a single lens reflex camera. The energy during the ascension of the mirror is absorbed to utilize it as the energy for the descent of the mirror, and then this energy is substantially absorbed to utilize it as the energy for the ascending operation at the phototaking step during the lowering operation of the mirror. The energy loss due to the friction is supplemented from an external source for efficiently processing the ascending and descending operations.

Abstract: An improved data exposure device for a camera is provided with a flash starting voltage detecting circuit for generating a signal indicating that the voltage across a flash capacitor rises a predetermined level sufficient to turn on a flash lamp to emit a suitable amount of light on exposure surface upon which data is recorded, a trigger circuit including a trigger capacitor for triggering said flash capacitor and a switching element actuatable for discharging said trigger capacitor, and a synchro circuit including a synchro switch closed when a shutter is released for actuating said switching element when said signal is generated while said synchro switch is closed. An improvement is that said synchro circuit is prevented from actuating said switching element when said synchro switch is closed under the condition that the voltage across said flash capacitor is less than a predetermined level sufficient to cause said flash lamp to start to flash.

Abstract: A light intercepting device is constructed with a light intercepting member formed in such a manner that one end is insertable into a camera aperture by projection thereinto so as to intercept light at the data photographing portion of the actual picture frame, and a member to hold this light intercepting member, both being disposed in a gap between the camera body and the shutter curtain in the vicinity of the camera aperture.

Abstract: Rotary shutter blade mechanism includes at least a shutter blade which rotates always in one direction. The driving energy of the shutter blade is recovered by a driving spring in the course of deceleration of the blade. An auxiliary actuating means is adapted to supply one directional rotative force to the driving shaft of the blade. A rotary cam means is secured to the driving shaft and has at its periphery at least one pair of accelerating portions and decelerating portions. A reciprocating lever means is pivotally mounted in the body portion of the mechanism. The lever means has a portion engageable with the accelerating and decelerating portions. A main actuating means urges the lever means so that the engaging portions may contact the rotary cam means. The driving shaft is locked when the respective foremost ends of the accelerating portions are engaged with the engaging portion of the lever means.

Abstract: A data photographing system has a flash capacitor which is charged by a power source and discharged through a flash tube in response to a trigger signal for illuminating data, and has a control circuit for producing the trigger signal only if the flash capacitor has been charged to a predetermined voltage level. The control circuit includes a voltage detector, such as a Zener diode, and a synchronizing switch adapted to be closed in response to actuation of the shutter release mechanism of the camera. The control circuit may also include a trigger capacitor which is charged by the power source and which is discharged through the primary winding of a transformer to produce a trigger signal of stepped-up voltage across the secondary winding of the transformer. The trigger capacitor may be discharged directly through the Zener diode and the synchronizing switch or through an SCR controlled thereby.

Abstract: A rotary shutter mechanism for use in a camera having a winding mechanism and a release mechanism includes a sector change-over mechanism which comprises a pair of substantially semicircular sectors mounted on respective drive shafts. One of these sectors which covers a picture-taking opening serves as a leading curtain and the other sector disposed 180.degree. out of phase with respect to the first sector serves as a trailing curtain. These sectors are individually rotatable through 180.degree. in one direction to effect a shutter operation. Thus, the sectors need not be returned to their original positions during each winding operation.