Abstract: An imaging apparatus including a display device configured to display a shot image includes an external monitor output unit configured to output a signal to an external monitor, a switching unit configured to switch a content of a display on the display device, and a control unit configured to, when a content of the display on the display device is switched to an image display by the switching unit, output a signal corresponding to the image display to the external monitor output unit, and when a content of the display on the display device is switched to an information display by the switching unit, output no signal corresponding to the information display to the external monitor output unit.

Abstract: In the beginning, display screens were monochrome, and a video artist was limited to specifying the brightness of a pixel. With the advent of color display screens, the artist could specify the color and brightness of a pixel. With this invention, the artist can now additionally specify the direction from which that color and brightness can be seen. I anticipate a single pixel being capable of displaying different colors in different directions at the same time. This invention also describes a camera capable of capturing this directional information.

Abstract: There is provided an imaging apparatus having a viewfinder optical system; a first image sensor; a photometric sensor; and optical path changing means. The viewfinder optical system has a first reflective surface that reflects a monitoring luminous flux, and the first reflective surface changes a reflection angle of the monitoring luminous flux. A change in a reflection angle of the first reflective surface causes a course of the monitoring luminous flux to be switched between a first optical path and a second optical path. In a case of second optical path, a travel direction is changed with the optical path changing means placed on the second optical path, causing a photometric processing to be performed using the first image sensor, while in a case of the first optical path, the photometric processing is performed using the photometric sensor.

Abstract: An image sensing apparatus is provided with an aperture unit (104), an image sensor (106) that converts light beams entering through a photographing lens (103) and the aperture unit into electrical signals, and a display unit (107), including an electronic viewfinder mode to continuously display on the display unit images based on the electrical signals obtained by the image sensor. The image sensing apparatus has a control unit (135) that causes the aperture unit to stop down, when there is an instruction to display on the display unit an image other than the image based on the electrical signals obtained by the image sensor while in the electronic viewfinder mode.

Abstract: What is disclosed is a display apparatus that introduce an electronic image that is generated electronically into a viewing optical system through which an object is viewed to make the electronic image viewable in such a way as to be superimposed on an image of the object. The electric image forming apparatus has a light source, a micro lens array and scanning means for scanning light from the light source to form an image on the micro lens array. There is disclosed a scanning display apparatus that introduces an image formed on the micro lens and superimpose it on an image of an object and a camera in which an object image formed optically and an electronic image are made viewable in a superimposed manner using the scanning display apparatus.

Abstract: Optical system for guiding subject light incident through a photo-taking lens 20 toward a finder 100 through a prism 90 is prepared and a plate-like diffractive element 50 is provided on the optical path. Light from an LED 70 to be turned on when a focusing state is achieved is introduced into the plate-like diffractive element 50 via a light guide member 60, and “auxiliary light indicating a focusing state” to travel upward in the drawing from the plate-like diffractive element 50 is generated and synthesized with the subject light. The auxiliary light shall have a linear polarization property. The subject image and the focusing state indication can be visually recognized on the finder 100. Part of the light toward the finder 100 is branched through a mirror 110 and then guided toward photometric unit 140. Auxiliary light separating unit 130 for excluding auxiliary light based on the difference in polarization property is provided in front of the photometric unit 140.

Abstract: A multi-eye image pickup device includes a left-side optical unit and a right-side optical unit. At a time of adjustment, an adjustment target mark is located so as to be slightly shifted in a faraway direction relative to a subject position where a subject is shot. The adjustment target mark is taken by the respective optical units, and images taken thereby are analyzed to find a clip area of each optical unit. The clip area has a predetermined size and the center thereof is positioned at the image of the adjustment target mark. The respective clip areas are stored in a correction memory of the multi-eye image pickup device. At a time of subject shooting, an image of the stored clip area is clipped from a shooting image taken by each optical unit.

Abstract: A camera adjusts the aspect ratio of a viewfinder image. The camera has a body and a capture unit mounted in the body. The capture unit has an imager and storage media operatively connected to the imager. The capture unit selectively captures an electronic image of a scene. A viewfinder of the camera displays a light image of the scene. A cropper is disposed in the body. The cropper is switchable among a plurality of settings. Each setting defines a different rectangular cross-sectioned window in the viewfinder. A cropping control is operatively connected to the capture unit and cropper. The cropping control has a cropping input element that is accessible external to the body. The cropping input element is movable between first and second opposed cropping control positions to change the settings. The cropping control positions define a cropping control axis perpendicular to an optical axis of the capture unit.

Abstract: A camera viewer device including an assembling sheet member developed and changed in shape between a box-shaped angle finder and a direct viewing finder. The sheet member includes first and second mirror wall portions with first and second inner mirrors, an attachment wall portion attached to a back face of a camera body, and an upper wall portion. In the box-shaped angle finder, the first mirror reflects an image of a subject in a display panel on the back face of the camera body and downwardly projects the image of the subject, the second mirror upwardly projects the projected image, a window portion of the attachment wall portion is opposed to the display panel, and a window portion of the upper wall portion is opposed to the second mirror wall portion to look into the interior of the assembled sheet member through the window portion of the upper wall portion.

Abstract: An image-taking apparatus is disclosed, which is capable of blocking inversely-entering light from an optical viewfinder in an EVF mode. The image-taking apparatus comprises a viewfinder optical system; a mirror unit being driven between a first state in which the mirror unit reflects the light flux toward the viewfinder optical system and a second state in which the mirror unit transmits the light flux toward the image-pickup device; a viewfinder shutter opening and closing a viewfinder optical path; and a controller controlling the drive of the mirror unit. The controller drives the mirror unit to the first state in accordance with an open-side-operation of the operation member, and drives the mirror unit to the second state in accordance with a close-side-operation of the operation member.

Abstract: There is disclosed an image-taking apparatus that prevents a defocus of a subject image observed after a viewfinder mode switches when the focus control uses the same focus detecting unit for OVF and EVF modes. The image-taking apparatus includes a focus detecting unit for detecting focus of the image-taking lens, and a mirror unit for switching between a first state used to introduce the light from the image lens into the viewfinder optical system and the focus detecting unit, and a second state used to introduce the light to the image-pickup device and the focus detecting unit. The controller controls driving of the mirror unit and driving of a focus lens based on a detection result by the focus detecting unit. The controller prohibits the driving of the mirror unit while the focus lens is being driven.

Abstract: A single-lens-reflex digital camera in which an optical image of an object that is to be photographed via a photographing lens is reflected by a main mirror to be formed on a focusing screen so that the optical image is viewed through a viewfinder while the main mirror is retracted from an optical path of the photographing lens to capture an image of the object by an image pickup device, the single-lens-reflex digital camera includes an electroluminescent display provided on the focusing screen, wherein the electroluminescent display displays at least the object image captured by the image pickup device. The single-lens-reflex digital camera is configured to allow the object image displayed by the electroluminescent display and the optical image formed on the focusing screen to be viewed through the viewfinder.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes a case, a photographing optical system, an imaging element, and a viewfinder device. The viewfinder device includes a viewfinder case, a transmission liquid crystal panel, a lighting device, a first sheet polarizer, and a second sheet polarizer. The viewfinder case includes a case body and a case partitioning member. The lighting device and the first sheet polarizer are supported inside the case partitioning member. The transmission liquid crystal panel is supported inside the case partitioning member with the display surface faced to the window. The second sheet polarizer is supported inside the case body.

Abstract: A digital camera includes a first imaging section for acquiring subject image data, a movable mirror for guiding the light beam of the subject to a finder optical system, and a second imaging section for capturing the subject image data in the finder optical system. In this structure, the image acquired by the first imaging section and the image acquired by the second imaging section are switched and selectively displayed depending on the movement of the movable mirror. For example, the digital camera can be configured such that the first imaging section is used to acquire a shot image and the second imaging section is used to acquire a live image.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electronic motion picture camera having an optical receiving system and a beam splitter which splits the receiving beam path into a taking beam path leading to an optoelectronic taking sensor and a viewfinder beam path leading to an optical viewfinder. The camera has an electronic display for the reproduction of an additional image. An optical vision mixer is arranged in the viewfinder beam path by which the taken image and the additional image can be directed in the direction of the viewfinder such that the taken image or the additional image, or the taken image and the additional image as a uniform image, can be observed in the viewfinder.

Abstract: An image taking apparatus performs a focusing operation quickly and includes a light splitting unit which splits a light flux from an image-taking lens into a plurality of light fluxes, a view finder optical system observing an object image formed by the light flux from the lens, an image pickup element which photoelectrically converts the object image to an electrical signal and a focus detector detecting the focusing state of the lens according to a phase difference detector. Here, the light splitting unit changes between a first state for directing the light flux to the view finder optical system and the focus detector, a second state for directing the light flux to the image pickup element and the focus detector, and a third state in which the light flux is directed only to the image pickup element.

Abstract: According to the present invention, light from a taking lens is reflected by a quick return mirror in a lateral direction of a body unit. Then, after passing through a screen, the light is reflected toward an upper side of the body unit by a second mirror except part of the light. The light reflected by the second mirror is reflected by a third mirror in a direction opposite to a direction in which the light is reflected by the quick return mirror, and is further reflected by a fourth mirror toward an eyepiece located on a back side of the body unit. Part of the light which passing though the screen is taken by an AF sensor unit provided in rear of the second mirror, and an image formation position of an optical image is detected.

Abstract: A camera according to the present invention includes a picture-taking lens unit including a picture-taking optical system having a bending optical system which optically bends incident light and an optical finder unit including a finder optical system having a bending optical system which optically bends incident light. A pre-bending optical system and a post-bending optical system in the bending optical system of the optical finder unit are arranged adjacent to a pre-bending optical system and a post-bending optical system in the bending optical system of the picture-taking lens unit, respectively. The body of the camera is therefore decreased in size.

Abstract: Disclosed is a digital camera with a live view display function, which is designed to make dust less noticeable. The digital camera includes an image pickup device that receives a subject light flux which has passed a photographing lens and outputs a subject image signal, a dust-proof optical element arranged in front of the imaging surface of the image pickup device, and a display device that provides a live view display of the subject as a move image based on the output of the image pickup device. The digital camera executes a dust removal operation of vibrating the dust-proof optical element in response to initiation or stop of a live view display by the display device.

Abstract: A camera, in which it is possible to adjust the position of two mirrors easily for striking a balance between the focus detection performances in an optical viewfinder state and an electronic image display state. The optical apparatus includes a first mirror movable between a first position for an optical viewfinder and a second position for focus detection, a second mirror movable between a third position for focus detection and a fourth position where a light flux is not led to the second mirror, a first positioning member for positioning the first mirror at the second position, and a second positioning member for positioning the second mirror at the third position. The second positioning member is a member independent of the first positioning member.

Abstract: The invention makes a suitable selection from zoom modes and lens elements so thin that the thickness of each lens group can reduced, thereby slimming down a zoom lens with great thoroughness and, hence, an electronic image pickup system. The electronic image pickup system a zoom lens and an electronic image pickup device located on the image plane side of the zoom lens. The zoom lens comprises, in order from the object side, a first lens group G1 comprising two lens components and having generally negative power and a second lens group G2 comprising two lens components and having generally positive power. The focal length of the zoom lens can be varied by varying the air separation between the first lens group G1 and the second lens group G2. The zoom lens should satisfy at least one of conditions (a) to (n).

Abstract: A video camera obtains a capture scope obtained through finder optics of a single-lens reflex camera and indicated by a view frame mask. A PC detects the position corresponding to the capture scope from the captured image captured by the image pickup device of the single-lens reflex camera, generates the information designating the position, and stores the information in the single-lens reflex camera. The system controller of the single-lens reflex camera extracts a part of the area in the captured image captured by the image pickup device, and records the image of the area in a memory card.

Abstract: In an image pickup apparatus comprising an optical finder for optically displaying an object image, an image pickup device for receiving the object image and converting it into an image signal for photographing, an electronic finder for displaying the object image received by the image pickup device on the basis of the image signal converted by the image pickup device, a focal plane shutter for shielding the image pickup device from light, and a beam guide device for guiding a beam from the object to the optical finder and the image pickup device, and a control method and a control program applied to the image pickup apparatus, the beam from the object guided by the beam guide device is changed over from the optical finder to the image pickup device and the focal plane shutter is rendered into its opened state so that before photographing, the image pickup device can receive the object image displayed by the electronic finder.

Abstract: The information terminal body may be designed to foldably pivot a pair of flat cases each having a display unit through a hinge which is equipped with a photographing optical system for the camera function unit of which optical axis of lens is perpendicular to an axial center of the hinge. The display units display information from communication channels and images taken in by the camera. The cases may have the display units such that the display units face outside in a folded state. At least one of the two display units may be a finder for photographers, while the other may be a finder for the subject persons. The terminal is equipped with a shutter button and a terminal operation button. The terminal operation button works also as a shutter button. The information terminal is also equipped with a viewfinder for the camera lens system.

Abstract: A small-sized photographing apparatus in which a single display device performs both of a viewfinder and monitor display. The apparatus includes a body having a viewfinder window; the display device, the display surface of which can be observed from outside of the body; a pair of reflection mirrors inside the body; and a member for moving one of the reflection mirrors between a reflection position at which a beam of light from the display surface of the display device is reflected so that the beam is guided towards the viewfinder window, and a non-reflection position which is different from the reflection position.

Abstract: A camera system comprising means for converting an object image into an image signal, recording means for recording the image signal on a recording medium, reproduction means for reproducing the image signal recorded on the recording medium, finder means for displaying the object image and display means for selectively displaying an image corresponding to the image signal to be recorded or an image corresponding to the reproduced image signal. A display portion of the finder means is smaller than that of the display means and the display portion of the display means has a flat plate which can be exposed to an outside of the camera system.

Abstract: A camera adjusts the aspect ratio of a viewfinder image. The camera has a body and a capture unit mounted in the body. The capture unit has an imager and storage media operatively connected to the imager. The capture unit selectively captures an electronic image of a scene. A viewfinder of the camera displays a light image of the scene. A cropper is disposed in the body. The cropper is switchable among a plurality of settings. Each setting defines a different rectangular cross-sectioned window in the viewfinder. A cropping control is operatively connected to the capture unit and cropper. The cropping control has a cropping input element that is accessible external to the body. The cropping input element is movable between first and second opposed cropping control positions to change the settings. The cropping control positions define a cropping control axis perpendicular to an optical axis of the capture unit.

Abstract: Light emitted from a white LED 15 is converted by a lens 11 into light having an excellent directionality. The light illuminates a display panel 863 from the direction of an angle ?k. The display panel 863 is a polymer dispersed liquid crystal display panel in a normally white mode. The display panel 863 modulates incident light by scattering it, the scattered light is incident on a magnification lens 866, and light from the magnification lens reaches an eye 21 of the observer. Light which passes straight through a liquid crystal layer in the display panel 863 is absorbed by an optical absorbing film 12. The observer fixedly positions his/her eye 21 to an eyepiece cover 852 and observes the displayed image.

Abstract: A camera and method provide image cropping. The camera has a body and a capture unit mounted in the body. The capture unit has an imager and storage media operatively connected to the imager. The capture unit selectively captures an electronic image of a scene. A viewfinder optical system is aligned with the capture unit. The viewfinder optical system defines a viewfinder light path. A cropper is disposed in the body. The cropper has a pair of vanes. The vanes are selectively movable, relative to each other, between first and second positions and through a continuous sequence of intermediate positions between the first and second positions. The vanes, in each of the positions, delimits a rectangular cross-sectioned window in the viewfinder light path. A control unit is operatively connected to the capture unit and cropper. The control unit crops the electronic image to match the window.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a high-performance image-forming optical system made compact and thin by folding an optical path using reflecting surfaces arranged to minimize the number of reflections. A prism member 10 has a first entrance surface 11, first to fourth reflecting surfaces 12 to 15, and a first exit surface 16. An optical path incident on the first reflecting surface 12 and an optical path reflected from the second reflecting surface 13 form intersecting optical paths. An optical path incident on the third reflecting surface 14 and an optical path reflected from the fourth reflecting surface 15 form intersecting optical paths. At least either one of the first reflecting surface 12 and the second reflecting surface 13 and at least either one of the third reflecting surface 14 and the fourth reflecting surface 15 have a rotationally asymmetric curved surface configuration that gives a power to a light beam and corrects aberrations due to decentration.

Abstract: A camera is provided that includes a camera housing and a TFT panel, which permits verification of a formed image, located on the back of the camera housing. A strobe unit and an electronic viewfinder unit are located in the upper part of the camera housing. The electronic viewfinder unit has a unit body including: a TFT panel permitting viewing of an object image; an eyepiece opposed to the back of the camera housing and used to view the object image displayed on the TFT panel; and a prism serving as an optical path conversion member that bends by a predetermined angle light emitted from an object image displayed on the TFT panel so as to route the light to the eyepiece, and adjoining the TFT panel and the eyepiece.

Abstract: A used viewfinder determination section determines whether an optical viewfinder is being used or if a liquid crystal monitor is being used, based upon signals from an eye approach detection section. A blur correction operation changing section changes a blur correction operation by a blur correction lens in accordance with determination results from the used viewfinder determination section. When it is determined that the optical viewfinder is not being used, a blur correction operation using the blur correction lens is not carried out.

Abstract: An optical and electronic viewer of a camera has a body having entrance and exit openings and entrance and exit tunnels extending inward from respective openings. The body has a cross tunnel connecting the entrance and exit tunnels. An eyepiece is mounted at the exit opening and defines and eyepiece axis. An objective lens is mounted at the entrance opening and defines an objective axis. An electronic imager is disposed within the body, in optical alignment with the objective lens. A microdisplay is mounted in the exit tunnel interior to the eyepiece. First and second reflectors are disposed in the cross tunnel. The reflectors are aligned and are each movable, within the cross tunnel, between an optical-viewing position and a non-viewing position. The first reflector is aligned with the objective axis and the second reflector is aligned with the eyepiece axis in optical-viewing position. The reflectors are spaced from the axes and each other in non-viewing position.

Abstract: An internal indicator of a viewfinder of a camera includes a viewfinder optical system which includes a focusing screen on which an object image is formed through a photographic optical system of the camera; at least one optical deflector that is positioned on or in the close vicinity of the focusing screen and is provided with at least one deflecting surface; and at least two light emitters for illuminating the optical deflector from the outside of the viewfinder optical system, which emit at least two light beams of different colors to be incident on the optical deflector.

Abstract: An electronic camera includes: a substantially rectangular parallelepiped image-capturing unit main body provided with an image-capturing device for generating an image signal by capturing an optical image formed by a photographic lens unit; a substantially rectangular parallelepiped display unit main body provided with an external display device for displaying an image based upon the image signal generated by the image-capturing device; and a linking portion that links the image-capturing unit main body and the display unit main body in a manner that the image-capturing unit main body and the display unit main body can rotate relative to each other. And, at the display unit main body, a shutter release button is provided and a grip portion is provided near an end surface furthest away from the image-capturing unit main body; and at the image-capturing unit main body, an optical viewfinder unit is provided beside the photographic lens unit.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention is directed to an imaging device. The imaging device comprises a near-eye viewfinder that is operable to display an image using image data associated with the imaging device; and a viewing structure that is adapted to be placed over the near-eye viewfinder, wherein the viewing structure comprises a screen member that is operable to partially scatter light associated with the displayed image thereby permitting the image to be viewed from a greater field of view than the near-eye viewfinder provides.

Abstract: An optical system driving control device includes (a) a photo-taking optical system having a photo-taking optical element which is movable in an optical axis direction thereof and a first driver for moving the photo-taking optical element in the optical axis direction thereof, (b) a viewfinder optical system having a viewfinder optical element which is movable in an optical axis direction thereof and a second driver for moving the viewfinder optical element in the optical axis direction thereof, and (c) a control circuit for causing the first driver and the second driver to set the photo-taking optical element and the viewfinder optical element to respective initial positions thereof and, after that, to move the photo-taking optical element and the viewfinder optical element to respective predetermined positions where a ratio in magnification of the photo-taking optical element to the viewfinder optical element becomes a predetermined value.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus and its method of operation eliminate complicated operations of a touch panel and simplify its operation. An image pickup apparatus has an electronic viewfinder provided on a video camera body so as to enable a user to watch a shooting subject image through an eyepiece. A liquid crystal display monitor externally provided on the video camera body includes a touch panel on a display screen thereof. A plurality of icons representing distinct operations of the image pickup apparatus are displayed at predetermined positions of a finder screen of the electronic viewfinder. Touch sensitive areas of the touch panel corresponding to the icon positions displayed on the finder screen can be touch-operated to select a desired operation.

Abstract: The invention makes a suitable selection from zoom modes and lens elements so thin that the thickness of each lens group can reduced, thereby slimming down a zoom lens with great thoroughness and, hence, an electronic image pickup system. The electronic image pickup system a zoom lens and an electronic image pickup device located on the image plane side of the zoom lens. The zoom lens comprises, in order from the object side, a first lens group G1 comprising two lens components and having generally negative power and a second lens group G2 comprising two lens components and having generally positive power. The focal length of the zoom lens can be varied by varying the air separation between the first lens group G1 and the second lens group G2. The zoom lens should satisfy at least one of conditions (a) to (n).

Abstract: A waterproof case for containing a camera includes a case body configured such that the camera is freely inserted therein and removed therefrom, and an optical system arranged at a part of the case body where a photographic lens of the camera faces. The optical system serves as a conversion lens for the photographic lens.

Abstract: An image sensing apparatus having a display device mounted rotatable about an axis on a side of the image sensing apparatus for displaying a sensed image. When the display device is folded up by the side of the image sensing apparatus, a mirror reflects an image displayed on the display device toward a finder, so that the displayed image can be seen though the finder.

Abstract: In a digital camera having a half mirror retractable out of the optical path and an optical viewfinder receiving light reflected from the half mirror, the sensitivity of an image-sensing device is set as specified by the user. When a relatively high sensitivity is specified, an image to be recorded is shot with the half mirror operated as a quick-return mirror, and, when a relatively low sensitivity is specified, an image to be recorded is shot with the half mirror kept in the optical path. A sensitivity that cannot be coped with simply by changing the position of the half mirror is set by adjusting, in conjunction therewith, the output gain of the image-sensing device.

Abstract: There is disclosed a VTR apparatus which can display a menu item for selecting a page and other VTR function menu items on the four corner portions in a viewfinder. These menu items have eye switch functions. When the page selection menu item is selected in the eye switch mode, a plurality of VTR function menu items are displayed on the four corner portions of the viewfinder as eye switches, and the names of these VTR functions are displayed as a list on the central field of the viewfinder.

Abstract: A camera of the present invention is selectively operable in a normal mode or a macro mode and includes a macro mode alarm device. When the operator of the camera selects the macro mode on a normal/macro mode switch while seeing a subject through an optical finder, a controller feeds an alarm control signal and an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) control signal to the macro mode alarm device and an electronic finder, respectively. In response, the macro mode alarm device causes a light emitting element disposed in an optical finder to glow or blink, urging the operator to use the electronic finder in place of the optical finder. In addition, the controller turns on power supply to the LCD of the electronic finder so as to allow the operator to use the electronic finder immediately.

Abstract: A camera including a liquid crystal display in which an image formed by a photographing lens system of the camera is indicated; an ocular viewing optical system which includes a half-mirror surface and an eyepiece lens system, the half-mirror surface reflecting the image of the liquid crystal display toward the eyepiece lens system, so that the reflected image can be viewed through the eyepiece lens system; and a direct viewing optical system for viewing the image of the liquid crystal display through the half-mirror surface.

Abstract: A camera comprises a beam splitter configured to divide an incident light from a subject through a photographing lens, an eyepiece lens configured to observe the incident light divided by the beam splitter with a viewfinder, a relay lens provided between the beam splitter and the eyepiece lens, and a shutter provided in a vicinity of the relay lens and configured to cut a reverse-incident light from the eyepiece lens.

Abstract: A digital camera with rotatable components is disclosed. In the front of camera there is provided a lens, a flash, and a viewfinder, while in the rear thereof there is provided a liquid crystal display (LCD) corresponding to lens, a control button, and the rear of viewfinder. Control button is operable to press for rotating lens, flash, viewfinder, and LCD in the same direction and into a desired angle with respect to an object. Next a shutter button on the camera is operable to press for taking a picture. This camera has the benefits of ergonomic, precise picture taking, and full covering of the object by flash.

Abstract: A system controller controls a solid-state image sensor, and performs read-out at a predetermined subsampling ratio. In the event that the size of the image-taking area and the subsampling ratio do not agree, the system controller executes image size conversion processing with a digital processing unit, and converts the image size to an image size corresponding to a request from a peripheral device unit. Also, the system controller performs changing of the image-taking area following ending of the reading out from the solid-state image sensor, thereby obtaining normal frame signals. Accordingly, even in the event that zooming is performed by changing the subsampling ratio, zooming operations can be performed with an arbitrary zooming ratio, and reading out of the image-taking information is made to be suitable.

Abstract: An electronic camera includes: a substantially rectangular parallelepiped image-capturing unit main body provided with an image-capturing device for generating an image signal by capturing an optical image formed by a photographic lens unit; a substantially rectangular parallelepiped display unit main body provided with an external display device for displaying an image based upon the image signal generated by the image-capturing device; and a linking portion that links the image-capturing unit main body and the display unit main body in a manner that the image-capturing unit main body and the display unit main body can rotate relative to each other. And, at the display unit main body, a shutter release button is provided and a grip portion is provided near an end surface furthest away from the image-capturing unit main body; and at the image-capturing unit main body, an optical viewfinder unit is provided beside the photographic lens unit.

Abstract: A method and hardware kit to upgrade application-specific optical instruments. The upgrade facilitates replacement of the photographic element normally supplied by the manufacturer of an optical instrument with a commercially available camera.