Abstract: An electronic flash controlling device controls a flash light emitting unit that performs a main light emission and a preliminary light emission prior to the main light emission. A maximum preliminary light emission quantity setting unit sets a maximum preliminary light emission quantity for the preliminary light emission during which a smaller quantity of light is emitted than a maximum light emission quantity based upon maximum light emission quantity information regarding a total light emission quantity which the flash light emitting unit is capable of generating. A preliminary light emission executing unit engages the flash light emitting unit in the preliminary light emission by using the maximum preliminary light emission quantity set by the maximum preliminary light emission quantity setting unit as an upper limit.

Abstract: An electronic flash unit has alternative (dual) capacitor switching to reduce flash ready time for flash firing.

Abstract: A flash photography system includes a first photometering device including a multi-segment photometering sensor having a plurality of zone sensors for measuring a pre-flash emission; a second photometering device including a single-segment direct photometering sensor for measuring a main flash emission; a weighting device which assigns a weighting factor to an output of each of the plurality of zone sensors; a calculation device which calculates a correction value based on each photometering value and the weighting factor of each zone sensor of the first photometering device, wherein an appropriate receiving light amount of the second photometering device is calculated in order to attain a compensation exposure for the main flash emission based on the correction value; and a controller which terminates the main flash emission after the light amount measured by the second photometering device reaches the appropriate receiving light amount.

Abstract: A flash photography system having a camera body and external flash devices includes a designating device for designating a sync flash mode for a main flash emission; a first pre-flash emission mode in which the external flash devices are activated to emit a preliminary flash emission at the same time; a second pre-flash emission mode in which the plurality of external flash devices are activated to emit the preliminary flash emission in a predetermined order; a pre-flash emission mode selecting device which selects the first or second pre-flash emission mode in accordance with the designated sync flash mode; and a pre-flash emission command device which transmits a command signal to the external flash devices to emit the preliminary flash emission in the first or second pre-flash emission mode.

Abstract: A zoom flash includes a light emitter, a zoom driver which moves the light emitter along an axis to vary an illumination angle, a detecting device which detects a zoom position of the light emitter, a calculation device which calculates a pre-flash emission level according to the detected zoom position so that illuminance on an object at a predetermined distance is substantially constant regardless of a variation of the illumination angle, and a control device which activates the light emitter to emit a preliminary flash emission, before a main flash emission, by supplying a voltage corresponding to the pre-flash emission level for the light emitter. A flash photography system is also disclosed.

Abstract: An electric flash device according to the present invention allows selection between an FP flash which repeats flashing at time intervals recognizable as flat light and a discrete flash and comprises a pre-flash part for performing a pre-flash prior to photographing by a camera, a right condition obtaining part for obtaining from the camera information on a condition of a right amount of light which is determined according to subject brightness when the pre-flash is performed, and an actual-flash part for performing an actual-flash according to the condition of the right amount of light obtained by the right condition obtaining part when the photographing is performed. The pre-flash part performs the discrete flash including one or more flashes as the pre-flash, even when the FP-flash is selected as the actual-flash. Consequently, reduction in energy consumption for performing the pre-flash and shortening of photometry time can be realized.

Abstract: In a multiple-point automatic focusing camera of this invention, when a focal point is detected to a focal point detecting region in the center of a shot screen by an AP sensor and a main control circuit, a LED having a narrow light distribution angle is used as a supplemental light source. On the other hand, upon detecting the focal point in a focal point detecting region in the periphery of the shot screen, a stroboscope light source having a wide light distribution angle is used as the supplemental light source. As a result, the focal point can be detected in any focal point detecting region even at the time of a low luminance. At this time, the stroboscope light source may be originally equipped for illumination at the time of photographing. Further, the LED may be of small size having a narrow light distribution angle. Thus, the size of the supplemental light source can be suppressed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a camera system which is arranged to find the amount of emission of a main emission on the basis of a measured light value obtained during a preliminary emission, and perform control of the main emission. More specifically, the present invention provides a camera system which is arranged to inhibit processing, such as abnormal-reflection correction, during execution of a specific kind of photography, such as bounce flash photography, perform control processing suited to the specific kind of photography, and execute correct amount-of-light control.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a camera system which is arranged to find the amount of emission of a main emission on the basis of a measured light value obtained during a preliminary emission, and perform control of the main emission. More specifically, the present invention provides a camera system which is arranged to inhibit processing, such as abnormal-reflection correction, during execution of a specific kind of photography, such as bounce flash photography, perform control processing suited to the specific kind of photography, and execute correct amount-of-light control.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a flash photography system of the type which controls the amount of light emission of a main light emission on the basis of a measured-light value obtained when a preliminary light emission is performed. The present invention provides the aforesaid type of flash photography system in which multiple divided light measuring means is made to perform light measurement during the preliminary light emission, and weighting of a measured-light value relative to a predetermined area in the multiple divided light measuring means and weighting of a measured-light value relative to another area in the multiple divided light measuring means are made to differ from each other according to a size occupied by a subject in the image plane so that the amount of light emission is correctly controlled.

Abstract: A camera is provided, which can appropriately control the electronic flash irradiation area when the electronic flash device capable of setting its irradiation angle in a plurality of ways is used as an AF auxiliary light source, thus improving the use efficiency of the auxiliary light and reducing wasteful energy consumption. In the camera of the present invention, the control unit automatically controls an electronic flash irradiation angle to the narrow electronic flash emitting unit regardless of the imaging angle which was set, while performing the distance measurement operation in cooperation with the electronic flash.

Abstract: An electronic flash unit is caused to perform a pre-flash immediately before a photographing operation, and the quantity of light reflected by the subject during the pre-flash is measured by a flash metering unit. Based upon the output from the flash metering unit, a decision is made as to whether or not another pre-flash is to be implemented. Based upon the results of the decision-making, another pre-flash is performed if necessary. Thus, if the quantity of light measured by the flash metering unit during the pre-flash is too small or too large and a sufficient degree of accuracy is not achieved in the measurement, another pre-flash is performed to assure a high degree of accuracy in metering.

Abstract: A camera auxiliary light system provides supplemental illumination for a passive ranging system in determining camera-to-object distance, provides a self-timer activation status light to persons in a scene, provides a point of visible light to assist in aiming the camera, and provides red-eye reduction illumination. Thus, multiple functions are performed by a single auxiliary light, thereby reducing the number of camera elements and reducing camera cost, size, and weight. The system includes an auxiliary light source, a mode control switch that selects between a self-timer mode, a red-eye reduction mode, and a flash defeat mode, a light sensor that receives light from the scene and produces a signal that indicates the relative amount of light that was received, and a light source controller that controls operation of the auxiliary light source in response to actuation of a shutter release of the camera.

Abstract: A camera is provided with a distance measurement device having a plurality of distance measurement regions and outputting distance measurement information of each distance measurement region, a light adjustment device having a plurality of light adjustment regions including regions substantially coinciding with the distance measurement regions, and an auxiliary light emitting device for emitting auxiliary light in distance measurement. The auxiliary light emitting device emits auxiliary light when low contrast is detected in at least one of the plurality of distance measurement regions. When auxiliary light is emitted, the flash light emission quantity is controlled based on the distance measurement information in auxiliary light emission and an output from the light adjustment device.

Abstract: A camera for use with a flash device capable of performing a test light emitting action and a lens device having a diaphragm includes a lens diaphragm control instructing part for giving an instruction for an aperture controlling action of the diaphragm of the lens device, and a test light emission control part for causing, in response to a predetermined operation (for example, an operation on a stop-down switch provided on the camera), both the aperture controlling action by the lens diaphragm control instructing part and the test light emitting action of the flash device to be performed, so that, in response to the predetermined operation, the test light emission can be performed in a state of having the aperture of the lens diaphragm stopped down. Accordingly, shades and shadows of the object of shooting to be obtained under flash light emission can be simply recognized through the test light emission prior to execution of flash photography without recourse to any complex operation.

Abstract: In an information transmitting apparatus capable of transmitting information by using flash light emission of a flash light emission tube, communication data is detected at timing synchronized with a predetermined period and, when the detected communication data indicates a light emission instruction, a predetermined light emission signal is formed and outputted to cause the flash light emission tube to make light emission, wherein a time interval from a point of time at which the light emission instruction has been detected to a point of time at which the light emission signal is outputted is varied according to a time interval from a point of time at which the preceding light emission has been performed to a point of time at which the light emission instruction for the current light emission is detected, so that the intervals of flash light emission are adjusted.

Abstract: A camera system which performs light measurement by causing a flash unit to perform a preliminary emission before causing said flash unit to perform a main emission, and computes a control value for the main emission on the basis of a result of the light measurement, includes charge detecting circuitry for detecting a state of charge of a capacitor for storing energy to be used for emission of the flash unit, an upper limit value computer for computing an amount-of-emission upper limit value on the basis of a detection result provided by said charge detecting circuitry and decision circuitry for determining whether flash control under which the main emission can provide a correct amount-of-emission is possible, before the main emission on the basis of the control value and an amount-of-emission upper limit value computed by the upper limit value computer after the preliminary emission.

Abstract: A flash control device for a camera includes a light emission unit which emits light to illuminate a subject to be imaged by the camera, a preliminary light emission control unit which causes the light emission unit to emit light during a preliminary light emission operation prior to a main exposure operation to be performed by the camera and until a predetermined amount of light is received by the camera during the preliminary light emission operation, a range computing unit which computes a distance from the camera to the subject, an exposure calculation unit which computes an aperture value for the camera during the preliminary light emission operation, a main light emission calculation unit which calculates a length of time that the light emission unit is to emit light during a main light emission operation based on the preliminary light emission operation, the computed distance to the subject, and the aperture value, and a main light emission control unit which controls the emission of light by the light

Abstract: A flash photography system arranged to make preliminary emission and to control main emission according to a value of light measured at the time of the preliminary emission is capable of adequately performing main flat emission by making the preliminary emission in the mode of flat emission and controlling a peak value of the main flat emission according to data of light measured when the preliminary flat emission is made.

Abstract: A camera system includes a plurality of flash devices for performing flash light emission toward an object during an exposure, a preliminary light emission control circuit for causing the plurality of flash devices to sequentially make preliminary light emission toward the object prior to the flash light emission to be performed by the plurality of flash devices during the exposure, a compression-type light measuring sensor for compressing a photoelectric current obtained by converting light from the object and for outputting the compressed photoelectric current as a voltage, and a light emission amount control circuit for controlling amounts of light emission of the plurality of flash devices during the exposure on the basis of light measurement outputs during the preliminary light emission obtained by the compression-type light measuring sensor by measuring reflected light from the object caused by the preliminary light emission control circuit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a camera system which is arranged to find the amount of emission of a main emission on the basis of a measured light value obtained during a preliminary emission, and perform control of the main emission. More specifically, the present invention provides a camera system which is arranged to inhibit processing, such as abnormal-reflection correction, during execution of a specific kind of photography, such as bounce flash photography, perform control processing suited to the specific kind of photography, and execute correct amount-of-light control.

Abstract: A camera comprising an electronic flash unit capable of providing a pre-flash light emission for reducing a common phenomenon known as the red-eye effect and a main flash light emission for illuminating a subject during a flash assisted exposure, and a control connected to the electronic flash unit for making a judgement based on the subject brightness and the camera-to-subject distance to cause the electronic flash unit to omit the pre-flash light emission when a flash assisted exposure is to be made, is characterized in that the control is adapted to cause the electronic flash unit to omit the pre-flash light emission when the subject brightness is low enough for the red-eye effect to occur, but the camera-to-subject distance is greater than a maximum distance beyond which the pre-flash light emission is inadequate to reduce the red-eye effect.

Abstract: In a camera capable of setting a flash bracketing photo-taking mode in which an amount of light emission by a flash device is increased or decreased by a desired amount with respect to a predetermined value for every shot to be taken using the flash device, a photo-taking operation of the camera is inhibited if a charge voltage of the flash device is lower than a predetermined voltage when the camera is set in the flash bracketing photo-taking mode.

Abstract: A control device for a flash device used for a camera, or a camera adapted to use a flash device, includes an object luminance detecting sensor part for making preliminary light emission before exposure and measuring object luminance obtained during the preliminary light emission, an aperture value determining circuit for determining a full-open aperture value of a photo-taking lens used for the camera, a deciding circuit for deciding an amount of light emission to be made by the flash device during exposure by the camera, in accordance with a detection result of the object luminance detecting sensor part and a determination result of the aperture value determining circuit, and a restraining circuit for finding whether the camera is in such a state as to have the full-open aperture value correctly determined by the aperture value determining circuit and, if the camera is found to be not in such a state as to have the full-open aperture value correctly determined by the aperture value determining circuit, rest

Abstract: A light projector for camera including a light emission lamp having a filament, a lamp mounting frame which holds the light emission lamp integrally therewith as well as has a pair of support shafts projecting from opposite the sides thereof with one of the support shaft having a rectangular hole defined thereto, a reflection umbrella for reflecting the light from the filament, a light projection lens disposed so that the optical axis thereof matches the optical axis of the reflection umbrella and a casing on which the reflection umbrella and the light projection lens are mounted, wherein the lamp mounting frame is held by swingably engaging the pair of support shafts and the like with a pair of sliding grooves and the like along an optical axis direction.

Abstract: A strobe device including a preparatory light radiator for generating a fixed amount of preparatory light a plurality of times to set an amount of actual light to be generated when radiating supplementary light onto a subject during photographing; an image pickup element for receiving a fixed amount of preparatory light, generated a plurality of times by the preparatory light radiator, and photoelectrically converting light reflected from the subject; an amplifier for amplifying the photoelectrically converted signal during the plurality of times of generating preparatory light, by an amplification factor which differs for each generation of preparatory light; a detector for detecting whether the average level of signals being output from the amplifier, for each generation of preparatory light, is within a predetermined range; and a calculator for calculating an amount of actual light to be generated based on signals output from the amplifier when the detector has determined that the average level of signals

Abstract: Photographing operation of a camera is possible in an automatic program zoom mode in which focal length of a photographing lens is automatically determined based on a prescribed program, and in a manual zoom mode in which focal length of the photographing lens is determined dependent on user's preference. When a switch for starting operation of the camera is turned ON, the automatic program zoom mode is automatically set from the two modes.

Abstract: The disclosure is concerned with an electronic flash module comprising a plurality of flash subunits to illuminate a photographed scene in flash photography. Each flash subunit comprises a flash-tube and associated charging and triggering circuits; a modeling lamp to allow a photographer to set up the lighting pattern. Each module comprises a trip circuit to synchronously trip all the triggering circuits in the module. It is preferred that the module further comprises a photosensor to activate the trip circuit upon sensing a trigger pulse sent out by a remote device. Preferably, the module comprises connection means so that two or more modules can be linked up to form a panel with a larger illuminating source area. Furthermore, it is preferred that the flash subunits can be selectively and individually disabled to allow the photographer to adjust the illuminating pattern.

Abstract: There is disclosed a photographic system incorporating a photographic apparatus of the type including an exposure control system which senses and evaluates ambient and infrared spectral energy for controlling camera functions; as well as an accessory for use in combination therewith which compensates for attenuation of infrared energy underwater which infrared energy would otherwise be used in controlling the camera functions. Provision is made for a supplemental source of infrared energy that is directed to such system for a time period and in an amount based upon an evaluation of reflected visible spectral energy from the scene.

Abstract: A camera has an electronic flash unit for providing a flash exposure light pulse, and a selection mean device on the camera or on an auxiliary lamp has a selection setting for allowing the auxiliary lamp to provide a subject-conditioning pre-flash light pulse before the electronic flash unit provides the flash exposure light and another setting for allowing the auxiliary lamp to be continuously on to illuminate the subject instead of providing the pre-flash light pulse.

Abstract: An electronic flash illuminates an object. A first photometric unit measures a visible light component of ambient light of the object. A second photometric unit measures an infrared light component of the ambient light of the object. A determining unit determines the ratio between the visible light component measured by the first photometric unit and the infrared light component measured by the second photometric unit. On the basis of the ratio determined by the determining unit, a light emission determining unit determines whether the electronic flash is to be made emit light.

Abstract: A flash photographing system includes a first firing device operable to fire a first flash light effective for photography of the camera device; a second firing device operable to fire a second flash light ineffective for photography of the camera device, the second firing device having two different emission modes; and a changer operable to change over the two emission modes of the second firing device. The emission modes are changed over in accordance with selection of macro or portrait photography mode. The second flash light consists of intermittently emitted flash lights. The emission modes of the second flash light are different from each other in aspect of the light amount, emitting frequency, number of emitting times, or emitting time.

Abstract: An electronic part, specifically a red-eye prevention lamp, is suspended in a gap between immediately adjacent curved internal walls of a camera. The curved internal walls are those of a battery compartment and a film storage compartment. The red-eye prevention lamp is suspended by a control circuit board bridging the curved walls.

Abstract: A low cost, compact multi-light through-the-lens adjustment unit for use in a camera which incorporates a built-in flash allowing an increase in the speed of a shutter release operation of the camera. A charged voltage of a charge accumulation unit is measured prior to a light pre-emission. The light pre-emission is initiated and thereafter terminated based on a quantity of reflected light detected. The time difference between the initiation of the light pre-emission and the termination of the light pre-emission is measured by a time difference measurement unit. The amount of light pre-emission light of the light emission unit is calculated based on the measured charged voltage and the time difference measurement. Alternatively, the charged voltage prior to light pre-emission is measured by a first voltage measurement unit and the charging voltage after light pre-emission is measured by a second voltage measurement unit.

Abstract: A light measuring apparatus capable of measuring ambient light, flash light from a flash source directly connected to the light measuring apparatus and flash light from a flash source that is remote. A photoelectric sensor can convert the light into electrical signals when an operator starts a light measurement cycle. A flash light emission signal can be generated to a flash source. The computer circuit can process the light signals to determine the specific mode of operation of the light measuring process, and based upon that particular mode of operation to appropriately calculate measurement values.

Abstract: An automatic flash amount control apparatus of camera, which can avoid over-exposure of a subject to be controlled in flash amount even if the subject to be illuminated occupies only a small portion of photo-taking screen, executes photo-metering of a field to be photographed while dividing the field into a plurality of first metering regions without flashing of a flashing device and meters an optical flux emitted by the flashing device and then reflected by the field to be photographed while dividing the flux into a plurality of second metering regions. The apparatus separates the second metering regions into two groups, one of which is to contribute to and the other of which is not to contribute to flash amount control, with correspondence to respective results of metering of the first metering regions.

Abstract: A camera with a vibration correcting function, having a phototaking preparation start device releasing a preparatory operation start signal for instructing the start of a phototaking preparatory operation by a first manual operation, a vibration state detecting device detecting a vibration state based on the preparatory operation start signal, a phototaking start device releasing a phototaking start signal instructing the start of a phototaking operation by a second manual operation, a vibration correcting optical system varying the phototaking optical axis according to the output of the vibration state detecting device, by driving at least a part of the phototaking optical system based on the phototaking start signal, and a control device allowing the entry only, during the function of the vibration state detecting device prior to the release of the phototaking start signal, of a cancellation signal indicating the cancellation of the first manual operation to the phototaking preparation start device or the p

Abstract: An automatic light modulating camera effecting a preliminary light emission and a main light emission, extracts effective light metering areas from plural light metering areas based on the light metering signals obtained at the preliminary light emission and on lens signals indicating the states of a phototaking lens at the preliminary light emission, and terminates the main light emission based on the light metering signals obtained in the effective light metering areas.