Abstract: Techniques in both still photography and moving picture photography can be enhanced with a lens system that includes a movable or flexible lens body carrying a lens. The lens body and lens can be moved to multiple user selected positions. The system further includes a retention device that is configured to retain the flexible lens body in the various user selected positions. In selected embodiments, the system includes an actuator for tilting the lens relative to a camera and/or for focusing the camera lens system.

Abstract: A cam pin (16) and a demating prevention pin (35) that are provided in a driving frame (15) and have an identical shape are allowed to mate with a cam groove (18) and a demating prevention groove (36) that are provided in a cam frame (17), respectively. A first protrusion (37) is provided on at least one side in an optical axis direction of a portion of the demating prevention groove (36) with which the demating prevention pin (35) mates when the driving frame (15) is advanced. When an external force is applied to the driving frame (15), a cylindrical portion (35f) of the demating prevention pin (35) and the first protrusion (37) come into contact with each other. This prevents the cam pin (16) from demating from the cam groove (18). The cam pin (16) and the demating prevention pin (35) are made of common components, making it possible to reduce the number of components.

Abstract: In a camera of this invention, a lens barrel including a photographing lens built therein and an aperture opening formed in a camera body are coupled to each other by a light-shield unit in a light-tight manner. The light-shield unit comprises a bellows member made of rubber, sheet, cloth or other material capable of shielding light, which is folded to have top and bottom creases in the spiral form, and a spiral skeleton member comprising a linear spring and fitted to the inner side of a portion of the bellows member which defines the top crease. The skeleton member prevents a flexion of the bellows member, thereby preventing the bellows member from interfering with the flux of photographing light coming through the lens.

Abstract: A composite guide rail for bellows type cameras is disclosed in which the composite rail is comprised of two rail pieces. A multi-fingered connecting insert has a base secured to the end of the first rail while the fingers conform to an inner cavity in one end of the second rail and can be slidably inserted-therein. A wedge having a threaded central bore is movably disposed between the plurality of fingers and is connected to a thumb screw by a threaded connecting rod, the thumb screw located at the opposite end of the first rail from the connecting insert. When the fingers are inserted into the cavity of the second rail and the thumbscrew turned in one direction, the fingers are expanded by the wedge being drawn therebetween such that the fingers come into pressing engagement with the walls defining the inner cavity of the second rail. When assembled, the first and second rails take on the aspect of a single rail.