Abstract: The lens information display apparatus is provided that allows the cameraman to check required lens information while looking at a viewfinder. A transmissive LCD panel is mounted in front of a screen of the viewfinder, and a control unit for controlling the image displayed on the LCD panel is attached to the bottom surface of the viewfinder. The control unit obtains lens information from a lens apparatus of a television camera system and causes the LCD panel to display images (characters and/or graphics) representing the lens information so that the lens information is displayed as superimposed on the image on the viewfinder.

Abstract: A telescopically extendible focusing hood which improves the viewing of the LCD screen of a digital camera in bright surrounding light. The focusing hood can be fixed to the rear wall of the camera, surrounding the LCD screen. The focusing hood preferably has an anti-reflection-coated enlarging lens or glass disk which covers the entire cross-section of the focusing hood in parallel to the fixing plane. In its extended state, the focusing hood can be used with a single lens in the manner of a 35 mm camera finder. When the enlarging lens is pushed in, the focusing hood can be used with two lenses for assessing the image.

Abstract: The invention relates to a microdisplay system that utilizes a small high resolution active matrix liquid crystal display with an illumination system and a magnifying optical system to provide a viewfinder in a electronic image record system such as a digital camera or video camera. The matrix display can be transmissive or reflective using sequential lighting. The system can use an alternating common voltage which allows reduced power consumption. In addition an internal heating system in the display allows the system to be used at low temperatures.

Abstract: A camera is disclosed that includes: a plurality of operating members which is operated to set states of the camera and operating conditions, or to cause the camera to perform operations; a display unit which displays guidance information on the set state of the camera, the set operating condition, and the operating members; and a control circuit which allows setting the state of the camera and the operating condition in accordance with operation of the operating member and prohibiting any image-taking operation, with the guidance information displayed on the display unit. According to the camera of this invention, a photographer can operate various operating members while seeing the guidance information without waste of image-taking operation. The photographer can also perform various settings while seeing the guidance information since setting the state (mode or the like) of the camera or the operating condition is allowed even when the guidance information is displayed.

Abstract: In a viewfinder for a camera, a first front finder lens forms an image of a subject including a background area of the subject, a second front finder lens forms an image of the subject including a background area of the subject that is greater than the background area of the subject included in the image of the subject formed by the first front finder lens, and a rear finder lens permits simultaneous viewing of the images of the subject formed by the first and second finder lenses, whereby dual images of the subject including greater and lesser background areas of the subject can be simultaneously viewed when looking through the rear finder lens. When one sees in the viewfinder the difference between the greater and lesser background areas of the subject, he or she is alerted to take care in composing the picture to be taken.

Abstract: An ultraviolet imager for forensic and other purpose, e.g. for detection of fingerprints and other forensic evidence at crime scenes permits live simultaneous viewing, with live focusing adjustments, of an ultraviolet image, converted to visible light, and capture of the ultraviolet image on light sensitive film. A modified SLR camera provides film image capture and is optically coupled with a light intensifier for viewing and focusing. A preferred viewing system employs optical symmetry between the camera and the intensfier. Both the camera and the viewing system are optimized for processing ultraviolet light by employing ultraviolet transmissive lens elements and ultraviolet-reflective mirrors throughout.

Abstract: Provided is an electronic view finder for use in a video camera apparatus that by making the relative position between an LCD and an ocular lens unit proper can decrease the rotatory polarization characteristic and can thereby enhance the contrast of the image. When a liquid crystal image screen surface has the characteristic of Viewing-Angle that this screen surface is seen with its contrast or brightness being different according to the direction in which to see the screen surface, the center of an eye-cup opening portion (6) on the light emission side of an ocular lens unit (2) is shifted from an optical axis (3) of the ocular lens unit (2). Thereby, an observer's eye is guided to a position detached from the position corresponding to the optical axis (3) to see the liquid crystal image screen surface (1) from an oblique direction. It has been thereby arranged to enable the liquid crystal image screen surface to be observed with an excellent contrast.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus automatically determines the photographing mode and displays on a display a kind of the photographing mode with the image of the subject. The image forming apparatus comprises an image pickup part for forming an image of the subject, a photographing mode automatically setting part for automatically selecting one photographing mode from among a plurality of photographing modes based on a photographing condition when the subject is photographed, and setting the selected photographing mode, a display part for displaying the image of the subject; and a display control part for displaying on the display part a kind of the photographing mode set by the photographing mode automatically setting part together with the image of the subject.

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 present invention is a fully functional hand held computer having a see through display. An external viewing arrangement, such as a monocular scope, is used to view the operator's immediate surroundings. Optical images from the scope are superimposed with digital images from a miniature computer display. The resultant image allows the operator to look through the device and view his surrounding while simultaneously viewing and operating the software based applications. The entire device is held like a pair of binoculars and mouse like controls are located adjacent the operator's gripping position.

Abstract: A camera has a body and a capture system disposed in the body. The capture system is actuable to capture an archival image and an assessment image. The capture system defines a different field of view for each of those images. The field of view of the assessment image is larger than the field of view of the archival image. A display unit mounted on the body, shows a first portion of the assessment image corresponding to the field of view of the archival image and is selectively switchable to show a second portion of the assessment image that is non-concentric with the field of view of the archival image. In a method using the camera, an electronic image defining the assessment field of view is captured; then the different portions of the assessment field of view are selectively displayed in alternation.

Abstract: A digital still camera has an image memory for storing a plurality of image groups. Each image group includes nine normal images and a reduced image obtained by thinning pixels of each normal image for reduction to 1/9. When a mode pattern is pressed to indicate forward/backward screen-feeding in a nine-screen multi-reproduction mode, a control circuit feeds forwards or backwards nine reduced images displayed on a liquid crystal screen for each group at one time. Images can thus be retrieved more rapidly than in conventional examples which require operating a forward/backward screen-feed button nine times to feed nine reduced images forwards or backwards.

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: An electronic camera includes: an image-capturing unit that creates an image by capturing an image of a subject; an enlarged image generating unit that creates an enlarged image by enlarging a portion of the image created by the image-capturing unit; an optical viewfinder that enables verification of a subject range corresponding to a range of the image created by the image-capturing unit; and a warning output unit that issues a warning when the enlarged image generating unit is in operation.

Abstract: In a camera and method, an archival image is captured. During the capturing of the archival image, a plurality of evaluation images are also captured. A verification image is generated from the evaluation images. Characteristics of the evaluation images are compared to predetermined standard ranges and an output quality warning is generated when a characteristic is outside a respective range. The output quality warning is communicated while the verification image is displayed on the camera.

Abstract: The lens information display apparatus is provided that allows the cameraman to check required lens information while looking at a viewfinder. A transmissive LCD panel is mounted in front of a screen of the viewfinder, and a control unit for controlling the image displayed on the LCD panel is attached to the bottom surface of the viewfinder. The control unit obtains lens information from a lens apparatus of a television camera system and causes the LCD panel to display images (characters and/or graphics) representing the lens information so that the lens information is displayed as superimposed on the image on the viewfinder.

Abstract: A camera has a body and a capture system mounted in the body. The capture system defines a photographic scene, An evaluator assesses a plurality of parameters for capture of the scene. A look-up table matches the parameters to one or more of a plurality of editorial suggestions to define a suggestion set. A display unit is selectively actuable to show depictions of the editorial suggestions of the suggestion set. In a method, the capture system of the camera defines a scene and an electronic image having a field of view inclusive of the scene is captured and evaluated. Responsive to the evaluating, one or more editorial suggestions relating to capture are displayed on the camera.

Abstract: In a method and camera, a scene is captured as an original electronic image. The original electronic image is stored as an archival image in memory in the camera. A plurality of parameters of the scene are evaluated. The parameters are matched to one or more of a plurality of editorial suggestions to define a suggestion set. One or more editorial suggestion images are generated. Each editorial suggestion image is a copy of the original electronic image modified in accordance with a respective editorial suggestion. The editorial suggestion images are displayed. User input is accepted designating one depictions as a user selection. The user input is recorded for later use in preparation of a final image or the stored archival image is edited in accordance with the selected suggestion.

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: There are provided a photo-taking apparatus which sets performing a plurality of correlated photo-taking operations and prevents setting of an image-stabilizing function from being changed during the plurality of correlated photo-taking operations, a control method adapted for the photo-taking apparatus, and a computer program product supplying a control program adapted for the photo-taking apparatus.

Abstract: The camera of this invention has a zoom optical system 21, 23 which forms an object image on silver-salt film 27; an image capture element 15 which captures an electronic image of the above object image; and an image capture optical system 2, 11, 13, 14 which forms the object image on the image capture element. The image capture optical system is provided separately from the zoom optical system, and has an angle of view which covers the broadest photography angle of view of the zoom optical system. The above camera also has memory which stores the image data of an image capture bounding frame; a signal processing circuit 45 which merges the electronic image captured by the image capture element and the image data of the photography bounding range stored in memory; and a monitor device 8 which displays the electronic image merged by the signal processing circuit.

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 system for controlling user interaction in a digital imaging device having a display using dynamic overlay bars. The digital imaging device includes at least two operating modes, where each of the operating modes has at least one mode-specific operation that can be performed on images. In response to operating in both of the operating modes, the digital imaging device displays a first overlay bar on the display that is dynamically updated with status information and interactive instructions that guide the user through the mode-specific operations.

Abstract: An electronic image display apparatus includes an image sensor arranged to obtain an electronic image, an external memory arranged to store electronic image information related to identification information which identifies a photographic film loaded in the apparatus, a reproducing circuit arranged to reproduce the identification information recorded at a magnetic information recording part of the photographic film loaded, and a display device arranged to display, on the basis of the identification information stored in the external memory and reproduction information reproduced by the reproducing circuit, the electronic image information related to the identification information. The electronic image display apparatus is thus arranged to let the user know, without fail, what picture is taken on which of films by displaying an electronic image recorded on each film, even in a case where there are many exposed or partially exposed films.

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 digital still camera comprising a CPU 40 for compressing the one frame image data of a photo-shot having a constant data quantity by JPEG method into a variable length with the maximum data quantity of no more than 30 k bytes, and a flash memory 41 for storing the compressed image data in an image region 412. The CPU 40 counts a number of frames of the image data already written onto the image region 412 and the unused data capacity, obtains a remaining number of frames allowable to be photo-shot from the number of frames of the image data already written onto the image region 412, and obtains a remaining number of frames allowable to be photo-shot from the unused data capacity of the image region 412, and also displays either smaller one as the number of frames allowable to be photo-shot.

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 camera including a liquid crystal display is provided with a light interception hood mounting portion corresponding to the liquid crystal display, and a light interception hood which is detachably attached to the light interception hood mounting portion. The light interception hood is provided with a hood body which prevents external light entering the liquid crystal display when the light interception hood is attached to the light interception hood mounting portion, and a magnifier through which the liquid crystal display can be viewed.

Abstract: A cavity diffuses light received from a light source so as to produce a uniform light output. The cavity is formed from a unitary structure having one or more portions that diffusely reflect light within the cavity and another portion that transmits the uniform light output. The cavity is a unitary structure, formed from an optically diffusive material, that defines a diffusing cavity having an access aperture. A portion of the unitary structure defines diffusely reflective walls and another portion of the unitary structure defines a diffusely transmitting screen. A portion of the diffusely reflecting walls has a portion that has a thickness being greater than a thickness of the diffusely transmitting screen. The diffusely reflective walls reflect and mix light within the diffusing cavity. The diffusing cavity may be employed in an illuminated display device, having a light source and an imaging device which imposes an image on light received from the cavity.

Abstract: A camera is provided which includes at least an electronic image pickup device, a display device, and a flash light emitting device. A power source supplies electric power to internal electric circuits. A charging control circuit performs charging from the power source to the flash light emitting device, and an exposure permission signal generating circuit generates an instruction signal indicative of an instruction of image pickup permission to the electronic image pickup device. The exposure permission signal generating circuit transmits the exposure permission signal when the charging control circuit judges that the charged current to the flash light emitting device is equal to or less than a given value. The camera shortens a period provided for a next photographing preparation state after a photographing operation with a flash light emitting device and simultaneously always obtains image signals which are capable of displaying properly exposed images.

Abstract: To record images by a film recording system and an electronic recording system with one light-emission of a flashing device, the flashing device is controlled according to set values of photo film recording conditions since the sensitivity of a silver halide film is different from that of an imaging device. Information about exposure control of the electronic recording system is transmitted from a CPU that is equivalent to a controlling device of the film recording system to a CPU of the electronic recording system, and the electronic recording system sets a CCD aperture, a CCD gain and so on according to the information.

Abstract: A novel means and apparatus for a new kind of photography and videography is described. In particular, a wearable camera with a viewfinder suitable for long-term use is introduced. The system, in effect, absorbs and quantifies rays of light and processes this quantigraphic information on a small wearable computer system, then the processed information is re-constituted into light rays emerging to reconstruct the virtual image of objects at nearly the same position in space, or at a coordinate transformed position, as viewed by the wearer of the apparatus. The wearer of the apparatus becomes, after adaptation, an entity that seeks, without conscious thought or effort, an optimal point of vantage and camera orientation.

Abstract: an electronic camera includes: an image-capturing unit that creates an image by capturing an image of a subject; an enlarged image generating unit that creates an enlarged image by enlarging a portion of the image created by the image-capturing unit; an optical viewfinder that enables verification of a subject range corresponding to a range of the image created by the image-capturing unit; and a warning output unit that issues a warning when the enlarged image generating unit is in operation.

Abstract: A camera comprises an electronic image-pickup apparatus and a silver-salt photography apparatus for recording a subject image on a silver-salt film. The electronic image-pickup apparatus comprises an area sensor for converting a subject image to an electric signal and an LCD monitor for displaying an image signal generated from the area sensor. The area sensor captures an image synchronously when the silver-salt photography apparatus records the subject image on the silver-salt film. When a self-timer photography mode setup switch is pressed to enable a self-timer photography mode, capturing an image through the area sensor and displaying the captured image on the LCD monitor are repeated during the self-timer photography mode.

Abstract: A dual image capture camera for capturing successive film images and electronic images that correspond to the respective film images has an image-combining selector capable of being manually operated to select an identical print designation for at least two captured film images which indicates that these captured film images should be combined to make a single print, and a display that shows the captured electronic images to permit one to view them in order to decide which captured film images are to be combined to make a single print.

Abstract: A dual film image and electronic image capture camera matches the captured electronic image shown in an image display with the captured film image in regard to sharpness, when the film image capture lens is misfocused on a far object farther from the camera than the subject because of unintended misranging to the far object, and when the film image capture lens is misfocused on a near object closer to the camera than the subject because of unintended misranging to the near object. Thus, in each instance, the displayed electronic image will indicate the captured film image is out of focus.

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 camera and photography system have multiple, encoded area modes and modification states. The camera has a case, a taking lens that defines an image plane in the case, and a capture member for capturing a series of images formed by the taking lens at the image plane. The camera has an area designator that identifies a plurality of different areas of the image plane and is switchable to designate a selected area, and a modification designator that is switchable among a plurality of image modification states to designate a selected state. An encoder records the selected area and selected state concurrent with image capture.

Abstract: A UV-Imager system includes a camera. The camera includes a first UV coated mirror and a quartz UV transmittive camera lens. The UV-Imager system also includes a second UV coated mirror coupled to the camera, and an intensifier coupled to the second UV coated mirror.

Abstract: A camera system includes a camera main body having a photographic device for photographing an image of object to produce image signal and a monitor device separatable from the camera main body. The monitor device is provided with a control portion for controlling the exposure of photographic device in addition to a display portion. The operator can check a photographed image before or after the image is recorded on a film. Also, the monitor device selectively provides a singular display of monitor image for usual shooting and a continuous display of monitor images for serial shooting.

Abstract: A digital camera comprises an electronic view finder (EVF) for electronically displaying an image of a subject and a movable monitor. The movable monitor is slidable along guide grooves and movable between a first position in which the EVF is covered with the movable monitor and a second position in which the EVF is not covered. By a sensor for position detection, when it is detected that the movable monitor is in the first position, no image is displayed on the EVF but an image is displayed on the movable monitor. When it is detected that the movable monitor is in the second position, no image is displayed on the movable monitor but an image is displayed on the EVF. Consequently, power can be saved, and when the movable monitor is in the first position, adhesion of dusts and dirt onto the display face of the EVF can be decreased.

Abstract: An optical system of a composite camera including a first image-forming optical system, a second image-forming optical system, and a condenser lens group, which includes two or more lens elements, or includes a single lens element on which at least one aspherical surface is formed; and at any image height on the equivalent image plane, the following condition is satisfied: &Dgr;&thgr;Pmax−&Dgr;&thgr;Pmin<2° . . .

Abstract: A digital camera includes a viewfinder having a proximity sensor which is activated whenever a user looks through the viewfinder in preparation of viewing an object or framed scene. An illuminated status indicator mounted for viewing within the viewfinder for providing the user when camera status information is coupled to the proximity sensor through a microprocessor that controls the illumination level of the status indicator. The illumination level of the status indicator is controlled by the microprocessor in response to an auto-exposure algorithm that measures the brightness level of the object or framed scene that is being viewed by the user through the viewfinder.

Abstract: Provided is an electronic view finder for use in a video camera apparatus that by making the relative position between an LCD and an ocular lens unit proper can decrease the rotatory polarization characteristic and can thereby enhance the contrast of the image. When a liquid crystal image screen surface has the characteristic of Viewing-Angle that this screen surface is seen with its contrast or brightness being different according to the direction in which to see the screen surface, the center of an eye-cup opening portion (6) on the light emission side of an ocular lens unit (2) is shifted from an optical axis (3) of the ocular lens unit (2). Thereby, an observer's eye is guided to a position detached from the position corresponding to the optical axis (3) to see the liquid crystal image screen surface (1) from an oblique direction. It has been thereby arranged to enable the liquid crystal image screen surface to be observed with an excellent contrast.

Abstract: A digital camera and a printer are directly connected to each other, and a printing progress situation is displayed on a display unit of the digital camera while an image taken by the digital camera is being printed. Further when a printing mode is changed to a photographing mode while the printing is being performed, the image being taken is displayed on the entire display unit, and the printing progress situation is superposed and displayed on a predetermined area of the display unit on which the image being taken is displayed.

Abstract: A dual image capture camera for capturing successive film images on a filmstrip and for capturing successive electronic images that correspond to the respective film images, includes a preview screen that can be turned on to display a captured electronic image in order to preview what a print of a captured film image would look like and that can be turned off, a preview button that is manually depressed to turn the preview screen on when the preview screen is off and can be manually depressed to turn the preview screen off when the preview screen is on, and a control connected to the preview screen and to the preview button to turn the preview screen on automatically without having to manually depress the preview button when an electronic image corresponding to the last film image available on the filmstrip is captured.

Abstract: A compact through-the-lens digital camera comprising an objective lens unit, an image sensing device, an internal display device, an eye lens unit, an optical system, control and processing circuitry, function select controls, and an external interface. The optical system is switchable between an image framing mode optical path, wherein light is directed from the objective lens unit to the eye lens unit, an image capture mode optical path, wherein light is directed from the objective lens unit to the image sensing device, and an image review mode optical path, wherein light is directed from the display device to the eye lens unit.

Abstract: A method and camera verify the focus of photographic images. In the method, a taking lens unit is autofocused to a focused distance for a subject image. A latent image of said subject image is captured on photographic film using the lens system at the focused distance. During the capturing of the latent image, an electronic image of the subject image is acquired. The electronic image and an indicator of the focused distance are displayed after the latent image is captured.

Abstract: A data erasure control system for a camera that is capable of forming images on a photographing film, and of capturing and storing image data including a plurality of frames in a memory is provided with: a judging system that judges whether a photographing operation with respect a photographing film has been completed; and a data erasure prohibiting system that prohibits the image data stored in the memory from being erased until the judging system judges that a photographing operation with respect a photographing film has been completed.

Abstract: The camera of this invention has a zoom optical system 21, 23 which forms an object image on silver-salt film 27; an image capture element 15 which captures an electronic image of the above object image; and an image capture optical system 2, 11, 13, 14 which forms the object image on the image capture element. The image capture optical system is provided separately from the zoom optical system, and has an angle of view which covers the broadest photography angle of view of the zoom optical system. The above camera also has memory which stores the image data of an image capture bounding frame; a signal processing circuit 45 which merges the electronic image captured by the image capture element and the image data of the photography bounding range stored in memory; and a monitor device 8 which displays the electronic image merged by the signal processing circuit.