Abstract: A high performance zoom lens system suitable for use with a camera is disclosed. The zoom lens systems includes a movable lens group and a variable power stationary lens group employing liquid optics to provide optical performance over the zoom focal length range at focus distances from close to infinity. The system also provides relatively high quality imaging capability over a wide range of focal lengths and zoom settings.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus comprises: a lens unit capable of changing a focal length; an imaging unit that outputs an image signal according to light incident through the lens unit; a filter capable of moving in a direction of insertion to an optical path of the imaging unit and in a direction of retraction from the optical path; and a control unit that controls a position of the filter using information related to the focal length of the lens unit.

Abstract: A digital camera has an optical system, an image capturing unit, an aperture adjuster, a focal point adjuster, and a body microcomputer. The aperture adjuster has an aperture included in the optical system and is capable of adjusting the state of the aperture. The focal point adjuster has a focus lens included in the optical system and is capable adjusting the focal state of the optical system by using the focus lens by contrast detection method. The body microcomputer controls the operation of the aperture adjuster so that the aperture value of the optical system will be at or below a set aperture value before the focal state is adjusted by the focal point adjuster.

Abstract: A digital camera has an optical system, an image capturing unit, an aperture adjuster, a focal point adjuster, and a body microcomputer. The aperture adjuster has an aperture included in the optical system and is capable of adjusting the state of the aperture. The focal point adjuster has a focus lens included in the optical system and is capable adjusting the focal state of the optical system by using the focus lens by contrast detection method. The body microcomputer controls the operation of the aperture adjuster so that the aperture value of the optical system will be at or below a set aperture value before the focal state is adjusted by the focal point adjuster.

Abstract: The present invention provides a lens barrel having an optical system capable of change of a focal length, comprising: a diaphragm device which controls a light amount of light incident to the optical system and passing to an image forming surface; and an open F value varying device which is provided separately from the diaphragm device, controls a light amount of the light incident to the optical system and passing to the image forming surface and varies an open F value by limiting the light amount so that the open F value becomes a value according to a focal length of the optical system when the light amount which is controllable by the diaphragm device is at the maximum.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus includes an image sensor which photo-electrically converts an object image formed by an objective lens, a shutter which is arranged between the objective lens and the image sensor, opens to set the image sensor in an exposure enable state, and closes to set the image sensor in a light-shielding state, a dark image acquisition unit which acquires a dark image by closing the shutter and causing the image sensor to accumulate charges, and a control unit which controls an aperture size of an aperture stop arranged at the objective lens, wherein if the aperture stop has a aperture size more than a predetermined aperture size before acquiring the dark image, the dark image acquisition unit acquires the dark image after the control unit controls the aperture stop to an aperture size not more than the predetermined aperture size.

Abstract: Auto focus control processing for still image recording is performed while continuously performing movie recording when an initiation instruction for a still image recording preparation process is issued during movie recording. Movie recording is interrupted to perform still image recording processing only when an initiation instruction for still image recording processing is detected during movie recording. In addition, in the auto focus control for still image recording during movie recording, focus detection is performed within a distance range that is narrower than the distance range during auto focus control performed for normal still image recording.

Abstract: A display device able to give an image giving a good impression such as a sharp contrast in a dark scene and maintaining brightness in a bright scene, that is, a display device comprising a variable aperture iris and a control circuit for controlling opening/closing of the iris in accordance with a state of a level of an input signal forming a screen, wherein the control circuit controls the iris so that a response of an open/close operation of the iris is different between a case where the signal level fluctuates from a dark level to a bright level and a case where the signal level fluctuates from a bright level to a dark level.

Abstract: A tunable optical lens includes a solid refractive optical lens, a channel adjacent to the solid refractive optical lens, and an extended body of liquid. A portion of the body forms at least part of an aperture stop for the lens. The portion of the body forms a meniscus that protrudes from or into the channel. The liquid is light-absorbing in the visual spectrum and/or in the near-infrared spectrum.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a lens apparatus that can switch the aperture diameter of the light-blocking member using a body structural member constituting a portion of the lens apparatus. The lens apparatus includes a lens unit that is moved in a direction of an optical axis, a light-blocking unit having a plurality of light-blocking members forming an aperture portion through which light passes, and a body structural member. The light-blocking unit and the body structural member move relative to one another in the direction of the optical axis according to a movement of the lens unit, and an aperture diameter of the aperture portion is switched by moving the body structural member between a first position in which the light-blocking members are prevented from opening beyond a predetermined aperture diameter, and a second position in which the light-blocking members are allowed to open beyond a predetermined aperture diameter.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a camera that can take a bright photograph in a dark place. If a light value is equal to or smaller than a predetermined value, an aperture regulation for a diaphragm is cleared, and the aperture of the diaphragm is set at a value within a range between a first maximum value and a second maximum value smaller than the first maximum value depending on the light value measured by a photometric section, the range including the first maximum value itself.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a camera that can take a bright photograph in a dark place. If a light value is equal to or smaller than a predetermined value, an aperture regulation for a diaphragm is cleared, and the aperture of the diaphragm is set at a value within a range between a first maximum value and a second maximum value smaller than the first maximum value depending on the light value measured by a photometric section, the range including the first maximum value itself.

Abstract: A flash lever for actuating a flash switch is interlocked with a stop plate via a spring. When a picture is taken without a flash, photographing is performed in a state that a small stop opening of the stop plate is disposed at an optical path. When the flash lever is moved to an ON position in order to take a picture with the flash, the flash switch is turned on to activate a flash circuit and a photometry circuit. At this time, the stop plate is evacuated from the optical path so that photographing is performed only through a fixed stop opening. If luminance of a subject is large in this condition, an electric current is supplied to an electromagnet to pull an iron plunger therein for returning the stop plate to the original position. In virtue of this, photographing is performed through the small stop opening.

Abstract: The present invention includes a system and method for obtaining a set of capability parameters for an electronic imaging device. The invention includes a series of capability parameter storage locations for containing capability parameter value sets, a GetCameraCapabilities command for retrieving these capability parameter value sets, and a parameter manager device for executing the GetCameraCapabilities command to retrieve the capability parameter value sets.

Abstract: An optical apparatus having a diaphragm device required to have the full-open aperture thereof varied according to zooming includes a zoom detection part for detecting the state of zooming, the diaphragm device including a motor serving as a drive source to drive a diaphragm member for varying the aperture diameter thereof, and a control circuit arranged to vary the full-open aperture diameter by driving the motor of the diaphragm device on the basis of detection information provided by the zoom detection part.

Abstract: A camera provided with an aperture controllable shutter capable of determining exposure by varying aperture movement, and a photographic lens capable of varying focal length. In accordance with the focal length of the photographic lens, an aperture size or an aperture characteristic of the aperture controllable shutter is determined. A diaphragm of the aperture controllable shutter is driven based on the determined aperture size, aperture characteristic and object brightness.

Abstract: A lens control device which uses a zoom lens in which the state of marginal light quantity varies according to each focal length is arranged to compensate for a variation in marginal light quantity during zooming by detecting the focal length and controlling a maximum aperture diameter of an iris.

Abstract: A photometry part measures a brightness within a shot visual field. A focusing part measures a distance up to a main subject. A focal length measuring part measures a focal length of a taking lens. A strobe light control part directs a strobe to flash regularly and decreases a strobe exposure gradually from a standard exposure in accordance with the measured parameters. The measured distance at which the exposure of the strobe is decreased, is defined as the strobe changeover distance. The strobe light control part sets the strobe changeover distance to be long as the focal length at photographing becomes long, so that the exposure of the main subject on the image surface can be kept proper.