Abstract: An automatic focusing device for a camera capable of accommodating an interchangeable zoom lens which prevents inadvertently performing a moving subject tracking lens drive control when the zoom lens causes focus shift as a result of a zooming operation. The automatic focusing device operates in a first drive mode in which movement of the subject in the optical axis direction is detected and the moving subject is tracked by providing compensation for the drive amount of the lens according to the movement of the subject, and a second drive mode in which movement of the subject in the optical axis direction is not detected and compensation for the drive amount of the lens is not provided. A determination that the zoom lens causes focus shift during a zooming operation is made when the object distance is within a specified distance range, and a focus shift signal is output when focus shift will occur. An inhibition device inhibits the lens drive in the first lens drive mode in response to the focus shift signal.

Abstract: A zoom lens device has a helical movement barrel and a drive ring mounted in a fixed barrel to be rotatable about an optical axis. The helical movement barrel holds front and rear lens groups therein. The drive ring is rotated by a motor through gears. The drive ring is coupled to a helical movement barrel with a clearance in the circumferential direction, so the drive ring can rotate relative to the helical movement barrel within an angle defined by the clearance. While the drive ring rotates relative to the helical movement barrel, the rotational movement of the drive ring causes a cam barrel to move along the optical axis relative to the helical movement barrel. The axial movement of the cam barrel causes the rear lens group to move along the optical axis. When the drive ring is rotated beyond the angle defined by the clearance, the rotational movement of the drive ring causes the helical movement barrel to rotate together with the cam barrel.

Abstract: A hybrid camera includes a camera housing (12); an electronic imaging device (68) supported within the camera housing; a first optical system (58) for focusing light from a scene onto the imaging device, the first optical system having a first optical axis (16') and a first field of view (162); a film imaging plane (48) defined within the camera housing for photographic film (44); a second optical system (30) for focusing light from a scene onto the film imaging plane, the second optical system having a second optical axis (14') spaced from the first optical axis and a second field of view (164); a viewfinder (18, 26) supported by the camera housing, the viewfinder having a third optical axis (18') and a third field of view, the viewfinder being located relative to a selected one of the first and second optical systems such that the third field of view includes at least 75% of the field of view of the selected optical system; the field of view of the selected optical system being larger than that of a non-sel

Abstract: A zoom lens camera includes a whole unit moving device to move a front lens group and a rear lens group together as a whole in an optical axis direction, and a relative moving means to vary a distance between the front lens group and the rear lens group. The whole unit moving means is driven during a zooming operation, and at least the whole unit moving means or the relative moving means is driven during a focusing operation to focus on a subject to be photographed.

Abstract: A magnification change-over device is arranged to be highly suitable for a camera of the kind having a photo-taking lens and a viewfinder arranged independently of each other. The device includes the photo-taking lens having an image magnification which is variable; the viewfinder which is arranged to have an image magnification thereof also variable; an operating device for varying the image magnification of the viewfinder; a detecting device for detecting the magnifying state of the viewfinder; and a driving apparatus for driving the photo-taking lens according to a detection signal of the detecting device when a shutter release operation is performed. After a magnification setting operation is performed on the viewfinder, the change-over device changes the magnification of the photo-taking lens according to the magnification of the viewfinder when a photographing operation is actually performed.

Abstract: An image magnification control device for a camera having a photographic lens. The image magnification control device includes a first detector that functions to detect a focal length "f0" of the photographic lens. A distance "X0" between a rear focal point of the photographic lens and an image taking plane of the camera is then determined based on a delivery-amount of a focusing lens of the photographic lens and the detected focal length "f0". A second detector detects a defocusing amount "dx" by analyzing a light passed through the photographic lens, in which the defocusing amount "dx" represents a displacement of an image formed by the photographic lens from the image taking plane. An image magnification "m0" is determined based on a formula "m0=X0/f0", while a control focal length "f1" is calculated based on a formula "f1=(f).sup.2 .multidot.m0)/(X0+dx)". The focal length of the photographic lens is thus controlled so as to meet the control focal length "f1".

Abstract: The operating mode contents of a camera can easily be set by the visual alignment action of the photographer and by manual operation. In a first embodiment, a camera is equipped with a visual line position detection device that detects the position of the visual line of the photographer, a mode contents setting device that sets the contents of the operating modes, and a control device that, when it is determined from the output of the visual line position detection device that the photographer is aligning his vision on a predetermined area, changes the camera mode of the mode contents setting device. In a second embodiment, it is possible to quickly switch the camera mode that is the object of manual operation to the object of the visual alignment operation. It is then possible to change the contents of the mode through the visual alignment action, constituting the manual operation in the second embodiment.

Abstract: This specification discloses a lens position control device in which the focusing lens of a zoom lens is moved on the basis of the output signal of image pickup means provided on the image plane of the zoom lens to thereby effect focus adjustment and which achieves flange back adjustment in such a manner as to change the reference position of a wobbling lens wobbling back and forth in the direction of an optical axis having a predetermined position as the reference in order to detect the focus state, and the automatization of the flange back adjustment.

Abstract: A magnification change-over device is arranged to be highly suitable for a camera of the kind having a photo-taking lens and a viewfinder arranged independently of each other. The device includes the photo-taking lens having an image magnification which is variable; the viewfinder which is arranged to have an image magnification thereof also variable; an operating device for varying the image magnification of the viewfinder; a detecting device for detecting the magnifying state of the viewfinder; and a driving apparatus for driving the photo-taking lens according to a detection signal of the detecting device when a shutter release operation is performed. After a magnification setting operation is performed on the viewfinder, the change-over device changes the magnification of the photo-taking lens according to the magnification of the viewfinder when a photographing operation is actually performed.

Abstract: In an auto focus camera in which a lens position is changeable in accordance with a photographing mode, based on measured object distance, it is judged whether or not measuring distance can be done, and it is presumed whether or not a person is photographed. In accordance with the result of the judgment and presumption, a focal length of a photographic lens is selected. If distance measuring can not be done or distance measuring data is invalid, focusing operation is executed, based on not the measured distance data but the predetermined distance data which is suitable to a photographing mode of the camera. By this manner, it does not occur that an object image is out of focus badly and a photograph suited for operator's intention can be obtained.

Abstract: An automatic focusing apparatus moves a focusing lens once over a full movement range from the nearest point or from the infinite point so as to cause a photoelectric detector to output an electrical signal at predetermined stepwise lens positions. A lens position range can be specified based on the output electrical signal. The lens position range contains a lens position allowing the maximum focus evaluation value. A lens position for the maximum evaluation value is searched within the lens position range. A reliable and fast focusing operation can be obtained for finding out the maximum focus evaluation value without the effect of a local extremum in the focus evaluation value.

Abstract: There is provided a photosensor having a photoelectric converter for converting incident light into a photoelectric current, and a function of removing noise light from imaging light including noise light and reflected from an object to be photographed. A plurality of photosensors each having the arrangement are used as an image sensor. A single photosensor having the arrangement or a plurality of photosensors each having the arrangement are used as a distance sensor. There is provided a photosensor in which a storage unit stores electric quantity corresponding to fixed light, and electric quantity corresponding to reflected light in the state wherein electric quantity stored in the storage unit is reproduced by a reproduction unit is introduced, and the difference therebetween is reproduced as an electric signal. A single photosensor having the arrangement or a plurality of photosensors each having the arrangement are used as a distance sensor.

Abstract: An autofocus module generates a beam of light that is divergent in the horizontal direction and collimated in the vertical direction. The beam is formed using a laser diode and a diffractively achromatized toroidal lens. A pair of receiver lenses which have focal lengths that are longer and shorter than the distance to a photodetector plane are positioned to receive the beam reflecting from an object. A pair of photodetectors, positioned at the photodetector plane, each providing an output signal that is indicative of the amount of light received by a associated receiving lens. The difference in the output signals is a function of the distance of the object from the detector plane and may be used to drive a camera lens to a desired focus position or to provide an indication of the object from the module.

Abstract: A focal point position correction apparatus for a camera with a zoom lens system, has an adjustment amount calculation device for calculating an adjustment amount .delta.h of at least one lens unit Gh in the zoom lens system using a formula based on focal length information that defines a change amount corresponding to the focal length of the entire lens system and correction coefficients pre-stored for back focus adjustment, and a lens unit driver for moving the lens unit Gh by the adjustment amount .delta.h along the optical axis in the respective focal length states so as to correct any deviation, of the focal point position with respect to the film surface of a best image surface, caused by manufacturing errors, over the entire zooming range.

Abstract: A display device for a camera to accurately display distance information and depth of field information. The camera includes a focusing control device to drive a photographic optical system to an in-focus position in relation to a photographic subject. A distance region identification device identifies a distance region to which the photographic subject belongs from among a plurality of predetermined distance regions into which the photographic distance range which can be achieved by photographic optical systems has been divided, according to information derived by a focus control operation by the focusing control device. A distance information display modifies the display conditions of one part of a display having multiple display segments to indicate one part of the photographic distance range which can be achieved by the photographic optical systems.

Abstract: An automatic focusing camera has a selective night view mode of photographing a scene where the brightness of a main object is lower than the brightness of a background and the brightness of the whole scene is lower than a specified value, and includes an auxiliary light emitter operable to emit an auxiliary light to the main object for focusing; a first determinator operable to determine whether an auxiliary light is necessary in the night view mode; and a controller in responsive to the first determinator to render the auxiliary light emitter emit an auxiliary light.

Abstract: A camera having a automatic focus system for focusing a lens on an object to be photographed which comprises a device for measuring a plurality of distances between the object and the camera. The camera determines an auto focus distance based on a selected one of the predetermined conditions each representing a relationship between each of a plurality of measured distances under a respective circumstance. The camera controls the movement of the lens at least partially based on the auto focus distance.

Abstract: An inexpensive and easily adjustable distance measuring apparatus judges whether an object is located at a far distance or at a near distance relative to a certain set distance. The distance measuring apparatus comprises an oscillator for generating pulses, a light emitting element for emitting light for a predetermined time in synchronization with the pulses generated by the oscillator, a plurality of light receiving elements disposed adjacent to each other to receive reflected light emitted by the light emitting element and reflected by an object whose distance is to be measured, a plurality of delay circuits connected to respective ones of the light receiving elements, and a phase discriminating circuit for comparing the phases of the output signals of each of the delay circuits.

Abstract: An auto focus camera includes a focus detecting circuit, a lens driving circuit for driving a taking lens to an in-focus position based on a focus detection result, a starting signal outputting circuit for outputting a starting signal which starts a focusing operation, an operating member to be operated by a user after the starting signal is outputted, and a controlling circuit for controlling the lens driving circuit so as to drive the taking lens in manners different between before and after an operation of the operation member.

Abstract: In an aspect, an output from a central ranging section is supplied to a comparator, a nearest point determining section, and a selecting section, whereas outputs from a peripheral ranging section are supplied to the determining section and the selecting section. The first and second predetermined values are input to the comparator and the selecting section. A gate circuit receives the determination result from the nearest point determining section and the comparison result from the comparator via an inverter. Another gate circuit receives the outputs from the comparator and the selecting section. A focus control section controls a focusing lens according to the outputs from the gate circuits. In another aspect, an output from a central ranging section is supplied to a nearest point selecting section, a standard deviation calculating section, and a gate circuit, whereas outputs from a peripheral ranging section are supplied to the selecting and calculating sections.

Abstract: A camera according to the present invention comprises a taking length whose focal length is variable. A focal length thereof is determined based on a subject distance measured by a distance measuring circuit and a relation between a subject distance and a focal length previously stored in a memory or according to a manual operation. The relation stored in the memory is changed based on a focal length determined.