Abstract: A camera system includes a user friendly interface to enable a camera user to enter text data to be printed on a photographic film in a simple and convenient manner. The user interface is also used to display text messages to the user indicating certain camera conditions. More specifically, a camera is provided that includes a display unit, a display control interface for manually selecting text data to be displayed on the display unit and a control unit for controlling the operation of the display unit to display the text data selected by the manual user interface. The display unit preferably includes a text data display section and fixed icon display section.

Abstract: An improved automatic exposure control system for an electronic still camera which uses a variable amplifier to amplify the output signal of an image sensor. A low electrical gain is used when the scene is bright enough to provide a sufficiently fast shutter speed and depth of field in order to keep from blurring the image to be captured. The gain is increased as the scene illumination decreases. Some amount of increased gain is preferably used even before the aperture of the camera is fully opened. The gain of the variable gain amplifier is adjusted as the user changes the focal length (zoom) setting, as the required shutter speed and f-number needed to provide a blur-free image depends on the lens focal length. The gain may also be adjusted as a function of focus distance setting.

Abstract: A light metering device incorporates a light dependent resistor as a light sensing element, a network including a plurality of circuit elements, and a selection mechanism for selectively connecting the light dependent resistor to one of the plurality of circuit elements in the network. The selection mechanism is controlled to set a voltage measured at an output terminal of the light dependent resistor within a predetermined threshold level. The light metering device can be readily incorporated in both photographic and electronic cameras.

Abstract: A camera system incorporates an autofocus system of simple and inexpensive design that provides improved photospace coverage. The autofocus system utilizes both a measurement of the intensity level of ambient light and a determination of whether the ambient light is natural or artificial to set lens focus position, aperture opening, shutter time and operation of a flash unit.