Abstract: In a single lens reflex camera, a mirror can be positioned at an angle between the rear of the taking lens and the film to reflect the light rays that come through the lens, on to a focusing screen of the viewfinder, and it can be positioned out of the way to expose the film. The mirror is supported to swing forward toward the rear of the lens and downward to at least partially below the film, simultaneously, from its light-reflecting position to a non-reflecting inverted position substantially facing the bottom of the camera. This advantageously permits the back focus of the lens required to clear the mirror for movement from its light-reflecting position to out of the way to expose the film, to be reduced.

Abstract: A flash charge related signal which indicates that there is inadequate flash energy to fire an electronic flash device is provided during flash-charging, until the elapse of a predetermined fraction of the last-measured full charge time for the flash device. The predetermined fraction determines a lesser charge time sufficient to ensure adequate (not full) flash energy for the next flash firing. Thus, the charging time perceived by the photographer always appears shortened to the lesser time, even though the flash device is not fired until it is fully charged. Moreover, the waiting time to fire the flash device can be shortened by relying on the lesser time.

Abstract: In a single lens reflex camera, a mirror can be positioned at an angle between the rear of the taking lens and the film to reflect the light rays that come through the lens, on to a spaced prism and eyelens of the viewfinder, and it can be positioned out of the way to expose the film. The mirror is supported to swing in an arc about a single axis from its light-reflecting position to a non-reflecting position vertically arranged between the prism and the eyelens. This kind of movement of the mirror advantageously permits the back focus of the taking lens required to clear the mirror for its movement to be reduced.

Abstract: An improved photographic film processing apparatus is generally of the type wherein an upright processing rack is located within a processing tank adapted to contain a processing liquid for treating the emulsion side of a filmstrip, wherein a timing belt is moved through a vertical guide slot for advancement along the rack to draw successive sections of the filmstrip through a vertical processing channel within the tank, and wherein a plurality of liquid distribution openings to the processing channel direct the processing liquid against the emulsion side of a film section in the processing channel. According to the invention, the tank has respective integral portions shaped to define a first vertical side of the guide slot for the timing belt and to define a first vertical side of the processing channel for the filmstrip.

Abstract: An improved shutter mechanism is disclosed which is generally of the type wherein a shutter blade is mounted for pivotal opening movement and pivotal closing movement in opposite directions about a fixed pivot to uncover and recover a lens opening, wherein a return spring biases the shutter blade in the direction of closing movement, and wherein a fixed stop is positioned to end closing movement of the blade. According to the invention, there is provided bounce control means for enabling the shutter blade to swing about the fixed stop rather than about the fixed pivot in response to a mechanical shock to the blade caused by the blade abruptly hitting the stop. This will change the direction of movement of the blade from the direction of opening movement and thereby prevent the mechanical shock from inducing the blade to bounce off the stop and uncover the lens opening. Thus, the possibility of an undesired second exposure as in prior art mechanisms is prevented.

Abstract: In a dual lens camera having a relatively long focal length lens and a relatively short focal length lens selectively used for telephoto and wide angle photography, the lens selection is controlled by movement of a movable mirror with respect to a fixed mirror to establish respective optical pahts for the two lenses. Whenever a back cover of the camera is opened for film loading or unloading, the movable mirror is secured to affix its reflective surface in shielding relation with the reflective surface of the fixed mirror. This is done to prevent dust or other foreign particles entering the surfaces, and to render the reflective surfaces inaccessible to touch.

Abstract: An artificial illumination control system for controlling the energization of an electronic flash device during a photographic exposure interval in a camera automatically operates in a full flash mode whenever the ambient light level is too low for a proper daylight exposure and the camera-to-subject distance does not exceed a maximum distance suitable for a full flash exposure. Moreover, it automatically operates in a fill flash exposure whenever the ambient light level is bright enough that areas of the subject may be substantially shadowed and the camera-to-subject distance does not exceed a maximum distance small enough to ensure that the fill flash output will lighten the shadowed areas. The maximum distance for a fill flash exposure is always less than the maximum distance for a full flash exposure.

Abstract: In a zoom lens assembly, an objective lens is changed in focal length by moving first and second lens groups relative to each other and is focused by moving the first lens group relative to the second lens group. A zooming cam has respective camming surfaces corresponding to the first and second lens groups for moving the first and second lens groups relative to each other to change the focal length of the objective lens. A focusing cam is operatively associated with the camming surface corresponding to the first lens group for moving the first lens group relative to the second lens group to focus the objective lens in accordance with a change in the focal length of the objective lens.

Abstract: A viewfinder for indicating substantially how much of a subject an objective lens projects on to the film in a camera comprises a frame for viewing the portion of the subject to be recorded on the film. The frame includes a lattice like arrangement of spaced light baffles which define relatively small viewing openings between the baffles for viewing the subject through the openings. Each of the light baffles has a length which is sufficient with respect to the optical axis of the the objective lens to block from view ambient light reflected to the viewing openings from outside the portion of the subject the lens projects on to the film. Thus when the eye is brought relatively close to the lattice like arrangement the view through the viewing openings will be substantially coincident with the portion of the subject recorded on the film, since the area outside that portion will appear blackened. This effect is achieved without having to center the eye with respect to the lattice like arrangement.

Abstract: A photographic film processing rack is adapted to be immersed in a processing liquid tank. The processing rack includes four identical rack panels which combine to form two oppositely spaced pairs of mating vertical rack panels, each pair defining between its mating panels a vertical belt path and at least one vertical film process channel. An endless timing belt extends over a drive sprocket at the top of the processing rack, over an idler sprocket at the bottom of the processing rack, and along the vertical belt paths defined by the respective opposite pairs of mating rack panels. The timing belt has inner teeth for positive engagement with the sprockets and outer teeth for positive engagement with a flexible film leader card to which at least one exposed filmstrip is secured.

Abstract: A photographic film processor includes an upstanding processing rack which is immersed in a processing liquid tank. The rack has oppositely spaced pairs of mating vertical rack panels, each pair defining a vertical belt path and at least one vertical film process channel. An endless timing belt extends over a drive sprocket at the top of the processing rack, over an idler sprocket at the bottom of the rack, and along the vertical belt paths defined by the respective opposite pairs of vertical rack panels. The timing belt has inner teeth for engagement with the sprockets and outer teeth for engagement with a flexible film leader card to which at least one exposed filmstrip is secured. Rotation of the drive sprocket advances the timing belt continuously along the vertical belt paths to pull the exposed filmstrip along the vertical film process channels.

Abstract: Each time an actuator is rotated in engagement with respective teeth of a frame counter in a disposable camera, the counter is rotated the equivalent of one frame to its next setting. To initialize the counter from a random setting during factory prewinding of an unexposed filmstrip onto a take-up spool, the counter includes an elongate rise located between two of its teeth. When the counter is rotated sufficiently in a prewinding direction to locate the elongate rise immediately ahead of the actuator, the counter is initialized. Since the actuator cannot surmount the elongate rise, continued rotation of the actuator in a prewinding direction will not rotate the counter to another setting. Thus as the filmstrip continues to be factory prewound onto the take-up spool the counter remains initialized.

Abstract: A frame counter in a disposable single-use camera is initialized to a preliminary setting from a random setting, rather than from a predetermined setting as in prior art counters. According to the disclosed method, an actuator is rotated in engagement with successive teeth of the frame counter during factory prewinding of an unexposed filmstrip onto a take-up spool to rotate the counter to its preliminary setting from any other setting. After the counter is initialized to the preliminary setting, the actuator continues to rotate in the same direction during continued prewinding of the filmstrip, but it is rotated substantially within a space between two of the teeth of the counter to prevent it from engaging anyone of the teeth to rotate the counter out of the preliminary setting. Thus the counter remains initialized.

Abstract: A film drive in a camera is actuated to advance a filmstrip from a cartridge to position respective frames on the filmstrip for exposure. Normally the film drive is disabled to prevent advancement of the filmstrip when the camera is in a non-picture taking or storage mode, as for example when an integral lens cover of the camera is closed. An exception is created, however, whereby the film drive may be actuated to initialize a fresh film load by advancing the filmstrip to position its first frame for exposure even though the lens cover is closed. This is possible when respective sensor devices in the camera determine that a cartridge is in the camera but the filmstrip has not been initialized. Exposure of the first frame on the filmstrip can not occur unless the lens cover is opened.

Abstract: A film leader card has a series of holes for receiving the projections on a succession of endless timing belts in a film processor to advance the card and an attached filmstrip through the processor. A middle-most hole in the series of holes is spaced relative to an adjacent hole in the series to match the pitch of the projections. Each of the holes in the series forward of the middle-most hole has a pitch slightly greater than the pitch of the projections. Each of the holes in the series rearward of the middle-most hole has a pitch slightly less than the pitch of the projections. Consequently, the leader card is projection-driven only at its middle-most hole since the projections received in the forward and rearward holes are substantially clear of any contact with the edges of those holes. This clearance between the forward and rearward holes and the projections facilitates transfer of the leader card from one timing belt to another timing belt in the film processor.

Abstract: In film processing apparatus provided with (a) a tank into which a processing liquid is pumped; (b) a pair of oppositely spaced film process channels in the tank; (c) a plurality of liquid ingress openings to the channels for directing a processing liquid pumped into the tank to flow into the channels against the emulsion side of a filmstrip advanced along the channels; and (d) a plurality of liquid egress openings from the channels for enabling the processing liquid flowing against the emulsion side of the filmstrip to flow around the longitudinal edges of the filmstrip and out of the channels into the tank, an improvement is added comprising a processing liquid distribution box.

Abstract: Normally in a camera, when a release button is manually depressed, a shutter is actuated to expose a section of film. Then, a motorized drive is actuated to re-set the shutter and advance the film for the next exposure. Conversely, when a cartridge of fresh film is loaded in the camera, the release button is manually depressed to actuate the motorized drive to position the film for the first exposure. However, according to the invention, the shutter is prevented from being actuated in order to avoid the need for the motorized drive to have to re-set the shutter. This allows the motorized drive to dedicate its full torque to overcoming the break-away load needed to advance the film from the cartridge for the first time.

Abstract: A photographic camera, when loaded with a film cartridge containing a perforated filmstrip, warns the user of a film take-up malfunction by preventing manual actuation of the shutter release and, when not loaded with the cartridge, permits manual actuation of the shutter release to test-operate the camera. In the camera, a blocking member is urged to move from a non-blocking position with respect to a shutter release to a blocking position preventing manual actuation of the shutter release. A cartridge sensing member is urged to hold the blocking member in its non-blocking position, when a film cartridge is not loaded in the camera, to permit manual actuation of the shutter release for test-operation purposes. When the film cartridge is loaded in the camera, the cartridge sensing member is moved to release the blocking member for movement to its blocking position.