Abstract: A zoom lens system includes a positive first lens group, a negative second lens group, and a positive rearward-remaining lens group. Upon zooming from the short to long focal length extremities, the distance between the first and second lens groups increases, the distance between the second and rearward-remaining lens groups decreases, and at least the first lens group and at least part of the rearward-remaining lens group moves. The second lens group includes a negative first sub-lens group which does not move during a focusing operation, and a negative second sub-lens group which moves in the optical axis direction during a focusing operation. The positive rearward-remaining lens group includes at least two lens groups, the distance therebetween mutually changing during zooming from the short focal length extremity to the long focal length extremity.

Abstract: A diaphragm control apparatus of an interchangeable lens camera includes a photographing lens, a diaphragm control slider which is driven between first and second control ends corresponding to maximum and minimum apertures, a position detector, and a controller which drives the diaphragm control slider toward the first control end at high-speed, stores in a memory, as a temporary origin, a position to which the diaphragm control slider has rebounded after reaching the first control end. Thereafter, the controller compares the current position of the diaphragm control slider with the temporary origin while driving the diaphragm control slider at a low-speed towards the first control end. When the current position is within a predetermined range of the temporary origin, the controller determines the current position as the origin of the diaphragm control slider.

Abstract: A zoom lens system includes first through fourth lens groups. Upon zooming from the short to long focal length extremities, the second and third lens groups move while the distance between the first and second lens groups increases, and the distance between the second and third lens groups decreases. The fourth lens group includes a positive lens element having a convex surface on the object side; a cemented lens having a positive lens element and a negative lens element; a biconvex positive lens element, and a negative meniscus lens element having a convex surface on the image side. The following condition (1) is satisfied: 1.6<f1/f4<3.0??(1), wherein f1 and f4 designate the focal lengths of the first and fourth lens groups, respectively.

Abstract: A close-distance correcting lens system includes a positive first lens group and a negative second lens group, wherein traveling distances of the first lens group and the second lens group toward the object side differ from each other when carrying out a focusing operation on an object at infinity to an object at a close distance. The first lens group includes a positive first sub lens group, a negative second sub lens group, a diaphragm, and a positive third sub lens group, in that order from the object side. The second sub lens group includes an image-stabilizing lens group which is arranged to move in a direction orthogonal to the optical axis to change an imaging position of the object image to thereby correct any image shake of the object image.

Abstract: A digital camera is provided that includes a camera body and a monitor device. The camera body includes an imaging module, an image stabilization module, a first connector half and a first wireless communication module. The monitor device is detachable from the camera body and includes a monitor, a second connector half complemental to the first connector half and a second wireless communication module complemental to the first wireless communication module. An operation of the image stabilization module is suspended when monitor device is detached from the camera body.

Abstract: A built-in flash pop-out mechanism comprises a shaft member movable along a first axis; an arm member where one end is pivotally fixed at an end of the shaft member about a second axis; a flash-support member pivotally fixed at the other end of the arm member about a third axis; a first biasing member biasing the shaft member along the first axis; a second biasing member biasing the arm member about the second axis; a third biasing member biasing the flash-support member about the third axis. The built-in flash is extended from a camera body with coplanar motions that pop out the built-in flash to increase its distance from an optical axis. The motions include a translation of the shaft member along the first axis and rotations of the arm member and flash-support member about the second and third axes.

Abstract: A high-ratio zoom lens system includes a positive first lens group, a negative second lens group, a positive third lens group, and a positive fourth lens group, in that order from the object. Upon zooming from the short focal length extremity to the long focal length extremity, the first through fourth lens groups move along the optical axis of the zoom lens system while increasing the distance between the first and second lens groups, and decreasing the distance between the second and third lens groups. The following conditions are satisfied: 0.9<f3/f4<1.3 and ?3.85<f123t/f4<?3.04 wherein f3 designates the focal length of the third lens group, f4 designates the focal length of the fourth lens group, and f123t designates the combined focal length of the first, second and third lens groups when an object at infinity is in an in-focus state at the long focal length extremity.

Abstract: A water-resistant structure of a lens barrel includes a sealing member that seals an annular gap between inner and outer annular members, wherein the sealing member is positioned in a vicinity of an open end of the outer annular member and is fixed to one of the inner and outer annular members to be slidable on the other of the inner and outer annular members, and a drain groove formed on the inner annular member and positioned alongside the sealing member at a position closer to the open end of the outer annular member than the sealing member. Furthermore, a frictional resistance of a first sealing member produced between a secondary annular member and a manually-rotatable annular members is greater than a frictional resistance of the second sealing member that urges one of two of the manually-rotatable annular members to follow a rotation of the other thereof when rotated.

Abstract: An anti-shake apparatus comprises an angular velocity sensor and a controller. The angular velocity sensor detects an angular velocity. The controller controls the angular velocity sensor and performs an anti-shake operation based on the output signal from the angular velocity sensor. The controller calculates an angular velocity signal, based on the output signal from the angular velocity sensor before a predetermined period which is longer than a predetermined time interval and the output signal from the angular velocity sensor after the predetermined period, at the predetermined time interval, during the predetermined period.

Abstract: A dark exposure control device comprises a dark exposure performing processor, an aperture-stop, and an aperture-stop driving processor. The dark exposure performing processor detects an image signal generated by an imaging device while the shutter is closed. The aperture-stop adjusts the amount of light incident on the imaging device. The aperture-stop driving processor adjusts the opening degree of the aperture-stop to smaller than the opening degree set for a main exposure while the dark exposure performing processor is operated.

Abstract: A diaphragm control apparatus is provided with a controller. When a photographing lens is attached to a camera body and a power switch is turned from ON to OFF, a drive motor first moves a diaphragm device to a minimum aperture, and thereafter the drive motor is switched from power ON to OFF. Thus, any damage to the inside of camera body due to sunlight entering into the opening of the diaphragm device can be prevented, and also the structure of camera body can be simplified by reducing the number of parts.

Abstract: A digital camera includes an image sensor, a display device which displays a live-view display of an object image, an autofocus adjuster which detects a focal state and brings a specified object image into an in-focus state by moving a focal-adjusting lens group of a photographing lens, a focus lock-on device which prohibits the focal-adjusting lens group from moving and enters a focus locked-on state when the autofocus adjuster brings the specified object image into an in-focus state, a focus lock-on detector, and a distinguishing-display controller. When the focus lock-on detector detects a focus locked-on state, the distinguishing-display controller performs image processing on part or the entirety of the specified object image, and a peaking display of the specified object image is displayed on the display device.

Abstract: A stage apparatus includes a stationary support plate, magnetic force generators immovable relative to the stationary support plate, a stage member, an image sensor fixed to the stage member, a control circuit board connected to a side of the stage member, and coils which produce a driving force upon a supply of electric current thereto, the coils being fixed to the stage member at an opposite side of the center of the stage member with respect to the control circuit board, and a FPC board between the stationary support plate and the stage member. The stationary support plate is recessed, from a lateral edge of the stationary support plate at which the control circuit board is provided, in a direction toward the coils and includes an FPC board escape recess, in which said FPC board is partially positioned.

Abstract: A display apparatus comprises a display unit and a controller. The display unit displays a first image and a second image. The controller controls the display unit. When the second image is displayed after an enlargement of a part of the first image is performed, the controller specifies a first position relationship between the first enlargement and the first image, and performs the enlargement of the second image on the basis of the first positional relationship.

Abstract: A storage structure for a light-emitting device is included in a camera body, which also includes a lens mount formed on its front side for attaching a lens barrel and an imaging element arranged on its back side with a center thereof aligned with the center of the lens mount. The storage structure is a concave storage compartment arranged to correspond with an upper part of the lens mount. The light-emitting device is attached to the storage compartment and capable of popping up and down therefrom, the floor of the concave storage compartment is located between a lower edge of an engaging pawl, which is arranged at an upper edge portion of the lens mount, and the upper side of the imaging area of the imaging element.

Abstract: A power transmission mechanism includes a rotational drive member which rotates to drive a driven member, a drive switcher for switching between a transmission-ON state in which a driving force of a drive source is transmitted to the rotational drive member to rotate the rotational drive member and a transmission-OFF state in which the transmission of the driving force to the rotational drive member is canceled, and a rotation restrictor which allows the rotational drive member to rotate when the drive switcher is in the transmission-ON state and is engaged with the rotational drive member to restrict rotation of the rotational drive member when the drive switcher is in the transmission-OFF state.

Abstract: An apparatus that detects an in-focus state according to the present invention has a plurality of line sensors arranged on a projection area of an optical image-forming system; a plurality of monitor sensors arranged on the projection area with each monitor sensor positioned adjacent to a corresponding line sensor and monitoring a quantity of light incident on the corresponding line sensor; an electric charge accumulation controller that controls the timing of completion of the accumulation of electric charges in the plurality of line sensors on the basis of monitor signals output from corresponding monitor sensors; that controls the timing of the commencement of the subsequent accumulation of electric charges in the plurality of line sensors; and a signal output processor that reads the accumulated electric charges from the plurality of line sensors and then outputs image signals corresponding to an object image.

Abstract: A focusing image display device is equipped with an autofocus processor, a spatial frequency detector, a magnification determiner and a focusing image display processor. The autofocus processor performs an autofocus operation using an image within a partial area of an effective pixel area. The spatial frequency detector calculates a spatial frequency of a focusing image within the partial area after the autofocus operation is completed. The magnification determiner determines the magnification of the focusing image in accordance to the spatial frequency. The focusing image display processor modifies the resolution of the focusing image with respect to the magnification.

Abstract: A movable mirror shock-absorbing mechanism of a camera includes a movable mirror which is rotatable between a viewfinder light-guiding position and a retracted position, a pressing portion which moves with the rotation of the movable mirror, a first shock-absorbing member which is pressed and moved by the pressing portion to absorb shock of the movable mirror when the movable mirror rotates from the retracted position to the viewfinder light-guiding position, and a second shock-absorbing member which is pressed and moved by the pressing portion to absorb shock of the movable mirror when the movable mirror rotates from the viewfinder light-guiding position to the retracted position. The first and second shock-absorbing members are mutually identical in specifications.

Abstract: A method of automatically tracking and photographing a celestial object, includes inputting latitude information, photographing azimuth angle information and photographing elevation angle information of a photographic apparatus; inputting star map data of a certain range including data on a location of a celestial object from the latitude information, the photographing azimuth angle information and the photographing elevation angle information; calculating a deviation amount between a location of the celestial object that is imaged in a preliminary image obtained by the photographic apparatus and the location of the celestial object which is defined in the input star map data; correcting at least one of the photographing azimuth angle information and the photographing elevation angle information using the deviation amount; and performing a celestial-object auto-tracking photographing operation based on the corrected at least one of the photographing azimuth angle information and the photographing elevation an