Abstract: A photographic apparatus comprises a movable platform and a controller. The movable platform has an imager that captures an optical image through a taking lens, and is movable and rotatable on an xy plane perpendicular to an optical axis of the taking lens. The controller calculates an inclination angle of the photographic apparatus, which is formed by rotation of the photographic apparatus around the optical axis, as measured with respect to a level plane perpendicular to the direction of gravitational force, and performs a controlled movement of the movable platform for an inclination correction based on the inclination angle. The controller calculates the inclination angle but stops the controlled movement when the photographic apparatus is set to a sleep mode.

Abstract: A shutter control device performs photography by operating a shutter housed in a lens barrel, and comprises a communication port, a shutter control unit and a memory. The communication port transmits and receives signals between the camera body and the lens barrel. The shutter control unit is provided in the camera body to output a shutter control signal. The memory is provided in the lens barrel to store shutter delay information regarding a time delay from when the shutter control signal is input to the lens barrel until when the shutter is closed. The shutter control unit receives the shutter delay information from the lens barrel and transmits the shutter control signal to the lens barrel through the communication port, ahead of an exposure time as determined by photometry, by an amount of time equal to the time delay.

Abstract: A shutter control device that uses an imaging device provided in a camera body to operate a shutter housed in a lens barrel to perform photography. The shutter control device comprises a communication port and a shutter control unit. The communication port is provided for transmitting and receiving signals between the camera body and the lens barrel. The shutter control unit is provided in the camera body, and outputs a shutter control signal to operate the shutter. The shutter control signal is transmitted to the lens barrel through the communication port.

Abstract: A rotational joint is provided that comprises a first member, second member, rotational shaft member, rotational biasing member and stop ring. The first member has a pair of sidewalls that face each other. The second member has a pair of plate members each disposed proximate to the outer-facing sides of the sidewalls. The rotational shaft member is fitted into shaft holes in each of the plate members and the sidewalls. The rotational biasing member is disposed around the rotational shaft member and its one end is engaged with the first member and the other end with the stop ring fixed to the rotational shaft member. The first member is rotatable with respect to the rotational shaft member that is fixed to the second member. The rotational biasing member and stop ring are disposed between the sidewalls.

Abstract: A method of automatically tracking and photographing a celestial object, which moves due to diurnal motion, while moving an imaging area on an imaging surface of an image sensor so that an image of the celestial object becomes stationary, includes calculating theoretical linear movement amounts and a theoretical rotational angle amount of the imaging area per a specified time; obtaining a movable-amount data table which stores data on actual linearly-movable amounts and an actual rotatable amount of the imaging area; and setting an exposure time for completing a celestial-object autotracking photographing operation while moving the imaging area within the range of movement thereof by comparing the theoretical linear movement amounts and the theoretical rotational angle amount with the actual linearly-movable amounts and the actual rotatable amount of the imaging area stored in the movable-amount data table.

Abstract: An image processing device is provided that includes a subject image designator and an image processor. The subject image designator designates a main subject in an image. The image processor subjects an image to image processing that depends on the distance to the main subject.

Abstract: An imaging device is provided that comprises an imaging processor, a distance information detector, a primary image capturing processor and an image processor. The imaging processor captures a plurality of secondary images of the same object at different in-focus positions by driving a photographing lens. The distance information detector detects distance information of the object for each of the areas of an image based on the contrast in each of the areas in each of the secondary images. The primary image capturing processor captures the same image of the object as a primary image. The image processor carries out image processing on the primary image based on the distance information.

Abstract: A method of determining a direction of a triaxial electronic compass oriented in a specific direction by using the triaxial electronic compass and an inclination sensor, the method includes obtaining an elevation angle of the specific direction from the inclination sensor to switch a selection of two output values from the three output values to another selection of two output values therefrom; determining a geomagnetic aspect from the two output values; obtaining a rotational angle about an axis extending in the specific direction from the inclination sensor; calculating a deviation angle of the direction of the triaxial electronic compass which is caused by the selection switching, in accordance with the elevation angle, the geomagnetic aspect and the rotational angle; and correcting the direction of the triaxial electronic compass in accordance with the deviation angle.

Abstract: Provided is a digital camera including an electronic dial and a mode dial on an upper portion of a camera main unit, where upper surfaces of these dials approximately flush with an upper surface of the main unit, and are arranged in parallel with the optical axis of the main unit. The length from the upper end to the lower end of the mode dial is approximately the same as the length from the upper end of the electronic dial to a lower end of an encoder arranged below the electronic dial. This configuration forms a space in a box shape below these dials, and the space below the electronic dial can be efficiently used by setting the space as the storage portion for a recording medium to be inserted from the outside, resulting in downsizing the camera without sacrificing the operability.

Abstract: A zoom lens system includes a negative first lens group, a positive second lens group, and a positive third lens group, in that order from the object side. The second lens group constitutes a focusing lens group. The following conditions (1) and (2) are satisfied: 0.4<|d12w/f1|<1.06??(1); and d12w<d23w??(2), wherein f1 designates the focal length of the first lens group, and d12w and d23w designate the air distances between the first and second lens groups, and the second and third lens groups respectively, at the short focal length extremity.

Abstract: A 3D camera has a display processor that displays a 2D object image on a display by a 2D display process and that displays a 3D object image on the display by a 3D display process; and a position sensor that detects the position of the camera on the basis of an inclination angle from a horizontal position of the camera. Then, the display processor displays an object image as a 2D object image when the inclination angle exceeds a threshold angle in a state that an object image is displayed as a 3D image.

Abstract: A zoom lens system includes a negative first lens group and a positive second lens group, in that order from the object side, wherein upon zooming from the short focal length extremity to the long focal length extremity, the first lens group and the second lens group move in the optical axis direction while the distance therebetween mutually decreases. The first lens group includes a negative first sub-lens group and a positive second sub-lens group, in that order from the object side, wherein the second sub-lens group constitutes a focusing lens group that is moved in the optical axis direction during a focusing operation.

Abstract: A zoom lens system includes a negative first lens group, a diaphragm, and a positive second lens group. The following conditions (1) and (2) are satisfied: 5.2<(d12W?d12T)/(mT/mW)<7??(1), and 0.3<SF<0.7??(2), wherein d12W and d12T designate the distance from the surface closest to the image side of the first lens group to the surface closest to the object side of the second lens group, at the short and long focal length extremities, mT and mW designate the lateral magnification of the second lens group at the long and short focal length extremities, SF designates the shape factor of the positive lens element closest to the object side within the second lens group, and R2 and R1 designate the radius of curvature of the surface on the image side and object side, respectively, of the positive lens element closest to the object side within the second lens group.

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: An image stabilization system is provided that includes a rolling angle detector for detecting a rolling angle of a camera body; a rotational blur compensator that calculates a rotational blur from the rolling angle and carries out a rotational compensation by rotating an image sensor; a translational motion detector for detecting a translational motion of the camera body; and a translational blur compensator that extracts a partial image from each of two images captured by the image sensor to counteract the translational motion.

Abstract: A digital camera includes an imaging system which performs a photographing operation and records captured image files in a buffer memory; an AF system which performs a focus-state detection process, in which the AF system detects a focus state, and a focusing lens group driving process, in which the AF system moves a focusing lens group to an in-focus position; and first and second switches which actuate the AF system and the imaging system, respectively. While the first and second switches are held ON, the digital camera performs a continuous shooting process in which the imaging system repeatedly performs the photographing operation and the AF system repeatedly performs the focus-state detection process. Upon the buffer memory becoming full during the continuous shooting process, the imaging system suspends the photographing operation and the AF system performs the focus-state detection process and the focusing lens group driving process.

Abstract: A photographic apparatus comprises a monitor, a face detector, and an electronic zoom controller. The monitor displays a first through-image based on image data. The face detector performs face detection on an image of an area displayed on the monitor, based on the image data. The electronic zoom controller performs first electronic zoom control that enlarges and displays a second through-image corresponding to a predetermined area including a face area detected by the face detector, to the size of a display area of the first through-image, on the monitor. The electronic zoom controller performs second electronic zoom control that enlarges and displays an intermediate through-image corresponding to an intermediate area including the predetermined area and larger than the predetermined area, to the size of the display area of the first through-image, on the monitor, before performing the first electronic zoom control.

Abstract: A toric motor includes a toric stator, a toric rotor configured to rotate along the stator, and a bearing configured to support the rotor so as to be rotatable relative to the stator, the bearing comprising a single-row four-point-contact angular ball bearing.

Abstract: A zoom adjustment system, comprising a touch panel, a course detector, and a first zoom adjuster, is provided. The touch panel has an input surface. The touch panel detects a certain location on the input surface when it is touched. The touch panel detects a touched location. The course detector detects a course traced on the input surface by the touched location when the touched location is moved about on the input surface while maintaining continuous contact with the input surface. The first zoom adjuster adjusts a magnification of a photographic optical system according to the traced course detected by the course detector.

Abstract: A photographic apparatus comprises an information obtaining unit and a controller. The information obtaining unit obtains information regarding a photographic subject image. The controller performs a switching control that changes a first use mode to a second use mode on a basis of the information. The first use mode is set by a user, and the second use mode is different from the first use mode.