Abstract: An imaging apparatus comprising an imaging device; a photometry device; first to third exposure factors; first and second operation members for setting the first and second exposure factors; a first-to-third-exposure-factors-calculating-and-setting exposure mode for calculating and setting the first to third exposure factors to the calculated and set ones; a first-exposure-factor-manually-setting exposure mode for manually setting the first exposure factor, and calculating and setting the second and third exposure factors; a second-exposure-factor-manually-setting exposure mode for manually setting the second exposure factor, and calculating and setting the first and third exposure factors; and a first/second-exposure-factors-manually-setting exposure mode for manually setting the first and second exposure factors, and calculating and setting the third exposure factor; the operation of the second operation member changing the first-exposure-factor-manually-setting exposure mode to the first/second-exposure-fa

Abstract: A zoom lens system includes a positive first lens group, a negative second lens group, in that order from the object side, and a positive nth lens group provided closest to the image side. During zooming from the short to long focal length extremities, the first lens group and the nth lens group remain stationary and the second lens group moves. A positive mth lens group is provided between the second and nth lens groups. The following conditions (1) and (2) are satisfied: 1.23<f1/fn<1.50??(1), and 1.20<fn/fm<1.60??(2), wherein f1, fn and fm designate the focal lengths of the first, nth and mth lens groups, respectively, wherein n is a positive integer of 4 or greater, and m is a positive integer of 3 or greater.

Abstract: A zoom lens system includes a positive first lens group, a negative second lens group, a positive third lens group, a negative fourth lens group, and a positive fifth lens group, in that order from the object side. Upon zooming from the short to long focal length extremities, at least the first, third and fifth lens groups move in the optical axis direction. The second lens group includes at least four lens elements. Each of the third, fourth and fifth lens groups includes a plurality of lens elements. The following conditions (1) and (2) are satisfied: 1.60<f1/f5<2.46 ??(1), and ?2.46<f4/f3<?1.80 ??(2), wherein f1, f3, f4 and f5 designate the focal lengths of the first, third, fourth and fifth lens groups, respectively.

Abstract: A zoom lens system includes a positive first lens group, a negative second lens group, and positive third and fourth lens groups, in that order from the object side. Upon zooming from the short to long focal length extremities, the first lens group does not move along the optical axis direction, and the second lens group and the third lens group are movable in the optical axis direction. The first lens group includes at least one negative lens element, and the following conditions are satisfied: vd1n<22.85 and ?8.0<f3/f2<?3.0, wherein vd1n designates the Abbe number, with respect to the d-line, of the negative lens element, which is provided closest to the object side within the first lens group, and f2 and f3 designate the focal lengths of the second and third lens groups, respectively.

Abstract: A 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. The second and third lens groups are moved during zooming. The first lens group includes a positive first sub-lens group which does not move during a focusing operation, and a positive second sub-lens group which moves during the focusing operation. The first sub-lens group includes at least one negative lens element, the second sub-lens group is a positive single lens element, and the following conditions (1) and (2) are satisfied: 60<?d1b<75 ??(1), and ?d1a<24??(2), wherein ?d1b and ?d1a_designates Abbe numbers at the d-line of the positive single lens element of the second sub-lens group and at the d-line of the negative lens element within the first sub-lens group, respectively.

Abstract: A stage apparatus includes a control circuit board, a stationary support member facing the control circuit board, a stage member superposing the stationary support member and provided on the opposite side of the stationary support member to the control circuit board, the stage member being movable relative to the stationary support member in a plane; an electronic component fixed to the stage member; a flexible conductive member, one end thereof connected to the electronic component and the other end thereof connected to the control circuit board; and a driver generating a driving force for moving the stage plate. The stationary support member includes a conductive member escape recess, recessed from a peripheral edge toward a central portion thereof and extending through the stationary support member in the thickness direction. Part of the flexible conductive member is inside the conductive member escape recess.

Abstract: A stage apparatus includes a movable member configured to move in a direction parallel to a predetermined plane, a base member configured to support the movable member to move relative to the base member, and a thrust generator including: a magnet provided on one the movable member and the base member, and a coil provided on the other of the movable member and the base member. The magnet and the coil generating a thrust to move the movable member in a direction parallel to the predetermined plane. A magnetic flux density of the magnet toward the coil changes along the thrust direction.

Abstract: A photographing apparatus includes an imaging-plane tilter configured to tilt an imaging plane, formed by a photographing optical system, relative to a plane that is orthogonal to an optical axis of the photographing optical system; a focus detector provided with a plurality of focus detection areas; and a tilt controller configured to control the imaging-plane tilter to tilt the imaging plane based on focus deviation amounts of the plurality of focus detection areas.

Abstract: A shake-correction device for a photographing apparatus, which photographs an object image projected onto an imaging surface, includes a mover provided with a movable member, the mover configured to rotate at least one of the object image and the imaging surface relative to a plane orthogonal to the optical axis, and to translate parallel to the plane that is orthogonal to the optical axis and translate in a translation direction parallel to the optical axis; a shake detector configured to detect an angular shake of the photographing apparatus in the rotational direction and detect a shift shake of the photographing apparatus in the translation directions; and a movement controller configured to control movement of the mover so that the object image does not relatively move with respect to the imaging surface when the shake detector detects at least one of the angular shake and the shift shake.

Abstract: A celestial object is automatically tracked and photographed. Azimuth information of the celestial object is obtained relative to a photographic apparatus. First-tracking drive control data for performing a first-tracking photographing operation is calculated based on the azimuth information. The photographing operation is performed during a predetermined exposure time based on the first-tracking drive control data. After the photographing operation finishes, a first image taken in the photographing operation is obtained upon lapse of a predetermined time, and a second image corresponding to an ending of images taken by the photographing operation is obtained. An amount of deviation between a celestial object image in the first image and a corresponding celestial object image in the second image is calculated. A judgement is made as to whether a second-tracking photographing operation is to be performed based on a comparison between the deviation amount and a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A zoom lens system includes a positive first lens group, and a rear lens group behind the first lens group, in that order from the object side. The first lens group includes at least one positive single lens element, a negative meniscus lens element having a convex surface on the object side, and at least one positive lens element, in that order from the object side. A distance between the first lens group and the rear lens group increases upon zooming from the short to long focal length extremities. The following conditions (1) and (2) are satisfied: fG1/fn<?1.50??(1), and 65<?pave??(2), wherein fG1 designates the focal length of the first lens group, fn designates the focal length of the negative meniscus lens element, and ?pave designates the average value of the Abbe numbers with respect to the d-line of the positive lens elements.

Abstract: A photographing apparatus includes an image sensor which images a plurality of images; an image processor configured to set one image as a reference image and each remaining image as a comparative image; an image processor configured to generate a reference map divided into blocks; an image processor configured to generate a comparative map divided into blocks; an image processor configured to generate a change-detection map indicating coinciding or non-coinciding blocks between the reference map and the comparative map, per each respective block, upon the reference map and the comparative map being compared; an image processor configured to obtain a synthesized image of the images; and an image processor configured to replace at least a part of the synthesized image with a corresponding part of the reference image based on the change-detection map.

Abstract: A variable-position operation device, provided on an electronic-device body, includes a variable-position operation member which shifts upon an operation thereof; a first electrical contact which shifts in accordance with the operation of the variable-position operation member; a second electrical contact which detects a shifted position of the first electrical contact, which is in sliding contact with the second electrical contact, in accordance with a shifted position of the variable-position operation member; and at least one light-emitting element, wherein a light-emitting state of the light-emitting element changes in accordance with the shifted position of the variable-position operation member. The second electrical contact is provided on a first board. The light-emitting element is provided on a second board, the second board being provided as a separate member from that of the first board.

Abstract: A zoom lens system includes a positive first lens group, a negative second lens group, a positive third lens group, a negative fourth lens group, and a positive fifth lens group having a plurality of lens elements. During zooming from the short to long focal length extremities, at least the first, third and fifth lens groups move in an optical axis direction. A surface closest to the image side of the zoom lens system is a concave surface facing the image side. The following condition (1) is satisfied: 0.52<(m345t/m345w)/(ft/fw)<0.70??(1), wherein m345w and m345t designate, at the short and long focal length extremities, respectively, the combined lateral magnification of the third, fourth and fifth lens groups when focused on an object at infinity; and fw and ft designate the focal length of the zoom lens system at the short and long focal length extremities, respectively.

Abstract: A lead screw device includes a lead screw including a thread portion, and a driven body which engages with the thread portion, and moves in an axis direction of the lead screw along with rotation of the lead screw about an axis, the driven body including a pair of driven members disposed to sandwich the lead screw in a radial direction, wherein the pair of driven members is biased in a direction which sandwiches the lead screw in the radial direction, and a tooth portion provided in each of the driven members engages with the thread portion of the lead screw by a biasing force.

Abstract: A hinge structure, comprising a plurality of bearings each of which has a cylindrical body formed by using a molding die, and a shaft member rotatably supported by the plurality of bearings.

Abstract: An eyepiece optical system is achieved that is suitable for an object image displayed on a miniaturized image display device and can magnify the object image to a high magnification ratio, the distance to the eyepoint is long while achieving a wide apparent visual angle at a short focal length, various aberrations can be favorably corrected while achieving a superior optical quality, and the pupil diameter can be enlarged. The eyepiece optical system includes a first lens element having a meniscus shape with a concave surface on the object side, a positive second lens element, a negative third lens element, and a positive fourth lens element, in that order from the object side toward the eye side.

Abstract: A lens barrel includes a lens drive ring which moves a movable lens group along an optical axis, a first inputter including an actuator and generating a first rotational input, a second inputter which generates a second rotational input, a power transmission clutch including a first input member, a second input member and an output member, wherein the first input member is rotatable and is associated with the first inputter, the second input member is rotatable and is associated with the second inputter, and the output member is rotatable and is associated with the lens drive ring; and a load controller. When the second rotational input, which is generated by the second inputter, is applied to the second input member to thereby cause the first input member to rotate, the load controller exerts a rotational load on the actuator.

Abstract: A zoom lens system includes a plurality of lens groups, a lens group of which is moved to perform zooming, wherein a specified lens group of the lens groups is a focusing lens group; a normal photography mode in which focusing is carried out from infinity to a predetermined photographing distance by moving the focusing lens group of the specified lens group; and a shifting mode which shifts from the normal photography mode to a macro photography mode by moving a lens element of the specified lens group other than the focusing lens group when focusing on an object at a photographing distance that is shorter than the predetermined photographing distance. When the zoom lens system is in the macro photography mode, focusing is carried out from the predetermined photographing distance to a minimum photographing distance by moving the focusing lens group.

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.