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 zoom lens system includes a positive first lens group, a negative second lens group, a third lens group including at least one positive lens element or one negative lens element, a positive fourth lens group, and a negative fifth lens group, in that order from the object side. At least the first, second, fourth and fifth lens groups are moved during zooming from the short to long focal length extremities, and the following conditions (1) and (2) are satisfied: ?6.5<f1/f5<?4.6??(1), and ?1.2<fw/f3<0.7??(2), wherein f1, f3 and f5 designate the focal lengths of the first and fifth lens groups, respectively, and fw designates the focal length of the entire zoom lens system at the short focal length extremity.

Abstract: An autofocus device comprising includes a lens drive system for translating a lens, a first in-focus position detector for detecting a first in-focus position while translating the lens in a first direction by the lens drive system and a second in-focus position detector for detecting a second in-focus position while translating the lens in a direction opposite with respect to the first direction by the lens drive system, the second in-focus position detector operating after the first in-focus position is detected. A backlash detector detects a backlash in the lens drive system according to the first and the second in-focus positions.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus, comprising: a communication unit configured to communicate with an external device; an operation control unit configured to control execution of predetermined operation concerning photographing in accordance with a control signal received from the external device; and a detection unit configured to detect disconnection of communication with the external device, wherein the operation control unit is configured to control execution of the predetermined operation in accordance with a predetermined operation control setting when disconnection of the communication with the external device is detected during execution of the predetermined operation.

Abstract: A wireless communication system, comprising: an imaging apparatus; a storage medium attached to the imaging apparatus; and a terminal device, wherein the imaging apparatus comprises: a controller to control operation of the imaging apparatus and to execute transmission/reception of data, wherein the storage medium comprises: a first wireless communication unit; and a control unit to execute transmission/reception of data, wherein the terminal device comprises: a command generating unit to generate a command for controlling the operation of the imaging apparatus; and a second wireless communication unit, wherein: the controller executes a checking process in a predetermined cycle; and when the controller determines that the storage medium has received the command, the controller controls the operation of the imaging apparatus in accordance with the command and transmits an instruction to change operation of the control unit to the storage medium in accordance with the operation of the imaging apparatus.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus is provided that includes an image sensor that receives light from an object through an imaging lens, a lens driver that moves the imaging lens, and an automatic focus detector that determines an in-focus lens position based on imaging data obtained from the image sensor, the automatic focus detector being capable of performing a focus detection operation with a second switch that is different from a release switch in that it includes a dynamic-image focus detector and a still-image focus detector, and the dynamic-image focus detector further including a focus detection operation selector that varies a focus detection operation controlled by the second switch in accordance with whether a video is being recorded.

Abstract: An apparatus for photographing by using an electronic flash has a photography controller that carries out a pre-flash photography by emitting strobe light in a pre-flash exposure period and subsequently carries out a main flash photography by emitting strobe light; and an exposure adjuster that sets at least one exposure value associated with the pre-flash photography and/or the main flash photography. The exposure adjuster sets an aperture value of a diaphragm that suppresses an occurrence of saturation in image-pixel signals that are generated in an image sensor in the pre-flash exposure period. The photography controller drives the diaphragm in accordance to the set aperture value for the pre-flash photography.

Abstract: In a photographing apparatus and a photographing control system which drive an image sensor (moving member) to obtain an optical low-pass filter effect, an exposure time setter sets an exposure time; a drive cycle setter sets the drive cycle of the moving member so that the exposure time, which is set by the exposure time setter, becomes an integer multiple of the drive cycle; a moving member drive controller drives the moving member and controls the operation thereof via the moving member driver so that the moving member traces a predetermined path an integer number of times in a plane orthogonal to an optical axis within the exposure time, which is set by the exposure time setter, based on the drive cycle, which is set by the drive cycle setter.

Abstract: In the photographing apparatus and the photographing control method, a processor can set one of a still-image photographing mode, and a specified photographing mode other than the still-image photographing mode. An LPF controller allows the optical low-pass filter effect to be obtained by moving the movable member via a driver when the processor has set a photographing mode to the still-image photographing mode, and prohibits an obtaining of the optical low-pass filter effect, obtained by moving the movable member via the driver, when the processor has set the photographing mode to the specified photographing mode.

Abstract: A photographing apparatus and a photographing control method are provided, including an exposure-commencement instructing device configured to provide an instruction to commence an exposure of the image sensor, and an exposure-commencement controller configured to commence a driving of the movable member via the driver upon the image sensor being instructed to commence an exposure by the exposure-commencement instructing device in a non driving state of the movable member, performed by the driver, and after a predetermined unstable-operation period of time of the low-pass filter operation lapses from the commencement of the driving of the movable member, the exposure-commencement controller commences an exposure of the image sensor.

Abstract: A photographing apparatus includes a movable-member driver configured to move a movable member in a direction that is different from an optical axis of a photographing optical system, wherein the movable member includes at least one of an optical element, constituting at least one part of the photographing optical system, and an image sensor; a movable-member drive controller configured to drive the movable member to move in a circular path of a predetermined diameter via the movable-member driver; and a processor configured to select a drive diameter D of the circular path by which the drive controller drives the movable member within a range of the following condition (1): d*?/(2*21/2)?D?d*?/2??(1), wherein d designates a pixel interval of the image sensor.

Abstract: A drip-proof connecting mechanism, comprising: a shaft body having a cylindrical surface; a box-shaped body having an opening through which the shaft body is inserted; a ring-shaped member disposed to cover the cylindrical surface of the shaft body; a first water stopping body disposed to cover the cylindrical surface of the shaft body and to be sandwiched between the ring-shaped member and the cylindrical surface of the shaft body; and a second water stopping body disposed to cover an outer circumferential surface of the ring-shaped member and to closely contact the ring-shaped member and the box-shaped body.

Abstract: Optical Equipment, comprising: a first holding unit that holds a first optical element; and a second holding unit that holds a second optical element, wherein: the first holding unit and the second holding unit are provided to be movable in an optical axis direction so as to allow the optical equipment to reduce a length in the optical axis direction; the first holding unit is configured to be driven by a driving unit in the optical axis direction; and the second holding unit is coupled to the first holding unit in regard to the optical axis direction such that the second holding unit is allowed to move integrally with the first holding unit and is allowed to move relatively to the first holding unit.

Abstract: An eyepiece optical system includes a focal-plane plate, having a positive refractive power on one side and a diffusion surface on the other side thereof; a reflector which reflects light rays of an object image, formed on the diffusion surface, a predetermined number of times; an optical lens group, by which the object image is observed, in that order along an optical path from the object side to the viewing side; and a condenser lens element, having a positive refractive power, provided between the focal-plane plate and the reflector, the condenser lens element having an aspherical surface formed on at least one side thereof. At least one of the aspherical surface of the condenser lens element has a profile, when viewed macroscopically, such that the positive refractive power thereof increasingly weakens with respect to a direction away from the optical axis.

Abstract: A finder optical system includes an image inverter optical member and an eyepiece lens system. The eyepiece lens system includes a first lens element, a positive biconvex second lens element, and a meniscus third lens element having a concave surface on the eyepoint side, in that order from the object side. A diopter adjustment operation is performed by moving the second lens element along the optical axis. Conditions (1) and (2) are satisfied: ?0.2<f/f3<0.2??(1), and 2.15<f(L3n?1)/L3b<3.00??(2), wherein f designates the focal length of the entire the eyepiece lens system at a diopter of ?1, f3 designates the focal length of the third lens element, L3n designates the refractive index at the d-line of the third lens element, and L3b designates the radius of curvature of the surface on the eyepoint side of the third lens element.

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 during zooming from the short focal length extremity to the long focal length extremity, the distance between the first lens group and the second lens group decreases. The second lens group includes a positive first sub-lens group, an aperture diaphragm, and a positive second sub-lens group, in that order from the object side. The following condition (1) is satisfied: 0.65<f2A/f2B<1.0??(1), wherein f2A designates the focal length of the first sub-lens group, and f2B designates the focal length of the second sub-lens group.

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: 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 movable-mirror drive mechanism of a camera includes a main mirror held by a main-mirror holding frame rotatable between a viewfinder light-guiding position and a retracted position; a sub-mirror held by a sub-mirror holding frame that is rotatably supported by the main-mirror holding frame, wherein the sub-mirror holding frame is positioned in a jutting-out position when the main mirror is in the viewfinder light-guiding position, and the sub-mirror holding frame is retracted with the main mirror when the main mirror is in the retracted position; and a vibration control member which rotates in association with rotation of the main-mirror holding frame and holds the sub-mirror holding frame in the jutting-out position to prevent the sub-mirror holding frame from rotating toward the sub-mirror retracted position when the main mirror rotates to the viewfinder light-guiding position.

Abstract: A fixed focal-length lens system includes a negative first lens group, a positive second and third lens groups. The first and second lens groups move toward the object side during focusing from an object at infinity to an object at a close-up distance. The first lens group includes a negative lens element having a concave surface on the image side, at least two positive lens elements, and a negative lens element having a concave surface on the image side. The second lens group includes a negative lens element having a concave surface on the object side, and at least two positive lens elements. The third lens group includes at least one negative lens element, and at least one positive lens element. The following condition (1) is satisfied: ?0.3<fG2/fG1<?0.05??(1), wherein fG1 and fG2 designate the focal lengths of the first and second lens groups.