Abstract: A zoom lens system includes a negative first lens group, a positive second lens group, a negative third lens group, and a positive fourth lens group. Upon zooming from the short to the long focal length extremities, the distance between the first and second lens groups decreases, the distance between the second and third lens groups increases, and the distance between the third and fourth lens groups decreases. The following conditions (1) and (2) are satisfied: ?2.50<f1/f2<?1.57??(1), and f3/f3B<?0.1??(2), wherein f1, f2 and f3 designate the focal lengths of the first, second and third lens groups, respectively, and f3B designates the focal length of a bonding surface in the cemented lens of the third lens group.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an image sensor including pixel units for photoelectrically converting an object image formed through a photographic optical system, each of the pixel units including at least three photoelectric conversion elements arranged in a plane in which the object image is formed; a focus detector which performs a phase-difference focus detection operation using an image signal obtained by the photoelectric conversion elements; and an image generator which generates an image from the image signal. The at least three photoelectric conversion elements of each of the pixel units include at least three different types of spectral sensitivity characteristic elements which have mutually different in spectral sensitivity characteristics. Identical spectral sensitivity characteristic elements of the spectral sensitivity characteristic elements that are respectively provided in adjacent two of the pixel units are symmetrically arranged in one of a lateral and a longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A anti-reflection coating comprising first to ninth layers laminated in this order on a substrate for having reflectance of 0.2% or less to light in a visible wavelength range of 390-720 nm, the second, fourth, sixth and eighth layers being high-refractive-index layers formed by high-refractive-index materials having refractive indices of 2.21-2.70 to a helium d-line having a wavelength of 587.56 nm; the first, third, fifth and seventh layers being intermediate-refractive-index layers formed by an intermediate-refractive-index material having a refractive index of 1.40 or more and less than 1.55 to the d-line; and the ninth layer being a low-refractive-index layer formed by a low-refractive-index material having a refractive index of 1.35 or more and less than 1.40 to the d-line.

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 recording operation control device for a camera, which can perform time-lapse photography at a predetermined time interval, comprises an external memory control unit and an image data writing unit. The external memory control unit opens or closes a file defined in the external memory, which is detachably attached to the camera body, when image data is recorded in the external memory. The image data writing unit can write image data to an internal memory and the external memory. The external memory control unit maintains the open state of the file, and the image data writing unit records image data in the external memory without storing it in the internal memory, when the time interval is shorter than the processing time.

Abstract: A camera body includes a body-side bayonet lug, wherein a lens-side bayonet lug of a lens barrel is positioned immediately behind the body-side bayonet lug when the lens barrel is mounted to the camera body; an opposed surface formed on the rear surface of the body-side bayonet lug and positioned immediately in front of the lens-side bayonet lug; a body-side mount surface positioned in front of the opposed surface and with which the lens-side bayonet surface comes into contact; and a body-side contact portion, the front end of which contacts the rear end of the lens-side contact portion when the opposed surface faces the lens-side bayonet lug, the front end of the body-side contact portion being positioned in front of the opposed surface and behind the body-side mount surface.

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 optical device for forming an image of an object, comprising: a semitransparent mirror surface disposed on an optical path of the image of the object; and a light projection unit configured to project light to the semitransparent mirror surface and thereby to combine, on the optical path, the projected light transmitting through the semitransparent mirror surface with the image of the object reflecting from the semitransparent mirror surface, wherein: a first wavelength region is defined in a visible light region to include a wavelength of the projected light; the semitransparent mirror surface has a substantially flat reflectance property within a second wavelength region which is defined in the visible light region not to include the first wavelength region; and transmissivity of the semitransparent mirror surface at the wavelength of the projected light is higher by 10% to 50% than transmissivity in the second wavelength region.

Abstract: A lens driving apparatus and a lens driving method are capable of quickly and precisely setting the position of a lens to a predetermined position, if the resolving power of the amount of lens moving according to drive pulses is not even in the lens driving apparatus. A count pulse signal detection unit detects a count pulse signal CP in accordance with a rotation of a manual focus (MF) ring. A lens driving control unit outputs a drive pulse MP for moving a focus lens in correspondence with the detected count pulse signal CP to a lens driving unit. The lens driving control unit performs a control so that: the number of the drive pulses MP for a count period T differs between a time period within an initial count detection time period for the detected count pulse signal CP and a time period after the initial count signal detection time period; and the number of pulses for the former period is minimum and the number of pulses for the latter period is larger than the minimum number.

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: A large-aperture telephoto lens system includes a positive first lens group, a negative second lens group, and a positive third lens group, in that order from the object side, wherein the second lens group serves as a focusing lens group which is moved during focusing on an object at infinity to an object at a finite distance, wherein the following conditions (1) and (2) are satisfied: ?4<f/f2<?3??(1), and 1.3<f/f3<2.3??(2), wherein f designates the focal length of the entire large-aperture telephoto lens system, f2 designates the focal length of the second lens group, and f3 designates the focal length of the third lens group.

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 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 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: An image-stabilization apparatus is provided that includes an image stabilizer and a status-determining processor. The image stabilizer counterbalances a camera shake in accordance with sensor signals from a shake-detecting sensor. The status-determining processor determines whether a status of the camera is in a fixed state or in a unstable state on the basis of the signals. The status determination process is carried out at the time of exposure and the characteristics of an image-stabilizing operation are altered according to the results of the status determination process.

Abstract: A camera body includes body-side bayonet lugs concentric with lens-side bayonet lugs, circular-arc openings, a circular arc protrusion positioned inside the camera body and projecting forward and concentric with the body-side bayonet lugs, body-side contact portions provided and arranged on the front end surface of the circular arc protrusion and come into contact with lens-side contact portions which are provided on the lens barrel, and rearward biasers provided immediately behind two of the body-side bayonet lugs to bias and move the lens-side bayonet lugs rearward, wherein two of the body-side contact portions located at both ends in the lengthwise direction and the two rearward biasers lie on radial-direction extension lines of the circular arc protrusion, respectively, as viewed in an optical axis direction.

Abstract: A device is provided that includes a recording medium with embedded communication functionality, a communication controller, a communication status verifier, a communication period calculator, and a verification interval setter. The recording medium stores data. The communication controller transmits the data to an external system via the recording medium. The communication status verifier obtains the communication status of the recording medium at a predetermined interval. The communication period calculator estimates a communication period required by the communication controller when transmitting the data to the external system. The verification interval setter relatively increases the frequency of the communication status verification, which is performed by the communication status verifier, from a predetermined time before or a predetermined time after the end of the estimated communication period until the obtained communication status indicates completion of the data transmission.

Abstract: A superwide-angle lens system includes a positive front lens group and a negative rear lens group, in that order from the object side, wherein the negative rear lens group serves as a focusing lens group that is moved in the optical axis direction when focusing on an object at infinity to an object at a finite distance. The following condition (1) is satisfied: 1.1<mR<2.0??(1), wherein mR designates the lateral magnification of the negative rear lens group when focusing on an object at infinity.

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 voltage conversion circuit, comprising: a transformer that converts a voltage input to a primary side and outputs a converted voltage from a secondary side; a switching unit configured to switch on/off of electrification of the primary side of the transformer; and a bypass unit configured to transmit charges from the secondary side to the primary side of the transformer when the switching unit is off, so as to reduce a surge voltage caused on the switching unit.