Abstract: The disclosed invention embodies a unique control for cocking and then releasing the shutter blades covering the lens structure of a photographic camera unit. The shutter blade operating mechanism is supported within a housing in which there are provided a pair of slotted regions through which extend control levers used to provide, when moved, the operational control needed to cock or release the blade structure relative to the photographic lens proper. Each control lever is provided at its end portion with a form of identification and conjoint means operable therewith and having a concordant form of identification so that through observation it may immediately be determined by an operator in which of two operational states the camera is instantaneously conditioned. Provisions are made for interlocking and coupling the controlling levers relative to each other, as well as to return each lever to its original position following a release.

Abstract: A photographic camera of folding type including a lens and shutter assembly pivotally and oscillatingly supported through a front cover plate and folding link levers which are also pivotally conected to the camera main body, and a collapsible light shielding bellows connected between the rear portion of the lens and shutter assembly and a first housing section of the main body formed with an exposure aperture and accommodating a film container. When not in use, the lens and shutter assembly is housed in a second housing section of the main body with the forward side of the main body covered with the front cover plate, while for use, the lens and shutter assembly is brought, upon opening the front cover plate, into the photographing position, with the bellows fully expanded.

Abstract: The present invention relates to apparatus for photography under water, and is directed generally to the complete or partial elimination of the fluid-tight bushings inevitably necessitated for the controls of such apparatus, by transferring to the exterior of the fluid-tight casing of the apparatus, the various devices necessary for the control of exposure of the light sensitive material. The diaphragm of the camera lens is arranged in front of the lens, outside the fluid-tight casing, and is therefore under water when the apparatus is immersed. This permits the variation of the aperture and the exposure time without need of access to the interior of the casing. Also, the lens is produced in the form of a thick meniscus with a concave inlet diopter, the convex diopter of the whole unit being added by the liquid immersion medium itself. This lens has the advantage, apart from the transfer of the diaphragm to the exterior of the casing, that it has great resistance to pressure.

Abstract: A camera having a flash mounted thereon is provided wherein the flash is moveable with respect to the optical axis of the camera to avoid red eye. When flash must be used, the flash may be raised and one or more pins are provided to automatically disengage the aperture control mechanism from an automatic exposure meter system and engage it with the focusing ring of the camera to automatically adjust aperture as a function of lens to object distance.

Abstract: The disclosure describes an indication device in viewfinder for a single lens reflex camera having an exchangeable viewfinder optical system. To improve the exchangeability of the components of the viewfinder optical system, informative members necessary for indicating the information of shutter speed, diaphragm aperture and the like are built in the camera body itself. Among the components of the viewfinder optical system, the condenser lens member and the focusing screen member is enclosed with a frame member to form an unitary viewfinder screen unit. Making use of the space in the unit, a necessary reflective member is fixed to the underside of the condenser lens member. A lighting window is formed on the frame member to direct the information coming from the informative members to the reflective member.

Abstract: The grip part proper is angularly adjustably connected to a head carrying the camera whereby the grip axis and the axis of rotation are inclined to each other and the latter is inclined to the center axis of the head. The correspondingly oblique interface is additionally used to hold an adjustable ring carrying a camera release switch.

Abstract: A transparent liquid container half-filled with opaque liquid is provided in front of a film in a camera body to cover a small portion of the area of a single frame. The shadow of the opaque liquid is recorded on the film when a focal plane shutter is opened to expose the film to take a picture. Alternatively, an arrow shaped rotatable member having a weighted tail end is provided in front of the film. The shadow of the opaque liquid or that of the arrow shaped member indicates the top and bottom of the picture recorded on the film.

Abstract: A camera is provided with a scissors-type iris having apertures of different shapes and areas formed by the pair of blades. In one mode of operation, with a "flash" setting, a control mechanism automatically adjusts the iris opening in accordance with the focus distance setting and further compensates the iris opening in accordance with an image brightness adjustment. The iris adjustment mechanism automatically is adjusted to certain predetermined positions when the controls are set for other modes of operation, and exposure is then controlled by an electronic shutter timing mechanism which may be varied by a sliding vane brightness adjustment.

Abstract: In a reflex camera a mirror support is composed of a base with flexible members and arms carried by the base. Each arm has one end bendable to position the mirror on the base, while the other end forms a stop to restrict movement of the mirror. The arms also have axle bearing support for positioning the base relative to the light path and the reflective plane of the mirror. The flexible members of the base are adhesively coated for holding the mirror in position relative to the light path.

Abstract: A cover plate is provided which is especially suited to an instant picture type camera employing mirror image deflection for picture taking. However, this cover plate is suited to any still camera having a substantially planar contiguously grouped optical element arrangement. The cover plate is longitudinally slidably mounted in the camera housing relative to the normal viewing position of the camera, and is reciprocally movable between a first position overlying the optical elements mounted in the camera housing and a second position vertically distal thereto.

Abstract: Equipment for the setting of the bellows between an objective and a camera. An arrangement is devised to reduce play and inaccuracy by the use of a control and operating member acting on an intermediate element of a gear train between the elements controlling the diaphragm setting at the objective and thus controlling the diaphragm setting at the camera.

Abstract: The invention presents a mirror driving device for a single lens reflex camera. The energy during the ascension of the mirror is absorbed to utilize it as the energy for the descent of the mirror, and then this energy is substantially absorbed to utilize it as the energy for the ascending operation at the phototaking step during the lowering operation of the mirror. The energy loss due to the friction is supplemented from an external source for efficiently processing the ascending and descending operations.

Abstract: The operating mechanism for a camera shutter comprises a pivoted actuating member for opening the shutter and a pivoted actuating member for closing the shutter. A driving spring for biasing each of the actuating members in actuating direction has one end acting on the respective actuating member and the other end supported by a ratchet wheel which is coaxial with respective actuating member so that the spring bias can be varied by rotary movement of the ratchet wheel. Spring finger portions of a spring plate which overlies the shutter operating mechanism engage the ratchet wheels to retain them in selected angular positions against the reaction forces of the respective springs. Portions of the spring plate support the spring fingers intermediate their attachment to the spring plate and their free ends engaging the respective ratchet wheels.

Abstract: A fluorescent light device for bicycles and other recreational uses comprising a standard fluorescent bulb disposed within a plastic tube and maintained in spaced relationship with the interior walls of said tube by resilient spacers. End caps are adhesively bonded to the tube ends to maintain the assembly in an integral condition. The fluorescent bulb is fired by an ac voltage derived from either an alternator or a battery/inverter combination. A step-up transformer is connected between the alternator and the bulb to achieve firing potential. A tuning capacitor is connected between the transformer secondary winding and the bulb to maximize electrical energy transmission. A short bulb/tube device is adapted for use in combination with a flag having an integral sleeve which fits over the bulb.

Abstract: In the exemplary embodiments of the invention disclosed, a system especially adapted for producing stereoscopic pictures in general photography includes a camera having a plurality of lenses aligned in a row with the optical axes substantially in parallel and the endmost lenses spaced apart by a distance that is productive of a three-dimensional depth of field in the system which matches or exceeds the two-dimensional depth of field of the camera lenses at least under average photographic conditions. Such matching of the two and three-dimensional depths of field, where the limits of the two-dimensional depth of field are based on the lenticule width w of the stereoscopic picture, provide sharply focused, solid stereoscopic images of all objects within the two-dimensional capabilities of the camera lens.

Abstract: In a single lens reflex camera, an aperture interlocking device wherein a pantograph mechanism has one lever biased in one direction within a viewfinder detachable with respect to the body of the camera, is connected to the engaging portion of the aperture ring of the picture-taking lens during the mounting of the viewfinder to the camera body so that the aperture information of the picture-taking lens is transmitted to an exposure control device by displacement of the pantograph mechanism, is provided with first guide means for guiding the pantograph mechanism so that a pin on the one lever of the pantograph mechanism is rotatable about the optical axis of the picture-taking lens, an engaging lever engageable with the engaging portion of the aperture ring and supported for rotation on the one lever of the pantograph mechanism, and second guide means for guiding the engaging lever so that the engaging lever is rotated about the optical axis of the picture-taking lens.

Abstract: A focal plane shutter includes a pair of pinions which are integrally provided on the winding drums of a first and a second screen, and a drive gear which is adapted for meshing engagement with the pinions and adapted to rotate to wind up the screens when a film winding operation is desired. The gear is provided with a hiatus of a circumferential length which releases the meshing engagement between the gear and the pinions, and which is normally located opposite to the pinions except for the screen winding operation. During the screen winding operation, the gear initially engages the pinion on the winding drum of the first screen and then engages the pinion on the winding drum of the second screen, thus assuring that the first screen runs first and then the second screen follows, completing a winding operation of both screens while they are in overlapping relationship.

Abstract: A photographic film cassette comprises a cylindrical container having a circular bottom, a circular piece of photographic film supported in the cassette substantially parallel to the bottom of the cassette and means fixed to the cassette and adapted to be engaged by means for rotating the cassette for successive exposure of sectors of the film therein. Also, for a camera, there is provided the combination of a shutter and a shutter actuating means, the shutter comprising a single member at least a portion of which is a first permanent magnet and the shutter actuating means comprises a second permanent magnet. The shutter is actuated by the shutter actuating means by magnetic repulsion. The cassette and shutter mechanism, while not limited to such use, lend themselves particularly well to use in a wrist camera.

Abstract: Camera lens masks are arranged for quick detachable engagement with a lens mount on a camera and include tubular extensions limiting the light reaching the camera lens and the film in the camera to a desired area of the film whereby a plurality of individual different exposures may be made on the same film.

Abstract: A blood typing installation comprises a transparent cradle for a glass agglutination plate and a flash behind the cradle to project an image of the plate via an optical system onto a screen at the bottom of a laterally open box carried by sliding tubes mounted on the installation casing. Further sliding tubes carry a camera for photographing both the image on the screen and the individual whose blood is being typed and who is placed behind the box, to provide a record card.