Abstract: A masking guide includes a plurality of masking frames each having a different peripheral dimension for positioning the frames concentrically one within another in a nested arrangement. Each masking frame has an aperture and the dimensions of the aperture vary from a base frame having an aperture of greatest dimension to an innermost masking frame having an aperture of the least dimension. The masking frames are positioned so that the dimensions of the apertures progressively decrease from the base frame to the innermost frame. The frames are pivotally connected one within another, permitting the frames to be raised and lowered relative to a proof. A photographic proof is positioned in underlying relation with the masking guide. The proof has a full print area which is exposed entirely through the aperture of the base frame. The remaining frames mask a selected portion of the full print area of the proof.

Abstract: A photographic printing shutter includes a pair of semicircular shutter bodies for cutting off printing light or allowing it to pass, at least one pair of rotatable shafts disposed substantially parallel to the axis of the printing light with the axis thereof interposed therebetween and respectively fixed to the pair of semicircular shutter bodies, and drive motors for respectively rotating the pair of semicircular shutter bodies between a closing position where the pair of semicircular shutter bodies cuts off the printing light and an opening position where the pair of semicircular shutter bodies allows the printing light to pass. The pair of semicircular shutters is rotated every 180.degree. so that a uniform exposure time can be obtained at any portion in a light transmissive window.

Abstract: A shutter operation detection device comprising a light emitting diode and a photo transistor is provided in proximity to the shutter curtains to measure the actual exposure time. The difference between the control exposure time, which is based upon the brightness value of the subject to be photographed and the film sensitivity, and the actual exposure time is determined. The control exposure time for the next session is corrected based upon this difference. The amount of correction for increasing the control exposure time is differentiated from the amount correction for decreasing the control exposure time.

Abstract: An eye-gaze detecting apparatus is constructed as an independent adapter component, which is detachably mounted onto a camera body and which has information reflecting individual differences among observers for proper eye-gaze detection. An eye-gaze detecting adapter has an illuminating device for illuminating an eyeball of observer, an illumination drive device for driving the illumination device, an observing device for observing the eyeball of observer illuminated by the illuminating device, an observation drive device for driving the observing device, a ROM having information necessary for eye-gaze detection, a CPU for calculating an eye-gaze direction of observer with reference to the information from ROM, and a communication device for transmitting the information of eye-gaze direction obtained by the CPU to a camera body.

Abstract: Recording of data segments on film in a photographic still camera continuously along a length of film spanning interframe locations between image frame regions is interrupted at predetermined intervals corresponding to multiples of image frames at which the film is normally cut into strip at a photofinishing facility. Codes are recorded at the beginning and end of a recorded segment and upon recommencement of recording following each interruption such that continuous, uninterrupted playback of the data segment is facilitated.

Abstract: A focus detecting apparatus comprises charge accumulation type photoelectric converting devices provided correspondingly to at least three focus detection areas set in a photographing image field and having a plurality of pairs of light receiving portions each for receiving a pair of light beams directed from each of the focus detection areas by a focus detecting optical system, an area setting device for setting a selection area including plural ones of the focus detection areas and a non-selection area including at least one of the focus detection areas in the photographing image field, a processing device for applying different processings to the outputs of the charge accumulation type photoelectric converting devices corresponding to the focus detection areas belonging to the selection area and the output of the charge accumulation type photoelectric converting device corresponding to the focus detection area belonging to the non-selection area, and a focus detecting device for detecting the focus adjuste

Abstract: A camera system capable of automatically switching between a built-in flash and an external flash and including a body and an external flash detachable from the body. The body of the camera system includes a power supply integral therein, a built-in flash integral therein and coupled to the power supply, a device for determining a distance between an object and the body and producing a distance value representing the determined distance, a device for determining brightness and producing a brightness value representing the determined brightness, a device for selecting one of the external flash and the built-in flash based on the distance value and the brightness value, and a device for activating a selected one of the external flash and the built-in flash.

Abstract: Apparatus for use with a focus detecting device arranged to repeatedly detect a state of focus, or for use with a camera having such a focus detecting device includes a processor for determining whether the state of focus detected by the focus detecting device is an in-focus state or an out-of-focus state. An indicator provides an indication of the in-focus state in response to the processor determining that the in-focus state has been detected. The processor causes the indication provided by the indicator to vary on the basis of a number of times that the in-focus state has been determined by the processor.

Abstract: A camera having a sight line detecting device is provided with an illumination unit for detecting the corneal reflected image of the eye of the photographer, and an illumination unit equipped with plural light sources positioned around an eyepiece lens, for detecting the position of the center of the pupil. The latter illumination unit, for detecting the position of the center of the pupil, is so controlled that a light source positioned below or at the side of the eye of the photographer is turned on regardless of the change in the camera attitude, whereby the illuminating light is not intercepted by the eyelid or eyelashes and the position of the pupil center can be precisely detected.

Abstract: A device includes a charge accumulation type image sensor, consisting of a plurality of pixels whose charge accumulation states are simultaneously controlled, for generating an object image signal corresponding to the amount of light received by the pixels, an accumulation control means for controlling the charge accumulation time of the charge accumulation type image sensor, and a focus detection means for executing a focus detection calculation on the basis of the object image signal so as to detect a focus state in a focus detection area set in a frame. When a state requiring flashing of a flashlight is detected, the accumulation control means executes accumulation control placing an importance on a low-luminance portion of an object field by prolonging the charge accumulation time as compared to a state requiring no flashing of the flashlight. Under the charge accumulation control, a focusing operation can be reliably performed even for a low-luminance main object.

Abstract: A camera utilizes a push-out type film cartridge which is so constructed that the revolution of a feed spool equipped therein feeds out the film. The camera comprises a film feeding means capable of blank feeding the film by driving said feed spool, and a control means capable of having said film feed means rewinding the film and blank feeding the film again in case the blank feeding of said film feeding means failed.

Abstract: A photometric apparatus of a camera comprises a light receiving storage portion generating and accumulating electric charges proportional to intensities of incident rays from a plurality of photometric subareas into which a field is subdivided; a transfer portion transferring electric charges accumulated in the light receiving storage portion in correspondence to the photometric subarea; a voltage converting portion converting the electric charges received from the transfer portion into voltages; a storage gate portion controlling a start and an end of accumulation of electric charges by the light receiving storage portion; a luminance calculating portion calculating luminance values of the photometric subareas based on the voltages of the voltage converting portion; an exposure calculating portion calculating a proper exposure value based on the luminance values obtained by the luminance calculating portion; and a gate control portion controlling the start and the end of the electric charge accumulation by d

Abstract: The present invention is to improve the visibility of a cutting position of a developed reversal film, and in the invention perforations are provided in upper and lower sides of a photographic film at the same pitch as that of the photographic area of a camera. A V-shaped groove is provided in the perforation at a longitudinally central position. The V-shaped grooves in the upper and lower perforations serve as an accurate target for cutting by taking photos with a camera designed such that the perforations are situated at gap portions G between photographic areas or frames.

Abstract: An active distance measuring apparatus with the remote control function is provided with a plurality of light projecting portions, a plurality of light receiving portions, a distance measuring device for effecting active distance measurement at one or more points in an image field by the use of all or some of the plurality of light projecting portions and the plurality of light receiving portions, and a remote control for performing, when the light receiving portions receive signal light from a remote control transmitter, a predetermined remote control operation by the use of the output of the light receiving portion which has received the signal light, the distance measuring device distance-measuring a distance measuring point corresponding to the light receiving portion which has received the signal light from the remote control transmitter.

Abstract: An automatic focusing apparatus of a camera according to the present invention includes: a focus detector which detects repeatedly focus conditions of a photographic lens and outputs successively focus signals corresponding to the focus conditions; a drive unit for driving the photographic lens for focus adjustment; a predictor for predicting an in-focus point from the plurality of focus signals from the focus detector; a control unit for controlling the drive unit to drive the photographic lens toward the in-focus point predicted by the predictor; an auxiliary light projector for projecting auxiliary light onto an object to enable detecting operation of the focus detector; and a forbidding device for forbidding the control of drive by the control unit while the auxiliary light is projected by the auxiliary light projector.

Abstract: In representing a depth of field in a camera, the depth of field is displayed on the basis of the magnitude of a field depth feeling Df which corresponds to human feeling. The field depth feeling Df is obtained by proccesing at least one of a depth of field on calculation, an object distance, a lens hypen-focal length, a diameter of permissible circle of confusion, a lens aperture value and a lens focal length.

Abstract: An auto-bracketing system for use with a camera. A plurality of exposure values, representing different exposure conditions, are calculated. The plurality of exposure values are calculated in accordance with at least two brightness values metered by optical sensors associated with the camera. A plurality of film frames, of a film installed in the camera, are subsequently exposed to the different exposure conditions.

Abstract: The present invention provides a printed circuit board installed in a lens barrel with an imaging optical system. In an installed state, the printed circuit board comprises: a ring-shaped portion disposed substantially perpendicular to the optical axis of the imaging optical system wherein an aperture is provided at a central portion of the ring-shaped portion so that an imaging light beam may pass through the aperture; and an extending board portion that extends outward from the ring-shaped portion wherein electrical components may be mounted on the surface of the extending board portion. After the ring-shaped portion and the extending board portion have been bent, the above-described flexible printed circuit board is inserted into the lens barrel in such a manner that the plane of the extending board portion on which the electrical components are mounted is parallel to the optical axis of the imaging optical system.

Abstract: A lens focus control apparatus and method for use in a camera optical system and which is manually manipulated by a user, includes a lens position detector for detecting current positions of a focus lens and a zoom lens, a memory for storing a movable region value of the focus lens, a current position value of the focus lens and a contrast ratio value therein, and a display. The display indicates the current position of the focus lens, the range of movement of the focus lens, and the movement direction in the movable region of the focus lens. A microcomputer controls the above elements to adjust an exact focus and to display an exact focus direction using the contrast ratio value.

Abstract: A camera system includes a camera body and a photographing lens which is detachably attached to the camera body. The photographing lens has an input and output device which inputs and outputs data to and from the camera body, a timing controller which outputs clock pulses for driving the input and output device, and a loading device which loads specific initial value lens data in the input and output device in accordance with the clock pulses. The camera body includes an information processing device which receives the specific initial value lens data loaded in the input and output device.