Abstract: A flash photographing system includes a camera body, a flash controller connected to the camera body and three flash devices: the first flash device is directly mounted on the camera body; the second flash device is mounted on the flash controller; and the third flash device is connected through a suitable cord to the flash controller. A microcomputer is provided in the camera body and also in each of the flash devices so as to control the three flash devices in various different modes of operations, such as simultaneous flash mode, sequence flash mode, and yet providing an appropriate amount of light for the proper exposure.

Abstract: An electric zoom camera comprises a photographing lens system having a zoom lens system, detecting device for detecting a focal length of the photographing lens system and generating a corresponding output, device for driving the photographing lens system for zooming, a commanding means for generating a command for executing zooming to the driving to device, and a control device for controlling the driving device, in accordance with the output from the detecting device and the command, to change a focal length of the photographing lens stepwise between focal lengths of a plurality of predetermined focal lengths arranged substantially in accordance with a geometric progression.

Abstract: An automatic light modulating camera effecting a preliminary light emission and a main light emission, extracts effective light metering areas from plural light metering areas based on the light metering signals obtained at the preliminary light emission and on lens signals indicating the states of a phototaking lens at the preliminary light emission, and terminates the main light emission based on the light metering signals obtained in the effective light metering areas.

Abstract: An exposure calculating apparatus for a camera has a plurality of processing devices for variously processing photometric outputs from regions of an object field divided into plural sections according to photographic conditions so as to determine the optimum exposure value according to the results of processes performed by the processing devices, the exposure calculating apparatus for a camera including: a device for setting a plurality of fuzzy rules in the form of membership functions corresponding to the processes performed by the plurality of processing devices; a device for calculating the grade of each of the fuzzy rules according to a plurality of values of photometry generated from photometric outputs from the plurality of regions; a device which selects fuzzy rules having the grades obtained by the calculations so as to calculate, according to the plurality of photometric outputs, exposure values obtained by the processes performed by the processing device which correspond to the selected fuzzy rules

Abstract: A camera having the plural photograph function which can accomplish plural photographs in which a plurality of scenes of substantially the same composition are automatically photographed in succession under a plurality of photographing conditions set on the basis of an external condition detected by the camera outside.

Abstract: A camera comprises a detector for detecting the position of an object in the photographing plane to output the result thereof as position information, and a determinator for determining the optimum composition on the basis of the position information and a predetermined compositional information.

Abstract: An apparatus has an automatic focus detection device. The automatic focus detection device detects a focus condition of a taking lens by using a plurality of detection areas. These detection areas are displayed on a finder. The plurality of detection area are displayed on the finder in a specific order according to a situation of the camera by throwing a switch designating a detection area.

Abstract: An auto focus camera measures the distance to a subject by switching the distance measuring mode according to the moving speed of the subject to provide a picture with a small time lag for a moving subject and to ensure highly accurate photographic for a still subject. In this auto focus camera, a moving object detecting section outputs a signal corresponding to the moving speed of the subject is output in accordance with an operation prior to the release action of first and second release switches, and a CPU determines whether the moving speed is higher or lower than a predetermined value in accordance with the manipulation to instruct that release action. When the discrimination result indicates that the moving speed is slow, a first distance measuring section measures the distance to the subject.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for plotting a boat's position relative to a rhumb line when tacking. The apparatus includes three independently rotatable disk members. A first disk member presents a compass rose, the second of the disk members presents an indicator that aligns on the compass rose along with a grid, and the third of the disk members presents a rhumb line. The starting and ending positions are plotted on the rhumb line. The rhumb line is then aligned with the compass rose in accordance with the boat's true course. An initial course is set by rotating the indicator with respect to the compass rose on the first disk. The boat's first tack position is located and plotted on the grid by counting grid lines from the starting position. The second disk is then rotated and the next tack position is plotted away from the first tack position. The tack positions are plotted on the third disk to provide the boat's position relative to the rhumb line.

Abstract: In the disclosed invention, a camera has a blur detecting device which detects a possible blurring of a photograph in plural areas of an objective field through the use of image sensors such as CCDs. One of the plural areas is selected for detecting a blur therein. With this approach, a possible blur can be precisely detected at whichever location the main object of the scene to be photographed may exist within an objective field.

Abstract: A camera system being comprised of a camera and an external device is disclosed. The external device is detachably mounted on the camera which memorizes a program or data necessary for executing a program therein.When the external device is mounted on the camera, they are connected electrically with each other and communicate therebetween in order to read a program or data memorized in the external device into a memory means provided in the camera. The camera is controlled according to the program designated by the external device.

Abstract: A camera system consisting of a flash device and a camera of the kind performing the so-called TTL flash control action is arranged to permit manual setting of a correction degree for the TTL flash control; to adjust the degree of light quantity control according to the correction degree in performing the TTL flash control; and, when the camera is set into a specific mode, to automatically shift the correction degree to zero to inhibit the light quantity control degree from being changed by the correction degree even if the correction degree has been manually set.

Abstract: An auto focus camera includes a usual zoom lens and provides a pseudo focal length mode, in which the size of focus condition detecting area, to the photographing scene to be printed, is variable. A pseudo focal length is stored and a focus condition is detected in accordance with a ray of light passed through the zoom lens. When the camera is in such a mode as to continuously detect focus condition for keeping an object in focus, or to be operated when the contrast of the object whose focus condition is detected is low, the focal length of the zoom lens and the pseudo focal length are controlled respectively in accordance with the mode.

Abstract: In the distance measuring device for an automatic focusing camera, the reliability is improved by preventing the device from electric noise, and the structure is simplified so as to provide interchangeability to reduce the production cost. A light receiving lens 2 and a multilayer printed circuit board 3 are mounted on a holder 1. A potting frame 6 is provided on the lens-facing side surface of the printed circuit board 3. An optical sensor 4 and an IC 5 are both mounted within a space 3 enclosed by the potting frame 6, and sealed by a protecting resin 7 simultaneously. Further, resistors S and capacitors C of a distance measuring circuit are mounted on the opposite surface of the printed circuit board 3. Both the surfaces of the printed circuit board 3 are connected to each other via a through hole to construct the distance measuring circuit. The protecting resin 7 transmits light having specified wave lengths.

Abstract: A camera comprising a detection circuit for dividing a field of view into plural small areas and detecting luminance for each of the plural small areas, a focus detecting circuit capable of effecting focus detecting for each of plural focus detecting areas in the field of view, a selection circuit for selecting at least one of the plural focus detecting areas to be utilized by the focus detecting circuit, and a decision circuit for determining the necessity of flash illumination by using first luminance information detected by the detection circuit for the small area containing the focus detecting area selected by the selection circuit and second luminance information for the small area having a maximum luminance among the plural small areas. The camera can precisely determine a backlighting condition in particular.

Abstract: A camera has a zoom lens which includes a variator and a compensator. However, in order to simplify the whole external form of the camera, reduce the size thereof, and further to materially eliminate the treatment of appearance of the taking lens, a linear movement means which includes a threaded shaft provided for linearlly moving a variator and a compensator composing a zoom lens and the nuts to be engaged with the threaded shaft and an electrically driving means for driving this linear movement means are covered by a housing of a camera body, a zoom operation key provided on this housing is caused to be operationally related to an electric circuit which drives and controls the motor.

Abstract: A device for adjusting the focus adjusting state of an objective lens includes a lens assembly having a field lens located in the vicinity of a predetermined imaging plane of the objective lens, and a pair of secondary imaging lenses. A line connecting the optical axes of the pair of secondary imaging lenses is located off the optical axis of the objective lens. A main body is provided for supporting the lens assembly and a light receiving sensor device is provided for receiving light distributions passing through the pair of secondary imaging lenses. A holding structure is provided for movably supporting the light receiving sensor device on the main body. Such structure allows accurate focusing of objects both on and off the optical axis of the objective lens.

Abstract: A CPU writes in a RAM various data obtained in a rangefinding procedure, e.g. offset values, gain values, data actually measured using a series of rangefinding LEDs, corresponding distance data obtained from each of the measurement data, and the optimum distance data used for setting a taking lens. When specifying an inspection mode, a microcomputer reads these written data out of the RAM to indicate them on an LCD numerically. Light emitting diode displays output the write data as light signals in intermittent light emission. To correct an error in the mounting position of the rangefinding LEDs, correction data are generated and written beforehand in an erasable ROM.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a focusing mechanism that provides additional focal movement of the lens system without increasing the depth of the camera. This is accomplished by a bearing connected to lens mounting unit that is slidable along a guide shaft, because a part of the bearing can enter a recess in a support on the main body of the camera.

Abstract: A camera includes a detector for detecting codes provided on a film as the film advances, another detector for detecting sprocket holes provided on the camera so as to detect the speed of film advance, a register for registering signals representative of codes at a speed relative to the speed of film advance, and a device for reading the registered data. Accordingly, the codes on the film informs the camera of various data, such as film speed, available exposure frame number, etc., and the camera automatically sets these data for the proper photographing operation.