Abstract: Even if the digital camera is inexpensive without the function of reproducing images, it can effectively use a memory capacity and has the function of responding to quick image-capturing, and important images can be recorded with higher priority. The digital camera comprises a priority selection switch for selecting priority of an image, and information about selected priority is recorded in association with the image when the image is recorded. For example, priority is ranked on three stages of “important”, “normal”, and “memo”. When a recording medium for storing image data has an insufficient memory capacity, control is exercised such that an image with priority lower than a newly captured image is automatically erased to record the new image. Further, a recorded image may be analyzed to automatically assign a low priority value to an image that may be damaged.

Abstract: An aspect of the present invention provides a lens-interchangeable camera which has operability equal to a right-handed user and a left-handed user without necessity of any addition of extra members and without sacrificing a design for a smaller size. Since a camera according to the present invention does not need any extra members, a user-friendly camera which eliminates any disadvantage for a use by left-handed persons at a high level that any conventional cameras have not yet achieved can be achieved. Also, since a camera body can be disposed on a left side as needed even for a right-handed user and the right-handed user can operate the camera body only with his/her left hand, this form is convenient when the user picks up images while the user is operating another apparatus with his/her right hand.

Abstract: An electronic still camera which is able to substantially lessen the amount of trouble of inserting and drawing a PC card during photographing or when image data are transferred to a host computer such as a laptop computer, and which is able to increase the number of photographing. The electronic still camera has the PC card which is inserted into or drawn out from a camera body, which has the same shape as the PC card. The PC card or the camera body shaped like the PC card is inserted into a PC card slot of the host computer to transmit and receive the image data, etc. A camera casing including a taking lens, etc. is mounted in the camera body shaped like the PC card, and a sheet-like battery is provided in the camera body. The taking lens is capable of projecting from and retracting into the camera body.

Abstract: A camera comprising: a camera body on which an image taking lens and an image display portion are provided, and a grip portion connected to the camera body so as to be foldable and extendable, wherein the grip portion can be moved to a first position at which it is folded to cover the image display portion and to a second position at which it is extended to function as a grip.

Abstract: A camera, comprising: a camera main body; a first monitor which is openable and closable on the camera main body; and a second monitor which is openable and closable on the camera main body; wherein the first monitor and the second monitor are configured so that the second monitor is closed when the first monitor is opened, and the first monitor is closed when the second monitor is opened.

Abstract: A camera, comprising: a first assembly; a photographic lens equipped on the first assembly; a display section equipped on the first assembly; operation members equipped on the first assembly, and a second assembly movably provided on the first assembly, and being configured to be movable between a first position at which the operation members are covered and a second position at which the operation members are exposed.

Abstract: A digital camera comprises two photographing systems which are independent of and substantially identical to each other, and each of which includes a photographing optical system and an image pickup device. The photographing optical system is configured to include a photographing lens, a focusing lens and an aperture stop. The focusing lens of one of the photographing systems is driven stepwise from a first predetermined position at which it is to be located when a focusing position lies at an infinite distance, toward a second predetermined position at which it is to be located when the focusing position lies at the closest distance, while the focusing lens of the other photographing system is driven stepwise from the second predetermined position toward the first predetermined position every step width.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image blurring correcting apparatus comprising: a correcting optical system which corrects image blurring; a parallel link member which is arranged in parallel with an imaging optical axis and supports the correcting optical system with free parallel movement in the direction perpendicular to the imaging optical axis; and a driving force generating device with one end being fixed to a fixed part of the parallel link member and a movable end on the other end being connected to the correcting optical system, wherein the driving force generating device is driven to move the correcting optical system parallel in the direction perpendicular to the imaging optical axis by the parallel link member so as to correct the image blurring.

Abstract: A digital camera comprises two photographing systems which are independent of and substantially identical to each other, and each of which includes a photographing optical system and an image pickup device. The photographing optical system is configured to include a photographing lens, a focusing lens and an aperture stop. The focusing lens of one of the photographing systems is driven stepwise from a first predetermined position at which it is to be located when a focusing position lies at an infinite distance, toward a second predetermined position at which it is to be located when the focusing position lies at the closest distance, while the focusing lens of the other photographing system is driven stepwise from the second predetermined position toward the first predetermined position every step width.

Abstract: A digital camera comprises two photographing systems which are independent of and substantially identical to each other, and each of which includes a photographing optical system and an image pickup device. The photographing optical system is configured to include a photographing lens, a focusing lens and an aperture stop. The focusing lens of one of the photographing systems is driven stepwise from a first predetermined position at which it is to be located when a focusing position lies at an infinite distance, toward a second predetermined position at which it is to be located when the focusing position lies at the closest distance, while the focusing lens of the other photographing system is driven stepwise from the second predetermined position toward the first predetermined position every step width.

Abstract: There is provided an image capturing apparatus hat enables a user to confirm already captured images on the image capturing apparatus even when the captured images have been transferred out of the image capturing apparatus. The image capturing apparatus has an image capturing section for capturing images, a large memory for storing the images captured by the image capturing section, a small memory whose memory capacity and power consumption are smaller than those of the large memory, an image compressing section for compressing the captured images, a storage processing section for storing the compressed images compressed by the image compressing section to the small memory, a small display section having a less number of pixels than that of the captured images and a display control section for reading the compressed images out of the small memory to display on the small display section.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus, comprising: a lens unit, a grip unit which can be attached and detached to/from the lens unit and forms all or a part of a grip when photographing, a guiding member which, being set on the lens unit, guides the grip unit in a direction approximately orthogonal to an optical axis of the lens unit; and a guided member which is set on the grip unit and engaged with the guiding member.

Abstract: A monitoring system is provided, for monitoring a room in all directions and capturing a high quality image of a subject when a change in the subject is detected. The monitoring system according to the present invention includes: an image capturing section; a convex mirror section for reflecting a whole image to the direction of the image capturing section; a plane mirror section for reflecting the partial image to the direction of the image capturing section; and a control device for controlling to switch an image capturing target between the convex mirror section and the plane mirror section.

Abstract: The image capturing device according to the present invention is configured so that only the lens barrel having the entrance window and the refractive optical system can be expanded and contracted. Therefore, the structure can be simplified. In addition, the entrance window is located at the in-use position where the entrance window protrudes from the image capturing device body when the lens barrel is expanded, and is located at the not-in-use position where the entrance window is housed in the image capturing device body when the lens barrel is contracted. Therefore, the size of the camera can be reduced. Furthermore, when the image capturing device is not in use, the entrance window is housed in the image capturing device body. Therefore, any barrier is not needed, and the structure can be simplified.

Abstract: An image-taking apparatus includes: a CCD having an imaging surface; and an image-taking optical system having an objective lens. The apparatus further includes: a shake detector that detects a shake of the image-taking apparatus; and a correction lens disposed between the objective lens and the CCD and moving in parallel with the imaging surface to correct a blur in an image formed on the imaging surface caused by the shake of the image-taking apparatus. The apparatus further includes: an electromagnet disposed behind the CCD and driving the correction lens; a power transmission system that moves the correction lens by transmitting power from the electromagnet to the correction lens; and a correction-lens controller that causes, based on a detection result from the shake detector, the electromagnet to drive the correction lens such that an image whose blur due to the shake is corrected is formed on the imaging surface.

Abstract: When a plurality of electric devices is charged, each electric device is charged by priorities. The data processing apparatus related to the present invention comprises; a first data processing unit which comprises a first memory, a first data control section and a first battery; a second data processing unit which comprises a second memory, a second data control section and a second battery. The first data processing unit and the second data processing unit can be mechanically attached to and removed from each other.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus being capable of generating a frame for a moving image at a desired timing using a still image captured during capturing a moving image is provided.

Abstract: If a telop-character recording mode is selected, then, in response to depression of a shutter-release button, the image of a subject is sensed and voice enters from a microphone for a fixed period of time so that data representing voice is obtained. Character data for indicating the content of voice by characters is generated from the data representing voice. Image data representing the image of a subject, the voice data and the character data is recorded on a memory card. When an image is reproduced, the character data is combined with the image data and the characters represented by the character data are combined with the image and displayed together with the image. The content of voice can be ascertained by telop characters even with a playback device that is incapable of outputting voice.

Abstract: An imaging device unit comprises a CCD chip and a substrate on which the CCD chip is soldered. A light receiving surface is provided in the front surface of the CCD chip. A dustproof member for protect the light receiving surface from dust is attached around the light receiving surface. Chip terminals are arranged between the light receiving surface and the dustproof member. When the CCD chip is pressed against the rear surface of the substrate, the dustproof member is elastically deformed and tightly makes contact with the substrate. Since ultrasound is applied to the chip terminals and the substrate terminals in this state to melt them, the CCD chip is positioned in parallel with the substrate. Upon stopping ultrasound horns, both of the terminals are immediately soldered to each other, so that the CCD chip is securely fixed on the substrate with ease.

Abstract: It is an object of the invention to provide a camera system which also includes a conventional single-lens reflex function. A camera head 10 includes a finder support section 10B which detachably supports an optical finder unit. If the optical finder unit 12 is attached to the finder support section 10B, the camera becomes a camera system having a single-lens reflex function. In the camera head, a half mirror 103 is provided on the optical path of an image pickup lens 101. A subject reflected by the half mirror 103 is formed on the side of a finder unit 12. A subject light passing through the half mirror 103 is formed on an image pickup device 102. That is, the camera becomes a single-lens reflex camera in which the half mirror 103 is used for a reflex plate.