Abstract: An indicating apparatus within a finder of a single lens reflex camera includes a mirror which reflects light of an object transmitted through a photographing lens to form an object image on a focusing plate, and a finder optical system through which an image of the object formed on the focusing plate is viewed. The indicating apparatus further includes a mirror box which supports the mirror, and a photographing information projector provided on the lower portion of the mirror box to project and indicate an image of the photographing information onto the focusing plate without interfering with the front end of the mirror.

Abstract: A film rewind apparatus is employed in an automatic camera that is capable of automatically rewinding a film that has been pulled out of a cartridge. The film is automatically rewound in either a first or a second operation mode. The rewinding operation is completed with a leading end of the film retracted into the cartridge when the film is rewound in the first operation mode, while the rewinding operation is completed with the leading end of the film remaining outside of the cartridge when the film is rewound in the second mode.

Abstract: A camera having a flash, a focal plane shutter, a mechanism for changing a size of a film frame by changing a size of an aperture of the camera, and a mechanism for setting a flash synchronized shutter speed. The focal plane shutter has a leading-shutter-curtain and a trailing-shutter-curtain, which are moved in a vertical direction of the aperture to thereby open and close the aperture. The changing mechanism changes the aperture size in the vertical direction to obtain a panoramic style frame and a standard frame. The setting mechanism sets the flash synchronized shutter speed to a high speed when the aperture is changed to a panoramic style frame having a vertical size which is smaller than that of a standard frame. The output of the flash can be started at a time at which a trailing edge of the leading-shutter-curtain passes a lower side of the panoramic style frame.

Abstract: An object distance measuring apparatus of a camera including an image area size varying device which varies the size of an image area, a multi-point measuring device having a plurality of object distance measuring elements to meter the object distances of an object in a large picture plane at different measuring points, and an object distance measuring element selecting device which selects a plurality of outputs of the object distance measuring elements in accordance with the size of the image area selected by the image area size varying device.

Abstract: A camera having a variable photographing aperture, including a photographing aperture size changing device that changes the size of the photographing aperture, and an exposure calculating device for calculating exposure factors including a diaphragm value and a shutter speed in accordance with the brightness of an object to be photographed. The camera further includes an exposure adjusting device which modifies the exposure factors when the photographing aperture is changed. The invention is also directed to a control method of a variable photographing aperture camera.

Abstract: An apparatus for kinematic linkage in an interchangeable lens type of camera having a mount locking member (13) and a mount lock releasing member (15), on the camera body (11), in a third quadrant of a body mount (12), a joint shaft in a fourth quadrant of the body mount, integral with the mount locking member, and a kinematic linkage mechanism between the joint shaft and the mount lock releasing member on the bottom of the camera body.

Abstract: An abutment pin is provided for defining the fully open position of the aperture release member on an interchangeable lens. The aperture drive member on the camera is biased toward the abutment pin so that the rest position of the drive member will always correspond to a fully open aperture regardless of lens misalignment. The aperture stop down is then controlled by measuring the movement of the drive member from its rest, or start, position.

Abstract: In a single lens reflex photographic camera including a shutter release and a diaphragm, a mirror is movable between a first position for view finding and a second position for film exposure. The mirror is placed in the second position and the diaphragm is stopped down responsive to the shutter release. Prior to exposure, the diaphragm stop down mechanism is locked. After exposure, a shutter completion mechanism is actuated. Responsive to the actuation of the shutter completion mechanism, the diaphragm stop down mechanism is unlocked and the mirror is placed in the first position. A reduction in complexity results because both resetting operations are executed responsive to the same element, namely the shutter completion mechanism. An actuating pin operates twice during each camera cycle--once at the time of resetting the mirror and once at the time of shutter charging. A control magnet has an armature and a core.

Abstract: An electromagnetic release device for a single lens reflex camera in which the force urging a release lever into abutment with a locking lever is released upon completion of a photographing operation. A rotatably mounted release lever is coupled through a pin to a coupling lever and armature which is adapted to be attracted and held by an electromagnet assembly. A release spring is looped around the shaft upon which the release lever is mounted and has a forwardly-extending end which abuts a portion of a rotatably mounted charge lever when the charge lever is in its position at the completion of a winding operation. Upon application of an electrical pulse to the coil of the electromagnet assembly, the armature is released and the release lever kicks a locking lever.

Abstract: An automatic exposure camera of the lens stop value control type is provided with a controlled disengaging device operated in association with the bottom shutter curtain running operation. The disengaging device releases the lens stop mechanism so that the operator can confirm the depth of field after an exposure has been made but before the winding operation.

Abstract: A self-timer device for a camera in which the set lever of an electronic self-timer device may be automatically restored and in which, even if the self-timer device has been set, it can be reset so that it is possible to perform an ordinary photographing operation. The device includes a self-timer set lever and a first cam rigidly coupled thereto with a bent portion standing away from the set lever and abutting a cam surface of a second cam member. The second cam member, upon being released by activation of a release button, is rotatable by the self-timer set lever through the bent portion of the first cam member rotating until it is locked in position by a locking lever. An operating member is provided which is activatable by a release lever which upon activation releases the second cam member. The bent portion of the first cam member also abuts a control switch of the electronic control circuit including an electrical delay circuit for providing a preferred delay time.

Abstract: A mirror operating mechanism in a single lens reflex camera having a first reflecting mirror which is provided to swing from the view finder observation position to the photographing retraction position. A second reflecting mirror introduces light passed through the first reflecting mirror at the finder observation position to a light measuring element. The second reflecting mirror is mounted swingably on the first reflecting mirror. The second reflecting mirror has a rotary shaft around which the second reflecting mirror can swing. Both ends of the rotary shaft are rotatably mounted on both sides of a frame supporting the first reflecting mirror. The end portion of an operating arm of the second reflecting mirror is brought into contact with a cam fixedly secured to a stationary member by means of a spring.

Abstract: A shock absorbing device for a mirror in a single lens reflex camera having a shock absorbing lever with a stopper portion adapted to set the lower position of the mirror for observing through a view finder of the camera. A first spring provides suitable friction for the lever with respect to a stationary member. A second spring acts on the lever to cause the stopper portion of a mirror holder to stop at a predetermined position against of a mirror lowering force. The first and second springs may be replaced by one compression and torsion coil spring having an adjustable elastic force.

Abstract: A camera having an automatic exposure control mechanism wherein aperture priority, shutter speed priority and manual modes of operation can be set without the possibility of the switching mechanism being set to inoperable positions. The aperture ring of the camera lens is provided with a protrusion which interlocks with a corresponding protrusion on a ring of the camera body through which aperture information is transmitted. The shutter dial of the camera is provided on its reverse side with plural semicircular conductive pads which selectively engage with contact brushes as the dial is rotated to set the various modes of operation. A variable resistance contact portion is also provided on the dial for manually setting the shutter speed.

Abstract: Full and minimum aperture information is transmitted to a camera body from an interchangeable lens by coding possible combinations of the two values into various discrete single values and transmitting the single value to a decoder in the camera body. For instance, a projection may be provided on the lens barrel having a height corresponding to a particular combination of full and minimum aperture values.

Abstract: An automatic exposure camera of the stop value control type is provided with lens stop braking to improve the accuracy of the lens stopping operation while at the same time maintaining a high operating speed. A brake magnet mechanism is provided for decelerating the lens stopping mechanism in response to a control circuit. In one form, the control circuit operates the brake magnet mechanism to effect deceleration slightly before the quantity of light reaches a suitable exposure value. Thereafter, when a stop value providing a suitable exposure value is obtained, stopping the lens stopping operation can be done with very high accuracy. In another form, the control circuit compares the variation in light due to the change in aperture with a variation rate to control the energization and de-energization of the brake magnet. In this way, the non-linear operation which is particularly evident at minimal aperture values is eliminated.

Abstract: An automatic camera of the aperture control type wherein the lens stopping operation is carried out by detecting the variation in light quantity due to the lens stopping operation. The finder viewing mirror is raised when the light measurement is carried out, and when the quantity of light reaches a predetermined value, the lens stopping operation is stopped. A operating member which is operated by a magnet causes both the halting of the lens stopping operation and the top curtain releasing operation. After the running of the bottom curtain, the finder viewer mirror is lowered and lens aperture is rapidly opened wide. The rapid opening of the lens aperture is accomplished with a very simple mechanism including a unidirectional clutch which operatively couple gears of a slow speed mechanism for permitting rotation of some of the gears in the return direction when a control lever member, operatively connected to the operating member, is in engagement with the first gear.

Abstract: A shutter speed setting dial is rotationally coupled to a spring biased shutter speed display dial by a string and drum arrangement. The peripheral edge of the display dial, bearing shutter speed markings, extends into one side of a viewfinder frame adjacent a column of LEDs associated with a fixed point exposure meter display. Tabs projecting from a viewfinder frame border mask opposite the center LED bracket the set shutter speed marking, thereby enabling the user to quickly observe both the shutter speed and energized LED with a single glance.

Abstract: An electro-mechanical arrangement in a single lens reflex camera facilitates manual access to circuit elements whose electrical operation is related to variable photographic factors. These circuit elements form a portion of circuitry for electrically controlling focal plane shutter blades and are included on a circuit board positioned in a space between one of the spools in the film winding mechanism and a detachable cover plate. Other circuit elements of this circuitry are included on an electrically interconnected circuit board that is disposed in a space adjacent to said spool.

Abstract: An automatic exposure control circuit for a camera including a light receiving element positioned internally of the camera for receiving light passing through the camera objective. The light receiving element converts the incident light into a corresponding electrical quantity. A diaphragm information device is available for producing an electrical quantity corresponding to the diaphragm setting. An operational amplifier combines the aforementioned two electrical quantities and provides a combined electrical output signal which is utilized in the determination of exposure time. A capacitor, interconnected with the operational amplifier by a switch, stores the combined electrical output signal. The switch can be automatically controlled in synchronism with the photographing operation of the camera, or can be manually controlled by the operator by operation of an arrangement external to the camera.