Abstract: An illumination optical system has a lens array for dividing light from a light source into a plurality of beams of light; a polarized light conversion optical system having a separator and converter, wherein the separator has a prism array comprising a plurality of right angle prisms arranged consecutively with the same surface being an inclined surface for reflecting the plurality of beams of light by the inclined surface and separating the plurality of reflected beams of light into first and second linearly polarized light beams having mutually intersecting polarization directions, and the converter converts the polarization direction of one of the first and second linearly polarized light beams to the ot her polarization direction, wherein the lens cell width of the lens array is greater than the prism array pitch of the prism array viewed from the incidence side of the plurality of beams of light.

Abstract: A camera in which the ratio of an object to the photographing frame can be set comprises a varifocal lens in which the in-focus position is changed in accordance with the change in the focal lens and a focusing lens for correcting the focus by the varifocal lens. The size of the object is set to the desired size by using the varifocal lens, and thereafter the deviation of the in-focus point is controlled by the focusing lens. Since the zooming is carried out by using a varifocal lens, a camera can be provided in which the ratio of an object to the photographing frame can be set in a simple structure.

Abstract: A camera in which the ratio of an object to the photographing frame can be set comprises a varifocal lens in which the in-focus position is changed in accordance with the change in the focal lens and a focusing lens for correcting the focus by the varifocal lens. The size of the object is set to the desired size by using the varifocal lens, and thereafter the deviation of the in-focus point is controlled by the focusing lens. Since the zooming is carried out by using a varifocal lens, a camera can be provided in which the ratio of an object to the photographing frame can be set in a simple structure.

Abstract: A camera having a lens, whereby a power source in the camera is activated in response to a mechanical switch on the lens.

Abstract: A camera in which the ratio of an object to the photographing frame can be set comprises a varifocal lens in which the in-focus position is changed in accordance with the change in the focal lens and a focusing lens for correcting the focus by the varifocal lens. The size of the object is set to the desired size by using the varifocal lens, and thereafter the deviation of the in-focus point is controlled by the focusing lens. Since the zooming is carried out by using a varifocal lens, a camera can be provided in which the ratio of an object to the photographing frame can be set in a simple structure.

Abstract: A camera system comprises an operation member provided in an interchangeable lens adapted to be manually operated; a signal sending circuit for sending a signal in response to the manual operation of the operation member; and a controller provided in a camera body which is adapted to switch between an operative state where a predetermined operation is executed and a halt state where the controller is halted after completion of the predetermined operation. The controller switches from the halt state to the operative state in response to the signal from the signal sending circuit to execute the predetermined operation. According to the camera system, since the system controller in the camera body is actuated in response to the operation of the member on the lens side, a camera which can substantially instantaneously respond to a request on the lens side can be realized.

Abstract: A new compact-size, light-weight and low-cost zoom lens system having a high optical quality with a very simple structure including, from the object side to the image side, a front lens group having a positive refractive power and a rear lens group having a negative refractive power. The zoom lens system is operated by changing the axial air distance between the front and rear lens groups during a zooming operation. The zoom lens system uses aspherical surfaces whose low-cost manufacturing has been enabled by the recent progresses in plastic molding technology and glass molding technology. Many embodiments of the lens compositions according to the present invention, and further more specific examples of the embodiments are described with figures and data that show compactness and high optical performance.

Abstract: A camera in which the ratio of an object to the photographing frame can be set comprises a varifocal lens in which the in-focus position is changed in accordance with the change in the focal lens and a focusing lens for correcting the focus by the varifocal lens. The size of the object is set to the desired size by using the varifocal lens, and thereafter the deviation of the in-focus point is controlled by the focusing lens. Since the zooming is carried out by using a varifocal lens, a camera can be provided in which the ratio of an object to the photographing frame can be set in a simple structure.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a camera having power zooming function to execute zooming by electric power in accordance with manual operation and power focusing function to execute focusing by electric power in accordance with manual operation, in which both the power zooming and power focusing can be executed by one operation member.The operation member can be rotated and moved back and forth, and can execute power zooming responding to its rotation and power focusing responding to its movement back and forth.

Abstract: A camera system comprises an operation member provided in an interchangeable lens adapted to be manually operated; signal sending circuit for sending a signal in response to the manual operation of the operation member; and a controller provided in a camera body which is adapted to switch between an operative state where a predetermined operation is executed and a halt state where the controller is halted after completion of the predetermined operation. The controller switches from the halt state to the operative state in response to the signal from the signal sending circuit to execute the predetermined operation. According to the camera system, since the system controller in the camera body is actuated in response to the operation of the operation member on the lens side, a camera which can substantially instantaneously respond to a request on the lens side can be realized.

Abstract: A camera which has a photo-taking lens capable of zooming, and a viewfinder which shows a first photographing range and a display which displays one frame defining a second photographing range smaller than the first photographing range, wherein out of photographing range showing mode is provided. And when the out of photographing range mode is selected, after zooming operation is carried out, the second photographing range is exposed on a film, whereby the visual field in the finder can be enlarged and, provided that a camera has a focus detector, the focus detecting area can be relatively enlarged.

Abstract: A compact-size, light-weight, low-cost zoom lens system with high optical quality is achieved by using a ray restrictor placed at the most object side of the zoom lens system. In one type, the ray resistor shifts toward the object at a speed different from that of the most object side lens of the zoom lens system as the zoom lens system is zoomed toward the longest focal length, which effectively blocks harmful rays causing coma flare in the peripheral area. In another type, the aperture diameter of the ray restrictor varies according to a zooming operation. The ray restrictor of any type is especially effective when used in a zoom lens system composed of two lens groups. By introducing one or more aspherical surfaces satisfying a certain condition (or conditions) in the zoom lens system, various aberrations are further favorably corrected.

Abstract: In a zoom camera having a zoom lens including a variator lens, and a driving system for driving the variator lens, the image magnification is computed in accordance with a predetermined program based on the detected object distance, and such a focal length is computed as to obtain a specified value of image magnification based on the detected object distance and the computed image magnification, and the obtained focal length data is fed to the driving system. As a result, auto-zooming with a suitable image magnification in accordance with the object distance can be achieved.

Abstract: A compact size zoom lens system ranging to a wide field angle and having a high zoom ratio of up to 10. The zone lens system is composed of, from the object to the image side, a positive first lens group, a negative second lens group, a positive third lens group and a negative fourth lens group, and fulfills the following conditions:0.15<f.sub.s /f.sub.1 <0.30.45<f.sub.L /f.sub.s .multidot..vertline.f.sub.2 .vertline.)<0.80.15<f.sub.3 /f.sub.1 <0.32where f.sub.1, f.sub.2, and f.sub.3 are the focal lengths of the first, second and third lens groups respectively, and f.sub.s and f.sub.L are respectively the shortest and the longest focal lengths of the zoom lens system. When the zoom lens is zoomed from wide to tele, the first lens group moves toward the object side, the distance between the second and third lens groups is decreased, and both the second and third lens groups are moved toward the object side. The following conditions may be added:0.35<f.sub.1 /f.sub.L <0.41.2<.

Abstract: A focus condition detecting device which eliminates a wasteful operation thereof to obtain optical results of detection in a shortest period of time and wherein it can be discriminated correctly depending upon data read from a lens regarding an exit pupil of the lens whether or not detection of a focus condition is possible. The device comprises an optical means which forms a plurality of pairs of light images from beams of light from pairs of areas of an exit pupil plane of an interchangeable lens. Relative displacements between the light images are detected by a plurality of focus condition detecting means. Data regarding optical characteristics of the lens are read from the lens, and in accordance with the data thus read, those ones of the focus condition detecting means for which detection of a focus condition is possible are selected from an optical relationship between the optical means and the exit pupil of the lens.

Abstract: In a zoom camera disclosed, a memory of an auto-zooming program lines is provided in which a relation between the object distance and the image mangification added with an element of the depth of field is set in a predetermined manner according to each kind of photographing mode, and such a focal length of a focusing lens is computed that the image mangification is set to be a predetermined value based on the object distance and a program line of a photographing mode selected by a user, whereby the focusing lens is driven so as to obtain the focal length. Consequently, auto-zoom photographing at a depth of field and an image magnification suitable for each kind of photographing mode can be achieved. Further, a memory of program lines set according to the vertical and horizontal camera attitudes in photographing is provided, and the image mangification can be changed over according to each camera attitude.

Abstract: A focus detection apparatus for a camera comprising: a condensor lens being arranged close to or behind a predetermined focal plane of an objective lens of the camera. A pair of image separation members for separating the image of an object formed on the predetermined focal plane by use of light having been passed through said objective lens into two images which are arranged behind the condensor lens symmetrically with respect to the optical axis of the objective lens, wherein the correlation between the two images formed separately is measured in order to detect the focus condition of the objective lens; said image separating members including a mask members for projecting the exit pupil of the image separation members within an exit pupil of a cata-dioptric lens system as the objective lens.

Abstract: A focus condition detecting system for a cata-dioptric lens wherein it can be judged correctly whether or not detection of a focus condition is possible, and a cata-dioptric lens for use with the focus condition detecting system. The system comprises a focus condition detecting means for detecting a relative displacement between a pair of images of light formed by a pair of optical means from beams of light from a pair of different areas of a plane of an exit pupil of a cata-dioptric lens to detect a focus condition of the lens. Data regarding outer and inner radii of an exit pupil or some other peculiar data are fixedly stored in the lens. The data are successively forwarded to a camera body, and depending upon the data, it is judged whether optically accurate detection of a focus condition is possible from a combination of the optical means and the lens. When the judgment is affirmative, the detecting means is rendered operative.

Abstract: A focus condition detecting device which eliminates a wasteful operation thereof to obtain optical results of detection in a shortest period of time and wherein it can be discriminated correctly depending upon data read from a lens regarding an exit pupil of the lens whether or not detection of a focus condition is possible. The device comprises an optical means which forms a plurality of pairs of light images from beams of light from pairs of areas of an exit pupil plane of an interchangeable lens. Relative displacements between the light images are detected by a plurality of focus condition detecting means. Data regarding optical characteristics of the lens are read from the lens, and in accordance with the data thus read, those ones of the focus condition detecting means for which detection of a focus condition is possible are selected from an optical relationship between the optical means and the exit pupil of the lens.

Abstract: An exposure controlling system wherein functional restrictions are little even when a cata-dioptric lens is mounted as an interchangeable lens and also provide an interchangeable lens for such an exposure controlling system. The exposure controlling system comprises means for reading data regarding aperture values of an interchangeable lens from the lens, and a light measuring means. In response to outputs of the two means, a display means displays, when the lens is an ordinary lens, a combination of an aperture value and an exposure time to which the ordinary lens can be controlled to provide an appropriate exposure, and when the lens is a cata-dioptric lens, a fixed aperture value and an exposure time for the fixed aperture value of the cata-dioptric lens which time provides an appropriate exposure.