Abstract: A focus evaluation value representing a focusing state of a taking lens is repeatedly calculated on the basis of an image signal output from an imaging section of a digital camera, a change in the focus evaluation value generated by the movement of the taking lens is detected, when a predetermined change in the focus evaluation value is detected in manual focusing, at least one of a first mode for continuing manual focusing and a second mode for making the transition to auto-focusing, in which the taking lens is automatically moved, is selected, when the predetermined change in the focus evaluation value is detected in the case in which the second mode is selected, the focusing operation is automatically switched to auto-focusing, whereby the taking lens is automatically moved such that the focus evaluation value is the peak value.

Abstract: There is disclosed an imaging apparatus for displaying a live view image, in which an enlargement ratio of the live view image dynamically changes according to changes in in-focus state of a subject.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a digital camera having a camera body and a lens unit removably mounted on the camera body, in which the camera body calculates, based on information related to the lens unit, an optimum moving speed as an optimum speed for moving the lens unit upon causing the lens unit to perform focusing by an imager AF method (hill-climbing method).

Abstract: There is disclosed a digital camera which detects a focus of a lens unit by a method selected from a plurality of focus detection methods based on information on the lens unit taken from the lens unit attached to the digital camera. As an example of a focus detection method, there is a method by a phase difference system or a contrast system, but the method is not limited to this example.

Abstract: A focus evaluation value representing a focusing state of a taking lens is repeatedly calculated on the basis of an image signal output from an imaging section of a digital camera, a change in the focus evaluation value generated by the movement of the taking lens is detected, when a predetermined change in the focus evaluation value is detected in manual focusing, at least one of a first mode for continuing manual focusing and a second mode for making the transition to auto-focusing, in which the taking lens is automatically moved, is selected, when the predetermined change in the focus evaluation value is detected in the case in which the second mode is selected, the focusing operation is automatically switched to auto-focusing, whereby the taking lens is automatically moved such that the focus evaluation value is the peak value.

Abstract: An auto focusing device for a camera includes a focus detecting section which detects a focused state of an image taking lens an AF mode setting section sets an AF mode of the camera to either a first AF mode or a second AF mode. An auxiliary light emitting section emits an auxiliary light to the object in association with the focus detecting operation by the focus detecting section if the object has a low luminance. An emission control section limits the number of times that the auxiliary light emitting section emits the auxiliary light to the object to one per a predetermined number of operations by the focus detecting section if the AF mode setting section has set the AF mode to the second AF mode.

Abstract: There is disclosed an imaging apparatus for displaying a live view image, in which an enlargement ratio of the live view image dynamically changes according to changes in in-focus state of a subject.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a digital camera having a camera body and a lens unit removably mounted on the camera body, in which the camera body calculates, based on information related to the lens unit, an optimum moving speed as an optimum speed for moving the lens unit upon causing the lens unit to perform focusing by an imager AF method (hill-climbing method).

Abstract: There is disclosed a digital camera which detects a focus of a lens unit by a method selected from a plurality of focus detection methods based on information on the lens unit taken from the lens unit attached to the digital camera. As an example of a focus detection method, there is a method by a phase difference system or a contrast system, but the method is not limited to this example.

Abstract: An auto focusing device for a camera includes a focus detecting section which detects a focused state of an image taking lens an AF mode setting section sets an AF mode of the camera to either a first AF mode or a second AF mode. An auxiliary light emitting section emits an auxiliary light to the object in association with the focus detecting operation by the focus detecting section if the object has a low luminance. An emission control section limits the number of times that the auxiliary light emitting section emits the auxiliary light to the object to one per a predetermined number of operations by the focus detecting section if the AF mode setting section has set the AF mode to the second AF mode.

Abstract: A shutter abnormality detection apparatus for a camera includes a shutter including leading and trailing curtains which are shutter curtains electrically controlled to run. A curtain run detection unit detects a run state of at least one of the leading and trailing curtains. A curtain run time judgment unit judges a run time of the shutter curtains based on an output from the curtain run detection unit. An abnormality processing unit notifies an abnormality state of the shutter curtains, when it is judged as a result of judgment in the curtain run time judgment unit that the curtain run time is abnormal.

Abstract: In an auto focusing system of the present invention, a light from an object is guided by an optical section to a light receiving section constituted of an imager such as a photoelectric transducer, and the object is imaged as a digital image at the light receiving section. A movable split image prism is arranged between a position immediately before a light receiving surface of the light receiving section in an optical path of the optical section and a position outside the optical path. Then, a deviation amount of a vide signal based on light rays passed through the split image prism is detected by a control section, and focusing of the optical section is carried out based on the deviation amount.

Abstract: A shutter abnormality detection apparatus for a camera includes a shutter including leading and trailing curtains which are shutter curtains electrically controlled to run. A curtain run detection unit detects a run state of at least one of the leading and trailing curtains. A curtain run time judgment unit judges a run time of the shutter curtains based on an output from the curtain run detection unit. An abnormality processing unit notifies an abnormality state of the shutter curtains, when it is judged as a result of judgment in the curtain run time judgment unit that the curtain run time is abnormal.

Abstract: In an auto focusing system of the present invention, a light from an object is guided by an optical section to a light receiving section constituted of an imager such as a photoelectric transducer, and the object is imaged as a digital image at the light receiving section. A movable split image prism is arranged between a position immediately before a light receiving surface of the light receiving section in an optical path of the optical section and a position outside the optical path. Then, a deviation amount of a vide signal based on light rays passed through the split image prism is detected by a control section, and focusing of the optical section is carried out based on the deviation amount.

Abstract: A correction camera that makes it possible to confirm the result of correction through a viewfinder without an increase in the size of a taking lens or an increase in costs. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a camera in which a taking lens 2 is attachable/detachable to/from a camera body 1 includes an optical correction member 14 that is moved in order to correct a tremble by photographer. The optical correction member 14 is located near a mounting/dismounting member of the camera body 1 in or from which the taking lens 2 is mounted or dismounted.

Abstract: This invention is an inexpensive distance measuring device having short lag time, configured so as to have a pair of light receiving regions at positions of focal points of a pair of image forming optical systems, comprising functions for dividing the light receiving regions and for monitoring the integration control for each divided light receiving region, also comprising an AF area sensor capable of performing pre-integration operations while causing strobe light to be emitted, and a microcomputer that, according to object field luminance distributions obtained from pre-integration results of the AF area sensor and to the focal length value of the photographic lens, divides the light receiving regions of the AF area sensor into respective pluralities, causes final integration operations to be performed while monitoring the integration control in each of the divided light receiving regions, and performs ranging computations based on data obtained for each light receiving region, capable of performing appropr

Abstract: A panning shot check unit checks whether a panning shot is succeeded or not on the basis of an output from a focal point detection unit for detecting an in-focus state of a photographing lens to output a focal point detection signal and an output from a blurring detection unit for detecting an amount of blurring acting on the camera. A shutter speed change unit changes a shutter speed to obtain the effect of a panning shot when it is determined by the panning shot check unit that the panning shot is succeeded. A control unit turns on a panning shot success display unit in a finder when it is determined by the panning shot check unit that the panning shot is succeeded so as to inform a photographer that the panning shot is succeeded.

Abstract: In a multiple-point automatic focusing camera of this invention, when a focal point is detected to a focal point detecting region in the center of a shot screen by an AP sensor and a main control circuit, a LED having a narrow light distribution angle is used as a supplemental light source. On the other hand, upon detecting the focal point in a focal point detecting region in the periphery of the shot screen, a stroboscope light source having a wide light distribution angle is used as the supplemental light source. As a result, the focal point can be detected in any focal point detecting region even at the time of a low luminance. At this time, the stroboscope light source may be originally equipped for illumination at the time of photographing. Further, the LED may be of small size having a narrow light distribution angle. Thus, the size of the supplemental light source can be suppressed.

Abstract: A correction camera that makes it possible to confirm the result of correction through a viewfinder without an increase in the size of a taking lens or an increase in costs. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a camera in which a taking lens 2 is attachable/detachable to/from a camera body 1 includes an optical correction member 14 that is moved in order to correct a tremble by photographer. The optical correction member 14 is located near a mounting/dismounting member of the camera body 1 in or from which the taking lens 2 is mounted or dismountd.

Abstract: There is provided a camera with an automatic focusing device having hybrid AF unit capable of always performing a reliable automatic focusing operation on a moving object to provide a more preferable photographic result. The camera includes first distance measuring unit 4 having at least a pair of light receiving sensors, for measuring the distance of an object by receiving a beam of light from the object, second distance measuring unit 3 having light projecting unit for projecting a beam of light upon the object and light receiving unit for receiving a beam of light reflected therefrom, for measuring the distance of the object by projecting a beam of light upon the object with the light projecting unit and by receiving a beam of light reflected therefrom with the light receiving unit and distance measuring method selecting unit 2 for selecting either the first distance measuring unit or the second distance measuring unit.