Abstract: A compact camera is of the type wherein a built-in flash unit is movable between a storage or folded position and an erect position. According to the invention, the flash unit includes a flash light emission window that is arranged to face generally toward a subject to be photographed when the flash unit is in its erect position, to provide direct illumination of the subject, and to face substantially upward with respect to the subject when the flash unit is in its storage position, to provide indirect bounce illumination of the subject.

Abstract: A compact camera is of the type wherein a built-in flash unit is movable between a storage or folded position in which the flash unit is located relatively close to the camera objective lens and an erect position in which the distance between the flash unit and the objection lens is increased to reduce the possibility of red-eye when using the flash unit to take a picture. According to the invention, the flash unit is supported for movement from its storage position to its erect position generally along an arc extending diagonally of an upper surface of the camera body. The upper surface is longitudinally disposed between opposite ends of the camera body. Owing to this arrangement, the distance between the flash unit and the objective lens can be made greater (as compared to prior art devices) when the flash unit is in its erect position.

Abstract: In a single lens reflex camera, a mirror can be positioned at an angle between the rear of the taking lens and the film to reflect the light rays that come through the lens, on to a focusing screen of the viewfinder, and it can be positioned out of the way to expose the film. The mirror is supported to swing in an arc about a single axis, without inverting the mirror, from its light-reflecting position to a non-reflecting position at least partially beneath the taking lens. This kind of movement of the mirror advantageously permits the back focus of the lens required to clear the mirror for its movement to be reduced.

Abstract: In a single lens reflex camera, a mirror can be positioned at an angle between the rear of the taking lens and the film to reflect the light rays that come through the lens, on to a focusing screen of the viewfinder, and it can be positioned out of the way to expose the film. The mirror is supported to swing forward toward the rear of the lens and downward to at least partially below the film, simultaneously, from its light-reflecting position to a non-reflecting inverted position substantially facing the bottom of the camera. This advantageously permits the back focus of the lens required to clear the mirror for movement from its light-reflecting position to out of the way to expose the film, to be reduced.

Abstract: In a single lens reflex camera, a mirror can be positioned at an angle between the rear of the taking lens and the film to reflect the light rays that come through the lens, on to a spaced prism and eyelens of the viewfinder, and it can be positioned out of the way to expose the film. The mirror is supported to swing in an arc about a single axis from its light-reflecting position to a non-reflecting position vertically arranged between the prism and the eyelens. This kind of movement of the mirror advantageously permits the back focus of the taking lens required to clear the mirror for its movement to be reduced.

Abstract: In a zoom lens assembly, an objective lens is changed in focal length by moving first and second lens groups relative to each other and is focused by moving the first lens group relative to the second lens group. A zooming cam has respective camming surfaces corresponding to the first and second lens groups for moving the first and second lens groups relative to each other to change the focal length of the objective lens. A focusing cam is operatively associated with the camming surface corresponding to the first lens group for moving the first lens group relative to the second lens group to focus the objective lens in accordance with a change in the focal length of the objective lens.

Abstract: When an unexposed filmstrip is advanced several frame widths in a camera to position the first available frame for exposure, a frame counter is changed from an original empty setting to a "1" setting. In addition, a visible indication is provided in response to the counter being changed to its "1" setting which confirms that the first frame is positioned for exposure. This is done to reassure the photographer that proper film winding and film initialization have occurred.