Abstract: A camera has an electrically zoomable lens with two modes. In the first mode, the zooming is continued during the continuation of a manual operation. In the second mode, the zooming is conducted to a focal length corresponding to stored information, which corresponds to a focal length arbitrarily selected in the zooming of the first mode. The stored information is retained even when the second mode is released, and the zooming to the focal length corresponding to the stored information is possble when the second mode is set again.

Abstract: There is disclosed a camera equipped with a mode setting device which counts the number of uses of each of plural modes, and sets the most frequently used mode as the initial mode. At the phototaking operation, the camera is set at such most frequently used mode. The above-mentioned plural modes can be plural exposure control modes, focal length control modes, photographing magnification setting modes, self-timer modes, automatic exposure value correcting modes, or alarm modes.

Abstract: A film feeding apparatus in a camera comprises a feeding device for feeding film from a film cartridge, a take-up spool device for taking up the film fed by the feeding device, and a judgment device for judging on the basis of a variation in the movement speed of the film whether the film has been taken up by the take-up spool. The movement speed of the film is determined by the feeding device before the film extending from the film cartridge is taken up by the take-up spool device, and the movement speed of the film is determined by the take-up spool device after the film has been taken up by the take-up spool device. The movement speed of the film driven by the feeding device differs from the movement speed of the film driven by the take-up spool device.

Abstract: An electric zoom camera comprises a photographing lens system having a zoom lens system, a detecting device for detecting a focal length of the photographing lens system and generating a corresponding output, a driving device for driving the photographing lens system for zooming, a commanding device for generating a command for executing zooming to the driving device, and control device for controlling the driving device in accordance with the output from the detecting device and the command, to change a focal length of the photographing lens stepwise between focal lengths of a plurality of predetermined focal lengths arranged substantially in accordance with a geometric progression.

Abstract: The battery check device for cameras comprises a counting device for counting the number of times photographing is performed by cameras, a detecting means for detecting the remainder of the capacity of batteries, and a determining device for determining the number of the remaining pictures which can be taken on the basis of the detected remainder of the capacity of batteries.

Abstract: A controller for a camera is provided with a first zoom signal output device operatively associated with the half depressing operation of a release operation member and outputting a first zoom signal for directing a photographing lens to a focal length preset on the camera side, a second zoom signal output device outputting a second zoom signal for arbitrarily varying the focal length of the photographing lens by a manual operation, a drive device responsive to the first or second zoom signal to electrically drive the photographing lens and effect zooming, a mode command device for commanding the setting and release of an auto focal length mode in which the focal length of the photographing lens is changed with the first zoom signal, by a manual operation, and a control device for operating the first zoom signal output device by the first half depressing operation of the release operation member when the auto focal length mode is set, and releasing the auto focal length mode when the second zoom signal is out

Abstract: A device for positioning a photographing lens to focus the lens on an object is disclosed. The device comprises distance detecting means for detecting a distance to an object to provide an output signal, the distance detector detecting the distance when the object is positioned in the range of ordinary photographing distances and in the range of distances shorter than the ordinary photographing distances, a position determining system for determining the position of the photographing lens in the direction of the optical axis according to the output signal, and a drive system for responding to an output of the position determining system. The drive system includes a cam which is displaced to move the photographing lens along the optical axis.

Abstract: A focusing device in a camera comprises a lens barrel having a lens system, the lens barrel together with the lens system being moved along the optical axis to focus the lens system on an object locted in the range of ordinary photographing distances and on an object located in the range of closest focusing distances shorter than the ordinary photographing distances, a detector for detecting a distance to an object, to provide an output signal according to the distance thus detected, a main drive system for moving the lens barrel in response to the output signal provided by the detector, to focus the lens system on the object located in the range of ordinary photographing distances, and an auxiliary drive system with a member operated by the operator. The auxiliary drive system moving the lens barrel independently of the main drive system, to focus the lens system on the object located in the range of closest focusing distances.

Abstract: A camera for exposing a film to the image of an object to be photographed includes housing means, flashlight emitting means having a light-emitting portion for applying light toward the object to be photographed, the light-emitting portion being movable between a first position in which it is projected from the housing means and a second position in which it is received in the housing means, and an optical member provided in the housing means so as to be positioned between the light-emitting portion and the object to be photographed when the light-emitting portion is in the second position, the member having an optical characteristic for an area in which light is applied to the object to be photographed from the light-emitting portion through the optical member to change relative to an area in which light is directly applied to the object to be photographed from the light-emitting portion.

Abstract: A motor drive unit capable of being coupled to a camera by being mounted on the camera to drive the film, advance device of the camera after completion of exposure of a film the camera having means producing a signal for transmitting the completion of exposure, includes means provided to identify the type of the camera in response to the mounting of the motor drive unit onto the camera, means producing a drive signal for driving the film advance device in response to the signal for transmitting the completion of exposure, the drive signal producing means including means for adjusting the time of production of the drive signal in response to the identifying means, and drive means including a drive source and capable of being coupled to the film advance device by the motor drive unit being mounted on the camera, the drive means being responsive to the drive signal to drive the film advance device.

Abstract: In a camera including an electromagnetic release device for releasing a shutter mechanism for the purpose of exposure in response to the moving operation of a release member over a predetermined stroke, a mechanical release device for releasing the shutter mechanism for the purpose of exposure in response to the moving operation of the release member over a stroke exceeding the predetermined stroke, and a limiting device for limiting the movement of the release member within the range of the predetermined stroke in response to the electromagnetic release mode selecting operation of a mode selecting member and for releasing the limitation in response to the mechanical release mode selecting operation of the mode selecting member, there is provided means for impeding the operation of the change-over device for the selection of the mechanical release mode when the electromagnetic release mode is selected, releasing means operable to release the impediment by the impeding means, and means for operatively associat

Abstract: A motor drive device for a long film which is provided with a take-up shaft having a coupling portion at one end thereof and an extraneously operable take-up knob at the other end thereof and in which the engagement and disengagement between the spool shaft in a film magazine and the coupling portion is made possible by axial sliding movement of the take-up shaft and film take-up is effected by rotating the take-up shaft by a motor has a biasing member for normally biasing the take-up shaft in a direction in which the coupling portion engages the spool shaft.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling an electrically driven film transport mechanism includes a displacement member that controls a change-over switch for selecting either a film take-up mode or a film rewind mode, and first and second members for controlling the position of the displacement member. The first member, which is responsive to film tension, automatically causes the displacement member to select the film take-up mode at the end of film rewind, thereby halting the film transport mechanism. The second member has a first position at which it holds the displacement member in a film take-up selecting mode for film take-up, and has a second position which enables movement of the displacement member to a film rewind selecting mode. Upon initial film advancement to load a fresh roll of film into the camera, the second member is automatically returned to its first position.

Abstract: In a camera having a film transport mechanism for advancing and rewinding film and a counter for counting the number of frames of film advanced, a first control device operatively coupled to the counter controls the transport mechanism so as to prevent further film advancement upon the counter reaching a predetermined count. Upon the transport mechanism being operated to rewind the film, a second control device automatically disables the first control device so as to enable further film advancement by the transport mechanism.

Abstract: A film rewind device in a camera in which a rewind coupling is automatically engaged with a cassette shaft in response to rewind operation has a rotatable member having a spiral groove on its peripheral wall portion and said rewind coupling at the end of the shaft thereof, the rotatable member being slidable in axial direction and rotatable by rewind operation, and a meshing member meshing with the spiral groove at the initial stage of the rewind operation to thereby slide the rotatable member in axial direction to cause the coupling to engage the cassette shaft. The mesh engagement between the meshing member and the spiral groove is released in axial direction when the coupling engages the cassette shaft, so that the meshing member comes to support the rotatable member so as to block the return of the rotatable member in axial direction.

Abstract: In a self-timer device for a camera having a self-timer circuit including manually operated first switch means and adapted to start time count upon operation of the first switch means and to release a shutter when a predetermined time has elapsed, and a set member movable by manual operation between a first position for rendering the circuit capable of counting time and a second position for rendering the circuit incapable of counting time, there is provided means for moving the set member lying in said first position to said second position in response to film advance operation.

Abstract: A power-driven rewind device for rewinding a film taken up on a take-up spool shaft onto a supply spool shaft comprises a first gear coupled to and rotatable with the supply spool shaft, a second gear operatively associated with the rotation of a motor when the film is rewound, a third gear meshing with both of the first and second gears and thereby displaceable between a coupled position and a disengaged position, and change-over means operatively associated with the rotation of the second gear to displace the third gear to the coupled position.

Abstract: A mirror mechanism for use in a single-lens reflex camera comprises a mirror descent mechanism having a support member rotatably supported and formed integrally with said mirror, said support member being adapted to cooperate with said mirror drive mechanism at the photograph-taking operation to displace said mirror from said image-viewing position to said photograph-taking position, a mirror pin provided on said support member and adapted to rotate integrally with said support member, a pin fixed on the camera body, and a suspended spring member which is rotatably supported at the ends thereof respectively by said mirror pin and said fixed pin, and which is charged, upon rotation of said mirror from said image-viewing position to said photograph-taking position, to develop a returning force for rotating said mirror in a direction opposite to said rotation from said photograph-taking position to said image-viewing position.

Abstract: A shutter device in a camera which effects photography with shutter curtains maintained open for a predetermined time comprises a rotatable member for normal rotation by a spring, shutter opening formation means operatively associated with the rotatable member to move in a direction to form a shutter opening with normal rotation of the rotatable member and to move in a direction to close the shutter opening with reverse rotation of the rotatable member, a motor, control means operatively associated with the motor to be displaceable to a first position in which it blocks normal rotation of the rotatable member and maintains the shutter opening closed, a second position in which it permits the normal rotation of the rotatable member by the bias force of the spring immediately after the motor is started, and a third position in which it transmits the drive of the motor to the rotatable member so as to reverse the rotation of the rotatable member after the normal rotation thereof, means for stopping normal rotati