Abstract: An interchangeable lens has a zoom lens, a zoom driver operable to drive the zoom lens along an optical axis, a focus lens, a focus driver operable to drive the focus lens along the optical axis, and a storage unit operable to store link information which links position information indicating a position of the zoom lens on the optical axis with information about a variation in magnification caused by the focus lens advancing and retreating on the optical axis with the zoom lens located at the position indicated by the position information.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an optical system including a focus lens, a driver configured to drive the focus lens, a controller configured to control a supply of power to the driver, and a setting unit configured to set a power supply mode for specifying a method of supplying power to the driver. When a predetermined power supply mode is set, the controller determines according to a magnitude of a depth of field of the optical system during whether holding power for holding the state of the focus lens is supplied to the driver when the focus lens is stopped, and controls the supply of the holding power to the driver according to the result of the determination.

Abstract: A camera body is provided, to which an interchangeable lens is mountable, the interchangeable lens including a diaphragm and capable of sending driving speed information of the diaphragm. The camera body has a receiving unit operable to receive the driving speed information of the diaphragm from the interchangeable lens, an imaging unit operable to capture a subject image formed by the interchangeable lens to generate image data, a controller operable to set an imaging condition for the imaging unit, and a sending unit operable to send a control signal for changing brightness information of the interchangeable lens to the interchangeable lens. The controller sets the imaging condition for a period from a start to an end of a driving of the diaphragm according to the received driving speed information of the diaphragm when the sending unit sends the control signal to the interchangeable lens.

Abstract: An interchangeable lens which is mountable to a camera body and operates according to a command from the camera body includes a diaphragm operable to regulate an amount of light from a subject by changing an aperture, a drive unit operable to change the aperture of the diaphragm, and a lens controller operable to control the drive unit to change the aperture of the diaphragm according to an instruction received from the camera body. When the lens controller receives a new instruction from the camera body while changing the aperture of the diaphragm, the lens controller controls the drive unit to change the aperture of the diaphragm based on the new instruction without waiting for completion of the change of the aperture according to a previous instruction.

Abstract: A camera body includes a body mount, an imaging element, and a controller. The controller produces left-eye image data such that the top and bottom and the left and right of a left-eye image reproduced from left-eye image data substantially coincide with the top and bottom and the left and right of the subject, when an interchangeable lens unit is configured to mirror-invert a left-eye optical image corresponding to left-eye image data on a light receiving face of the imaging element with respect to a subject.

Abstract: A camera body includes an imaging unit for generating image data from an optical signal incident via the interchangeable lens, a detector for detecting a light quantity of the optical signal, a controller for setting an aperture value of a diaphragm of the interchangeable lens and an exposure condition which is a setting relating to exposure other than a setting of the diaphragm, a sending unit for sending a control signal for control with the set aperture value to the interchangeable lens, and a mode setting unit for selecting one from a plurality of operating modes. The plurality of operating modes includes a first mode for automatically adjusting the aperture value of the diaphragm and the exposure condition according to the detected light quantity during capturing of a moving image, and a second mode for automatically adjusting the aperture value with the exposure condition being fixed according to the detected light quantity during capturing of the moving image.

Abstract: A camera system includes an interchangeable lens and a camera body. The camera body includes an image data generating unit for capturing a subject image to generate image data, a detecting unit for detecting a contrast value of an image represented by the image data generated by the image data generating unit, and a signal generating unit for generating a control signal controlling the driving unit. In an autofocus control, the signal generating unit generates the control signal controlling the driving unit to drive the focus lens at a first speed until a predetermined time elapses after the first detecting unit starts to detect the contrast value of the image and to drive the focus lens at a second speed higher than the first speed after the predetermined time elapses.

Abstract: A camera body is provided, to which an interchangeable lens is mountable, the interchangeable lens including a diaphragm and capable of sending driving speed information of the diaphragm. The camera body has a receiving unit operable to receive the driving speed information of the diaphragm from the interchangeable lens, an imaging unit operable to capture a subject image formed by the interchangeable lens to generate image data, a controller operable to set an imaging condition for the imaging unit, and a sending unit operable to send a control signal for changing brightness information of the interchangeable lens to the interchangeable lens. The controller sets the imaging condition for a period from a start to an end of a driving of the diaphragm according to the received driving speed information of the diaphragm when the sending unit sends the control signal to the interchangeable lens.

Abstract: An imaging device is provided that includes a first imaging element, a second imaging element, and a focal point detector. The first imaging element includes a first opto-electrical converter configured to convert light into an electrical signal. The second imaging element is configured and arranged to receive light incident on and passing through the first opto-electrical converter. The second imaging element includes a second opto-electrical converter configured to convert the light coming from the first opto-electrical converter into an electrical signal. The focal point detector is configured to perform focal point detection based on first image data obtained by the first imaging element and second image data obtained by the second imaging element.

Abstract: A camera body includes an imaging unit for generating image data from an optical signal incident via the interchangeable lens, a detector for detecting a light quantity of the optical signal, a controller for setting an aperture value of a diaphragm of the interchangeable lens and an exposure condition which is a setting relating to exposure other than a setting of the diaphragm, a sending unit for sending a control signal for control with the set aperture value to the interchangeable lens, and a mode setting unit for selecting one from a plurality of operating modes. The plurality of operating modes includes a first mode for automatically adjusting the aperture value of the diaphragm and the exposure condition according to the detected light quantity during capturing of a moving image, and a second mode for automatically adjusting the aperture value with the exposure condition being fixed according to the detected light quantity during capturing of the moving image.

Abstract: An interchangeable lens includes an obtaining unit for obtaining first control information and second control information from the camera body, the first control information being an instruction to control the first drive unit (diaphragm), the second control information being an instruction to control the second drive unit (focus lens, etc), a storage unit for storing the obtained second control information, and a controller for controlling the first drive unit and the second drive unit based on the first and second control information obtained. The second control information (reservation control information) is an instruction to control the second drive unit when the obtaining unit receives the first control information after receiving the second control information.

Abstract: In a camera system including an interchangeable lens and a camera body, a lens controller performs control to detect a position of a focus lens in synchronous with a predetermined timing received from the camera body, store it in a storage unit, and transmit it to the camera body when receiving a position information request signal for requesting transmission of position information stored in the storage unit. The body controller performs control so that a timing of transmission of the position information request signal does not overlap a timing of transmission of the timing signal.

Abstract: An interchangeable lens (200) has a focus lens (230) for changing focus conditions of an object image, a drive means (233) for driving the focus lens (230), a lens control means (240) for controlling the drive means (233) so as to advance and retract the focus lens (230) along the optical axis at a predetermined drive frequency, and a memory means (242) for storing therein drive frequency information representing a drive frequency which can be controlled by the drive means. A camera body (100) obtains the drive frequency information from the interchangeable lens (200) and performs control while referring to the drive frequency information.

Abstract: An intermediate adapter includes a first terminal operable to be electrically connected to a lens detecting terminal provided on the camera body when the intermediate adapter is attached to the camera body, a second terminal operable to be electrically connected to a terminal provided on the interchangeable lens for providing a ground potential when the interchangeable lens is attached to the intermediate adapter, and a first switch interposed between the first terminal and the second terminal. The first switch is operable to electrically connect the first terminal and the second terminal when the first switch is on, and disconnect the electrical connection between the first terminal and the second terminal when the first switch is off. While the intermediate adapter is being attached to the interchangeable lens, the first switch is off to disconnect the electrical connection between the first terminal and the second terminal.

Abstract: The camera body includes a synchronizing signal generator that generates a synchronizing signal, a body controller that controls the camera body and generates a command to control the interchangeable lens. The body controller performs control to send the interchangeable lens a command to set the interchangeable lens to a synchronous mode in which operation of the interchangeable lens is controlled in synchronization with the synchronizing signal and a command to set the interchangeable lens to an asynchronous mode which is a mode other than the synchronous mode. The interchangeable lens includes a lens controller that controls the operation of the interchangeable lens. The lens controller controls the operation of the interchangeable lens in the synchronous mode or the asynchronous mode according to the command received from the camera body.

Abstract: A focus adjusting apparatus includes an optical system including a focus lens, a driver configured to move the focus lens along an optical axis of the optical system, an obtaining unit configured to periodically obtain an evaluation value of a subject image formed via the focus lens, a determining unit configured to determine a target position to which the focus lens is moved based on the evaluation value, and a controller configured to control an operation of the driver based on the determined target position. The controller controls the driver to move the focus lens at a first speed for a first period including a backlash period which is defined from start of the operation of the driver to start of an actual movement of the focus lens, and controls the driver to move the focus lens at a second speed faster than the first speed for a second period after the end of the first period.

Abstract: A camera system includes a camera body (100) and an interchangeable lens (200). The camera body includes an imaging unit that captures a subject image formed by the interchangeable lens in a predetermined capturing cycle to generate image data, a body controller that generates a synchronizing signal having a first cycle correlated with the capturing cycle, and a sending unit that sends the generated synchronizing signal to the interchangeable lens. The body controller further sends information indicating a second cycle different from the first cycle to the interchangeable lens. The interchangeable lens includes a focus lens (230), a drive unit (233) that drives the focus lens along an optical axis, a receiving unit (250) that receives the synchronizing signal and the information indicating the second cycle sent from the camera body, and a lens controller (240) that controls an operation of the interchangeable lens.

Abstract: A camera system (1) includes an interchangeable lens (200) and a camera body (100). The camera body (100) includes a body controller (140) configured to generate a command, and a sending unit (150) configured to send the generated command to the interchangeable lens. The interchangeable lens (200) includes a movable member (230, 260), a driving unit (233, 261). configured to drive the movable member, a receiving unit (250) configured to receive a command from the camera body, and a lens controller (240) configured to control the driving unit according to the received command. Further, a prediction unit (140, 240) is provided in either one of the camera body and the interchangeable lens, which predicts whether an operation of the driving unit of the interchangeable lens according to the received command will be completed within a predetermined time.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus system includes an interchangeable lens 100 and a camera body 200. The interchangeable lens 100 includes an optical system configured to generate an optical image of a subject, a first communication unit 106, and a lens controller 105 configured to control driving of the optical system in synchronization with a reference signal received through the first communication unit. The camera body 200 includes a second communication unit 201 that can communicate with the first communication unit 106, and a body controller 203 configured to send the reference signal to the lens controller 105 through the second communication unit 201. The body controller 203 sends announcement information preliminarily announcing switching of the cycle of the reference signal, to the lens controller 105. The lens controller 105, when receiving the announcement information from the camera body, performs a preparation operation for switching the cycle of the reference signal.

Abstract: An interchangeable lens includes a drive unit that drives a focus lens back and forth along an optical axis, a storage unit that stores driving method information indicating a driving method for autofocus control which is supported by the interchangeable lens, a sending unit that sends the driving method information to the camera body, and a lens controller that controls an operation of the interchangeable lens. A camera body determines control on the interchangeable lens by referring to the driving method information obtained from the interchangeable lens to generate a control signal. The lens controller of the interchangeable lens controls the drive unit according to the driving method instructed by the control signal received from the camera body, when autofocus control is performed.