Abstract: In a diaphragm device for use in an optical instrument such as a camera and having two or more diaphragm blades movable across an imaging path of rays and arranged in axially displaced relation from each other to define a common aperture of variable size, there is provided means formed in a portion of at least one of the diaphragm blades to substantially either eliminate or reduce the axial displacement between the diaphragm blades at a relatively small aperture region, whereby the distribution of light energy is made uniform over the entire area of the image.

Abstract: A self-timer for cinecameras wherein an electric delay circuit is used for detecting a length of time from the release to the commencement of a photographing process which takes place with an electric power having been actually supplied to a film feeding motor. The amount of the rotation made by the film feeding motor from the start of the rotation of the motor is either mechanically or electrically detected. When the detected amount of rotation reaches a preset value corresponding to a number of frames of the film required for self-timer photographing, the motor is stopped to terminate the photographing operation, so that the photographing operation with the self-timer can be accomplished exactly for a preset number of frames.

Abstract: A motion picture camera with a release device capable of selective control of rotative movement of the shutter blade in the camera for a normal motion picture sequence and for a single frame slot depending upon the position of a selector therefor. The release device is provided with the single stop lever arranged between the shutter blade and a release member to be pivoted in either of two planes, perpendicular to each other. For a motion picture sequence, as the pivotal movement of the stop lever is limited to only one of the planes, it is retained in operative engagement with the release member so long as the latter is pressed, thus permitting a number of revolutions of the shutter blade in sequence.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a motion picture camera which includes a color conversion filter for adapting the tungsten type film to the daylight photography, a manual operation means capable of taking the filter out of the photographic optical path and compensating the sensitivity of the exposure meter device in accordance with the removal of the filter so as to adapt the tungsten type film to the tungsten light photography and a detecting means for removing the filter from the photographic optical path by detecting that the film is of the daylight type so that the tungsten type film as well as the daylight film can be used.

Abstract: The camera has a picture image recording mechanism to record a picture image on a picture image recording part of the film, a sound recording mechanism to record sound information at the film having sound recording part, a constant speed film feeding mechanism having a capstan and a pinch roller to run the film at a constant speed at a sound recording head part of the sound recording mechanism, and a release member which controls initiation of a camera and is mechanically linked selectively with the sound recording mechanism and the constant speed film feeding mechanism, and which can simultaneously record a picture image and sound at the film within the cartridge when the film cartridge for simultaneous sound recording is loaded.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a self-timer device for a motion picture camera which presents a second motor switch connected in series with the first motor switch to be closed by means of the release means at the time of the camera release, the first timer means including a governer mechanism for actually starting photographing, closing the second motor switch after the elapse of a certain determined time from the automatic photographing setting and the second timer means for stopping the camera release after the elapse of a certain determined time from the actual starting of photographing, so as to open the first motor switch and terminate the photographing. In this manner the first timer means is driven by means of a spring means as a driving source while the second timer means is driven by means of the camera driving motor as driving source and controls the timing of the start and stop of the photographing at the time of the automatic photographing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an automatic exposure adjusting device for a camera or the like, comprising a single photometric mechanism capable of measuring the light corresponding to the light amount entering into a photosensitive material such as film, the first light amount control mechanism driven in accordance with the output of the photometric mechanism for controlling the light amount over the range of the ordinary brightness and the second light amount control mechanism capable of operating in accordance with the output of the photometric mechanism beyond the operation range of the first light amount control mechanism, whereby for the brightness of the object beyond the range of the ordinary brightness the second light amount control mechanism is automatically operated in accordance with the output of the photometric mechanism so as to give a proper exposure.

Abstract: A zoom lens structure for use with an optical instrument comprises a zooming optical system movable along the optical axis thereof and including a magnifying system and a correcting system; support frames for holding the zooming optical system; a plurality of guide shafts fitted in the support frames of the zooming optical system to cause sliding of the support frames; a frame member for holding the guide shafts at the opposite ends thereof and surrounding the zooming optical system; a fucusing optical system; a holder frame for permitting the focusing optical system to be moved along the optical axis independently of the zooming optical system; and a mechanism using a cam to drive the holder frame. Within the frame member surrounding the zooming optical system, a beam splitter for splitting an object light beam to derive a viewfinder light beam is interposed between the portion of the frame member remote from an object to be photographed and the zooming system.

Abstract: A control device repeatedly starts operation of a portable machine by detecting the movement of a hand on a watch mechanism and producing a first start signal to start operation of one portion of the portable machine. A delay arrangement then produces a second start signal to actuate the remainder of the portable machine. A timing device, actuated by the first start signal, stops operation of the machine before occurrence of another first starting signal.

Abstract: The present invention refers to a motion picture camera which is characterized in that respectively on the driving shaft to be rotated by means of a driving power from the driving motor and on the shutter shaft to be rotated by means of a rotating power of the above mentioned driving shaft elliptical gears in mutual engagement with each other are provided in such a manner that the ratio of the angular speed to be communicated between the driving shaft and the shutter shaft is continuously increased and decreased while on the above mentioned shutter shaft a non-circular cam to reciprocate the claw for feeding film is provided in such a manner that while the shutter blade is opened the shutter shaft rotates slowly and further the claw for feeding film stops feeding film whereby the effective proper opening angle of the shutter blade is changed largely by means of the above mentioned pair of elliptical gears and the non-circular cam.

Abstract: A film gate formed as one integral unit by molding a black synthetic resin material includes a film gate portion, a recess for receiving a film driving member for reciprocal movement therein, film guide walls, positioning means and protective walls to protect resilient side pressure members from damage from careless loading of a film magazine. The positioning means may be used as reference position to secure the gate unit to a fixed frame of a motion picture apparatus. The side pressure members are formed as extensions of a holding member that also applies resilient force to the film driving member near the root of its film-advancing pawl.

Abstract: Automatic and rapid exposure control is incorporated in a camera having facilities for directing, along a common path, a pair of independent noncoincident light beams from an external object and from a separately illuminable item, such as a databearing transparency within the camera. A photoelectric circuit responsive to the total quantity of the directed light generates a proportional control voltage for operating an adjustable diaphragm to maintain a predetermined incident level of the directed light on the camera film and/or controlling the item illuminator or an auxiliary illuminator for the external object. Threshold controlled, motor-instrumented apparatus may be additionally provided to advance the film, to selectively operate a camera shutter, and to illuminate the item in response to trigger signals generated, e.g., upon the detection of the presence of the external object.

Abstract: An information displaying apparatus includes, bundles of optical fibers with their ends coplanar and disposed in line. A movable masking member imposes information on the light input to the fiber array. At the output end, information markings are selectively illuminated or otherwise luminously designated to display various kinds of information. Displaying means may be disposed within a view finder or on the outer casing of a camera. An artificial light source operates to provide light through the masking member and may be switched on manually or automatically when needed for information display.