Abstract: When an FFP mode is set, a quick-return mirror and a sub mirror are driven between an inclined position and a horizontal position according to whether the focus point is within the image capturing area of a phase difference AF module or not. When the focus point is set within the image capturing area of the phase difference AF module, focus adjustment is performed by a phase difference detection method using the phase difference AF module. When the focus point is set outside the image capturing area of the phase difference AF module, focus adjustment is performed by a contrast detection method with the entire image capturing area as the object area of the focus adjustment.

Abstract: A camera body to which one of a plurality of interchangeable lenses is selectively attached is provided with: a shake detector 31; a shake compensation mechanism 32; and a controller 30 that compensates for the camera shake by driving the shake compensation mechanism based on the output from the shake detector. The controller 30 has a detector and a selector. The detector communicates with the attached interchangeable lens 20 and determines whether the interchangeable lens 20 itself has a shake compensation mechanism or not. The selector selects, when the detector determines that the interchangeable lens 20 has a shake compensation mechanism, both or one of the shake compensation mechanism of the camera body 10 and the shake compensation mechanism of the interchangeable lens 20 according to a predetermined condition as a compensation mechanism to be used for camera shake compensation.

Abstract: A camera having a box-form cover member slidable on a camera body between a closed position and an opened position. The camera further has a heat releasing member that releases heat generated within the camera body, into a space formed between the camera body and the cover member.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image capturing apparatus capable of properly zooming in on a main subject without performing complicated framing. A digital camera having an electronic zoom function has an external passive type distance detector for obtaining two-dimensional distance detection information. The two-dimensional distance detection information obtained by the distance detector is used for an auto-focus control of the digital camera. Further, the two-dimensional distance detection information is also used for detection of a main subject in an image capturing area. The digital camera specifies the position of the main subject by using the two-dimensional distance detection information and moves the center of the partial area to be extracted in the case of generating a pseudo zoom image toward the specified position.

Abstract: A camera, as soon as the user finishes using it, quickly assumes a not-in-use appearance that the camera is designed to assume when it is out of operation. The camera incorporates, inside its body, a taking optical system including a turning optical system for turning the optical path of the light from a shooting target substantially at a right angle and a zoom optical system for varying shooting magnification. The body has an opening through which the front face of the taking optical system is exposed, and has a barrier for closing the opening. The camera, when a command to stop operation is given, performs the process of closing the barrier with highest priority, and then performs the process of extinguishing display with second highest priority. The camera, now having assumed an appearance that it is supposed to assume when out of operation, then performs other, internal, processes for stopping operation.

Abstract: In a camera conducting a pre-photographing and a main-photographing for conducting a displaying-at-long-time-exposure, the displaying-at-long-time-exposure is continued still after main-photographing starts. Since the displaying a pre-taken image and the renewing the predicted images thereafter start from the time point, at which a release button is full-pressed, a user can confirm the predicted images in almost real time during the long-time-exposure is conducted.

Abstract: A digital camera having an image shake correction apparatus and a method of preventing the image shake of an image taken by the digital camera. The digital camera includes optical elements arranged along a bent line for focusing an object image upon a light receiving plane in which the elements include at least one mirror which reflects a light from an object toward the light receiving plane, a driver for moving the mirror so as to turn its light axis having been bent by the mirror, a vibration sensor for sensing a vibration of a camera body, and a processor for making the driver move the mirror based on the sensed vibration. The mirror turns so as to cancel the vibration of the object image focussed on the light receiving plane.

Abstract: A photographing device having a flexion optical system which prevents a user's finger(s) from interfering with a lens opening portion carelessly or unpreparedly, and which allows constituent parts of the photographing device to be arranged effectually inside a body thereof to make it low-profile and compact. The flexion optical system extends fully in a direction of right and left of the body thereof, or fully in a direction of up and down of the body, as the photographing device in a standard posture, or position, is viewed from a side of an object, the image of which is captured by the photographing device.

Abstract: A digital camera which allows to make thickness, height and width of its camera body small. The camera has a first optical member for generally perpendicularly bending a first optical axis of light coming from an object through a lens opening part, a second optical member for bending a second optical axis of light coming from the first optical member, and an image taking element having a light receiving surface for receiving a third optical axis of light coming from the second optical member in which the light receiving surface crosses the third optical axis of light. The third optical axis of light is included in a plane which is different from a plane including both of the first optical axis of light and the second optical axis thereof.

Abstract: Imaging lens device has a zoom lens system and an image sensor. The zoom lens system has a first reflecting surface, a first movable lens unit, an aperture stop, a second reflecting surface, a second movable lens unit. A first reflecting surface bends a first optical axis which is an incident optical axis of the zoom lens system 90 degrees into a second optical axis. A second reflecting surface bends the second optical axis 90 degrees into a third optical axis. The first optical axis, the second optical axis and the third optical axis are mutually perpendicular. The first movable lens unit and the aperture stop are disposed on the second optical axis. The second movable lens unit is disposed on the third optical axis. During zooming, the first and second reflecting surfaces and the aperture stop are stationary; the first and second movable lens units are moved, respectively.

Abstract: A display device 70 having an organic luminescent element arranged at an object image-forming position of a finder optical system. Frames are formed by parts 31b, 32b, 33b of the negative electrode formed of non-transparent material, an organic electroluminescent material is laminated thereon on the eyepiece side, and a positive electrode formed of transparent material is superimposed thereon on the eyepiece side. Since the non-transparent negative electrodes 31b, 32b, 33b shield the light, the frames are recognized as black frames. When the periphery is dark, a voltage is applied between the electrodes causing the organic electroluminescent material to luminesce, such that the frame itself becomes brighter in display and is readily visible.

Abstract: Image data obtained through image capturing are held on an internal memory 23. The image data are compressed by a CPU 22, recorded on a memory card 45, and sent by a communications interface 46, a Bluetooth™ transmission module 50, a portable telephone function unit 52 or the like. The CPU 22 is capable of compressing the image data at different compression ratios which are different between recording and sending. In this case, the image data held on the internal memory 23 are compressed at the different compression ratios and recorded in mutually different recording regions of the memory card.

Abstract: A charging circuit detects a battery voltage Vp and a charging voltage of a main condenser. When a charge of the condenser is instructed, if the battery voltage is smaller than prescribed value Vpo, the charge is performed in a single control mode. And then, when the charging voltage of the main condenser is larger than a prescribed value Vco, the mode is changed to a push-pull control mode from the single control mode. When the charge of the condenser is instructed, if the battery voltage is larger than prescribed value Vpo, the charge is performed in a push-poll control mode independent of the charging voltage.

Abstract: An object follow-up mechanism, installed in a camera, which allows the camera to follow movement of a main object to be photographed. The mechanism includes an image detection device for taking an image into a photographing visual field and for extracting a feature of the image; an image recognition device for recognizing a possible candidate region, on which the main object locates, on a basis of the feature; a display device for displaying the candidate region(s); a main object region selection device for selecting at least one candidate region from the displayed candidate region(s) as a main object region in which the main object is present; and a main object region storing device for storing the feature extracted by the image detection device as a feature standard with respect to the image in the main object region thus selected.

Abstract: An object follow-up mechanism, installed in a camera, which allows the camera to follow movement of a main object to be photographed. The mechanism includes an image detection device for taking an image into a photographing visual field and for extracting a feature of the image; an image recognition device for recognizing a possible candidate region, on which the main object locates, on a basis of the feature; a display device for displaying the candidate region(s); a main object region selection device for selecting at least one candidate region from the displayed candidate region(s) as a main object region in which the main object is present; and a main object region storing device for storing the feature extracted by the image detection device as a feature standard with respect to the image in the main object region thus selected.

Abstract: A camera having a display unit that displays information regarding the functions of the camera and the photo-taking scenes in an abbreviated fashion by means of characters, symbols and/or codes, a voice synthesizer that provides information regarding the functions of the camera and the photo-taking scenes by means of voice sounds and a magnetic head that records the information regarding the photo-taking scenes (the photo-taking dates and titles) in the recording area of the film. Consequently, this camera provides by means of voice sounds information that may not be fully displayed in the display unit.

Abstract: An electronic flash is provided with a detector for detecting a voltage of a power source when a charging of a capacitor is started, a timer for measuring an elapsed time from the start of the charging, a memory for storing a relationship between control times and voltages of the power source, and a controller for setting a control time based on a detected voltage and the stored relationship, and controlling stop of the charging in accordance with the set control time and measurement of the timer. This can prevent excessive charging without unnecessarily making the capacitor larger.

Abstract: A spectral sensor comprises that a plurality of arrays of light receiving elements sensitive to different wavelength ranges which are arranged in a non-overlapping relationship with each other within the imaginary circle of a diameter smaller than the sum of lengths of the resective arrays of light receiving elements, and a filtering element of different transmission wavelength for each of the light receiving elements of all of the arrays, which filtering element is arranged in register with the respective light receiving element.