Abstract: From a data transmission device to a camera system including a camera and electronic flash device, operation instruction data such as set or calculated exposure control data, shutter release data instructing the operation of the camera system, flash emission testing data and the like are serially transmitted in the form of infrared light signal. When the reception of these data is completed, the camera starts its operation to control given operation of the camera system such as the exposure initiation of the camera, test light emission of the electronic flash device and the like in accordance with received data.

Abstract: A camera system including a camera body and a camera accessory attachable to the camera body, such as an interchangeable back lid, an interchangeable lens, a flash device and so on, is disclosed. In the system, a plurality of circuits provided in plurality of camera accessories are controlled by a microcomputer provided in the camera body. Data is transmitted between the microcomputer and the circuits using a serial data bus and synchronizing clock line connected therebetween. The circuit to receive the data sent from the microcomputer, or the circuit which should send the data to the microcomputer are selected by the microcomputer through chip select lines provided between the microcomputer and each circuit.

Abstract: A photographic camera having in a patrone chamber for loading a film patrone a rotational drive mechanism for rotating a film in a direction for loosening at least the film peripheral relative to an axis along a patrone axis and extending toward a leading edge of the film and a film insertion mechanism for inserting the leading edge of the film into a film outlet opening extending from the patrone chamber to a film exposure section with the rotation of the film. With this construction, when the film patrone is accommodated in the patrone chamber, wherever the leading edge of the film may be placed about the patrone axis, the film insertion mechanism rotates the film about the axis along the patrone axis thereby to guide the leading edge of the film to be inserted into the film outlet opening extending to a manually-operated film winding-up mechanism or to an automatic film winding-up device.

Abstract: A flash photographing system includes a camera body, a flash controller connected to the camera body and three flash devices: the first flash device is directly mounted on the camera body; the second flash device is mounted on the flash controller; and the third flash device is connected through a suitable cord to the flash controller. A microcomputer is provided in the camera body and also in each of the flash devices so as to control the three flash devices in various different modes of operations, such as simultaneous flash mode, sequence flash mode, and yet providing an appropriate amount of light for the proper exposure.

Abstract: A flash photography system which comprises a photographic camera and an electronic flash device;said photographic camera comprisingaperture value output means for producing aperture value under the flash light photographing,flash light stop signal output means for integrating output value of a light value of a photographing object and for producing a signal for stopping emission of a flash light when the integrated value reaches a predetermined value,said flash device comprisingcalculating means for calculating a maximum photographing distance which is covered by the flash light for effecting a correct exposure on the photographing object on the basis of a maximum light value of the flash light and the aperture value fed from the aperture value output means, anddisplay means for displaying the maximum photographing distance on the basis of the output of the calculating means.

Abstract: From a data transmission device to a camera system including a camera and electronic flash device, operation instruction data such as set or calculated exposure control data, shutter release data instructing the operation of the camera system, flash emission testing data and the like are serially transmitted in the form of infrared light signal. When the reception of these data is completed, the camera starts its operation to control given operation of the camera system such as the exposure initiation of the camera, test light emission of the electronic flash device and the like in accordance with received data.

Abstract: A camera system including a camera body and a camera accessory attachable to the camera body, such as an interchangeable back lid, an interchangeable lens, a flash device and so on, is disclosed. In the system, a plurality of circuits provided in the plurality of camera accessories are controlled by a microcomputer provided in the camera body. Data is transmitted between the microcomputer and the circuits using a serial data bus and synchronizing clock line connected therebetween. The circuit to receive the data sent from the microcomputer, or the circuit which should send the data to the microcomputer are selected by the microcomputer through chip select lines provided between the microcomputer and each circuit.

Abstract: A flash photography system with a camera body and an electronic flash device incorporates first to third terminals in the camera body which are connectable to fourth through sixth terminals in the flash device. A signal is produced to distinguish between first and second modes wherein data is transmitted to the electronic flash device and data from the electronic flash device is transmitted to the camera body, respectively, and connected to the first terminal. Clock pulses control the data transmission and data is read from the electronic flash device and transmitted to the electronic flash device through the second terminal in response to the clock pulses. An initiating signal to cause production of artificial illuminating light from the electronic flash device is provided at the third terminal. In response to the distinguishing signal, selection is made between the first and second modes via the fourth terminal.

Abstract: A flash photography system for a photographic camera and a flash device adapted to be connected thereto with the camera providing an aperture value output for flash light photography and a flash light stop signal obtained from an integrated output of the light reflected from a photographic object to terminate flash light emission when the integrated value reaches a predetermined value. The flash device calculates a maximum photographing distance covered by the flash light for effecting a correct exposure of the photographic object from the maximum flash light value and the aperture value from the camera. The maximum photographing distance is displayed by a suitable display visible to the camera operator.

Abstract: In a automatic focussing camera a focusing lens is moved toward the in-focus position while performing a defocus detection while the defocus amount of the photographic lens is large so as to repeatedly judge the error of the position of the focusing lens. When the defocus amount is decreased lower than a predetermined value the lens is stopped and further defocus detection is made for effecting an accurate defocus detection. The error of the defocus detection is small partly because the defocus detection is made while the lens is stopped, and partly because the defocus detection is made under such a state that the error is smaller than the predetermined value.

Abstract: An auto-focusing system includes a focus condition detector which detects the focus condition based on infrared light. A data producer is provided for producing a deflection signal indicating the difference between an image forming distance for infrared light and that for visible light, due to aberration. In accordance with the detected focus condition and deflection signal, an objective lens is shifted to a position for properly focusing an image of visible light on an image forming plane.

Abstract: A flash photographing system includes a camera body, a flash controller connected to the camera body and three flash devices: the first flash device is directly mounted on the camera body; the second flash device is mounted on the flash controller; and the third flash device is connected through a suitable cord to the flash controller. A microcomputer is provided in the camera body and also in each of the flash devices so as to control the three flash devices in various different modes of operations, such as simultaneous flash mode, sequence flash mode, and yet providing an appropriate amount of light for the proper exposure.

Abstract: An active focus detecting device for use in a camera is provided and includes emitting light that is polarized, and collimated so that the light forms a light bundle which will pass near the optical axis of the objective lens, and then will be projected in a diverging light path after having been focused by the objective lens towards the object. A polarization component is provided for receiving the returning light and directing a component of that light towards a detector for determining a focusing condition.

Abstract: A flash photography system for a photographic camera and a flash device adapted to be connected thereto with the camera providing an aperture value output for flash light photography and a flash light stop signal obtained from an integrated output of the light reflected from a photographic object to terminate flash light emission when the integrated value reaches a predetermined value. The flash device calculates a maximum photographing distance covered by the flash light for effecting a correct exposure of the photographic object from the maximum flash light value and the aperture value from the camera. The maximum photographing distance is displayed by a suitable display visible to the camera operator.

Abstract: A flash photography system using a first aperture value output calculated from a desired diaphragm aperture value for flash light photographing with data obtained from ambient light, film sensitivity and the exposure data, a second aperture value output independent of the light value of the ambient light, data selecting circuitry for outputting any one of the first aperture value output and the second aperture value output, an aperture controller for controlling the actual diaphragm aperture size from the output of the data selecting circuitry, and means for producing a stopping signal to stop the emission of the flash light when the flash light emission reaches a predetermined value.

Abstract: An operation mode display device is provided for a picture taking device such as a camera which controls exposure in a plurality of modes such as a programmed automatic exposure control mode, a diaphragm priority automatic shutter speed control mode, a shutter speed priority automatic diaphragm control mode and a manual exposure control mode. A plurality of display devices are individually operable for displaying a letter for each display means and arranged in a single line to display the letters P, R, O, G, R, A, M and S in order of mention. When the programmed automatic control mode, which is the most frequently used mode in practice, has been selected, all or almost all of the display devices are driven to display the letters "PROGRAMS" or "PROGRAM". When another mode, e.g., the diaphragm priority automatic shutter speed control mode has been selected, one of the display devices is driven to display a single letter "A".

Abstract: An automatic exposure control camera is of a type capable of controlling both the camera exposure and the flash light amount to be emitted by an electronic flash device. The automatic exposure control camera includes an average light measuring device for measuring an amount of the entire light impinging on an image forming plane and for producing an average signal representing the average light amount, and a spot light measuring device for measuring an amount of light impinging on a spot of the image forming plane and for producing a spot signal representing the light amount at the spot.

Abstract: The automatic focusing system disclosed is characterized that the focusing condition of an objective lens to be focused is repeatedly detected with the objective lens being moved, and that defocus signals, each representing a defocus direction and a defocus amount of the lens according to the focusing condition upon each detection, are processed in a predetermined statistic method to produce a final signal. The final signal is effected for controlling the axial position of the objective lens to lead the lens to its infocus position. Therefore, the automatic focusing system according to the present invention achieves the high accuracy of focusing and quickness thereof.

Abstract: The automatic focusing system disclosed is characterized that the focusing condition of an objective lens to be focused is repeatedly detected with the objective lens being moved, and that defocus signals, each representing a defocus direction and a defocus amount of the lens according to the focusing condition upon each detection, are processed in a predetermined statistic method to produce a final signal. The final signal is effected for controlling the axial position of the objective lens to lead the lens to its infocus position. Therefore, the automatic focusing system according to the present invention achieves the high accuracy of focusing and quickness thereof.

Abstract: A constant magnification zoom lens system is provided that has the capability of permitting a predetermined desired constant magnification of an image during a zoom operation. A variator lens group for varying the focal length of the lens system and a compensator lens group for controlling the position of an image formed by the lens system is provided. Pairs of cam and follower assemblies can be provided in the barrel mechanism to control the movement of the respective compensator lens group and variator lens group so that the position of an image of a fixed object is maintained within a predetermined depth of focus in a normal zooming mode of operation and also the position of an image of a moving object can be maintained within a predetermined depth of focus in response to any variation of focal length to provide a constant magnification photography mode.