Abstract: A flash control system remotely controls an external flash by a camera. In the camera, a stop value is calculated as a photographic exposure factor for the external flash, and a flash-light emission timing of the external flash is calculated. A built-in flash of the camera is controlled to emit two light signals at a time interval representing the stop value. The external flash detects the two light signals. A timing of a flash-light emission of the external flash is controlled in accordance with one of the two light signals. An amount of the flash-light emission of the external flash is controlled in accordance with the time interval.

Abstract: A flash control system remotely controls a an external flash by a camera. In the camera, a first factor is calculated to determine an amount of a flash-light to be emitted from a built-in flash of the camera, and a second factor to determine an amount of a flash-light to be emitted from the external flash, a total amount of both the flash-light emissions of the flashes corresponding to a proper exposure with which an object should be photographed. The built-in flash emits two light signals therefrom at a time interval such that the second factor is represented by the time interval between the signals. An amount of the flash-light emission of the external flash is controlled according to the time interval such that the flash-light amount of the external flash coincides with the second factor.

Abstract: A flash control system remotely controls an external flash by a camera. In the camera, a guide number is calculated as an exposure factor for the external flash, and a flash-light emission timing of the external flash is calculated. A built-in flash of the camera is controlled to emit two light signals at a time interval representing the guide number. The external flash detects the two light signals. A timing of a flash-light emission of the external flash is controlled in accordance with one of the two light signals. An amount of the flash-light emission of the external flash is controlled in accordance with the time interval.

Abstract: A synchronizer is provided to establish a mechanical switching interface between an electronic digital color camera and a fundus camera for appropriately coordinating the complete opening of the color camera shutter with the energization of fundus camera flash unit, and for fully disconnecting the flash unit at the completion of an image capture sequence thereby enabling resetting of the flash unit.

Abstract: A photographing operation control device has an electro-developing recording medium to electronically develop an image formed thereon. An exposure calculation is performed based on a photometry value corresponding to an object to be photographed, so that the exposure period of the electro-developing recording medium is determined. When the exposure period is longer than an output period for which a recording medium activating signal for enabling the electro-developing recording medium to develop the image is outputted, it is determined that the exposure of the electro-developing recording medium is impossible, and the photographing operation is prevented and a warning indicating that the photographing operation is impossible is performed.

Abstract: A flash circuit board has a resilient integral portion that urges a flash reflector against a flash tube and urges a triggering electrode against the flash reflector in order to enable the flash tube to be fired. Also, the resilient integral portion of the flash circuit board urges the flash reflector against a flash cover-lens in order to properly seat the flash reflector relative to the flash cover-lens.

Abstract: A shutter and flash synchronization assemblage comprising a flash circuit board having a shutter-flash synchronization contact, a shutter blade supported for movement between a lens covering position and a lens uncovering position, and an electrically conductive return spring urging the shutter blade to be returned to the lens covering position and connected with the flash circuit board to permit flash illumination to be triggered when the shutter blade is moved to the lens uncovering position, is characterized in that the shutter blade is electrically non-conductive, and the return spring has a synchronization portion arranged for the shutter blade to move the synchronization portion against the shutter-flash synchronization contact to trigger flash illumination when the shutter blade is moved to the lens uncovering position.

Abstract: In a camera equipped with a zoom lens for forming an image of an object onto a film surface, the camera is equipped with a front lens group composed of a first lens group, adjustable aperture blades, a second lens group, and a second lens group-holding member; a back lens group provided; and an actuator to drive the adjustable aperture blade. The actuator is provided on the object-side from a space between the second lens group and the back lens group.

Abstract: A camera comprises flash circuit board, a shutter-flash synchronization contact conductively connected to the flash circuit board for synchronizing shutter opening and flash illumination, a shutter blade conductively connected to the flash circuit board and movable in a single direction against the synchronization contact as an incident of shutter opening to initiate flash illumination, and an optical film encoder conductively connected to the flash circuit board to receive electrical energy to provide film encoding illumination when the shutter blade is moved against the synchronization contact.

Abstract: Disclosed is an automatic strobe photographing system in which a camera body having an at least a Q contact, a lens provided with a lens shutter mechanism, and an X contact, a strobe device having an X terminal and Q terminal are provided. The strobe device starts emitting light when a predetermined signal is input to the X terminal, and stops emitting light when a predetermined signal is input to the Q terminal. A connecting device is further provided, which connects the X contact of the lens with the X terminal of the strobe device, and the Q contact of the camera body with the Q terminal of the strobe device.

Abstract: There is provided a flash device to which a construction for starting a flash emission without depending on the turning-on of an X-sync contact is added without increasing the number of interfaces between a camera body and the flash device. In the flash device, a change of a clock signal inputted next to emission mode data communicated to the flash device through a serial communication line between the camera body and the flash device is detected and recognized as a flash emission start signal, so that flash emission start control is performed without depending on the turning-on of the X-sync contact and without setting a special interface.

Abstract: A single-use camera including a camera body, a shutter driver, a battery, a film advance mechanism and a film frame counter connected to the film advance mechanism, includes a chemical flash arrangement having a compact photoflash lamp array. The photoflash lamp array employs a flexible circuit having a plurality of electrical conductors leading to an array of igniter links and defining the contacts of a commutator, and a common electrical connection to each igniter link. A combustible mass is deposited over each igniter link and a grid defining a corresponding array of combustion cavities is bonded to the substrate. A sheet of transparent material is bonded over the grid to contain the combustion products of the combustible mass. A commutator contact carried by the frame counter contact carries current from the battery and cooperates with the contacts on the flexible circuit to provide sequential electrical connection to successive igniter links.

Abstract: A built-in flash camera includes a strobe which is flashed regularly, a photometry part for measuring a brightness within a shot visual field and an automatic exposure mechanism. An exposure of strobe light is decreased gradually from a standard exposure in accordance with the brightness measured by the photometry part and the object distance measured by the focusing part. The strobe is prohibited from flashing when the measured object distance is longer than a predetermined distance D3 and the measured external light brightness is higher than a predetermined brightness B2, which is enough to obtain a standard light exposure required for photographing. As a result, the optimum exposure can be obtained in accordance with the object distance and the external light brightness, and the electricity can be saved.

Abstract: A camera has first and second openable/closable shutters disposed in side-by-side relationship with the same photographing optical path and can be attached with a flash device. The camera includes a first photographing portion for exposing a film with light by operating a first shutter in an opened state of a second shutter and a second photographing portion for exposing the film with the light by operating the second shutter in the opened state of the first shutter. The camera also includes a control circuit for selecting one of the first and second photographing portions and a flash control circuit for controlling the flash device when effecting flash photographing. The flash control circuit controls the flash device synchronizing with the film exposure corresponding to the selected photographing portion.

Abstract: Apparatus for fixing a flash unit to a camera is disclosed. The apparatus includes mounting magnets and a structure for shielding the fields produced by the mounting magnets in a first undocked position and for exposing the fields produced by the mounting magnets in a second docked position. The apparatus further includes a mounting structure effective in the first undocked position for causing the flash unit to be moveably mounted to the camera and for leaving the shielding structure in the first undocked position and effective when the flash unit is moved to the second docked position for causing the shielding structure to be in the second docked position whereby the exposed fields produced by the mounting magnets cause the flash unit to be fixed to the camera.

Abstract: A camera has a plurality of taking lenses and an equal number of flash sources which are used in a 1:1 relationship that attempts to maximize the flash-to-lens distance in order to reduce red-eye.

Abstract: A wireless flash photographing system prohibits flash light reception for a predetermined time period when it is determined that received flash light is not an identification signal. Light emission for pre-confirming a shade and main light emission are switched by the identification signal. A flash device applied to this system comprises a power supply circuit section, a light emission section, a control section and a light receiving circuit section. The light emission section comprises a series circuit including a main capacitor, a discharge tube, a diode and an IGBT, a voltage doubler circuit including resistors and a capacitor, and a trigger circuit including a trigger transformer and a trigger capacitor. The light emission section controls the IGBT to start/stop light emission.

Abstract: A camera system including an electronic flash device with a slave emission function, includes an electronic flash device including: a light-receiving unit for receiving a steep optical signal; a light-emitting unit for slave-emitting illumination light toward an object in response to the optical signal received by the light-receiving unit; a timer for starting a time measurement operation in response to the optical signal input to the light-receiving unit, and permitting an operation of the light-emitting unit after an elapse of a predetermined period of time; an attachment member used for attaching/detaching the device to/from a camera body; and a data communication function unit for exchanging various data including photographing information with the camera body via the attachment member; and a camera body electrically connected to the electronic flash device.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electronic flash apparatus of a camera incorporating a focal plane shutter. The apparatus is constructed of a capacitor for storing an electric charge, a flashtube for irradiating a subject with a flash of light by the electric charge stored in the capacitor and a setting unit capable of setting any of a signal flash mode in which the flashtube effects a single flash and a high-speed mode in which the flashtube effects high-speed repetitive flash. The apparatus is further constructed of a voltage setting unit for setting a first voltage as an energizing voltage when the single flash mode is set and setting a second voltage higher than the first voltage as an energizing voltage when the high-speed mode is set and an energizing unit for monitoring a voltage when the capacitor stores the electric charge and energizing a ready light just when the voltage in the storage of the electric charge exceeds the set energizing voltage.

Abstract: A flash control apparatus for causing a plurality of electronic flash devices to emit light in synchronism with the shutter opening operation of a camera comprises a plurality of synchro terminals connected to the plurality of electronic flash devices, respectively, a trigger device connected correspondingly to the plurality of synchro terminals for transmitting a light emission signal to the plurality of electronic flash devices at a certain timing, a timing selecting device for selecting the aforementioned timing from among a plurality of predetermined timings during the shutter opening operation, an electronic flash device selecting device for selecting an electronic flash device which should be caused to emit light from among the plurality of electronic flash devices, and a control device for controlling the trigger device on the basis of the result of the selection by the timing selecting device and the electronic flash device selecting device.