Abstract: A field frame changeover mechanism suitable for a single-lens reflex camera, which allows clear confirmation of the photo range without increasing the size of the camera. The mechanism has darkening plates movable between a darkening position where the plates cover a part of the focusing screen and an open position where the focusing screen is uncovered by the plates. When the mirror which reflects the light transmitted from the photo-taking lens of the camera to the optical system of the viewfinder of the camera moves from an observation position located in the path of light transmitted through the photo-taking lens to a photo-taking position, the darkening plates retract from the locus of the mirror's movement in a correlated manner.

Abstract: A finder is designed so that in a camera having three or more kinds of formats, a finder magnification can be changed in association with conversion of format, and for conversions into at least two kinds of formats of the three or more kinds of formats, finder magnifications are changed at the same magnification ratio by the same technique.

Abstract: A camera comprising a pair of front and rear viewfinder openings with a similar aspect ratio which defines a field of view through the front and rear viewfinder openings, and a masking device having a front masking opening with an aspect ratio that is different than the aspect ratio of the front and rear viewfinder openings and being supported to be positioned over the front viewfinder opening to change the field of view through the front and rear viewfinder openings, is characterized in that the masking device has a rear masking opening with the same aspect ratio as the front masking opening and being connected to the front masking opening to be positioned over the rear viewfinder opening when the front masking opening is positioned over the front viewfinder opening. Preferably, the masking device includes an endless masking belt having the pair of front and rear masking openings.

Abstract: A viewfinder system includes an optical system for guiding, to an observer, light coming from an object, a liquid crystal display of transmission type provided in an optical path of the optical system, the liquid crystal display having transmittances which differ with wavelengths, and a transmittance uniforming coating provided in the optical path of the optical system, the transmittance uniforming coating making, substantially uniform irrespective of wavelengths, transmittances of light which has passed through the optical system and the liquid crystal display.

Abstract: A camera has a variable focal length lens and a viewfinder system whose magnification is variable in accordance with the focal length of the lens. A line array sensor generates an electrical signal in accordance with the intensity of the received light. A distance measuring optical system, which transmits light from a photographic object to the sensing elements of the sensor, has an optical axis which is different from the optical axis to the viewfinder system. A designator designates a particular sensing area, corresponding to the focal length of the lens, over the sensing elements of the sensor. A first distance data generator generates first distance data based on electrical signals generated by the sensing elements within the designated sensing area, and a second distance data generator generates second distance data based on electrical signals generated by the sensing elements outside of the designated sensing area. A discriminator discriminates whether the first distance data generator is operable.

Abstract: A camera includes a photographic recording device which records an image of an object on a photosensitive recording medium; an image pick-up device which picks up an image of the object to generate an image signal; a display device which displays a monitor image based on the image signal generated by the image pick-up device; a photographing information setting device which sets photographing information for an image to be recorded on the photosensitive recording medium; and a display controller which controls the display device to display a monitor image in accordance with the set photographing information.

Abstract: A finder has a finder field frame switching mechanism for switching and indicating two field frames relative to a reference field frame. The finder field frame switching mechanism performs switching of one field frame by a mechanical type switching mechanism, and switching of another field frame by liquid crystal. As a result, an inexpensive finder field frame switching mechanism of a simple structure can be provided.

Abstract: A camera having: a viewfinder optical system including a stationary objective lens, first and second prisms, a stationary eyepiece lens, and first and second variable-power lenses, that advance or withdraw in the optical-axis direction responsive to zooming movement of a photographing lens array, a viewfinder structure member for retaining the viewfinder optical system, an eyepiece variable-power lens inserted into the optical path of the viewfinder optical system, a viewfinder panoramic field mask united with an eyepiece variable-power lens frame for retaining the eyepiece variable-power lens, a lens constraining spring that, when the viewfinder panoramic field mask is inserted into the optical path of the viewfinder optical system, constrains the eyepiece variable-power lens to abut against the viewfinder structure member for accurate positioning, upper and lower interceptive masks for changing picture size, a first rack extending in a direction in which the interceptive masks move, a second rack extending

Abstract: The dual-focus change-over camera provides a camera which allows telescope or wide angle photographing with a simple arrangement, and which is inexpensive, small size, and light weighted. The camera comprises a finder change-over member arranged to be movable for establishing two finder openings for different focal distance, a telescope lens and a standard lens for performing photographing with two focal distance, a fixed mirror for reflecting image light from the telescope lens, and a movable mirror movable between a first position (telescope position) for directing the image light from reflected by the fixed mirror to a film and a second position (standard position) for directing the image light from the other standard lens to the film. Then, the movable mirror is rotated to the first or second position in interlocking with the sliding operation of the finder change-over member.

Abstract: A camera wherein a finder cam follower and a flash cam follower are elastically pulled in a wide direction and are in contact with a cam surface of a cam. The cam rotates clockwise or counterclockwise following a zoom movement of a photographic lens. With the rotation of the cam, the finder cam follower moves, thereby moving a finder lens, and the flash cam follower moves, thereby moving a xenon flash lamp and a reflector.

Abstract: A camera is equipped with a finder having a field-of-view frame switching mechanism that is provided with, in addition to a stationary frame plate disposed in an optical path, two rotatable frame plates each of which moves in the optical pass to overlap with the stationary frame plate, to define three fields of different sizes. The stationary frame plate has a window of a standard size, one of the rotatable frame plates has a window of a classic size and the other has a window of panoramic size. Each of the fields of view is defined by a single frame plate. When the rotatable frame members are at their retracted positions, they substantially overlap with each other and are pushed by a spring in a direction to move in the optical path. Their movement is controlled by a cam member, which is moved in accordance with a user's operation to switch the size of a picture taken by the camera.

Abstract: A miniaturized collapsible zoom camera changes viewfinder magnification in accordance with a change in the photographic magnification. The camera is equipped with a collapsible cam tube to cause a first lens group, which rotates around the optical axis, to move from a collapsed position to a position just before a minimum magnification position. Likewise, a zoom cam tube causes the first lens group, which rotates around the optical axis, to move from the minimum magnification position to a maximum magnification position. Sector gears are formed on the outer circumference of the collapsible cam tube and the zoom cam tube. Furthermore, the camera is equipped with a cam tube drive gear which cooperates with the sector gears. A drive motor causes the drive gear to rotate. Another gear cooperates only with the sector gear of the zoom cam tube while a variable power and movement mechanism causes variable power operation in the viewfinder.

Abstract: A camera includes a display that displays in the viewfinder a photographic screen size even when the low consumption power supply mode is in use. The camera includes a power source, a controller, a film winding motor, a panorama frame driving motor, a CPU, an EEPROM, a viewfinder LCD and a timer. When the power switch is turned on, the CPU causes the panorama frame to move and changes the transmissivity of the viewfinder LCD to match the photographic screen size selected the largest number of times. When a new photographic screen size is selected using the photographic screen size switch, the number of times the photographic screen size has been selected is calculated and stored in the EEPROM. In addition, the time that has elapsed after the power switch has been turned on is measured by the timer, and when the time exceeds a predetermined value, the camera moves into the low consumption power supply mode with power still being supplied to the viewfinder LCD.

Abstract: A camera viewfinder having a plurality of lens groups, wherein a photographing optical system of the camera is separate from the viewfinder. The viewfinder includes a parallax error compensating and diopter adjusting lens group which is one of the plurality of lens groups. The viewfinder further includes a guide member for guiding the compensating and adjusting lens group in a direction that intersects the optical axis of the viewfinder so as to move the lens group towards and away from the optical axis of the photographing optical system. In addition, there is provided an object distance detecting mechanism for detecting a distance of an object to be photographed, and a movement control mechanism for continuously moving the parallax error compensating and diopter adjusting lens group along the guide member in accordance with the object distance detected by the object distance detecting mechanism.

Abstract: A camera comprising a viewfinder for defining a field of view provided with a given aspect ratio, and a pair of front and rear masks insertable in the field of view to position respective larger and smaller openings of the front and rear masks in the field of view to change the aspect ratio of the field of view, is characterized in that a differential gear mechanism connects the front and rear masks for moving the front mask a greater extent than the rear mask is moved, to position the larger and smaller openings in the field of view.

Abstract: A viewfinder device is arranged to have a pair of light deflecting members disposed in front and in rear of an objective lens, to drive the front light deflecting member to guide light of a left side area of a field of view and light of a right side area of the field of view alternately to the objective lens, and to drive the rear light deflecting member to guide light fluxes thus obtained from the objective lens alternately to the eye of a person taking a sight of the field of view. This arrangement enables the viewfinder device to make a wide range of field sightable and yet permits a reduction in size of the objective lens.

Abstract: A portrait photograph camera incorporates a taking lens assembly having a predetermined focal length, and photographs a human head on instant film. A pair of indicia are displayed within a field frame of a viewfinder. According to the indicia, the human head is framed or targeted. The framed human head is photographed, so as to create an image having a predetermined size range on the film. In a preferred embodiment, a telephoto converter lens is selectively mountable on the taking lens. Combined with the telephoto converter, the taking lens has a longer focal length. A second pair of indicia are displayed within the finder field frame. The human head as framed by the second indicia is photographed at the longer focal length so as to create on the film an image in the former predetermined size range. A rangefinding device measures the subject distance.

Abstract: A picture frame size changing device for a lens-fitted photographic film unit has a pair of exposure aperture masking plates which are pivotally mounted in a light-shielding box disposed in front of an exposure aperture. The masking plates define a picture frame size which has a different aspect ratio from that of the exposure aperture. A finder mask is mounted on a front cover of the film unit, which is manually operable to be inserted in front of an objective window of a viewfinder. A lever mechanism for interconnecting the finder mask with one of the mask plates is mounted on the outside of the light-shielding box. The light-shielding box is incorporated into a photograph-taking unit having an exposure mechanism and a viewfinder optical system mounted thereon.

Abstract: When a switching control on an outer wall of a camera is operated and stopped at a click groove corresponding to a desired aspect ratio (for example, C), a CHP lever moves up together with the switching control, and the displacement of the CHP lever is transmitted to an axis rotating lever via a spring. A rotational stroke of the axis rotating lever is smaller than a moving stroke of the CHP lever. A displacement of the CHP lever exceeding the rotational stroke of the axis rotating lever is absorbed by the deformation of the spring. The axis rotating lever is positioned steadily at one of ends of the stroke by the elastic force induced by the deformation of the spring. As a result, the ends of stroke holes in visual field frame pieces can abut against positioning pins without fail.

Abstract: A Keplerian zoom finder optical system has an objective lens comprising, in succession from the object side, a first lens unit of negative refractive power, a second lens unit of positive refractive power, and a third lens unit of positive refractive power and having positive refractive power as a whole, and an eyepiece of positive refractive power for enlarging and observing the focused image of the objective lens therethrough. The air gap between the first lens unit and the second lens unit is varied to thereby vary finder magnification.

Abstract: A camera assembly comprises a plurality of encodement-on-film recording means adapted to receive electrical energy to provide various film encodements, an encodement-on-film selector movable to various selection positions to select one or more of the recording means to provide the film encodements, a flash charge storage capacitor, and a shutter-flash synch contact connected to the flash capacitor to enable the flash capacitor to supply electrical energy when a shutter blade impacts the synch contact. Respective ones of the recording means are coupled via the synch contact to the flash capacitor to receive electrical energy from the flash capacitor. The synch contact supports the selector for movement to its selection positions and is coupled to the selector to permit the selector to select one or more of the recording means to receive electrical energy from the flash capacitor. This arrangement provides a savings of parts desirable in a low cost camera.

Abstract: A camera with a visual line position detection device capable of highly accurate determinations even when diopter adjustment is accomplished after initial completion of correction of the visual line position determining system. The camera includes a screen to form a subject image, a pentagonal prism provided inside the finder, a visual line position detection device equipped with a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit to detect the visual line position, and a diopter adjustment lens placed on the photographer's side of the pentagonal prism. The diopter adjustment lens is displaced after the correction of the visual line position detection device, and a correction coefficient needed to compute the visual line position on the screen obtained during the correction of the visual line position detection device is changed according to the displacement amount of the diopter adjustment lens.

Abstract: When a switch is turned on, photographing visual fields among a plurality of photographing visual fields are sequentially changed over at predetermined intervals to be displayed within a finder of a camera. When the switch is turned off, the sequential changeover of the photographing visual fields is stopped. As a result, a plurality of photographing visual fields are automatically displayed so that the photographing visual field corresponding to different aspect ratios and the photographing visual field corresponding to the zooming positions of different taking lenses can be automatically compared separately or in combination.

Abstract: An apparatus adapted for use with a camera including a camera body and an independent optical viewfinder. The apparatus includes a following device that drives a photographing field of the camera body to follow a viewfinder field of the optical viewfinder.

Abstract: A finder optical system including an objective system, an image erecting system for erecting an object image formed by the objective system, and an eyepiece system for observing the object image. These systems are constructed of low-hygroscopic organic materials. Thus, the finder optical system can prevent transient variations of optical properties caused by hygroscopicity.

Abstract: An illuminating window type bright frame finder is provided which comprises an objective lens with a negative focal length, an eyepiece with a positive focal length, a liquid crystal frame, and a half mirror. An optical path from the liquid frame to the eyepiece is formed by positioning the half mirror between the objective lens and the eyepiece. It is possible to observe a visual field image superimposed upon a frame image formed through only the eyepiece. On the condition that an incident angle of light upon the half mirror is 45.degree. and the wavelength of the light belongs to a visible light range, an average reflectance R.sub.p with respect to p-polarized light is R.sub.p <0.35 and an average reflectance R.sub.s with respect to s-polarized light is R.sub.s >0.65.

Abstract: A lens-fitted photo film unit includes a taking lens, a film containing section, and an exposure unit secured in front of the film containing section. An exposure aperture is formed in the film containing section, which also includes a supply chamber and a take-up chamber. The supply chamber contains unexposed photo film. The take-up chamber is adapted to winding the photo film after exposure. The supply chamber and the take-up chamber are disposed beside the exposure aperture opposite to one another. The exposure unit includes a shutter device. An exposure tunnel is formed through the exposure unit and around a light path from the taking lens toward the exposure aperture, and protects the light path from ambient light. The exposure tunnel extends to the rear of the unit so that any of a variety of different exposure units can be used, depending on the focal length of the taking lens.

Abstract: In a camera according to the present invention, a parallax correction indicator for normal-size photography and a parallax correction indicator for panorama-size photography, which are formed on an image formation plane of a finder optical system, are separately displayed in a finder image display screen set in N photographing mode and in a finder image display screen set in P photographing mode. Therefore, using the camera or the present invention, the finder display will not be complicated but be easy to see during N size photography and panorama-size photography alike. This reduces occurrence of a photographic error.