JP2000275724A - Variable focus camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent to the utmost the quality of an image photographed by a camera capable of executing a pseudo zoom photographing action from being deteriorated. SOLUTION: This variable focus camera is constituted so that a normal photographing mode in which printing in normal magnification is assumed with almost the whole area of a photographic picture frame recorded on a film as a printing range and a pseudo variable power photographing mode in which the printing at enlargement printing magnification being higher than the normal magnification is assumed with the area of one part set within the photographic picture frame and provided with an almost identical aspect ratio to that of the photographic picture frame can be switched from one to the other. Besides, the camera is provided with a data recording means recording data showing that a photographing action is executed in the pseudo variable power photographing mode on the film while corresponding to a photographing frame when the photographing action is executed in the pseudo variable power photographing mode. By a controller 43, switching of the mode to the pseudo variable power photographing mode is inhibited even when it is switched to the pseudo variable power photographing mode in the case that an object range decided by the focal length of a photographing lens and the photographic picture frame is wider than an object range demarcated by the area of one part when the photographing lens is set at the shortest focal length.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a variable focus camera, and more particularly, to a trimming print service in which the focal length of a photographing lens is variable and a partial area in a photographing screen recorded on a photographic film is enlarged and printed. The present invention relates to a variable focus camera capable of obtaining a pseudo magnification photographing effect by using the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a normal photo print service, almost the entire area of a photographing screen on a negative film is to be printed, and this is printed on a fixed-size photographic paper at a normal print magnification. In contrast, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 54-267
In a trimming print service known from Japanese Patent Publication No. 21 and the like, a part of an area in a photographing screen on a negative film is enlarged and printed on the fixed-size photographic paper. Therefore, even with a single-focus camera having no function of changing the focal length, a print photograph similar to that obtained when telephoto shooting is performed can be obtained.

[0003] A camera capable of supporting the trimming print service is provided with a data recording device. This data recording device is capable of identifying whether each frame is a photograph frame for normal printing or a photograph frame for trimming print during the printing process. Make a record. For example, when the user selects the pseudo-magnification photographing mode and performs photographing, data indicating that the photographed frame is a target frame of the trimming print service is recorded. Although the imprinting of an optical mark can be used for this data recording, the IX240 film on which the magnetic recording layer is formed can easily perform the data recording by magnetic recording.

[0004] In the trimming print service, the range to be printed is limited to a part of the area within the photographing screen. Therefore, if the pseudo variable magnification photographing mode is selected prior to photographing, the trimming print is performed in the viewfinder field. It is necessary to display the print range by the service as an effective shooting range. For this reason, in conjunction with switching to the pseudo-magnification photographing mode, insertion of a mask plate or driving of a liquid crystal panel limits the viewfinder viewing range,
Alternatively, the finder image in the print range can be confirmed by switching the finder magnification.

On the other hand, many recent compact cameras use a variable focus lens such as a zoom system or a bifocal switching system as a photographing lens. In such a variable focus camera, it is possible to provide a telephoto shooting function that exceeds the zoom ratio of the shooting lens by using the pseudo zooming function described above.

[0006]

By the way, when a varifocal camera using a photographing lens having a variable power function is provided with a pseudo variable power function, even if the image magnification on a printed photograph is the same, it is usually used. There are two types of shooting modes: a shooting mode in which the shooting lens is zoomed in a normal shooting mode in which printing is scheduled, and a shooting mode in which the shooting lens is not zoomed in a pseudo zoom mode. Comparing the respective printed photographs taken and printed in these photographing modes, those of ordinary prints having a lower print magnification are generally superior in terms of image quality. However, some ordinary users take pictures in the quasi-magnification mode without sufficiently changing the magnification of the photographing lens, even though the photographing lens can only be photographed originally. A disadvantageous photographing mode may be selected.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to automatically print a photograph when a variable-focus camera is provided with a pseudo-magnification changing function without any special consideration by a user. Is to select an image taking priority on the image quality.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, a variable focus camera using the present invention is intended to print at a normal magnification with almost the entire area of a photographing screen recorded on a film as a print range. Switching between the normal shooting mode and the pseudo-magnification shooting mode in which a part of the area in the shooting screen having substantially the same aspect ratio as the shooting screen is set as a print range and printing at an enlarged print magnification larger than the normal magnification is planned. It is configured to be possible. Then, when shooting in the pseudo-magnification shooting mode, data indicating shooting in the shooting mode is associated with the shooting frame,
For example, it is optically, magnetically, or electrically recorded on a film or a cartridge containing the film.

If the subject range determined by the focal length of the photographing lens and the photographing screen is wider than the subject range defined by the partial area when the photographing lens is set to the shortest focal length, pseudo zooming is performed. Even if the switching operation to the photographing mode is performed, the transition to the pseudo-magnification photographing mode is prohibited.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the focal length of the photographing lens can be switched between two stages of a short focal length and a long focal length. Is smaller than the subject range that fits in the partial area in the shooting screen.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the subject range determined by the focal length of the photographing lens and the photographing screen is larger than the subject range defined by the partial area when the photographing lens is set to the shortest focal length. When the switching operation to the pseudo-magnification photographing mode is performed when the image is wide, the focal length of the photographing lens is changed to enlarge the subject range defined by the partial area so as to match the photographing screen. It is like that.

[0012]

FIG. 1 shows the appearance of a camera using the present invention. On the front of the camera body 10 is a shooting lens 1
1 is provided. Shooting lens 1
Reference numeral 1 denotes a zoom lens that continuously changes a focal length between a wide position and a tele position. Further, on the front surface of the camera body 10, an objective lens 13, which constitutes a finder optical system, a light emitting window 14 for distance measurement, and a light receiving window 15 are provided.

The light transmitting window 14 and the light receiving window 15 incorporate a filter that transmits infrared light and cuts visible light. A light emitter for projecting near-infrared light toward the subject is provided behind the light-emitting window 14, and a light receiver for receiving near-infrared light reflected from the subject is provided behind the light-receiving window 15. Have been. Further, a photometric window 16 is arranged on the front surface of the lens barrel 12, and a photometric element for measuring the luminance of the subject is arranged behind the window.

On the upper surface of the camera body 10, a shutter button 17 and a strobe light emitting section 18 are provided. On the back of the camera body 10, a mode switching lever 19 for switching the shooting mode between the normal shooting mode and the pseudo-magnification shooting mode is provided. According to the selection of this mode, one of a plurality of types of photographing screens to be recorded on the photo film is alternatively selected.

The normal photographing mode is a mode in which printing is performed at a normal magnification of a printing lens of a printer with substantially the entire area of a photographing screen recorded on a photographic film as a print range. For example, the entire area of the shooting screen is 16.7 × 30.2
When the size of mm (full format) and the print range of the print photograph are 89 × 160 mm, the normal magnification of the printing lens is “5.3”.

The pseudo-magnification photographing mode is a mode in which a partial area of the photographing screen is set as a print range and printing is performed at an enlarged print magnification larger than the normal magnification. The print in this case is the same size as the print expected in the normal shooting mode. The partial area is an area reduced so as to have substantially the same aspect ratio with respect to the center of the shooting screen.

For example, when a part of the photographing screen (trimming format) is set to a size of 10 × 18 mm, the printing format of the trimming format screen is used as a print range, and a printing lens of the same size is planned. The magnification is “8.9”. Therefore, the print photograph corresponding to the trimming format screen is enlarged and printed at a magnification of "1.7" (print magnification) for the print photograph corresponding to the full format screen.

When the mode is switched to the pseudo-magnification photographing mode, the finder visual field range is changed at that time. When the photographing is performed by selecting the pseudo-magnification photographing mode, pseudo data indicating that the photographing was performed in the pseudo-magnification photographing mode is magnetically recorded on the photo film. Note that optical recording may be used instead of magnetic recording. When an IC memory is incorporated in a cartridge, the data may be electrically written to the IC memory.

A zoom lever 20 for performing a zoom operation is provided next to the mode switching lever 19.
When the zoom lever 20 is operated toward the index T, the zoom lens is zoomed toward the telephoto side, and when the zoom lever 20 is operated toward the index W, the zoom lens is zoomed toward the wide side.

An opening / closing lever 2 for opening and closing a bottom cover 23 of a cartridge loading chamber (not shown) for accommodating a photographic film cartridge 22 is provided on a side surface of the camera body 10.
4 are provided. When the opening / closing lever 23 is rotated clockwise, the lock is released and the bottom cover 23 can be opened, and the photographic film cartridge 22 can be loaded into the cartridge loading chamber and taken out from the cartridge loading chamber. . The opening / closing lever 23 rotates counterclockwise by the closing operation of the bottom cover 23, and is automatically locked at the closed position.

The photographic film cartridge 22 includes a photographic film 25 having a transparent magnetic recording layer coated on the back surface.
And a cartridge 26 for accommodating the photo film 25 in a roll. The photo film 25 is stored in a spool 27 rotatably incorporated in the cartridge 26 in a wound state. Also, the cartridge 26
Has a built-in film sending mechanism for sending the photographic film from the leading end thereof to the outside of the cartridge by rotating the spool 27 in the film sending direction.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of the camera. The camera includes a distance measuring mechanism 30, a photometric mechanism 31, a finder optical system 32, a finder zooming mechanism 33, a photographing lens 11, a photographing system moving mechanism 35, and a film feeding mechanism 3.
6, a strobe circuit 37, a ROM 38, a RAM 39, a magnetic recording device 40, a focus lens moving mechanism 41, a zoom position detecting mechanism 42, and a controller 43 for controlling these components in a comprehensive manner. The ROM 38 stores a program and data for the controller 43 to perform various controls, a program for a pseudo-magnification photographing mode, an image quality priority program, and the like. The RAM 39 is used as a work memory for temporarily storing parameters and data necessary for the controller 43 to perform control.

The program for the pseudo-magnification / magnification photographing mode operates the magnetic recording device 40 constituting the data recording means at the time of film feeding performed after photographing, and associates the magnetic recording device 40 with the photographing frame in the pseudo-magnification / magnification photographing mode. Data (trimming data) indicating shooting is recorded outside the shooting screen of the photo film.

In the image quality priority program, a subject range determined by the focal length of the photographic lens 11 and the type of photographic screen recorded on the photographic film 48 is defined by a trimming format screen when the photographic lens 11 is set to the shortest focal length. When the operation is switched to the pseudo-magnification photographing mode when the subject is wider than the subject range, shifting to the pseudo-magnification photographing mode is prohibited, and the focal length of the photographing lens 11 is automatically changed to perform trimming. The subject range defined on the format screen is enlarged so as to match the full format screen.

More specifically, the total magnification obtained by integrating the zoom magnification which is the ratio of the focal length of the photographing lens 11 to the shortest focal length and the print magnification is the ratio of the longest focal length to the shortest focal length of the photographing lens 11. When the shift to the pseudo-magnification photographing mode is performed when the zoom magnification is smaller than the maximum zoom magnification, the shift to this mode is invalidated, and the focus of the photographing lens 11 is adjusted so that the zoom magnification matches the total magnification. Change the distance.

The mode switching lever 19, the zoom lever 20, and the shutter button 17 are connected to the controller 43. When the mode signal, the zoom signal corresponding to the operation of the zoom lever 20, and the shutter button 17 are depressed. Are respectively input.
Note that the release operation signal includes a half-press signal output when the shutter button 17 is pressed to approximately half the stroke of the entire stroke, and a release signal output when the entire stroke is pressed.

The controller 43 drives the scaling motor 45 via the driver 65 in response to the zoom signal.
The photographing lens 11 is a four-unit zoom lens including first to fourth lens groups in order from the subject side, and performs focusing by extending a first lens group (hereinafter, referred to as a “focus lens”). The driving of the zoom motor 45 is input to the photographing system moving mechanism 35. The photographing system moving mechanism 35 includes, for example, a cam mechanism and a helicoid mechanism, and moves the second and third lens groups in the photographing optical axis direction by using the drive of a single motor 45 such that the distance between the second and third lens groups changes. To continuously change the focal length of the photographing lens 11.

The amount of movement of the second or third lens group is detected by, for example, a variable power position detecting mechanism 42 including a code plate and a slider. The variable power position detection mechanism 42 sends this movement amount to the controller 43 in real time, and notifies the controller 43 of the current variable power position.

Between the third lens unit and the fourth lens unit,
A program shutter 46 is provided. This shutter 46 moves together with the third lens group. The controller 43 controls the program shutter 46 so as to obtain an appropriate exposure based on the subject brightness.

The focus lens moving mechanism 41 uses the drive of the focusing motor 47 to extend the focus lens in the direction of the photographing optical axis to perform focusing. The extension amount at the time of focusing differs for each subject distance with respect to the zoom position. The extension amount corresponding to the subject distance is stored in advance in the ROM 38 as data. The distance measuring mechanism 30 detects a subject distance. The photometric mechanism 31 measures the subject brightness.

The finder optical system 32 includes the objective lens 13
And a real image type zoom finder comprising a zoom lens, an erect prism, and an eyepiece comprising two groups. The finder zooming mechanism 33 moves the two zooming lens groups in the direction of the finder optical axis by using the driving of the zooming motor 45 so that the finder optical system has the same view range as the shooting range of the shooting lens 11. Scale the system 32. The film feeding mechanism 36 feeds the photographic film 48 while measuring the transport amount of the photographic film 48.

A transparent liquid crystal display panel 53 is arranged at an image forming position of the finder optical system 33. Controller 4
Reference numeral 3 controls the liquid crystal display panel 53 so as to always display the auto focus frame 63 and the like on the liquid crystal display panel 53 via the driver 61. In addition, a black mask is applied to the liquid crystal display panel 53 in response to the shift to the pseudo zoom mode. Display. This allows
The finder field of view is defined so that the edge of the mask has the same aspect ratio and subject range as the trimming format screen. Instead of displaying the mask, a simple frame may be displayed.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be briefly described. The film is loaded by operating the opening / closing lever 24 to operate the bottom cover 2.
3 is opened, and the photographic film cartridge 22 is loaded into the cartridge loading chamber inside. After loading, the bottom cover 23 is closed. Thereby, the bottom cover 23 is automatically locked by the opening / closing lever 24.

When the opening and closing lever 24 is closed and locked, the film feeding mechanism 36 is operated after a predetermined time has elapsed, and the first photographing screen of the photographic film 48 is set on the aperture.

Turn on the power switch (not shown) of the camera
To Thereby, each part of the camera is set to the initial state. Thereby, in the camera, the focusing position is set to infinity with the taking lens 11 at the wide end. The viewfinder optical system 32 is also scaled so that it has the same viewing range as the shooting range at the wide end of the shooting lens 11.
The controller 43 selects the normal shooting mode in the initial state.

The photographer looks at the viewfinder optical system 32 from the eyepiece side and performs framing while operating the zoom lever 20. The viewfinder field of view at this time is
The field of view 56 (see FIG. 4A) has the same aspect ratio as the range of the subject that fits on the full format screen 51 shown in FIG.

When the zoom lever 20 is operated toward the "T" side, in response, the zoom motor 45 is driven in one direction. This drive is performed by the photographing optical system moving mechanism 3
5 and the finder zooming mechanism 33.

The photographing system moving mechanism 35 includes a single motor 45.
The second lens group and the third lens group are moved in the direction of the photographing optical axis so that the distances between them are different from each other, and the focal length of the photographing lens 11 is continuously changed toward the tele end.

The finder zooming mechanism 33 includes the motor 4
Using the drive of No. 5, the two variable-power lens groups are moved in the direction of the finder optical axis so that their distances are different from each other, and the focus of the finder optical system 32 is adjusted so that the field of view is the same as the photographing range of the photographing lens 11. Variable distance.

By stopping the operation of the zoom lever 20,
The zoom position of the photographing lens 11 at that time is determined. Then, by performing a mode selection operation with the mode selection lever 19, the photographer can select the normal photography mode or the pseudo-magnification photography mode. When the pseudo-magnification photographing mode is selected, a mask 55 shown in FIG. 4B is displayed on the liquid crystal display panel 53 in response to the selection, and the finder field of view 56 has the same field of view 5 as the trimming format.
7 is defined.

The photographing is performed by the auto focus frame 63.
After the framing is determined so that an arbitrary part of the subject, for example, the face, is positioned, the shutter button 17 is half-pressed.

The controller 43 includes a shutter button 17
The photometric mechanism 31 and the distance measuring mechanism 30 are operated in response to the half-pressing operation of. The controller 43 stores information on the distance measurement and the photometry in the RAM 39. The amount of extension of the focus lens corresponding to the current zoom position and the subject distance obtained from the zoom position detecting mechanism 42 is stored in the ROM 38.
, And sends a drive signal corresponding to the data to the driver 60 to control the rotation direction and the rotation angle of the focusing motor 47.

When the focusing motor 47 is driven, the focus lens moving mechanism 41 extends the focus lens by a predetermined amount. Thereby, the focus of the photographing lens 11 matches the subject.

When the shutter button 17 is fully pressed, a release signal is input to the controller 43.
The controller 43 receives the release signal,
The subject brightness at that time is read out from the RAM 39, and the program shutter 46 is operated with the exposure value corresponding to the brightness. As a result, the subject light passing through the taking lens 11 is incident on the photographic film 48 set in the aperture, and a latent image of the subject is formed in the entire area of the taking frame 51.

After the exposure is completed, the controller 43 operates the film feeding mechanism 36 to feed the photographic film 48 by the length of one frame. Thus, the preparation for the next shooting is completed.

Next, when the pseudo-magnification photographing mode is selected, the controller 43 first executes the image quality priority program, and calculates the total magnification obtained by integrating the zoom magnification of the photographing lens 11 and the enlarged print magnification at this time. Shooting lens 11
Is determined to be smaller than the maximum zoom magnification. Then, as a result of the determination, when the total magnification is larger than the maximum zoom magnification of the photographing lens 11, the mode shifts to the pseudo variable magnification shooting mode, and when the total magnification is equal to or smaller, the shift to the pseudo zoom mode is prohibited. At the same time, the focal length of the taking lens 11 is changed so that the zoom magnification matches the total magnification at that time.

For example, when the focal length is 35 to 105 mm, the maximum zoom magnification is "3" and the enlargement trimming magnification is "1.7". Therefore, as shown in FIG. It becomes "5.1". Then, for example, when the quasi-magnification photographing mode is selected at a zooming position with a focal length of 70 mm (zoom magnification “2”), the image quality priority program is executed to enlarge the zoom magnification to “2” and the trimming magnification “1.7”. Is compared with the maximum zoom magnification “3” of the photographing lens 11. Therefore, as a result, since the total magnification is larger, the shift to the pseudo-magnification photographing mode is performed as it is.

When the mode is shifted to the pseudo-magnification photographing mode, the liquid crystal drive circuit 61 is driven to display the mask 55 on the liquid crystal display panel 53 provided in the finder optical system 33. Then, when the film is fed after the completion of the exposure, the magnetic recording device 40 is operated, and the trimming data is magnetically recorded, for example, in the area 50 shown in FIG.

Next, the image quality priority program is executed, and if the total magnification at that time is equal to or smaller than the maximum zoom magnification of the photographing lens 11, the controller 43
Prohibits shifting to the pseudo-magnification photographing mode.

For example, when the pseudo-magnification photographing mode is selected at the magnification change position with a focal length of 62 mm (zoom magnification "1.77"), the image quality priority program is executed to set the current zoom magnification to "1.77". Enlarged print magnification "1.
The total magnification “3” obtained by integrating “7” is compared with the maximum zoom magnification “3” of the photographing lens 11. In this case, since the result is the same, the shift to the pseudo-magnification photographing mode is prohibited.

Then, the controller 43 changes the focal length of the photographing lens 11 so that the zoom magnification matches the total magnification. That is, the motor 45 is driven so as to change the focal length of the photographing lens 11 to the focal length “105 mm” which is the same zoom magnification “3” as the total magnification “3” at that time. In this case, since the finder optical system is also changed to the same zoom magnification as the photographing lens, the display of the mask 55 on the liquid crystal display panel 53 is not performed, and the operation of the magnetic recording device 40 after the completion of the exposure is also prohibited. After the exposure is completed, the magnetic recording device 40 may be operated to record data indicating that the photographing is not performed in the pseudo magnification photographing mode.

As a result, the subject range on the full format screen matches the subject range defined on the trimming format screen in the pseudo variable magnification shooting mode. Therefore, since printing is performed at normal magnification when printing,
Good quality prints can be obtained.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, since the maximum zoom magnification is "3" and the enlarged print magnification is "1.7", the zoom magnification of the photographing lens 11 is "1". When the pseudo-magnification photographing mode is selected between "1.77" and "1.77", the shift to that mode is prohibited, and the photographing lens is adjusted so that the zoom magnification of the photographing lens 11 matches the total magnification at that time. 11 is changed. Reference numeral 58 shown in FIG. 5 indicates the total magnification with respect to the zoom magnification in the normal shooting mode, and reference numeral 59 indicates the zoom magnification in the pseudo-magnification shooting mode.

After the photographing is completed on all the photographing screens 51, the film feeding mechanism 36 rewinds the photographic film 48 to the cartridge 26. Thereafter, the bottom cover 23 is opened and the photographic film cartridge 22 is taken out of the camera.
The removed photo film cartridge 22 is submitted to a developing laboratory.

At the developing station, the photographic film 48 is developed using a film processor. On the developed photographic film 48, an image is recorded on each shooting screen 51 in a full format size. After that, the developed photo film 48 is set in the printer processor. The printer processor is used to control each photographing screen 51 of the photo film 48.
During the feeding in which is set at the printing position, the trimming data recorded on the photo film 48 is read by the trimming information reading circuit. In the present embodiment, since no trimming data is recorded on the shooting screen shot in the normal shooting mode, if there is no trimming data,
An image printed at a normal magnification and shown on a full format screen is printed on photographic paper of a fixed size.

When the trimming data is read,
On the photographing screen 51 corresponding to the data, printing is performed at the enlarged print magnification. In this case, only the image shown on the trimming format screen is printed on the print area of the print photograph. At the time of printing, the center of the trimming format 52 is adjusted to the center of the printing range of the photographic paper.

In the above camera, after executing the image quality priority program, the subject range determined by the focal length of the photographing lens and the photographing screen is divided by the partial area when the photographing lens is set to the shortest focal length. When the subject range determined by the first shooting mode in which the pseudo-magnification shooting mode is executed as it is and the focal length of the shooting lens and the shooting screen is smaller than the subject range when the shooting lens has the shortest focal length, When the subject range divided by some area is equal to or larger than the subject range, even if the switching operation to the pseudo-magnification / magnification photographing mode is performed, the shift to the pseudo-magnification / magnification photographing mode is prohibited, and There is a second shooting mode in which the focal length is changed so that the subject range defined by the area of the image area coincides with the shooting screen. If the zoom operation is performed again after the above-described first shooting mode is selected after the execution of the image quality priority program, the pseudo zoom shooting mode is released, that is, the display of the mask 55 is released. The magnification is changed from the state of the magnification position. Further, when the magnification operation is performed after the second imaging mode is selected, the magnification is changed from the state of the magnification position. At this time, since the pseudo-magnification shooting mode has been released,
It is not necessary to cancel the display of the mask 55.

In this embodiment, only one type of the trimming format is used as a part of the area of the photographing screen 51. However, a plurality of types may be used as long as the area is smaller in vertical or horizontal dimensions than in the full format. In addition, types that do not have the same aspect ratio may be used. In this case, in addition to changing the magnification of the printing lens, the feed amount in the longitudinal direction of the printed photographic paper may be changed in accordance with the reading of the trimming data.

In the above-described embodiment, the liquid crystal display panel 53 is used as the finder visual field range changing means when the mode is shifted to the pseudo-magnification photographing mode.
It is also possible to use an insertion / removal mechanism for inserting / removing a field-of-view changing plate having an opening having the same aspect ratio as that of a part of the area beforehand at the image forming position of the finder optical system. Further, a mechanism may be used in which the two L-shaped plates defining the finder viewing range are moved along diagonal lines of the viewing range to change the viewing range.

In the above embodiment, the trimming information is recorded on the magnetic recording layer of the photographic film.
An IC memory may be built in the cartridge, and trimming information corresponding to a photographed frame may be written into the IC memory.

In the above embodiment, a zoom lens camera is used. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a bifocal camera may be used. In the case of a bifocal camera, as shown in FIG.
Instead of zoom lens, long focal length, short focal length and 2
A focal length changing operation member 69 for switching to one of the two is provided. Then, the photographing optical system 70
Is composed of a master lens and a rear converter, and the rear converter can be inserted and removed between the photographing optical axis and a position retracted from it.

When the focal length is switched to the long focal length, the photographing system moving mechanism 71 advances the master lens along the photographing optical axis, and then inserts the rear converter on the photographing optical axis. When the focal length is switched to the short focal length, the master lens is retracted along the photographing optical axis after the rear converter is detached from the photographing optical axis. The focus lens moving mechanism 72 moves the master lens and the rear converter forward and backward along the photographing optical axis together.

The finder optical system 73 is connected to the first
And a fourth lens group, and the second lens group can be inserted into and removed from the finder optical axis. The finder zoom mechanism 74 is activated when the first focal length is switched to the long focal length.
The lens group is advanced along the finder optical axis, and then the second lens group is inserted on the finder optical axis. When the focal length is switched to the short focal length, the first lens group is retracted along the photographing optical axis after the second lens group is separated from the photographing optical axis.

In the case of a bifocal camera, four types of photographing modes are considered: a short focal length, a long focal length, a pseudo-magnification photographing mode at a short focal length, and a pseudo-magnification photographing mode at a long focal length. Can be When the pseudo-magnification photographing mode is selected at the time of the short focal length, the controller 43 inhibits the transition to the mode and automatically switches the photographing optical system 70 to the long focal length. Then, when the pseudo-magnification photographing mode is selected at the time of the long focal length, the mode directly shifts to the pseudo-magnification photographing mode. When the pseudo-magnification photographing mode is selected at the time of the short focal length, the shift to that mode may be simply prohibited without automatically switching the photographing optical system 70 to the long focal length.

By the way, in the bifocal camera, since there are only four types of photographing modes, the subject range that fits in the full format at the long focal length is smaller than the subject range that fits in the trimming format at the short focal length, ie, The magnification ratio between the short focal length and the long focal length is determined so that the image magnification recorded in the full format at the long focal length is higher than the image magnification recorded in the trimming format at the short focal length. It is suitable.

In the case of a bifocal camera, since there are only four photographing modes, an inexpensive electric circuit can be used as means for recognizing them. As shown in FIG. 7, the focal length changing operation member 69 and the mode switching lever 19 are composed of two switches, and these switches are connected to the controller 43, respectively, and ON or OFF obtained from each switch is provided. The controller 43 may make the controller 43 recognize any one of the four photographing modes by a combination of signals.

As another method, as shown in FIG. 8, for example, a switch 75 that opens and closes in conjunction with the operation of the focal length changing operation member 69 is connected to a terminal 78 of the controller 43.
And a switch 77 that opens and closes in conjunction with the operation of the mode selection lever 19 are connected in series, and a signal obtained from the switch 75 is connected to a terminal 76 of the controller 43, and a switch 7
7 or the signal obtained from the switch 75
3 to the terminal 78. Switch 75 to O
When the FF signal is input, the focal length is switched to the short focal length, and when the ON signal is input, the focal length is switched to the long focal length. When the OFF signal is inputted from the switch 77, the normal photographing mode is selected, and when the OFF signal is inputted, the pseudo variable magnification photographing mode is selected. When the OFF signal is input from the switch 75 and the ON signal is input from the switch 77, the shift to the pseudo-magnification photographing mode is prohibited, and the photographing lens is automatically changed to the long focal length.

As described above, in the case of a bifocal camera, only three types of photographing modes, namely, a short focal length, a long focal length, and a pseudo variable magnification photographing mode at a long focal length, can be selected. Therefore, in such a camera, it is not necessary to separately provide the focal length changing operation member 69 and the mode switching lever 19, and for example, by moving to the first to third positions as shown in FIG. One slide switch 80 that outputs different signals may be used. According to this, the controller switches the photographing lens to the short focal length when receiving the signal that the first position is selected by operating the slide switch, and when the controller receives the signal that the second position is selected. Switching the shooting optical system to long focal length,
Further, when the signal that selects the third position is received, the photographing optical system is switched to the long focal length, and the mode shifts to the pseudo-magnification photographing mode.

[0069]

As described above, according to the camera of the present invention, the object range determined by the focal length of the photographing lens and the photographing screen is a part of the range when the photographing lens is set to the shortest focal length. When the operation is switched to the pseudo-magnification shooting mode when the area is wider than the subject area defined by the area, the shift to the pseudo-magnification shooting mode is prohibited, so the image quality of the printed photo deteriorates. Can be reliably prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a zoom lens camera.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an outline of a main configuration of the camera.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing a photographic film set on an aperture of a camera, as viewed from a photographing lens side.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a finder visual field range;
(A) shows the visual field range in the normal photographing mode, and (B) shows the visual field range in the pseudo-magnification photographing mode.

FIG. 5 is a graph showing a total magnification with respect to a zoom ratio of a photographing lens in a normal photographing mode and a pseudo-magnification photographing mode.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of a main part of a bifocal camera according to another embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a focal length changing operation member and a mode switching lever.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing an embodiment in which a focal length changing operation member and a mode switching lever are separately provided in a switch circuit.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing another example in which a focal length changing operation member and a mode switching lever are provided by one operation member.

[Explanation of symbols]

 17 Shutter Button 19 Mode Switching Lever 20 Zoom Lever 22 Cartridge 32 Viewfinder Optical System 34 Shooting Lens 40 Magnetic Recording Circuit 46 Program Shutter 48 Photo Film 53 Liquid Crystal Display Panel 52 Trimming Format 55 Mask 56 Viewfinder Full View Range 69 Focal Length Changing Operating Member

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A normal photographing mode in which printing is performed at a normal magnification with substantially the entire area of a photographing screen recorded on a film as a print range, and a part of a photographing screen having substantially the same aspect ratio as the photographing screen. It is possible to switch to the pseudo-magnification shooting mode in which printing is planned at an enlarged print magnification larger than the normal magnification by setting the area as the print range, and when shooting in the pseudo-magnification shooting mode, it corresponds to the shooting frame In addition, a variable focus camera including a data recording unit that records data indicating that the shooting is performed in the shooting mode on a film, and a shooting lens having a changeable focal length. The subject range determined from the shooting screen is different from the subject range defined by the partial area when the shooting lens is set to the shortest focal length. When is wide, variable-focus camera, characterized in that even if the switching operation to the pseudo zooming photographing mode is performed shift to the pseudo zooming photographing mode is prohibited. 2. The focal length of the photographing lens can be switched between two stages of a short focal length and a long focal length, and an object range that fits on the photographing screen at the long focal length is within the photographing screen at the short focal length. 2. The variable focus camera according to claim 1, wherein the range is smaller than a subject range that fits in the partial area. 3. A pseudo variable magnification when a subject range determined by a focal length of a taking lens and the photographing screen is wider than a subject range defined by the partial area when the taking lens has a shortest focal length. When a switching operation to a photographing mode is performed, the focal length of the photographing lens is changed to enlarge the subject range defined by the partial area so as to match the photographing screen. Claim 1 or 2
A variable focus camera as described.