Photography – With viewfinder – Pose reflector
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-15
2002-12-17
Gray, David M. (Department: 2851)
Photography
With viewfinder
Pose reflector
C396S077000, C396S103000, C396S379000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06496657
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a camera, and particularly to a camera which can enable the photographer to be an object of the photograph while the photographer holds the camera.
In ordinary picture taking by using the camera, the photographer looks into a viewfinder of the camera and selects a desired object, and releases a shutter at an optimum shutter chance. The camera has the structure appropriate for such a picture taking, and more concretely, a viewfinder is provided at a position into which the photographer holding the camera can look, and a release button is provided at a position on which an index finger of the right hand holding the camera is just located. Accordingly, it can be said that the camera is not structured in itself such that it may photograph the photographer while the photographer holds the camera.
In contrast to this, there is a case in which the photographer desires to be an object of the photograph. In such a case, the photographer sets the camera onto the tripod, and photographs oneself by using a self-timer mechanism or a remote operation type release mechanism, or by requesting the photographing by another person, and any of the photographing modes are appropriately selected corresponding to the conditions.
However, because the tripod is weighty and bulky as compared with the camera, it is inconvenient for the photographer to always carry the tripod, and when the photographer desires to photograph oneself, it is not always possible to use the tripod. Further, in the photographing using the self-timer mechanism, there is a problem that it is difficult to perform photographing by taking the optimum shutter chance. Further, there is a case where only the photographer is present in the place at which photographing is desired, and in such case, it is impossible to ask another person to photograph the photographer.
On the other hand, it is possible for the photographer to photograph the oneself by holding the camera of the conventional technology by one hand and opposing the camera to oneself by fully extending the arm of that hand. However, in such photographing, because the photographer is the object of the photograph and is in the front of the camera, the photographer can not look into the viewfinder. Accordingly, for example, the photographer can not confirm whether the infrared ray for ranging of the infrared ray ranging device radiates on oneself. When the infrared ray for ranging does not radiate on the photographer, there is a possibility that an object distance is erroneously measured, thereby resulting in a possibility that the image may be out-of-focus when the photograph is taken. Further, when the camera is held by only the single hand, there is a problem that the camera may shake easily.
Accordingly, there is also an idea that, for example, photographic conditions such as a focus position or stop value of a photographic lens are fixed in the camera. However, because such a camera becomes an exclusive camera to photograph the photographer while holding the camera, it can not be used for the other photographing, which is inconvenient. Accordingly, it is preferable that the photographic conditions can be changed in the camera so that the ordinary photographing can also be conducted.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing problems of the conventional technology, an object of the present invention is to provide a camera by which a photographic mode appropriate for a case to photograph a photographer oneself can be set at an appropriate timing, or a camera by which such the operability of the camera is increased.
The above described object can be attained by any one of the following structures (1)-(42).
(1) A camera comprising: a distance measuring means for measuring an object distance; a photometry means for measuring an object brightness; a mode setting means for setting a self portrait photographic mode to set a photographic condition appropriate for photographing a photographer oneself holding the camera; and a controller for controlling to perform photographing without conducting at least one of the measurement by the distance measuring means and the measurement by the photometry means when the self portrait photographic mode is set by the mode setting means.
(2) A camera comprising: a zoom lens; a mode setting means for setting a self portrait photographic mode to set a photographic condition appropriate for photographing a photographer oneself holding the camera; and a controller for controlling the zoom lens so that the zoom lens moves to a predetermined position, as the photographic condition, when the self portrait photographic mode is set by the mode setting means.
(3) The camera of the structure (2), in which, when the self portrait photographic mode is set, movement of the zoom lens except that the zoom lens moves to the predetermined position, is prohibited.
(4) The camera of the structure (2), in which the predetermined position is located on a wide angle side of the zoom lens.
(5) The camera of the structure (4), in which the predetermined position is located on a wide angle end of a photographic lens of the camera.
(6) A focal length adjustable camera comprising: a photographic lens; a mode setting means for setting a self portrait photographic mode to set a photographic condition appropriate for photographing a photographer oneself holding the camera; and a controller for controlling the photographic lens so that the photographic lens is fixed to a predetermined focal length, when the self portrait photographic mode is set by the mode setting means.
(7) The camera of the structure (6), in which the predetermined position is a position at which a focal length of the photographic lens is located on a wide angle side.
(8) The camera of the structure (6), in which the predetermined position is located on a wide angle end of the photographic lens.
(9) A camera comprising: a photographic lens; a distance measuring means for measuring an object distance; a mode setting means for setting a self portrait photographic mode to set a photographic condition appropriate for photographing a photographer oneself holding the camera; and when the self portrait photographic mode is set by the mode setting means, a predetermined photographic condition is set without depending on the measurement result of the distance measuring means.
(10) A camera comprising: a photographic lens; a mode setting means for setting a self portrait photographic mode to set a photographic condition appropriate for photographing a photographer oneself holding the camera; and when the self portrait photographic mode is set by the mode setting means, a predetermined photographic condition is set without depending on the measurement result of the photometry means.
(11) The camera of the structure (9), further comprising: a photometry means for measuring an object brightness; and when the self portrait photographic mode is set by the mode setting means, a predetermined photographic condition is set without depending on the measurement result of the photometry means or the distance measuring means.
(12) The camera of the structure (9), in which, as the predetermined photographic condition, a focus position of the photographic lens is set to a predetermined position without depending on the measurement result of the distance measuring means.
(13) The camera of the structure (12), in which the predetermined position is a position at which an object of the object distance of 0.5 to 0.6 m is focused.
(14) The camera of the structure (2), in which, as the photographic condition, light emission of a red-eye reduction light emitter is inhibited.
(15) The camera of the structure (6), in which, as the photographic condition, light emission of a red-eye reduction light emitter is inhibited.
(16) The camera of the structure (9), in which, as the photographic condition, light emission of a red-eye reduction light emitter is inhibited.
(17) The camera of the structure (10), in which, as the photographic condition, light emission of a red-eye red
Aizawa Takeshi
Kakita Tsuyoshi
Blackman Rochelle
Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner L.L.P.
Gray David M.
Konica Corporation
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