Camera having sound recording function

What is claimed is:

1. A camera having a sound recording function comprising;

a means for controlling exposure by opening and closing a shutter, and photographing images,

a sound recording means,

a self timer means for opening the shutter after a predetermined time,

a selecting means for selecting either of a self mode in which the self timer means is used and a usual mode, and

a sequence changeover means which , in accordance with the operation of the selecting means, operates the sound recording means after completion of photographing when the self mode is not selected, and operates the sound recording means during self timer counting before photographing when the self mode is selected.

2. A camera having a sound recording function comprising:

a means for controlling exposure by opening and closing a shutter, and photographing an image,

a means for recording sounds for a predetermined time in relation to the image recording operation,

a switch which is operated during sound recording for resetting a recorded audio content, and

a means for controlling re-recording of sounds which starts the sound recording operation again from the beginning when the switch is operated.

3. A camera having a sound recording function comprising:

an image recording means for recording images,

a sound recording means for recording sounds,

an operating means for changing over photographing modes between a first mode in which sound recording is executed corresponding to the image recording and a second mode in which sound recording is not executed, and

a means for, when the operating means is operated during sound recording, judging this operation to be an input information instructing to elongate the sound recording time, and elongating the sound recording time by a predetermined unit time.

4. A camera having a sound recording function comprising:

an image recording means for recording images,

a sound recording means for recording sounds,

switching means for supplying electronic energy to the camera thereby enabling operation of said image recording means and said sound recording means, and

an operating means which operates under a condition in which the electronic energy is supplied for starting the operation of storing sounds in the sound memory by being operated prior to the initiation of photographing, and when operated again during the operation of sound recording, stopping the operation of the sound inputting means.

5. A camera having a sound recording function comprising:

an image recording means for recording images,

a means for storing sounds in a sound memory,

a sound recording means for recording the stored sounds on a recording medium, and

a manual operating means for, when operated during the operation of storing sounds in the sound memory, stopping the operation of the sound storing means, and at the same time forbidding the operation of the sound recording means and nullifying the stored sound signal while the image recording is carried out.

6. A camera having a sound recording function comprising:

a means for recording images and sounds in interlocked relation to each other,

a sound memory in which inputted sounds are temporarily stored,

a sound recording circuit for recording the stored sounds in the sound memory in a floppy disk,

an image recording circuit for recording the image in the floppy disk, and

a driving means for driving the floppy disk, wherein the sound recording circuit and the driving means are kept stopped at least for a time from the beginning to the end of the operation of inputting sounds into the sound memory, and thereafter, the sound recording circuit and the driving means are actuated for the sound recording, while the image recording circuit and the driving means are actuated during the operation of exposure so as to record the image data on the floppy disk, immediately.

7. A camera having a sound recording function comprising:

a means for recording image information,

sound inputting means for executing a sound input operation wherein a microphone picks up ambient sounds,

a sound recording means for recording sound signal transferred thereto, and

an arrangement in which a recording mode in which sounds are recorded and a non-recording mode in which sounds are not recorded can be changed over to each other, and further a single mode in which images are recorded on a single frame of an image recording medium and a continuous photographing mode in which images are continuously recorded on a plurality of frames of the image recording medium can be changed over to each other,

wherein, the sound input operation is started after the continuous photographing operation is completed, when the recording mode and the continuous photographing mode are selected at the same time.

8. A camera having a sound recording function comprising:

a means for recording image information,

a sound recording means for recording sound inputted thereinto,

a means for changing over between a recording mode in which sounds are recorded and a non-recording mode in which sounds are not recorded , and

a means for changing over between a single mode in which images are recorded on a single frame of an image recording medium and a continuous photographing mode in which images are continuously recorded on a plurality of frames of the image recording medium ,

wherein, the sound input operation is executed during said continuous photographing mode, when the recording mode and the continuous photographing mode are selected at the same time while the sound input operation is executed after the image recording when the recording mode and the single mode are selected at the same time.

9. A camera having a sound recording function comprising:

a sound recording means for recording sound inputted thereto,

a means capable of executing continuous photographing operation,

a flash provided inside or outside the camera,

a control means for executing sound input operation after or during the continuous photographing operation, and

a means for detecting an uncharged state of the flash during the continuous photographing operation, wherein, when the flash in in the uncharged state, said control means terminates the continuous photographing operation and causes a sound input operation corresponding to said continuous photographing operation to be subsequently executed.

10. A camera having a sound recording function comprising:

an image recording means for recording images,

a sound recording means for recording sounds, and

a manual operating means for, when operated during the operation of recording sound, stopping the operation of the sound recording means and nullifying the sound recorded from the beginning to stopping the operation of the sound recording means, while the operation of said image recording means is controlled to completion.

11. A camera as claimed in claim 4, wherein said means which is to be operated prior to the initiation of photographing includes a member for starting a photographing sequence.

12. A camera as claimed in claim 7, further comprising:

a flash provided inside or outside the camera, and

a means for detecting an uncharged state of the flash during the continuous photographing operation, wherein, when the flash is in the uncharged state, said control means terminates the continuous photographing operation and causes a sound input operation corresponding to said continuous photographing operation to be subsequently executed.

13. A camera as claimed in claim 8, further comprising:

a flash provided inside or outside the camera, and

a means for detecting an uncahrged state of the flash during the continuous photographing operation, wherein, when the flash is in the uncharged state, said control means terminates the continuous photographing operation and causes a sound input operation corresponding to said continuous photographing operation to be subsequently executed.

Description Submit all comments and votes

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a camera having a sound recording function.

In conventional sound recording devices in a still video camera having a function of photographing using a self timer and a sound recording function, one time of sound recording is set at 9.6 seconds due to the recording capacity of a magnetic floppy disk, and a count time of a self timer is usually set at 10 seconds. And recording is executed generally after the completion of image photographing. As a result, one time of photographing and sound recording requires a rather long time. Further, when sound recording is executed after the completion of photographing in photographing using a self timer, it takes substantially 20 seconds from the first starting time of the self timer.

As shown in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 61-133780, a system is known in which a first and a second timers are provided, and photographing is executed after the count time of the first timer passes while sound recording is executed after the count time of the second timer passes. Further, as shown in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 61-253981, a system is known in which timings of exposure operation in photographing and sound recording can be optionally set by hand.

However, in these systems, though the timings of photographing and sound recording can be separately set respectively, these timings cannot be set in relation to a mode in which photographing using a self timer is executed (hereinafter referred to as a self mode) and a mode in which photographing not using any self timer is executed (hereinafter referred to as a usual photographing mode). Therefore, it takes a long time for a user to set the timings of photographing and sound recording, and such a camera cannot be easily operated.

Further, as shown in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 62-945, a system is known in which sound recording is executed during counting of a self timer. However, in this device, sound recording is not executed for an initial predetermined time, and sound recording is started after the predetermined time has passed. And further, no suggestion is given relating to the way how to set these timings in accordance with the changeover between the self mode and the usual photographing mode.

In conventional devices, when a user wishes to record the sounds again from the beginning, the image recording need to be executed again from the beginning. And it is difficult to do only the sound recording over again with keeping the recorded images as they are.

As shown in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 61-274588, an art is proposed in which, in order to elongate a sound recording time, sound collection is started by a sound collection starting operation and recording of collected sounds is repeated every lapse of time (about 10 seconds) corresponding to a track. However, in this device, sound recording is continued till a sound collection stopping operation is executed. Therefore, it is disadvantageous that unnecessary sound recording is carried out.

In conventional devices, when a sound recording of one track is executed with a frame of image recording, it takes about 10 seconds from the beginning of the photographing to the end of the sound recording. Therefore, when a next shutter release opportunity comes immediately after a first frame of photographing is completed and the corresponding sound recording is started, a user has to wait till the sound recording is completed or has to stop the sound recording by turning OFF the main switch or the like and thereafter start the next photographing. As a result, disadvantageously, the user apt to lose the shutter release opportunity.

After the sound recording is once started, troublesome operations are required for deleting the recorded sounds in such a time that a user fails to record sounds during the sound recording operation or executes photographing without being aware the the program is now in the sound recording mode against the user will.

Further, in conventional devices, usually a magnetic floppy disk adapted to execute image recording and sound recording in interlocked connection with pushing down of a release button. In such a sequential operation, since a spindle motor is being driven during the sound recording operation, a microphone attached to the camera also catches noises of the spindle motor when sounds are inputted through the microphone. Sounds are once stored in a sound memory and thereafter transferred from the sound memory to the floppy disk to be recorded therein. Therefore, rotatively driving of the spindle motor during inputtting sounds into the sound memory causes a waste of electric current.

Further, a device is known in which a start button for starting inputting of sounds is provided in addition to a release button for starting photographing so that the inputting of sounds can be started at a desired timing (for example, see Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 61-156979). In such a device, sounds can be inputted in the sound memory before starting photographing, but photographing operation and sound inputting operation are not synchronizedly and sequentially executed in relation to each other.

Further, devices are proposed in which a sound recording mode in which sound recording is executed and a mode in which sound recording is not executed are selectively changed over and images are continuously recorded, that is, so-called a continuous photographing mode being able to be set. However, when a sound recording mode and a continuous photographing mode are set at the same time, the operations photographing.fwdarw.sound recording.fwdarw. photographing.fwdarw.sound recording are repeated. With these repeated operations, recorded images are intermitted with time intervals of about 10 seconds and become unnatural, thereby failing in obtaining a continuous photographing function.

At a low brightness, back light or the like in the photographing scene, a flashlight mounted on the camera is emitted, and the flashlight is charged by a battery of the camera immediately after the photographing. As a result, the voltage of the battery is temporarily lowered during the charging operation, then, disadvantageously, it is possible that electronic circuits such as a sound inputting circuit are erroneously operated at the time of recording signals. And such a kind of charging circuit has an oscillating circuit provided with a transistor or the like. Therefore, when sound recording operation is executed during the charging operation, oscillating sounds of a boosting transformer are sometimes inputted.

Further, in a camera having a flashlight thereinside or mounted on the outside thereof, it is known that when an uncharged state of the flashlight is detected in spite of the necessity thereof, a release lock is set in order to prevent photographing with underexposure. While, in a camera having a continuous photographing function, when a release lock is set in the continuous photographing operation because the flashlight is uncharged, and then the photographing opertion is started again after completion of the charging, the continuous photographing operation is intermitted for a time required for the charging. As a result, the time intervals of the continuous photographing operation because irregularly each other.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a camera for recording still images in a medium and particularly to a camera having a function of recording sounds as well as images. Various kinds of cameras having a function of recording sounds as well as images have been proposed in the field of still video cameras. In recording sounds as well as images, attention should be paid to a fact that the time required for recording sounds is longer than that required for recording still images. Therefore, ideas are necessary in this respect in order to obtain a camera by which a user can adequately record sounds and images.

An object of the present invention is to provide, with giving consideration to the abovementioned fact, a camera by which a user can adequately record sounds and images.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a camera in which the timings of recording sounds and recording images are automatically adequately changed over in correspondence with a self mode and a usual photographing mode respectively, so that photographing can be achieved in the same timb both in the self mode and the usual photographing mode without any laborious operation.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a camera in which, when a user fails to record sounds in the recording operation, only the sound recording can be executed again from the beginning without giving any change to the recorded images.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a camera in which when an instruction to elongate the recording time is given, the recording time can be elogated by a predetermined time without making any operation for stopping the sound recording.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a camera in which even in the sound recording operation, sounds up to that time can be instantly recorded at need and then immediately the following photographing operation can be started, whereby shutter release opportunities can be obtained.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a camera in which, when sound recording is not necessary or when failure in sound recording is noticed after the recording operation is started and therefore, the sounds recorded theretofore can be deleted and the following photographing operation can be immediately started only by a simple operation.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a camera in which a driving means for driving a floppy disk is stopped during inputting the sounds so that the necessary amount of electric current can be decreased and at the same time noises of the driving means are prevented from being inputted.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a camera in which when a sound recording mode and a continuous photographing mode are set at the same time, sound recording is executed during continuous photographing, whereby the ability of continuous photographing of the camera can be raised.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a camera in which charging a flashlight with electricity is forbidden at least during sound recording, so that a sound inputting circuit and the like are prevented from being erroneously operated because of lowering the voltage of a power source.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a camera in which when during continuous photographing, a release is locked because of uncharging of a flashlight, the program can go out of the continuous photographing sequence, whereby the continuous photographing time intervals can be kept regularly through the whole continuous photographing operation.

BRIEF EXPLANATION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a still video camera of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2, including FIGS. 2(A) and 2(B), is a main flow chart showing operation of the camera;

FIG. 3, including FIGS. 3(A), 3(B), and 3(C), is a flow chart showing an embodiment of a sequence of a switch S1;

FIG. 4, including FIGS. 4(A), 4(B), 4(C), and 4(D), is a flow chart showing another embodiment of a sequence of the switch S1;

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing a sequence of a self mode;

FIG. 6, including FIGS. 6(A), 6(B), and 6(C), is a flow chart showing a further embodiment of a sequence of the switch S1;

FIG. 7 is a further embodiment of a sequence of the switch S1;

FIG. 8, including FIGS. 8(A) and 8(B) is a flow chart of a sequence of a self mode in the embodiment of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is a flow chart of a sequence of a release.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the structure of one embodiment of a still video camera on which a sound recorder according to the present invention is mounted.

In FIG. 1, the still video camera comprises a central processing unit (hereinafter referred to as CPU) 1, a group of various kinds of switches 2 through which order informations are inputted to the CPU 1, a power source circuit section 3 and the like. The power source circuit section 3 comprises a main battery 4, a boosting circuit 5 for obtaining a power source for a CCD which will be described later, a back up battery 6, a regulator 7 for obtaining a power source for the CPU 1 and general circuits and the like.

An automatic focusing (AF) circuit 8 comprises an AF circuit 9 for outputting in-focus data and distance data to the CPU 1, a motor 10 for shifting a lens for focusing, a magnet 11 for stopping the lens and an encoder 12 for detecting the lens position. The circuit 13 is operated by a signal outputted from the CPU 1 and drives a motor 14 for changing over a lens and opening and closing a barrier. The motor 14 when rotating in the right direction successively changes over the lens between a standard and a close-up positions, while the motor 14 when rotating in the reverse direction opens and closes the barrier provided in front of the lens and functioning as a plate for shielding a light passage.

An automatic exposure (AE) circuit section 15 comprises the following circuits 16 to 21 and the like. A spot light metering circuit 16 receives, as an input signal, a signal detected by a light metering element SP which meters the brightness of an object positioned in a central spot of a photographing scene. A light metering circuit 17 receives, as an input signal, a signal detected by a light metering element AVE which meters the brightness of an object in the peripheral position of the photographing scene. An A/D converting circuit 18 converts these detected analogue data to digital ones. A serial communication interface 19 receives the A-D converted data and makes a serial communication with the CPU 1. In order to obtain a correct exposure, a weighting circuit 20 gives various weights to the abovementioned detected data respectively as mentioned below according to instructions from the CPU 1 inputted through the interface 19. A level shifting circuit 21 shifts the level of the signal according to an output of the weighting circuit 20 and an instruction outputted from the CPU 1 through the interface 19.

A circuit section 22 controls the timing of practical closing of a CCD shutter based on the output from the AE circuit section 15. The circuit section 22 comprises a capacitor 25 for measuring time, a switch 26 which opens at the timing of opening the CCD shutter and releases the short-circuited state of the capacitor 25, comparators 27, 28 and the like. The comparators 27, 28 compares the potential V at the constant point between the capacitor 25 and the output portion of the level shifting circuit 21 with reference potentials V1, V0. A control circuit 23 outputs signals indicating the opening and closing of the shutter to the CPU 1 and the CCD driver 32. The control circuit 23 opens the CCD shutter according to a release signal for photographing and a pulse signal from the CCD driver 32, and closes the same when a predetermined exposure is obtained by an output from the comparator in the circuit section 22 or a compulsorily closing signal from the CPU 1.

A gain control detecting circuit 24 inputs a signal which electrically controls the gain of a video image recording signal when it is detected that a predetermined exposure (an exposure amount smaller by a predetermined amount than the correct exposure) is not obtained by making use of an output of the comparator 27 and a closing signal from the shutter control circuit 23 even if it exceeds the limit time for preventing the camera shake and at other times.

Further, the camera comprises a microphone 29 for recording, and an audio circuit 30 which is operated by a recording control signal from the CPU 1. The output of the audio circuit 30 is applied to a video recording circuit 34 which will be described later. A CCD image sensor (hereinafter referred to only as CCD) 31 is one of solid image photographing elements which converts optical image data to electric data. A driver 32 for driving the CCD 31 operates according to an output of the CCD shutter control circuit 23, an ISO sensitivity changeover signal, an synchronization signal PG outputted in synchronism with the rotation of a floppy disk and the like.

A video recording circuit 34 drives a magnetic head 35 and magnetically records images and sounds in a floppy disk. The video recording circuit 34 operates according to date data signal (year, month, date, track No. etc.) displayed at the same time with images on a display, a gain control output, and the synchronization signal PG, in addition to an image signal from the CCD 31 and an audio signal from the audio circuit 30.

A spindle motor driver 36 drives a spindle motor 37 according to an instruction from CPU 1, thereby rotating the floppy disk at a constant speed.

A stepping motor driver 38 drives a stepping motor 39 according to an instruction from CPU 1, thereby moving the abovementioned magnetic head 35. By this stepping motor 39, the magnetic head 35 is controlled to move to a predetermined track position of the floppy disk. A plunger 40 sets the magnetic head at a predetermined position at the time of recording (i.e. writing-in).

An electronic flushing device 41 for emitting a flashlight when exposure amount in photographing is unsatisfactory and the like has in the inside thereof a charge circuit for emitting a light and a boosting circuit, starts a boosting operation according to a boosting signal from the CPU 1, and outputs a signal indicating the completion of charging to the CPU 1 when charging is completed according to a signal monitoring the completion of charging outputted form the CPU 1. Further, the flushing device 41 emits a flashlight according to a light emission triggering signal outputted from CPU 1. A reset circuit 42 prevents occurrence of extraordinary operation when the voltage of the power source is lowered. When a mode is set in photographing in which the opening of the CCD shutter is carried out by a self timer, a LED 43 indicates the same by turning on and off a light. When a deck lid for a floppy disk chamber is still opened and other cases, a buzzer 44 rings to warn a user of the fact. A display section 45 is operated according to an output from the CPU 1 so as to display various kinds of camera data, modes and the like by a LCD or other means.

The components of the abovementioned group of switches 2 will now be described in the following. A main switch S0 is used for starting the operation of the camera. A switch S1 is used for metering the light amount and measuring the distance before photographing. A release switch S2 is used for carrying out photographing operation. A sound recording switch S3 is used for selecting one mode in which sound recording is executed or another mode in which sound recording is not executed. A mode changeover switch S4 changes over kinds of modes consisting of a single photographing mode (S, this being a standard mode) in which only a single picture is photographed, a continuous photographing mode (C) in which a plurality of pictures are continuously photographed and a self mode (SELF) in which a self timer is used in photographing. A switch S5 is a switch for changing over date data. A switch S6 is used for correct the data data. A switch S7 is a switch for detecting whether the deck lid is in the opened state or in the closed state. A switch S8 is for detecting the insertion of the floppy disk. A switch S9 is for detecting whether there is a claw for forbidding writing in the floppy disk or not. Switches S10, S11 are for detecting the opening position and the closing position of the abovementioned barrier, respectively. A switch S12 is for detecting the starting position of the lens. A switch S13 is for changing over lenses so as to put the lens in a close-up state in taking a close-up picture. Switches S14, S15 are for detecting the position of putting in a close-up lens (the close-up state) and the position of putting out the close-up lens (the standard state) respectively.

The CPU 1 further comprises arrangements having various kinds of functions such as a self timer means and a sequence control means which will be described later. As a result, data are set and inputted by a user through the recording switch S3, the mode changeover switch S4 and the like before photographing, and stored in a memory in the CPU 1. The CPU 1 executes predetermined programmed operations based on the data stored in CPU 1 to carry out camera operations such as video recording and sound recording.

Especially in an embodiment of the present invention, when SELF mode is selected and set in the mode changeover switch S4, sound recording is executed during self timer counting before photographing. On the other hand, when SELF mode is not selected, the CPU 1 automatically changes over the sequences so that sound recording is executed after completion of photographing.

Now, operations of the camera according to the present invention will be described with reference to flow charts shown in FIGS. 2 to 7.

FIG. 2 shows a main flow chart. In this figure, when a power is supplied to the CPU 1, the CPU 1 is reset (step #1). A reset flag is set at 1 (step #2), flags and the RAM being set in the initial state, the lens and the magnetic head 35 being set at the initial positions, thereby executing the initial settings (step #3). If the reset flag remains at 1, it means that the date has not been corrected as described later, and such date data cannot be recorded in the floppy disk. Therefore, in such a case, a warning by turning on and off a part of LCD or the like is given to a user. This is because of the following reasons. In a still video camera and the like having a function of recording date data (time data) such as year, month, date etc., on a recording medium, a time measuring means such as a timer for obtaining date data and a battery as a power source for the time measuring means are provided. When the battery is dead and replaced by a new one, the time data according to the time measuring means is reset and a wrong time data is displayed. If there is provided a back-up battery and with in a predetermined time, such a trouble is not caused. However, when it has taken much time to renew the battery, the data are also reset. If the user finds that the time data are wrong and resets a correct time data, it does not matter. However, if the user takes a picture without aware of the wrong time data, the time data different from the practical photographing time are printed on the picture. Therefore, in this embodiment of the present invention, when, in a camera in which date data of photographing time can be recorded, a means for recording to date data is reset, recording of the date data is forbidden. Then, the battery is checked (step #4) and when the battery is dead, a routine without using a battery is executed (step #5) and when the battery is alive, the state of the main switch S0 is checked (step #6).

When the main switch S0 is in ON state, the opening or closing state of the deck lid, presence or absence of the floppy disk, presence or absence of claw for forbidding recording, and whether the deck lid is in the state, immediately after changed over from OPENED to CLOSED are checked (step #7 to 10). When the deck lid is immediately after being closed, the head of unrecorded track on the floppy disk is searched in a routine of initial road, and the magnetic head 35 is moved to that position (step #11).

Thereafter, when the answer of the judgement at step #10 turns NO, then the state of the light metering and distance measuring switch S1 is checked (step #12). When the switch S1 is turned ON from OFF, S1 sequence (shown in FIGS. 3 and 4) including light metering, distance measuring, exposure and various kinds of steps subsequent thereto is executed (step #13 and #14). When the switch S2 is turned OFF or kept ON since before, S1 sequence is not executed but the close-up switch S13 of the lens is checked (step #15). When the switch S13 is turned ON, a routine for changing over the lens is executed (step #16).

Then, the state of the mode changeover switch S14 is checked (step #17), and when the mode changeover switch S14 is ON, the data flage is set "0". When it is in data changeover correcting mode, the program goes out of the data changeover correcting mode (step #18), and a routine for changing mode is executed (step #19). By this mode changing, any one of the single, continuous photographing, and self mode is stored as abovementioned. Then, the state of the recording switch S3 is checked (step #20). When the recording switch S3 is ON, the data flag is also set "0", and when it is in data changeover correcting mode, the program goes out of this mode (step #21), and a routine for changing over recording is executed (step #22).

The abovementioned close-up switch S13, the changeover switch S4, the recording switch S3, and the like are turned into different states respectively every time they are pressed (namely, turned ON), and by pressing these switches the same number of times with that of the existing states, they return to the initial states respectively.

After that, the state of the date changeover switch S5 is checked (step #23), and when the switch S5 is turned ON, the date flag is set "1" thereby setting the date changeover correcting mode (step #24). Then, the reset flag is set "0" to afford to record the date (step #25). After a predetermined time passes, a date timer for getting out of the changeover correcting mode is started (step #26), and a date changeover routine is executed (step #27). Then, the date flag is checked (step #28), and when the date flag is "1" and the date correcting switch S6 is turned ON, the abovementioned date timer is newly started (steps #29, #30) and a routine for correcting the date is executed (step #31). When the date correcting switch S6 is OFF and a predetermined time of the date timer passes (YES at step #32), the date flag is set "0" (step #33), and the program goes out of the date changeover correcting mode. Further, the program can get out of the date changeover correcting mode by turning ON the light metering and distance measuring switch S1, as described later in S1 sequence. This is from the following reasons. In a camera such as a still video camera having a function of recording date data, a date correcting mode and a usual time measuring mode are provided and after the date is corrected, the camera is required to return to the usual time measuring mode. Therefore, when photographing is executed without returning the date correcting mode to the time measuring mode, sometimes date is not recorded. Accordingly, in this embodiment of the present invention, in a camera having a function of recording the date data of the photographing time, even if the program is still in the date correcting mode, it can be automatically changed over to the mode capable of recording the date by the release operation in photographing.

Then, it is detected whether boosting of the charge circuit of the flashlight 4 is necessary or not (step #34). When the boosting is necessary, it is detected whether the charging is completed or not (step #35). When the charging is not completed, the boosting is started (step #36), and the program returns to the abovementioned step #4. Further, when the main switch S0 is OFF at step #6 and boosting is not necessary at step #34 or charging is completed at step #35, the boosting is stopped (step #37) and a first timer by which out-of-operation time is measured is started (step #38). Before predetermined times passes (NO at step #39), it is detected whether the deck lid is opened or closed (step #44). When the deck lid is closed or when it is opened but a predetermined time set in a belowmentioned second timer has not passed (NO at step #45), it is detected whether the states of the switches S0, S1, S2, S3, S4, S5 and S6 and the deck lid change or not (step #47). When there is some change, the program returns to the abovementioned step #4, and when there is no change, it returns to step #39.

When the predetermined time set in the first timer has passed at step #39, the mode is checked (step #40). When it is the self mode or the continuous photographing mode, it is changed to the standard single mode (step #41), and further the state of lens is checked (step #42). When the lens is in the close-up mode, it is changed to the standard mode (step #43), and the program advancing to the abovementioned step #44. This is executed from the following reasons. In some of cameras capable of changing a focal length of a taking lens thereof, the appearance of the camera does not change even if the focal length changes. Such type of cameras are disadvantages in that, because of no change in appearance, when a user forgets the focal length a long time after the change of the focal length, it takes much time for him to know the present focal length. Accordingly, in this embodiment of the present invention, the lens is adapted to return to a predetermined position when the camera is left unoperated for a predetermined time, whereby a user can easily know the present focal length of the lens.

Further, when a predetermined time set in the second timer has passed at step #45, the buzzer 44 gives a warning (step #46). As being apparent from this flow chart, when the deck lid is in the open state, no input can be received and only the date correction can be executed.

Further, when the deck lid is in open state at step #7, the program advances to step #48. On the other hand, when the deck lid is in the state immediately after being opened from the closed state, the second timer is started (step #49). Till the predetermined time passes, and when there is no floppy disk at step #8, and when there is no claw (namely, when recording is forbidden) at step #9, boosting is stopped (step #51), and without checking the state of the switch S1 and the like, the program advances to the abovementioned step #23. And when the predetermined time set in the second timer has passed, a warning is given similarly as abovementioned (step #52). When the deck lid is turned into the closed state, the warning is stopped (step #53).

Now an embodiment of the abovementioned S1 sequence at step #14 will be described with reference to FIG. 3. In this embodiment, recording is forbidden during continuous photographing, and recording is executed after continuous photographing, and further, when the self mode is selected, recording is executed during the operation of the self timer.

In FIG. 3, firstly boosting is stopped for forbidding charging during video and sound recording (step #61), and the date flag is set "0" (that is, the program goes out of the date changeover correcting mode with the switch S1 being ON) (step #62). Then, it is checked whether the self mode is stored or not (step #63). When it is not the self mode, a spindle motor 37 for driving the floppy disk so as to immediately be ready for recording (step #64). On the other hand, when it is the self mode, the spindle motor 37 is not turned ON during counting by the self timer at this time so as to save electric power.

Then, distance measuring and a light metering and AE calculating routine which is described later are executed (steps #65, #66). After that, it is detected from the calculation whether boosting is needed or not (step #67). When