Camera - Patent Review 5664243

What is claimed is:

1. A camera for performing a first image formation and a second image formation by splitting a light beam incident through a taking optical system including a first aperture diaphragm, said first image formation being performed with a silver salt medium, said second image formation being performed electronically with an image pickup device, comprising:

an image forming optical system disposed in a light path of one of said split light beams for directing the light beam toward the image pickup device;

a second aperture diaphragm disposed in a light path within said image forming optical system; and

a controller for controlling said first and second aperture diaphragms correlatively.

2. A camera as claimed in claim 1,

wherein said controller controls said second aperture diaphragm to be controlled separately from said first aperture diaphragm when said first aperture diaphragm is controlled within a range between a predetermined aperture value and an open aperture value.

3. A camera as claimed in claim 2,

wherein said predetermined aperture value is a/.beta. when said image forming optical system is a reduction optical system having an open aperture value of a and a reduction factor of .beta..

4. A camera as claimed in claim 2,

wherein said controller controls an aperture value of said first aperture diaphragm to be within a range between a first predetermined aperture value and an open aperture value when said second aperture diaphragm is controlled based on a predetermined second control aperture value.

5. A camera as claimed in claim 4,

wherein said first predetermined aperture value is b/.beta. when said image forming optical system is a reduction optical system having a reduction factor of .beta. and said predetermined second control aperture value is b.

6. A camera as claimed in claim 1,

wherein said controller controls an aperture value of said first aperture diaphragm to be within a range between a first predetermined aperture value and an open aperture value when an aperture of said second aperture diaphragm is controlled based on a predetermined second aperture value.

7. A camera as claimed in claim 6,

wherein said first predetermined aperture value of said second aperture diaphragm is b/.beta. when said image forming optical system is a reduction optical system having a reduction factor of .beta. and said predetermined second aperture value is b.

8. A camera as claimed in claim 1,

wherein said Second aperture diaphragm is capable of stopping a light path of the image forming optical system to interrupt a light beam incident on an image pickup device.

9. A camera for obtaining a first light beam and a second light beam by splitting a light beam incident through a taking optical system including a first aperture diaphragm, said first light beam being used for image formation, said second light beam being used for observing a subject image, comprising:

a relay optical system disposed in a light path of said second light beam;

a second aperture diaphragm disposed in a light path inside said relay optical system; and

a controller for controlling said first and second aperture diaphragms correlatively.

10. A camera as claimed in claim 9,

wherein said controller controls said second aperture diaphragm to be controlled separately from said first aperture diaphragm when said first aperture diaphragm is controlled within a range between a predetermined aperture value and an open aperture value.

11. A camera as claimed in claim 10,

wherein said predetermined aperture value is a/.beta. when said taking optical system is a reduction optical system having an open aperture value of a and a reduction factor of .beta..

12. A camera as claimed in claim 10,

wherein said controller controls an aperture value of said first aperture diaphragm to be within a range between a first predetermined aperture value and an open aperture value when said second aperture diaphragm is controlled based on a predetermined second control aperture value.

13. A camera as claimed in claim 12,

wherein said first predetermined aperture value is b/.beta. when said relay optical system is a reduction optical system having a reduction factor of .beta. and said predetermined second control aperture value is b.

14. A camera as claimed in claim 9,

wherein said controller controls an aperture value of said first aperture diaphragm to be within a range between a first predetermined aperture value and an open aperture value when an aperture of said second aperture diaphragm is controlled based on a predetermined second aperture value.

15. A camera as claimed in claim 14,

wherein said first predetermined aperture value is b/.beta. when said relay optical system is a reduction optical system having a reduction factor of and said predetermined second aperture value is b.

16. A camera as claimed in claim 11,

wherein said second aperture diaphragm is capable of stopping the light path to interrupt a light beam.

17. A camera which splits a light beam incident through a taking optical system including a first aperture diaphragm, one of split light beams being used for image formation on a photosensitive recording medium, another of the split light beams being used for image formation on an image pickup device for observation through an electronic viewfinder, comprising:

a setting device for setting an aperture value of said first aperture diaphragm;

a second aperture diaphragm disposed in a light path of said another light beam; and

a controller for driving said first aperture diaphragm based on a setting by said setting device during image formation on said photosensitive recording medium, and for driving said second aperture diaphragm based on a setting by said setting device except during image formation on said photosensitive recording medium to perform image formation with said image pickup device so that a formed image is displayed in the electronic viewfinder.

18. A camera as claimed in claim 17,

wherein said controller controls an electric charge accumulation time for the image pickup device in synchronization with operation of said second aperture diaphragm.

19. A camera as claimed in claim 17, further comprising:

a variable-density filter disposed in a light path for image formation on said image pickup device.

20. A camera which splits a light beam incident through a taking optical system, one of split light beams being used for image formation on a photosensitive recording medium through a shutter, other of split light beams being used for image formation with an image pickup device so that a formed image is observed through an electronic viewfinder, comprising:

a setting device for setting a control shutter speed of said shutter; and

a controller for driving said shutter based on a setting by said setting device during image formation on said photosensitive recording medium, and for controlling an electric charge accumulation time of said image pickup device except during image formation on said photosensitive recording medium to perform image formation so that a formed image is displayed in the electronic viewfinder.

21. A camera as claimed in claim 20, further comprising:

an aperture diaphragm disposed in a light path of said other light beam and operated in synchronization with control of the electric charge accumulation time of said image pickup device.

22. A camera as claimed in claim 20, further comprising:

a variable-density filter is disposed in a light path for image formation on said image pickup device.

Description Submit all comments and votes

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a camera in which an incident optical beam is divided for use in both photographing and observation of an image.

2Description of the Prior Art

As a conventional example, an article in the June, 1994 issue of the "Photographic Industries" magazine, pages 12 to 15, describes a camera which is capable of changing the path of an incident light beam for the purpose of photographing and observing an image at the same time. According to the article, the camera uses one of the divided light beam for taking a photograph on a silver salt or a silver halide film, and the other for picking up an image on a CCD (Charge Coupled Device). The CCD reportedly is of a 1/2-inch type.

An attempt to simultaneously take a photograph on a silver salt film and pick up an image on an image pickup device is subject to a problem as described below. Generally, an image pickup device having a considerably small image area is used for this purpose, since an image pickup device having a wide image area is expensive. As seen from a comparison shown in FIG. 15, even the image area of a comparatively large image pickup device of a 1-inch type, for example, is substantially smaller than a image area on a film. Accordingly, in order to adjust the spread of an incident light beam to the image area, it is necessary to use a reduction optical system such as a relay optical system. Considering an image pickup device of a 1/4- to 1/2-inch type is generally used, the relay optical system needs to have a magnification of 1/10 to 1/4. However, it is often impossible to use a relay optical system capable of supplying sufficient light, since there is only limited space for extra components inside a camera body.

As a consequence of the above limitations, the following problem arises. As shown in FIG. 14, if a relay optical system of a magnification .beta.=1/4 and of an open aperture value F=1.4 (represented also by a) is used, a light beam incident from a taking lens TL enters the relay optical system RL without diffusing on a primary image plane IMG1. Accordingly, of the light beam incident from the taking lens TL, only a portion corresponding to a/.beta.=5.6, that is, F=5.6 is used as a light beam which passes through the relay optical system RL to form a secondary image IMG2, while the remaining light beam (indicated with hatching in the drawing) passing outside the light beam corresponding to F=5.6 does not enter the image pickup device. As a result, if the aperture is adjusted to be wider than F=5.6 by use of a taking lens of an open aperture value less than F=5.6, the amount of light incident on a silver salt film does change accordingly, while the amount of light incident on the image pickup device remains the same. This leads to that, although the exposure of a silver salt film can be adjusted by adjustment of aperture, the exposure of a image pickup device cannot be adjusted in the same manner; a different adjustment needs to be devised.

Moreover, if the aperture of the taking lens is adjusted to be narrower than F=5.6 when simultaneous taking of a photograph on a silver salt film is attempted during exclusively performed picking up of an image on an image pickup device, the amount of light incident on the image pickup device is also affected, disturbing proper picking up of an image.

As another conventional example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent No. S63-284527 discloses a camera which takes a photograph on a silver salt film and picks up an image on an image pickup device, and in which an image thus taken by the image pickup device can be reproduced and observed through a viewfinder. In a camera of this type, it is possible to preview an image frame taken on a silver salt film by displaying a stationary image in an electronic viewfinder.

As still another conventional example, a camera is well known which stops down the aperture of a taking lens without taking a photograph on a silver salt film so that picture effects (such as a depth-of-field effect) achieved by stopping down the aperture can be previewed through an optical viewfinder, that is, a single-lens reflex camera with a so-called preview mechanism.

Although a preview mechanism adopted conventionally in a single-lens reflex camera allows previewing of picture effects, an image provided by such a preview mechanism is dark, because the image is observed with the aperture stopped down. Therefore, the conventional preview mechanism is defective because it does not offer a clear image when the aperture is extremely stopped down. Moreover, if a camera is provided with a mechanism for detecting focus by use of a light beam incident through a taking lens, it is impossible to detect focus during previewing, because a light beam to be used for focus detection is obstructed when the aperture is extremely stopped down.

Further, since a conventional preview mechanism does not allow observation of a stationary image, it is difficult to preview an image photographed on a silver Salt film, and it is impossible to observe picture effects (such as a shaken-image effect) achieved by a change in shutter speed.

On the other hand, although the camera according to Japanese Laid-Open Patent No. S63-284527 allows previewing of an image frame, it does not allow previewing of picture effects achieved by changes in aperture or shutter speed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a camera construction suitable for commercial production of a camera capable of dividing an incident light beam for use in both photographing and observation of an image.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a construction that offers adequate exposure both in taking of a photograph and in picking up of an image in a camera capable of dividing an incident light beam for use both in taking a photograph on a silver salt film and in picking up an image on an image pickup device.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a construction that allows previewing of picture effects achieved by changes in aperture or shutter speed in a camera capable of dividing an incident light beam for use in both photographing and observation of an image.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a construction in which an image is not darkened during previewing of picture effects achieved by changes in aperture or shutter speed in a camera capable of dividing an incident light beam for use in both photographing and observation of an image.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a construction in which focus detection or the like is not hindered by the previewing of picture effects achieved by changes in aperture or shutter speed in a camera capable of dividing an incident light beam for use in both photographing and observation of an image.

To achieve the objects described above, according to a construction of the present invention, a camera, which performs a first imaging by means of a silver salt film and a second image pickup by means of a image pickup device by dividing a light beam incident through an imaging optical system including a first aperture diaphragm, is provided with another imaging optical system having a second aperture diaphragm in a light path of one of the thus divided light beam, said first and second aperture diaphragms being controlled correlatively.

According to another construction of the present invention, a camera, which performs both imaging by means of a photosensitive recording medium and imaging by means of an image pickup device by dividing a light beam incident through an imaging optical system including a first aperture diaphragm, and in which an image taken by the image pickup device can be observed through an electronic viewfinder, is provided with a setting device for setting aperture value of the first aperture diaphragm. A second aperture diaphragm is provided in a path of a light beam traveling to said image pickup device. During imaging on said photosensitive recording medium, said first aperture diaphragm is activated according to a setting by said setting device, while, during the time when imaging on said photosensitive recording medium is not performed, said second aperture diaphragm is activated according to a setting by said setting device, so that imaging on said image pickup device is performed, said electronic viewfinder displaying the thus taken image.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

This and other objects and features of this invention will become clear from the following description, taken in conjunction with the preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanied drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a camera embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of a camera embodying the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a rear view of a camera embodying the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of a camera embodying the present invention;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are top and rear views of a camera of the present invention with its grip portion opened;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a camera of the present invention with its electronic viewfinder drawn out;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a camera of the present invention with its electronic viewfinder swung out;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a camera of the present invention with its viewfinder rotated about its one edge;

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing patterns displayed on the liquid crystal display;

FIG. 11 is a diagram globally showing the internal construction of a camera of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is an aperture diagram schematically showing the internal construction of a camera of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is an aperture diagram showing the optical system construction of a camera of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a light path in a camera of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing screen sizes specifically;

FIGS. 16 to 19 are flow charts showing the operation of a camera of the present invention in its film shooting mode;

FIG. 20 is a flow chart showing the operation of a camera of the present invention in its moving-picture video shooting mode;

FIGS. 21 to 23 are flow charts showing the operation of a camera of the present invention in its simultaneous shooting mode;

FIG. 24 is a diagram showing a light path in a camera of the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 25 to 27 are flow charts showing the operation of a camera of the second embodiment in its film shooting mode;

FIG. 28 is a flow chart showing the operation of a camera of the second embodiment in its moving-picture video shooting mode;

FIGS. 29 to 31 are flow charts showing the operation of a camera of the second embodiment in its simultaneous shooting mode;

FIG. 32 is a diagram showing a light path of the third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 33 is a diagram showing the control of the ND filter of the third embodiment;

FIGS. 34 to 37 are flow charts showing the operation of the third embodiment in its film shooting mode;

FIGS. 38 and 39 are flow charts showing the operation of the third embodiment in its simultaneous shooting mode;

FIG. 40 is a diagram showing a light path of the fourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 41 to 43 are flow charts showing the operation of the fourth embodiment in its film shooting mode;

FIG. 44 is a flow chart showing the operation of the fourth embodiment in its moving-picture video shooting mode;

FIGS. 45 and 46 are flow charts showing the operation of the fourth embodiment in its simultaneous shooting mode;

FIG. 47 is a diagram generally showing the internal construction of the fifth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 48 is a circuit diagram schematically showing the internal construction of the fifth embodiment;

FIGS. 49 and 50 diagrams showing the optical system of the fifth embodiment;

FIG. 51 is a detail view of the focus plate of the fifth embodiment;

FIGS. 52 and 53 are detail views of modified examples of the diffusion plate of the fifth embodiment;

FIG. 54 is a diagram showing a light path in a conventional camera;

FIG. 55 is an explanatory diagram showing the outline of the fifth embodiment;

FIG. 56 is a diagram showing the construction of a diffusion plate;

FIG. 57 is a top view of a camera of the sixth embodiment;

FIG. 58 is a rear view of a camera of the sixth embodiment;

FIG. 59 is a front view of a camera of the sixth embodiment;

FIG. 60 is a bottom view of a camera of the sixth embodiment;

FIG. 61 is a schematic diagram of the construction of the optical system of the sixth embodiment;

FIGS. 62 and 63 are perspective and side views of a camera of the sixth embodiment with the second block drawn out from the first block;

FIGS. 64 and 65 are perspective and side views of a camera of the sixth embodiment with the second and third blocks swung out;

FIG. 66 is a perspective view of a camera of the sixth embodiment with its liquid crystal display unit popped out.

FIG. 67 is a perspective view of a camera of the sixth embodiment in the state for face-to-face shooting;

FIG. 68 is a perspective view of a camera of the sixth embodiment with the liquid crystal display unit in the resting position;

FIGS. 69 and 70 are top and rear views of a camera of the sixth embodiment with its third block opened;

FIGS. 71 and 72 are front and side views of a camera of the sixth embodiment with an expansion unit mounted;

FIG. 73 is a front view of a camera of the sixth embodiment with a vertical-position grip mounted;

FIG. 74 is a front view of a camera of the sixth embodiment mounted on a station instrument;

FIG. 75 is a perspective front view of an image taking apparatus of the seventh embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 76 is a perspective rear view of an image taking apparatus of the seventh embodiment;

FIG. 77 is a perspective diagram showing the internal construction of an image taking apparatus of the seventh embodiment;

FIG. 78 is an outline diagram of the optical system of an image taking apparatus of the seventh embodiment;

FIG. 79 is a perspective view showing the state of an image taking apparatus of the seventh embodiment in use;

FIGS. 80 and 81 are top views of an image taking apparatus of the eighth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 82 is perspective views showing the state of an image taking apparatus of the eighth embodiment in use;

FIGS. 83 and 84 are perspective rear views of an image taking apparatus of the ninth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 85 is a right side view of FIG. 84;

FIG. 86 is a detailed top view of a principal portion of FIG. 83;

FIG. 87 is a perspective rear view of an image taking apparatus of the tenth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 88 is a perspective view showing the state of an image taking apparatus of the tenth embodiment in use;

FIG. 89 is a perspective rear view of an image taking apparatus of the eleventh embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 90 to 92 are perspective views showing the state of an image taking apparatus of the eleventh embodiment in use;

FIG. 93 is a perspective view of an image taking apparatus of the twelfth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 94 is a perspective view showing the state of an image taking apparatus of the twelfth embodiment in use;

FIG. 95 is a perspective diagram showing the internal construction of image taking apparatus of the twelfth embodiment;

FIG. 96 is a perspective view of an image taking apparatus of the thirteenth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 97 is a perspective view showing the state of an image taking apparatus of the thirteenth embodiment in use;

FIGS. 98 and 99 are perspective views of an image taking apparatus of the thirteenth embodiment which functions both as a still camera and as a video camera;

FIG. 100 is a perspective view of an image taking apparatus of the fourteenth embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 101 and 102 are perspective views showing the state of an image taking apparatus of the fourteenth embodiment in use;

FIG. 103 is a perspective front view of an image taking apparatus of the fourteenth embodiment functioning both as a still camera and as a video camera;

FIG. 104 is perspective rear view of an image taking apparatus of the fourteenth embodiment functioning both as a still camera and as a video camera;

FIG. 105 is a perspective diagram showing the internal construction of an image taking apparatus of the fourteenth embodiment functioning both as a still camera and as a video camera;

FIGS. 106 and 107 are perspective views showing the state of an image taking apparatus of the fourteenth embodiment functioning both as a still camera and as a video camera in use.

FIG. 108 is a perspective front view of an image taking apparatus of the fifteenth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 109 is a perspective rear view of an image taking apparatus of the fifteenth embodiment;

FIG. 110 is a perspective view showing the state of an image taking apparatus of the fifteenth embodiment in use;

FIGS. 111 to 120 are external views of a variety of grips that form part of an image taking apparatus of the sixteenth embodiment of the present invention, specifically:

FIG. 111 shows an example of the silver salt film shooting dedicated grip; FIG. 112 shows an example of the dual-purpose grip;

FIG. 113 shows another example of the dual-purpose grip;

FIGS. 114 to 116 show still other examples of the dual-purpose grip;

FIG. 117 shows an example of the accessory attachment portion;

FIG. 118 shows the state of an image taking apparatus of the sixteenth embodiment in use as a camera for silver salt film shooting;

FIG. 119 shows the state of an image taking apparatus of the sixteenth embodiment in use as a camera for moving-picture video shooting;

FIG. 120 shows the state of an image taking apparatus of the sixteenth embodiment with the EVF accessory unfolded;

FIGS. 121 to 124 are external views of a grip accessory for moving-picture video shooting for an image taking apparatus of the sixteenth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 125 is a perspective view of an image taking apparatus of the seventeenth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 126 is side views of an image taking apparatus of the seventeenth embodiment in various states;

FIG. 127 is a bottom view of an image taking apparatus of the seventeenth embodiment;

FIG. 128 is a detail view around the viewfinder switching lever of the seventeenth embodiment;

FIGS. 129 and 130 are schematic diagrams showing the construction of the optical system of the seventeenth embodiment;

FIG. 131 is a rear view of an image taking apparatus of the seventeenth embodiment in the state for vertical-position shooting;

FIGS. 132 and 133 are front and side views of an image taking apparatus of the seventeenth embodiment with an expansion pack for moving-picture shooting mounted;

FIG. 134 is a front view of an image taking apparatus of the seventeenth embodiment mounted on a station instrument;

FIG. 135 is a perspective view of an image taking apparatus of the seventeenth embodiment with an underside grip;

FIGS. 136 and 137 are a perspective view and perspective diagrams showing an example of an image taking apparatus of the seventeenth embodiment with an exchangeable EVF instead of an optical viewfinder;

FIG. 138 is a perspective front view of an image taking apparatus of the eighteenth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 139 is a perspective rear view of an image taking apparatus of the eighteenth embodiment;

FIG. 140 is a perspective diagram showing an internal construction of the image taking apparatus of the eighteenth embodiment;

FIG. 141 is a diagram showing the outline of the optical system of an image taking apparatus of the eighteenth embodiment;

FIG. 142 is a perspective view showing the state of an image taking apparatus of the eighteenth embodiment in use;

FIG. 143 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the construction of a nineteenth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 144 a vertical cross-sectional view showing the construction of a twentieth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 145 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the construction of the principal portion of an twenty-first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 146 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the construction of the principal part of a twenty-second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 147 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the construction of the principal portion of a twenty-third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 148 is horizontal and vertical cross-sectional views showing the construction of the principal portion of a twenty-fourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 149 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the construction of an twenty-fifth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 150 is detail views of the condenser lens constituting the twenty-fifth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 151 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the construction of an twenty-sixth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 152 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the construction of an twenty-seventh embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 153 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the construction of a twenty-eighth embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 154 to 156 are detail views of the condenser lens constituting the twenty-eighth embodiment;

FIG. 157 is an outline construction diagram of the whole optical system of the twenty-ninth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 158 is a detail view of an example of the photometry surface of the photometry device for multiple division photometry;

FIG. 159 is a diagram showing the portion around the mirror box of the optical system of the twenty-ninth embodiment;

FIG. 160 is a diagram showing how a shadow of the AF mirror 4 appears;

FIG. 161 is a diagram showing how far the half-mirror can be moved within the mirror box;

FIG. 162 is a construction diagram of the portion around the mirror box of the optical system of the thirtieth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 163 is a construction diagram of the portion around the mirror box of the optical system of the thirty-first embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the direction perpendicular both to the first light beam and to the second light beam;

FIG. 164 is a construction diagram of the portion around the mirror box of the optical system of the thirty-first embodiment as viewed from the optical axis direction of the second light beam;

FIG. 165 is a construction diagram of the portion around the mirror box of the optical system of the thirty-second embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the direction perpendicular both to the first light beam and to the second light beam;

FIG. 166 is a construction diagram of the portion around the mirror box of the optical system of the thirty-second embodiment as viewed from the optical axis direction of the second light beam;

FIG. 167 is an outline construction diagram showing the optical system of a conventional single lens reflex camera;

FIG. 168 is a diagram for the explanation of arrangement of the photometry device in the camera of FIG. 167;

FIGS. 169 to 172 are diagrams showing how a shadow of the AF mirror appears in the camera of FIG. 167;

FIG. 173 is a cross-sectional view, along the optical axis, of the principal portion of an image taking apparatus of the thirty-third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 174 is a plan view of FIG. 173;

FIG. 175 is an outline diagram of the optical system of an image taking apparatus of the thirty-third embodiment;

FIG. 176 is a flow chart showing the operation of an image taking apparatus of the thirty-third embodiment;

FIG. 177 is a cross-sectional view, along the optical axis, of the principal portion of an image taking apparatus of the thirty-fourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 178 is a cross-sectional view, along the optical axis, of the principal portion of an image taking apparatus of the thirty-fifth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 179 is an outline construction diagram of the optical system of a still camera, in which the subject image of the second light beam having passed through the condenser lens is reversed by a pentaprism and enlarged by an eyepiece;

FIGS. 180 and 181 are external views of a camera of the thirty-sixth to forty-ninth embodiments of the present invention;

FIGS. 182 and 183 are outline diagrams of examples of construction for the thirty-sixth to forty-ninth embodiments;

FIGS. 184 and 185 are outline diagrams of other examples of construction for the thirty-sixth to forty-ninth embodiments;

FIGS. 186, 187, 188, 189, 190, 191 and 192 are outline diagrams of still other examples of construction for the thirty-sixth to forty-ninth embodiments;

FIGS. 193 to 195 are diagrams showing the internal construction of a thirty-sixth embodiment;

FIGS. 196 and 197 are diagrams showing the internal construction of a thirty-seventh embodiment;

FIGS. 198 to 200 are diagrams showing the internal construction of a thirty-eighth embodiment;

FIGS. 201 to 203 are diagrams showing the internal construction of a thirty-ninth embodiment;

FIGS. 204 to 206 are diagrams showing the internal construction of a fortieth embodiment;

FIG. 207 is a diagram showing the internal construction of a forty-first embodiment;

FIG. 208 is a diagram showing the internal construction of a forty-second embodiment;

FIG. 209 is a diagram showing the internal construction of a forty-third embodiment;

FIGS. 210 to 212 are diagrams showing modified versions of the construction shown in FIG. 209;

FIG. 213 is a diagram showing the internal construction of a forty-fourth embodiment;

FIG. 214 is a diagram showing the internal construction of a forty-fifth embodiment;

FIG. 215 is a diagram showing the internal construction of a modified version of the forty-fifth embodiment;

FIG. 216 is a diagram showing the internal construction of a forty-sixth embodiment;

FIG. 217 is a diagram showing the internal construction of a forth-seventh embodiment;

FIG. 218 is a diagram showing the internal construction of a forty-eighth embodiment;

FIG. 219 is a diagram showing the internal construction of a modified version of the arrangement shown in FIG. 218; and

FIG. 220 is a diagram showing the internal construction of a forty-ninth embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to the drawings, an embodiment of the present invention will be described below. This embodiment is a camera which not only takes a photograph on a silver salt or a silver halide film (hereinafter referred to simply as a film) as a photosensitive recording medium, but also allows observation of an image taken by an image pickup device through an electronic viewfinder and, in addition, stores a thus taken image as a still or moving picture on a medium such as a magnetic tape. Instead of a magnetic tape, a variety of media such as a magnetic disk or a magneto-optical disk can be used. It is to be noted that the film used in this embodiment has an electronic recording medium or a magnetic recording layer on a film cartridge or on the surface of the film itself (the recording medium may be separate from the film), so that a camera can record shooting information electronically or magnetically onto said recording medium. Although the following description assumes that information is recorded electronically on the film cartridge, the same description is applicable when information is recorded magnetically on the surface of a film. FIGS. 1 to 4 are external views of a camera embodying the present invention, seen from its front, top, rear, and bottom sides, respectively. Prior to a description of principal portions of the present invention, operation and display members arranged on the external surfaces of the camera will be described first.

As seen from FIGS. 1 to 4, the camera C body has a body portion CB and a grip portion CG. A taking lens TL is removably mounted on the front surface of the body portion CB, The taking lens TL is unlocked at the press of a lens replacement button LR which is provided on the front surface of the camera. An accessory shoe HS for removably mounting a flash is provided on the top surface of the camera body CB. As shown in FIG. 2, a knob FC for replacing a film cartridge is provided at the left end of the body portion CB. A lid of a film cartridge compartment (not shown in the figure) is opened by operation of the knob FC. Further, a deck lid knob DC is provided on the top surface of the grip portion CG. A lid of a deck portion for loading a medius comprising a magnetic tape is opened by operation of the deck lid knob DC. That is, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, when the grip portion CG is rotated about its front end edge line counter-clockwise seen from above, an opening appears between the grip portion CG and the body portion CB, the deck portion coming out therefrom, so that a medium (a magnetic tape) can be removed backward and unloaded.

As to the external construction of this embodiment, a detailed description is given below. As shown in FIG. 2, an operation mode dial 1 for turning on and off the main power of the camera and for selecting an operation mode is provided at the left end of the top surface of the body portion CB. The operation mode dial is provided with and switchable among the following positions: a power-off position OFF for turning the main power off, a simultaneous shooting mode position PM for simultaneously shooting a moving-picture video and taking a photograph on a film, a film shooting mode position PH for exclusively taking a photograph on a film, a moving-picture video shooting mode position MV for exclusively shooting a moving-picture video, a video picture playback mode position V for playing back a stored video picture, a still-picture video shooting mode position SV for shooting a still-picture video, and an edit mode position E for editing shooting information electronically recorded on a film cartridge.

A shutter release butto