 |
Description  |
|
|
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
The disclosures of the following priority applications are herein
incorporated by reference:
Japanese Patent Application No. 10-59496, filed Mar. 11, 1998.
Japanese Patent Application No. 10-63349, filed Mar. 13, 1998.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electronic camera such as a video
camera, a digital still camera or the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, electronic cameras achieved by rotatably linking an
image-capturing unit main body that generates an image by capturing the
optical image of a subject and a display unit main body that displays the
image thus generated have been developed. Under normal circumstances, a
photographic lens and an image capture element are provided at the
image-capturing unit main body of such an electronic camera. In addition,
the display unit main body is provided with a liquid crystal display
(LCD).
By using this electronic camera, the operator can capture an image of the
subject with the photographic lens provided at the image-capturing unit
main body turned in any direction freely, e.g., upward or downward as well
as forward, while monitoring the image on the display screen of the LCD
provided at the display unit main body. In addition, the image can be
reproduced right on the spot where the image has been captured for
verification.
However, since the LCD provided at the display unit main body consumes a
great deal of electric power, the battery becomes depleted quickly and, as
a result, there is a problem in that image capturing cannot be performed
while visually checking images on the display screen on the LCD over an
extended period of time.
Thus, it is desirable that an optical viewfinder be mounted at the
electronic camera so that the subject can be monitored even when the LCD
is turned off.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic camera
having an optical viewfinder provided at a position that assures a high
degree of efficiency, which achieves good weight balance and outstanding
operability.
In order to attain the above object, an electronic camera according to the
present invention comprises: a substantially rectangular parallelepiped
image-capturing unit main body provided with an image-capturing device for
generating an image signal by capturing an optical image formed by a
photographic lens unit; a substantially rectangular parallelepiped display
unit main body provided with an external display device for displaying an
image based upon the image signal generated by the image-capturing device;
and a linking portion that links the image-capturing unit main body and
the display unit main body in a manner that the image-capturing unit main
body and the display unit main body can rotate relative to each other,
wherein: at the display unit main body, a shutter release button is
provided and a grip portion is provided near an end surface furthest away
from the image-capturing unit main body; and at the image-capturing unit
main body, an optical viewfinder unit is provided beside the photographic
lens unit.
In the above electronic camera, preferably: the linking portion links the
image-capturing unit main body and the display unit main body so that one
surface of the substantially rectangular parallelepiped image-capturing
unit main body and one surface of the substantially rectangular
parallelepiped display unit main body face opposite each other; and the
optical viewfinder unit and the photographic lens unit are provided at the
image-capturing unit main body so that optical axes of the optical
viewfinder unit and the photographic lens unit are aligned in a
longitudinal direction of the one surface of the image-capturing unit main
body. Furthermore, preferably, a distance from a first surface of the
image-capturing unit main body at which an objective window of the optical
viewfinder unit is provided to a central axis of rotation and a distance
from a second surface of the image-capturing unit main body at which an
eyepiece window of the optical viewfinder unit is provided to the central
axis are set equal to each other.
Also, preferably, individual components constituting the image-capturing
unit main body and the display unit main body are positioned to ensure
that a center of gravity of the electronic camera is located in the
display unit main body. Furthermore, preferably: a battery chamber for
housing a battery is provided at the display unit main body toward the end
surface; and the photographic lens unit is provided at the image-capturing
unit main body further toward the linking surface relative to the optical
viewfinder unit.
Also, preferably, one or more connector terminals for connection with
external apparatuses are provided at the display unit main body. In this
case, one of the connector terminals for connection with external
apparatuses is an external power source terminal. Preferably, among the
connector terminals for connection with external apparatuses, a digital
input/output terminal is provided at the end surface of the display unit
main body.
Also, preferably, the image-capturing unit main body is further provided
with a flash unit. Furthermore, preferably, the flash unit is provided
with the optical viewfinder unit positioned between the photographic lens
unit and the flash unit.
Also, preferably, the grip portion is formed in an elongated shape and is
provided near the end surface along a longitudinal direction of the end
surface.
Another electronic camera comprises: a substantially rectangular
parallelepiped image-capturing unit main body provided with a photographic
lens unit, a photographic lens unit drive device for driving back and
forth at least a portion of the photographic lens unit and an image
capturing device for generating an image signal by capturing an optical
image formed by the photographic lens unit; a substantially rectangular
parallelepiped display unit main body provided with an external display
device for displaying an image based upon the image signal generated by
the image-capturing device; and a linking portion that links the
image-capturing unit main body and the display unit main body in a manner
that the image-capturing unit main body and the display unit main body can
rotate relative to each other. And the photographic lens drive device is
provided at the image-capturing unit main body on a side that is distanced
across the photographic lens unit from a linking surface linking the
image-capturing unit main body with the display unit main body.
In this electronic camera, preferably, an optical viewfinder unit is
provided at the image-capturing unit main body on the side distanced from
the linking surface, beside the photographic lens unit; and the
photographic lens drive device is provided in a space formed between the
photographic lens unit and the optical viewfinder unit. Furthermore,
preferably, the photographic lens unit is formed in a substantially
cylindrical shape and the space is formed along an external circumference
of the cylindrical shape.
A camera comprising: an optical unit provided with a photographic optical
system that has at least a first lens group and a second lens group and
forms an image of a subject, an image-capturing device that captures an
image of the subject via the photographic optical system, a first drive
device that drives back and forth the first lens group, a second drive
device that drives back and forth the second lens group, and an optical
viewfinder that forms a view field image. And, at the optical unit, the
photographic optical system and the optical viewfinder are provided beside
each other, and the first drive device and the second drive device are
each arranged in either one of two spaces formed between the photographic
optical system and the optical viewfinder in a direction intersecting a
direction in which the photographic optical system and the optical
viewfinder are provided beside each other.
In this camera, preferably, at the optical unit, a guide shaft for both the
first lens group and the second lens group is arranged in a middle space
enclosed by the photographic optical system, the viewfinder optical
system, the first drive device and the second drive device.
Also, preferably, the optical unit has a first sensor for detecting a lens
position of the first lens group and a second sensor for detecting a lens
position of the second lens group; one of the first sensor and the second
sensor is arranged in a space extending from the first drive device along
a direction of lens optical axis; and another one of the second sensor and
the first sensor is arranged in a space extending from the second drive
device along the direction of the lens optical axis.
Also, preferably, the optical unit has: a zoom control device that varies a
zoom quantity for the photographic optical system by controlling the first
drive device and the second drive device; a focal point control device
that varies a focal position of the photographic optical system by
controlling the first drive device; and an interlocking mechanism that
transmits a drive force imparted by the second drive device toward the
optical viewfinder through movement of the second lens group to cause a
lens of the optical viewfinder to engage in a zooming movement.
Furthermore, preferably, a control resolution at the first drive device is
finer than a control resolution at the second drive device. Or,
preferably, the second drive device has a higher thrust and a longer
stroke than the first drive device.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 is an external view of the front of an electronic camera 100 viewed
diagonally from above;
FIG. 2 is an external view of the rear of the electronic camera 100 viewed
diagonally from above;
FIG. 3 is a cross section of the electronic camera 100 along line A--A in
FIG. 2 viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows;
FIG. 4 is a cross section of the electronic camera 100 along line B--B in
FIG. 2 viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows;
FIG. 5 is an external view illustrating the electronic camera 100 during a
photographing operation;
FIG. 6 is an external view of an electronic camera 100;
FIG. 7 is a lateral cross section of the optical unit 103 along line A--A'
in FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is a longitudinal cross section along line B--B' in FIG. 7;
FIG. 9 is a longitudinal cross section along line C--C' in FIG. 7;
FIG. 10 is a longitudinal cross section along line D--D' in FIG. 7;
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The following is an explanation of an embodiment of the present invention
given in reference to FIGS. 1.about.5.
An electronic camera 100 in the embodiment is constituted by linking an
image-capturing unit main body that captures an optical image of a subject
to generate an image and a display unit main body 30 that displays the
image thus generated via a rotatable joint portion 50 as illustrated in
FIG. 1 (an external view of the front viewed diagonally from above). At
the rotatable joint portion 50, two cylindrical members having different
diameters are fitted together in such a manner that they can rotate both
in the forward and reverse directions.
Thus, the image-capturing unit main body 10 and the display unit main body
30 of the electronic camera 100 can rotate freely relative to each other
around a central axis 50a of the rotatable joint portion 50. It is to be
noted, however, that a stopper that restricts the ranges of the rotating
angles of the image-capturing unit main body 10 and the display unit main
body 30 is provided at the area of the rotatable joint portion 50 where
the two members fit together (not shown). The image-capturing unit main
body 10 and the display unit main body 30 both have substantially or
approximately rectangular parallelepiped shapes, which are roughly
identical in shape and size. In addition, the central axis of rotation 50a
mentioned above passes through the centers of the image-capturing unit
main body 10 and the display unit main body 30.
Consequently, when the image-capturing unit main body 10 and the display
unit main body 30 are aligned together without either of them rotated at a
rotating angle of 0.degree. (see FIG. 1), a linking surface 10a of the
image-capturing unit main body 10 that links with the display unit main
body 30 and a linking surface 30a of the display unit main body 30 that
links with the image-capturing unit main body 10 are in complete alignment
with each other, so that the entire electronic camera 100 achieves a thin,
substantially or roughly rectangular parallelepiped shape.
The wiring for electrically connecting the components inside the
image-capturing unit main body 10 and the components inside the display
unit main body 30 are inserted through hollow portions of the cylindrical
members at the rotatable joint portion 50.
Next, the components provided at the image-capturing unit main body 10 and
the components provided at the display unit main body 30 are explained
individually.
As illustrated in FIG. 2 (an external view of the rear seen from diagonally
above), an LCD display window 31 for displaying images and the like is
provided at a rear surface 30b of the display unit main body 30. At the
rear surface 30b, a display button 32 and a zoom button 33 are provided.
Inside the display unit main body 30 in the vicinity of the rear surface
30b, an LCD 41 is provided as illustrated in the sectional view (FIG. 3)
viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows across line A--A in FIG.
2.
The LCD 41 is exposed to the outside through the LCD display window 31
provided at the rear surface 30b. In other words, the display screen of
the LCD 41 is visible from the outside through the LCD display window 31.
The LCD 41 implements display of images sent out from the image-capturing
unit main body 10, reproduction of photographed images, display of setting
menus for the electronic camera 100 and display of a list of functions of
the electronic camera 100.
The display button 32 (FIG. 2) mentioned earlier provided at the rear
surface 30b is operated to switch the display at the LCD 41 and to turn
on/off the LCD. A shutter release button 35 is provided at an upper
surface 30d of the display unit main body 30. At the upper surface 30d, a
display window 36 of the display panel (not shown) and setting buttons 37
are provided.
The setting buttons 37 constitute a group of buttons for setting or
clearing a photographing mode for the electronic camera 100. Photographing
information such as the photographing mode of the electronic camera 100
set by using the setting buttons 37, the number of photographic frames and
the like is displayed on a display panel (not shown), which is visible
through the display window 36.
A digital input/output terminal 45 is provided at an end surface 30e of the
display unit main body 30 which is at the greatest distance from the
image-capturing unit main body 10. A communications cable from an outside
computer is connected to the digital input/output terminal 45. In the
vicinity of the end surface 30e, an elongated grip portion 34 (FIG. 1) is
provided along the longitudinal direction (the direction of the longer
axis) of the end surface 30e. The elongated grip portion 34 projects out
at a front surface 30c of the display unit main body 30.
In the upper portion of the front surface 30c, a video output terminal 46
and an external power source terminal 47 are provided. A cable from a
television set, which is an external apparatus, is connected to the video
output terminal 46. Inside the display unit main body 30 toward the end
surface 30e, a battery chamber 42 for housing a battery is located, as
illustrated in FIG. 3. In addition, inside the display unit main body 30,
a circuit board 43 required for image processing is provided adjacent to
the LCD 41. A loading chamber for a memory card which can be attached and
detached freely (not shown) is also provided inside the display unit main
body 30.
Now, at an upper surface of the image-capturing unit main body 10, a
photographic lens opening portion 11, a viewfinder objective window 12 and
a flash light-emitting window 13 are provided sequentially in that order
starting from the side where the linking surface 10a linking with the
display unit main body 30 is present, as illustrated in FIG. 2. At a lower
surface 10c of the image-capturing unit main body 10, a viewfinder
eyepiece window 14 is provided facing opposite the viewfinder objective
window 12 mentioned earlier.
Inside the image-capturing unit main body 10, a photographic lens unit 21,
an optical viewfinder unit 22 and an electronic flash unit 23 are provided
sequentially in that order starting from the side where the linking
surface 10a linking with the display unit main body 30 is present, as
illustrated in the cross section along line B--B in FIG. 2 viewed in the
direction indicated by the arrows (FIG. 4).
The photographic lens unit 21, the optical viewfinder unit 22 and the
electronic flash unit 23 all have a columnar shape, with their optical
axes aligned in the longitudinal direction of the linking surface 10a
linking with the display unit main body 30.
Consequently, the objective-side photographic lens of the photographic lens
unit 21 is exposed to the outside through the photographic lens opening
portion 11 at the upper surface 10b. At the optical viewfinder unit 22,
the objective side is exposed to the outside through the viewfinder
objective window 12 at the upper surface 10b, whereas its eyepiece side is
exposed to the outside through the viewfinder eyepiece window 14 at the
lower surface 10c. The subject side of the electronic flash unit 23 is
exposed to the outside through the flash light-emitting window 13 at the
upper surface 10b. Specifically, the light from the electronic flash unit
23 is irradiated to the outside through the flash light-emitting window
13.
Inside the image-capturing unit main body 10 (FIG. 4), an image-capturing
element 24 is provided on the image space side of the photographic lens
unit 21. The photographic lens unit 21 comprises a plurality of
photographic lenses for forming the optical image of the subject on the
image-capturing element 24 and a control mechanism that adjusts the
positions of the individual photographic lenses as necessary. By changing
the positions of the photographic lenses, the optical image of the subject
can be enlarged or reduced. The photographic lens positions are changed in
response to instructions issued through the zoom button 33 (FIG. 2) at the
display unit main body 30. While the length of the photographic lens unit
21 in the direction of the optical axis is such that it can be contained
in the longitudinal direction of the image-capturing unit main body 10, as
illustrated in FIG. 4, the length cannot be contained in the lateral
direction (the direction of the shorter axis), i.e., the thicknesswise
direction of the image-capturing unit main body 10 illustrated in FIG. 3.
The optical viewfinder unit 22 indicates to the operator the range over
which photographing is possible. The electronic flash unit 23 emits flash
light to the outside over a specific range through the flash
light-emitting window 13 provided at the upper surface 10b.
At the electronic camera 100 structured as described above, the
image-capturing unit main body 10 and the display unit main body 30 are
made to rotate by a specific angle, as illustrated in FIG. 5, during a
photographing 10 operation so that the photographic lens opening portion
11, the viewfinder objective window 12 and the flash light-emitting window
13 provided at the upper surface 10b of the image-capturing unit main body
10 are turned toward the subject.
As explained above, since the image-capturing unit main body 10 and the
display unit main body 30 are rotatably linked via the rotatable joint
portion 50 in the electronic camera 100 in the embodiment, the
photographic lens opening portion 11 (the photographic lens unit 21) is
positioned toward the subject for photographing by causing the
image-capturing unit main body 10 to rotate relative to the display unit
main body 30 regardless of the direction in which the subject is located.
Since the optical viewfinder unit 22 is provided beside the photographic
lens unit 21 at the rotating image-capturing unit main body 10, the
photographic view angle achieved by the photographic lens unit 21 can be
observed accurately by using the optical viewfinder unit 22 for
photographing regardless of the setting of the rotating angle of the
image-capturing unit main body 10 relative to the display unit main body
30.
Since the electronic flash unit 23 is provided beside the photographic lens
unit 21 at the rotating image-capturing unit main body 10, flash light can
be accurately distributed for photographing regardless of the setting of
the rotating angle of the image-capturing unit main body relative to the
display unit main body 30.
Since the elongated grip portion 34 is provided at the display unit main
body 30 in the electronic camera 100 in the embodiment, the operator can
adjust the angle of his hand holding the elongated grip portion 34
provided at the display unit main body 30 according to the liking of the
operator while maintaining it in the longitudinal direction so that a
stable photographing attitude can be maintained at all times, regardless
of the direction in which the image-capturing unit main body 10 (the
photographic lens unit 21, the optical viewfinder unit 22) is positioned.
In particular, in a photographing operation performed while looking into
the optical viewfinder unit 22, in which the face of the operator and the
electronic camera 100 are placed in close proximity, the photographing
operability is improved by maintaining a stable photographing attitude.
Since the central axis of rotation 50a passes through the center of the
image-capturing unit main body 10 in the electronic camera 100 in the
embodiment, the distance L1 from the upper surface 10b where the
viewfinder objective window 12 is provided to the central axis 50a and the
distance L2 from the lower surface 10c where the viewfinder eyepiece
window 14 is provided to the central axis 50a are set equal to each other,
as illustrated in FIG. 5.
As a result, when the image-capturing unit main body 10 is caused to rotate
relative to the display unit main body 30 to position the photographic
lens unit 21 toward the subject (the state illustrated in FIG. 5), the
lower surface 10c at which the viewfinder eyepiece window 14 is provided
is caused to project out further rearward relative to the display unit
main body 30. Thus, the operator can set his eye close to the viewfinder
eyepiece window 14 without getting the projecting portions of his face
(such as his nose) in the way, so that he can use the viewfinder with
ease.
In addition, since, in the rotated image-capturing unit main body 10, the
side with the upper surface 10b projecting out further forward relative to
the display unit main body 30 and the side with the lower surface 10c
projecting out further rearward relative to the display unit main body 30
are almost balanced with regard to moment, the state of the rotation of
the image-capturing unit main body 10 relative to the display unit main
body 30 is stabilized with good balance so that the rotating angle setting
of the image-capturing unit main body 10 is fixed.
As illustrated in FIG. 3, the battery chamber 42 having the largest weight
inside the display unit main body 30 is located toward the end surface
30e, furthest away from the image-capturing unit main body 10, and the
photographic lens unit 21 having the largest weight within the
image-capturing unit main body 10 is located toward the linking surface
10a, in the electronic camera 100 in the embodiment.
Consequently, even though the optical viewfinder unit 22 and the electronic
flash unit 23 are provided at the image-capturing unit main body 10, the
center of gravity of the electronic camera 100 is located in the display
unit main body 30. When the electronic camera 100 is placed on a table
with the rotational central axis 50a extending in the horizontal direction
in a state in which the image-capturing unit main body 10 is caused to
rotate relative to the display unit main body 30 to position the
photographic lens unit 21 toward the subject (FIG. 5), only a lower
surface 30f of the display unit main body 30 is placed in contact with the
upper surface of the table.
Thus, the image-capturing unit main body 10, which has been caused to
rotate relative to the display unit main body 30 by a specific angle, is
in a state in which it is lifted upward off the upper surface of the table
by a height H. However, since the center of gravity of the electronic
camera 100 is located in the display unit main body 30 as explained above,
the electronic camera 100 placed on the table does not fall toward the
image-capturing unit main body 10. As a result, the electronic camera 100
stands erect with good balance while the lower surface 30f of the display
unit main body 30 stays in contact with the upper surface of the table.
Thus, the electronic camera 100 can be placed on a table without having to
use a tripod to perform self-timer photographing in a stable manner to
achieve maximum convenience in use. In addition, the electronic camera
does not fall toward the image-capturing unit main body to hit the table,
which may result in a shock-induced operating defect. In other words, the
electronic camera 100 achieves both a function of photographing while
accurately monitoring the angle of photographic view with the optical
viewfinder unit 22 and a function of self-timer photographing performed on
a table.
Since the battery chamber 42 (FIG. 3) having the largest weight in the
display unit main body 30 is located toward the end surface 30e furthest
away from the image-capturing unit main body 10, i.e., inside the
elongated grip portion 34 provided at the display unit main body 30, the
operator can hold the electronic camera 100 in a stable manner. Thus, the
operability of the camera in his hand improves.
As illustrated in FIG. 4, the connector terminals (the digital input/output
terminal 45, the video output terminal 46) for connection with external
apparatuses and the external power source terminal 47 are provided at the
display unit main body 30 in the electronic camera 100 in the embodiment.
Consequently, when the electronic camera 100 is placed on a table, it does
not fall toward the image-capturing unit main body 10 due to imbalance
even if specific cables are connected to the terminals 45.about.47, since
the weight of the connected cables works toward the display unit main body
30.
In particular, even when a communications cable mounted with a noise
prevention core for electromagnetic wave prevention is connected to the
digital input/output terminal 45 located at the end surface 30e of the
display unit main body 30, the weight of the connected communications
cable works toward the end surface 30e of the display unit main body 30 so
that the camera stands erect in a stable manner without falling toward the
image-capturing unit main body 10 due to imbalance.
In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 5, since the video output terminal 46
and the external power source terminal 47 are provided in the upper
portion of the front surface 30c of the display unit main body 30, the
operator can perform operations such as photographing and image viewing
while holding the grip portion 34 of the electronic camera 100 without
touching a cable from the television set connected to the video output
terminal 46 or a power source cable connected to the external power source
terminal 47.
Furthermore, since the photographic lens unit 21, the optical viewfinder
unit 22 and the electronic flash unit 23 are provided inside the
image-capturing unit main body 10 with their optical axes aligned in the
longitudinal direction of the linking surface 10a which links with the
display unit main body 30 in the electronic camera 100 in the embodiment
(FIGS. 3 and 4), the image-capturing unit main body 10 can be formed in a
thin, substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape (FIGS. 1 and 2).
Consequently, the entire electronic camera 100 also achieves a thin shape.
Thus, the electronic camera 100 itself can be stored in a compact manner
to improve portability. Specifically, even when the length of the
photographic lens unit 21 in the direction of the optical axis cannot be
contained within the dimension of the electronic camera in the
thicknesswise direction (the direction perpendicular to the display screen
at the display unit), the entire electronic camera 100 achieves a thin
shape by adopting the structure described above.
When performing a photographing operation while viewing the subject through
the viewfinder eyepiece window 14, the power at the LCD 41 (FIG. 3) can be
set to off through an operation performed through the display button 32
(FIG. 2) to save battery power. The photographed image can be checked
through the LCD display window 31 by displaying the image with the power
of the LCD 41 turned on through an operation of the display button 32.
Since the flash light-emitting window 13 is positioned away from the
photographic lens opening portion 11 by a distance corresponding to the
width of the viewfinder objective window 12, the likelihood of living
photographic subjects such as people or animals manifesting the red-eye
phenomenon can be minimized.
Since the electronic flash unit 23 is provided at an isolated position over
the optical viewfinder unit 22, the likelihood of a portion of the
electromagnetic wave generated at the electronic flash unit 23 entering
the transmission path through which image signals are transmitted as noise
to adversely affect the image is eliminated.
Since the photographic lens opening portion 11 is positioned the closest to
the linking surface 10a in the image-capturing unit main body 10, the
likelihood of the photographic lens opening portion 11 becoming covered by
the fingers of the operator is low compared to the likelihood of the flash
light-emitting window 13 and the viewfinder objective window 12 becoming
covered. Thus, the photographic lens opening portion 11 is prevented from
becoming soiled due to contact with fingers. In addition, photographing
errors caused by the photographic lens opening portion 11 being covered by
fingers can be avoided.
Since the shutter release button 35 is located at a position at the display
unit main body 30 that can be easily reached by the operator holding the
electronic camera 100 at the grip portion 34 by gently bending his index
finger, the shutter release button 35 can be operated with a high degree
of reliability even while the operator is looking into the viewfinder
eyepiece window 14.
Since the zoom button 33 is located at a position that can be easily
reached by the operator holding the electronic camera 100 at the grip
portion 34 with his thumb, the zoom button 33 can be operated with a high
degree of reliability even while he is looking into the viewfinder
eyepiece window 14.
Since the setting buttons 37, which are not used during a photographing
operation, are provided at positions that cannot be readily reached by any
fingers when the operator is holding the electronic camera 100 at the grip
portion 34, the error whereby the photographing mode of the electronic
camera 100 is inadvertently changed with a finger touching a setting
button during a photographing operation can be prevented.
The display window 36, too, is provided at a position that cannot be easily
reached by any fingers when the operator is holding the electronic camera
100 at the grip portion 34 and, as a result, since no fingers come in
contact with the display window. Thus, dirt caused by fingerprints and the
like can be prevented.
By providing the mechanism for stabilizing the rotating angle of the
image-capturing unit main body 10 relative to the display unit main body
30 at a desired angle at the fitting area of the rotatable joint portion
50, the rotating angle of the image-capturing unit main body 10 is fixed
to reliably prevent photographing errors caused by camera vibration with
hand tremble.
While the explanation is given above in reference to the embodiment by
citing an example in which the present invention is adopted in a digital
still camera, the present invention may be adopted in a video camera that
handles motion pictures. In that case, an image-capturing button for
performing operations such as a photographing start and a photographing
end should be provided instead of the shutter release button 35 and the
zoom button should be utilized as a switching button for switching among
zoom forward, zoom back, neutral and the like. Furthermore, the present
invention may be adopted in an analog electronic still camera. In other
words, the present invention may be adopted in all types of electronic
cameras having an image-capturing unit main body and a display unit main
body rotatably linked with each other.
Optical Unit
Next, a detailed explanation is given on an optical unit 103 (FIG. 6)
comprising the photographic lens unit (photographing optical system) 21,
the image-capturing element 24 and the optical viewfinder unit 22,
provided inside the image-capturing unit main body 10. FIG. 6 is an
external view of an electronic camera, which, while slightly different
from the electronic camera 100 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 in appearanc | | |
