JP2000231053A - Camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily radiate auxiliary light in the case of automatic focus detection regardless of the pop-up state of a stroboscope by preventing a stroboscope from emitting light inadvertently when a photographer does not require electronic flash photographing. SOLUTION: This camera is provided with an electronic flash photographing mode setting means 36 setting a mode in which an electronic flash light emitting means 4 is used at the time of photographing or a mode in which the means 4 is not used, an electronic flash light control means 30 inhibiting or permitting electronic flash light emission at the time of photographing in a state where the stroboscope is made to pop up and an auxiliary light emitting means allowing the means 4 to emit the light as the auxiliary light for an automatic focus detection means 17. When the means 36 sets the mode in which the means 4 is not used at the time of photographing and the auxiliary light for the means 17 is required, the stroboscope is made to pop up and the auxiliary light is emitted, and the means 30 inhibits the electronic flash light emission at the time of photographing.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a camera having a focus detection device, and more particularly to a camera having an auxiliary light source for automatic focus detection.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a camera having an automatic focus detection device, particularly a camera that performs focus detection by a phase difference detection method, has a focus detection capability when the brightness of a subject is insufficient or the contrast is insufficient. In some cases, an auxiliary light for focus detection is applied to a subject to raise the focus.

As a light source for irradiating the auxiliary light,
2. Description of the Related Art A camera that illuminates a subject using a flash device built in the camera is commercially available.

Many of these cameras pop up only when using a strobe and do not use a strobe in order to reduce the red-eye phenomenon caused by flash photography and to arrange as far as possible from the optical axis of the photographing lens. Sometimes there are many things stored.

[0005] Since the auxiliary light means for automatic focus detection using these strobes is premised on the use of the strobe also at the time of photographing, when the auxiliary light means is used, the strobe light is automatically emitted also at the time of photographing. Is being done.

[0006]

In the above-described conventional example, when the strobe is not used, the strobe is stored in the camera body, so that when the brightness of the subject is insufficient,
When automatic focus detection is not possible, such as when contrast is insufficient, the built-in flash is automatically popped up and used as flashlight auxiliary light, so carelessness is required even though the photographer does not need flash photography However, there is a problem that a strobe light is emitted.

There is also a method in which the strobe light is not popped up automatically but is manually popped up only when strobe light is required. However, in this method, the auxiliary light cannot be irradiated at the time of automatic focus detection. There is a problem.

An object of the present invention is to prevent the flash from being accidentally emitted when the photographer does not need flash photography, and to perform automatic focus detection regardless of the pop-up state of the flash. An object of the present invention is to provide a camera which can easily emit auxiliary light.

[0009]

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an automatic focus detecting means for detecting an in-focus position of a subject and a built-in camera body, which pops up from the camera body when used. A strobe light emitting means for strobe light emission, a strobe shooting mode setting means for setting a mode in which the strobe light emitting means is used or not used in shooting, and a strobe light emission prohibition or permission in a state where the strobe is popped up. A camera having strobe light emission control means and auxiliary light emission means for causing the strobe light emission means to emit light as auxiliary light for the automatic focus detection means,
When the flash photography mode setting unit does not use the flash emission unit at the time of photographing, and the auxiliary light by the auxiliary light emission unit is required, the flash emission unit is popped up, and the flash emission control unit emits the flash emission. It is characterized by prohibition.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, if the mode is changed to a mode using a strobe by the strobe photographing mode setting unit after the auxiliary light is emitted by the auxiliary light emitting unit, the strobe light emission control unit controls the strobe during the photographing. Is characterized by emitting light.

The flash mode at the time of photographing has an automatic flash mode and a manual flash mode, and an automatic focus detecting means for detecting a focus position of a subject, and a built-in camera body for use. A strobe light emitting unit that pops up from the flash unit, a strobe shooting mode setting unit that sets a mode in which the strobe light emitting unit is used or not used in shooting, and a strobe that inhibits or permits light emission in shooting when the strobe is popped up. In a camera having a light emission control unit and an auxiliary light emission unit that emits the strobe emission unit as auxiliary light for automatic focus detection, in a manual emission mode, the automatic focus detection is performed in a mode in which the strobe emission unit is not used during shooting. When auxiliary light for With pop up flash output means, at the time of shooting and inhibits the flash emission by the flash light emission control means.

Further, according to any one of claims 1 to 3, when the auxiliary light is emitted by the auxiliary light emitting means, and the strobe is not emitted at the time of photographing, the strobe light is emitted by the strobe emission control means. It is characterized by having a display means for displaying that no operation is performed.

The flash mode at the time of photographing has an automatic flash mode and a manual flash mode, and an automatic focus detecting means for detecting the in-focus position of the subject, and a built-in camera body. A strobe light emitting unit that pops up from the flash unit, a strobe shooting mode setting unit that sets a mode in which the strobe light emitting unit is used or not used in shooting, and a strobe that inhibits or permits light emission in shooting when the strobe is popped up. In a camera having light emission control means and auxiliary light emitting means for emitting the strobe light as auxiliary light for automatic focus detection, after the auxiliary light is emitted by the auxiliary light emission means, When switching to the mode using the flash , Cameras and performs light emission of the strobe by the strobe light emission control means at the time of photographing.

Further, in any one of the first to fifth aspects, the flash photographing mode setting means is provided in a creative zone of a mode dial for setting various photographing modes in accordance with an index.

According to the above-described configuration, when the auxiliary light is required, the strobe is popped up to emit the auxiliary light, and the emission of the built-in strobe is prohibited or permitted. Irrespective of the pop-up state, when the auxiliary light is required, the auxiliary light is emitted, and it is possible to select whether or not to use the strobe light at the time of photographing according to the photographer's intention. In addition, even when the flash photography mode has an automatic light emission mode and a manual light emission mode, the light emission of only the auxiliary light can be similarly performed in the manual light emission mode.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (First Embodiment) A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a front view of the camera of the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is a top view of the camera of the present embodiment,
FIG. 3 is a view of the camera of this embodiment as viewed from the back, FIG. 4 is a view of the camera of this embodiment as viewed from the side, FIG. 4A is a state in which a built-in flash is stored, and FIG. ) Indicates a state in which the built-in flash is popped up.

Reference numeral 1 denotes a camera body according to the present embodiment;
Is an interchangeable lens that can be attached to and detached from the camera body 1, and 3 is a lens removal button for detaching the interchangeable lens from the camera body 1.

Reference numeral 4 denotes a built-in flash housed in the camera body 1, reference numeral 5 denotes an accessory shoe for attaching an external flash or the like to the camera body 1, and reference numeral 6 denotes a finder for confirming a photographing subject.

Reference numeral 7 denotes a main switch for switching between operation and non-operation of the camera, 8 denotes a mode dial for switching between various photographing modes of the camera, and 9 denotes an electronic dial for inputting various values such as a shutter speed and an aperture value of the camera. .

Reference numeral 10 denotes a release switch which is a two-stage switch for starting photometry and distance measurement and for performing release, and reference numeral 11 denotes a print type switch for switching a print type printed after film development.

Reference numeral 12 denotes an AE lock switch for performing AE lock photographing, 13 denotes a combination with the electronic dial 9, an exposure correction switch for performing exposure correction, 14 denotes a built-in flash switch for using the built-in flash 4,
Reference numeral 15 denotes a self-timer switch for using a self-timer built in the camera, and 16 denotes a film rewind switch for rewinding the mounted film.

Reference numeral 17 denotes an automatic focus for switching between an automatic focus detection mode, a one-shot mode in which the focus is fixed at a focused position, and a servo mode in which a moving subject is detected continuously and the focus is always tracked. It is a detection mode switch (AF mode switch).

Reference numeral 18 denotes an automatic exposure shift switch (AEB switch) for performing automatic exposure shift photographing, and 19 denotes an all-frame same print switch (FTPM switch) for designating all-frame same-condition printing.

Reference numeral 20 denotes an external liquid crystal display unit comprising a liquid crystal display member for displaying various setting states of the camera, the number of shots, whether or not the built-in flash is used, and the like.
Is a red-eye reduction lamp for alleviating the red-eye phenomenon that occurs during flash photography.

Next, FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a state in which the strobe 4 built in the camera body 1 is used for auxiliary light for automatic focus detection or strobe shooting, and the built-in strobe is popped up. It is a figure of a state.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a display state of the external display member. The display when the built-in strobe light is emitted is shown in FIG.
FIG. 6B shows a display when the emission of the built-in strobe is prohibited.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an electric control block of the camera according to the present embodiment. Reference numeral 22 denotes a microcomputer for controlling the entire camera, and reference numeral 23 denotes a memory built in or external to the microcomputer 22. The RAM 24 is EEPR which is a non-volatile memory means built in or external to the microcomputer 22.
OM.

Numeral 25 is connected to the microcomputer 22 for measuring the luminance of the object, 26 is connected to the microcomputer 22 and a distance measuring circuit for performing auto-focusing, and 27 is a micro computer 22
Is a shutter drive circuit for driving a shutter at the time of photographing, and a stop drive circuit 28 for stopping down an aperture (not shown) provided in the interchangeable lens 2 and returning the aperture to an open state.

Reference numeral 29 denotes a display unit which is a display element portion of the liquid crystal display unit 20 installed on the back of the camera body 1.

Reference numeral 30 denotes a flash control circuit for controlling the light emission of the built-in flash 4 of the camera body 1 under the control of the microcomputer 22, and 31 denotes a flash control circuit 3.
A strobe light emitting circuit 32 whose light emission is controlled by 0, a strobe pop-up circuit 32 controlled by the microcomputer 22 to pop up the built-in strobe 4 from the camera body 1, and which pops up the built-in strobe 4 by a magnet (not shown). It is.

Reference numeral 33 denotes a flash light emitting unit which is controlled to emit light by the flash light emitting circuit 31 and is controlled to be popped up by the camera body 1 by the flash pop-up circuit 32.

Reference numeral 34 denotes a release first switch for turning on the release switch 10 which is a two-stage switch when the release switch 10 is half-pressed to start photometry and distance measurement, hereinafter referred to as SW1.

Reference numeral 35 denotes a release second switch for turning on the release switch 10 when the release switch 10 is fully depressed to start exposure, hereinafter referred to as SW2.

Reference numeral 36 denotes a strobe switch for switching between use and non-use of the built-in strobe 4. The microcomputer 22 detects that the strobe switch 36 is turned on, and determines whether the built-in strobe 4 is used during exposure or not. Switch. By this switching operation, the flash photography mode and the non-flash photography mode are switched.

Reference numeral 37 denotes an electrical detection unit of the electronic dial 9. The microcomputer 22 detects the movement of the detection unit 37 and changes various information.

38 is a film loaded in the camera body 1, 39 is controlled by the microcomputer 22,
A film detection circuit 40 for detecting the position of the film 38 is driven by the film detection circuit.
A photo sensor 41 for detecting the position of 8 is controlled by the microcomputer 22 to wind up the film 38,
A film feeding circuit 42 for rewinding is a film feeding motor driven by the film feeding circuit 41 to wind up and rewind the film 38.

FIGS. 8 and 9 are flow charts of the photometry, distance measurement and photographing operations of the microcomputer 22 of the camera according to the present embodiment. The operation of the camera according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to these figures. explain.

When the main switch 10 of the camera body 1 changes from L (lock) to A (auto), the microcomputer 22 starts operation from # 101.

In step # 101, an initialization operation of the RAM 23, various control circuits, and the like is performed, and the flow advances to step # 102.

In # 102, it is determined whether or not SW1_34, which is the first stroke switch of the release switch 10, is turned on.
Go to # 3, if not on, return to # 102,
Wait for SW1_34 to turn on.

In step # 103, the photometry circuit 25 is operated to measure the brightness of the subject, and from the information on the brightness and the film sensitivity, the optimal shutter speed and aperture value according to the shooting mode are obtained. A display is made at 29, and the flow proceeds to # 104.

In step # 104, the distance measuring circuit 26 is operated to perform a distance measuring operation by a well-known focus detection method using the TTL phase difference detection method, and then proceeds to step # 105.

In step # 105, it is determined whether or not the distance measurement in the distance measuring operation performed in step # 104 has failed to perform the distance measurement because the distance of the object is low, the contrast of the object is small, or the object is dark. If the distance could not be measured (ranging NG), the flow proceeds to # 106, and if the distance could be measured, the flow proceeds to # 111.

In # 106, the reason why the distance could not be measured in # 104 is that if the object could not be measured because the subject was dark,
If the subject is illuminated by illuminating the subject with the auxiliary light, it may be possible to measure the distance.
In step 107, if the distance cannot be measured because the subject is bright, there is little possibility that the distance can be measured even when illuminated with the auxiliary light. Therefore, it is determined that the auxiliary light is not necessary, and the flow proceeds to # 108.

In # 107, the distance is measured by irradiating the subject with the auxiliary light, and the flow proceeds to # 109. The details of the auxiliary light ranging operation here will be described later.

In step # 108, the reason that the distance could not be measured in step # 104 is not that the subject could not be measured because the object was dark. Therefore, the lens was measured by the well-known TTL phase difference detection type distance measuring method. Or move to the infinite end to perform distance measurement, search operation distance measurement, and proceed to # 109.

In step # 109, it is determined whether or not the in-focus position has been detected from the results of the auxiliary light distance measurement and the search distance measurement performed in steps # 107 and # 108.
The process proceeds to # 1, and if the in-focus position has not been detected, the process proceeds to # 110.

In step # 110, even if the normal distance measurement and the auxiliary light distance measurement or the search distance measurement are performed, the in-focus position of the subject cannot be detected, so that the distance measurement is impossible and the automatic focusing cannot be performed (autofocus NG). Is displayed on the display unit 29 and the operation is terminated.

In step # 111, the amount of focus drive up to the in-focus position of the mounted lens 2 is calculated in accordance with the distance measurement results so far, and the flow advances to step # 112.

In step # 112, the lens driving circuit (not shown) installed in the interchangeable lens 2 is operated to
Is driven to the in-focus position, and # 11
Proceed to 3.

In step # 113, it is determined whether or not the built-in flash 4 built in the camera body 1 is in a pop-up state. If not, proceed to # 116.

In step # 114, it is determined whether or not the flash mode set by the flash switch 36 is in the flash use mode. If not, it is determined that the flash emission is prohibited. 1
Proceed to step # 16, and if the mode is the strobe use mode, go to step # 11.
Go to 5.

In step # 115, since the strobe is in the use mode, the strobe light emission permission is issued to the strobe control circuit 30 and the process proceeds to # 116. Normally, in the initialization operation of step # 101, the flash control circuit 26 is in a state in which flash emission is prohibited.

In step # 116, it is determined whether or not SW2_35, which is the second stroke switch of the release switch 10, is turned on. If it is turned on, the process proceeds to step # 118, and if not, the process proceeds to step # 117. move on.

In # 117, it is determined whether or not SW1_34 is turned on. If it is turned on, the process returns to # 116, and # 116, # 1 is continued until SW2_35 is turned on.
Operation 17 is repeated, and if SW1_34 is not turned on, it is determined that the photographing operation is not performed, and the operation ends.

In the present embodiment, once the lens is driven to the in-focus position, the distance measuring operation is not performed while SW1_34 is on and SW2_35 is off. When the lens moves, for example, there is a method in which the lens is driven to follow the movement of the subject and the focus position is always maintained.

In step # 118, the aperture driving circuit 28 is operated to stop down the aperture to the aperture value obtained by the photometry operation in step # 103 or to the aperture value set by the photographer, and the flow advances to step # 119.

In step # 119, the shutter control circuit 27 is operated to open and close the shutter at the shutter speed determined by the photometric operation in step # 103 or the shutter speed set by the photographer, thereby exposing the film 38. 1
Go to 20. Here, if the built-in strobe is popped up and the strobe light emission is permitted, the strobe control circuit 30 operates the strobe light emission circuit when the shutter is fully opened to emit light of a predetermined light emission amount. Do.

In step # 120, the aperture control circuit 28 is operated to return the aperture stopped down in step # 118 to the open state, and the microcomputer 22 ends a series of photometry, distance measurement, and photographing operations.

Next, the details of the auxiliary light ranging operation at # 107 will be described.

The auxiliary light ranging operation starts from # 121, and determines whether or not the built-in flash 4 is in a pop-up state from the camera body 1. If the built-in flash 4 is in a pop-up state (during flash pop-up), go to # 123. Proceed to # 122 unless pop-up is occurring.

In step # 122, the flash pop-up circuit 32 is operated to pop up the built-in flash 4, and the flow advances to step # 123. At this time, if the built-in strobe has not been charged, a charging operation is performed.

In step # 123, the distance measuring circuit 26 is operated to start the operation of accumulating the subject image on the sensor.
The strobe light emission circuit is operated by the strobe control circuit 30 to intermittently emit the strobe light, the object image is detected while illuminating the object, and the process proceeds to # 124.

In step # 124, distance measurement is performed based on the subject image detected while illuminating the auxiliary light in step # 123, and the flow advances to step # 125.

In step # 125, it is determined whether or not the distance was measured based on the result of the distance calculation performed in step # 124. If the distance could not be measured (distance measurement NG), the process proceeds to step # 126, and the distance was measured. Sometimes it proceeds to # 135.

In # 126, it is determined whether or not the focal position of the photographing lens 2 is at the closest end. If it is, the process proceeds to # 131, and if it is not, the process proceeds to # 12.
Go to 7.

In step # 127, the focal position of the photographing lens 2 is moved to the closest end, and the flow advances to step # 128.

In step # 128, as in step # 123, the strobe light is intermittently emitted to detect a subject image, and the flow advances to step # 129.

In step # 129, a distance measurement calculation is performed in the same manner as in step # 124, and the flow advances to step # 130.

In # 130, as in # 125, # 12
9, if the distance cannot be measured based on the distance calculation result
G) Proceed to # 131, and if distance measurement is possible, proceed to # 135.

In step # 131, the focal position of the photographing lens 2 is moved to the infinite end, and the flow advances to step # 132.

In # 132 and # 133, # 128 and # 1
Similar to 29, the distance measurement and the distance measurement calculation are performed by emitting the auxiliary light, and the process proceeds to # 134.

In # 134, the distance measurement NG is performed similarly to # 130.
Is determined, if the distance measurement is NG, the process proceeds to # 136. If the distance measurement is completed, the process proceeds to # 135.

In # 135, it is determined that the distance measurement has been completed (the distance measurement O
K) End the auxiliary light ranging.

In step # 136, it is determined that the distance cannot be measured because the distance could not be measured even though the auxiliary light was emitted at the initial focal position, the closest end, and the infinite end of the interchangeable lens 2 to measure the distance. (Distance measurement NG) The auxiliary light distance measurement ends.

Next, a brief description will be given of strobe pop-up, light emission operation, and strobe mode display according to the present embodiment with reference to FIG.

At step # 137, it is determined whether or not the flash mode shooting mode has been set.
Proceed to 39, if not in the flash mode, # 128
Proceed to.

In # 138, it is determined whether or not auxiliary light is necessary. If auxiliary light is necessary, the flow proceeds to # 141, and if no auxiliary light is required, the flow proceeds to # 140.

In # 139, it is determined whether or not auxiliary light is necessary. If auxiliary light is necessary, the process proceeds to # 143, and if no auxiliary light is necessary, the process proceeds to # 142.

In step # 140, since no auxiliary light is required and the flash photography mode is not set, no flash pop-up is performed and no flash emission is performed. At this time, the display on the display unit does not display a strobe, and the meaning of the display means that the strobe does not emit light.

Step # 141 is a case where the flash photography mode is not used, but an auxiliary light is required. The flash is popped up and only the auxiliary light is emitted. The display on the display at this time is a display meaning that flash emission is prohibited as shown in the figure, and means that flash emission is not performed at the time of exposure.

# 142 is a flash photography mode, which does not require auxiliary light. In this case, the flash is popped up, and the flash is emitted only at the time of exposure. The display on the display unit at this time is a display meaning that flash light emission is performed at the time of exposure.

# 143 is a flash photography mode.
In some cases, an auxiliary light is also required. In this case, the flash is popped up, and the auxiliary light is emitted and the strobe is emitted during exposure. The display on the display unit at this time is a display meaning that flash light emission is performed at the time of exposure.

As described above, the built-in flash which emits light by popping up from the camera body, means for the photographer to set whether or not to use the built-in flash at the time of exposure, and automatic focus detection using the built-in flash which pops up Even if it is set to use no strobe at the time of exposure, if the auxiliary light is needed, the built-in flash pops up and emits only the auxiliary light,
The display unit is configured to display an image without emitting a flash.

In the embodiments described above, the case where the built-in strobe is not popped up is described. However, even in the pop-up state of the built-in strobe, the strobe switch 36 switches from the strobe mode using the strobe at the time of exposure to the exposure mode. When the mode is switched to the non-strobe mode that does not use the strobe at some times, the strobe light is emitted only when the auxiliary light is necessary, and the strobe light is not emitted at the time of shooting.

That is, even in the flash pop-up state, by switching the flash switch 36, it is possible to switch to a mode in which no flash is used, and to set a mode in which no flash is emitted at the time of photographing.

When the mode is switched from the non-flash mode to the flash mode, the auxiliary light is emitted when the auxiliary light needs to be emitted, and the flash is emitted at the time of exposure.

Further, even when the strobe mode is switched after the auxiliary light is emitted, the switched strobe mode is prioritized, and if the photographer switches to the strobe mode after the auxiliary light is emitted, the strobe light is also emitted during exposure. I can do it.

(Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
The embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

In the camera shown here, the strobe light emission mode at the time of photographing is determined by the photographer. The strobe manual light emission mode is used by the photographer to determine whether the built-in flash is used or not, and the camera automatically uses the built-in flash. There is an automatic activation mode that determines whether to use or not to use.

The configuration of the camera according to the present embodiment is the same as that shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 shown in the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing details of the mode dial 8 shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, wherein various photographing modes are set in accordance with the index.

Here, the function setting zone is a zone for setting and confirming various data for photographing, and the creative zone is a program AE mode, a shutter priority AE mode, an aperture priority AE mode, a manual exposure mode, and a depth priority AE mode. There is a zone where the photographer can make various settings according to his or her intentions, the fully automatic mode is a mode in which all shooting functions are set fully automatically, and the image zone is a photographer for portrait, landscape, macro, sports, night view, etc. Is a mode in which the optimum settings are automatically set by matching the shooting mode.

Of these modes, the creative zone is a strobe manual flash mode in which it is possible to arbitrarily set whether or not to perform photographing using the built-in strobe in order to reflect the photographer's intention of drawing.

In the fully automatic mode and the image zone, the microcomputer 22 of the camera automatically determines whether or not to perform flash photography at the time of photography in accordance with each mode, and automatically performs flash emission. It has become.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the relationship between the auxiliary light emission and the flash light emission at the time of exposure in the manual flash mode and the automatic light emission mode in FIG. 10. In step # 201, the flash light emission mode is set to the automatic light emission mode. It is determined whether or not there is, and if the mode is the automatic light emission mode, the process proceeds to # 202.

In step # 202, since the automatic light emission mode is set, it is determined whether or not strobe light emission is necessary at the time of exposure. If the strobe light emission is necessary, the process proceeds to step # 204, and if not, the process proceeds to step # 208.

In # 203, since the flash mode is the manual flash mode, it is determined whether or not the state set by the flash switch 36 is the flash shooting mode. If not, go to # 205.

In # 204, it is determined whether or not auxiliary light is necessary. If auxiliary light is necessary, the flow proceeds to # 207, and if no auxiliary light is required, the flow proceeds to # 206.

In # 205, it is determined whether or not auxiliary light is necessary. If auxiliary light is necessary, the flow proceeds to # 209, and if not, the flow proceeds to # 208.

Step # 206 is a case where no auxiliary light is required, and a case where a flash light emission is required at the time of exposure in a flash photography mode or a flash automatic emission mode.
In this case, the flash is popped up, and the flash is emitted only at the time of exposure. The display on the display unit at this time is a display meaning that flash light emission is performed at the time of exposure.

Step # 207 is a case where auxiliary light is required, and a case where flash light emission is required at the time of exposure in a flash photography mode or a flash automatic light emission mode. Auxiliary light emission and strobe light emission during exposure are performed. The display on the display unit at this time is a display meaning that flash light emission is performed at the time of exposure.

# 208 is a flash automatic flash mode.
There is no need to use the flash at the time of exposure, or in the flash manual flash mode, there is no need for the auxiliary light in addition to the flash shooting mode.
No flash light is emitted. At this time, the display on the display unit does not display a flash, and the meaning of the display means that the flash is not emitted. In the automatic strobe light emission mode, the subject is bright in a state where strobe light emission is not required. If focus detection cannot be performed, the possibility of focus detection being low even if auxiliary light is irradiated is low, so that no auxiliary light emission is performed.

Step # 209 is a flash manual flash mode, which is not a flash shooting mode, but requires auxiliary light. The flash is popped up and only the auxiliary light is emitted. At this time, as shown in the figure, the display on the display unit is a display meaning that flash emission is prohibited, and means that flash emission is not performed at the time of exposure.

As described above, when the strobe light emission mode is the automatic light emission mode, the strobe light is emitted at the time of photographing according to the brightness of the subject, and when the auxiliary light is required, the auxiliary light is emitted. I have.

When the flash mode is the manual flash mode, a built-in flash which emits light by popping up from the camera body, means for the photographer to set whether or not to use the built-in flash at the time of exposure are popped up. Auxiliary light emission means for automatic focus detection using built-in strobe.Even if the strobe is not used at the time of exposure, if built-in light is required, the built-in strobe pops up and emits only auxiliary light. In addition, the display unit is configured to display an image without emitting a strobe.

[0108]

As described above, according to the present invention, when auxiliary light is required, the strobe is popped up to emit the auxiliary light, and the emission of the built-in strobe is prohibited or permitted. By doing so, regardless of the pop-up state of the strobe, it is now possible to select whether to emit the auxiliary light when necessary, and whether or not to use the strobe during shooting according to the photographer's intention. . Also,
Even in the case where the flash photography mode has an automatic light emission mode and a manual light emission mode, the light emission of only the auxiliary light can be similarly performed in the manual light emission mode.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a camera showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the camera showing the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the camera showing the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the camera showing the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an electric control block diagram of the camera system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a display unit of the camera according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the microcomputer according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an auxiliary light ranging operation according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a relationship between strobe light emission modes according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a mode dial of a camera according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between strobe light emission modes according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Camera main body 2 ... Shooting lens 4 ... Built-in flash 7 ... Main switch 8 ... Mode dial 10 ... Release switch of photometric distance measurement 14 ... Built-in flash switch 22 ... Microcomputer 25 ... Photometric circuit

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An automatic focus detecting means for detecting an in-focus position of a subject, a strobe light emitting means built in a camera body and popping up from the camera body to emit a strobe light when used, and using the strobe light emitting means at the time of photographing. Flash photography mode setting means for setting a mode or a mode not to be used; flash light emission control means for prohibiting or permitting flash light emission at the time of photographing in a state where the flash is popped up; A supplementary light emitting means for emitting light as auxiliary light for the camera, wherein the strobe photographing mode setting means does not use the strobe light emitting means at the time of photographing, and when the supplementary light by the supplementary light emitting means is required. Pop up the strobe light emitting means, and A camera characterized in that strobe light emission is prohibited by flash light emission control means. 2. The strobe light emission control means according to claim 1, wherein when the mode is switched to a mode using a strobe by said strobe photography mode setting means after emission of said auxiliary light by said auxiliary light emission means, said strobe light emission control means at the time of photographing. A camera that emits light. 3. A flash light emission mode at the time of photographing includes an automatic flash light emission mode and a flash light emission mode, and an automatic focus detection means for detecting a focus position of a subject.
A strobe light emitting unit that is built into the camera body and pops up from the camera body at the time of use, a strobe shooting mode setting unit that sets a mode in which the strobe light emitting unit is used or not used in shooting, and a state in which the strobe is popped up. In a camera having a strobe light emission control means for prohibiting or permitting light emission at the time of photographing and an auxiliary light emission means for emitting the strobe light emission as auxiliary light for automatic focus detection, in a manual light emission mode, a strobe light emission at the time of photographing is performed. A camera in which no strobe light is popped up when auxiliary light for automatic focus detection is required in a mode in which no strobe light is used, and strobe light emission is inhibited by the strobe light emission control means during photographing. . 4. The strobe light emission control means according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary light emission means emits auxiliary light, and the strobe light emission control means emits strobe light when the strobe light emission is not performed during photographing. A camera having display means for displaying that no operation is performed. 5. A flash light emission mode at the time of shooting includes an automatic flash light emission mode and a flash light emission mode, and an automatic focus detection means for detecting a focus position of a subject.
A strobe light emitting unit that is built into the camera body and pops up from the camera body at the time of use, a strobe shooting mode setting unit that sets a mode in which the strobe light emitting unit is used or not used in shooting, and a state in which the strobe is popped up. A camera having strobe light emission control means for inhibiting or permitting light emission at the time of photographing, and auxiliary light emission means for emitting the strobe light emission means as auxiliary light for automatic focus detection. A camera characterized in that when the mode is switched to a mode in which a strobe is used by the strobe photographing mode setting means after light emission, the strobe light is emitted by the strobe light emission control means at the time of photographing. 6. A camera according to claim 1, wherein said flash photography mode setting means is provided in a creative zone of a mode dial for setting various photography modes in accordance with an index. .