Camera having a mechanism for automatically changing from an automatic programming exposure range to a flash automatic exposure range

Claim 1

A camera for changing over automatically to an automatic programming exposure range and to a flash automatic exposure range, comprising: a variable speed shutter provided with a variable diaphragm; a release lever for said shutter; an exposure meter having an indicator; first and second indicator-detecting members arranged for being displaced in accordance with the pressing down of said shutter release lever to detect the indicator position at its first stage of stroke; an adjusting lever for following said second indicator-detecting member; said first indicator-detecting member having a step-shaped indicator stopping portion to engage with said indicator so as to vary the degree of displacement of said first member, and further having a constant indicator stopping portion for maintaining the displacement of said first member constant, said stopping portions thereby defining an automatic programming exposure range, and said stopping portions being so disposed with respect to the stroke of said indicator as to define a flash exposure rangE for said first member when said pointer is out of engagement with said portions; said second indicator-detecting member having a flat adjusting portion to engage with said indicator so as to maintain the displacement of said second member constant when said indicator is in the automatic programming exposure range of said first member during engagement with said step-shaped indicator stopping portion, and further having a stepped adjusting portion to engage with said indicator for changing the displacement of said second member when said indicator engages with said constant indicator stopping portion, said adjusting portions thereby defining an automatic programming exposure range of said second member, and said adjusting portions being so disposed with respect to the stroke of said indicator as to define a flash exposure range for said second member when said pointer is out of engagement with said adjusting portions; a means for controlling the shutter speed from the speed appropriate to the flash exposure range to the highest speed in accordance with the displacement of said first indicatordetecting member when said indicator is in its automatic programming exposure range, and for holding said shutter speed for the flash photographing range when said indicator is in its flash exposure range; and a means for controlling said diaphragm in accordance with the displacement of said second indicator-detecting member when said indicator is in its automatic programming exposure range, and for adjusting said adjusting lever in accordance with the photographic distance to set up said diaphragm when said indicator is in its flash exposure range.