Camera adapted to faciliate removal and reuse of partially exposed film cassettes

Abstract

Abstract A generally conventional still camera having an exposure counter and adapted to use rewindable cassette loaded film, e.g. a 35 mm camera, includes a selector member movable to an "automatic rewind" position, a "mid-roll rewind" position and a "counter-reset" position. When the selector is in its automatic rewind position, the film is automatically rewound entirely into the cassette after all of the available exposures have been made, as is well known in the prior art. When the selector is moved to the mid-roll rewind position, a partially exposed roll of film is rewound into the cassette, leaving its leader portion extending from the cassette and the film counter continues to display the number of the last unexposed film frame. Preferably, a signal is also displayed in the viewfinder to alert the photographer to the fact that the camera has been adjusted to this mode of rewinding operation. Consequently, the photographer does not lose the opportunity to read and record the number of the next available exposure on the partially exposed film that he has removed from the camera and he is reminded to do so by the signal. After he has recorded that number, the counter is reset manually by means of the selector member in preparation for the next cassette. If the selector member is held in its counter reset position, the film advances continuously while the counter performs in its conventional manner. Thus, after the partially exposed film cassette is reinstalled in the camera, the photographer can advance it to the next available exposure frame by holding the selector member in its counter-reset position until the corresponding number is displayed by the counter.

Inventors

• 👤 Donald M. Harvey

Bibliographic Details