Camera having a pseudo format

Claim 2

A camera comprising: optical system capable of changing its real focal length between a short focal length and a long focal length; means for designating a desired focal length; means for generating a magnification signal representing a magnification selected between a first magnification and second magnification greater than said first magnification when the real focal length of said optical system is set to said short focal length, and selected between a third magnification and a fourth magnification greater than said third magnification when the real focal length of said optical system is set to long focal length, a first product of said long focal length and said third magnification being smaller than a second product of said short focal length and said second magnification; means for setting the real focal length of said optical system in accordance with said desired focal length designated, so as to set the real focal length to said short focal length when said desired focal length is shorter than said first product, to set the real focal length to said long focal length when said desired focal length is longer than said second product, and to maintain the real focal length set at present when said desired focal length is longer than said first product but shorter than said second product; and means for determining and magnification signal generated by said generating signal in accordance with said desired focal length and the set real focal length of said optical system.

Claim 3

A camera comprising: optical system capable of changing its real focal length between a short focal length and a long focal length; means for designating a desired focal length; means for detecting lighting condition of a subject to be photographed; means for generating a magnification signal representing a magnification selected between a first magnification and second magnification greater than said first magnification when the real focal length of said optical system is set to said short focal length, and selected between a third magnification and a fourth magnification greater than said third magnification when the real focal length of said optical system is set to long focal length, a first product of said long focal length and said third magnification being smaller than a second product of said short focal length and said second magnification; means for setting the real focal length of said optical system in accordance with said desired focal length and said detected lighting condition, so as to set the real focal length of said optical system to said short focal length when the desired focal length is shorter than said first product, to set the real focal length of said optical system to said long focal length when the desired focal length is longer than said second product, and to set the real focal length of said optical system to either of said long and short lengths is accordance with the lighting condition detected by said detecting means when the desired focal length is longer than said first product but shorter than said second product; and means for determining said magnification signal generated by said generating signal in accordance with said desired focal length and the set real focal length of said optical system.

Claim 4

A camera comprising: optical system capable of changing its real focal length between a short focal length and a long focal length; means for designating a desired focal length; means for detecting lighting condition of a subject to be photographed; means for generating a magnification signal representing a magnification selected between a first magnification and second magnification greater than said first magnification when the real focal length of said optical system is set to said short focal length, and selected between a third magnification and a fourth magnification greater than said third magnification when the real focal length of said optical system is set to long focal length, a first product of said long focal length and said third magnification being smaller than a second product of said short focal length and said second magnification; means for setting the real focal length of said optical system in accordance with said desired focal length and said detected lighting condition, so as to set the real focal length of said optical system to said short focal length when the desired focal length is shorter than said first product, to set the real focal length of said optical system to said long focal length when the desired focal length is longer than said second product, and to set the real focal length of said optical system to either of said long and short lengths is accordance with the lighting condition detected by said detecting means when the desired focal length is longer than said first product but shorter than said second product; and means for determining said magnification signal generated by said generating signal in accordance with said desired focal length and the set real focal length of said optical system.

Claim 5

A camera as claimed in claim 2, wherein said detecting means includes means for detecting brightness of a subject to be photographed, and means for comparing the detected brightness with a predetermined value, and wherein said setting means including means for setting the real focal length of said optical system to said long focal length if the detected brightness is higher than said predetermined value, when the desired focal length is longer than said first product but shorter than said second product.

Claim 6

A camera as claimed in claim 2, wherein said detecting means includes means for detecting brightness of a subject to be photographed, and means for comparing the detected brightness with a predetermined value, and wherein said setting means including means for setting the real focal length of said optical system to said short focal length if the detected brightness is lower than said predetermined value, when the desired focal length is longer than said first product but shorter than said second product.

Claim 7

A camera comprising: optical system capable of changing its real focal length between a short focal length and a long focal length; means for designating a desired focal length; means for detecting a distance to a subject to be photographed; means for comparing said detected distance with a predetermined distance; means for generating a magnification signal representing a magnification selected between a first magnification and second magnification greater than said first magnification when the real focal length of said optical system is set to said short focal length, and selected between a third magnification and a fourth magnification greater than said third magnification when the real focal length of said optical system is set to long focal length, a first product of said long focal length and said third magnification being smaller than a second product of said short focal length and said second magnification; means for setting the real focal length of said optical system in accordance with said desired focal length and the result of said comparing means, so as to set the real focal length of said optical system to said short focal length when the desired focal length is shorter than said first product, to set the real focal length of said optical system to said long focal length when said desired focal length is longer than said second product, and to set the real focal length of said optical system to either of said long and short lengths in accordance with the result of said comparing means when the desired focal length is longer than said first product but shorter than said second product; and means for determining said magnification signal generated by said generating signal in accordance with said desired focal length and the set real focal length of said optical system.

Claim 8

A camera comprising: optical system capable of changing its real focal length between a short focal length and a long focal length; means for designating a desired focal length; means for detecting a distance to a subject to be photographed; means for comparing said detected distance with a predetermined distance; means for generating a magnification signal representing a magnification selected between a first magnification and second magnification greater than said first magnification when the real focal length of said optical system is set to said short focal length, and selected between a third magnification and a fourth magnification greater than said third magnification when the real focal length of said optical system is set to long focal length, a first product of said long focal length and said third magnification being smaller than a second product of said short focal length and said second magnification; means for setting the real focal length of said optical system in accordance with said desired focal length and the result of said comparing means, so as to set the real focal length of said optical system to said short focal length when the desired focal length is shorter than said first product, to set the real focal length of said optical system to said long focal length when said desired focal length is longer than said second product, and to set the real focal length of said optical system to either of said long and short lengths in accordance with the result of said comparing means when the desired focal length is longer than said first product but shorter than said second product; and means for determining said magnification signal generated by said generating signal in accordance with said desired focal length and the set real focal length of said optical system.

Claim 9

A camera as claimed in claim 5, wherein said setting means includes means for setting the real focal length of said optical system to said long focal length if said comparing means indicates that said detected distance is shorter than said predetermined distance, when the desired focal length is longer than said first product but shorter than said second product.

Claim 10

A camera as claimed in claim 5, wherein said setting means includes means for setting the real focal length of said optical system to said short focal length if said comparing means indicates that said detected distance is longer than said predetermined distance, when the desired focal length is longer than said first product but shorter than said second product.

Claim 11

A camera comprising: optical system capable of changing its real focal length between a short focal length and a long focal length; means for designating a desired focal length; means for setting the real focal length of said optical system in accordance with said desired focal length designated; means for generating a magnification signal representing a magnification selected between a first magnification and a second magnification greater than said first magnification, said magnification being determined in accordance with said desired focal length and the set real focal length of said optical system, a product of said short focal length and said second magnification being equal to said long focal length; finder system different from said optical system, including a zoom lens system capable of changing its focal length between a first focal length corresponding to said short focal length of said optical system and a second focal length corresponding thereto; a converter lens attachable to said zoom lens system to extend the focal length of said finder system composed of said zoom lens system and said converter lens in comparison with the focal length of said zoom lens system only, the focal length of said finder system being changeable between said first and second focal lengths by changing the focal length of said zoom lens system when said converter lens is not attached, and being changeable between said second focal length and a third focal length by changing the focal length of said zoom lens system when said converter lens is attached, said third focal length corresponding to a product of said focal length and a second magnification; first means for shifting said zoom lens system in response to a change in said desired focal length designated; and second means for shifting said zoom lens system quickly in comparison with its shift by said first shifting means and moving said converter lens to be attached to said zoom lens system or to be retracted from the attachment, when a change in said desired focal length designated is beyond said second focal length.

Claim 12

A camera comprising: optical system capable of changing its real focal length between a short focal length and a long focal length; means for designating a desired focal length; means for setting the real focal length of said optical system in accordance with said desired focal length designated; means for generating a magnification signal representing a magnification selected between a first magnification and a second magnification greater than said first magnification, said magnification being determined in accordance with said desired focal length and the set real focal length of said optical system, a product of said short focal length and said second magnification being equal to said long focal length; finder system different from said optical system, including a zoom lens system capable of changing its focal length between a first focal length corresponding to said short focal length of said optical system and a second focal length corresponding thereto; a converter lens attachable to said zoom lens system to extend the focal length of said finder system composed of said zoom lens system and said converter lens in comparison with the focal length of said zoom lens system only, the focal length of said finder system being changeable between said first and second focal lengths by changing the focal length of said zoom lens system when said converter lens is not attached, and being changeable between said second focal length and a third focal length by changing the focal length of said zoom lens system when said converter lens is attached, said third focal length corresponding to a product of said focal length and a second magnification; first means for shifting said zoom lens system in response to a change in said desired focal length designated; and second means for shifting said zoom lens system quickly in comparison with its shift by said first shifting means and moving said converter lens to be attached to said zoom lens system or to be retracted from the attachment, when a change in said desired focal length designated is beyond said second focal length.

Claim 13

A camera comprising: optical system capable of changing its focal length; means for driving said optical system to change the focal length thereof, said driving means including; a cam shaft on which first and second cams are provided for driving said optical system to change the focal length thereof, the configuration of said first cam being different from that of said second cam to drive the optical system at a speed higher than a speed at which the optical system is driven by said second cam; means for selecting either of said first and second cams to drive the optical system by the selected cam; and means for rotating said cam shaft in one of clockwise and counterclockwise directions to change the focal length of said optical system.

Claim 14

A camera comprising: optical system capable of changing its focal length; means for driving said optical system to change the focal length thereof, said driving means including; a cam shaft on which first and second cams are provided for driving said optical system to change the focal length thereof, the configuration of said first cam being different from that of said second cam to drive the optical system at a speed higher than a speed at which the optical system is driven by said second cam; means for selecting either of said first and second cams to drive the optical system by the selected cam; and means for rotating said cam shaft in one of clockwise and counterclockwise directions to change the focal length of said optical system.

Claim 15

A camera as claimed in claim 9, further comprising; a converter lens to be attached to said optical system for changing a focal length of entire system consisting of said optical system and said converter lens from that of said optical system only; and a means for shifting said converter lens when said second cam is selected by said selecting means.

Claim 16

A camera as claimed in claim 9, wherein said first cam has a spiral configuration and said second cam has a longitudinal configuration, and said selecting means selecting said first cam by rotating said cam shaft and selecting said second cam by shifting said cam shaft along its axis.