Dual purpose camera

Claim 2

A dual purpose camera comprising: an optical exposure system for exposing to a scene unexposed film loaded in said camera, thereby to produce a latent image in said film; and an electronic image capture system for producing an electronic image from an image on processed film loaded in said camera.

Claim 3

The camera of claim 1 wherein said electronic image capture system includes a line scanner which produces said electronic image scan line by scan line as said processed film is advanced in said camera through an image frame.

Claim 4

The camera of claim 2 wherein said optical exposure system includes an imaging lens and including an auxiliary light source which can be coupled with said lens to project light into said camera through said processed film to said line scanner.

Claim 5

The camera of claim 1 wherein said electronic image capture system includes an area image array scanner which produces said electronic image.

Claim 6

The camera of claim 4 including an electronic display mounted on the outside of said camera, and wherein said electronic image capture system is operable when unexposed film is loaded in said camera to produce an electronic image of a scene before, concurrently with, or after said optical exposure system produces a latent image of said scene in said film, said electronic image being displayable on said electronic display.

Claim 7

The camera of claim 4 including a light source mounted in said camera to project light through said exposed film to said array scanner.

Claim 8

A camera comprising: a housing; an imaging lens mounted on said housing; a film gate positioned within said housing spaced from said lens; a planar light source mounted behind said film gate; an electronic image capture system mounted in said housing; and a mirror system located relative to said lens, said film gate and said electronic capture system, such that when unexposed film is loaded in said camera, said mirror system directs an optical image of a scene projected by said lens onto unexposed film located at said film plane, to said electronic image capture system to produce an electronic image of said scene, and such that when processed film is loaded in said camera, said mirror system directs an optical image, formed by activating said planar light source to project light through an image on processed film located at said film gate, to said electronic capture system to produce an electronic image of said image.

Claim 9

A camera comprising: a housing; an imaging lens mounted on said housing; a film gate positioned within said housing spaced from said lens; a planar light source mounted behind said film gate; an electronic image capture system mounted in said housing; and a mirror system located relative to said lens, said film gate and said electronic capture system, such that when unexposed film is loaded in said camera, said mirror system directs an optical image of a scene projected by said lens onto unexposed film located at said film plane, to said electronic image capture system to produce an electronic image of said scene, and such that when processed film is loaded in said camera, said mirror system directs an optical image, formed by activating said planar light source to project light through an image on processed film located at said film gate, to said electronic capture system to produce an electronic image of said image.