Camera with a photographic mode automatic selecting apparatus

Claim 2

A camera having a photographic mode automatic selecting apparatus, comprising: a photographic mode selecting device that selects a photographic mode from a plurality of photographic modes; a photographic distance detecting device that detects photographic distance data of a photographic lens, in which said photographic mode selecting device selects an appropriate photographic mode from said plurality of photographic modes based on said photographic distance data of said photographic lens; a focus detecting device that detects a focusing state of said photographic lens; and a lens driver that drives a focusing lens group of said photographic lens based on a result of detection of said focus detecting device, in which said photographic mode selecting device selects an action mode when focusing is not performed in spite of an operation of said focus detecting device and said lens driver a predetermined number of times, or when a focal point changes within a predetermined time after focusing.

Claim 3

A camera having a photographic mode automatic selecting apparatus according to claim 1, in which each photographic mode of said plurality of photographic modes is a programmed exposure mode which sets a shutter speed and an aperture value by respective and different algorithms.

Claim 4

A camera having a photographic mode automatic selecting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an automatic focusing apparatus which detects a focusing state via said photographic lens and moves a focusing lens group of said photographic lens to a focus position; and a photographic distance detecting device that detects a photographic distance based on a position of said focusing lens group.

Claim 5

A camera having a photographic mode automatic selecting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a scenic mode suitable for scenic photographing, in which said photographic mode selecting means selects said scenic mode when said photographic distance is longer than a predetermined distance.

Claim 6

A camera having a photographic mode automatic selecting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a close-up mode suitable for close-up photographing, in which said photographic mode selecting means selects said close-up mode when said photographic distance is shorter than a predetermined distance.

Claim 7

A camera having a photographic mode automatic selecting apparatus according to claim 1, in which each of said plurality of photographic modes is a programmed exposure mode which sets a shutter speed and an aperture value by respective and different algorithms.

Claim 8

A camera having a photographic mode automatic selecting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a display that identifies and displays each of said plurality of photographic modes, said display further displaying a photographic mode selected by said photographic mode selecting device.

Claim 9

A camera having a photographic mode automatic selecting apparatus, comprising: photographic mode selecting means for selecting a photographic mode from among a plurality of photographic modes; focal length detecting means for detecting a focal length of a photographic lens; photographic distance detecting means for detecting photographic distance data of said photographic lens, in which said photographic mode selecting means selects an appropriate photographic mode from among said plurality of photographic modes based on said detected focal length and said detected photographic distance data; focus detecting means for detecting a focusing state of said photographic lens; and lens driving means for driving a focusing lens group of said photographic lens based on a result of detection of said focus detecting means, in which said photographic mode selecting means selects an action mode when focusing is not performed in spite of an operation of said focus detecting means and said lens driving means a predetermined number of times, or when a focal point changes within a predetermined time after focusing.

Claim 10

A camera having a photographic mode automatic selecting apparatus, comprising: photographic mode selecting means for selecting a photographic mode from among a plurality of photographic modes; focal length detecting means for detecting a focal length of a photographic lens; photographic distance detecting means for detecting photographic distance data of said photographic lens, in which said photographic mode selecting means selects an appropriate photographic mode from among said plurality of photographic modes based on said detected focal length and said detected photographic distance data; focus detecting means for detecting a focusing state of said photographic lens; and lens driving means for driving a focusing lens group of said photographic lens based on a result of detection of said focus detecting means, in which said photographic mode selecting means selects an action mode when focusing is not performed in spite of an operation of said focus detecting means and said lens driving means a predetermined number of times, or when a focal point changes within a predetermined time after focusing.

Claim 11

A camera having a photographic mode automatic selecting apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising: an automatic focusing apparatus which detects a focusing state via said photographic lens and moves a focusing lens group of said photographic lens to a focus position; and photographic distance detecting means for detecting a photographic distance based on a position of said focusing lens group.

Claim 12

A camera having a photographic mode automatic selecting apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a scenic mode suitable for scenic photographing, in which said photographic mode selecting means selects said scenic mode when said photographic distance is longer than a predetermined distance.

Claim 13

A camera having a photographic mode automatic selecting apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a close-up mode suitable for close-up photographing, in which said photographic mode selecting means selects said close-up mode when said photographic distance is shorter than a predetermined distance.

Claim 14

A camera having a photographic mode automatic selecting apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising: a portrait mode suitable for portrait photographing; and calculation means for calculating a photographic magnification based on said focal length and said photographic distance data, in which said photographic mode selecting means selects said portrait mode when said photographic magnification is within a predetermined value.

Claim 15

A camera having a photographic mode automatic selecting apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising: a scenic mode suitable for scenic photographing; a close-up mode suitable for close-up photographing; a portrait mode suitable for portrait photographing; and a normal mode, in which said photographic mode selecting means selects: said scenic mode when said photographic distance is longer than a predetermined distance; said close-up mode when said photographic distance is shorter than a predetermined distance; said portrait mode when a photographic magnification based on said focal length and said photographic distance is within a predetermined value; and said normal mode when no other photographic mode is selected.

Claim 16

A camera having a photographic mode automatic selecting apparatus according to claim 8, in which each of said plurality of photographic modes is a programmed exposure mode which sets a shutter speed and an aperture value by respective and different algorithms.

Claim 17

A camera having a photographic mode automatic selecting apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising display means for identifying and displaying each of said plurality of photographic modes, said display means further displaying a photographic mode selected by said photographic mode selecting means.

Claim 18

A camera having a photographic mode automatic selecting apparatus according to claim 8, in which said photographic lens is a zoom lens, further comprising focal length detecting means for detecting a varied focal length due to zooming.

Claim 19

A camera having a photographic mode automatic selecting apparatus, in which a plurality of photographic modes are selectable, comprising: photographic mode automatic selecting means for automatically selecting an appropriate photographic mode from said plurality of photographic modes, based on photographic conditions; photographic mode manual selecting means for selecting a specified photographic mode from said plurality of photographic modes corresponding to a manual operation, a focus detecting device that detects a focusing state of a photographic lens; and a lens driver that drives a focusing lens group of said photographic lens based on a result of a detection of said focus detecting device in which said photographic mode automatic selecting means selects an action mode when focusing is not performed in spite of an operation of said focus detecting device and said lens driver a predetermined number of times, or when a focal point changes within a predetermined time after focusing; a photographic mode automatic selection by said photographic mode automatic selecting means being inhibited when a photographic mode is manually selected by said photographic mode manual selecting means, and after a photographic mode is automatically selected by said photographic mode automatic selecting means, said automatic selection of said photographic mode by said photographic mode automatic selecting means is temporarily inhibited when a photographic mode is manually selected by said photographic mode manual selecting means.

Claim 20

A camera having a photographic mode automatic selecting apparatus, in which a plurality of photographic modes are selectable, comprising: photographic mode automatic selecting means for automatically selecting an appropriate photographic mode from said plurality of photographic modes, based on photographic conditions; photographic mode manual selecting means for selecting a specified photographic mode from said plurality of photographic modes corresponding to a manual operation, a focus detecting device that detects a focusing state of a photographic lens; and a lens driver that drives a focusing lens group of said photographic lens based on a result of a detection of said focus detecting device in which said photographic mode automatic selecting means selects an action mode when focusing is not performed in spite of an operation of said focus detecting device and said lens driver a predetermined number of times, or when a focal point changes within a predetermined time after focusing; a photographic mode automatic selection by said photographic mode automatic selecting means being inhibited when a photographic mode is manually selected by said photographic mode manual selecting means, and after a photographic mode is automatically selected by said photographic mode automatic selecting means, said automatic selection of said photographic mode by said photographic mode automatic selecting means is temporarily inhibited when a photographic mode is manually selected by said photographic mode manual selecting means.

Claim 21

A camera having a photographic mode automatic selecting apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising a release button, in which a photometric operation and a focusing operation are executed by depressing said release switch halfway, and a photographing operation is executed by fully depressing said release switch, in which: said photographic mode automatic selecting means automatically selects said photographic mode when said release button is depressed halfway.

Claim 22

A camera having a photographic mode automatic selecting apparatus according to claim 17, in which, after a photographic mode is automatically selected by said photographic mode automatic selecting means, when a photographic mode is manually selected by said photographic mode manual selecting means, said photographic mode automatic selection by said photographic mode automatic selecting means is possible after completion of photographing under said manual selection of a photographic mode.

Claim 23

A camera having a photographic mode automatic selecting apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising switching means, in which after a photographic mode is automatically selected by said photographic mode automatic selecting means, when a photographic mode is manually selected by said photographic mode manual selecting means, said photographic mode automatic selection by said photographic mode automatic selecting means is possible by said switching means.

Claim 24

A camera having a photographic mode automatic selecting apparatus according to claim 17, in which, after a photographic mode is automatically selected by said photographic mode automatic selecting means, when a photographic mode is manually selected by said photographic mode manual selecting means, said photographic mode automatic selection by said photographic mode automatic selecting means is possible after passing of a predetermined amount of time.

Claim 25

A camera having a photographic mode automatic selecting apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising a timer, in which: after said camera enters a state in which photographing can be performed, when no operation is executed during a predetermined amount of time, said camera enters a stand-by state by said timer, and after a photographic mode is automatically selected by said photographic mode automatic selecting means, when a photographic mode is manually selected by said photographic mode manual selecting means, said photographic mode automatic selection by said photographic mode automatic selecting means is possible when said camera circuit enters said stand-by state by said timer.

Claim 26

A camera having a photographic mode automatic selecting apparatus, comprising: a shutter button which actuates a controller to execute a photographic operation; a controller provided with a photographic mode automatic selecting function which automatically selects an appropriate photographic mode from a plurality of photographic modes, based on a photographic condition; and an operator separate from said shutter button, in which said operator can be operated separate from an operation of said shutter button; and said controller executes said automatically selected appropriate photographic mode when said operator is operated, wherein said controller is provided with a moving object detecting function which detects whether an object is moving, said photographic mode including an action mode which is suitable for photographing a moving object, said controller selecting said action mode when said controller detects, by said moving object detecting function, that an object is moving.

Claim 27

A camera having a photographic mode automatic selecting apparatus, comprising: a shutter button which actuates a controller to execute a photographic operation; a controller provided with a photographic mode automatic selecting function which automatically selects an appropriate photographic mode from a plurality of photographic modes, based on a photographic condition; and an operator separate from said shutter button, in which said operator can be operated separate from an operation of said shutter button; and said controller executes said automatically selected appropriate photographic mode when said operator is operated, wherein said controller is provided with a moving object detecting function which detects whether an object is moving, said photographic mode including an action mode which is suitable for photographing a moving object, said controller selecting said action mode when said controller detects, by said moving object detecting function, that an object is moving.

Claim 28

A camera having a photographic mode automatic selecting apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said controller executes a photometric calculation operation and an automatic focusing operation when one of said shutter button is depressed halfway and said operating means is operated.

Claim 29

A camera having a photographic mode automatic selecting apparatus according to claim 23, in which said controller further comprises a photographic mode manual selecting function which selects a photographic mode from said plurality of photographic modes corresponding to an operation of a manual operating device.

Claim 30

A camera having a photographic mode automatic selecting apparatus according to claim 23, further comprising: a zoom lens; and focal length detecting means for detecting a focal length of said zoom lens, in which: said controller means selects a photographic mode based on a photographic distance obtained by an automatic focusing operation and on a focal length obtained by said focal length detecting means.

Claim 31

A camera having a photographic mode automatic selecting apparatus according to claim 23, in which said operator is provided in a vicinity of said shutter button, so that a photographer can operate said operator by a same finger which operates said shutter button.

Claim 32

A camera having a photographic mode automatic selecting apparatus according to claim 23, in which said operator is provided away from said shutter button, so that a photographer cannot operate said operator by a same finger which operates said shutter button.

Claim 33

A camera having a photographic mode automatic selecting apparatus according to claim 25, in which said operator and said manual operating device are provided in a vicinity of said shutter button, so that a photographer can operate said operator and said manual operating device by a same finger which operates said shutter button.