Built-in flash camera

Claim 1

A built-in flash camera, comprising: photometry means for measuring brightness within a photographic visual field; an automatic exposure mechanism for opening and closing a diaphragm shutter so that a standard exposure can be obtained when the photographing is performed, said standard exposure being based on the brightness measured by the photometry means, said standard exposure resulting in an optimum exposure for a predetermined shutter opening size and speed; and strobe light control means, which flashes regularly, interlocking with the opening and closing of the shutter, for controlling an exposure by the flash in accordance with an exposure value determined by the brightness measured by the photometry means and a film sensitivity; wherein the strobe light control means controls the strobe exposure to be a reference strobe exposure when the exposure value is less than a predetermined exposure value, controls the strobe exposure to be relatively decreased from the reference strobe exposure as the exposure value relatively increases, and controls the strobe exposure to remain at the reference strobe exposure when the brightness measured by the photometry means is less than the predetermined brightness regardless of the film sensitivity, the reference strobe exposure being an exposure required for photographing using only the strobe light.

Claim 11

A method of providing a flash to a camera comprising the steps of: measuring a brightness within a photographic visual field; opening and closing a diaphragm shutter so that a standard exposure can be obtained when the photographing is performed, said standard exposure being based on the brightness, said standard exposure resulting in an optimum exposure for a predetermined shutter opening size and speed; and controlling an exposure by the flash in accordance with an exposure value determined by the brightness measured by the photometry means and a film sensitivity, including maintaining the strobe exposure to be a reference strobe exposure when the exposure value is less than a predetermined exposure value, the reference strobe exposure being an exposure required for photographing using only the strobe light, relatively decreasing the strobe exposure from the reference strobe exposure as the exposure value relatively increases, and maintaining the strobe exposure at the reference strobe exposure when the brightness is less than the predetermined brightness, regardless of film sensitivity.

Claim 12

A method of providing a flash to a camera comprising the steps of: measuring a brightness within a photographic visual field; opening and closing a diaphragm shutter so that a standard exposure can be obtained when the photographing is performed, said standard exposure being based on the brightness, said standard exposure resulting in an optimum exposure for a predetermined shutter opening size and speed; and controlling an exposure by the flash in accordance with an exposure value determined by the brightness measured by the photometry means and a film sensitivity, including maintaining the strobe exposure to be a reference strobe exposure when the exposure value is less than a predetermined exposure value, the reference strobe exposure being an exposure required for photographing using only the strobe light, relatively decreasing the strobe exposure from the reference strobe exposure as the exposure value relatively increases, and maintaining the strobe exposure at the reference strobe exposure when the brightness is less than the predetermined brightness, regardless of film sensitivity.