JP2005173314A - Camera system and camera body setting method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a camera system and a camera body setting method for easily and surely setting suitable for an attached accessory.
In a camera system having a camera body and an accessory that is detachably attached to the camera body, a method for setting the camera body corresponding to the accessory is stored in a storage medium of the accessory. A step of reading unique information unique to the accessory, a step of determining whether the accessory has been previously attached to the camera body based on the unique information, and a step of determining whether the accessory has been previously attached. And applying the settings of the camera system for the previously mounted accessory to the current settings when it is determined that the accessory has been installed.
[Selection] Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates generally to a camera system comprising a camera body, a replaceable lens device, and a replaceable strobe or flash device (ie, an accessory), and more particularly to setting the camera body in the camera system.

  Cameras such as single-lens reflex cameras, in order to reflect the intentions of the photographer, set shooting modes such as AV priority and TV priority, setting metering areas such as evaluation metering, partial metering, spot metering, continuous shooting, single shooting, etc. Various settings such as setting of the feeding mode, switching of AF modes such as one-shot and servo, and setting of correction values such as exposure correction are possible, and the camera settings can be changed for each photographer. Conventionally, cameras capable of switching several types of setting values such as camera modes and correction values have been commercialized. In addition, a technique has been proposed in which various setting values are stored in a memory in the accessory so that when the accessory is attached to the camera body, the setting is made in the same manner as the settings of other camera bodies.

As a prior art, there is, for example, Patent Document 1.
JP 2000-75384 A

  However, since the conventional camera only stores the setting value of the camera body, it is difficult to make a setting corresponding to the attached accessory. When storing various setting values of the camera body in the memory of the accessory, it is difficult to handle errors in the accessory when a communication error such as the removal of the accessory occurs during communication between the camera body and the accessory. In addition, when a plurality of accessories has a function of setting a memory and a set value, there may be a case where the setting contradicts.

  In view of the above, an exemplary object of the present invention is to provide a camera system and a camera body setting method for easily and reliably performing settings suitable for the accessory to be mounted.

  A setting method according to one aspect of the present invention is a method of performing setting corresponding to the accessory in the camera body in a camera system having a camera body and an accessory that is detachably attached to the camera body. A step of reading unique information specific to the accessory stored in a storage medium of the accessory, a step of determining whether the accessory has been previously attached to the camera body based on the unique information, and the determining step Applying the setting of the camera system with respect to the previously mounted accessory to the current setting when it is determined that the accessory has been previously mounted. When the accessory has been previously attached to the camera body, the camera system may further include a step of updating the setting of the camera system with respect to the previously attached accessory with the current setting. You may further have the step which associates and preserve | saves the specific information of the said accessory, and the setting of the said camera system with respect to the said accessory. A program for executing the above-described method also constitutes another aspect of the present invention.

  A camera system according to another aspect of the present invention is a camera system that includes a camera body and an accessory that is detachably attached to the camera body, and is unique to the accessory that has been previously attached. A first storage unit that associates and stores information and settings of the camera system for the accessory; a second storage unit that is provided in the accessory and stores the unique information; and A control unit that, when attached to the camera body, refers to the first and second storage units and applies the setting of the camera system previously made corresponding to the unique information as the current setting; It further has these. The camera body may include means for returning a setting set in the camera body to a state before the accessory is mounted when the accessory is detached from the camera body. The accessory may be a lens or a strobe. The first storage unit may be provided in the camera body. The camera body may include a storage medium that is detachably attached to the camera body, and the first storage unit may be the storage medium. The camera body may be connected to an external storage device, and the first storage unit may be the external storage device.

  A camera body as still another aspect of the present invention is a camera body to which an accessory is detachably mounted, and a reading unit that reads out unique information unique to the accessory stored in the accessory storage medium; And recording means for recording a setting state of at least one of the camera body and the accessory together with the unique information when the accessory is attached. When the accessory is mounted on the camera body again, the accessory may include a resetting unit that applies the setting state recorded in the recording unit. Update means for updating the setting state recorded in the recording means when the accessory is mounted on the camera body again and when the setting state of at least one of the camera body or the camera accessory is changed. You may have. When the accessory is removed from the camera body, there may be a return means for returning to the setting state of the camera body before the camera accessory is mounted.

  Further objects and other features of the present invention will become apparent from the preferred embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the camera system which performs the setting suitable for the accessory with which it mounts | wears easily and reliably, and its setting method can be provided.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described for a camera system 1 with reference to the accompanying drawings. Here, FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of the camera system 1. FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram showing the relationship between the camera body 2 and the lens 40, and FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram showing the relationship between the camera body 2 and the strobe 50. In addition, although the camera system 1 of this embodiment is an example which uses a silver salt film camera, this invention is not limited to this, It can implement similarly in the form which uses a digital camera, a video camera, etc. Further, the camera system 1 is not limited to an apparatus, and is similarly implemented in the form of a camera system setting method and further in the form of a storage medium such as a CD-ROM storing a program for realizing this setting method. Can do.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the camera system 1 includes a camera body 2, a microcomputer 10, a lens control device 12, a liquid crystal display circuit 14, a switch sense circuit 16 that detects a main switch 17, Sub electronic dials 18a and 18b, a strobe light emission dimming control circuit 20 having an X contact 21, a focus detection circuit 22, a side light circuit 24, a shutter control circuit 26, a feeding motor / charge motor control circuit 28 And liquid crystal displays 30 and 32, a lens 40, and a strobe 50. The components 10 to 28 are provided in the camera body 2. In the present embodiment, both the lens 40 and the strobe 50 are interchangeable, but either one may be used.

  The microcomputer 10 controls the movement of each part of the camera system 1. The lens control circuit 12 drives and controls the focus adjustment motor and the diaphragm blade control motor of the photographing lens 40. The lens control circuit 12 performs serial communication via the DBUS while receiving the LCOM signal from the microcomputer 10. The motor drive information is received by serial communication, and the motor is driven and controlled based on the information. At the same time, various information (focal length and the like) of the lens 40 is sent to the microcomputer 10 by serial communication.

  The liquid crystal display circuit 14 drives the liquid crystal displays 30 and 32 for notifying the photographer of the remaining battery level of the camera system 1, the number of shots, the TV value, the AV value, the exposure correction value, and the like. The liquid crystal display circuit 30 performs serial communication via the DBUS while receiving the DPCOM signal from the microcomputer 10. The display data is received by serial communication, and the liquid crystal displays 30 and 32 are driven according to the data.

  The switch sense circuit 16 reads the state of a switch (sometimes referred to as a button) for the photographer to set each photographing condition and a switch (main switch 17, SW3 to SW5) indicating the state of the camera, and sends it to the microcomputer 10. While receiving the SWCOM signal, the switch data is sent to the microcomputer 10 by serial communication via the DBUS. Also, the dial value is counted up / down by the input values of the electronic dials 18a and 18b, and the count value is sent to the microcomputer 10 by serial communication via the DBUS while receiving the SWCOM signal.

SW3 is a switch for switching camera modes (TV priority, AV priority, manual, program, etc.). The main electronic dial 18a and the sub electronic dial 18b change the TV value, AV value, correction value, mode, and the like. For example, when the main electronic dial 18a is rotated forward while pressing the mode switch SW3, the TV priority → AV priority → manual → program → TV priority → AV priority → manual → program... Can be set to Further, when the main electronic dial 18a is rotated in the reverse direction, the mode is changed as follows: program → manual → AV priority → TV priority → program →. When TV priority is set as a mode by the mode change switch SW3 and the main electronic dial 18a, the TV value desired by the photographer can be set by rotating the main electronic dial 18a. When the AV priority is set as the mode by the mode change switch SW3 and the main electronic dial 18a, the AV value desired by the photographer can be set by rotating the main electronic dial 18a. When the program mode is set by the mode change switch SW3 and the main electronic dial 18a, the program shift for changing the combination of the TV value and the AV value is possible by rotating the main electronic dial 18a. When the manual is set as a mode by the mode change switch SW3 and the main electronic dial 18a, the TV value can be changed by the main electronic dial 18a, and the AV value can be changed by the sub electronic dial 18b. . When a mode other than manual (AV priority, TV priority, program) is set by the mode change switch SW3 and the main electronic dial 18a, the exposure correction can be changed by the sub electronic dial 18b.
SW4 is an AF mode setting switch. After focusing, it is used for selection of one-shot AF that fixes the focus, servo AF that always tracks the subject, and automatic switching AF that automatically switches between the two.

  SW5 is a photometric mode setting switch. Used to switch between evaluation metering, center-weighted metering, partial metering, and spot metering. SW6 is a feeding mode setting switch. Switch between continuous shooting Hi, continuous shooting Lo, and single shooting. SWB is a switch for extracting setting information of the camera system recorded in the interchangeable lens 40 or the external strobe 50 and setting it in the camera body.

  The strobe light emission dimming control circuit 20 controls the light emission stop function by the light emission of the strobe 50 and the TTL light control, and performs serial communication with the microcomputer 10 via the DBUS while receiving the STCOM signal, and data relating to the strobe control. Receive and perform various controls. The X contact 21 is turned ON when the shutter front curtain travel is completed, and serves to notify the flash light emission control circuit 20 of the flash light emission timing. The circuit 20 also functions as an interface when the external strobe 50 is attached to the camera body 2. Therefore, when the external strobe 50 is attached, it communicates with the external strobe 50 and sends information (such as the presence or absence of auxiliary light) to the microcomputer 10. Conversely, it also plays a role of transmitting a control signal from the microcomputer 10 to the external strobe 50.

  The focus detection circuit 22 includes a line sensor for performing AF by an existing phase difference detection method and a circuit unit for storing and reading out the line sensor, and is controlled by the microcomputer 10. The microcomputer 10 performs distance measurement using an existing algorithm based on the A / D value of the sensor output, and calculates the lens drive amount calculated by the lens control circuit 12 so as to focus after calculating the lens drive amount. Communicate and drive the lens 40 to focus.

  The photometry circuit 24 measures the subject and sends a photometric output to the microcomputer 10 under the control of the microcomputer 10. The microcomputer 10 performs A / D conversion on the sent photometric output and uses it for calculation of exposure conditions (aperture, shutter speed). The shutter control circuit 26 performs traveling control of a shutter front curtain and a rear curtain (not shown) according to a control signal from the microcomputer 10.

  The feeding motor / charge motor control circuit 28 feeds (winds up or rewinds) the film in accordance with a control signal from the microcomputer 10. The circuit 28 also controls the mirror up and charge (mirror down) motors. SW1 is a switch for starting the operation of the camera system. When the microcomputer 1 recognizes that the switch SW1 is turned on, photometry, distance measurement, and display are started. SW2 is a switch linked with the release button of the camera system, and starts exposure operation when the microcomputer 1 recognizes that SW2 is turned on.

  The external display device 30 and the in-finder liquid crystal display device 32 are driven by the liquid crystal display circuit 14.

  Referring to FIG. 2, the camera body 2 has memories 34 and 36. The memory 34 is a storage unit that has a plurality of areas and stores various setting information of the camera in a writable manner. The memory 34 stores various setting information of the camera body 2 set at that time with respect to the lens 40 and the strobe 50 attached to the camera body 2 in the past (that is, the model number of the lens 40 and the strobe 50 and the corresponding camera body). 2 corresponding table of various settings) is also stored. An example of the correspondence table regarding the lens 40 is shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, for the lens 40 having a certain model number (item 1), the camera body 2 has a shooting mode (item 2), ISO sensitivity (item 3), side light mode (item 4), Feed mode (item 5), AEB (item 6), exposure compensation (item 7), dimming compensation (item 8), AF mode (item 9), custom function (CF) (item 10), AV priority A set aperture value (item 11) and a set shutter speed (item 12) when TV is prioritized are set. In the memory 36, model information of the memory 34 and the lens and the strobe is written, and is composed of, for example, a RAM. The example shown in FIG. 6 is an example of 12 bytes and 13 bytes. By acquiring the lens model number (item 1), it becomes possible to acquire the setting information of the camera body 2 with respect to the lens 40 by searching based on this information.

  An interchangeable lens (also referred to as an interchangeable lens) 40 is controlled through the lens control circuit 12, and as shown in FIG. 2, a memory 42 such as an EEP is built in the interchangeable lens 40 to obtain the type of lens. be able to.

  The external strobe 50 is controlled through the strobe light emission dimming control circuit 20 and has a power source separate from the camera body 2. As shown in FIG. 3, the external strobe 50 has a built-in memory 52 such as an EEP so that the type of the external strobe can be obtained.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the camera system 1 will be described with reference to FIG. Here, FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the camera system 1. First, various settings (ISO sensitivity setting, image size setting, image quality setting, information display setting) such as a camera mode by switch input are performed, and mode switching is displayed on the liquid crystal display 30 or 32 (step S101).

  Step S101 includes camera settings corresponding to accessories as shown in FIG. Hereinafter, the setting of the camera body 2 corresponding to the accessory will be described with reference to FIG. Here, FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining camera settings corresponding to accessories (lens 40 and strobe 50). This setting is a process of reading and reflecting the setting information of the camera body 2 corresponding to the memory 36 of the camera body 2 when the interchangeable lens 40 or the external strobe 50 is attached. The method shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is stored as a program in the memory 34 of the camera body 2 or other storage means.

  First, the microcomputer 10 determines whether an accessory is attached via the lens control circuit 12 for the lens 40 and the strobe 50 via the strobe light emission dimming control circuit 20 (step S121), and determines that the accessory is attached. In this case, the accessory model number stored in the accessory memory (that is, 42 and 52) is acquired through communication with the accessory, and stored in the memory 36 (step S122).

  Next, the microcomputer 10 determines whether the memory 34 has a correspondence table (for example, one shown in FIG. 6) of camera setting information set for the accessory in the past using the model number of the accessory as a key. Is determined (step S123). If it exists, the camera setting information is acquired from the correspondence table and set in the memory 36 (step S124). If it is determined in step S121 that no accessory is attached, if it is determined in step S123 that the accessory has not been attached in the past, or if the camera is set in step S124, then the microcomputer 10 Determines whether the accessory is about to be removed (step S125).

  If the microcomputer 10 determines in step S125 that it is not going to be removed, it ends the process, and if it is determined that it is going to be removed, it determines whether it is an accessory attached in the past (step S126). If the microcomputer 10 determines in step S126 that the accessory has been attached in the past, the microcomputer 10 updates the correspondence table stored in the memory 34 (step S127), and if the microcomputer 10 determines that the accessory has not been attached in the past. The setting information of the camera body 2 for the accessory is newly created as a correspondence table and stored in the memory 34 (step S128). After steps S127 and 128, when the update or new creation of the correspondence table is completed, the removal of the accessories is permitted and the process is terminated.

  When the accessory is removed from the camera body 2, the microcomputer 10 may return the setting set in the camera body 2 to the state before the accessory is mounted, if necessary.

  Returning to FIG. 4 again, next, the microcomputer 10 determines whether the switch SW1 is turned on and becomes operable (step S102). If the microcomputer 10 determines that the switch SW1 is off (step S102), the microcomputer 10 determines whether the power is turned off (step S103). If it is determined that the switch SW1 is turned off, the microcomputer 10 turns off a power source (not shown). The process is terminated (step S104).

  On the other hand, when the microcomputer 10 determines that the switch SW1 is on (step S102), the microcomputer 10 performs a known AE (step S105). Next, the microcomputer 10 performs autofocus (step S106). Specifically, the lens drive amount is calculated and determined based on the focus information, and a part of the lens 40 is driven using an AF drive circuit to perform focus adjustment. The photographing information is sent to the liquid crystal display circuit 14 and displayed on the liquid crystal displays 30 and 32 (step S107).

  Next, the microcomputer 10 determines whether the release is possible (step S108), and if not, returns to step S101. Also, it is determined whether the switch SW2 is on (whether the release button has been pressed) (step S109). If not, the process returns to step S101. On the other hand, if the microcomputer 10 determines that it is ON in step S109, the microcomputer is raised to close the aperture according to a predetermined exposure value (step S110), and open and close the shutter to perform exposure for a predetermined time (step S110). S111), the mirror is lowered and the aperture is opened (step S112). Thereafter, the film is fed (step S113), and the process returns to step S101.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, when an accessory is attached, the camera setting can be changed to the optimum setting state set in the past, and shooting is performed while replacing a plurality of lenses and strobes. In this case, it is possible to instantaneously set the same state as the previous mounting. In this embodiment, the memory 34 stores camera setting information and a correspondence table. However, these information is stored in an external device (personal computer) via a storage medium such as a CF card or a cable connection. May be.

  In addition, by storing the setting information of the camera with the interchangeable lens 40 and the external strobe 50 removed together with the model number of the interchangeable lens 40 and the external strobe 50 that do not exist, the interchangeable lens 40 is similarly stored later. When the camera or the external strobe 50 is removed, the stored setting information of the camera body 2 is set in the camera body 2, or the camera setting information stored from the combination of the interchangeable lens 40 and the external flash 50 is stored. Can be set in the camera. Further, the timing for reading and reflecting the setting information of the camera body 2 in the memory 36 and the timing for updating or newly storing the setting information of the camera body 34 in the memory 34 can be controlled by a switch or the like.

  In the present embodiment, the model number is used for explanation. However, since the information is unique to the accessory, the same effect can be obtained. , Naming by the photographer, or a combination thereof.

  As described above, according to this embodiment, when the accessory is attached to the camera body, it is possible to easily and accurately set the same setting state as when the external device was attached and photographed last time. In addition, by storing settings in the camera body, compared to storing various setting values of the camera body in the memory of the accessory, processing when there is a communication error between the camera body and the accessory or between the memories of multiple accessories. Setting mismatch can be prevented. It is also possible to download a correspondence table between the camera body and accessories via the Internet and store it in the memory 34 of the camera body 2 in advance.

It is a schematic block diagram of the camera system of one embodiment of the present invention. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the relationship between the camera main body and lens of the camera system shown in FIG. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the relationship between the camera main body and strobe of the camera system shown in FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the camera system shown in FIG. 1. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the lens setting in operation | movement of the camera system shown in FIG. 6 is a table showing various settings of the camera body set corresponding to the lens by the flowchart shown in FIG. 5.

Explanation of symbols

1 Camera System 2 Camera Body 10 Microcomputer 34, 36, 42, 52 Memory 40 Lens 50 Strobe

Claims (14)

In a camera system having a camera body and an accessory detachably attached to the camera body, the camera body is configured to perform settings corresponding to the accessory,
Reading unique information unique to the accessory stored in the accessory storage medium;
Determining whether the accessory was previously attached to the camera body based on the unique information;
Applying the settings of the camera system for the previously mounted accessory to the current settings if the determining step determines that the accessory has been previously mounted.   2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of updating the setting of the camera system for the accessory that has been previously mounted with the current setting when the accessory has been previously mounted on the camera body. the method of.   The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of associating and storing the unique information of the accessory and the setting of the camera system for the accessory.   The program for performing the method as described in any one of Claims 1 thru | or 3. A camera system having a camera body and an accessory detachably attached to the camera body,
A first storage unit that associates and stores the unique information unique to the accessory of the accessory that was previously mounted and the setting of the camera system for the accessory;
A second storage unit provided in the accessory for storing the unique information;
When the previously mounted accessory is mounted on the camera body, the first and second storage units are referred to and the setting of the camera system previously performed corresponding to the unique information is performed. A camera system, further comprising a control unit applied as a setting for this time.   The said camera main body has a means to return the setting set to the said camera main body to the state before the said accessory was mounted | worn when the said accessory is removed from the said camera main body. Camera system.   The camera system according to claim 5, wherein the accessory is a lens or a strobe.   The camera system according to claim 5, wherein the first storage unit is provided in the camera body. The camera body includes a storage medium that is detachably attached to the camera body,
The camera system according to claim 5, wherein the first storage unit is the storage medium. The camera body is connected to an external storage device,
The camera system according to claim 5, wherein the first storage unit is the external storage device. A camera body to which an accessory is detachably attached,
Reading means for reading out unique information specific to the accessory stored in the storage medium of the accessory;
A camera body comprising recording means for recording a setting state of at least one of the camera body or the accessory together with the unique information when the accessory is mounted.   12. The camera body according to claim 11, further comprising a resetting unit that applies the setting state recorded in the recording unit when the accessory is mounted on the camera body again.   Update means for updating the setting state recorded in the recording means when the accessory is mounted on the camera body again and when the setting state of at least one of the camera body or the camera accessory is changed. The camera body according to claim 12, further comprising:   12. The camera body according to claim 11, further comprising return means for returning to a set state of the camera body before the camera accessory is mounted when the accessory is removed from the camera body.