JPH07108022B2 - Camera assisting device - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is stable with a movie camera for movie shooting or a video camera, especially when a cameraman holds the camera in his hand and shoots it, without being influenced by the behavior of the cameraman. The present invention relates to a photographing auxiliary device for a camera for obtaining a photographed image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a device of this kind, Japanese Patent Publication No. 56-54
As disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 615, a bendable support arm having a balance spring and a camera attached to the tip of the balance member is attached to a fishing member attached to the suspension member, and provided at a connecting portion between the support arm and the camera. There is one in which a photographer grips the handle where the substantial center of gravity of the whole is located to take a picture. According to this device (camera),
For example, if a photographer takes a picture while walking,
The behavior of the cameraman is not directly transmitted to the camera, and the camera is kept in a floating state. Therefore, it is possible to move the camera horizontally as intended by the cameraman, for example, without shaking, and so-called blur-free extremely. A stable captured image can be obtained.

[0003]

Although this apparatus has the above-mentioned advantages, there are restrictions on its photographing conditions as described below.

First, from a normal photographing state in which the cameraman is standing, when photographing a subject at an extremely low position such that the photographer can not reach even when the user bends his / her back while keeping the horizontal angle, the handle is used. The frame attached to the lower part of the frame interferes and there is a limit to the lowness that can be taken.

On the contrary, when photographing a subject at a high position while keeping the horizontal angle, the height is limited by the length of the arm held by the cameraman. further,
For example, when a subject A is photographed and then the camera is horizontally moved (panned) or vertically moved (tilted) around the cameraman and another subject B is photographed, the cameraman rotates the body or operates a handle. In particular, when a camera is brought close to the subjects A and B to obtain an enlarged photographed image, the cameraman and the two subjects A,
The distance to B can be photographed only in a range slightly longer than the length of the cameraman's arm. In other words, it is impossible to take a photograph at a height beyond the reach of the photographer or to take a close-up photograph, and in order to make this possible, the photographer must take a large-scale means such as riding on a crane for photographing.

Further, it is necessary to modify the camera to have a structure and shape suitable for the apparatus, and it is difficult to use the camera as it is on the market as it is.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and in moving photography, the burden on a cameraman who moves the camera is extremely lightened, and the behavior of the cameraman is not transmitted to the camera, and the camera is always stable. To provide a shooting assistance device for a camera, which is capable of keeping a state and, as a result, not causing a blur in a shot image, and of shooting a subject out of the reach of a cameraman. It is an object.

[0008]

The present invention has been made in order to achieve the above-mentioned object, and as its means,
At the end of a long frame with a specified length ,
A camera mounting bracket with a tilt mechanism is provided , a weight is attached to the other end, and a harness bracket that can lock a harness to be mounted by a cameraman is provided at an appropriate position between the camera mounting bracket and the weight. It mounted pivotably via a joint, further
And the frame for mounting the camera on the frame.
Then, the operation unit for the cameraman to operate the camera.
The weight is set such that the flexible joint is provided with a camera and the camera is mounted on the camera mounting bracket, and a substantial center of gravity including the camera and the center of the moment of inertia are located at the rotation center of the flexible joint. Then
In addition, attach the camera bracket to the operation unit.
Remote control means to operate the pan / tilt mechanism
It is characterized in that was. Further, at least one of the camera mounting bracket, the weight, and the flexible joint is slid with respect to the frame along at least one of the length direction, the width direction, and the vertical direction of the frame. Possibly providing and composing the frame telescopically by a combination of at least two elements.

[0009]

According to the photographing assistance device for a camera of the present invention, the cameraman moves the frame while the harness worn by the cameraman is locked to the harness bracket.
The camera mounted on the tip of the camera can perform shooting (especially close-up shooting) in a range that is out of the reach of the cameraman without any interference with the members constituting the apparatus. And
Since the substantial center of gravity of the entire device including the camera is located at the center of rotation of the flexible joint that connects the harness bracket and the frame, the camera has much greater inertial force than when it is used alone. Therefore, the behavior of the cameraman is difficult to be directly transmitted to the camera, a stable photographed image can be obtained, and the apparatus can be moved and operated by an extremely slight force, so that the burden on the cameraman is small. In addition, remote control provided on the operation unit
The pan / tilt mechanism of the camera mounting bracket
By operating remotely, the cameraman can attach the camera
Frame the shooting angle of the camera attached to the bracket
It can be operated easily and freely regardless of the length.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the method of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows the entire camera-assisting device 1 for a camera according to the present embodiment. The device 1 includes a frame 2 having a predetermined length and one end serving as a front end (lower end in the case of FIG. 1) of the frame 2. Camera mounting bracket 3
A weight 4 attached to the other end which is the rear end of the frame 2; a harness bracket 6 attached via a ball joint (flexible joint) 5 to approximately the center of the length direction of the frame 2; It is mainly configured with an operation unit 7 arranged immediately in front of. Reference numeral C in FIG. 1 denotes a camera mounted on the device 1.

The frame 2 includes two hollow square pipe-shaped main frames 8 which are arranged in parallel vertically with a space provided therebetween.
A pair of rectangular plate-shaped links 9a, 9b, 10 arranged on both sides in the length direction and on the respective sides substantially at the center.
They are connected by a · 10b and 11a · 11b.
Links 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
Are linked to the main frame 8 by pins 12, and if the main frames 8 are moved relative to each other in the length direction, the links 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 1
1a and 11b are inclined at the same angle, and the main frames 8 are brought into contact with each other. The length of the main frame 8 is about 2 meters, and its height is
The maximum length is about 30 cm. Main frame 8 and links 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11
a and 11b are made of aluminum alloy.

A camera mounting bracket (hereinafter referred to as a camera bracket) 3 has a vertical plate portion 1 extending from one end (right end in FIG. 1) of a horizontal plate portion 13 orthogonal to the length direction of the frame 2.
4 extends downward, and both plate portions 13 and 14 have the same length and a first L-shaped first bracket plate 15 and the horizontal plate portion 1
A vertical plate portion 17 that is longer than the horizontal plate portion 16 from one end of 6.
Second L-shaped second bracket plate 18 extending downward
And an L-shaped platform 21 in which a vertical plate portion 20 shorter than the horizontal plate portion 19 extends upward from one end of the horizontal plate portion 19.

On the lower surface of the horizontal plate portion 13 of the first bracket plate 15, the horizontal plate portion 16 of the second bracket plate 18 is connected to the horizontal plate portion 13 of the first bracket plate 15 via the horizontal rotation motor 22. The vertical plate part of the pan head 21 is connected to the outer surface of the vertical plate part 17 of the second bracket plate 18 (the surface on the left side in FIG. 1) through the vertical rotation motor 23. 20 is the vertical plate portion 17 of the second bracket plate 18.
Are connected in parallel with.

The horizontal rotary motor 22 is fixed to the horizontal plate portion 16 of the second bracket plate 18, and is a groove formed in the lower surface of the horizontal plate portion 13 of the first bracket plate 15 so as to extend in the longitudinal direction thereof. It can be slid along 13a. Then, when the horizontal rotation motor 22 operates, the second bracket plate 18 rotates about the horizontal rotation motor 22 as an axis along a horizontal plane parallel to the horizontal plate portion 16.

On the other hand, the vertical rotation motor 23 is fixed to the vertical plate portion 17 of the second bracket plate 18 and formed vertically inside the vertical plate portion 20 of the platform 21 (right side in FIG. 1). It can be slid along the groove 20a. Then, when the vertical rotation motor 23 operates, the platform 21 moves around the vertical rotation motor 22 as a second
The bracket plate 18 is configured to rotate along a vertical plane parallel to the vertical plate portion 17.

The horizontal plate portion 19 of the platform 21 is provided with a bolt through hole 19a which is a long hole extending orthogonally to the lengthwise direction, and the mount bolt 24 passed through the bolt through hole 19a from below. Is screwed into a bolt hole (not shown) formed on the lower surface of the camera C,
Is attached to the camera bracket 3. The camera C is mounted in a state of facing before the normal lens. As described above, in the camera C, the horizontal rotation motor 22 rotates the second bracket plate 18 in the horizontal plane, and the vertical rotation motor 23 rotates the platform 21 in the vertical plane.
It is possible to rotate horizontally and vertically in two directions, that is, pan and tilt. That is, the camera bracket 3
Has a pan / tilt mechanism. The camera C
Since the bolt through hole 19a is a long hole, the mounting position of the bolt can be adjusted in the front-back direction by the length of the bolt through hole 19a. When the motors 22 and 23 are slid along the grooves 13a and 20a, the camera C moves in the same direction.

The camera bracket 3 has a state in which the vertical plate portion 14 of the first bracket plate 15 is aligned with the side surface of the link 9a of the front links 9a, 9b in the frame 2 in the length direction thereof. Then, it is fixed by a fixing means such as a bolt.

The weight 4 is provided with a link 10a on the rear side of the frame 2 and two upper and lower stays 25 extending laterally orthogonal to the link 10a, and a main weight 26 fixed to the stays 25 and extending vertically. The main weight 26 includes sub weights 27 fixed to both ends of the main weight 26. Each of the stays 25 and the main weight 26 is a square bar having a square cross section, and each of the sub weights 27 is a square plate having a certain thickness.

The links 10a, 10 provided at substantially the center of the length of each main frame 8 constituting the frame 2
A stay 28 extending in the same direction as the stay 25 of the weight 4 is fixed to the link 10a of b, and a harness bracket 6 is attached to the tip of this stay 28 via a ball joint 5.

As shown in FIG. 2, in the ball joint 5, a ring 30 is fitted around the outer circumference of a ball 29 having parallel cut surfaces 29a, and both are relatively rotatable in three dimensions. On the outer circumference of the ring 30, this ring 3
The screw 31 extending in the radial direction of 0 is integrally fixed, and the screw 31 is screwed and fixed to the stay 28 so that the radial direction of the ring 30 matches the length direction of the stay 28. The ball 29 is formed with a hollow portion 29b having a circular cross section that extends along an axis connecting the cut surfaces 29a, and the harness bracket 6 is inserted into the hollow portion 29b and fixed to the ball 29.

The harness bracket 6 is formed by integrally forming coaxially at the tip of a cylindrical rod 32 a screw 33 having a diameter smaller than that of the rod 32 and slightly smaller than the hollow portion 29b of the ball 29. The harness bracket 6 is attached to the ball joint 5 by inserting a screw 33 into the hollow portion 29b of the ball 29 from below and fastening two nuts 34 to the screw 33. That is, the harness bracket 6 and the frame 2 are connected by a ball joint 5 so as to be relatively three-dimensionally rotatable, and the center of rotation is the ball 29 (strictly, the center of the ball 29). is there.

The rod 32 of the harness bracket 6
2, two hook holes 35 extending in the radial direction are formed vertically side by side, and a rubber bush 36 having appropriate elasticity is fixed to the inner circumference of these hook holes 35.

Directly in front of the link 10a to which the harness bracket 6 is attached via the stay 28, a support plate 37 similar to the link 10a is pinned by pins 38 to the upper and lower main frames 8 of the frame 2. A cylindrical stay 39 is fixed to the center of this support plate 37 and extends in the same direction as the stay 28. The operation unit 7 is fixed to the tip of the stay 39.

The operation unit 7, as shown in detail in FIG.
Box type unit body 40 and this unit body 4
Handle attached to the center of the upper part of 0 (remote control means) 4
1 and a liquid crystal monitor 42 attached to the handle 41.

The unit main body 40 is fixed to the tip of the stay 39, and the rear surface (the surface on the weight 4 side) of the unit main body 40 has a power switch, a shutter, a focus, an aperture, a zoom, etc. of the camera C. Operation switches 43 are provided, and the unit main body 40 allows them to be operated remotely.

The handle 41 is composed of a shaft 44 mounted upright on the unit body 40, and a T-shaped portion 46 composed of a hollow horizontal bar 45 fixed to the upper end of the shaft 44, and a T-shaped portion 46. An H-shaped portion 49 including a bar 47 inserted into the bar 45 and grips 48 fixed to both ends of the bar 47 so as to be orthogonal to the bar 47 and parallel to each other is combined. T-shaped part 46
The shaft 44 of the H-shaped portion 49 is rotatable about the axis with respect to the unit body 40, and the bar 47 of the H-shaped portion 49 is the T-shaped portion 4.
6 is inserted into the bar 45 so as to be rotatable about its axis. That is, the grip 48 of the H-shaped portion 49 is
The shaft 44 and the bar 47 of the H-shaped portion 49 are rotatable about their respective axes.

The relative rotation of the handle 41 with respect to the unit body 40 is interlocked with the camera C. That is, in the unit body 40, the handle 41
A controller (not shown) is incorporated which detects the rotation of the camera, converts the direction and distance of the rotation into an electric signal, and sends the signal to the horizontal rotation motor 22 and the vertical rotation motor 23 of the camera bracket 3. ing. With this controller, for example, when the grip 48 is rotated to the right around the shaft 44, the horizontal rotation motor 22 is operated to rotate in the same direction, and the camera is operated via the second bracket plate 18. C also rotates (pans) in the same direction, and the grip 48
Is tilted forward with the bar 47 as an axis, the platform 21 is rotated downward by the vertical rotation motor 23, that is, the camera C
Turns downward (tilts). Arrow (a) in Fig. 3
(B), (C), and (D) respectively indicate the rotation directions of the handle 41 (grip 48), and the camera C rotates in the same arrow direction in FIG. 1 according to these rotations.

The monitor 42 has a small screen 42a of about 4 inches, which is connected to the camera C so that the image captured by the camera C can be displayed on the screen 42a. With the screen 42a facing rearward, the handle 41 is held. Is tiltably attached to the upper portion of the bar 45 of the T-shaped portion 46.

In the above-mentioned camera auxiliary device 1,
When the camera bracket 3 is attached to the link 9a of the frame 2 and the camera C is mounted on the camera bracket 3, the substantial center of gravity including the camera C and the center of inertia are the rotation centers of the ball joints 5, that is, The weight and shape of the weight 4 fixed to the link 10a are set so as to be positioned on the ball 29. This center of gravity is set on the second and pan heads 21 of the camera bracket 3.
Can be adjusted by sliding or changing the mounting position of the camera C with respect to the platform 21. Also,
The weight 4 has a stay 25 removably fixed to the link 10a so that the weight 4 can be replaced with an appropriate weight. When the camera C is panned or tilted by operating the handle 41 when setting the center of gravity,
The second bracket plate 18 and the platform 21 of the camera bracket 3 are arranged so that the center of gravity thereof is always at a fixed position.
The relative position of the camera C to the first bracket plate 15 or the mounting position of the camera C itself on the platform 21 is adjusted. That is, the center of gravity of the camera C itself should not change regardless of any movement given by the handle 41.

Further, the weight 4 is such that the stay 25 is detachably fixed to the link 10a so that it can be exchanged with an appropriate weight, or, for example, the main weight 26 is hollow and the upper sub-weight is replaced. Weight 27
May be configured as a lid, and a plurality of small weights may be built in the main weight 26 so that an appropriate weight can be obtained depending on the number. Further, a battery serving as a power source of the camera C and the operation unit 7 may be fixed to an appropriate position of the weight 4 so that the total weight of the battery and the weight 4 has an appropriate weight.

Now, the method of using the photographing auxiliary device 1 for a camera of the present embodiment, which has the above-mentioned structure, and its operation and effect will be described below.

First, as shown in FIG. 4, a cameraman M wearing a harness 50 on the upper body is positioned on the right side of the apparatus 1 with the camera C in the front and the weight 4 in the rear and the frame 2 in the cameraman M. Of the harness 50, the ring-shaped hook 51 locked to the front part of the belt portion 50a of the harness 50 is inserted into the rubber bush 36 of one of the hook holes 35 of the harness bracket 6. Then, the grips 48 of the handle 41 are respectively gripped by the left and right hands. From the above,
The cameraman M is ready to take a picture. Since the hook 51 has the rubber bush 36 fitted therein, the behavior of the cameraman M is buffered to some extent by the elastic deformation of the rubber bush 36.

The cameraman M, while operating the camera C remotely by using the switches 43 of the operation unit 7,
In addition, while panning and tilting the camera C in the camera bracket 3 by the handle 41 as necessary,
Take a picture. The captured image can be confirmed in real time on the monitor 42.

Further, if the entire operation unit 40 is lifted by the handle 41, the links 9a, 9b, 10a
-While 10b, 11a and 11b, and the support plate 37 are maintained in a substantially vertical state, the front of the frame 2 is in a slanted state and the camera C is raised. Link 9a
Since the vertical state is maintained, it is possible to perform upward moving shooting without changing the angle of the camera C, for example. On the contrary, if the entire operation unit 40 is lowered by the handle 41, the camera C is lowered, and similarly, the downward moving image can be taken without changing the angle. That is, up-and-down motion photography, so-called "track-up / track-down" can be performed. Further, when the cameraman M rotates about the body while holding the handle 41, the camera C turns in a horizontal plane, and so-called “track”, which is a turn photographing, can be performed. Further, if the entire operation unit 7 is turned diagonally upward or downward with the handle 41, compound movement photography along the locus can be performed.

As described above, even when the cameraman M moves the frame 2 while standing, or when the cameraman M walks or runs, the entire apparatus 1 including the camera C is taken. Since the substantial center of gravity of the camera is located on the ball 29 of the ball joint 5 and the camera C has a very large inertial force as compared with the case of a single body, the movement of the hand operating the handle 41 can be prevented. Including, it is difficult for the behavior of the cameraman M to be directly transmitted to the camera C, and it is also unlikely to be affected by wind or the like when shooting outdoors, and as a result, a stable shot image with almost no blur can be obtained. The movement of the camera C by the handle 41 is, as described above, the substantial center of gravity of the entire apparatus 1 including the camera C, and the center of the moment of inertia is the cameraman M.
Since it is located on the ball 29 of the ball joint 5 which is very close to the camera joint M, it is possible with very slight force and without the cameraman M losing its posture.
Burden is small.

Further, when photographing in a room such as a general house, the members constituting the apparatus 1 are from an upper subject near the ceiling, which is out of reach of the cameraman M, to a subject placed on the floor. Frame 2 without any interference
By moving the, you are involved in shooting the subject, especially close-up shooting, but if you are indoors, design the frame 2 to a length that can cover the required shooting range, or If each main frame 8 of No. 2 is telescopically built in a plurality of stages with two or more rods and its length is variable and the main frame 8 is variable, the shooting range can be set arbitrarily with one device. It is convenient to change to. In other words, a small-scale crane shooting in the room can be performed by one cameraman M. In addition, the cameraman M is the hand of the operation unit 7.
Remotely control the operation of the camera bracket 3 with the lever 41.
To change the shooting angle of camera C to the length of frame 2.
It can be operated easily and freely regardless of
Very convenient.

Further, since the camera C and the weight 4 are both arranged on one side surface of the frame 2 (in this case, the right side when viewed from the cameraman M), when the frame 2 is moved, the camera C and the weight 4 are moved. The twisting phenomenon that occurs in the frame 2 due to one of the inertial forces is canceled by the other inertial force. Therefore, especially frame 2
When the main frame 8 is rotated in a horizontal state, the main frames 8 are connected to the links 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a.
・ The horizontal state of the frame 2 does not collapse without tilting 11b to the left or right to cause twisting. Along with this, the cameraman M does not need to consider the horizontal disturbance due to the abrupt movement of the frame 2, and thus the operability can be improved.
In other words, frame 2, camera C
It enables a rapid and quick movement operation (track).

Further, if the camera C is replaced with another type having a different weight or the center of gravity of the camera itself, the center of gravity of the entire body and the moment of inertia deviates from the ball 29 of the ball joint 5. In such a case, the weight of the weight 4 may be changed or the platform 21 of the camera C may be changed.
The mounting position with respect to, the positions of the second bracket plate 18 of the camera bracket 3 and the platform 21 may be adjusted appropriately. In other words, the present apparatus 1 can perform shooting as described above with various cameras without modifying the cameras at all.

Although the camera bracket 3, the weight 4 and the ball joint 5 are fixed to the frame 2 in the camera photographing assisting apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, at least one of these three is used. One may be attached so as to be slidable in at least one of the length direction, the left-right (width) direction, and the up-down direction of the frame 2. According to this structure, not only the weight of the weight 4 but also the slidable weight 4 is moved to an appropriate position, so that the ball 29 of the ball joint 5 can be moved.
Then, the center of gravity of the entire apparatus 1 including the camera C can be positioned.

[0040]

According to the photographing assistance device for a camera of the present invention, since the substantial center of gravity of the entire device including the camera is located at the center of rotation of the flexible joint connecting the harness bracket and the frame, , Has a much larger inertial force than when it is a simple substance, and therefore
Since the behavior of the cameraman is not transmitted directly to the camera and is kept stable, as a result, a stable captured image with almost no blur can be obtained, and it is also possible to perform rapid movement operation of the device with extremely slight force, The burden on the photographer is small. Also, depending on the length of the frame,
Close-up photographing and moving photographic subject of reach of photographer, it can be <br/> Phrases row Nau is any interference in the members constituting the apparatus. It is also provided on the operation unit.
The pan / ches of the camera mounting bracket can be
By operating the tilt mechanism remotely, the photographer can
Shooting angle of the camera attached to the camera mounting bracket
Can be operated easily and freely by hand regardless of the length of the frame.
You can make it. Further, if the frame length is appropriately set (for example, as long as possible), a small-scale crane shooting can be performed by one cameraman. In addition, various cameras can be attached without modifying the cameras, and these cameras can be used to take pictures as described above.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of a harness bracket.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing details of an operation unit.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing a usage state.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Camera Shooting Assist Device 2 Frame 3 Camera Mounting Bracket 4 Weight 5 Ball Joint (Flexible Joint) 6 Harness Bracket 29 Ball (Rotation Center) 50 Harness C Camera M Cameraman

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A camera mounting bracket having a pan / tilt mechanism is provided at one end of a long frame having a predetermined length, and a weight is attached at the other end.
At an appropriate position between these camera mounting bracket and weights, photographers can lock the harness mounting harness bracket pivotally attached via a flexible joint and further to the frame, before
The cameraman can use the camera mounting bracket to
An operation unit for operating the camera is provided , the camera is mounted on the camera mounting bracket, and a substantial center of gravity including the camera and the center of the moment of inertia are located at the rotation center of the flexible joint. As the weight is set,
The operation unit includes a part of the camera mounting bracket.
Remote control means for operating the tilt / tilt mechanism is provided
A shooting assist device for a camera. 2. At least one of the camera mounting bracket, the weight, and the flexible joint is arranged with respect to a frame in at least one of a length direction, a width direction, and a vertical direction of the frame. The photographing auxiliary device for a camera according to claim 1, wherein the photographing auxiliary device is slidably provided. 3. The photographing auxiliary device for a camera according to claim 1, wherein the frame is expandable and contractable by a combination of at least two elements.