JPH0694970A - Camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To always obtain an optimum photograph in which the image of a person is prevented from being small and the occupation of a background part is prevented from being large even in the case of a photograph in which many collective people are photographed. CONSTITUTION:The camera is provided with a discriminating means 1 discriminating whether the aspect ratio of a main object occupying a photographic image shows to be longer sideways than a specified ratio, and mode switching means 8 and 9 switching a mode to a panoramic mode when the aspect ratio of the main object is discriminated to have the longer side than the specified ratio by the discriminating means; so that the mode of the camera is automatically switched to the panoramic mode when the aspect ratio of the main object occupying the photographic image shows to be longer sideways than the specified ratio.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention has, for example, a panoramic photographing function (a function of photographing by changing a photographing aperture to a panoramic size) provided with distance measuring means for measuring a plurality of points on a photographing screen. It is related to the improvement of the camera.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been proposed a camera having an automatic framing function, which is a combination of distance measuring means and power zoom, which is called auto zoom. This is JP-A-4-75
It was constructed as shown in No. 33.

The automatic zoom modes include a "whole body mode" and an "upper body mode". By selecting this mode, the vertical length of the subject can be changed so that more appropriate framing can be performed. ing.

On the other hand, in recent years, panoramic photography and photography have become popular, and the aspect ratio of the photographing screen is not "2: 3" but "1:".
Cameras capable of "panoramic photography" of about 3 "are provided at low cost and are in widespread use.

In the above-mentioned conventional auto zoom, the average height of a person is used as the length of the subject in the vertical direction, and from this data and the result of distance measurement of the subject, the size at which the person is zoomed and placed on the screen in a well-balanced manner. For example, the zoom magnification is calculated so as to have a size corresponding to 80% of the length in the vertical direction, and optimal framing is performed.

In FIG. 29, there are several persons as subjects,
It is a figure which shows a mode at the time of framing the viewfinder field of a zoom camera by 28 mm on the wide-angle side which is an initial position. When the conventional auto-zoom function is activated, the calculated focal length, for example, about 50 mm is framed as shown in FIG.

[0007]

However, since the conventional auto-zoom function does not consider the lateral length of the subject, it is effective only for one subject or a small number of subjects. For example, as shown in FIG. When the same function is activated in the group photo, the camera zooms up to about 70 mm, causing problems such as the person at the edge being cut off as shown in FIG. 32, and the opportunity to use this function is very limited. , It was not easy to use.

Further, in the case of a large number of people, the width becomes long, so if a wide-angle lens is simply used, a photograph as shown in FIG. 33 will be obtained in which there are more sky and ground above and below than necessary.

That is, the conventional camera having the auto-zoom function has the following problems.

1) When the auto zoom mode is the "whole body mode", there arises a problem that about 5 or more people are side by side and the end person is missing.

2) Even when the auto-zoom mode is the "upper body mode", the same problem as described above occurs with about four or more people, and the situation in which the special function can be utilized is limited.

3) In the case of a large number of people, if it is attempted to guarantee that the person at the edge is reflected in the image, it will zoom in to the wide-angle side, and the sky and the ground will increase more than necessary and the person will become very small. , It becomes difficult to distinguish facial expressions and people.

(Object of the Invention) An object of the present invention is to provide a camera which can always give a photograph of an optimal composition, even in a group photograph of a large number of people, without the person becoming small and the background portion occupying much. Is to provide.

[0014]

According to the present invention, there is provided a discriminating means for discriminating whether or not the aspect ratio of the main subject occupying the photographing screen is longer than a predetermined ratio, and the discriminating means determines a predetermined ratio. If the aspect ratio of the main subject occupying the shooting screen is wider than a predetermined ratio, the mode is switched to the auto frame mode. I am trying to switch automatically.

[0015]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described in detail below based on the illustrated embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a camera with an auto-frame function according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a signal from each sensor for arithmetic processing to control each circuit. Central processing circuit (hereinafter CPU
2) is a main switch. SW1 is distance measurement,
A switch for starting photometry, SW2 is a release switch for starting the opening of the shutter, and these are turned on in conjunction with the pressing operation of the release button of the camera. 3 is an eye start switch that is turned on by detecting that the photographer has approached the eyepiece of the camera, 4 is an auto frame switch for setting when auto panorama is to function, and 5 is a subject at the time of shooting This is an auto-zoom switch for selecting either upper body or whole body mode.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a multi-point AF sensor for measuring a plurality of points on the photographing screen, 7 a storage circuit, 8 a panoramic mechanism control circuit, 9 a magnet, 10 a battery serving as a power source,
Reference numeral 11 is a zoom control circuit, and 12 is a zoom motor. 1
3 is a lens barrel drive circuit, 14 is a lens barrel drive motor, 15 is a shutter (SH) control circuit, 17 is a shutter drive motor, 16 is an LED display drive circuit, and 18, 19 and 20 are arranged in the viewfinder. It is an LED display unit described later.

The present embodiment assumes a TTL-AF, that is, a type of camera in which the distance measuring angles of a plurality of distance measuring points also change in accordance with the change of the photographing field angle.

FIG. 2 is a view showing the inside of the viewfinder.

Reference numeral 18 denotes the above-mentioned LED display portion that lights up when the frame becomes an auto frame, 19 denotes the above-mentioned LED display portion that lights up when the auto framing functions normally, and 20 indicates that the auto framing does not function normally. It is the above-mentioned LED display section for giving a warning to the photographer. 21a is a viewfinder field, 21b is an actual photographing range at a standard photographing aperture, 6
Reference numerals a, 6b, 6c, 6d, and 6e indicate distance measurement points of the multipoint AF sensor 6 for distance measurement at respective positions within the photographing screen.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the structure of a camera with an auto frame function according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 3, reference numeral 22 denotes a main body of the camera, which has a normal photographing opening 24 and a slide rib 23 which serves as a guide for the vertical movement of the slide groove 26a of the panorama frame 26. 26
b is a drive pin that engages with the drive hole 27b of the rotating ring 27 to convert the rotation of the rotating ring 27 into vertical movement of the panorama frame 26, and 25 is an opening into which the rack portion 27a of the rotating ring 27 is movably fitted. 28 is an elongated hole 27 of the rotating ring 27
It is a screw that is screwed into the camera body 22 via c and rotatably supports the rotating ring 27.

4 and 5 are front views for explaining the operation of the panoramic mechanism of the camera.

In these figures, 9a is a magnet 9
Is a plunger that drives the drive pin 29a of the slide plate 29 to the left in the figure by suction, and the slide plate 29 is moved by the action of the plunger 9a, and is engaged with the rack portion 29b (lap portion 27a). The rotation ring 27 rotates to the left, and the drive pin 26b (the panorama frame 2
6) Move up and down to make a panoramic shooting aperture (Fig. 4
→ Figure 5).

Next, the operation of the part relating to the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

In this description, dA is the distance (distance measurement value) to the subject that enters the distance measuring point 6a at the center of the viewfinder field 21a, and dB, dC, dD, dE are distance measuring points 6b, 6c, respectively. It is the distance (distance measurement value) to the subject entering 6d and 6e. Further, f is a focal length calculated from Ttyp and da, where Ttyp is the average height of the person who is the subject. At this time, when a general person is the subject, the size is about 80% in the vertical direction of the photographing field of view. It is calculated to zoom so that it becomes exactly the same. fw is the focal length on the widest angle side of the camera. f'is a focal length that changes momentarily during auto-framing, and ft is a focal length on the most telephoto side of the camera.

First, in step 1, when the main switch 2 and the auto frame switch 4 are turned on, the process proceeds to step 2. The auto zoom mode is, for example, “whole body mode” selected by the auto zoom switch 5.

Next, when the photographer moves his eyes close to the eyepiece of the viewfinder, the fact that his eyes are approaching is detected by the photocoupler arranged around the eyepiece, and the eye start switch 3 turns on. In step 2, by detecting that the eye start switch 3 is turned on, the process proceeds to step 3. In step 3, the AF sensor in the center of the screen (not shown) starts the distance measurement within the distance measurement point 6a, and the distance to the subject is calculated. This distance measurement value is set as dA and is stored in the storage circuit 7 in the next step 4.

By pressing the release button halfway in place of the eye start switch 3 described above, the switch SW
Since 1 is ON, eye start switch 3 is ON
Distance measurement is started as at time.

Next, in step 5, an appropriate focal length is calculated from the average height Ttyp of the person who is the subject and the distance measurement value dA, and this is stored in the storage circuit 7 as f. Next, at step 6, the distance measuring points 6b, 6d, 6 are detected by the AF sensors on the upper, lower, left and right sides other than the center of the screen.
Distance measurement is performed at e and 6c, and thereafter, distance measurement is continuously performed at regular intervals. At this time, the distance measurement values at the respective distance measurement points of the upper, lower, left, and right AF sensors are set to dB, dD, dE, and d, respectively.
Store as C.

In the next step 7, the previously calculated focal length f and the focal length fw on the widest angle side of the camera are compared. If they are almost the same, then the object is well balanced as shown in FIG. Framed and Step 1
The process proceeds to step 3 and the LED display section 19 is turned on as an indication of "OK" because the auto-framing function is functioning normally (see FIG. 7). The photographer confirms this display and determines that the intended framing state is reached, and the release switch SW
In order to perform the ON operation of No. 2, the operation proceeds to step 14, where a known photographing operation is performed and the series of operations ends.

If it is determined in step 7 that the proper focal length f and the focal length fw on the widest angle side of the camera are not the same, the process proceeds to step 8, where the focal length f is the focal length on the widest angle side. It is compared whether it is larger than fw or the focal length f is smaller than the focal length ft on the most telephoto side.

As a result, when the focal length f is smaller than the focal length fw on the widest angle side, the subject is out of the actual photographing range 21b as shown in FIG. 8, so the process proceeds to step 15 and the auto framing "NG" is performed. The LED display unit 20 is turned on to display "" (see FIG. 8), and the photographer is warned. Then, the series of operations ends. Further, when the focal length f is larger than the focal length ft on the most telephoto side, the subject cannot be zoomed up until it is arranged in a good balance on the screen, so the process also proceeds to step 15 and the LED for displaying the auto-framing “NG” is displayed. The display unit 20 is turned on to call the photographer's attention, and a series of operations ends.

On the other hand, if the focal length f is larger than the focal length fw on the widest angle side or if the focal length f is smaller than the focal length ft on the maximum telephoto side, the process proceeds to step 9, where the distance measurement value is measured. The distance measurement values dE and dC are compared with dA. That is, the outermost distance measuring points 6e, 6 of the actual photographing range 21b.
It is determined whether or not there is an object at the same distance as the main subject in the center in c. At present, since it is the widest angle side as shown in FIG. 9, the distance measurement values dE and dC are farther or infinite than the distance measurement value dA, and the process proceeds to step 10 here.

In the present embodiment, the deviation of the distance measurement result due to the difference in the angle of view of the distance measurement point is automatically corrected.

In step 10, zooming is started and the focal length is gradually changed to the telephoto side. Then, the focal length f ′ at this time is calculated in the next step 11.
, The focal length f is always compared.

As described above, steps 9 to 10 and 11 are repeated as a loop, and the process is exited when either step 9 or step 11 satisfies the condition earlier.

In step 9, when the distance measurement values dC and the distance measurement values dLe and dR become equal, that is, when the distances of the three points become equal for the first time after zooming from the wide-angle side to the telephoto side, the same subject is detected. Since it is considered that there is a possibility that there is no possibility that there is a subject further outside, since it is developed horizontally and the long side direction of its field of view almost coincides with the width of the subject, the process proceeds to step 16, where the wide angle side is slightly changed. Stop zooming after returning. The image in the viewfinder field at this time is approximately in the state shown in FIG.

Next, in step 17, the distance measurement value dB
Is an infinite distance, that is, whether it is the sky or a distant view, and if so, it is determined that there are many unnecessary portions, and the process proceeds to step 18, where the panoramic photography is switched. That is, the CPU 1 instructs the panoramic mechanism control circuit 8 to switch the photographing aperture to the panoramic size, and the magnet 9 is energized. As a result, the panorama mechanism shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is operated, and the panorama size becomes such that the short side of the photographing aperture is approximately 1/2 as shown in FIG.

At this time, the actual photographing range 21b of the finder is also switched to the panoramic frame as shown in FIG.

Next, in step 19, L is sent to notify the photographer of the change to the auto frame mode.
The ED display unit 18 is turned on.

With the above, since the auto framing is completed, the process proceeds to step 13 and, as described above, the LED framing section 1 is displayed as an indication of the auto framing function "OK".
Turn on 9. Therefore, the display in the finder at this point is in the display state as shown in FIG. afterwards,
The photographer confirms this display or the like and performs an ON operation of the release switch SW2 on the assumption that the framing state is intended, so the operation proceeds to step 14, where a known photographing operation is performed to end the series of operations. .

The magnet 9 is de-energized and the force of the return spring 30 causes the photographing aperture to return to the normal mode.

By taking such an image, as shown in FIG.
A panoramic photograph as shown in 2 can be obtained.

In step 17, if the distance measurement value dB is not infinite, the subject is unfolded forward or backward, or there is a required subject immediately behind, for example, FIG.
Since there is a possibility of such a scene, the process proceeds to step 13 as it is, the completion of auto-framing is displayed, and the same operation is performed thereafter.

Next, when step 11 is satisfied earlier than step 9, that is, the focal length f'which changes every moment.
Is determined to be equal to the focal length f calculated in step 5, it means that the lateral width of the subject is not so long and the vertical direction of the photographing screen is well balanced in the height direction of the person as shown in FIG. Therefore, the process proceeds to step 12 to slightly return to the wide-angle side, then the zooming is stopped, the process proceeds to step 131 as described above, the completion of the auto-framing is displayed, and the same operation is performed thereafter.

As described above, when auto-framing functions, the focal length is slightly widened just before zooming is stopped in step 12 or step 16 in order to ensure that there is no further subject cutoff. By setting it to the side, reliable shooting of the subject at the position (within the screen) at the edge of the AF sensor distance measurement point is guaranteed.

(Second Embodiment) In the first embodiment described above, the camera capable of zooming has been described, but the present invention is also effective for a single focus camera. Hereinafter, this monofocal camera will be described as a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of a single-focus camera having an auto-zoom function according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 14, reference numeral 101 denotes a signal from each sensor. CPU that controls each circuit, 10
2 is a main switch. SW1 is a switch for starting the distance measurement and photometry, and SW2 is a release switch for starting the opening of the shutter. These switches are turned on in conjunction with the pressing operation of the release button of the camera. 103 is turned on by detecting that the photographer has approached the eyepiece of the camera.
An eye start switch 104 is an auto frame switch to be set when the auto panorama is to function.

Reference numeral 106 is a multi-point AF sensor for measuring a plurality of points on the photographing screen, 107 is a memory circuit, 108 is a panoramic mechanism control circuit, 109 is a magnet, 110 is a battery as a power source, 113 is a lens barrel. A driving circuit, 114 is a lens barrel driving motor, 115 is a shutter (SH) control circuit,
Reference numeral 116 is a motor for driving a shutter, 117 is an LED display drive circuit, and 118, 119, 120, and 121 are LED display sections, which will be described later, arranged in the viewfinder.

FIG. 15 is a view showing the inside of the viewfinder.

Reference numeral 118 denotes the above-mentioned LED display portion that lights up when the panorama mode is set, and 119 indicates the above-mentioned LED display portion that lights up when auto framing normally functions,
20 is the same LED framing section as mentioned above for giving a warning to the photographer that the subject is too close because the auto framing does not work normally, and 121 is too far from the subject because the auto framing does not work properly. It is the above-mentioned LED display part for giving a warning of a thing. 122a is a viewfinder field, 12
2b is an actual photographing range at the standard photographing aperture, 106a, 10
Reference numerals 6b, 106c, 106d, and 106e denote distance measurement points of the multipoint AF sensor 106 for distance measurement at respective positions within the photographing screen.

Next, the operation of the portion related to the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

In this description, dA is the distance (distance measurement value) to the object entering the distance measurement point 106a of the AF sensor (not shown) at the center of the viewfinder field 122a, d
B, dC, dD, and dE are distance measuring points 106, respectively.
b, 106c, 106d, and 106e are distances (distance measurement values) to the subject. Further, fo is the focal length of the camera, d is the average height of the person who is the subject, Ttyp and fo
The subject distance calculated from

Since the operation from step 101 to step 104 is the same as step 1 to step 4 in the first embodiment, its explanation is omitted here.

In step 105, the average height of the person who is the subject is calculated from Ttyp and fo, which is the focal length of this camera, and the distance at which the subject is about 80% of the screen is calculated and stored as d. It is stored in the circuit 107.

At the next step 106, the distance measuring point 10 is detected by the AF sensors on the upper, lower, left and right sides other than the center of the screen.
Distance measurement is performed at 6b, 106d, 106e, and 106c, and thereafter distance measurement is continuously performed at regular intervals. At this time, the distance measurement values at the distance measurement points of the upper, lower, left, and right AF sensors are stored as dB, dD, dE, and dC, respectively.

In step 107, step 10
The distance d calculated in 5 is compared with the distance measurement value dA obtained in step 104. As a result, if they are equal,
As shown in FIG. 7, the frame is framed in a well-balanced manner, and the process proceeds to step 113, and the LED display section 119 is turned on as an indication of “OK” because the auto-framing function is functioning normally (see FIG. 17). The photographer confirms this display or the like and turns on the release switch SW2 as the intended framing state, so the operation proceeds to step 114, where a known shooting operation is performed and a series of operations is ended. .

On the other hand, when the object distance d is not equal to the distance measurement value dA, and the distance measurement value dA is smaller than the object distance d, the process proceeds to steps 107 → 108 → 115 → 116. In this case, as shown in FIG. Since the frame is out of the actual shooting range 122b, it is determined in this step 116 that the auto framing does not function normally and the LED
The display unit 120 is turned on (see FIG. 18) to warn the photographer. That is, in this case, the subject is too close.

If the subject distance d is not equal to the distance measurement value dA and the distance measurement value dA is larger than the subject distance d, the process proceeds from step 107 to 108 to 109, and in step 109, the distance measurement value dA is measured. The distance values dC and dE are compared. As a result, if these distance measurement values are equal, FIG.
As described above, since there is a possibility that the subject is a horizontally long object having a full shooting angle of view, the routine proceeds to step 110, where it is determined whether or not the distance measurement value dB is infinite. If not infinite,
As shown in FIG. 20, it is considered that there is a necessary subject, and the process proceeds to step 113, and the same operation as described above is performed thereafter.

If the distance measurement value dB is infinite, that portion may be an unnecessary sky, so step 1
Proceed to 11 to switch to panoramic photography. That is, the CPU 101 instructs the panoramic mechanism control circuit 108 to switch the photographing aperture to the panoramic size, and the magnet 109 is energized. As a result, the panorama mechanism operates, and the panorama size becomes such that the short side of the photographing aperture is approximately halved. At that time, the actual shooting range of the viewfinder 12
2b also switches to a panoramic frame as shown in FIG. Next, in step 112, the LED display unit 118 is turned on to notify the photographer that the panorama mode has been selected.

With the above, since the auto framing to the auto frame mode is completed, the routine proceeds to step 113, where the auto framing function "O" is set as described above.
The LED display unit 119 is turned on to display "K". Therefore, the display in the finder at this point is as shown in FIG.
The display state is as follows. After that, the photographer confirms this display, etc., and performs an ON operation of the release switch SW2 as the intended framing state, so the operation proceeds to step 114, where a known photographing operation is performed and a series of operations is performed. finish.

By taking such an image, as shown in FIG.
A panoramic photograph as shown in 2 can be obtained.

If the distance measurement values dA, dC and dE are not equal in step 109, the process proceeds to step 117 and the auto framing does not function normally and L
The ED display unit 121 is turned on (see FIG. 23) to warn the photographer. That is, in this case, the subject is too far away.

As described above, by using the multi-point AF without using the zoom camera, not only the normal shooting size but also the panoramic size is positively used and presented to the photographer, so that a better balanced framing is achieved. Can be done automatically.

(Third Embodiment) In the first and second embodiments, a relatively high-grade type camera in which the switching of the photographing aperture to the panoramic size is automated is assumed. Is not limited to this, and is also effective for the cheapest camera with a panoramic shooting function. Hereinafter, this type of camera will be described as a third embodiment of the present invention.

The camera of this embodiment is of a type in which the photographing aperture is manually switched to the panoramic size.

In other words, in the first and second embodiments, when the subject has a suitable panorama size, the camera automatically switches to the panoramic size photographing aperture and viewfinder field. By blinking the LED display section indicating that it is in frame mode or blinking the boundary of panoramic shooting in the viewfinder field,
It aims to achieve this object by encouraging the photographer to switch to the auto frame mode.

FIG. 24 is a block diagram showing the main structure of a camera according to the third embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 24, 201 is a CPU for processing signals from each sensor and controlling each circuit, 202. Is the main switch. SW
Reference numeral 1 is a switch for starting distance measurement and photometry, and SW2 is a release switch for starting the opening of the shutter. These switches are turned on in conjunction with the pressing operation of the release button of the camera.
Reference numeral 203 denotes an eye start switch which is turned on by detecting that the photographer has approached the eyepiece of the camera.
Reference numeral 4 denotes an auto frame switch which is set when the auto frame functions.

Reference numeral 206 denotes a multi-point AF sensor for measuring a plurality of points on the photographing screen, 207 denotes a memory circuit, 210 denotes a battery as a power source, 213 denotes a lens barrel drive circuit, and 214 denotes a lens barrel drive motor. 215 is a shutter (SH) control circuit,
Reference numeral 216 is a motor for driving a shutter, 217 is an LED display drive circuit, and 218, 219, 220, 221, and 223 are LED display sections, which will be described later, arranged in the finder.

FIG. 25 is a view showing the inside of the viewfinder.

Reference numeral 218 denotes the above-mentioned LED display portion 219 for urging the photographer to switch to the auto frame mode.
Is the above-mentioned LED display section that lights up when auto-framing functions normally, 220 indicates the above-mentioned LED display section for giving a warning to the photographer that auto-framing does not function normally and the subject is too close, Reference numeral 221 denotes the above-mentioned LED display unit for giving a warning to the photographer that the subject is too far away because the auto-framing does not function normally. Reference numeral 222a is a viewfinder field, and 222b is an actual photographing range at a standard photographing aperture. 223 is a panorama-sized real shooting frame LE
After the shooting aperture of the camera is manually switched from the normal size to the panorama size on the D display unit, the flashing mode is switched to the lighting mode to notify the photographer of this. 206a, 2
Reference numerals 06b, 206c, 206d, and 206e denote distance measurement points of the multipoint AF sensor 206 for distance measurement at respective positions within the photographing screen.

Next, the operation of the part related to the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

In this description, dA is the distance measuring point 2 of the AF sensor at the center of the viewfinder field 222a.
Distance (distance measurement value) to the subject entering 06a, dB, d
C, dD and dE are distance measuring points 206b and 20 respectively.
6c, 206d, and 206e are distances (distance measurement values) to the subject. Further, fo is the focal length of the camera, d is the average height Ttyp of the person who is the subject, and the focal length fo
The subject distance calculated from

From step 201 to step 210,
And, steps 214 to 218 are steps 101 to 110 in the second embodiment,
Also, since it is the same as steps 113 to 117, the description thereof is omitted here.

When it is determined in step 210 that the distance measurement value dB is infinite, the process proceeds to step 211, where the LED display section 218 for prompting the auto frame mode is set.
Lights up and the panorama size real frame LED
The display unit 223 blinks. This is shown in Figure 2.
7

If the photographer understands this and operates a manual panorama mechanism operating member (not shown) of the camera, and the photographing opening becomes a panorama, or the LED display section meaning "panoramic photographing" is ready for lighting, it is not shown. When the CPU 201 determines that the switching has been completed by the detection switch, the process proceeds from step 212 to step 213.
In 13, the lighting of the LED display unit 218 is stopped, the blinking of the actual photographing frame LED display unit 223 is stopped, and the continuous lighting state is set this time. And step 214
Then, the same operation as described above is performed.

According to the first and second embodiments described above, the distance measurement values dA, dC, dE of the distance measurement points 6a, 6c, 6e.
And the focal length f calculated from the distance measurement value dA and the average height Ttyp and the distance measurement value dB of the distance measurement point 6b, or
Distance measurement values dA, dC, d of the distance measurement points 6a, 6c, 6e
From the subject distance d calculated from E, the fixed focal length fo, and the average height Ttyp, and the distance measurement value dB of the distance measurement point 6b, the aspect ratio of the horizontally arranged persons is a predetermined ratio (“2:
3 ”) and a horizontally long ratio (ratio close to“ 1: 3 ”)
In such a case, by automatically switching the viewfinder and / or the shooting aperture to the auto frame mode, it is possible to combine the zooming and the screen ratio to select the optimum framing for the subject.

Even in the manually switched panoramic camera as in the third embodiment, when the aspect ratio of horizontally arranged persons exceeds the predetermined ratio and is long in the horizontal direction, a display for guiding framing is displayed. Then, it helps the photographer to shoot.

As a result, the following effects can be obtained.

1) It is possible to avoid an unnecessarily large amount of sky and a person becoming very small when using a wide-angle lens, and it is possible to easily obtain good results even in a group photo of a large number of people.

2) Since there is no problem even if this function is always operated, it is possible to dramatically increase the success rate of photographing.

(Modification) In the present embodiment, as described above, it is determined whether or not the aspect ratio of the horizontally arranged persons (main subjects in the photographing screen) is longer than the predetermined ratio. From the values dA, dC, dE, the focal length f, and the distance measurement value dB,
Alternatively, the distance measurement values dA, dC, dE, the subject distance d, and the distance measurement value dB are used, but the present invention is not limited to this, and instead of the distance measurement value dB, a camera is used. It is also possible to detect the sky or the background (such as when a person is standing in the snow) based on the brightness information from the built-in photometric means, and determine whether or not to switch to the auto frame mode.

Further, for example, there is known means for detecting the edge of the main subject from the brightness information and discriminating the shape of the main subject, but the main subject occupying in the photographing screen from the information obtained by this means is known. The aspect ratio of the main subject may be recognized from the temperature distribution in the screen, and the aspect ratio of the main subject occupied in the shooting screen may be recognized from this information. good.

Further, in the present embodiment, when switching to the auto frame mode, the viewfinder and the photographing aperture are switched to the panoramic size. However, for example, only the viewfinder side is switched to the panoramic size and the photographing aperture is kept as it is. Alternatively, the pseudo zoom information may be recorded on the photographing frame at that time, and a panoramic photograph as shown in FIG. 12 may be printed at the time of development.

FIG. 28 is a diagram showing a state when the pseudo zoom information is stored in the photographing frame. In FIG. 28, 310, 302,
Reference numerals 303 and 304 denote LEDs, and 305 denotes a current image frame in the film 306.

In such a structure, in the auto frame mode, the pseudo zoom information is recorded under the photographing frame 305 by the LEDs 301 to 304. This allows
At the photo lab, the pseudo zoom information is read and trimming is performed based on the read information. Therefore, FIG.
You will get a panoramic picture like 2.

[0088]

As described above, according to the present invention,
If the determination means determines whether the aspect ratio of the main subject occupying the shooting screen is horizontally longer than a predetermined ratio, and if the determination unit determines that it is horizontally longer than the predetermined ratio, the automatic Mode switching means for switching to the frame mode is provided, and when the aspect ratio of the main subject occupying the shooting screen is longer than a predetermined ratio, the automatic frame mode is automatically switched.

Therefore, even in a group photo of a large number of people, it is possible to always give a photo of an optimal composition, in which the number of people is not small and the background portion is not large.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of a camera according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the inside of a viewfinder field of the camera of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a camera having a panoramic mechanism of the camera according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a front view showing a state at the start of switching the shooting aperture of the camera of FIG.

5 is a front view showing a state in which the photographing aperture of the camera of FIG. 3 is switched to a panoramic size.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the camera of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a viewfinder screen when a subject is framed with good balance in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a finder screen when a subject is framed out in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a finder screen for a large number of people in the first embodiment of the present invention.

10 is a diagram showing a viewfinder screen when the auto-framing function of the screen of FIG. 9 is OK.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a finder screen when the screen of FIG. 10 is photographed in a panoramic size.

12 is a diagram showing a panoramic photograph obtained when photographing is performed in the state of FIG.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a finder screen when a special subject required behind the subject is present in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of a camera according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing the inside of a viewfinder field of the camera of the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing the operation of the camera of the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a finder screen when a subject is framed with good balance in the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a viewfinder screen when a subject is framed out in the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a finder screen when the left and right are framed in a well-balanced manner even when the subject is horizontally long in the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing an example of a finder screen when there is a special subject required behind the subject in the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing a viewfinder screen when the size is changed to a panorama size in the second embodiment of the present invention.

22 is a diagram showing a panoramic photograph obtained when photographing is performed in the state of FIG. 21. FIG.

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing a finder screen when a subject is too far away in the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 24 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of a camera according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 25 is a diagram showing the inside of the finder field of the camera of the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing an operation of the camera of the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 27 is a view showing a viewfinder screen prompting the photographer to switch to the auto frame mode in the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 28 is a perspective view for explaining a unit for recording pseudo zoom information on a shooting frame according to the present invention.

FIG. 29 is a diagram showing a finder screen when there are a small number of subjects.

FIG. 30 is a view showing a finder screen when the screen of FIG. 29 is auto-zoomed.

FIG. 31 is a diagram showing a finder screen when there are a large number of subjects.

FIG. 32 is a diagram showing a finder screen in the case where not everyone is imaged when the screen of FIG. 31 is auto-zoomed.

FIG. 33 is a diagram showing an example of a photograph taken by a wide-angle lens for a large number of people.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 101, 210 CPU 4, 104, 204 Auto zoom switch 6, 106, 206 Multi-point AF sensor 6a-6e Distance measuring point 8, 108, 208 Panorama mechanism control circuit 18, 118, 218 LED display section 19, 119, 219 LED display unit 20, 120, 220 LED display unit 106a to 106e Distance measuring point 206a to 206e Distance measuring point

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A discriminating means for discriminating whether or not an aspect ratio of a main subject occupying a shooting screen is longer than a predetermined ratio, and the discriminating means discriminates that the main subject is horizontally longer than a predetermined ratio. If so, a camera equipped with a mode switching means for switching to the auto frame mode. 2. The discriminating means is a distance measuring means for measuring a distance between a plurality of points on the photographing screen, and an aspect ratio of the main subject on the photographing screen is predetermined based on a plurality of distance measuring information from the distance measuring means. 2. The camera according to claim 1, further comprising a detection unit that detects whether or not the width is longer than the ratio. 3. The discriminating means includes a photometric means for detecting the brightness of a field, a distance measuring means for measuring a distance between a plurality of points on a photographing screen, a plurality of distance measuring information from the distance measuring means, and the distance measuring information. The detection means for detecting whether or not the aspect ratio of the main subject occupying the photographing screen is longer than a predetermined ratio based on the brightness information from the photometric means. Camera. 4. The camera according to claim 2, wherein the distance measuring means is a means for independently measuring at least points at the center, left and right of the screen, and at the top of the screen. 5. The camera according to claim 3, wherein the distance measuring means is means for independently measuring at least the center and left and right points of the screen. 6. An auto-zoom means for automatically setting a size of a main subject occupying in a screen to a predetermined size, and when the auto-zoom means changes a focal length from a wide-angle side to a telephoto side. 4. An operation control means for instructing a discriminating operation by the discriminating means each time the plurality of distance measuring information is repeatedly obtained by the distance measuring means.
The listed camera. 7. The auto-zoom means changes the focal length from the wide-angle side to the telephoto side, and when it detects that the focal length will be such that the size of the main subject becomes a predetermined size. 7. The camera according to claim 6, further comprising means for operating to return the focal length slightly to the wide angle side. 8. A switching means for switching to an auto frame mode, a discrimination means for discriminating whether or not the aspect ratio of the main subject occupying the photographing screen is wider than a predetermined ratio, and the discrimination means. If it is determined that the width is longer than the predetermined ratio, the switching means changes the display mode to the first display means for prompting the switching to the auto frame mode, and the switching means switches to the auto frame mode. A camera provided with a second display means for displaying the display when the switching is completed.