JP3448615B2 - Camera auto bracketing device - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic bracketing device for a camera having a plurality of photometric methods.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, a camera measures the image of a subject by a photometric unit according to a photometric method designated by a user, determines an exposure value from the obtained photometric value, and further determines an aperture value or a shutter speed from the exposure value. Shooting is performed after determining shooting conditions. The photometric methods designated by the user include spot photometry, center-weighted photometry, average photometry, multi-photometry, and the like.
3 to 6 divide the image of the subject into regions as shown in the figure,
The photometric sensitivity distribution of each photometric method is shown for each region. The numerical value in the figure represents the sensitivity, and the larger the value, the stronger the sensitivity. FIG. 3 is a photometric sensitivity distribution map of spot photometry, FIG. 4 is a photometric sensitivity distribution map of center-weighted photometry, FIG. 5 is a photometric sensitivity distribution map of average photometry, and FIG. 6 is a photometric sensitivity distribution map of multiple photometry. It is a thing. For example, in the case of FIG.
The sensitivity of 5 is the maximum, the area 46 is 1/10 of the sensitivity of the area 45, and the sensitivity of the areas 41, 42, 43, 44 is 0.
Is. Since the sensitivities are distributed in this way, spot photometry can be performed.

However, the shooting condition based on the photometric value by the photometric method specified by the user may not always meet the user's wishes, and as an apparatus for continuously shooting while automatically changing the shooting condition within a certain range, auto-bracketing is possible. There is an operating device.

The following is an example of an automatic bracketing device according to the prior art. The exposure value obtained by one photometric method set by the user out of a plurality of photometric methods of the camera is set as the median value, and the range of change of the exposure value by the user and the amount of adjustment of the exposure value (correction amount)
Is specified. For example, if -2EV to + 2EV is specified as the range of change and 0.5EV is specified as the correction amount, if the median exposure value is 5EV, the exposure value is set to 3.0, 3.5. , 4.0, 4.5, 5.0, 5.5, 6.
Changing to 0, 6.5, 7.0 EV, a total of 9 shots are taken in succession. In this way, for multiple exposure values obtained by gradually changing the exposure value, determine the aperture and shutter speed,
Under these shooting conditions, shooting was automatically performed sequentially. This type of device has been incorporated in, for example, a camera body or a data back device for a camera for imprinting a date on a film.

[0005]

However, in the above apparatus, since the exposure value obtained by one photometric method manually set by the photographer is adopted as the median value, the median value is fixed, In order to obtain the target proper exposure, it is necessary to set a wide range of change and set the correction amount in small steps, which sometimes compels useless frame number photography. Also, because the user sets one photometric method, if the photometric method is selected improperly, depending on the condition of the subject, the set photometric method may not provide an appropriate photometric value, and good shooting may not be possible. There was a possibility that the statue could not be obtained.

An object of the present invention is to provide an auto-bracketing device that does not require setting of a correction amount.

[0007]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, in an auto-bracketing device of a camera that executes auto-bracketing shooting for sequentially shooting according to a plurality of shooting conditions, whether auto-bracketing shooting is performed or not An instruction receiving unit that receives an instruction, a photometric control unit that outputs an instruction to obtain a photometric value by a plurality of different photometric methods to the photometric unit of the camera according to the received instruction, and the plurality of photometric units from the photometric unit. The exposure value is determined for each photometric value, the aperture and shutter speed that are the shooting conditions are determined from the determined exposure value, and the aperture drive signal and shutter drive corresponding to the obtained aperture value and shutter speed And a control unit for sequentially outputting signals.

[0008]

Since the present invention is constructed as described above,
Since different photometric values are obtained for the same subject by a plurality of photometric methods, and continuous shooting is performed based on these photometric values, it is possible to carry out bracketing photography by the number of photometric methods. The correction amount is not directly given as the exposure amount, that is, the aperture or shutter speed as in the conventional case, but as a so-called correction amount by the photometric method, so that a plurality of median exposure values in the prior art can be set.

[0009]

EXAMPLES Examples of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 7 shows a block diagram of a portion related to the auto-bracketing device of the camera and the auto-bracketing photography according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

The auto bracketing device 78 is a bracketing mode selecting section 71 which is a mode switch for selecting a bracketing mode for the user to perform bracketing photography, and a function of the auto bracketing apparatus, that is, a photometry control section and control. It has a CPU 77 that executes the functions of the parts.

The CPU 7 is used for automatic bracketing photography.
7 receives the signal from the release section 72, and controls the film winding section 73, the shutter section 74, the diaphragm section 75, and the photometry section 76.

In this embodiment, the photometry is changed for each frame of the film, and the first frame is photographed based on the spot-metered photometric value. The second frame is the center-weighted photometric value. In the third frame, shooting is performed based on the averaged photometric value.

FIG. 1 is a flow chart showing the processing of the photometric control section and the control section in the first embodiment and the processing of the other sections. In FIG. 1, the photographer selects the selection unit 7
When the bracketing mode is selected by 1 (step S1), when the user subsequently presses the release switch in the release section 72 (step S2), the release section 72 outputs a release signal. With this signal,
The CPU 77 first selects spot metering, and the metering unit 7
The spot metering is instructed to 6 (step S3). In response to the instruction, the photometric unit 76 performs spot photometry (step S4) and sends the photometric result to the CPU 77. CPU 77
The aperture value and shutter speed are determined from the photometric value, and drive signals are output to the aperture unit 75 and shutter unit 74, respectively. The diaphragm section 75 and the shutter section 74 are driven by the above signals to perform photographing (step S5). When the photographing is completed, a signal is sent from the CPU 77 to the film winding portion 73 to wind the film (step S6).

The CPU 77 then selects the center-weighted photometry and instructs the photometric unit 76 to perform the center-weighted photometry (step S7). Upon receiving the instruction, the photometric unit 76 performs center-weighted photometry (step S8) and sends the photometric result to the CPU 77. The CPU 77 determines the aperture value and the shutter speed from the photometric value and outputs drive signals to the aperture unit 75 and the shutter unit 74, respectively. Aperture 75 and shutter 74
Is driven by the above signal to perform photographing (step S9). When the photographing is completed, a signal is sent from the CPU 77 to the film winding portion 73 to wind the film (step S10).

The CPU 77 then selects the average photometry and instructs the photometry unit 76 to perform the average photometry (step S11). Upon receiving the instruction, the photometric unit 76 performs average photometry (step S12) and sends the photometric result to the CPU 77. CPU77
Determines the aperture value and shutter speed from the photometric value and outputs drive signals to the aperture unit 75 and shutter unit 74, respectively. The diaphragm unit 75 and the shutter unit 74 are driven by the above-mentioned signals to perform photographing (step S13). When the photographing is completed, a signal is sent from the CPU 77 to the film winding upper portion 73 to wind the film (step S1).
4). When all the bracketing photography is completed, the bracketing mode is released (step S15).

According to the present embodiment, since bracketing photography is performed by changing the photometric method, there is no hesitation in selecting the photometric method, and no correction amount is set. Therefore, it is highly practical and extremely fast. It is excellent.

FIG. 8 shows a block diagram of a portion related to the auto-bracketing device of the camera and the auto-bracketing photographing according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

This embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the actual photometry is performed only once by multi-photometry, and the above-mentioned spot photometry and center-weighted photometry are performed using the photometric values obtained by the multi-photometry. , A photometric value corresponding to the photometric value obtained by average photometry is obtained by calculation.

The auto-bracketing device 84 includes a bracketing-mode selecting unit 71, which is a mode switch for selecting a bracketing mode for the user to perform bracketing photography, a data converting unit 81, and the function of the auto-bracketing device. That is, it has a photometric controller and a CPU 83 that executes the functions of the controller.

The CPU 8 is used for automatic bracketing photography.
3 receives the signal from the release section 72 and controls the film winding section 73, the shutter section 74, the diaphragm section 75, the photometry section 76, and the data conversion section 81.

In the present embodiment, when the photographer selects the bracketing mode, multi-photometry is performed once, and from the result, a pseudo photometry result corresponding to each photometry method of the first embodiment is calculated, For example, the first frame is photographed based on a photometric value corresponding to spot photometry, the second frame is photographed based on a photometric value corresponding to center-weighted photometry, and the third frame is photographed based on a photometric value corresponding to average photometry. .

FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing the processing of the photometric control section and the control section in the second embodiment and the processing of the other sections. In FIG. 2, the photographer selects the selection unit 7
When the bracketing mode is selected by 1 (step S21), when the user subsequently presses the release switch in the release section 72 (step S22), the release section 72 outputs a release signal. With this signal, the CPU 83 selects the multi-photometry, and instructs the photometry unit 82 to perform the multi-photometry via the data conversion unit 81. Upon receiving the instruction, the photometric unit 82 performs multi-photometry (step S23) and sends the photometric result to the data conversion unit 81. The data conversion unit 81 stores the result of multi-photometry, calculates a photometric value corresponding to spot photometry from the result of multi-photometry (step S24), and outputs the calculation result to the CPU 83.
Send to. The CPU 83 determines the aperture value and the shutter speed based on the calculation result, and outputs drive signals to the aperture unit 75 and the shutter unit 74, respectively. The diaphragm unit 75 and the shutter unit 74 are driven by the above-mentioned signals to perform photographing (step S25). When the photographing is completed, a signal is sent from the CPU 83 to the film winding portion 73 to wind the film (step S26).

Next, the CPU 83 selects a calculation method corresponding to the center-weighted photometry, and instructs the data conversion section 81 to the calculation method corresponding to the center-weighted photometry. Data converter 81
In response to the instruction, calculates a photometric value corresponding to center-weighted photometry from the result of multi-photometry (step S27), and sends the calculation result to the CPU 83. The CPU 83 determines the aperture value and the shutter speed based on the calculation result, and outputs drive signals to the aperture unit 75 and the shutter unit 74, respectively. The diaphragm unit 75 and the shutter unit 74 are driven by the above-mentioned signals to perform photographing (step S28). When the photographing is completed, a signal is sent from the CPU 83 to the film winding portion 73 to wind the film (step S29).

Next, the CPU 83 selects a calculation method corresponding to the average photometry, and instructs the data conversion section 81 on the calculation method corresponding to the average photometry. Upon receiving the instruction, the data conversion unit 81 performs a calculation corresponding to average photometry (step S3).
0), the calculation result is sent to the CPU 83. The CPU 83 determines the aperture value and the shutter speed based on the calculation result, and outputs drive signals to the aperture unit 75 and the shutter unit 74, respectively. The diaphragm unit 75 and the shutter unit 74 are driven by the above-mentioned signals to perform photographing (step S31). When the photographing is completed, a signal is sent from the CPU 83 to the film winding portion 73 to wind the film (step S3).
2). When the bracketing shooting is completed, the bracketing mode is released (step S33). According to the present embodiment, the bracketing shooting is performed by changing the photometric method, so that there is no hesitation in selecting the photometric method, and the photometric operation is performed. Since it is performed only once, the quick-shooting property is superior to that of the first embodiment.

[0025]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an auto-bracketing device that does not require setting of a correction amount.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a photometric sensitivity distribution chart of spot photometry.

FIG. 4 is a photometric sensitivity distribution chart of center-weighted photometry.

FIG. 5 is a photometric sensitivity distribution chart of average photometry.

FIG. 6 is a photometric sensitivity distribution chart of multi-photometry.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

71 ... Bracketing mode selection unit, 76, 82 ... Photometry unit, 81 ... Data conversion unit.

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A photometric unit for photometrically measuring an image of a subject, and an auto camera.
Accepts an instruction as to whether to perform bracketing shooting
Control the photometric value of the instruction receiving section and the photometric section,
Upon receipt, determine the exposure value corresponding to the photometric value,
Determine the aperture value and shutter speed from the determined exposure value and
Aperture and shutter speed
Auto bracket that outputs a drive signal for
And a metering control unit, and the photometric unit differs in the photometric region with respect to the image of the subject.
It is possible to perform photometry with a plurality of photometric methods, and the auto bracketing control unit is
Accepts the instruction to perform the auto bracketing shooting
In the case of strokes, the metering unit sequentially measures the
Light is performed and the exposure value is determined for each photometric value obtained.
Then, the camera outputs the drive signal. 2. Whether to perform auto bracketing photography
Instruction receiving unit that receives such instructions and the connected measurement unit.
It controls the photometry of the light unit, receives the photometric value, and
The exposure value corresponding to the
And the shutter speed, and the aperture value and shutter speed
Drive to operate the aperture and shutter respectively
Has an auto bracketing control unit that outputs a signal.
And the auto bracketing control unit, the instruction receiving section
Accepts the instruction to perform the auto bracketing shooting
If the contact is broken, the connected metering unit may have different
Obtained by measuring the subject image with multiple photometric methods.
Determines the exposure value for each photometric value and outputs the drive signal
An auto-bracketing device characterized by: