JP2001125173A - Digital camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a digital camera not only confirming a subject by an optical finder but also realizing preview by an electronic display screen in a single lens reflex type digital camera. SOLUTION: A reflection mirror MR is disposed between a photographing lens 3 and a CCD 101. The mirror MR can move between a 1st position where it reflects light passing through the lens 3 so as to guide it to a finder optical system OP, and a 2nd position where it is deviated to the side of an optical path so as to guide the light passing through the lens 3 to the CCD 101 as it is without hindering it. The mirror MR is moved by a mirror driving means 120, and the operation of the driving means 120 is controlled by a CPU 100 based on the designation from an image switching means 50 connected to the CPU 100.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a digital camera, and more particularly to a single-lens reflex digital camera.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a single-lens reflex camera, when a subject is observed by a finder, light incident on a taking lens (that is, a subject image) is reflected by a reflecting mirror disposed on a taking optical path behind the lens to change the optical path. A normal image is passed through a pentaprism or the like and guided to the optical finder, so that the subject image passed through the lens can be viewed from the optical finder. Normally, the position where the finder optical path is formed is the fixed position of the reflection mirror.

On the other hand, when the lens is used for photographing, the reflecting mirror changes its position instantaneously and is retracted from the photographing optical path to switch the finder optical path to the photographing optical path. Return to This is the same for a single-lens reflex camera, whether it is a silver halide camera or a digital camera.

This is not a problem in the case of a silver halide camera, but if this configuration is adopted in a digital camera, an image of a subject to be photographed, which is one of the features of the digital camera, can be viewed on a liquid crystal screen for image confirmation. However, there is a problem that the function of taking a picture while using the so-called preview function cannot be utilized.

That is, since a photoelectric conversion element (for example, a CCD: charge-coupled device) for converting an optical image into an electric signal is disposed on a photographing optical path behind a reflecting mirror, the optical image is not used except when photographing. And the liquid crystal screen was only used to view the recorded image data after the photographing was completed.

[0006] Therefore, it is desired to improve so that the preview function of the liquid crystal screen can be utilized, but in that case, it is also important to prevent the power consumption of the digital camera from excessively increasing.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems. In a single-lens reflex digital camera, not only confirmation of a subject by an optical viewfinder but also preview on an electronic display screen. It is an object of the present invention to provide a digital camera capable of reducing power consumption.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a digital camera, comprising: a photographing lens; a photoelectric conversion element on which light passing through the photographing lens is imaged; and an image from the photoelectric conversion element. Image display means for displaying data,
A movable reflecting mirror disposed between the taking lens and the optoelectronic conversion element, a mirror driving unit for driving the reflecting mirror, a control unit for controlling at least the mirror driving unit, and reflected by the reflecting mirror. An optical observation system for observing the reflected light, wherein the mirror driving unit moves the reflection mirror to a first position so as to reflect the light passing through the photographing lens and guide the light to the optical observation system. And a second operation of moving the reflection mirror to a second position so as to guide the light passing through the photographing lens to the photoelectric conversion element. The means controls the mirror driving means to arbitrarily switch the first and second operations based on an instruction from the switching instruction means in response to a predetermined user operation. In addition, at the time of the first operation, the operation of at least one of the photoelectric conversion element and the image display means is stopped, and at the time of the second operation, the photoelectric conversion element and the image display means are operated. .

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the digital camera, the reflection mirror is a half mirror, and a sub-mirror that further reflects light transmitted through the reflection mirror.
A distance measuring unit that receives light reflected by the sub-mirror and performs phase difference automatic focus detection, wherein the sub-mirror is interlocked with the reflection mirror, and the reflection mirror is disposed at the first position. Performs automatic phase difference focus detection by the distance measuring means, and performs automatic focus detection based on the contrast of the image data when the reflection mirror is disposed at the second position.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the digital camera according to the third aspect, when the reflection mirror is arranged at the first position, the control unit displays the image so as to display a captured image. Activate the means.

In a digital camera according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the switching instruction means is a push button switch, and switches the position of the reflection mirror every time the push button switch is pressed down.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the digital camera, the switching instruction means is a slide switch,
The position of the reflection mirror is switched by switching the slide position of the slide switch.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the digital camera, the user operation is an eyepiece operation, and the switching instruction means is an eyepiece detector provided near a finder window of the optical observation system. The position of the reflection mirror is switched by detecting the presence or absence of an eyepiece by the eyepiece detector.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS <A. First Embodiment><A-1. Apparatus Configuration> First, the external configuration of the digital camera 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

Referring to FIG. 1, a digital camera 10 includes a camera body 1 and an interchangeable photographing lens 3 mounted on the front of the camera body 1.

Note that a flash (not shown) is built in the pentagonal part PP in which a pentagonal prism (not shown) is accommodated, and pops up when the brightness of the subject is low.

The camera body 1 has a release button 7, a mode changeover switch 8, a self-photographing setting switch 9, and a display 17 on its upper surface.

The display 17 is composed of, for example, an LCD or the like, and displays photographing data, self-timer photographing setting, frame number at the time of photographing, and other setting mode contents.

When the release button 7 is half-pressed, the switch S
An operation member 1 is turned on (preparation for photographing), and the switch S2 is turned on (release) when fully depressed. Mode switch 8
Switches between “OFF”, “recording”, and “reproduction” modes. The self-photographing setting switch 9 switches between normal photographing and self-timer photographing each time the switch is pressed.

A push button switch 501 constituting an image switching means is provided near the release button 7.

Further, the camera body 1 is provided with zoom buttons 14 and 15, a focus indication lamp 907, a finder window 906, and an image display LCD 905 on the back.

As for the zoom buttons 14 and 15, when the zoom button 14 is pressed, the taking lens 30 is driven to the wide side, and when the zoom button 15 is pressed, the taking lens 30 is driven to the telephoto side. Further, at the time of reproduction, it is used for selecting a recorded image to be reproduced.

A viewfinder window 906 is an eyepiece window through which an optical image passing through the photographing lens 3 can be viewed. An image display LCD 905 displays a monitor image of a subject before shooting, and displays a selected image during reproduction. Screen.

Next, the system configuration of the digital camera 10 will be described with reference to the block diagram shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 2, the camera body 1 has a system controller (hereinafter referred to as C) for controlling the operation of the entire camera.
100).

The subject image formed through the photographing lens 3 is taken into a solid-state image pickup device (hereinafter, referred to as a CCD) 101, and an output image signal of the CCD 101 is processed by a signal processing unit 102. . The driving of the photographing lens 31 is controlled by the lens driving unit 103 so as to be in focus on the basis of the distance measurement result. Distance measuring unit 104
Is to determine the distance to the subject using, for example, a phase difference detection method, and the driving amount of the photographing lens 3 by the lens driving unit 103 is calculated from the distance measurement data. The lens driving unit 103 drives the photographing lens 3.

The photometry unit 105 measures the brightness of the subject,
The CPU 100 outputs photometric data. Exposure control section 106 obtains C based on the distance measurement and photometry results.
The exposure control of the camera is performed by receiving data of the exposure time (shutter speed) Tv and the aperture value Av from the PU 100.

The display unit 107 includes the display 17 and an image display LCD 905, and a part for controlling the driving of these.

The flash unit 108 emits light from the flash 6 under the control of a boosting control and a light emission control signal for charging from the CPU 100.

The power supply 109 supplies power to the CCD 101 at a predetermined high voltage, and to the CPU 100 and other circuits at a predetermined voltage level.

The recording section 111 is a data recording section fixedly provided in the camera. At the time of shooting, the signal processing unit 102
The image data subjected to the predetermined image processing in
11 is recorded.

A reflection mirror MR is provided between the photographing lens 3 and the CCD 101. Reflection mirror M
R is a first position that reflects light passing through the photographing lens 3 and guides the light to the finder optical system OP, and a first position that is shifted to the side of the optical path so as to guide the light passing through the photographing lens 3 to the CCD 101 without disturbing the light. 2 is configured to be movable.

The movement of the reflection mirror MR is controlled by the mirror driving means 1.
The operation of the mirror driving means 120 is performed by
It is controlled by the CPU 100 based on an instruction from an image switching means (switching instruction means) 50 connected to the CPU 100. Note that the image switching means 50 is generally means for giving a switching instruction by a user operation, and in this case, is constituted by a push button switch 501.

Next, the functions of the switches SOFF to SSELF will be described. The switch SOFF is the mode changeover switch 8
Is a switch that is turned on when the camera is in the “OFF” position, and disables the photographing operation of the camera. Switch SREC is
The switch is turned on when the mode changeover switch 8 is at the “recording” position, and enables the camera to perform a shooting operation. The switch SREP is turned on when the mode changeover switch 8 is at the "reproduction" position, and enables reproduction of a recorded image on the LCD. The switch S1 is a switch that is turned on by pressing the release button 7 one step (half-pressed) at the time of photographing, and instructs photographing preparation. The switch S2 is turned on by pressing the release button 7 two steps (full press) during shooting,
A switch for instructing exposure. The switch SUP is turned on each time the access button 15 is depressed, and performs a forward playback of a recorded image. The switch SDOWN is turned on each time the access button 14 is pressed, and performs reverse playback of a recorded image. Switch SSLF
Each time the self-photographing setting switch 9 is pressed, the switch is turned on by switching between normal photographing and self-timer photographing.

<A-2. Operation> Next, the operation of the digital camera 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG.
1 shows a state in which the subject image is confirmed during the photographing standby period (within the photographing preparation period) by the finder window 906 shown in FIG. 1, that is, the light passing through the photographing lens 3 when the reflecting mirror MR is at the first position. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a state where the light is reflected and guided to a finder optical system OP.

In FIG. 3, light passing through the photographing lens 3 is reflected by a reflection mirror MR, enters a pentaprism PZ constituting an optical system OP, and is repeatedly reflected in the pentaprism PZ to display a finder window (shown in FIG. 3). ).

In this state, the reflection mirror MR is the CCD 10
1 (this state is referred to as a state where the reflection mirror MR is down), and light passing through the photographing lens 3 is
It does not reach 1 and is not substantially operating. Further, the image display LCD 905 is in an off state since the CCD 101 is not operating, and power consumption is suppressed.

FIG. 4 shows an image display LCD 905 using C
A state in which the monitor image of the subject formed on the CD 101 is displayed before photographing, that is, the reflecting mirror MR is at the second position (this state is referred to as the reflecting mirror MR being up), and the photographing lens 3 is moved. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a state where guided light is guided to a CCD 101;

In FIG. 4, the reflecting mirror MR is not on the optical path of the light passing through the photographing lens 3, but is a pentaprism PZ.
Since no light is incident on the object, the subject image cannot be confirmed from the viewfinder window. On the other hand, the light passing through the photographing lens 3 forms an image on the CCD 101, which performs photoelectric conversion and sends image data to the image display LCD 905.
The image display LCD 905 is on to display image data, and the photographer can check the subject image that has been subjected to the image processing.

<A-2-1. Image Switching Sequence> Next, an image switching sequence when the image switching means 50 is turned on will be described with reference to FIG. This sequence is a sequence performed during the photographing standby period. In FIG. 5, when the image switching sequence is started by turning on the image switching means 50, first, in step ST1, the image display L
It is checked whether the CD 905 (FIG. 1) is in the ON state.

When the image display LCD 905 is in the off state, that is, when the reflection mirror MR is at the first position (the state shown in FIG. 3), the reflection mirror MR is raised in step ST2 and the second operation is performed. To the position (2nd
Operation) and the state shown in FIG.

When the reflection mirror MR is raised, C
When power is supplied to the CD 101 (FIG. 2), the CCD 101 enters an operating state, and photoelectrically converts a subject image formed on the CCD 101 (step ST3).

At the same time when the power supply to the CCD 101 is started, the image display LCD 905 is turned on (step ST).
4) Upon receiving the image data output from the CCD 101 (it goes without saying that image processing has been performed), a monitor image is displayed (step ST5).

This state continues until the image switching means 50 is operated again. That is, the image switching means 50 shown in FIG. 1 takes the form of a push button switch 501,
The operation of steps ST1 to ST5 is performed by pressing the button, and the steps ST1, ST6 to ST6 are performed by pressing the button again.
The operation of ST9 is executed, the image display LCD 905 is turned off, and the finder window 906 optically checks the subject image.

The operation of steps ST6 to ST9 will be described below. When the image display LCD 905 is in the ON state, that is, when the reflection mirror MR is at the second position (the state shown in FIG. 4), the image display of the image display LCD 905 is stopped in step ST6, and step ST7 is performed. , The image display LCD 905 is turned off.

Subsequently, in step ST8, the CCD 1
By stopping the power supply to 01 and moving the reflecting mirror MR down to the first position (first operation) in step ST9, the subject image can be optically confirmed through the finder window 906. Become like This state continues until the image switching means 50 is operated.

<A-2-2. Imaging Sequence> Next, the operation of the reflection mirror MR during imaging will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the photographing sequence, which is started by turning on the switch S1. First, in step ST11 of FIG. 6, it is checked whether or not the switch S2 is turned on, that is, whether or not the release button 7 is fully pressed. If the release button 7 is fully pressed, the reflection mirror MR is raised. Or the second
Light passing through the photographing lens 3 at the position
It is confirmed whether or not an image is formed on image 1 (step ST12).

If the switch S2 is not turned on in step ST11, the monitoring of the release button 7 is continued until the switch S2 is turned on.

In step ST12, the reflection mirror M
If R is up, the CCD 101 is operated to perform photographing (step ST13).

In step ST12, when the reflection mirror MR is not raised, that is, when the reflection mirror MR is at the first position, the reflection mirror MR is raised (step ST14), and the CCD 101 is operated to perform photographing (step ST14). Step ST15). After the end of shooting, step ST1
Returning to step 1, the release button 7 is monitored.

<A-3. Operation and Effect> As described above, in the digital camera 10 according to the first embodiment, by operating the image switching unit 50, the reflection mirror MR can be moved to an arbitrary place at an arbitrary timing for an arbitrary period. Change the optical path of the light passing through the taking lens 3
The photographer can arbitrarily select whether to check the subject image from the viewfinder window 906 or to display it as a monitor image on the image display LCD 905. The preview on the electronic display screen becomes possible.

Further, since the image display LCD 905 is in the off state during the period in which the subject image is confirmed by the optical finder, power consumption can be reduced.

<A-4. Modification 1> In the digital camera 10 described above, the image path switching means 50 takes the form of a push button switch 501 as shown in FIG. 1, but a slide switch as in the digital camera 10A shown in FIG. The form of 502 may be adopted. FIG.
2 also shows a detailed view of the slide switch portion.

As shown in FIG. 7, the slide switch 50
Numeral 2 is configured to have two positions, “optical” when the subject image is confirmed from the finder window 906, and “EVF” when the subject image is displayed as a monitor image on the image display LCD 905.

When the image path switching means 50 is constituted by the slide switch 502 as described above, the slide switch 502
The position of the reflection mirror MR is determined by the slide position of
Step S of the image switching sequence described with reference to FIG.
T1 can be simplified.

That is, by checking the position of the slide switch 502, it is possible to check whether the reflection mirror MR is up or down. Therefore, as shown in step ST1 shown in FIG. It is not necessary to confirm the position of the reflection mirror MR in the off state, and the time spent for confirming the position of the reflection mirror MR can be reduced.

More specifically, the operation of step ST1 is an operation of confirming the position of the slide switch 502. When the slide switch 502 is set to the "EVF" position, the operations of steps ST2 to ST5 are executed.
When the slide switch is set to the "optical" position, the operations of steps ST6 to ST9 are executed.

<A-5. Modification 2> In the digital camera 10 described above, in the image switching sequence described with reference to FIG. 5, after the reflection mirror MR is raised and the monitor image is displayed on the image display LCD 905 (step ST5), the image switching is performed. When the means 50 is operated again, the image display LCD 905 goes through steps ST6 and ST7.
Is turned off, but the image immediately before the operation of the image switching unit 50 is operated may be taken into the recording unit 111 as a photographed image and displayed without turning off the image display LCD 905.

With this configuration, the object image can be checked from the finder window 906 and the image display L
The display image can also be confirmed on the CD 905.

In order to reduce the power consumption of the image display, the image display LCD 905 may be turned off after a certain period of time, or a separately provided switch for arbitrarily turning on / off the image display LCD 905. May be turned off.

<A-6. Regarding AF Operation> The AF operation in the digital camera 10 described above will be described in detail below.

That is, as shown in FIG. 8, a part of the reflection mirror MR is configured as a half mirror, and the reflection mirror M
A sub-mirror SMR for further reflecting light transmitted after R toward the distance measuring unit 104 is provided.

The light reflected by the sub-mirror SMR enters a distance measuring unit 104 for performing automatic focus detection (hereinafter referred to as AF) by a phase difference detection method, and a distance measuring CCD 104.
A focusing operation on the subject is performed based on the image formation position on the object 1.

On the other hand, the sub mirror SMR is
When the reflection mirror MR is at the second position, the sub-mirror SMR moves to a position that does not block the optical path of the light passing through the imaging lens 3. FIG. 9 shows this state.

In the state shown in FIG. 9, since light does not enter the distance measuring unit 104, distance measurement using the distance measuring unit 104 is not possible. However, contrast AF is performed using a change in contrast of image data obtained by the CCD 101. It can be performed.

The phase difference A is smaller than that of the contrast AF.
Since the accuracy of F is better, the phase difference AF is basically used.

<B. Second Embodiment><B-1. Apparatus Configuration> The external configuration of the digital camera 20 according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

The digital camera 20 has basically the same configuration as the digital camera 10 described with reference to FIG. 1, except that the digital camera 20 has a finder window 906 instead of the push button switch 501 shown as the image switching means. The image is switched using an eyepiece detector YS arranged along one side. That is, the "user operation" of the image switching means in the present invention is not limited to the user's finger operation, but generally refers to an operation that causes some action on the digital camera according to the user's intention. In addition, FIG.
The same reference numerals are given to the same components as those of the digital camera 10 described with reference to FIG.

Next, using the block diagram shown in FIG.
The system configuration of the digital camera 20 will be described. Basically, the system configuration is the same as that of the digital camera 10 described with reference to FIG.
The configuration is provided with an eyepiece detection unit 130 including an eyepiece detector YS. The same components as those of the digital camera 10 described with reference to FIG. 4 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

<B-2. Operation> Next, FIG. 12 and FIG.
3, an image switching operation of the digital camera 20 will be described. FIG. 12 shows a sequence when the photographer brings his / her eyes close to the eyepiece detector YS shown in FIG. 10 (referred to as an eyepiece sequence), and FIG. 13 shows a sequence when the eyes are removed from the eyepiece detector YS (eye separation). (Referred to as a sequence).

In FIG. 12, the photographer sets the viewfinder window 9
When the eye approaches 06, the eyepiece detector YS detects the eyepiece and starts the eyepiece sequence, stops the image display on the image display LCD 905 in step ST21, and turns off the image display LCD 905 in step ST22.

Subsequently, in step ST23, the CCD
By stopping the power supply to 101 and moving the reflecting mirror MR down to the first position in step ST24, the subject image can be optically confirmed through the finder window 906. This state continues while the photographer is looking through the finder window 906.

In FIG. 13, the photographer sets the viewfinder window 9
When the eye is removed from the eyepiece 06, the eyepiece detector YS detects the eye separation (release of the eyepiece) and the eye separation sequence starts. In step ST31, the reflection mirror MR is raised and moved to the second position. State as shown.

When the reflecting mirror MR is raised, C
Electric power is supplied to the CD 101 (FIG. 2), and the CCD 101 enters an operating state to photoelectrically convert a subject image formed on the CCD 101 (step ST32).

At the same time as the power supply to the CCD 101 is started, the image display LCD 905 is turned on (step ST).
33), upon receiving image data output from the CCD 101 (it goes without saying that image processing has been performed),
A monitor image is displayed (step ST35).

In this state, the photographer operates the finder window 906
It will last as long as you keep your eyes off the. In this case, in order to reduce power consumption by image display, the image display LCD 905 may be turned off after a certain period of time, or a separately provided image display LCD 905 may be used.
May be turned off by a switch for arbitrarily turning on / off.

<B-3. Operation and Effect> As described above, in the digital camera 20 according to the second embodiment, the subject image is confirmed from the finder window 906 using the eyepiece detector YS or displayed as a monitor image on the image display LCD 905. Since the photographer can arbitrarily select whether to perform the photographing, for example, prior to photographing, not only confirmation of the subject image with the optical viewfinder but also previewing on the electronic display screen becomes possible.

Further, since the eyepiece detector YS is used, there is no need to provide a dedicated switch for image switching, so that the manufacturing cost can be reduced and the photographer is troublesome by operating the switch. Not at all.

[0080]

According to the digital camera of the first aspect of the present invention, when the reflecting mirror is moved to the first position, that is, when the object image is confirmed by the optical observation system, and when the reflecting mirror is moved to the second position. Can be arbitrarily switched between a state where the subject image is confirmed by the image display means and a state where the subject image is confirmed by the image display means. Preview becomes possible. In addition, during the period when the subject image is confirmed by the optical observation system, the operation of at least one of the photoelectric conversion element and the image display unit is stopped, so that power consumption can be reduced.

According to the digital camera according to the second aspect of the present invention, when the reflecting mirror is located at the first position, it is possible to perform the phase difference automatic focus detection with high accuracy, so that the optical observation can be performed. Focusing can be performed with high accuracy while the subject image is being confirmed by the system. When the reflection mirror is located at the second position, rough focusing is performed by automatic focus detection based on contrast. be able to.

According to the digital camera of the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to display the image photographed before switching to the confirmation of the subject image by the optical observation system on the image display means.

According to the digital camera of the fourth aspect of the present invention, the position of the reflection mirror can be switched by a simple operation of pressing down the push button switch.

According to the digital camera of the fifth aspect of the present invention, the position of the reflection mirror is determined by the slide position of the slide switch, and the switching sequence can be simplified.

According to the digital camera of the sixth aspect of the present invention, since the position of the reflection mirror is switched by detecting the presence or absence of the eyepiece by the eyepiece detector, the switching operation of the reflection mirror such as a switch operation becomes unnecessary. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a first embodiment of a digital camera according to the present invention.
It is a perspective view which shows a structure of.

FIG. 2 is a first embodiment of a digital camera according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the system configuration of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the operation of a reflection mirror.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the operation of a reflection mirror.

FIG. 5 is a first embodiment of a digital camera according to the present invention.
5 is a flowchart illustrating an image switching sequence of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a photographing sequence of the digital camera.

FIG. 7 is a first embodiment of a digital camera according to the present invention.
It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the modification 1 of FIG.

FIG. 8 is a first embodiment of a digital camera according to the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining an AF operation.

FIG. 9 is a first embodiment of a digital camera according to the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining an AF operation.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a digital camera according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating a system configuration of a digital camera according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an operation sequence of the digital camera system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating an operation sequence of the digital camera system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

3 Shooting lens, 905 Image display LCD, 906
Finder window, 501 push button switch, MR reflection mirror, SMR sub mirror, YS eye sensor

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification FI FI Theme Court ゛ (Reference) H04N 5/228 G02B 7/11 N (72) Inventor Shoichi Minato 2-chome Azuchicho, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka No. 3-13 Osaka International Building Minolta Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 2H011 AA01 BA23 BA34 BB01 2H051 AA01 AA08 BA02 BA47 CB11 GA03 GA09 2H054 AA01 CB18 CD03 5C022 AA13 AB26 AB67 AC03 AC31 AC42 AC51 AC54 AC69 AC74

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An image pickup lens, a photoelectron conversion element on which light passing through the image pickup lens is imaged, image display means for displaying image data from the photoelectron conversion element, the image pickup lens and the photoelectron conversion element A movable reflecting mirror disposed between the reflecting mirror, mirror driving means for driving the reflecting mirror, control means for controlling at least the mirror driving means, and an optical observation system for observing light reflected by the reflecting mirror Wherein the mirror driving unit moves the reflection mirror to a first position so as to reflect light passing through the imaging lens and guide the light to an optical observation system.
And moving the reflecting mirror to a second position so as to guide the light passing through the taking lens to the photoelectric conversion element.
The control means may control the mirror driving means to arbitrarily switch the first and second operations based on an instruction from a switching instruction means in response to a predetermined user operation. Controlling, at the time of the first operation, stopping the operation of at least one of the photoelectric conversion element and the image display means, and at the time of the second operation, operating the photoelectric conversion element and the image display means. Digital camera featuring. 2. The reflection mirror is a half mirror, a sub-mirror that further reflects light transmitted through the reflection mirror, and a distance measuring unit that receives light reflected by the sub-mirror and performs phase difference automatic focus detection. The sub-mirror is interlocked with the reflection mirror, and when the reflection mirror is arranged at the first position, performs phase difference automatic focus detection by the distance measuring means; 2. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein when the digital camera is arranged at the position 2, the automatic focus detection is performed based on the contrast of the image data. 3. 3. The image processing device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit operates the image display unit to display a captured image when the reflection mirror is disposed at the first position. 2. The digital camera according to 2. 4. The switch instruction means is a push button switch, and switches the position of the reflection mirror every time the push button switch is pressed down.
Digital camera as described. 5. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein the switching instruction unit is a slide switch, and the position of the reflection mirror is switched by switching a slide position of the slide switch. 6. An eyepiece operation, wherein the user operation is an eyepiece operation, and the switching instruction means is an eyepiece detector arranged near a finder window of the optical observation system, wherein detection of presence or absence of an eyepiece by the eyepiece detector is performed. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein the position of the reflection mirror is switched by a switch.