Fuji Photo Film Company, Limited

Masaya Nozawa

Yasuhiko Tanaka

Kazuhiro Akiyama

Takao Koda

Hiroshi Komatsuzaki

Minoru Takahashi

Shiro Hashimoto

Akio Ohmiya

Nobuhiro Aoki

Masao Shoji

Tetuo Nishizawa

Yoshihiro Ide

Mitsuo Yokota

Masanoshin Komori

Syunji Nashimura

A variable focal length camera has a lens barrel movable parallel to the optical axis of its taking lens system so as to change over the focal length of the taking lens system at least between a standard photography position and a telephoto position. When the subject distance is nearer than the nearest focusable distance for standard photography or for telephotography, the lens barrel is automatically moved into a first close-up position if the lens barrel has been in the standard photography position, whereas the lens barrel is moved into a second close-up position if the lens barrel has been in the telephoto position.

Close-up control method and apparatus for variable focal length camera

A variable focal length camera having at least one auxiliary lens system which is inserted into or withdrawn from the optical axis of a main lens system. A lens holder holding the auxiliary lens system is swingably mounted on a shaft extending in the direction of the optical axis, and moves forward and rearward along the shaft for focus adjustment. In order to cancel the component of a force in the direction of the optical axis exerted by a tool by which a focus adjusting device is operated, the shaft is arranged to be motionless in the direction of the optical axis. According to a preferred embodiment, on the intermediate portion of the shaft, there is formed a thread meshing with a base portion of the lens holder so that the position of the lens holder is adjusted through rotation of the shaft, and after this lens position adjustment the base portion is fixed to the shaft.

Variable focal length camera with focus adjusting device

A zoom lens system shifts the position of front and rear lens groups relative to each other in the direction of the optical axis to change its focal length, by moving a lens barrel back and forth in the axial direction. The lens barrel is formed with cutouts in its rear portion for receiving therein parts and elements projecting forwardly from the plane in which an exposure aperture is located when the lens barrel is retracted, so as to reduce the thickness of the camera with the retracted zoom lens. A focal length changing mechanism comprises a fixed cam and a lever attached to the lens barrel which is turned by the cam when the lens barrel moves back and forth to shift one lens group, thereby changing the focal length of the zoom lens to desired focal lengths. To correct the changes in focus of the zoom lens caused by the change of focal length, an adjusting member is provided in the focal length changing mechanism. An encoder is provided in the camera to detect the shifted axial positions of the lens barrel.

Camera with zooming mechanism

Growing community of inventors

Saitama, Japan

Masaya Nozawa