Camera shutter and viewfinder control apparatus

Abstract

A shutter device for a still video camera comprises first and second shutter blades, a latch member and an unlatch member. The latch member latches the first blade at its moved position where an image pickup element is exposed to an image light. The first blade is kept latched for a preparatory exposure to correct a set exposure value on the basis of the output of the pickup element or for picking up a motion picture. The unlatch member releases the latching of the first blade. In one embodiment, the unlatch member is provided on the second blade to unlatch the first blade when the second blade is moved to terminate the exposure. In other embodiments, the unlatch member includes an electromagnet to unlatch the first blade. A still video camera comprises a view finder mirror and a mirror operating mechanism. The mechanism includes a motor and is arranged to retract and return the mirror relative to an optical path by utilizing a normal and a reverse rotation of the motor, respectively. In the disclosed embodiments, the camera further comprises a mechanism to maintain the mirror in the retracted condition and a shutter in the opened condition to operate in a motion video mode where an image pickup element is continuously exposed to an image light. The mechanism for setting in the motion video mode may be operable manually from the exterior of the camera or by connecting an external device to the camera.