Color imaging system with selectively openable optical shutter

Abstract

A color imaging system for use as an electronic still camera, for example, includes a color separator for separating the optical image of a subject from a lens into a plurality of different color images, an optical shutter selectively openable for transmitting the optical image of the subject to the color separator, a photoconductive layer for converting the different color images into respective electric charge images, and an information recording medium for recording images corresponding to the electric charge images under an electric field developed between the photoconductive layer and the information recording medium. The timing with which the optical shutter is opened and the timing with which the electric field is generated by the power supply, are controlled by a control unit depending on imaging conditions selected by the user. The color imaging system also has an optical viewfinder for allowing the user to visually observe the optical image of the subject introduced by the lens.