Cameras having film unit dependent demonstration mode image deletion and methods

A hybrid film-electronic camera demonstration method comprising the steps of:

• capturing a first electronic image in a hybrid film-electronic camera;
• storing said first electronic image in memory in said camera;
• capturing a second electronic image in said camera following said storing;
• replacing said first electronic image in said memory with said second electronic image when said camera is free of film and said memory has capacity for storing both said images;
• and
• storing said second electronic image in said memory along with said first electronic image when said camera has film loaded and said memory has capacity for storing both said images.

A hybrid film-electronic camera demonstration method comprising the steps of:

• capturing a first electronic image in said camera;
• storing said first electronic image in memory in said camera;
• following said storing, capturing a second electronic image in said camera;
• sensing that said camera is in an unloaded state;
• responsive to said sensing that said camera is in said unloaded state, automatically replacing said first electronic image in said memory with said second electronic image;
• capturing third and fourth electronic images in said camera following said replacing;
• following said capturing of said third and fourth electronic images, sensing that said camera is in a loaded state;
• replacing said second electronic image in said memory with said third electronic image;
• and
• responsive to said sensing that said camera is in said loaded state, automatically storing said fourth electronic image in said memory along with said third electronic image.

A camera for use with a film unit, said camera comprising:

• a body;
• an electronic capture unit disposed in said body, said electronic capture unit being capable of selectively capturing a sequence of electronic images;
• a film holder disposed in said camera, said film holder being changeable between a loaded state and an unloaded state, said film holder removably holding said film unit in said loaded state, said film holder being free of said film unit in said unloaded state;
• memory disposed within said body, said memory having a capacity to store a plurality of said electronic images;
• a controller operatively connected to said electronic capture unit, said film holder, and said memory, said controller, when said film holder is in said loaded state, maintaining each of said electronic images in said memory free from overwriting by a next electronic image of said sequence, said controller, when said film holder unit is in said unloaded state, overwriting each said electronic image with said next electronic image of said sequence.

A hybrid electronic-film camera usable with photographic film, said camera comprising:

• a body;
• a film capture subsystem disposed in said body, said film capture subsystem having a film holder loadable with said film and a film capture unit capable of selectively capturing a plurality of latent images on said film;
• an electronic capture unit disposed in said body, said electronic capture unit being capable of selectively capturing a series of electronic images;
• memory operative connected to said electronic capture unit, said memory storing said electronic images, said electronic images being sequentially substituted in said memory when said film is absent from said film capture subsystem, said electronic images being accumulated in said memory when said film is present in said film capture subsystem.

A hybrid film-electronic camera for use with photographic film, said camera comprising:

• a body having a film holder, said film holder being openable for loading and unloading the film;
• a film capture unit adjoining said film holder, said film capture unit being capable of selectively capturing a plurality of latent images on said film;
• an electronic capture unit disposed in said body, said electronic capture unit being capable of selectively capturing a series of electronic images;
• memory disposed in said body in operative relation to said electronic capture unit, said memory storing said electronic images, said memory being switchable between a normal use mode accumulating said electronic images and a demonstration mode sequentially replacing each one of said electronic images with a successive one of said electronic images;
• and
• a controller operatively connected to said memory and said film holder, said controller switching said memory from said demonstration mode to said normal use mode responsive to said loading and from said normal use mode to said demonstration mode responsive to said unloading.