Camera diaphragm drive apparatus

In a camera with a shutter mechanism and an objective lens with preselectable diaphragm having blades therein the provision of a diaphragm drive apparatus within said objective lens and comprising:

• a. a diaphragm blade drive ring;
• b. a diaphragm preselector ring for manual preselection of the required diaphragm setting;
• c.
• d. a release mechanism operable by said release plunger;
• e. a drive lever having a cam follower provided on an arm thereof for effecting a driving connection between said release mechanism and the diaphragm blade drive ring, means for connecting said preselector ring to said drive lever for transmitting the preselected diaphragm setting to said drive lever.
• f. a cam surface on said release mechanism having one portion for effecting movement of the cam follower in engagement with said cam surface to drive said diaphragm blade drive ring and a second portion which does not impart movement to the cam follower, whereby on operation of the release plunger, the initial movement of the release mechanism on the driver lever effects closure of the diaphragm to its manually preselected position and on subsequent movement permits release of the camera shutter mechanism without further movement of the diaphragm.