Photographic camera with multi-purpose exposure-parameter adjuster

A user-operable mechanism for varying an exposure parameter of a camera with a housing in order to adjust such parameter to correspond with ambient light conditions as determined by an electronic exposure computer in a manner that power to the computer can be turned on and off by operation of the mechanism and the camera will be disabled from exposing a frame when power to the exposure computer is turned off, the mechanism further operating in a manner that a user is informed when the power to the exposure computer is turned off and on by appearance and disappearance of an indicator located on the camera, comprising:

• a control horizontally displaceable and vertically depressable by a user, the control sliding in an elongated slot in the housing between a first position and a second position;
• a shutter button located on the camera housing;
• an elongated slide connected to the control and movable therewith, the slide having a projection which is so located that when the control is located in the first position the projection interferes with motion of the shutter button so as to prevent a user from operating the shutter button while allowing the shutter button to be operated by a user when the control is displaced from the first position;
• a first switch connected to the slide and the exposure computer and operating in a manner that when the control is in the first position the first switch is opened, and when the control is displaced from the first position the first switch is closed, whereby power to the exposure computer is turned on and off in response to displacement of the control;
• a light-transmitting window located on the housing;
• a plaque upon which a visual indication is located, the plaque being located so that the indication is viewable through the window;
• and
• a flag connected to the control and movable with displacement thereof, the flag being interposed between the window and the plaque when the control is in the first position and being uninterposed therebetween when the control is displaced from the first position.