Auto-focus camera having a rangefinder

An auto-focus camera which comprises an objective lens means and an optical support means for supporting the objective lens means for movement in predetermined incremental displacements in a direction parallel to the optical axis of the objective lens means in relation to a target object to be photographed, the combination which comprises:

• a rangefinder means for measuring the zonal distance between an image plane, where an image of the target object is to be formed, and the target object and for generating a first electric zone signal indicative of the measured zonal distance;
• drive means for driving said optical support means to locate the objective lens means at any one of a plurality of focal positions;
• means operatively associated with said drive means for generating an electric position signal indicative of the position of the objective lens means to which the latter has been moved by said drive means;
• manipulatable means for generating a second electric zone signal utilizable to locate the objective lens means at any desired one of the focal positions;
• means responsive to said position signal and any one of said first and second zone signals for generating a focus control signal only when said position signal and any one of said first and second zone signals assume a predetermined electric relationship with each other;
• and
• a mode selector switch means selectively switchable in first and second modes one at a time, said mode selector switch means in said first mode being operable to establish an electric circuit between the rangefinder means and the responsive means while an electric circuit between the manipulatable means and the responsive means is interrupted, and said mode selector switch means in the second mode being operable to establish the electric circuit between the manipulatable means and the responsive means while the electric circuit between the rangefinder means and the responsive means is interrupted, whereby when said mode selector switch means is in the first mode, said focus control signal from the responsive means is applied to the drive means for locating the objective lens means at one of the focal positions determined by the first zone signal and, when said mode selector switch means is in the second mode, said focus control signal from the responsive means is applied to the drive means for locating the objective lens means at one of the focal positions determined by the second zone signal.