Automatic focus detecting camera

An automatic focus detecting camera comprising:

• detecting means for detecting a focusing condition of an objective lens mounted on said camera by receiving light transmitted through said objective lens;
• aperture determining means for determining an aperture value of said objective lens to produce in aperture signal indicative of the determined aperture value;
• first stopping-down means for stopping down an aperture diaphragm of said objective lens to a diameter corresponding to said aperture signal for a photographing operation of said camera;
• second stopping-down means for stopping down the aperture diaphragm of said objective lens to a diameter corresponding to said aperture signal prior to the photographing operation of said camera;
• selecting means for selecting either a first mode in which said second stopping-down means is operated in accordance with said aperture signal or a second mode in which said second stopping-down means is not operated;
• determining means, operated when said first mode is selected, for determining whether said detecting means is enabled to detect the focusing condition of said objective lens even if said second stopping-down means is operated to produce a determining signal indicative of the determined result;
• and
• controlling means, operated when said first mode is selected, for controlling said detecting means in accordance with said determining signal so that said detecting means is permitted to be operated when said determining means determines that said detecting means is enabled to detect the focusing condition of said objective lens even if said second stopping-down means is operated, and that the operation of said detecting means is interrupted when it is determined by said determining means that said detecting means is not enabled to detect the focusing condition of said objective lens.

An automatic focus detecting camera comprising:

• detecting means for detecting a focusing condition of an objective lens mounted on said camera by receiving light transmitted through said objective lens;
• aperture determining means for determining an aperture value of said objective lens to produce a first aperture signal indicative of said first determined aperture value;
• first stopping-down means, including a first operating member operable manually, for stopping down an aperture diaphragm of said objective lens to a diameter corresponding to said first aperture signal in response to an operation of said first operating member for a photographing operation of said camera;
• operating means, including a second operating member operable manually, for producing an operating signal when said second operating member is operated;
• second aperture signal producing means for producing a second aperture signal indicative of a second predetermined aperture value;
• second stopping-down means for stopping down an aperture diaphragm of said objective lens to a diameter corresponding to said first aperture signal in response to the operating signal prior to the photographing operation of said camera;
• comparison means for comparing said first aperture signal with said second aperture signal to produce a comparison signal indicative of the compared result;
• and
• controlling means for controlling operation of both of said second stopping-down means and said detecting means so that said second stopping-down means is operated when the first aperture value is equal to and smaller than the second aperture value while said detecting means is also operated, and that the operation of said second stopping-down means is limited when the first aperture value is larger than the second aperture value while said detecting means is operated.

An automatic focus detecting camera comprising:

• detecting means for detecting a focusing condition of an objective lens mounted on said camera by receiving light transmitted through said objective lens;
• aperture determining means for determining an aperture value of said objective lens to produce an aperture signal indicative of said determined aperture value;
• signal producing means, including a first operating member and a second operating member both of which are manually operable, for producing a first operating signal when said first operating member is operated and for producing a second operating signal when said second operating member is operated;
• first stopping-down means for stopping down an aperture diaphragm of said objective lens to a diameter corresponding to said aperture signal in response to said first operating signal for a photographing operation of said camera;
• second stopping-down means for stopping down the aperture diaphragm of said objective lens to a diameter corresponding to said aperture signal in response to said second operating signal prior to a photographing operation of said camera;
• and
• controlling means, operated when said second operating member is operated, for controlling both of said detecting means and said second stopping-down means so that said second stopping-down means is operated after the operation of said detecting means.

An atutomatic focus detecting camera comprising:

• detecting means for detecting a focusing condition of an objective lens mounted on said camera by receiving light transmitted through said objective lens;
• aperture determining means for determining an aperture value of said objective lens to produce an aperture signal indicative of said determined aperture value;
• a first operating member which is manually operable;
• a second operating member which is manually operable;
• signal producing means for producing a first operating signal in response to the operation of said first operating member and for producing a second operating signal in response to the operation of said second operating member;
• first stopping-down means for stopping down an aperture diaphgram of said objective lens to a diameter corresponding to said aperture signal in response to said first operating signal for a photographing operation of said camera;
• second stopping-down means for stopping down the aperture diaphragm of said objective lens to a diameter corresponding to said aperture signal in response to said second operating signal prior to a photographing operation of sais camera;
• and
• starting means for starting a photography-preparing operation of said camera, including at last focusing operation of said objective lens, in response to the operation of said second operating member.