Linear reflex shutter for slr cameras

In a photographic reflex camera having a housing, an objective lens, a viewfinder and a film plane within the housing disposed in an optical path through the lens, the improvement comprising:

• (a) shutter means for driving a reflex mirror linearly to allow exposure of film to a light image from the lens and for closing the light path with a masking plate;
• and,
• (b) said shutter means including a slide mechanism carrying a reflex mirror, said slide mechanism being slidably mounted to said housing to allow lateral movement of said mirror into and out of said optical path, said shutter means including rotary solenoid means including a rotary solenoid and linkage means connecting said solenoid to said slide mechanism such that said slide mechanism may be smoothly driven into a picture taking position and for returning said slide mechanism to a viewfinding position, said shutter means further including masking plate means for sliding a masking plate between a latched position out of alignment with said optical path and an unlatched position masking the optical path through an aperture to stop the exposure, said masking plate means being in cooperating relationship with said slide mechanism such that return of said slide mechanism to a viewfinding position returns said masking plate to a latched position and said masking plate is unlatched by said slide mechanism as it is driven to a picture taking position.