Panoramic camera

A photographic camera comprising:

• a taking lens assembly having a movable lens mount and a fixed lens mount into which said movable lens mount is substantially retractable;
• a rectangular exposure aperture for forming a picture frame of full size;
• a first masking plate for masking an upper portion of said exposure aperture and a second masking plate for masking a lower portion of said exposure aperture in order to form a picture frame of a panoramic size which is vertically reduced from said full size when said masking plates are set in a panoramic position, said first and second masking plates being swingable about horizontal shafts parallel, to sides of said exposure aperture for opening the whole of said exposure aperture when said masking plates are set in a full size position;
• actuating means for setting said masking plates selectively in either said full size position or said panoramic position;
• manual operating means for operating said actuating means;
• engagement means formed integrally with said manual operating means;
• and
• an engagement portion formed on said movable lens mount for engaging with said engagement means upon retracting said movable lens mount into said fixed lens mount so as to set said masking plates in said panoramic position.

A photographic camera comprising:

• a rectangular exposure aperture for forming a picture frame of full size;
• a first masking plate for masking an upper portion of said exposure aperture and a second masking plate for masking a lower portion of said exposure aperture in order to form a picture frame of a panoramic size which is vertically reduced from said full size when said masking plates are set in a panoramic position, said first and second masking plates being swingable about horizontal shafts parallel to sides of said exposure aperture for opening the whole said exposure aperture when said masking plates are set in a full size position;
• actuating means for setting said masking plates selectively in either said full size position or said panoramic position;
• manual operating means for operating said actuating means;
• and
• spring means biasing said masking plates toward said full size position.

A photographic camera comprising:

• a taking lens assembly having a movable lens mount and a fixed lens mount into which said movable lens mount is substantially retractable;
• a rectangular exposure aperture for forming a picture frame of full size;
• a first masking plate for masking an upper portion of said exposure aperture and a second masking plate for masking a lower portion of said exposure aperture in order to form a picture frame of a panoramic size which is vertically reduced from said full size when said masking plates are set in a panoramic position, said first and second masking plates being swingable about horizontal shafts parallel to sides of said exposure aperture for opening the whole said exposure aperture when said masking plates are set in a full size position;
• actuating means provided on said fixed lens mount for setting said masking plates selectively in either said full size position or said panoramic position;
• and
• manual operating means for operating said actuating means.

A photographic camera comprising:

• a rectangular exposure aperture for forming a picture frame of full size;
• a first masking plate for masking an upper portion of said exposure aperture and a second masking plate for masking a lower portion of said exposure aperture in order to form a picture frame of a panoramic size which is vertically reduced from said full size when said masking plates are set in a panoramic position, said first and second masking plates being swingable about horizontal shafts parallel to sides of said exposure aperture for opening the whole said exposure aperture when said masking plates are set in a full size position;
• actuating means for setting said masking plates selectively in either said full size position or said panoramic position;
• manual operating means for operating said actuating means;
• and
• means for indicating the size of the picture frame upon operating said manual operating means.

A photographic camera comprising:

• a rectangular exposure aperture for forming a picture frame of full size;
• a first masking plate for masking an upper portion of said exposure aperture and a second masking plate for masking a lower portion of said exposure aperture in order to form a picture frame of a panoramic size which is vertically reduced from said full size when said masking plates are set in a panoramic position, said first and second masking plates being swingable about horizontal shafts parallel to sides of said exposure aperture for opening the whole said exposure aperture when said masking plates are set in a full size position;
• actuating means for setting said masking plates selectively in either said full size position or said panoramic position;
• manual operating means for operating said actuating means;
• a slide lever portion provided slidably along a back door of a body of said camera for being operated by said manual operating means;
• arresting means formed on said slide lever portion for arresting said slide lever portion in said full size position or in said panoramic position;
• and
• positioning means formed on said back door for engaging with said arresting means upon closing said back door so as to prevent said slide lever portion from sliding, thereby to prevent said masking plates from changing position.

A photographic camera comprising:

• a rectangular exposure aperture for forming a picture frame of full size;
• masking means for selectively partly masking said exposure aperture so as to form a picture frame of a panoramic size which his vertically reduced from said full size when said masking means is set in a panoramic position and for opening the whole said exposure aperture when said masking means is set in a full size position;
• actuating means for setting said masking means selectively in either said full size position or said panoramic position;
• manual operating means for operating said actuating means;
• and
• means for recording predetermined data on film loaded in a body of said camera on a portion of said film masked by said masking means.