Camera apparatus having function for changing condition of release operation

A control apparatus for a camera, comprising:

• a release operating member being movable in a moving process by first, second, and third steps to perform a photographing ready operation and a photographing operation for a camera main body;
• signal generating means for outputting a photographing ready signal in the first step of the moving process of said release operating member, a first photographing signal in the second step of the moving process of said release operating member, and a second photographing signal in the third step of the moving process of said operating member;
• first operating means for receiving the photographing ready signal from said generating means, and for causing the camera main body to perform the photographing ready operation;
• selection control means for selecting one of the first and second photographing signals supplied from said signal generating means, in accordance with photographic condition;
• and
• second operating means which operates in accordance with a signal output from said selection control means for causing the camera main body to perform the photographing operation.

A control apparatus for a camera, comprising:

• a release operating member to be depressed by a predetermined amount, for causing a camera main body to perform a photographing operation;
• signal output means, interlocked with an operation of said release operating member, for outputting a first signal when an operation amount or an operation force of said release operating member reaches a first predetermined value, and a second signal when the operation amount or the operation force reaches a second predetermined value larger than the first predetermined value;
• determining means for detecting a state of an object to be photographed or a state of said camera main body to determine whether proper photographing can be performed;
• and
• control means for controlling, in accordance with a determination result from said determining means, a photographing operation start timing of said camera main body to respond to the first signal from said signal output means when proper photographing is possible, and to respond to the second signal therefrom when proper photographing is impossible.

A release signal output apparatus for a camera, comprising:

• a release operating member to be depressed by a predetermined amount, for causing a camera main body to perform a photographing operation;
• means for detecting an operation amount or an operation force of said release operating member and generating an output when the operation amount or the operation force reaches a predetermined value;
• state detecting means for detecting that proper photographing is impossible in accordance with a state of an object to be photographed or a state of said camera main body;
• and
• means for changing the predetermined value of said output generating means to a value corresponding to a larger operation amount or a larger operation force of said release operating member when said state detecting means detects that proper photographing is impossible.

A control apparatus for a camera, comprising:

• a release operating member to be depressed, for causing a camera main body to perform a photographing operation;
• signal output means for generating an electrical signal in accordance with a depression force on said release operating member;
• first release voltage generating means for outputting a first predetermined voltage level;
• second release voltage generating means for outputting a second voltage level different from the first voltage level;
• comparing means for sequentially comparing an output from said signal output means with outputs from said first and second release voltage generating means in accordance with the depression of said release operating member;
• control means including at least one of a distance measuring circuit and a photometering circuit for measuring a distance to and a luminance of an object to be photographed and a shutter operating circuit for operating a shutter, each circuit sequentially operating upon receiving an output from said comparing means;
• and
• changing means for changing an output from said second release voltage generating means in accordance with photographing conditions of the object.

A control apparatus for a camera, comprising:

• a release operating member to be depressed, for causing a camera main body to perform a photographing operation;
• electrical signal output means for outputting an electrical signal in accordance with a depression of said release operating member;
• determination level setting means for setting a plurality of determination levels with respect to a output from said electrical signal output means in accordance with start timings of a plurality of operations required for the photographing operation of said camera main body;
• determination level changing means for changing at least one of the plurality determination levels set by said determination level setting means in accordance with photographing conditions;
• comparing means for comparing a determination level set by said determination level setting means with the output from said electrical signal output means and generating an output each time the output from said electrical signal output means exceeds the determination level;
• and
• means for causing said camera main body to sequentially perform the plurality of operations upon receiving an output from said comparing means.

A release signal output apparatus for a camera, comprising:

• release operating means to be depressed by a predetermined amount, for causing a camera main body to perform a photographing operation;
• means for outputting a continuous electrical signal in accordance with an operation amount or an operation force of said release operating member;
• comparing means for comparing an output from said outputting means with a plurality of predetermined values related to functions of said camera main body and outputting an operation start signal to said camera main body each time the output coincides with the plurality of predetermined values;
• and
• changing means for independently changing the plurality of predetermined values in said comparing means.

A camera for performing a photographing operation of a camera main body in accordance with an operation of a release operating member, comprising:

• means for converting an operation amount or an operation force of said release operating member into an electrical signal;
• means for providing a first output when the electrical signal from said converting means reaches a first predetermined value and a second output when said release operating member is further operated to cause the electrical signal to reach a second predetermined value;
• control means for starting at least a photometering operation upon receiving the first output from said providing means and causing said camera main body to start the photographing operation upon receiving the second output;
• and
• changing means for changing at least one of the first and second predetermined values of said providing means.

A control apparatus for a camera, comprising:

• a release operating member to be depressed, for causing a camera main body to perform a photographing operation;
• signal output means for generating an electrical signal in accordance with a depression force of said release operating member;
• first release voltage generating means for outputting a first predetermined voltage level;
• second release voltage generating means for outputting a second voltage level different from the first voltage level;
• comparing means for sequentially comparing an output from said signal output means with outputs from said first and second release voltage generating means;
• control means including at least one of a distance measuring circuit and a photometering circuit for measuring a distance to and a luminance of an object to be photographed and a shutter operating circuit for operating a shutter of said camera main body, each circuit sequentially operating upon receiving an output from said comparing means;
• and
• display means for sequentially changing a display state from a timing at which the output from said signal output means reaches the first voltage level of said first release voltage generating means to a timing at which the output reaches the second voltage level of said second release voltage generating means in accordance with an increase in output from said signal output means.

A camera for detecting an operation amount or an operation force of a release operating means, providing a first output when the operation amount or the operation force reaches a first predetermined value and a second output when said release operating member is further operated to cause the operation amount or the operation force to reach a second value, and starting at least a photometering operation upon receiving the first output and a photographing operation upon receiving the second output, comprising:

• changing means for changing the second predetermined value;
• means for setting a value obtained by dividing a value between the first and second predetermined values in accordance with the second predetermined value changed by said changing means;
• and
• display means for performing display stepwise when the operation amount or the operation force of said release operating member reaches the value divided by said setting means.

A control apparatus for a camera, comprising:

• a release operating member to be depressed, for causing a camera main body to perform a photographing operation;
• converting means for converting a depression force on said release operating member into an electrical signal;
• conversion ratio setting means for changing a conversion ratio of said converting means in accordance with photographing conditions;
• first release voltage generating means for outputting a first predetermined voltage level;
• second release voltage generating means for output a second voltage level different from the first voltage level;
• comparing means for sequentially comparing an output from said converting means with outputs from said first and second release voltage generating means in accordance with the depression of said release operating member;
• and
• control means including at least one of a distance measuring circuit and a photometering circuit for measuring a distance to and a luminance of an object to be photographed and a shutter operating circuit for operating shutter of said camera main body, each circuit sequentially operating upon receiving an output from said comparing means.