Microscope camera

Photographic apparatus comprising:

• means for coupling said apparatus to an optical instrument;
• a housing having a first opening therein through which image-bearing light rays emanating from the optical instrument may be directed to photosensitive material supported at a film plane within said housing to form a focused image thereat;
• means for focusing said image bearing light rays at said film plane;
• a viewfinder for viewing a scene in the optical instrument;
• a photometer for measuring the brightness of the scene and for generating a signal representative thereof;
• energizable exposure control means including a movably mounted member having a second opening therein situated for overlapping movement with respect to said first opening to collectively form an exposure aperture where it allows the passage of the image-bearing light rays from the optical instrument to said film plane during an exposure interval;
• first means mounted on said movably mounted member, for movement therewith, for directing scene light to said viewfinder;
• second means mounted on said movably mounted member, for movement therewith, for directing scene light to said photometer;
• drive means coupled to said movably mounted member for moving 1) said second opening 2) said first means and 3) said second means, through the path of said image bearing light rays;
• and
• control means for actuating said drive means to position one of said first and second means in the path of said image-bearing light rays and then the other of said first and second means into the path of said image-bearing light rays for scene viewing or for scene brightness measurement, and then move said second opening into the path of the image-bearing light rays, for a period of time that is dependent upon the magnitude of said image brightness signal, to produce the exposure interval with said exposure aperture and thereby cause the scene to be reproduced in the photosensitive material present at said film plane.