Camera having picture plane size switching mechanism

A camera having upper and lower guide rails for guiding a film, a photographing aperture which is provided between the upper and lower guide rails and which defines an image area, a film cartridge compartment and film spool compartment provided on opposite sides of said photographing aperture, and a mechanism for varying a size of said image area between a large size defined by said photographing aperture and a small size, comprising:

• a first element that includes said guide rails and defines said photographing aperture;
• and,
• a second element that includes said film cartridge compartment, said film spool compartment, and an opening at least as large as said photographing aperture;
• wherein said image area size varying mechanism is provided on one of said first element and said second element;
• and,
• wherein said first element and said second element are secured to each other with said image area size varying mechanism positioned between said first element and said second element.