Autofocus camera

An autofocus camera comprising:

• a first photoelectric conversion unit including a plurality of elements to receive subject light from detecting regions which extend along one direction of a photographing image plane and to perform photoelectric conversion;
• a second photoelectric conversion unit to receive subject light from at least one detecting region extending along a direction different from said one direction of said photographing image plane and to perform photoelectric conversion;
• an attitude detector to detect attitude of the camera;
• a focus detector having a first mode of operation in which outputs of all of said light-receiving elements of said first photoelectric conversion units can be utilized for obtaining a focus detection result to be used for focus control, and a second mode of operation in which outputs of only part of said light-receiving elements of said first photoelectric conversion unit can be utilized for obtaining the focus detection result;
• a selector to select between said first and second modes of operation in accordance with the detected attitude of the camera;
• and
• a lens driving unit to drive and focus a photographic lens according to the focus detection result obtained by said focus detector.

A method of detecting focus in an autofocus camera, comprising the steps of:

• detecting attitude of the camera;
• selecting one of a first photoelectric conversion unit and a second photoelectric conversion unit in accordance with a detected attitude of the camera, said first photoelectric conversion unit receiving subject light from a detecting region extended in one direction of a photographic image plane and performing photoelectric conversion, and said second photoelectric conversion unit receiving subject light from a detecting region extended in a direction different from said one direction of said photographic image plane and performing photoelectric conversion;
• conducting a first focus detection operation using the selected photoelectric conversion unit;
• discriminating based on a result of the focus detection operation whether focus can be detected using the selected photoelectric conversion unit, and, if it is discriminated that focus cannot be detected using the selected photoelectric conversion unit, conducting a second focus detection operation using the other of said first and second photoelectric conversion units;
• and
• driving and focusing a photographic lens in accordance with a focus detection result from the first focus detection operation or the second focus detection operation depending upon whether or not the second focus detection operation is conducted.

A method of detecting focus in an autofocus camera, comprising the steps of:

• detecting attitude of the camera;
• if a first camera attitude is detected, conducting a focus detection operation using outputs of all light-receiving elements of a plurality of light-receiving elements receiving subject light from detecting regions extended in one direction of a photographic image plane to obtain a focus detection result to be used for focus control;
• if a second camera attitude is detected, conducting a focus detection operation using only part of said light-receiving elements to obtain the focus detection result;
• and
• driving and focusing a photographic lens in accordance with the focus detection result.