Zoom camera, mode set up device and control method for zoom camera

A control method for a zoom camera having a zoom lens whose nearest in-focus range varies with focal length by zooming, the method comprising the steps of:

• manually determining a focusing range which the zoom lens is expected to be focused on;
• detecting a present focal length of the zoom lens after each zooming operation;
• comparing the manually determined focusing range with a nearest in-focus range available for the present focal length of the zoom lens;
• and
• giving a warning if the manually determined focusing range is less than the nearest in-focus range.

A camera comprising:

• a controller for controlling operation of the camera;
• a push button member connected to the controller and divided into a plurality of sections, each of the sections corresponding to a different operating feature of the camera and having a mark thereon indicating the corresponding operating feature;
• a mode switch connected to the controller, the mode switch being operable for putting the camera in an adjustment condition in which the operating features are adjustable;
• and
• a plurality of optical indication members connected to the controller, the optical indication members being equal in number to the sections of the push button member, each of the optical indication members being disposed nearest a respective one of the sections of the push button member, the optical indication members being capable of an indicating state and a non-indicating state under control of the controller;
• wherein when the camera is in the adjustment condition, at least one of the optical indication members is placed in the indicating state to indicate which of the sections of the push button member are currently available for adjusting one of the operating features.

A camera comprising:

• a push button member consisting of a plurality of sections, each of the sections being assigned to a different operation mode of the camera and having a mark thereon indicating the assigned operation mode;
• a mode switch operable for designating a mode setting operation;
• and
• optical indication members allocated in one-to-one relationship to the sections of the push button member, wherein when the mode setting operation is designated by the mode switch, the optical indication members selectively go on to indicate those sections of the push button member which are presently effective on the mode setting, and the camera is switched to one operation mode by pressing one of the presently effective sections that is assigned to said one operation mode;
• wherein when an operation mode is selected in the mode setting operation by pushing one of the presently effective sections, only one of the optical indication members that is allocated to the pressed section continues to light for indicating the selected mode, whereas other optical indication members go off, and said only one optical indication member continues to indicate the selected mode after the mode setting operation is terminated;
• wherein the indication members are located around a periphery of the push button member nearby the marks on the individual sections;
• and
• wherein two of the sections of the first push button member double as operation members for setting up a numerical value in at least a predetermined mode to which neither of said two sections are assigned, the numerical value being up-shifted or down-shifted by pressing one or the other of said two sections respectively, and wherein marks or indicia for indicating the shifting directions of the numerical value are provided adjacent to the indication members of said two sections.

A camera comprising:

• a push button member divided into at least three sections;
• a switch associated with each of said at least three sections, each said switch being able to output a signal each time the associated one section is pressed;
• and
• a mode switch for switching the camera between a mode setting condition and a second condition;
• wherein, in the mode setting condition, each signal from one of the switches associated with one of the sections is usable for adjusting an operating feature of the camera which differs from operating features adjustable by a remainder of the signals, and
• wherein, in the second condition, all of the output signals from the switches associated with the sections serve an identical single function.

A camera comprising:

• a push button member comprising at least four sections;
• a switch associated with each of said at least four sections, each switch being able to output a signal each time the associated one section is pressed, said at least four switches being grouped into two groups, each said group comprising more than one switch;
• and
• a mode switch for switching the camera between a mode setting condition and a second condition;
• wherein, in the mode setting condition, each signal from one of the switches associated with one of the sections is usable for adjusting an operating feature of the camera which differs from operating features adjustable by a remainder of the signals, and
• wherein, in the second condition, output signals from the switches within a same group serve an identical single function.