Electronic image pickup system for transmitting image data by remote-controlling

An electronic still camera system including a plurality of electronic still cameras capable of mutually exchanging information through communication means, the electronic still camera system comprising:

• an electronic still camera on an operating side, said electronic still camera being selected from said plurality of electronic still cameras and initiating an exchange of information;
• and
• at least one electronic still camera on an operated side, said at least one electronic still camera being selected from said plurality of electronic still cameras and exchanging information in response to an operation of said electronic still camera on the operating side;
• wherein said electronic still camera on the operating side comprises control data transmission means for transmitting control data for defining at least one of photographing and recording operations to said electronic still camera on the operated side in response to an operation with respect to the operation switch of said electronic still camera on the operating side;
• said at least one electronic still camera on the operated side comprising:
• control data reception means for receiving the control data;
• and
• photographing operation control means for performing a photographing operation in accordance with the control data received by said control data reception means;
• each of said electronic still cameras on the operated or operating side comprising:
• image data transmission means for transmitting image data obtained by said respective electronic still camera upon photoelectric conversion and photography to the other of said electronic still camera;
• and
• a change-over means capable of selectively taking a first state or a second state, and wherein the electronic still camera is exclusively assigned to operate as said electronic still camera on the operating side while said change-over means takes said first state thereof and the electronic still camera is exclusively assigned to operate as said electronic still camera on the operated side while said change-over means takes said second state thereof.

An electronic still camera system including a plurality of electronic still cameras capable of mutually exchanging information through communication means, the electronic still camera system comprising:

• a first electronic still camera on an operating side having an operation switch, said first camera being selected from said plurality of electronic still cameras and initiating an exchange of information;
• and
• at least a second electronic still camera of the plurality of electronic still cameras on an operated side, said at least second electronic still camera being selected from said plurality of electronic still cameras and exchanging information in response to an operation of said first electronic still camera;
• wherein said first electronic still camera comprises:
• control data generating means for generating control data based on which photographing operations are controlled in response to operations of predetermined operation switches;
• and
• control data transmitting means for transmitting the control data generated by the control data generating means to said at least second electronic still camera, thus permitting said first electronic still camera to work as a camera corresponding to said at least second electronic still camera, when said first electronic still camera is set in a state capable of transmitting data to said at least second electronic still camera and where the at least second electronic still camera has a photographing operation switch similar to that of the first electronic still camera;
• wherein each of sail first and second electronic still cameras comprises change-over means capable of selectively taking a first state or a second state, and wherein the electronic still camera is exclusively assigned to operate as said first electronic still camera while said change-over means takes said first state thereof, and the electronic still camera system is exclusively assigned to operate as said second electronic camera while said change-over means takes said second state thereof.

An electronic still camera system including a plurality of electronic still cameras capable of mutually exchanging information through communication means, comprising:

• a first electronic still camera on an operating side having an operation switch and control data generating means, said first electronic still camera being selected from said plurality of electronic still cameras and initiating an exchange of information;
• and
• at least a second electronic still camera on an operated side, said at least second camera being selected from said plurality of electronic still cameras and exchanging information in response to an operation of said first electronic still camera;
• wherein said at least second electronic still camera comprises;
• control data receiving means for receiving control data generated by the control data generating means of said first electronic still camera and used for controlling photographic operations, thus permitting said at least second electronic still camera to work as a camera corresponding to said first electronic still camera, when said at least second electronic still camera is set in a state capable of receiving data from said first electronic still camera and where said second electronic still camera has a photographing operation switch similar to that of said first electronic still camera;
• and
• photographing operation controlling means for performing photographing operations determined by the control data received by said control data receiving means,
• wherein each of said first-and second electronic still cameras comprises change-over means capable of selectively taking a first state or a second state, and wherein the electronic still camera is exclusively assigned to operate as said first electronic still camera while said change-over means takes said first state thereof, and the electronic still camera is exclusively assigned to operate as said second electronic still camera while said change-over means takes said second state thereof.