Controller for controlling a camera having a built-in flash

A controller for controlling a camera having an external connector to which an external flash unit can be connected, said controller comprising:

• different photographic modes, selectable via
• a single manual operation member;
• an auto-exposure-mode selecting mode, selectable via the single manual operation member, in which said controller automatically selects an appropriate photographic mode from said different photographic modes based on photographic conditions, said controller allowing the external flash to discharge automatically in the selected appropriate photographic mode at a time of exposure, when indicated by the photographic conditions;
• and
• a flash-prohibiting/auto-exposure-mode selecting mode, selectable via the single manual operation member, in which said controller automatically selects an appropriate photographic mode from said different photographic modes based on photographic conditions, said controller preventing the external flash from discharging automatically in the selected appropriate photographic mode at a time of exposure.

A camera comprising:

• a built-in flash;
• a manual operation member configured to be moved manually among at least four positions;
• and
• a controller for controlling the camera, the controller comprising:
• different photographic modes, comprising at least two exposure modes corresponding to exposure mode positions of the at least four positions of the manual operation member;
• an auto-exposure-mode selecting mode, corresponding to a first position of the at least four positions of the manual operation member, in which an appropriate photographic mode is automatically selected from the different photographic modes based on photographic conditions, the controller allowing the built-in flash to discharge automatically in the selected appropriate photographic mode at a time of exposure, when indicated by the photographic conditions;
• and
• a flash-prohibiting/auto-exposure-mode selecting mode, corresponding to a second position of the at least four positions of the manual operation member, in which an appropriate photographic mode is automatically selected from the different photographic modes based on the photographic conditions, the controller prohibiting the built-in flash from discharging automatically in the selected appropriate photographic mode at the time of exposure, regardless of the photographic conditions;
• wherein the controller selects the auto-exposure-mode selecting mode when the manual operation member is positioned at the first position, the flash-prohibiting/auto-exposure-mode selecting mode when the manual operation member is positioned at the second position, and one of the at least two exposure modes when the manual operation member is positioned at the corresponding exposure mode positions.

A controller for controlling a camera, comprising:

• different photographic modes, comprising at least two exposure modes corresponding to exposure mode positions of a manual operation member configured to be moved manually among at least four positions;
• an auto-exposure-mode selecting mode, corresponding to a first position of the at least four positions of the manual operation member, in which an appropriate photographic mode is automatically selected from the different photographic modes based on photographic conditions, the controller allowing a flash light emitter to discharge automatically in the selected appropriate photographic mode when the flash light emitter is controlled to discharge at a time of exposure;
• and
• a flash-prohibiting/auto-exposure-mode selecting mode, corresponding to a second position of the at least four positions of the manual operation member, in which an appropriate photographic mode is automatically selected from the different photographic modes based on the photographic conditions, the controller preventing the flash light emitter from discharging automatically in the selected appropriate photographic mode at a time of exposure;
• wherein, in response to an operation of the manual operation member, the controller selects the auto-exposure-mode selecting mode when the manual operation member is positioned at the first position, the flash-prohibiting/auto-exposure-mode selecting mode when the manual operation member is positioned at the second position, and one of the at least two exposure modes when the manual operation member is positioned at the corresponding one of the at least two exposure mode positions.

A camera having a built-in flash, comprising:

• at least two different programmed auto-exposure (AE) modes corresponding to exposure mode positions of at least four positions of a manual operation member;
• an auto-exposure-mode selecting mode, corresponding to a first position of the at least four positions of the manual operation member, in which an appropriate programmed AE mode is automatically selected from the different programmed AE modes based on a photographic condition, the built-in flash being allowed to discharge automatically in the selected appropriate programmed AE mode when the built-in flash discharges at a time of exposure;
• and
• a flash-prohibiting/auto-exposure-mode selecting mode, corresponding to a second position of the at least four positions of the manual operation member, in which an appropriate programmed AE mode is automatically selected from the different programmed AE modes based on a photographic condition, the built-in flash being prohibited from discharging automatically in the selected appropriate programmed AE mode at a time of exposure;
• wherein the auto-exposure-mode selecting mode is activated when the manual operation member is positioned at the first position, the flash-prohibiting/auto-exposure-mode selecting mode is activated when the manual operation member is positioned at the second position, and one of the at least two programmed AE modes is activated when the manual operation member is positioned at the corresponding exposure mode position.