Simplified shutter release assembly and camera having same

A shutter release apparatus for use in a camera for capturing images on a perforated film, the shutter release apparatus comprising:

• a rotatable thumb wheel urged for movement between a start position and a trigger position;
• a sprocket having a film engagement surface for engagement with the perforations and movement therewith during film winding;
• and
• a biased lever holding the thumb wheel in the start position is moved against the bias by movement of the sprocket to a position permitting the thumb wheel to move into the trigger position, said lever further defining a catch positioned to block movement of the sprocket when the film is advanced by a predetermined amount;
• wherein rotation of the thumb wheel in the trigger position further moves the lever against the bias and movement of the thumb wheel from the trigger position to the start position releases the lever for biased movement to drive the shutter to expose the film.

A camera for capturing images on a perforated film, the camera comprising:

• a lens focusing light from a scene onto the film;
• a movable shutter biased for movement from a position exposing the film to a position preventing exposure of the film;
• a rotatable thumb wheel movable along an axis between a start position and a trigger position;
• a sprocket having teeth to engage perforations on the film and to move therewith during film winding;
• and
• a biased lever moved by the sprocket against the bias from a position where the lever holds the thumb wheel in the start position to a position releasing the thumb wheel for urged movement into the trigger position with said lever further blocked by the thumb wheel to prevent biased movement of the lever when the thumb wheel is in the trigger position;
• wherein movement of the thumb wheel from the trigger position to the start position releases the lever for biased movement to drive the shutter against the bias to expose the film.

A camera for capturing images on a perforated film, the camera comprising:

• a lens focusing light from a scene onto the film;
• a movable shutter biased for movement from a position exposing the film to a position preventing exposure of the film;
• a rotatable thumb wheel urged for movement between a start position and a trigger position;
• a sprocket having a film engagement surface for engagement with the perforations and movement therewith during film winding;
• and
• a biased lever holding the thumb wheel in the start position and moved against the bias by movement of the sprocket to a position permitting the thumb wheel to move into the trigger position, said lever further defining a catch positioned to block movement of the sprocket when the film is advanced by a predetermined amount;
• wherein rotation of the thumb wheel in the trigger position further moves the lever against the bias and movement of the thumb wheel from the trigger position to the start position releases the lever for biased movement to drive the shutter to expose the film.