Patent ID: 7573525
Filing Date: 2009-08-11
Classification: G02B,G02C,G03B,H04N

Abstract:
1. A camera comprising: an image pickup element including a photographing optical system in which a focal distance is changeable and an image pickup device for converting an optical subject image formed by the photographing optical system into an electric image signal; an operation section for inputting information that indicates a photographic range; a display element for displaying a photographic frame indicating the photographic range as a virtual image so that the photographic frame is superimposed on a subject substantially directly observed by a photographer; a focal-distance setting element for setting the focal distance of the photographing optical system so that the visual angle of the photographic frame coincides with a field angle of the image pickup element; and a switching element for switching between the photographic frame and a photographed image corresponding to the image signal obtained by the image pickup element so that the selected photographic frame or the photographed image is displayed by the display element as a virtual image, and wherein the switching element automatically controls the photographed image to be displayed as a virtual image when the focal distance of the photographing optical system is greater than or equal to a predetermined value.