Patent ID: 6711351
Filing Date: 2004-03-23
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
A camera, comprising:a sensor having a plurality of light receiving elements which receive light from a subject in a range-finding area; an auto-focusing controller which performs auto-focusing control according to an output of the sensor; a charging device which charges a main capacitor; a light emitting device which is supplied with electric energy by the main capacitor and emits auxiliary light for auto-focusing use and auxiliary light for exposure use to the subject; a shutter release button which, when half pressed, causes auto-focusing control to be started according to the output of the sensor and, when fully pressed, causes shooting to be started; a light emission control device which causes the light emitting device to emit the auxiliary light for auto-focusing use when the shutter release button is half pressed and a desired output value is not obtained from the sensor; and a control device which, the auxiliary light for auto-focusing use emitted from the light emitting device in a state where the main capacitor is fully charged being supposed to be a first auxiliary light and the auxiliary light for auto-focusing use later emitted from the light emitting device when the shutter release button is half pressed again in a state where the main capacitor is not fully charged being supposed to be a second auxiliary light, following the emission of the first auxiliary light from the light emitting device, permits electric flash shooting by fully pressing the shutter release button after the charging of the main capacitor by the charging device as long as a first length of time and, following the emission of the second auxiliary light from the light emitting device, permits electric flash shooting by fully pressing the shutter release button after the charging of the main capacitor by the charging device as long as a second length of time longer than the first length of time.