Patent ID: 7071973
Filing Date: 2006-07-04
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. A digital camera comprising: an image sensor disposed at a position at which an image is to be formed by a taking lens; a recorder for recording on a recording medium an image sensed by said image sensor in accordance with recording instructions; a semitransparent mirror which rotates about an axis in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis of the taking lens so as to move between an advanced position intersecting at an inclination an optical path from the taking lens to the image sensor for photographing in a first photographic mode where a first portion of the light transmitted by the taking lens is reflected by the semitransparent mirror and a second portion of the light transmitted by the taking lens forms an image on the image sensor, and a retracted position removed from the optical path for photographing in a second photographic mode where substantially all of the light transmitted by the taking lens forms an image on the image sensor; and an optical finder providing an image by directing the light reflected by said semitransparent mirror set at the advanced position from the taking lens to the eye of a user.