Patent ID: 6038409
Filing Date: 2000-03-14
Classification: G03B,H04N

Abstract:
In a thin camera which is provided with a taking optical system for photographing a subject, and a viewfinder optical system for confirming a photographing range of the subject, and in which principal optical axes of said taking optical system and said viewfinder optical system are oriented spaced and in parallel with each other, and the depth of said camera along the principal optical axis is formed to be small, said viewfinder optical system comprising:a first reflecting mechanism which bends said principal optical axis of said viewfinder optical system in a widthwise direction and a heightwise direction of said camera, all of the bending taking place in a plane perpendicular to the principal optical axis of the viewfinder optical system;a second reflecting mechanism which bends the bent optical axis in a direction parallel with the principal optical axis; andat least one movable lens or lens group arranged on the optical axis bent in the widthwise direction or the heightwise direction of said camera,wherein said first reflecting mechanism includes:a first reflecting mirror for bending the principal optical axis 90 degrees in the heightwise direction of said camera;a second reflecting mirror for bending the optical axis, bent by said first reflecting mirror, 90 degrees in the widthwise direction of said camera; anda third reflecting mirror for bending the optical axis, bent by said second reflecting mirror, 90 degrees in an opposite direction to the heightwise direction of said camera,wherein said second reflecting mechanism includes:a fourth reflecting mirror for bending the optical axis, bent by said third reflecting mirror, 90 degrees in the direction parallel with the principal optical axis, andwherein said at least one movable lens or lens group is arranged between said first reflecting mirror and said second reflecting mirror.