Patent ID: 7536092
Filing Date: 2009-05-19
Classification: G02B,H04N

Abstract:
1. A camera which incorporates a lens unit which can program an optical property, comprising: a plurality of optical elements which are disposed on an optical axis of the lens unit; an electronic control unit for changing an optical property of the lens unit by changing a state of at least one of the plurality of optical elements within the lens unit through electronic control; a storage unit for storing a plurality of pieces of control information for controlling the state of at least one of the plurality of optical elements so that a predetermined optical property of the lens unit falls within a predetermined range of a range that can be changed by the electronic control unit; a selection unit for selecting a piece of the control information stored in the storage unit to control the state of at least one of the plurality of optical elements at a time of photographing; a photographing control unit for controlling the state of said at least one of the plurality of optical elements after the electronic control unit has changed said state based on the piece of the control information after the piece of information is selected by the selection unit at the time of photographing; and a mode selection unit which allows a user to select arbitrarily a photographing mode and a design mode, wherein, when the design mode is selected, the piece of control information which makes the lens unit function as a lens unit having a desired optical property according to an instructing operation by the user is prepared and is stored in the storage unit, and wherein when the photographing mode is selected, the lens unit is made to function as a lens unit having a desired optical property based on the piece of control information stored in the storage unit.