Patent ID: 6091902
Filing Date: 2000-07-18
Classification: G02B,G03B

Abstract:
A zoom camera with a pseudo zooming function for assigning a frame a pseudo zoom ratio by which a printing area and a print magnification of the frame are modified to obtain a photo print which appears to have been taken at a virtual focal length that is equal to a multiplication product of the pseudo zoom ratio and an actual focal length of a taking lens used for photographing the frame, the zoom camera comprising:a virtual focal length determining means for determining a virtual focal length in accordance with operating direction and amount of a manual zooming operation member, said virtual focal length ranging from a minimum virtual focal length defined by a minimum focal length of said taking lens to a maximum virtual focal length that is obtained by multiplying a maximum focal length of said taking lens by a maximum pseudo zoom ratio;a finder controlling means for controlling a viewfinder in correspondence with said virtual focal length, to show a photographic field to be contained in a photo print as photographed at said virtual focal length;a lens zooming means for changing actual focal length of said taking lens depending upon said virtual focal length in accordance with a predetermined relationship between virtual focal length and actual focal length and pseudo zoom ratio;a pseudo zoom ratio deciding means for deciding a pseudo zoom ratio depending upon said virtual focal length in accordance with said predetermined relationship when a frame is photographed at said virtual focal length; anda pseudo zoom ratio recording means for recording said pseudo zoom ratio in association with said photographed frame; wherein as the virtual focal length is increased from the minimum virtual focal length to the maximum virtual focal length, the pseudo zoom ratio is set to other than a minimum pseudo zoom ratio prior to the actual focal length of the taking lens being set to a maximum actual focal length.