Camera with adjustment and recording of color temperature

An information recording camera may comprise a position determining device for determining the position of a main object in a photographing image field, and a recording device for recording information regarding the position of the main object determined by the position determining device onto a recording medium. A device for calculating a color temperature of a flash light source based on the color temperature of natural light may be provided, and the calculated color temperature may be recorded to facilitate subsequent photograph printing by a lab.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates to a camera which can record the position 
information of a main object in the image field and also can adjust the 
color temperature of a flashlight source in conformity with the color 
temperature of natural light in the object field and record the color 
temperature information onto a recording medium. 
2. Related Background Art 
An information recording camera for magnetically recording information 
regarding photographing onto film is known (see U.S. Pat. No. 5,006,873). 
Also, a camera for detecting the photographer's visual axis and effecting 
automatic focus adjustment and automatic exposure calculation at the 
visual axis position in the image field is known (see Japanese Laid-Open 
Patent Application No. 2-32312). 
Further, an image pickup apparatus for detecting the skin color portion of 
an object and correcting exposure on the basis of the brightness of the 
skin color portion in the image field is known (see Japanese Laid-Open 
Patent Application No. 2-287225). 
Furthermore, a focus detecting apparatus which causes the distance 
measuring field to pursue a moving object in the image field is known (see 
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 60-249477). 
In these apparatuses, a main object in the image field is caught during 
photographing and focus adjustment or exposure calculation is effected for 
the main object. Accordingly, during at least photographing, the position 
of the main object in the image field is recognized and photographing of 
proper exposure which is in focus to the main object is effected. 
In the above-described apparatuses, however, even though the position of 
the main object in the image field is recognized during photographing, the 
information thereof is not transmitted to a lab for carrying out the 
printing process and therefore, in some cases, the exposure amount during 
printing is determined with a portion differing from the position of the 
main object as the reference and print properly done for the main object 
intended by the photographer is not obtained. 
Also, a camera for recording the rate of flashlight emitted from a flashing 
device and natural light (hereinafter referred to as stationary light) and 
effecting color balance correction on the basis of this information during 
the printing in a lab is known (see, for example, Japanese Laid-Open 
Patent Application No. 3-41428). 
Also known is a camera for magnetically recording information regarding 
photographing onto film (see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,006,873). 
In these conventional cameras, however, the balance of color temperature 
with the background of a main object is not taken into account, and this 
leads to the problem that depending on scenes, the balance of color 
temperature is lost, thus resulting in an unnatural photograph. 
For example, when the background is an evening glow or tungsten 
illumination, the background is photographed reddish, whereas a main 
object such as a person is photographed whitish, thus resulting in a 
photograph in which the color balance between the main object and the 
background is unnatural. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is an object of the present invention to provide a main object 
information recording camera for recording the position information of a 
main object in the image field during photographing. 
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a color 
temperature information recording camera for a flashlight source for 
optimizing the balance of the color temperatures of a main object and its 
background and recording the information thereof. 
Describing the present invention correspondingly to FIG. 1 of the 
accompanying drawings, an embodiment of the present invention is provided 
with a position determining device 100 for determining the position of a 
main object in the photographing image field, and a recording device 101 
for recording information regarding the position of the main object 
determined by said position determining device 100 onto a recording medium 
102, thereby achieving the above object. 
The information regarding the position of the main object determined by the 
position determining device 100 is recorded onto the recording medium 102 
by the recording device 101. 
The recording device 101A of a main object information recording camera 
according to another embodiment magnetically records the main object 
position information onto the recording medium 102. 
A recording medium 102A in a main object information recording camera 
according to another embodiment is film. 
The position determining device 100A of a main object information recording 
camera according to another embodiment detects the position of the 
photographer's visual axis and determines the position of the main object. 
The position determining device 100B of a main object information recording 
camera according to another embodiment detects a skin color portion in the 
photographing image field and determines the position of the main object. 
The position determining device 100C of a main object information recording 
camera according to another embodiment determines the position in the 
photographing image field set by an external operating member 103 as the 
position of the main object. 
Describing another embodiment of the present invention correspondingly to 
FIG. 2 of the accompanying drawings, this embodiment is provided with a 
flashing device 200 for illuminating the object field, a color temperature 
metering device 201 for metering the color temperature of natural light in 
the object field, a flashlight color temperature calculating device 202 
for calculating the color temperature of the light source of the flashing 
device 200 on the basis of the color temperature of natural light, a 
flashlight color temperature adjusting device 203 for adjusting the color 
temperature of the light source of the flashing device 200 to the color 
temperature calculated by the flashlight color temperature calculating 
device 202, and a recording device 205 for recording the color temperature 
information calculated by the flashlight color temperature calculating 
device 202 onto a recording medium 204, thereby achieving the above 
object. 
In this embodiment, the color temperature of the light source of the 
flashing device 200 is calculated by the flashlight color temperature 
calculating device 202 on the basis of the color temperature of natural 
light metered by the color temperature metering device 201, the color 
temperature of the light source of the flashing device 200 is adjusted by 
the flashlight color temperature adjusting device 203 so as to become the 
color temperature calculated by the flashlight color temperature 
calculating device 202 and the color temperature information calculated by 
the flashlight color temperature calculating device 202 is recorded onto 
the recording medium 204 by the recording device 205. 
The recording device 205A of a color temperature information recording 
camera for a flashlight source according to another embodiment 
magnetically records color temperature information onto a recording medium 
204A. 
A recording medium 204B in a color temperature information recording camera 
for a flashlight source according to another embodiment is silver salt 
film.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
FIG. 3 shows the TTL automatic light modulation camera of the present 
invention. 
A camera body 1 has removably mounted thereon a photo-taking lens barrel 21 
and an electronic flash device 31. 
During finder observation, a light beam passed through a photo-taking lens 
22 (stationary light) is reflected by a mirror 2 which is in its down 
position indicated by broken line, and passes through a screen 3 and a 
pentagonal prism 4, and a part of the light beam is directed to an 
eyepiece 5 and the other part of the light beam passes through a 
condensing lens 6 and is directed to a photometric element 7 for exposure 
calculation. Also, light passed through the mirror 2 is reflected by a 
sub-mirror 2a and is directed to a focus detecting device 15. 
Also, during photographing, when a shutter release button, not shown, is 
released, the mirror 2 is driven to its up position indicated by solid 
line, whereafter a stop 23 is stopped down and a shutter 8 is opened. 
Thereby, the object light passed through the photo-taking lens 22 is 
directed to film 9, which is thus exposed to the light. 
During flash photographing, after the shutter 8 is opened, the xenon tube 
32 of the electronic flash device 31 effects main light emission and 
illuminates an object through an irradiation lens 34. The reflected light 
from the object passes through the photo-taking lens 22 to the surface of 
the film, and the light beam reflected by the surface of the film is 
received by a light receiving element 11 for light modulation through a 
condensing lens 10, and light modulation is effected on the basis of the 
result of this photometry. The reference numeral 33 designates a 
reflector. 
A visual axis detecting device 14 detects the gaze point position of the 
visual axis of the photographer's eye through a visual axis detecting lens 
13 and a half mirror 5a in the eyepiece 5. A recording device 12, as 
disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,006,873, records information regarding the 
position of a main object onto a magnetic track provided on the film 9. 
A color temperature metering element 35 meters the color temperature of the 
object field through a condensing lens 36. In this embodiment, the 
recording device 12 magnetically records the color temperature of 
flashlight onto the film 9 as an external recording medium, and if 
required during the printing in a lab, color balance correction is 
effected on the basis of that information. 
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the construction of an embodiment of the 
present invention. In FIG. 4, the same devices as those shown in FIG. 3 
are given the same reference numerals and need not be described. 
In FIG. 4, the reference numeral 41 designates a stationary light metering 
circuit for metering stationary light received by the photometric element 
7 for exposure calculation. The reference numeral 42 denotes a flashlight 
metering circuit for metering the reflected light of the flashlight from 
the object field received by the light receiving element 11 for light 
modulation. The reference numeral 43 designates the focus detecting 
circuit of the focus detecting device 15 for detecting the focus adjusted 
state of the photo-taking lens 22. The reference numeral 44 denotes a 
controlling circuit comprised of a microcomputer and its surrounding 
parts. The controlling circuit 44 effects the sequence control of the 
camera and various calculations and also effects the information recording 
control of the position of the main object. 
The reference numeral 45 designates an indicator for effecting the 
indication of exposure and focus. The reference numeral 46 denotes an 
exposure controlling device for controlling the shutter 8 and the stop 23 
on the basis of the exposure value calculated by the controlling circuit 
44. The reference numeral 47 designates a focus adjusting circuit for 
driving the photo-taking lens 22 in accordance with the amount of lens 
driving and the direction of driving calculated by the controlling circuit 
44. 
The reference numeral 50 denotes a recording circuit for recording 
information regarding the position of the main object onto a magnetic 
track applied to the film, by the recording device 12. The reference 
numeral 51 designates an external recording medium onto which information 
regarding photographing is to be recorded and which, in this embodiment, 
is silver salt film provided with a magnetic track thereon. The reference 
numeral 52 denotes a lab for effecting the development and printing of the 
film 51 in accordance with the photographing information such as the 
position of the main object recorded on the film. 
FIG. 5 shows the divided zones of the visual axis detecting device 14 and 
the photometric element 7 for exposure calculation. 
The visual axis detecting device 14 divides the photographing image field 
into five zones, i.e., ZONEs 1-5, and detects in which zone the 
photographer's visual axis in the finder is located. As this visual axis 
detecting device 14, use is made, for example, of a device which applies 
infrared illuminating light to the observer's eye and detects the position 
of a gaze point from the reflected image from the cornea or the 
crystalline lens of the eye (see, for example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent 
Application No. 1-274736). 
The photometric element 7 for exposure calculation, like the visual axis 
detecting device 14, divides the photographing image field into five 
zones, ZONEs 1-5, and receives stationary light by each zone. It outputs 
an electrical signal conforming to the intensity of the stationary light 
to a stationary light metering circuit 41. 
FIGS. 6 to 8 are flow charts showing a control program executed by the 
microcomputer of the controlling circuit 44. The determination of the 
position of the main object and the recording operation for the position 
information will now be described with reference to these flow charts. 
At a step S100, n indicative of the frequency of visual axis detection is 
reset, and at the next step S101, the frequency n is incremented. At a 
step S102, the first visual axis detection is effected. The position of 
the photographer's visual axis is represented by X-Y coordinates having 
the center of the finder as the origin, and the coordinates are measured 
to thereby detect in which of the zones shown in FIG. 5 the photographer's 
visual axis is located The coordinates data is memorized as Dn(X, Y) in 
the memory of the controlling circuit 44. In this embodiment, the 
detection of the position of the visual axis is effected 500 times at 
intervals of 5 ms. At a step S103, whether the detection of the position 
of the visual axis has been effected 500 times is discriminated, and if 
said detection has been effected 500 times, advance is made to a step 
S104. At the step S104, the object brightness B(I) (I being a variable 
corresponding to ZONEs 1-5 and I=1-5) is metered for each of ZONEs 1-5 by 
the photometric element 7 for exposure calculation and the stationary 
light metering circuit 41. 
Subsequently, at a step S105, the 501st detection of the position of the 
visual axis is effected, and the data of the detected position of the 
visual axis is memorized as D501 (X, Y ) . At the next step S106, the data 
Di(X, Y) of the first position of the visual axis which is oldest is 
erased to thereby renew the data. At a step S107, a variable Q(I) (I=1-5 ) 
indicative of the frequency of gazing for each of ZONEs 1-5 is reset. At a 
step S108, the frequency n of the detection of the visual axis is reset, 
and at the next step S109, the frequency n is incremented. At a step S110, 
the coordinates data Dn (X, Y ) are substituted for by coordinates data 
Dn+i(X, Y). 
In this manner with the lapse of time, the coordinates data of the position 
of the visual axis are sequentially changed to the newest data and the 
number of the coordinates data are always kept at 500. Accordingly, also 
by time being spent for framing or the like, the coordinates data of the 
newest position of the visual axis are obtained. 
Subsequently, from the coordinates data of the found position of the visual 
axis, the zone to which they belong, that is, the frequency Q(I) of gazing 
at each zone, is found. 
At the step S111 of FIG. 7, whether Dn(X, Y) is within ZONE 1 is 
discriminated, and if the answer is affirmative, advance is made to a step 
S112, where a variable Q(1) indicative of the frequency of gazing of the 
visual axis in ZONE 1 is incremented. If the step S111 is negative, 
advance is made to a step S113, where whether the coordinates data Dn(X, 
Y) is within ZONE 2 is discriminated, and if the answer is affirmative, 
advance is made to a step S114, where the frequency Q(2) of gazing at ZONE 
2 is incremented. If the step S113 is negative, advance is made to a step 
S115, where whether the coordinates data Dn (X, Y) is within ZONE 3 is 
discriminated, and if the answer is affirmative, advance is made to a step 
S116, where the frequency Q(3) of gazing at ZONE 3 is incremented. 
If the step S115 is negative, advance is made to a step S117, where whether 
the coordinates data Dn(X, Y) is within ZONE 4 is discriminated, and if 
the answer is affirmative, advance is made to a step S118, where the 
frequency Q(4) of gazing at ZONE 4 is incremented. If the step S117 is 
negative, advance is made to a step S119, where whether the coordinates 
data Dn(X, Y) is within ZONE 5 is discriminated, and if the answer is 
affirmative, advance is made to a step S120, where the frequency Q(5) of 
gazing at ZONE 5 is inremented. 
If the step S119 is negative, that is, if the coordinates data Dn(X, Y) is 
not within ZONEs 1-5, at a step S121, whether the frequency n has reached 
500 times is discriminated, and if the frequency n has not reached 500 
times, return is made to the step S109 of FIG. 6, and if the frequency n 
has reached 500 times, advance is made to a step S122. 
Since as described above, the detection of the visual axis is effected at 
intervals of 5 ms, the frequency Q(I) (I=1-5) of gazing at each ZONE 1-5 
corresponds to the total time for which ZONEs 1-5 have been gazed at 
during a predetermined time. At the step S122, on the basis of each 
detected gazing time, weighting is effected on the exposure value B by the 
following equation: 
EQU B=.SIGMA.(Q(I).times.B(I))/(5.times.500), (1) 
where .SIGMA. represents the sum total of I=1-5. 
That is, the frequencies Q(1)-Q(5) of gazing each are divided by 500 to 
thereby find the proportion of the gazing time at ZONEs 1-5, and this 
proportion is multiplied by the object brightness B(I) (I=1-5) metered for 
each of ZONEs 1-5 at the above-mentioned step to thereby find the 
arithmetical mean, and weighting is effected on the exposure value 13. 
Thus, the exposure value B is determined by the photographer's gazing time 
at ZONEs 1-5, and the photographer's intention is fully reflected in 
exposure control. 
The weighting on the exposure value B may be effected by the following 
equation: 
B=.SIGMA.(Q(I)2.times.B(I))/(5.times..SIGMA.(Q(I)2)), (1') 
where .SIGMA. represents the sum total of I=1-5. 
According to this method, weighting on each photometric output is effected 
by the moment of the square of the gazing time and therefore, as compared 
with the case where equation (1) above is used, more importance can be 
attached to the zone of a long gazing time. 
Also, weighting on the exposure value B may be effected by only the 
frequency of gazing. 
Subsequently, at an step S123, the calculated exposure value B is indicated 
by the indicator 45. At a step S124, whether the shutter has been released 
is discriminated, and if the shutter has not been released, return is made 
to the step S104 of FIG. 6, and if the shutter has been released, advance 
is made to the step S125 of FIG. 8. 
At the step S125, the exposure controlling device 46 is controlled to 
thereby effect exposure. After the exposure, at a step S126, the zone of 
the greatest frequency of gazing is detected. The zone of the greatest 
frequency of gazing is defined as the area in which the main object 
exists, and the area number thereof is defined as N.sub.zmax. At the next 
step S127, the proportion W(n) (n=1-5) of the frequencies Q(1)-Q(5) of 
gazing at ZONEs 1-5 is found. 
W(n)=Q(n)/.SIGMA.Q(n), (2) 
where .SIGMA. represents the sum total of n=1-5. At a step S128, the 
recording circuit 50 is controlled, whereby the area number N.sub.zmax of 
the greatest frequency of gazing is recorded as the area in which the main 
object exists onto the external recording medium 51. Further, at a step 
S129, the proportion W(n)(n=1-5) is recorded onto the external recording 
medium 51. 
In the above-described embodiment, the number of zone divisions of the 
visual axis detecting device 14 and the photometric element 7 for exposure 
calculation is five as shown in FIG. 5, whereas the number of zone 
divisions and the shape of the zones are not restricted to the 
above-described embodiment, but the zones may be finely divided as shown, 
for example, in FIG. 9. 
Also, in the above-described embodiment, the shape of the divided zones of 
the visual axis detecting device 14 and the shape of the divided zones of 
the photometric element 7 for exposure calculation are the same, but 
alternatively, they may be different from each other. 
FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing the processing procedure in the lab for the 
external recording medium 51 on which the position information of the main 
object is recorded. In the lab, at a step S201, the area of the greatest 
frequency of gazing, i.e., the number N.sub.zmax of the area in which the 
main object exists, is first read from the external recording medium 51. 
Subsequently, at a step S202, the area N.sub.zmax is appointed as the 
light-metering area during printing. At a step S203, printing is effected 
so that the optimum density may be provided in the appointed 
light-metering area. 
In the above-described embodiment, the area in which the main object exists 
is determined on the basis of the position of the photographer's visual 
axis detected by the visual axis detecting device 14, but alternatively, 
as shown in FIG. 11, a color metering device 61, instead of the visual 
axis detecting device 14 of FIG. 4, may be used to determine the area in 
which the main object exists. 
The color metering device 61 detects a skin color portion in the 
photographing image field, and judges this skin color portion as a person, 
i.e., the main object, and sends the area number thereof to the 
controlling circuit 44. The controlling circuit 44 records that area 
number onto the external recording medium 51 and transmits it to the lab. 
Also, as shown in FIG. 12, a manual inputting device 62, instead of the 
visual axis detecting device 14 of FIG. 4, may be used to determine the 
area in which the main object exists. That is, the area in the 
photographing image field in which the intended object exists is set by 
the manual inputting device 62. The area number of this area is sent to 
the controlling circuit 44, is recorded as the area in which the main 
object exists onto the external recording medium 51, and is transmitted to 
the lab. 
As described herein, design is made such that the position of the 
photographer's visual axis is detected and the area in which the main 
object exists is determined on the basis of the detected position of the 
visual axis and is magnetically recorded on the magnetic track on the film 
and therefore, during the printing in the lab, printing is effected with 
that area as the reference and thus, print properly done for the main 
object intended by the photographer is obtained. 
Also, the area in which the main object exists may be determined by 
detecting a skin color portion in the photographing image field and on the 
basis of the result of the detection, or alternatively, the area in which 
the main object exists may be manually set. In any case, an effect similar 
to that described above is obtained. 
In the above-described embodiments, the external recording medium has been 
described as a magnetic track applied onto film, but alternatively, a 
magnetic recording medium may be applied onto the surface of a film 
cartridge and information may be recorded thereon, or information may be 
recorded on a memory device such as an IC card. 
The information recording system is not restricted to a magnetic recording 
system. The information may be optically recorded, for example, on film. 
In the construction of the above-described embodiment, the visual axis 
detecting device 14, the color metering device 61, the manual inputting 
device 62 and the controlling circuit 44 together constitute position 
determining means, the recording device 12 and the recording circuit 50 
together constitute recording means, and the manual inputting device 62 
constitutes an external operating member. 
As described above, according to the present invention, design is made such 
that the position of the main object in the photographing image field is 
determined and the information of this position of the main object is 
recorded on the recording medium and therefore, during the printing in the 
lab, printing is effected with that position as the reference and thus, 
there is obtained print properly done for the main object intended by the 
photographer. 
FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing the construction of another embodiment. 
In FIG. 13, devices similar to those shown in FIG. 4 are given similar 
reference numerals and need not be described. 
The reference numeral 71 designates a stationary light color temperature 
metering circuit for metering the color temperature of stationary light 
received by the color temperature metering element 35. 
The reference numeral 44 denotes a controlling circuit comprised of a 
microcomputer and its surrounding parts. The controlling circuit 44 
effects the sequence control of the camera and various calculations and 
also executes a control program which will be described later to thereby 
control the color temperature of flashlight emitted from the electronic 
flash device 31 and cause the information thereof to be recorded onto the 
film 9. 
The reference numeral 72 designates a flashlight color temperature changing 
portion for adjusting the color temperature of the flashlight of the 
electronic flash device 31 on the basis of a color temperature command 
signal from the control circuit 44. The reference numeral 50 denotes a 
recording circuit for magnetically recording the color temperature 
information of the flashlight onto an external recording medium 51, i.e., 
film, 9, through the recording device 12. The reference numeral 52 
designates a lab for carrying out the printing process on the basis of the 
color temperature information of the flashlight recorded on the magnetic 
track on the film 9. 
FIG. 14 shows the relation of the color temperature of the flashlight 
source to the color temperature of stationary light. 
The color temperature of the flashlight source of the conventional flash 
device has been constant, e.g. 5500[K], independently of the color 
temperature of stationary light. 
In this embodiment, 
(1) when the color temperature of stationary light is less than 5500[K], 
the color temperature of the flashlight source is changed toward the color 
temperature of stationary light, and 
(2) when the color temperature of stationary light is 5500[K]or higher, the 
color temperature of the flashlight source is fixed at 5500[K]. 
According to the former, when the background is an evening glow or tungsten 
illumination, a main object such as a person illuminated by a red light 
source becomes somewhat reddish and unnaturalness disappears. Also, 
according to the latter, a person becoming bluish, as is generally 
disliked, is prevented. 
FIG. 15 shows an example of the flashlight color temperature changing 
portion 72. 
A xenon tube 32, when supplied with an electric current little by little, 
provides a gradual rise of light emission and becomes low in color 
temperature. When suddenly supplied with an electric current, it provides 
a sharp rise of light emission and becomes high in color temperature. The 
flashlight color temperature changing portion 72 shown in FIG. 15 utilizes 
such properties of the xenon tube 32, and is provided with a variable 
inductor 82 between the xenon tube and a conventional flashing circuit 81 
for causing the xenon tube 32 to emit light and the value thereof is 
controlled by an inductance changing circuit 83 on the basis of the output 
of the controlling circuit 44. 
FIG. 16 is a flow chart showing a control program executed by the 
controlling circuit 44. The operation of the present embodiment will 
hereinafter be described with reference to this flow chart. 
At a step S301, the color temperature TFD of stationary light is metered by 
the stationary light color temperature metering circuit 71. At the next 
step S302, the color temperature TSB of the flashlight source is set to 
5500[K]. At a step S303, whether the color temperature TFD of stationary 
light is less than 5500[K] is discriminated, and if the color temperature 
TFD is less than 5500[K], advance is made to a step S304, and if not so, 
the step S304 is skipped over. 
At the step S304, the color temperature TSB of the flashlight source is 
calculated from the following equation: 
EQU TSB=0.7 .multidot.TFD+1650 (3) 
At a step S305, the calculated color temperature TSB of the flashlight 
source is recorded on the film 9 through the recording circuit 50. At a 
step S306, the inductance L of the inductor 82 is calculated from the 
following equation: 
EQU L=-K1.multidot.TSB+K2, (4) 
where K1 and K2 are constants determined when the circuit system is 
designed. 
At a step S307, the inductance L is changed into the calculated value by 
the inductance changing circuit 83. At a step S308, the electronic flash 
device 31 is caused to emit light, whereby light modulation is effected. 
FIG. 17 shows another embodiment of the flashlight color temperature 
changing portion 72. 
In this embodiment, color temperature changing filters 92-94 are disposed 
forwardly of the xenon tube 32 to change the color temperature of the 
flashlight after emitted. 
The color temperature changing filters 92-94 are guest-host type liquid 
crystal, and when a voltage is applied thereto from a liquid crystal 
driving circuit 91, the filters 92, 93 and 94 are colored into red, green 
and blue, respectively. These three kinds of filters 92-94 are combined to 
thereby change the color temperature of the flashlight emitted from the 
xenon tube 32. 
FIG. 18 is a flow chart showing a control program when the flashlight color 
temperature changing portion 72 is used. The operation will hereinafter be 
described with reference to this flow chart. 
At a step S311, the color temperature of stationary light is metered, and 
at the next step S312, the color temperature TSB of the flashlight source 
is set to 5500[K]. At a step S313, whether the color temperature TFD of 
stationary light is less than 5500[K]is discriminated, and if the color 
temperature TFD is less than 5500[K], advance is made to a step S314, and 
if not so, the step S314 is skipped over. 
At the step S314, the color temperature TSB of the flashlight source is 
calculated from equation (3) above. At a step S315, the calculated color 
temperature TSB of the flashlight source is recorded onto the film 9 
through the recording circuit 50. At a step S316, the voltage VR applied 
to the liquid crystal 92 by the liquid crystal driving circuit 91 is 
calculated from the following equation: 
EQU VR=-C1.multidot.TSB+C2, (5) 
where C1 and C2 are constants determined when the circuit system is 
designed. 
At a step S317, the voltage VG applied to the liquid crystal 93 by the 
liquid crystal driving circuit 91 is calculated from the following 
equation: 
EQU VG=-C3-TSB+C4 (6) 
where C3 and C4 are constants determined when the circuit system is 
designed. 
At a step S318, the voltage VB applied to the liquid crystal 94 by the 
liquid crystal driving circuit 91 is calculated from the following 
equation: 
EQU VB=-C5.multidot.TSB+C6 (7) 
where C5 and C6 are constants determined when the circuit system is 
designed. 
At a step S319, the voltages VR, VG and VB are set by the liquid crystal 
driving circuit 91, and at the next step S320, light is emitted to effect 
light control, thus terminating the program. 
As described above, design is made such that the color temperature of the 
natural light in the object field is metered by the color temperature 
metering element 35 and the stationary light color temperature metering 
circuit 71 and the color temperature of the flashlight source of the 
electronic flash device 31 is calculated on the basis of the metered color 
temperature and in accordance with the result of this calculation, the 
color temperature of the flashlight source is changed by the flashlight 
color temperature changing portion 72 and also the result of the 
calculation is magnetically recorded on the magnetic track applied onto 
the film 9 Therefore, the balance between the color temperatures of the 
main object and its background is adjusted into an optimum condition, and 
a natural photograph is obtained irrespective of the color temperature of 
the background. That is, the color temperature of the flashlight source is 
changed toward the color temperature of natural light, whereby when the 
background is an evening glow or tungsten illumination, a person also 
becomes somewhat reddish and the unnaturalness as in the prior art is 
eliminated. 
Further, that color temperature information is transmitted to the lab so 
that during the printing in the lab, color balance correction can further 
be effected if required on the basis of the color temperature of the 
flashlight source. Therefore photographs of optimum tinge can be printed. 
In the above-described embodiment, the external recording medium has been 
described as a magnetic track applied onto film, but alternatively, a 
magnetic recording medium may be applied to the surface of a film 
cartridge and information may be recorded thereon, or information may be 
recorded in a memory device such as an IC card. 
The information recording system is not restricted to a magnetic recording 
system, but information may be optically recorded, for example, on film. 
In the construction of the above-described embodiment, the electronic 
flash device constitutes flashing means, the color temperature metering 
element 35 and the stationary light color temperature metering circuit 71 
together constitute color temperature metering means, the controlling 
circuit 44 constitutes flashlight color temperature calculating means, the 
flashlight color temperature changing portion 72, the inductor 82, the 
inductance changing circuit 83, the liquid crystal driving circuit 91 and 
the filters 92-94 together constitute flashlight color temperature 
adjusting means, the film 9 constitutes a recording medium, and the 
recording device 12 and the recording circuit 50 together constitute 
recording means. 
As described above, according to the present invention, design is made such 
that the color temperature of the natural light in the object field is 
metered and the color temperature of the flashlight source is calculated 
on the basis of the metered color temperature and in accordance with the 
result of this calculation, the color temperature of the flashlight source 
is adjusted and also the result of the calculation is recorded on the 
recording medium and therefore, the balance between the color temperatures 
of the main object and its background is adjusted into an optimum 
condition and natural photographs are obtained irrespective of the color 
temperature of the background. That is, the color temperature of the 
flashlight source is changed toward the color temperature of natural 
light, whereby when the background is an evening glow or tungsten 
illumination, a person becomes somewhat reddish and the unnaturalness as 
in the prior art is eliminated. Also, when the metered color temperature 
of natural light is 5500[K]or higher, the color temperature of the 
flashlight source is fixed at 5500[K]and therefore, the generally disliked 
phenomenon of a person becoming bluish is avoided. 
Further, the information of that color temperature is recorded on the 
recording medium such as film and is transmitted to the lab. Therefore 
during the printing in the lab, color balance correction can further be 
effected, if required, on the basis of the flashlight source. Therefore 
phootgraphs of optimum tinge can be printed.