Pseudo telephoto--pseudo panoramic camera

A photographic camera enables pseudo telephoto and pseudo panoramic prints to be obtained from normal exposures coded to identify the selected type print. In the camera, an objective lens is adjustable to vary its angular field of view within a field range having a wide angle limit and a telephoto limit. A manually operated member is movable to a plurality of positions corresponding to respective fields of view within the field range of the lens, for adjusting the lens to a selected field of view. Also, the manually operated member is movable to other positions corresponding to respective pseudo telephoto or pseudo panoramic fields of view outside the field range of the lens, when the lens is adjusted to the telephoto limit or the wide angle limit. Code means, responsive to movement of the manually operated member to a position corresponding to a pseudo telephoto or pseudo panoramic field of view, encodes an exposure taken with the lens at its wide angle or telephoto limit with indicia representative of the pseudo field of view. This enables the portion of the exposure covered by the pseudo field of view to be identified for enlargement printing to obtain a pseudo telephoto or pseudo panoramic print.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The invention relates generally to photography. More particularly, the 
invention relates to a camera for enabling pseudo telephoto and pseudo 
panoramic prints to be obtained from normal exposures by coding an 
exposure to identify a selected type print. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
A pseudo telephoto print is one that is made from a central portion of an 
exposure having the same width-to-length ratio, e.g., 31/2:5, as that of 
the exposure. During the printing process, the negative is masked at its 
upper, lower, left and right marginal zones, leaving the central portion 
of the negative unmasked. Alternatively, the film gate in the enlarger may 
be correspondingly masked or adjusted. Then, an enlargement is made of the 
unmasked portion of the negative to provide a print with the same 
width-to-length ratio as that of the unmasked portion. Thus, the print 
will have a telephoto or close-up format. 
A pseudo panoramic print is one that is made from a narrow portion of an 
exposure having a greater width-to-length ratio, e.g., 1:3, than that of 
the exposure. During the printing process, the negative is masked at its 
upper and/or lower marginal zones, leaving the narrow portion of the 
negative unmasked. Alternatively, the film gate in the enlarger may be 
correspondingly masked or adjusted. Then an enlargement is made of the 
unmasked portion of the negative to provide a print with the same 
width-to-length ratio as that of the unmasked portion. Thus, the print 
will have a panoramic or elongate format. 
Commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 3,490,844, granted Jan. 20, 1970 discloses 
a method of making a print of a selected portion of a subject to be 
photographed. The method comprises the following steps: (1) viewing the 
subject in the viewfinder of a camera; (2) manually adjusting masking 
members visible in the viewfinder to frame a selected portion of the 
subject; (3) exposing the film in the camera to obtain a latent image of 
the subject; (4) encoding the exposure on the film with indicia which 
represents the selected portion of the subject; (5) processing the film to 
obtain a negative of the latent image of the subject; and (6) sensing the 
indicia to make a print of the selected portion of the subject from the 
negative. 
When, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,490,844, the selected portion of the subject has 
the same relative position in the viewfinder as a corresponding portion of 
the exposure, enlargement of the portion in the negative will provide a 
pseudo telephoto effect, similar to the actual telephoto effect provided 
by a telephoto lens. Thus, a pseudo telephoto print can be made during the 
printing process from an exposure taken without a telephoto lens. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,357,102 discloses a method of making a pseudo panoramic 
print from an exposure. According to the method, a window in the 
viewfinder of a camera has its upper and/or lower marginal zones masked 
off by an appropriate insert to provide a viewing area with a 
width-to-length ratio greater than 1:2 and preferably 1:3. Exposures are 
taken with the window partially masked and, during the printing of the 
negatives, the film gate in the enlarger is correspondingly masked or 
provided with an aperture of the same width-to-length ratio as that of the 
unmasked portion of the window. Printing paper with a similar 
width-to-length ratio is used. Prints can thus be obtained which have a 
panoramic format, without using a panoramic lens. 
Although U.S. Pat. No. 3,490,844 discloses a method of making a pseudo 
telephoto print from an exposure taken without a telephoto lens, and U.S. 
Pat. No. 4,357,102 discloses a method of making a pseudo panoramic print 
from an exposure taken without a panoramic lens, in each instance the 
exposure is made using an objective lens having a fixed focal length, 
probably around 45 mm. or 50 mm. A 45 mm. or 50 mm. lens is a normal lens, 
as distinguished from a telephoto or wide angle lens, and is chosen for 
the camera to enable normal prints as well as pseudo telephoto or pseudo 
panoramic prints to be obtained. However, without the ability of the 
objective lens to range from a normal focal length, e.g., 50 mm., to at 
least a moderate telephoto focal length, e.g., 80 mm., or from the normal 
focal length to at least a moderate wide angle focal length, e.g., 35 mm., 
the pseudo telephoto or pseudo panoramic prints obtained cannot have much 
of a telephoto or panoramic effect. This is because the selected portion 
of the negative cannot be enlarged significantly from an exposure taken 
with a 50 mm. lens before the sharpness of the image is lost. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
According to the invention, it is possible to obtain a pseudo telephoto 
print from an exposure taken with the objective lens set at a telephoto 
focal length and/or to obtain a pseudo panoramic print from an exposure 
taken with the objective lens set at a wide angle focal length. This is in 
addition to obtaining normal prints from exposures taken with the 
objective lens set at a normal focal length. 
In one variation of the invention, the camera comprises: 
(a) an objective lens adjustable to change its focal length to vary the 
angular field of view of the lens; 
(b) manually operated means, supported for movement to a plurality of 
positions corresponding to respective focal lengths of the lens, for 
adjusting the lens to a selected focal length to take an exposure, and 
supported for movement to other positions corresponding to respective 
pseudo focal lengths associated with different fields of view narrower 
than the possible fields of view of the lens, when the lens is adjusted to 
its longest focal length; and 
(c) code means, responsive to movement of the manually operated means to a 
position corresponding to a pseudo focal length, for encoding an exposure 
taken with the lens at its longest focal length with indicia 
representative of the pseudo focal length, whereby the portion of the 
exposure covered by the angular field of view associated with the pseudo 
focal length can be identified to obtain a pseudo telephoto print. 
In another variation of the invention, the camera enables pseudo panoramic 
prints as well as pseudo telephoto prints to be obtained from exposures. 
In this variation, the camera comprises: 
(a) an objective lens adjustable to vary its angular field of view within a 
field range having a wide angle limit and a telephoto limit; 
(b) manually operated means, supported for movement to a plurality of 
positions corresponding to respective fields of view within the field 
range of the lens, for adjusting the lens to a selected field of view to 
take an exposure, and supported for movement to other positions 
corresponding to respective pseudo panoramic or pseudo telephoto fields of 
view outside the field range, when the lens is adjusted to the wide angle 
limit or the telephoto limit; and 
(c) code means, responsive to movement of the manually operated means to a 
position corresponding to a pseudo panoramic or pseudo telephoto field of 
view, for encoding an exposure taken with the lens at its wide angle or 
telephoto limit with indicia representative of the pseudo field of view, 
whereby the portion of the exposure covered by the pseudo field can be 
identified to obtain a pseudo panoramic or pseudo telephoto print. 
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the manually operated means 
includes cam means coupled to the objective lens and movable with the 
manually operated means to adjust the lens to respective fields of view 
within the field range of the lens. The cam means has an elongate camming 
section and respective dwell sections at opposite ends of the camming 
section. The dwell sections permit the lens to remain stationary at its 
wide angle limit and its telephoto limit as the manually operated means is 
moved with the cam means to the positions corresponding to the pseudo 
panoramic and pseudo telephoto fields of view (outside the field range of 
the lens). Thus movement of the manually operated means beyond the 
telephoto limit of the lens encodes an exposure with pseudo telephoto 
indicia, and movement of the manually operated means beyond the wide angle 
limit of the lens encodes the exposure with pseudo panoramic indicia.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
The invention is disclosed as being embodied in a single-lens-reflex (SLR) 
camera having a zoom lens. Because such a camera and lens are well known, 
this description is directed in particular to photogaphic elements forming 
part of or cooperating directly with the disclosed embodiment. It is to be 
understood, however, that other elements not specifically shown or 
descibed may take various forms known to persons of ordinary skill in the 
art. 
Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 1, there is shown 
a single-lens-reflex (SLR) camera 1 for use with conventional 35 mm. film. 
The camera 1 includes an objective lens 3 and known means, such as a 
pressure plate and a pair of rails, not shown, for supporting successive 
sections F of the film in the focal plane of the lens. Between the 
objective lens 3 and the film section F is a flip-up mirror 5 which is 
normally disposed at an angle of 45.degree., centered on the optical axis 
O of the lens, but can flip up about a pivot 7 to lie flat. When the 
mirror 5 is disposed at the 45.degree. angle it reflects the rays of light 
that come through the objective lens 3, onto a ground glass screen 9 in 
the viewfinder of the camera. A field lens 11 and a penta-roof prism 13 in 
the viewfinder direct the light rays through an eyelens 15 at the rear of 
the camera to enable a subject to be photographed to be viewed through the 
objective lens 5. The prism 13 has three reflecting surfaces which turn 
the image formed by the objective lens 3 on the ground glass screen 9 
upright as well as right-way-round. When the mirror 5 is flipped up to lie 
flat, it covers the underside of the ground glass screen 9, and the light 
rays from the objective lens 3 fall on the film section F. The position of 
the mirror 5 is so arranged that when an image of the subject to be 
photographed is focused on the ground glass screen 9 with the mirror at 
the 45.degree. angle, the same image falls into focus on the film section 
F when the mirror is flipped out of the way. 
Finger pressure against a shutter release, not shown, on the outside of the 
camera 1 flips the mirror 5 up. At first the light rays fall only on the 
blind of a focal plane shutter, not shown, but as the mirror 5 reaches the 
upper limit of its travel, it presses against a stop which releases the 
shutter blades to make the exposure. 
The objective lens 3 in the camera 1 is a zoom lens, that is, a lens of 
variable focal length which can be adjusted continuously by movement of 
separate groups of elements in the lens to change the focal length of the 
lens. This is done in order to vary the angular field of view (coverage) 
of the objective lens 3 between wide-angle and telephoto limits. 
Alternatively, a lens assembly may be provided having a plurality of 
interchangable elements for changing the focal length. As shown in FIGS. 
1, 3 and 4, the objective lens 3 includes a front four-element section 17 
which moves in a double action path along the optical axis O, first back 
(rearward) and then forward as the focal length of the lens is changed 
from a wide angle limit of, for example, 28 mm. to a telephoto limit of, 
for example, 80 mm. Conversely a rear six-element section 19 of the lens 3 
moves forward along the optical axis O in an almost smooth, linear path as 
the focal length of the lens is adjusted from 28 mm. to 80 mm. At the 
shortest focal length of the lens 3, i.e., the wide-angle limit 28 mm., 
the front and rear sections 17 and 19 of the lens are farthest apart and 
the angular field of view is 75.degree.. At the longest focal length of 
the lens 3, i.e., the telephoto limit 80 mm., the angular field of view is 
28.degree.. 
Manually operated means 16 for moving the front and rear sections 17 and 19 
of the objective lens 3 to adjust the lens to a selected focal length from 
28 mm. to 80 mm. is shown in FIGS. 3-5. As seen in FIG. 4, a cylindrical 
barrel 21 houses the front and rear sections 17 and 19 of the lens 3. The 
barrel 21 has an annular opening 23 which is bridged in light-trapping 
relation by an exterior zoom ring 25 and an interior cam ring 27. The zoom 
ring 25 has a knurled outer surface 29 and is secured at an inner surface 
31 to the cam ring 27. The respective rings 25 and 27 are supported on 
exterior and interior surfaces of the barrel 21 for rotation relative to 
the barrel, about the front and rear sections 17 and 19 of the lens 3. The 
front and rear sections 17 and 19 have respective cam followers 33 and 35 
which project into different-shaped cam slots 37 and 39 in the cam ring 
27, to adjust the lens 3 from its 28 mm. focal length to its 80 mm. focal 
length. The different shape of the cam slots 37 and 39, and respective 
settings of the cam ring 27 for adjusting the lens 3 to the 28 mm. focal 
length and the 80 mm. focal length, are depicted in FIG. 5. When, as 
viewed in FIGS. 3 and 5, the cam ring 27 is rotated in a clockwise 
direction C (by turning the zoom ring 25 in the same direction) from the 
28 mm. setting to the 80 mm. setting of the cam ring, the front section 17 
of the lens 3 first moves rearward and then moves forward because of a 
curved segment 41 of the cam slot 37. Simultaneously, the rear section 19 
of the lens 3 simply moves forward because of a straight, inclined segment 
43 of the cam slot 39. This movement of the front and rear sections 17 and 
19 adjusts the lens 3 to continuously change its focal length from 28 mm. 
to 80 mm. 
An arrow 45 is provided on the zoom ring 25 for alignment with respective 
indications of the 28 mm. and 80 mm. settings of the cam ring 27. As shown 
in FIG. 3, the indications are embossed on the outside of the cylindrical 
barrel 21. 
As is apparent from FIG. 5, the cam ring 27 can be rotated in the clockwise 
direction C beyond its 80 mm. setting (by similarly turning the zoom ring 
25) to a plurality of pseudo telephoto settings, 112 mm., 140 mm. and 200 
mm., without moving the lens 3 from its longest (telephoto) focal length 
80 mm. This is possible because of respective, non-inclined, identical 
dwell segments 47 in the two cam slots 37 and 39. Conversely, the cam ring 
27 can be rotated in a counter-clockwise direction beyond its 28 mm. 
setting (by similarly turning the zoom ring 25) to a pseudo panoramic 
setting, without moving the lens 3 from its shortest (wide-angle) focal 
length 28 mm. This is possible because of respective, non-inclined, 
identical dwell segments 49 in the two cam slots 37 and 39. Indications of 
the pseudo telephoto settings and the pseudo panoramic setting of the cam 
ring 27 are embossed on the outside of the barrel 21 beyond the 28 mm. and 
80 mm. indications on the barrel, for alignment with the arrow 45 on the 
zoom ring 25. 
A liquid crystal display (LCD) masking unit 51 is located in the viewfinder 
of the camera 1 between the ground glass screen 9 and the field lens 11, 
as shown in FIG. 1. The LCD masking unit 51 is a variation of a known type 
of unit, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,478,493, granted Oct. 23, 
1984, and is depicted in FIGS. 6B-6E in various masking configurations in 
the finder field 53 of the viewfinder. The respective configurations 
correspond to the pseudo panoramic and pseudo telephoto settings of the 
cam ring 27. As shown in FIG. 6E, the masking unit 51 comprises four sets 
of right-angle insulated strips 55 of transparent, electrically conductive 
material arranged in side-by-side relation in the respective corner zones 
of the finder field 53 and four sets of elongate insulated strips 57 of 
the same material arranged in side-by-side relation in the upper, lower, 
left and right marginal zones of the finder field. Preferably, each set of 
the right-angle strips 55 includes three strips, and each set of the 
elongate strips 57 includes six strips. When the right-angle strips 55 and 
the elongate strips 57 are selectively energized in accordance with the 
pseudo panoramic or pseudo telephoto settings of the cam ring 27, they are 
individually rendered opaque to partially mask the finder field 53 in 
various degrees, as shown in FIGS. 6B-6E. FIG. 6A illustrates the finder 
field 53 as it appears with the masking unit 51 deenergized, when the cam 
ring 27 is rotated from its 28 mm. setting to its 80 mm. setting or 
vice-versa. In this instance, none of the right-angle strips 55 or the 
elongate strips 57 are visible in the finder field 53. FIG. 6B illustrates 
the finder field 53 as it appears with the masking unit 51 minimally 
energized to provide a pseudo panoramic format, when the cam ring 27 is in 
its pseudo panoramic setting. In this instance, three of the elongate 
strips 57 in the upper and lower marginal zones and all of the right-angle 
strips 55 in the corner zones are visible in the finder field 53. FIG. 6C 
illustrates the finder field as it appears with the masking unit further 
energized to provide a pseudo telephoto format akin to a 112 mm. focal 
length, when the cam ring is in its 112 mm. pseudo telephoto setting. In 
this instance, four of the elongate strips in the upper, lower, left and 
right marginal zones and all of the right-angle strips in the corner zones 
are visible in the finder field. FIG. 6D illustrates the finder field as 
it appears with the masking unit even further energized to provide a 
pseudo telephoto format akin to a 140 mm. focal length, when the cam ring 
is in its 140 mm. pseudo telephoto setting. In this instance, five of the 
elongate strips in the marginal zones and all of the right-angle strips in 
the corner zones are visible in the finder field. FIG. 6E illustrates the 
finder field as it appears with the masking unit completely energized to 
provide a pseudo telephoto format akin to a 200 mm. focal length, when the 
cam ring is in its 200 mm. pseudo telephoto setting. 
In contrast to the electrically controlled LCD masking unit 51, a 
mechanically controlled masking unit may be provided in the viewfinder of 
the camera 1. An example of a mechanical unit is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 
3,212,422, granted Oct. 19, 1965. 
Four light emitting diodes (LED's) 59, 61, 63 and 65 are disposed in evenly 
spaced relation in the camera 1 for selective energization to spotexpose 
various code fiducials in binary form on the film section F adjacent the 
negative space N, as shown in FIG. 3. Selective energization of the LED's 
59, 61, 63 and 65 is controlled by the closing of respective switches SW1, 
SW2, SW3 and SW4. The closing of a switch SW1, SW2, SW3 or SW4 may be 
effected by a closure member, not shown, on the cam ring 27 as the cam 
ring is positioned in one of its pseudo panoramic and pseudo telephoto 
settings. The binary form of the resulting code fiducial on the film 
section F indicates the particular pseudo setting of the cam ring 27. When 
the cam ring 27 is in its pseudo panoramic setting, the LED 59 is 
energized so that the binary form of the code fiducial is 1000. When the 
cam ring is in its 112 mm., 140 mm. or 200 mm. pseudo telephoto settings, 
the LED's 61, 63 or 65 are energized so that the binary form of the code 
fiducial is 0100, 0010 or 0001, respectively. When the cam ring is rotated 
from its 28 mm. setting to its 80 mm. setting or vice-versa, none of the 
LED's are energized so that the binary form of the code fiducial is, in 
effect, 0000. 
Although not shown, it may be desirable for the LED 59 to be energized each 
time the cam ring 27 is in a pseudo panoramic or pseudo telephoto setting. 
In this instance, the LED 59 would provide a reference or pseudo-indicator 
fiducial, for use in the printing process, and the LED's 61, 63 and 65 
would provide the code fiducials. Thus, the various codings might be 1000, 
1100, 1110 and 1111, for example. 
Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown a chart for understanding how the 
camera 1 is used to make exposures from which pseudo panoramic and pseudo 
telephoto prints as well as actual wide-angle to actual telephoto prints 
can be obtained. For the most part, the chart is self-explanatory. For 
example, when the cam ring 27 is in its pseudo panoramic setting, the 
actual focal length of the lens 3 is the wide angle limit 28 mm. The 
finder field 53 is masked as indicated, and the code fiducial 1000 is 
exposed on the film section F. During the printing operation, sensing of 
the code fiducial 1000 causes the negative to be masked along its upper 
and lower marginal zones in conformity with the masking of the finder 
field. An enlargement is made of the narrowed, unmasked portion of the 
negative, i.e., 16.4.times.32.8 mm., to provide a pseudo panoramic 
31/2.times.7 ins. print. When the cam ring 27 is in its 200 mm. pseudo 
telephoto setting, the actual focal length of the lens 3 is the telephoto 
limit 80 mm. The finder field 53 is masked as indicated, and the code 
fiducial 0001 is exposed on the film section F. During the printing 
operation, sensing of the code fiducial 0001 causes the negative to be 
masked along its upper, lower, left and right marginal zones in conformity 
with the masking of the finder field. An enlargement is made of the 
central, unmasked portion of the negative, i.e., 9.2.times.13.1 mm., to 
provide a pseudo telephoto 31/2.times.5 ins. print. When the cam ring is 
rotated from its 28 mm. setting to its 80 mm. setting or vice-versa, the 
focal length of the lens is continuously changed between 28 mm. and 80 mm. 
The finder field is not masked and no code fiducial (0000) is exposed on 
the film section. 
FIG. 7 depicts known controller means 67, that is, a logic circuit, for 
operating the LCD masking unit 51 and selectively energizing the LED's 59, 
61, 63 or 65 in response to closing of the switches SW1, SW2, SW3 or SW4. 
An ASA (film speed) setting device 69 is connected to the controller 67 to 
limit the intensity of an energized LED in accordance with the film speed 
of the 35 mm. film loaded in the camera 1. A shutter switch 71 is 
connected to the controller 67 to delay energization of an LED, even 
though one of the switches SW1-SW4 is closed, until the focal plane 
shutter is opened to permit an exposure. When the focal plane shutter is 
opened, the shutter switch 71 is closed to energize an LED. Conversely, 
closing of the focal plane shutter causes the shutter switch 71 to 
re-open, thereby de-energizing the LED. 
While the invention has been described with reference to a preferred 
embodiment, it will be understood that various modifications may be 
effected within the ordinary skill in the art without departing from the 
scope of the invention.