Camera capable of print format selection

A camera capable of print format selection includes a connecting unit for responding to at least one of a unit for forming information for focus adjustment on the basis of one of distance measurement information of a plurality of portions in a scene and defocus information, and a unit for different print formats, thereby affecting an operation related to at least the other unit, or includes a connecting unit for responding to at least one of a unit for a predetermined distance range and a unit for different print formats, thereby affecting an operation related to at least the other unit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
 1. Field of the Invention
 The present invention relates to an improvement in a camera including a
 format selecting means for selecting a given one of full size
 photographing and photographing in a print format different from the full
 size.
 2. Related Background Art
 Recently, a camera capable of photographing in a print format (panorama
 size) different from a normal full size, such as panorama photographs, has
 been put into practical use. A photographer can perform selection between
 a normal full size and an arbitrary scene size in the same camera by
 selecting this size.
 On the other hand, there is provided a camera by which distances to a
 plurality of positions within an angle of view at which photographing is
 to be performed can be measured by a distance measuring device. In an
 active device of this sort, the direction of a projected beam corresponds
 to a distance measuring position. A plurality of light projection elements
 are fixed in different directions, and position detection elements (PSD)
 corresponding to the individual directions are arranged. This makes it
 possible to measure distances to a plurality of positions.
 If photographing in different print formats is possible in the camera
 capable of measuring distances to a plurality of positions, however, the
 same distance measuring point selection scheme as in full size
 photographing is also used in panorama size photographing. This results in
 the following problems.
 1) A distance measuring point for a photographing angle of view is set at a
 position where it is assumed on the basis of data of conventional full
 size photographing that a probability of the presence of a principal
 object to be photographed is high. In a practical situation, therefore, in
 panorama size photographing which is different in photographing
 magnification, the distance measuring point is not located at an
 appropriate position; the distance measuring point is located on a
 background or the like rather than the principal object to be
 photographed.
 2) An operating means for determining a driving direction and a driving
 amount of a focusing lens on the basis of data obtained by measuring
 distances to individual distance measuring points, i.e., an operating
 means for calculating a point which is to be focused performs the
 operations in accordance with an operation method suitable for full size
 photographing in which a probability that an object to be photographed is
 present at the center of a scene is high. In panorama size photographing,
 a probability that a principal object to be photographed is present at the
 center of a scene is lower than that in full size photographing.
 Therefore, a distance measuring point other than the one at the center
 corresponds to a principal object to be photographed. In this case, even
 if proper distance measurement data is output, arithmetic operations are
 executed by the method suitable for full size photographing. Consequently,
 there is a high possibility that the operation result is determined by
 data corresponding to distance measurement for a background which is
 positioned at the distance measuring point at the center.
 Of compact cameras incorporating a zoom lens, a camera in which a
 photographing optical system is changed for macro photographing on the
 most telephoto side is known. This camera can perform photographing
 corresponding to object distances within a predetermined range from the
 wide-angle side to the telephoto side in a normal zoom region. When a
 macro mode is set, the camera can photograph an object in a certain
 designated distance closer than the predetermined range.
 FIG. 17 is a side view showing an optical system in such a macro
 photographing state, and FIG. 16 is a side view showing an optical system
 in a normal photographing state. The macro photographing state is set when
 a photographic lens barrel 812 is extended forward farther than in the
 normal photographing state. Referring to FIGS. 16 and 17, the camera
 consists of viewfinder objective lenses 808 and 809, a photographing scene
 changing mechanism 804, a viewfinder field frame 804a, and a viewfinder
 eyepiece 811.
 In a camera in which a photographing optical axis and a viewfinder optical
 axis are arranged apart from each other, as in the compact camera
 incorporating a zoom lens as shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, a shift is present
 between a photographing field 813 and a viewfinder field 807. A shift
 amount is of no problem when an object to be photographed is in a middle
 or long distance. If, however, an object is at close range as in the macro
 mode, a scene viewed through a viewfinder is not photographed. Therefore,
 as shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, short distance correction marks 802a, 802b,
 and 802c are drawn in the viewfinder field 807, thereby designating the
 photographing field 813 at the closest focusing distance.
 In the camera capable of photographing in different print formats described
 above, however, the field of the viewfinder is covered with the viewfinder
 field frame 804a in the panorama mode as shown in FIG. 19, forming a wide
 field of view corresponding to the range of panorama photographing. In
 this case, a photographing field in the macro mode (at the closest
 focusing distance) is as indicated by 814. Although the shift amount from
 the viewfinder field frame 804a remains unchanged, the ratio of a vertical
 shift increases because the photographing field is narrowed in the
 vertical direction. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 19, more than one-half of
 a scene viewed through the viewfinder is not photographed. That is, there
 is a large shift amount between a photographing scene that a photographer
 intends, i.e., a viewfinder field, and an actual photographing field.
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
 The present invention has been made in consideration of the above situation
 and has as its object to provide a camera capable of print format
 selection, which can solve various problems posed when a camera is so
 designed as to be able to perform photographing in different print
 formats, such as a problem taking place in performing distance measurement
 for a plurality of positions in a scene, and a problem of a viewfinder
 parallax in a macro mode.
 To achieve the above object, one aspect of the present invention provides a
 camera capable of print format selection comprising connecting means for
 responding to at least one of means for forming information for focus
 adjustment on the basis of one of distance measurement information of a
 plurality of portions in a scene and defocus information, and means for
 different print formats, thereby affecting an operation related to at
 least the other means.
 Another aspect of the present invention provides a camera capable of print
 format selection comprising connecting means for responding to at least
 one of means for a predetermined distance range as in macrophotographing
 and means for different print formats, thereby affecting an operation
 related to at least the other means.
 Other aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the
 following detailed description of the preferred embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
 The embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below
 with reference to the accompanying drawings.
 FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic arrangement of a camera
 including an active distance measuring device according to the first
 embodiment of the present invention.
 Referring to FIG. 1, a microprocessor 1 performs sequence control of the
 camera. A format selection circuit 2 selects a print format (a full size
 or a panorama size). A vertical/lateral posture detection circuit 3
 detects the vertical posture or the lateral posture of a scene during
 photographing. A focal length detection circuit 4 detects the focal length
 of a photographic lens. A light projection element select driving circuit
 5 selects light projection elements and drives them. Light projection
 elements 14 to 18 are so fixed to a camera main body as to project light
 components at respective predetermined angles with respect to the optical
 axis of the photographic lens.
 A position detection element block 6 detects light components projected by
 the light projection elements 14 to 18 and reflected by an object to be
 photographed. A distance detection circuit 7 detects distance data of each
 light projection position on the basis of an output from the position
 detection element block 6. A focusing lens driving circuit 8 drives a
 focusing lens (not shown) for focusing. A zoom lens driving circuit 9
 drives a zoom lens (not shown) for changing the focal length of the
 photographic lens. A switch (SW1) 10 is turned on by the first stroke of a
 shutter button, and a switch (SW2) 11 is turned on by the second stroke of
 the shutter button. A switch (TELE-SW) 12 is for driving the photographic
 lens toward a long-focal-length side, and a switch (WIDE-SW) 13 is for
 driving the photographic lens toward a short-focal-length side.
 FIG. 2 illustrates the relationship between the photographing scene and the
 positions of distance measuring points according to the first embodiment
 of the present invention.
 Referring to FIG. 2, a field 21 indicates a photographing field
 (photographing scene) in the shortest focal length of the photographic
 lens of the camera in full size photographing. Fields 22 and 23 are
 photographing fields obtained when the photographic lens is driven toward
 the long-focal-length side. A field 24 is a photographing field in the
 longest focal length of the photographic lens in full size photographing.
 Points 31 to 35 represent the positions of projected beams, i.e., the
 distance measuring points.
 Generally, the angles of projected beams are fixed because a number of
 demerits take place in cost and operational precision if the angles are
 variable in correspondence with the focal length of a photographic lens.
 When the focal length of a photographic lens is changed, therefore, the
 position of distance measuring point in a photographing field changes
 relative to the change in focal length. This phenomenon is represented by
 the shifts of the positions of the distance measuring points in the
 photographing fields 21 to 24. It is understood from this movement that
 the distance measuring points 31 and 35 fall outside the photographing
 field 24.
 In this embodiment, the number of distance measuring points, i.e., the
 number of light projection elements is five. In many instances, however,
 beams are projected onto three points by taking into account a time
 required for projection, effectiveness, complexity in arithmetic
 operations to be performed later, and the like.
 In this embodiment, in full size photographing, the distance measuring
 points 31, 33, and 35 are selected when the focal length of the
 photographic lens corresponds to the photographing field 21 or 22, and the
 distance measuring points 32, 33, and 34 are selected when the focal
 length of the photographic lens corresponds to the photographing field 23
 or 24, in order to arrange the distance measuring points at equal
 intervals as much as possible in a central portion of each photographing
 field.
 In FIG. 2, .box-solid. indicates a selected distance measuring point, and
 .quadrature. indicates a non-selected distance measuring point.
 In panorama size photographing, in contrast, control is performed such that
 distances to points farther from the center than in full size
 photographing can be measured, since a probability that a principal object
 to be photographed is present at a position other than the central portion
 of a scene is higher than that in full size photographing.
 That is, as illustrated on the right side of FIG. 2, the distance measuring
 points 31, 33, and 35 are chosen when the focal length of the photographic
 lens corresponds to one of photographing fields 41 to 43, and the distance
 measuring points 32, 33, and 34 are chosen only when the focal length
 corresponds to a photographing field 44.
 Operations of the camera with the above arrangement will be described
 below.
 A print format is selected by the format selection circuit 2, and the focal
 length of the photographic lens is set by using, e.g., the switches
 TELE-SW and WIDE-SW, thereby performing a ready operation of
 photographing. Thereafter, when the shutter button (not shown) is
 depressed to its first stroke, the switch SW1 is turned on.
 The microprocessor 1 reads the result selected by the format selection
 circuit 2 and also reads the focal length of the photographic lens from
 the focal length detection circuit 4. If the microprocessor 1 determines
 that a detection result from the vertical/lateral posture detection
 circuit 3 indicates a lateral posture, the microprocessor 1 drives, on the
 basis of the print format and focal length data already read, the light
 projection element select driving circuit 5 to selectively cause the light
 projection elements 14 to 18 to project light such that either the
 combination of 31, 33, and 35 or the combination of 32, 33, and 34 is
 obtained as light projection positions, as shown in FIG. 2.
 The beams projected by the selected individual light projection elements
 are reflected by an object to be photographed and incident on the position
 detection element block 6. On the basis of data obtained by the position
 detection element block 6, the distance detection circuit 7 calculates
 distance measurement data of each distance measuring point and transfers
 the data to the microprocessor 1. The microprocessor 1 carries out
 operations on the basis of the data corresponding to each distance
 measuring point, determining an amount and a direction in which the
 focusing lens is actually driven.
 When the shutter button is further depressed to turn on the switch SW2, the
 microprocessor 1 drives the focusing lens driving circuit 8 in accordance
 with the above operation result and performs exposure to the film surface
 by using an exposing means (not shown). Subsequently, the microprocessor 1
 feeds the film to take up the exposed frame by using a film feeding means
 (not shown) and waits until the shutter button is released. When the
 shutter button is released, the microprocessor 1 again waits until the
 switch SW1 is turned on.
 If, for example, the result selected by the format selection circuit 2
 indicates a panorama size and the detection result from the
 vertical/lateral posture detection circuit 3 indicates a vertical posture,
 a light projection element for a distance measuring point located in the
 lower portion of a photographing scene is not chosen.
 This is so because, in performing vertical posture photographing in a
 panorama mode, a distance measuring point in the lower portion of a
 photographing scene measures a short distance, such as a distance to the
 ground, in many cases. It is predicted that, if normal data processing is
 executed in this case, an object closer to the closest focusing distance
 side than to a principal object to be photographed is focused under the
 influence of distance measurement data from this distance measuring point.
 This state of photographing will be described with reference to FIG. 3.
 Referring to FIG. 3, a field 51 shows a photographing field in the shortest
 focal length of the photographic lens of the camera. Fields 52 and 53
 indicate photographing fields obtained when the photographic lens is moved
 toward the long-focal-length side. Points 31 to 35 are distance measuring
 points as in the case of a lateral posture.
 When the photographing field 51 is set, it is determined that no adverse
 effect is present in this vertical posture because the distance measuring
 points are located near the center. Therefore, as in the case of the
 lateral posture, the distance measuring points 31, 33, and 35 are
 selected.
 When the focal length is increased to set the photographing field 52, in
 which field the distance measuring points 31, 33, and 35 are chosen in the
 lateral posture, the distance measuring point 31 is located in a rather
 lower portion of the scene in this vertical posture. Since this increases
 a possibility that a distance to an object which a photographer does not
 expect is measured, the distance measuring point 32 rather than the
 distance measuring point 31 is chosen.
 When the focal length is further increased to set the photographing field
 53, the distance measuring point 31 falls outside the photographing field,
 and so the distance measuring point 32 is selected. In this case, it is
 determined that it is safe to select the distance measuring point 32
 because the distance measuring point 32 is close to the center of the
 photographing field. The influence of this selection depends upon
 particularly the focal length of the photographic lens and the arrangement
 of the distance measuring points in the photographing scene. It is
 therefore most effective to determine whether a given distance measuring
 point is to be selected in accordance with both the data of the focal
 length of the photographic lens and the vertical posture detection result.
 Steps 301 to 317 of a flow chart shown in FIG. 4 explain a series of
 operations of the camera described above.
 FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a schematic arrangement of a camera
 including an active distance measuring device according to the second
 embodiment of the present invention, which illustrates a circuit for
 carrying out the second embodiment of the present invention.
 Referring to FIG. 5, a microprocessor 101 performs sequence control of the
 camera. A format selection circuit 102 selects a print format (a full size
 or a panorama size). A vertical/lateral posture detection circuit 103
 detects the vertical posture or the lateral posture of a scene during
 photographing. A focal length detection circuit 104 detects the focal
 length of a photographic lens. A light projection element select driving
 circuit 105 drives light projection elements. Light projection elements
 114 to 116 are fixed to a camera main body so as to project light
 components at respective predetermined angles with respect to the optical
 axis of the photographic lens.
 A position detection element block 106 detects light components projected
 by the light projection elements 114 to 116 and reflected by an object to
 be photographed. A distance detection circuit 107 detects distance data of
 each light projection position on the basis of an output from the position
 detection element block 106. A focusing lens driving circuit 108 drives a
 focusing lens (not shown) for focusing. A zoom lens driving circuit 109
 drives a zoom lens (not shown) for changing the focal length of the
 photographic lens. A switch (SW1) 110 is turned on by the first stroke of
 a shutter button, and a switch (SW2) 111 is turned on by the second stroke
 of the shutter button. A switch (TELE-SW) 112 is for driving the
 photographic lens toward a long-focal-length side, and a switch (WIDE-SW)
 113 is for driving the photographic lens toward a short-focal-length side.
 FIG. 6 illustrates the relationship between the photographing scene and the
 positions of distance measuring points according to the second embodiment
 of the present invention.
 Referring to FIG. 6, a field 71 indicates a photographing field
 (photographing scene) in the shortest focal length of the photographic
 lens of the camera in full size photographing. Fields 72 and 73 are
 photographing fields obtained when the photographic lens is driven toward
 the long-focal-length side. A field 74 is a photographing field in the
 longest focal length of the photographic lens in full size photographing.
 Points 61 to 63 represent the positions of projected beams, i.e., the
 distance measuring points.
 When the focal length of a photographic lens is changed, the position of
 distance measuring point in a photographing field changes relative to the
 change in focal length. This phenomenon is represented by the shifts of
 the positions of the distance measuring points in the photographing fields
 71 to 74.
 In this embodiment, it is assumed that the number of distance measuring
 points is three in photographing of either size.
 In FIG. 6, OOO represent weighting amounts for the individual distance
 measuring points when an amount and a direction in which the focusing lens
 is actually driven are calculated from data obtained at these points. OOO
 indicate that the data of the distance measuring points are processed
 evenly.
 For example, when data indicating the shortest distance is to be selected
 from the data of the individual distance measuring points, the data
 obtained at these points are simply compared with one another. This is
 based on the assumption that these distance measuring points measure the
 distance to the same object to be photographed because the points are
 located close to the center of the photographing scene.
 If the focal length is increased, on the other hand, the right and left
 distance measuring points move closer to the peripheries of the
 photographing scene. Therefore, weighting for these distance measuring
 points in the data operation is decreased compared to that for the central
 distance measuring point on the basis of the assumption that these points
 do not measure the distance to a principal object to be photographed
 except in some specific conditions. This is expressed by
 O.circleincircle.O.
 In performing panorama size photographing, in contrast, a probability that
 a principal object to be photographed is present in a portion other than
 the central portion of a scene is increased. Therefore, weighting for
 distance measurement data of points apart from the center of the scene is
 increased to be larger than that in full size photographing.
 In this embodiment, therefore, as illustrated on the right side of FIG. 6,
 weighting amounts for the data of the distance measuring points 61, 62,
 and 63 are given evenly throughout photographing fields 81 to 84
 corresponding to the individual focal lengths of the photographic lens.
 Operations of the camera with the above arrangement will be described
 below.
 A print format is selected by the format selection circuits 102, and the
 focal length of the photographic lens is set by using, e.g., the switches
 TELE-SW and WIDE-SW, thereby performing a ready operation of
 photographing. Thereafter, when the shutter button (not shown) is
 depressed to its first stroke, the switch SW1 is turned on.
 The microprocessor 101 reads the result selected by the format selection
 circuit 102, the focal length of the photographic lens from the focal
 length detection circuit 104, and a detection result from the
 vertical/lateral posture detection circuit 103. Subsequently, the
 microprocessor 1 drives the light projection element select driving
 circuit 105 to cause the light projection elements 114 to 116 to project
 light.
 The beams projected by the individual light projection elements 114 to 116
 are reflected by an object to be photographed and incident on the position
 detection element block 106. On the basis of data obtained by the position
 detection element block 106, the distance detection circuit 107 calculates
 distance measurement data at each distance measuring point and transfers
 the data to the microprocessor 101. The microprocessor 101 carries out
 operations on the basis of the data corresponding to each distance
 measuring point. In this case, the microprocessor 101 alters the operation
 method in accordance with FIG. 6 on the basis of the print format, the
 focal length of the photographic lens, and the information about the
 vertical or lateral posture already read. In this manner, an amount and a
 direction in which the focusing lens is actually driven are determined by
 the operation result obtained appropriately in accordance with the
 condition.
 When the shutter button is further depressed to turn on the switch SW2, the
 microprocessor 101 drives the focusing lens driving circuit 108 in
 accordance with the above operation result and performs exposure to the
 film surface by using an exposing means (not shown). Subsequently, the
 microprocessor 101 feeds the film to take up the exposed frame by using a
 film feeding means (not shown) and waits until the shutter button is
 released. When the shutter button is released, the microprocessor 1 waits
 again until the switch SW1 is turned on.
 If, for example, the result selected by the format selection circuit 102
 indicates a panorama size and the detection result from the
 vertical/lateral posture detection circuit 3 indicates a vertical posture,
 different weighting from that in a lateral posture can be performed for
 the same reason as in the first embodiment.
 This state of photographing will be described with reference to FIG. 7.
 Referring to FIG. 7, a field 91 indicates a photographing field in the
 shortest focal length of the photographic lens of the camera. Fields 92
 and 93 indicate photographing fields obtained when the photographic lens
 is moved toward the long-focal-length side. Points 61 to 63 are distance
 measuring points like in the case of a lateral posture.
 When the photographing field 91 or 92 is set, it is determined that no
 adverse effect is present in this vertical posture because the distance
 measuring points are located near the center. Therefore, as in the case of
 the lateral posture and the short focal length, data of the distance
 measuring points 61 to 63 are operated uniformly.
 When the focal length is further increased to set the photographing field
 93, in which field weighing amounts for the data of the distance measuring
 points 61, 62, and 63 are the same in the lateral posture, the distance
 measuring point 61 is located in a rather lower portion of the scene in
 this vertical posture. Since this increases a possibility that a distance
 to an object which a photographer does not expect is measured, the
 weighting amount for the data of the distance measuring point 61 is
 further decreased (indicated by .DELTA.).
 Steps 401 to 417 of a flow chart shown in FIG. 8 explain a series of
 operations of the camera described above.
 FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a schematic arrangement of a camera
 including an external measurement type passive distance measuring device
 according to the third embodiment of the present invention.
 Referring to FIG. 9, a microprocessor 201 performs sequence control of the
 camera. A format selection circuit 202 selects a print format (a full size
 or a panorama size). A vertical/lateral posture detection circuit 203
 detects the vertical posture or the lateral posture of a scene during
 photographing. A focal length detection circuit 204 detects the focal
 length of a photographic lens. A sensor array 205 consists of a plurality
 of picture elements such as CCDs. A window selection circuit 206 selects a
 picture element range (to be referred to as a window hereinafter) so as to
 obtain an output from the sensor array 205. A distance detection circuit
 207 detects distance data of each distance measuring point on the basis of
 the output from the sensor array 205 which is selected by the window
 selection circuit 206. A focusing lens driving circuit 208 drives a
 focusing lens (not shown) for focusing. A zoom lens driving circuit 209
 drives a zoom lens (not shown) for changing the focal length of the
 photographic lens. A switch (SW1) 210 is turned on by the first stroke of
 a shutter button, and a switch (SW2) 211 is turned on by the second stroke
 of the shutter button. A switch (TELE-SW) 212 is for driving the
 photographic lens toward a long-focal-length side, and a switch (WIDE-SW)
 213 is for driving the photographic lens toward a short-focal-length side.
 FIG. 10 illustrates the relationship between the photographing scene (in a
 lateral posture) and the positions of distance measuring points according
 to the third embodiment of the present invention, in which a field 131
 represents a photographing field in full size photographing.
 When the focal length of the photographic lens is changed, the window
 selection circuit 206 switches the windows of the sensor array 205. This
 makes it possible to consistently set the distance measuring points at the
 same positions in a photographing scene regardless of the change in focal
 length of the photographic lens. This is the most significant difference
 of this passive distance measuring device from the active distance
 measuring device.
 Points 121, 122, and 123 illustrated in the photographing field 131
 indicate distance measuring points determined by a window which is
 selected in a given focal length in full size photographing.
 In performing panorama size photographing, in contrast, a probability that
 a principal object to be photographed is present in a portion other than
 the central portion of a scene is increased. Therefore, control is so
 performed as to be able to measure points farther from the center than in
 full size photographing.
 In this embodiment, therefore, as illustrated in a photographing field 131
 on the right side of FIG. 10, the window selection circuit 206 moves the
 distance measuring points 121, 122, and 123 toward the peripheries of the
 photographing scene.
 In addition, when photographing in a vertical posture is to be performed in
 a panorama size, a distance measuring point in the lower portion of the
 photographing scene measures a short distance, such as a distance to the
 ground, in many cases.
 This state of photographing will be described with reference to FIG. 11.
 Referring to FIG. 11, a field 133 indicates a photographing field in
 vertical posture photographing in a full size, and a field 134 indicates a
 photographing field in vertical posture photographing in a panorama size.
 In panorama size photographing, distance measuring points are preferably
 arranged close to the peripheries of a scene. In photographing in vertical
 posture, however, a distance measuring point located in the lower portion
 of a scene measures a short distance, such as a distance to the ground, in
 many instances as mentioned above. It is predicted that, if normal data
 processing is executed in this case, an object closer to the closest
 focusing distance side than to a principal object to be photographed is
 focused under the influence of distance measuring data of that distance
 measuring point.
 In performing vertical posture photographing in a panorama size, therefore,
 a distance measuring point located in the lower portion of a photographing
 scene is shifted toward the center of the photographing scene. That is,
 although the distance measuring point 121 is originally positioned at a
 location indicated by .quadrature. in panorama photographing, it is
 shifted to a position indicated by .box-solid. in the direction (upward in
 FIG. 11) of the central portion of the photographing scene.
 Operations of the camera with the above arrangement will be described
 below.
 A print format is selected by the format selection circuits 202, and the
 focal length of the photographic lens is set by using, e.g., the switches
 TELE-SW and WIDE-SW, thereby performing a ready operation of
 photographing. Thereafter, when the shutter button (not shown) is
 depressed to its first stroke, the switch SW1 is turned on.
 The microprocessor 201 reads the result selected by the format selection
 circuit 202, the focal length of the photographic lens from the focal
 length detection circuit 204, and a detection result from the
 vertical/lateral posture detection circuit 203.
 If the print format selected by the format selection circuit 202 is a full
 size, the window selection circuit 206 is driven such that the distance
 measuring points in the photographing field are arranged as indicated by
 the points 121, 122, and 123 shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, regardless of
 whether the result detected by the vertical/lateral posture detection
 circuit 203 indicates a vertical or lateral posture, and the corresponding
 data of the sensor array 205 is applied to the distance detection circuit
 207. On the basis of the data obtained from the sensor array 205, the
 distance detection circuit 207 calculates distance measuring data at each
 distance measuring point and transfers the data to the microprocessor 201.
 The microprocessor 201 carries out operations on the basis of the data
 corresponding to each distance measuring point, determining an amount and
 a direction in which the focusing lens is actually driven.
 When the shutter button is further depressed to turn on the switch SW2, the
 microprocessor 201 drives the focusing lens driving circuit 208 in
 accordance with the above operation result and performs exposure to the
 film surface by using an exposing means (not shown). Subsequently, the
 microprocessor 101 feeds the film to take up the exposed frame by using a
 film feeding means (not shown) and waits until the shutter button is
 released. When the shutter button is released, the microprocessor 1 waits
 again until the switch SW1 is turned on.
 If the result detected by the vertical/lateral posture detection circuit
 203 indicates the lateral posture and the print format selected by the
 format selection circuit 202 is a panorama size, the window selection
 circuit 206 is so driven as to arrange the distance measuring points in
 the photographing field 132 as indicated by the points 121, 122, and 123
 as illustrated on the right side of FIG. 10.
 If the result detected by the vertical/lateral posture detection circuit
 203 indicates the vertical posture and the print format selected by the
 format selection circuit 202 is the panorama size, the window selection
 circuit 206 is driven such that a distance measuring point located in the
 lower portion of the photographing scene is shifted toward the center of
 the scene (see the right side of FIG. 11).
 Steps 501 to 517 of a flow chart shown in FIG. 12 explain a series of
 operations of the camera described above.
 In this external measurement type passive distance measuring device
 according to the third embodiment, like in the second embodiment mentioned
 earlier, it is effective in decreasing the possibility of erroneous
 distance measurement to change the operation method (change the weighting)
 suitable for the characteristics of a format in accordance with the result
 selected by the format selection circuit 202.
 According to the above embodiments, in the active distance measuring
 device, the light projection element select driving circuit 5 selectively
 drives proper light projection elements in accordance with the result
 selected by the format selection circuit 2, and, in the passive distance
 measuring device, the window selection circuit 206 selects an appropriate
 window in accordance with the result selected by the format selection
 circuit 202. This makes it possible to measure the distance to a position
 suitable for the print format selected, i.e., measure the distance to a
 position at which a probability of the presence of a principal object to
 be photographed is high in accordance with the print format selected. This
 effectively reduces a possibility of occurrence of a phenomenon in which a
 background rather than a principal object to be photographed is focused,
 i.e., a phenomenon so-called out of focus which often takes place in
 conventional devices.
 In addition, the operation circuit performs weighting for distance
 measuring data suitable for the characteristics of a format in accordance
 with the result selected by the format selection circuit 102. This reduces
 the influence of distance measuring data of points except for a point of a
 principal object to be photographed, thereby effectively decreasing the
 possibility of erroneous distance measurement.
 Furthermore, the influence of erroneous distance measurement can be further
 reduced by taking into account the influence inherent in photographing in
 a vertical posture.
 This makes it possible to consistently measure the distance to an
 appropriate position in a photographing scene regardless of the selected
 print format, or to consistently calculate an optimal photographic lens
 driving amount by which a principal object to be photographed is focused
 regardless of the selected print format.
 The present invention is also applicable to a device for obtaining defocus
 information for a plurality of portions in a scene in accordance with a
 TTL scheme.
 In each of the above embodiments, the manner of distance measurement
 (including defocus detection; the same shall apply in the following
 description) or focus adjustment is changed in accordance with the print
 format. However, the print format can be changed in accordance with the
 manner of distance measurement or focus adjustment.
 Also, warning can be performed without changing the manner of distance
 measurement or focus adjustment or the print format.
 A camera according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention will
 be described below with reference to FIG. 13.
 Referring to FIG. 13, this fourth embodiment includes a photographic lens
 601, a lens position encoder 602, a lens driving motor 603, a motor driver
 circuit 604, a CPU (a microcomputer; to be abbreviated as a CPU
 hereinafter) 605 for controlling an operation sequence of the camera (not
 shown), a switch (to be abbreviated as an SW hereinafter) 611 interlocked
 with a standard/panorama select SW, an SW 612 interlocked with a macro
 photographing operation SW, AND gates 614 and 615, an XOR gate 616, a
 warning circuit 617, and a warning LED 618.
 When a macro mode is not set, the SW 612 is open to apply an H-level signal
 to the inverting input terminal of the AND gate 615. When a panorama mode
 is not set, the SW 611 is open to apply an H-level signal to the inverting
 input terminal of the AND gate 614. Consequently, both outputs from the
 AND gates 614 and 615 are at level L. In this condition, the CPU performs
 a normal photographing operation in accordance with operations of a
 photographing button (not shown).
 When the macro mode alone is set, the SW 612 is closed to apply an L-level
 signal to one input terminal of the XOR gate 616. Therefore, an output
 from the XOR gate 616 goes to level H, and so an H-level signal is output
 from the AND gate 615 to the CPU 605.
 Upon detecting this H-level signal, the CPU outputs a control signal to the
 motor driver circuit 604 to drive the photographic lens 601 to a
 predetermined telephoto-side macro photographing position while monitoring
 a signal from the lens position encoder 602. If the macro mode is
 canceled, the SW 612 is opened to cause the AND gate 615 to output an
 L-level signal. Upon detecting this L-level signal, the CPU 605 outputs a
 control signal to the motor driver circuit 604 to drive the photographic
 lens 601 back to a predetermined standard photographing position while
 monitoring the signal from the lens position encoder 602.
 When the panorama mode alone is set, on the other hand, the SW 611 is
 closed to apply an L-level signal to one input terminal of the XOR gate
 616. Therefore, the output from the XOR gate 616 goes to level H, and so
 the AND gate 614 outputs an H-level signal to the CPU 605. If the macro
 mode is set in this state and consequently the SW 612 is closed, both the
 inputs to the XOR gate 616 go to level L, and this changes the output from
 the XOR gate 616 to level L. Therefore, both the outputs from the AND
 gates 614 and 615 go to level L, so the CPU 605 does not perform lens
 driving because it cannot detect setting of the macro mode. If the
 panorama mode is set after the macro mode is set, the output from the AND
 gate 615 changes from level H to level L. Consequently, as in the case in
 which the macro mode is canceled, the CPU 605 returns the photographic
 lens 601 to the predetermined standard photographing position. In this
 case, if both the SWs 611 and 612 are closed to set the output from the
 XOR gate 616 to level L, all inputs to the warning circuit 617 go to level
 L. The warning circuit 617 therefore drives the warning LED 618 to inform
 a photographer of the inadequate setting.
 With the above arrangement, the panorama mode or the macro mode is not
 transmitted to the CPU 605 unless one of these modes is canceled. This
 makes it possible to prevent occurrence of a problem that a field viewed
 through a viewfinder is not photographed.
 FIGS. 14 and 15 illustrate the fifth embodiment of the present invention.
 The camera of the above embodiment is constituted by a simple logic
 circuit. As in this fifth embodiment shown in FIG. 14, however, it is also
 possible to omit this logic circuit and obtain a similar effect by using
 programs of a CPU. In FIG. 14, the same reference numerals as in FIG. 13
 denote the same parts, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.
 FIG. 15 shows a flow chart of a control operation performed by a camera of
 this embodiment.
 Referring to FIGS. 14 and 15, a CPU 605 reads the state of an operation SW
 in step 701 and checks in step 702 whether the state of the operation SW
 is changed by comparing this state with that of the operation SW which is
 stored beforehand in a RAM or the like. If the state of the operation SW
 is changed, the flow advances to step 703, and the CPU 605 performs an XOR
 operation for the state of an operation SW for a panorama mode and the
 state of an operation SW for a macro mode. Subsequently, in step 711, the
 CPU 605 checks whether the result of this XOR operation is 1.
 If the result of the XOR operation is not 1, the CPU 605 executes an
 initial process of warning display in step 712. Thereafter, the flow
 advances to step 704, and the CPU 605 checks whether a photographing
 button is pushed. If the photographing button is not pushed, the flow
 returns to step 701. If the photographing button is pushed, the flow
 advances to step 705, and the CPU 605 checks whether the macro mode is
 set. If the macro mode is not set, the CPU 605 executes a normal
 photographing operation in step 706, and the flow returns to the loop of
 repeating steps 701 and 702. If the macro mode is set, the flow advances
 to step 709, and the CPU 605 performs a ready operation of the macro mode,
 such as driving of a photographing optical system. The flow then advances
 to step 710 to execute the macro photographing operation.
 If the CPU 605 detects in step 711 that the result of the XOR operation is
 1, the flow advances to step 707, and the CPU 605 checks whether the
 panorama mode is set. If the panorama mode is not set, the CPU 605
 executes the initial process of warning display in step 712. Thereafter,
 the flow advances to step 704 to perform the normal photographing
 operation as described above. If the panorama mode is set, the CPU 605
 performs a warning display process in step 713, warning that both the
 panorama and macro modes are set. The flow then advances to step 708, and
 the CPU 605 executes a release operation of the macro mode. This release
 operation may be either initialization of, e.g., a RAM, or actual driving
 of, e.g., the photographic lens. Thereafter, the loop of steps 701 and 702
 is repeatedly executed. As a consequence, photographing is inhibited while
 the panorama and macro modes are simultaneously set.
 With the above operation, it is possible to prevent occurrence of a problem
 that a field viewed through a viewfinder is not photographed.
 In addition to the above embodiment, it is also possible to modify the
 arrangement such that the panorama mode SW and the macro mode SW can be
 operated in only a mechanical XOR manner.
 According to the embodiments shown in FIGS. 13 to 15 as described above,
 there can be provided a camera including a means for detecting setting of
 a panorama mode, a means for detecting setting of a macro mode, and an XOR
 means for XORing output signals from these detecting means, wherein a
 photographing mode is determined in accordance with an output from the XOR
 means, thereby preventing taking of a photograph that is largely different
 from the photographic purpose of a photographer.
 In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 13 to 15, the panorama mode is set by
 manually moving a light-shielding frame to shield a photographing aperture
 and a viewfinder. Therefore, in setting or releasing the panorama mode,
 the light-shielding frame is not operated automatically, unlike driving of
 the photographic lens in the macro mode. It is, however, also possible
 move the light-shielding frame by using a motor or the like in response to
 setting or release of the panorama mode, like in the case of the macro
 mode.
 In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 13 to 15, photographing itself is
 inhibited if the panorama and macro modes are set simultaneously. However,
 it is also possible to perform only warning without inhibiting
 photographing. Alternatively, either the panorama or macro mode also can
 be selected preferentially if the two modes are set simultaneously.
 In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 13 to 15, the present invention is
 similarly applicable to a photographing operation within a predetermined
 distance range or another operation not limited to photographing as well
 as the macro mode.
 In all of the above embodiments, print formats are not limited to a full
 size and a panorama size but may be some other sizes.
 In addition, a print format can also be simply designated to a laboratory.
 Furthermore, in each of the above embodiments, the device capable of
 measuring or operating the distances to a plurality of positions in a
 scene, the device for macro photographing, the device for selecting a
 print format, and the like are incorporated in a camera. However, it is
 also possible to externally attach these devices as adapters. In this
 case, a means for obtaining connections between the camera and the
 adapters like in the above embodiments is provided in either the camera or
 the adapters.
 Also, the above embodiments can be combined as needed.
 The individual components shown in schematic or block form in the drawings
 are all well-known in the camera arts and their specific construction and
 operation are not critical to the operation or best mode for carrying out
 the invention.
 While the present invention has been described with respect to what is
 presently considered to be the preferred embodiments, it is to be
 understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments.
 To the contrary, the invention is intended to cover various modifications
 and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the
 appended claims. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the
 broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and
 equivalent structures and functions.