JPH0528555B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to a video camera (including a video tape recorder type video camera) equipped with a viewfinder.

Prior Art Most shoulder-mountable video cameras that have been commercially available have an electronic viewfinder using a video tube or a part of the incident light from the photographic lens to determine what is being captured. An optical viewfinder is used that uses optical guidance to project an image.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, such a video camera is normally used by a user 1 who places the video camera body 2 on his right shoulder and places his right eye on the eyepiece cap of the viewfinder 3 to take a picture. It is common to do so.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, with the conventional video camera as described above, one eye (right eye) is simultaneously viewing the captured image projected on the viewfinder, and the other eye (left eye) is viewing the subject or surroundings. It is practically difficult to see objects, and therefore the eye that is not looking at the viewfinder is often intentionally closed when using the viewfinder, which may cause you to trip or hit objects when shooting.
There was a risk of injury or, in some cases, the video camera might fall and be damaged. In addition, if you use the Viewfinder with your eyes in contact with the eyepiece, there is a possibility that if something happens, such as someone pushing you, your eyes may be injured by the Viewfinder's eyepiece. It will be done.

In addition, most video cameras that can be placed on the shoulder are of the type that can be placed on the right shoulder and the viewfinder can be viewed with the right eye, so people with right eye impairments Moreover, placing a heavy video camera on the right shoulder, which is used to start/stop recording and zoom, can put even more strain on the right arm and right shoulder, increasing fatigue. There were also problems, such as the movements of the right arm and right shoulder being transmitted directly to the video camera, making the video easily blurry.

In view of the above problems, the present invention allows anyone to view the viewfinder image with both eyes even if the user places the video camera body on his or her shoulder, and allows the video camera to be placed on either the right or left shoulder. The aim is to provide a video camera that can be used no matter where the camera is placed.

Means for Solving the Problems The video camera of the present invention for solving the problems described above includes a connecting body equipped with an electronic viewfinder on the lower surface of the front part of the video camera body. The connecting body is horizontally rotatable so as to be movable between a first position close to the camera body and a second position remote from the video camera body, and the connecting body is configured to place the video camera body on the shoulder. In this state, the video screen of the electronic viewfinder brought to the second position is positioned in front of the face of the user of the video camera at a required interval, and the user can view the image projected on the video screen. The length is set so that it can be seen with both eyes.

Effects With the above configuration, the user can view the image on the electronic viewfinder with both eyes at a considerable distance while placing the video camera on his or her shoulder, which is better than the conventional case. By having a substantially wider field of view in comparison, this reduces the risk of injury from tripping or hitting objects while shooting.
This prevents the video camera from being dropped and damaged. Even if it were to heat up, it would be extremely small. Also,
Even if your face is suddenly pushed toward the electronic view finder, such as by being pushed by someone when taking a picture, or conversely, even if the electronic view finder is suddenly pushed in a direction where the electronic view finder is closer to your face, the electronic view finder will not work properly. There is no risk of injury to your eyes. Furthermore, since there is no need to consciously close the eye opposite to the eye that is used to view the electronic viewfinder, there is no need to cause mental pain to the user, and the user is disabled in one eye. This means that even people with disabilities can use it without any problems. In addition, the electronic viewfinder can be stored on the bottom of the video camera body when not in use.
Since the video camera can be used even when placed on either the right shoulder or the left shoulder, it is possible to provide a video camera that is extremely easy to use.

Embodiments Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained based on illustrated embodiments. FIG. 1 is a side view of a video tape recorder type video camera according to an embodiment of the present invention in a state of use, and FIGS. 2 and 3 are perspective views of essential parts thereof. First, in FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numeral 10 denotes a video camera body including an imaging lens section 11, a microphone 12, a shoulder pad 13, and the like. Reference numeral 14 denotes an electronic viewfinder, which may be of a liquid crystal display panel or a picture tube type, for example. Reference numeral 15 denotes an outer casing made of synthetic resin that also serves as a hood for the electronic viewfinder 14, the side wall of which is attached to one end of a rectangular tube-shaped connector 16 so as to be rotatable in the directions of arrows A and B. installed on. This is to enable the elevation angle of the image plane of the electronic viewfinder 14 to be varied.

Note that the electronic view finder 14 includes:
It may be equipped with a lens for enlarging the image if necessary. In addition, electronic view finder 1
If a picture tube 4 is used, all or part of the picture tube can be housed inside the connecting body 16.

The base of the connecting body 16 is connected to the video camera body 1.
0 (in the illustrated embodiment, the portion located below the imaging lens section 11) is attached to the bottom surface of the lens unit 10 with a connector 17 so as to be rotatable in the horizontal direction shown by arrows C and D. In this case, the connecting body 16
is a position where the electronic viewfinder 14 can be stored in a recess 18 formed on the bottom surface of the video camera body 10, as shown by the broken line in FIG. 1 (this is the first position). ) and a position away from the video camera body 10, for example, a position protruding to the left side of the video camera body 10 as shown in FIG. 2, and a position protruding to the right side of the video camera body 10 as shown in FIG. (place them in the second position on the left)
It can be horizontally rotated within a range of at least 180 degrees so that it can be brought to the second right position. Of course, any suitable known click mechanism may be employed to ensure the positioning of the connector 16 in the first position and the second position on the left or right side.

Here, when the electronic view finder 14 is brought from the second position on the left side as shown in FIG. 2 to the second position on the right side as shown in FIG. If the electronic viewfinder 14 is rotated horizontally,
This is not desirable since the image displayed will have the top and bottom reversed. Therefore, in this embodiment, a switch means 19 capable of vertically reversing the image displayed on the electronic viewfinder 14 is installed in the imaging lens section 1 as illustrated in FIG.
When the electronic viewfinder 14 is brought to the second position on the right side as shown in FIG. 19 actuators are configured to operate, and consideration is given to automatically inverting the projected image vertically in accordance with the position of the electronic viewfinder 14. Of course, the above-mentioned switch means 19
Instead, a configuration in which the switching is performed manually can also be adopted.

As is clear from FIG. 1, the electronic viewfinder 14 is brought to the second positions on the left and right sides when the user places the video camera body 10 on his shoulder. The view indexer 14 is located in front of the user's face and below the user's eye level. Therefore, the connector 16 can be used by the user to
Electronic viewfinder 1 brought to the location
The length of the image projected on the video camera body 10 (i.e., the mounting position (i.e., the support position of the connector 17) is set.

When using the video camera configured as described above, if it is placed on the right shoulder as usual, Figure 1,
As shown in FIG. 2, the connecting body 16 is rotated in the direction of arrow C to bring the electronic view finder 14 from the first position to the second position on the left side. Conversely, when placing it on the left shoulder, as shown in Fig. 3, the connecting body 16
is rotated in the direction of arrow D to bring the electronic view finder 14 to the second position on the right side. In any of the above cases, the video camera body 1
0 is placed on the shoulder, as illustrated in FIG. This means that the photographed image of the subject displayed on the viewfinder 14 can be viewed with both eyes while photographing. Note that the electronic viewfinder 14 can be moved by arrows A and B depending on the user.
The elevation angle of the image plane can be adjusted by rotating it in the direction. Moreover, it is also possible to make the length of the connecting body 16 expandable and retractable, if necessary.

Effects of the Invention As described above, according to the video camera of the present invention,
The user can view the electronic viewfinder image with both eyes at a considerable distance while the video camera body is placed on the shoulder, resulting in a substantially wider field of view than in the conventional case. This prevents you from tripping or hitting objects, causing injury, or dropping the video camera and damaging it. Even if there is heat, it will be extremely small. In addition, even if your face is suddenly pushed towards the electronic viewfinder due to being pushed by someone when taking a picture, or conversely, even if the electronic viewfinder is suddenly pushed in a direction where the electronic viewfinder is closer to your face, the electronic view There is no risk of eye damage caused by the viewfinder. Furthermore, since there is no need to consciously close the eye opposite to the eye that is used to view the electronic viewfinder, there is no need to cause mental pain to the user, and the user is disabled in one eye. This means that even people with disabilities can use it without any problems. In particular, the present invention provides a connecting body equipped with an electronic viewfinder on the lower surface of the front part of the video camera body so as to be horizontally rotatable. The electronic viewfinder can be brought to a second position in front of the user's face and lower than the user's eye level, allowing the user to use the electronic viewfinder in a very comfortable posture. You can see the image projected on the video screen.

Moreover, since the distance between the user's eyes and the image plane of the electronic viewfinder can be made relatively long, the rotation support of the connected body of the electronic viewfinder can be maintained without increasing the length of the video camera body. (corresponding to the connector 17 in the above-mentioned embodiment of the present invention) can be seen clearly with both eyes without having to bring the part (corresponding to the connector 17 in the embodiment of the present invention) extremely toward the tip of the imaging lens part. It is something that can be done.

That is, if the electronic view finder connector is horizontally rotated to the top of the front of the video camera body so that the electronic view finder is brought to a position in front of the user's face at the user's eye level. If it is attached freely, the distance between the user's eyes and the image screen of the electronic viewfinder will be shorter than in the case of the present invention, so the user will be able to see the image projected on the screen of the electronic viewfinder in both directions. It is too close to be seen with the naked eye, and if the above-mentioned separation distance is to be made longer than the case of the present invention, the attachment position of the electronic viewfinder connection body to the video camera body should be moved closer to the tip of the imaging lens unit. This is not preferable because it will lengthen the video camera body and cause problems in the design and operation of the imaging lens section.

Furthermore, the present invention provides an electronic view finder,
By being able to store the video camera in a recess formed on the bottom surface of the video camera body, it has the advantage that it can be made more compact when the video camera is not in use.

The above-mentioned effects are conspicuous because the connector equipped with the electronic viewfinder is attached to the bottom of the front of the video camera, allowing the user to place the video camera on his or her shoulder. This is very effective in realizing a video camera that can monitor the projected image of the electronic viewfinder with both eyes in a controlled state.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of a video camera according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIGS. 2 and 3 are perspective views of essential parts in each state of use, and FIG. 4 is a front view showing an example of use of a conventional video camera. It is a diagram. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10...Video camera main body, 14...Electronic view finder, 16...Connection body, 17...Connector, 18...Recessed part.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A connecting body equipped with an electronic view finder is attached to the lower surface of the front part of the video camera body, and the electronic view finder is located at a first position close to the video camera body and at a position remote from the video camera body. The connecting body is horizontally rotatable so as to be movable between two positions, and when the user places the video camera body on his/her shoulder, the connecting body allows the electronic viewfinder to be moved between two positions. can be brought to a second position in front of the user's face and lower than the user's eye level, and is projected on the image screen of the electronic viewfinder brought to the second position. A video camera characterized in that its length and mounting position relative to the video camera body are set so that images can be viewed with both eyes at required intervals. 2. The video camera according to claim 1, wherein the electronic view finder is configured to be housed in a recess formed in the bottom surface of the video camera body in the first position.