Intermediate adapter and camera system

• US 20050025472A1
• Filed: 07/29/2004
• Published: 02/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Koyama, Atsushi, Tamura, Masahisa, Sugita, Jun
• Granted Patent: US 7,085,485 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 396/71
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/14 interchangeably
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/565 Optical accessories, e.g. converters for close-up photography, tele-convertors, wide-angle convertors

Abstract

The present invention provides an intermediate adapter capable of being mounted on a first camera on which a first interchangeable lens is mounted and a second camera on which the first interchangeable lens and a second interchangeable lens are mounted. The second interchangeable lens includes a protruding portion protruding toward an image plane from its mount reference surface whose protruding amount is larger than that of the first interchangeable lens and has a flange back equal to that of the first interchangeable lens. The first camera has a first wall portion inside its mount and prevents mounting of the second interchangeable lens by the protruding portion of the second interchangeable lens contacting the first wall portion. The second camera includes a second wall portion provided inside its mount at a position retreated from the protruding portion of the second interchangeable lens.

Claims

1. An intermediate adapter used in a camera system,

the camera system comprising:

a first interchangeable lens;

a second interchangeable lens including a protruding portion protruding toward an image plane from its mount reference surface whose protruding amount is larger than that of the first interchangeable lens, and having a flange back equal to that of the first interchangeable lens;

a first camera on which the first interchangeable lens is mounted, the first camera including a first wall portion inside its mount and preventing mounting of the second interchangeable lens by the protruding portion of the second interchangeable lens contacting the first wall portion; and

a second camera on which the first interchangeable lens and the second interchangeable lens are selectively mounted, the second camera including a second wall portion provided inside its mount at a position retreated from the protruding portion of the second interchangeable lens,

the intermediate adapter comprising;

a third wall portion provided inside its mount at a position retreated from the protruding portion of the second interchangeable lens,

wherein the intermediate adapter is mounted between the first interchangeable lens and the first and second cameras, and is mounted between the second interchangeable lens and the first and second cameras.

3. The intermediate adapter according to claim 1,

wherein the intermediate adapter is mounted on the first and second interchangeable lenses and the first and second cameras through bayonet coupling, and

wherein the intermediate adapter further includes:

a first index serving as a mark for determining a phase relation with the first interchangeable lens when being mounted on the first interchangeable lens; and

a second index provided at a position of a phase different from the first index, the second index serving as a mark for determining a phase relation with the second interchangeable lens when being mounted on the second interchangeable lens.

2. An intermediate adapter used with a first camera on which a first interchangeable lens is mounted and a second camera on which the first interchangeable lens and a second interchangeable lens are mounted,

the second interchangeable lens including a protruding portion protruding toward an image plane from its mount reference surface whose protruding amount is larger than that of the first interchangeable lens, and having a flange back equal to that of the first interchangeable lens,

the first camera including a first wall portion inside its mount and preventing mounting of the second interchangeable lens by the protruding portion of the second interchangeable lens contacting the first wall portion,

the second camera including a second wall portion provided inside its mount at a position retreated from the protruding portion of the second interchangeable lens,

the intermediate adapter comprising:

a third wall portion provided inside its mount at a position retreated from the protruding portion of the second interchangeable lens,

wherein the intermediate adapter is mounted between the first interchangeable lens and the first and second cameras and is mounted between the second interchangeable lens and the first and second cameras.

4. The interchangeable lens according to claim 2,

wherein the intermediate adapter is mounted on the first and second interchangeable lenses and the first and second cameras through bayonet coupling, and

wherein the intermediate adapter further includes:

a first index serving as a mark for determining a phase relation with the first interchangeable lens when being mounted on the first interchangeable lens; and

a second index provided at a position of a phase different from the first index, the second index serving as a mark for determining a phase relation with the second interchangeable lens when being mounted on the second interchangeable lens.

5. A camera system comprising:

a first interchangeable lens;

a second interchangeable lens including a protruding portion protruding toward an image plane from its mount reference surface whose protruding amount is larger than that of the first interchangeable lens, and having a flange back equal to that of the first interchangeable lens;

a first camera on which the first interchangeable lens is mounted, the first camera including a first wall portion inside its mount and preventing mounting of the second interchangeable lens by the protruding portion of the second interchangeable lens contacting the first wall portion;

a second camera on which the first and the second interchangeable lenses, the second camera including a second wall portion provided inside its mount at a position retreated from the protruding portion of the second interchangeable lens; and

an intermediate adapter,

wherein the intermediate adapter includes a third wall portion provided inside its mount at a position retreated from the protruding portion of the second interchangeable lens, and

the intermediate adapter is mounted between the first interchangeable lens and the first and second cameras and is mounted between the second interchangeable lens and the first and second cameras.

6. The camera system according to claim 5,

wherein the intermediate adapter is mounted on the first and second interchangeable lenses and the first and the second cameras through bayonet coupling, and

wherein the intermediate adapter further includes:

a first index serving as a mark for determining a phase relation with the first interchangeable lens when being mounted on the first interchangeable lens; and

a second index provided at a position of a phase different from the first index, the second index serving as a mark for determining a phase relation with the second interchangeable lens when being mounted on the second interchangeable lens.

7. An intermediate adapter to be mounted between a camera and an interchangeable lens, the intermediate adapter comprising:

a plurality of indexes provided on an interchangeable lens-side of the intermediate adapter and serving as marks when being mounted on the interchangeable lens,

wherein the plurality of indexes are provided at different phase positions on the intermediate adapter.

8. The intermediate adapter according to claim 7,

wherein the plurality of indexes are different from each other in at least one of shape and color.

9. The intermediate adapter according to claim 7,

wherein the intermediate adapter can be mounted on at least two interchangeable lenses having different back focuses.

10. An intermediate adapter on which a first interchangeable lens and a second interchangeable lens are selectively mounted, the first interchangeable lens including a mount on which a bayonet lug is formed, the second interchangeable lens including a bayonet lug and a mount which have the same shape and dimensions as the bayonet lug and the mount of the first interchangeable lens, the second interchangeable lens including a protruding portion protruding toward an image plane from its mount reference surface whose protruding amount is larger than that of the first interchangeable lens,

the intermediate adapter comprising:

a lens-side mount on which the mounts of the first and second interchangeable lenses are mounted;

a wall portion provided inside the lens-side mount at a position retreated from the protruding portion of the second interchangeable lens; and

a camera-side mount including a bayonet lug which has the same shape and dimensions as the bayonet lug and the mount of the first interchangeable lens.