CAMERA WITH AUTOMATIC FOCUSING AND EXPOSURE CONTROL

An automatic camera features automatic focusing apparatus including a reversible electric motor for effecting the focusing of the camera when the motor is energized for operation in one direction. Also featured is an automatic exposure control system including a pair of shutter blades arranged for oppositely directed translational movement, the blades having configured openings which may be brought partly or wholly into alignment with each other to admit a predetermined amount of light to the film chamber of the camera. The automatic exposure control system also includes a photosensitive element in the film chamber to sense the amount of admitted light and to effect the required control. The reversible motor, when energized for operation in the opposite direction, is effective to simultaneously reset its shutter mechanism and to advance the film in the camera to the next film frame position. Still another feature is a self-contained electronic flash unit. Means are provided for automatically readying the flash unit for each picture. Early in the execution of the picture taking operation, the ambient light is sampled. If insufficient ambient light is available for a proper exposure of the film in the camera, the flash unit is triggered into operation at a time coordinate with the focus adjustments of the camera.