FOLDING CAMERA

A compact folding camera having a mirror in its exposure optical path includes a horizontal base section having a film plane therein, a pivoting lens housing near one end of the film plane, a pivoting mirror assembly adjacent the opposite end of the film plane, a foldable bellows, and a cover section. The cover is pivotally coupled to one end of the base section near the mirror connection and is interconnected with the lens housing for coordinated movement by an erecting link. The lens housing and mirror assembly are interconnected for coordinated movement by a linkage system. When the camera is erected, the cover section is angularly displaced with respect to the base section so that the lens housing, mirror assembly and bellows may assume their upstanding erected positions over the base section in readiness to effect exposure of a film unit at the film plane. In response to closing the cover section, the mirror assembly, bellows and lens housing fold down onto the base section wherein they assume a stacked relationship over the film plane and are protectively covered by the overlying cover section.