FOLDING CAMERA

A compact folding instant camera having a mirror (54) in its exposure optical path includes a horizontal base section (12a, 12b) having a film plane therein, a pivoting (about 38) lens housing (14) near one end of the film plane, a pivoting (about 58) mirror assembly (68) adjacent the opposite end of the film plane, a foldable bellows (182, 184, 164 etc), and a cover section. The cover is pivotally coupled (at 72) 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 (104). The lens housing and mirror assembly are interconnected for coordinated movement by a linkage system (pivoted arm 144). The camera is erected by displacing the cover section so that the lens housing mirror assembly and bellows assume their upstanding erected positions over the base section. In response to closing the cover section, the mirror assembly, and then the 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.