Underwater camera having through-the-lens viewing

Claim 2

A camera comprising: a housing; a lens supported by said housing having an entrance and exit aperture for focusing an image at a focus plane; a film strip holder for holding a film strip having a portion thereof forming a to-be-exposed film portion; an image viewer optically coupled to said lens such that the image of said lens may be seen therethrough; a shutter having a shutter release for exposing said to-be-exposed film portion; and exposure means responsive to said shutter release for vertically moving said film holder to define a linear vertical path between a first lowered position in which said to-be-exposed film portion is removed from the optical coupling path between said image viewer and said lens and a second raised position in which said to-be-exposed film portion is interposed between said image viewer and said lens at said focus plane.

Claim 3

A camera as set forth in claim 1 wherein said exposure means further includes a focusing screen and wherein said focusing screen is interposed between said image viewer and said lens at said focus plane when said film holder is in said first position.

Claim 4

A camera as set forth in claim 2 wherein said exposure means includes means for raising and lowering said film holder and said focus screen.

Claim 5

A camera as set forth in claim 3 wherein said focus screen is secured to said film holder in vertical alignment with said focus plane.

Claim 6

A camera as set forth in claim 4 wherein said image viewer includes an upper aperture aligned with said lens and a lower aperture vertically displaced therefrom and light coupling means therebetween.

Claim 7

A camera as set forth in claim 5 wherein said focus screen is supported above said film holder.

Claim 8

A camera as set forth in claim 1 wherein said housing defines a water-tight enclosure having an aperture therein and wherein said camera further includes an external pressure compensator having a collapsible bellows sealingly coupled to said aperture and having an interior chamber, said bellows collapsing as external pressure increases.

Claim 9

A camera as set forth in claim 7 wherein said pressure compensator includes: a support housing external to said housing having an aperture exposed to the exterior thereof.

Claim 10

A camera as set forth in claim 8 wherein said camera further includes: a pair of pistol grip handles; means for supporting said pistol grip handles on each side of and spaced from said housing; and a plurality of user operated controls supported upon said pistol grip handles for operating said camera.

Claim 11

An underwater camera comprising: a sealed housing defining a water-tight interior cavity; a lens supported by said housing having an entrance and exit aperture for focusing an image at a focus plane sealingly coupled to said housing; a film holder and transport for holding and moving a film strip to position portions thereof for exposure; an image viewer optically coupled to said lens such that the image of said lens may be seen therethrough; a shutter mechanism supported upon said film holder having a shutter release for exposing portions of said film strip; and exposure means responsive to said shutter release for moving said film holder and said film strip in a straight-line vertical path between a first lowered position in which the to-be-exposed portion of said film strip therein is removed from the optical coupling path between said image viewer and said lens and a second raised position in which the to-be-exposed portion of said film strip is interposed between said image viewer and said lens at said focus plane.

Claim 12

An underwater camera comprising: a sealed housing defining a water-tight interior cavity; a lens supported by said housing having an entrance and exit aperture for focusing an image at a focus plane sealingly coupled to said housing; a film holder and transport for holding and moving a film strip to position portions thereof for exposure; an image viewer optically coupled to said lens such that the image of said lens may be seen therethrough; a shutter mechanism supported upon said film holder having a shutter release for exposing portions of said film strip; and exposure means responsive to said shutter release for moving said film holder and said film strip in a straight-line vertical path between a first lowered position in which the to-be-exposed portion of said film strip therein is removed from the optical coupling path between said image viewer and said lens and a second raised position in which the to-be-exposed portion of said film strip is interposed between said image viewer and said lens at said focus plane.

Claim 13

A camera as set forth in claim 10 wherein said exposure means further includes a focusing screen and wherein said focusing screen is interposed between said image viewer and said lens at said focus plane when said film holder is in said first position.

Claim 14

A camera as set forth in claim 11 wherein said exposure means includes means for raising and lowering said film holder and said focus screen.

Claim 15

A camera as set forth in claim 12 wherein said focus screen is secured to said film holder in vertical alignment with said focus plane.

Claim 16

A camera as set forth in claim 13 wherein said image viewer includes an upper aperture aligned with said lens and a lower aperture vertically displaced therefrom and light coupling means therebetween.

Claim 17

A camera as set forth in claim 14 wherein said focus screen is supported above said film holder.