Provides a focal-plane shutter comprising: a base plate that has an opening portion for exposure; a blade group for opening and closing the opening portion; an arm that is linked to a blade group; and a driving mechanism portion, linked to the arm, for driving the blade group through the arm, wherein: the blade group and the arm are linked through a coupling plated with a metal crystallized structure with crystallization degree of no less than 99%. This focal-plane shutter can improve the wear durability of a coupling for linking a blade group and an arm. This can prevent the production of wear debris, and prevent the coupling from becoming brittle through wear, even given repeated operations.

An imaging apparatus includes an image sensor, a mechanical shutter configured to travel in a first direction and a second direction different from the first direction relative to an imaging plane of the image sensor, and a control unit configured to control imaging about an operation of the mechanical shutter. The control unit provides first imaging that causes the mechanical shutter to travel in the first direction in synchronization with an exposure of the image sensor and second imaging that causes the mechanical shutter to travel in the second direction in synchronization with the exposure of the image sensor. The control unit determines whether to perform one of the first imaging and the second imaging or to perform both the first imaging and the second imaging continuously based on an imaging mode and predetermined information on an imaging scene.

A shutter apparatus includes a blade unit configured to open and close an opening used for exposure, a blade moving member configured to move the blade unit between an open position and a closed position of the opening, an urging member configured to urge at least one of the blade unit and the blade moving member in a direction from the closed position to the open position of the opening; and a blade cam member configured to contact the blade moving member as the blade unit moves from the closed position to the open position of the opening.

A shutter apparatus includes a blade unit configured to open and close an opening used for exposure, a blade moving member configured to move the blade unit between an open position and a closed position of the opening, an urging member configured to urge at least one of the blade unit and the blade moving member in a direction from the closed position to the open position of the opening; and a blade cam member configured to contact the blade moving member as the blade unit moves from the closed position to the open position of the opening.

Provided are a digital camera and a control method of a digital camera which are capable of reducing power consumption in a focal-plane shutter capable of performing a normal opening operation. In the focal-plane shutter capable of performing the normal opening operation, in a case where a shutter release switch is operated, exposure using an electronic shutter is started. Thereafter, curtain running preparation for magnetizing a front-curtain electromagnet and a rear-curtain electromagnet and unlocking a second front-curtain drive member and a rear-curtain drive member locked in charge positions by a lock mechanism, which is a curtain running preparation operation of the focal-plane shutter, is performed immediately before exposure of a still image is completed. The exposure is ended by demagnetizing the rear-curtain electromagnet after the curtain running preparation is ended and causing rear curtains to run in a closing direction through the rear-curtain drive member by a biasing force of a rear-curtain running spring. Accordingly, an electrical conduction time of the rear-curtain electromagnet is shortened, and thus, power consumption is reduced.

The use of a blade driving device including a first plate wherein a first opening portion is formed; a blade formed so as to enable opening/closing of the first opening portion; a driving mechanism driving the blade; and a cover, wherein a second opening portion is formed so as to essentially overlap the first opening portion, and formed so as to cover the base plate and the driving mechanism portion. Because the base plate and driving mechanism portion are covered by the cover, when compared to the conventional structure, this enables the transmission, without variability, of heat in relation to the driving mechanism portion and the base plate.

An imaging apparatus includes a shutter for controlling object light incident to an image sensor, a holding frame holding the shutter, an annular elastic member for absorbing impact generated when the shutter is driven, a first fastening member engaging with an inner circumferential surface of the annular elastic member, a first body-side support provided to a body of the imaging apparatus, and a first holding-frame-side support provided to the holding frame. On either of the first body-side support and the first holding-frame-side support, a through hole is formed, into which the annular elastic member is press-fitted. A length of an inner circumference of the through hole is greater than a length of an outer circumference of the annular elastic member when the through hole is seen from a direction to which the first fastening member is fastened. Another of the body-side support and the first holding-frame-side support is fastened with the first fastening member.

An imaging apparatus includes a shutter for controlling object light incident to an image sensor, a holding frame holding the shutter, an annular elastic member for absorbing impact generated when the shutter is driven, a first fastening member engaging with an inner circumferential surface of the annular elastic member, a first body-side support provided to a body of the imaging apparatus, and a first holding-frame-side support provided to the holding frame. On either of the first body-side support and the first holding-frame-side support, a through hole is formed, into which the annular elastic member is press-fitted. A length of an inner circumference of the through hole is greater than a length of an outer circumference of the annular elastic member when the through hole is seen from a direction to which the first fastening member is fastened. Another of the body-side support and the first holding-frame-side support is fastened with the first fastening member.

A blade driving device including, a base plate including an opening through which light passes, a blade configured to runs on a surface of the base plate to open and close the opening, a drive mechanism including a drive spring and actuates the blade; and a charge mechanism configured to perform a charge operation on the drive mechanism against the drive spring. The charge mechanism includes a slide member configured to linearly reciprocate in a direction parallel to the base plate along a motor between the motor and the drive mechanism, the motor generating a driving force for the charge mechanism.

There is provided a blade drive device including a substrate that has an opening, a front curtain and a rear curtain that are movable along an opening surface of the opening so as to open and close the opening, a front curtain locking portion that interlocks with opening and closing operations of the front curtain, a rear curtain locking portion that interlocks with opening and closing operations of the rear curtain, and a regulation lever that is configured to be pivotally movable around a lever axis, and that is capable of entry and escape between an entry position which enters each operation trajectory of the front curtain locking portion and the rear curtain locking portion in response to the opening and closing operations of the front curtain and the rear curtain and an escape position escaped from the operation trajectory. The regulation lever has a front curtain regulation portion which can be locked by the front curtain locking portion from one side around the lever axis at the entry position so as to regulate movement of the front curtain in a closing direction, and a rear curtain regulation portion which can be locked by the rear curtain locking portion from the other side around the lever axis at the entry position so as to regulate movement of the rear curtain in a closing direction.