An imaging apparatus is capable of imaging with the use of an illumination apparatus including a flash unit capable of changing a radiation direction, and includes: a photometry unit; a display unit that displays information about a result of photometry using the photometry unit; and a display control unit that executes a control related to display on the display unit, wherein when the illumination apparatus is performing a first operation of multiple emissions by the flash unit while changing automatically the radiation direction of the flash unit to a plurality of different directions, the display control unit performs a control so as not to display the information about the photometry result on the display unit.

A lighting device that is capable of retracting a reflective member inside a lighting device and of deciding size of the reflective member irrespective of the size of the lighting device. The lighting device includes a light emitting section and a reflective member. The reflective member is drawably retracted in the light emitting section and is provided with reflectors that are developed by a drawing operation to reflect a part of light irradiated from the light emitting section. Area of the reflectors in a developed state is more than area of the reflectors in a retracted state.

A light source module includes an illumination element and an adjustable light diffusing material. The light source module is configured to receive or generate a control signal for adjusting diffusion of light emitted from the light source module and accordingly adjust an amount of diffusion of light emitted from the light source module. In some embodiments, an adjustable light diffusing material includes a polymer stabilized cholesteric texture (PSCT), a smectic phase liquid crystal, a polymer network liquid crystal (PNLC), or other suitable material. A controller for a light source module may determine a level of diffusion based on a level of inclusion of a wide-angle field of view of a wide-angle lens system or a telephoto field of view of a telephoto lens system in a composite camera field of view that includes a combination of the wide angle field of view and the telephoto field of view. Also, the controller may determine a level of diffusion based or an estimated distance to a scene in a camera field of view that is to be captured.

A light emission control device capable of performing driving for changing an irradiating direction in correct timing during automatic bounce control. The light emission control device controls a light emission unit that irradiates light to an object. The posture information of at least one of an image pickup apparatus and the light emission unit is detected. For bounce shooting, there is selected one of a first mode for controlling the direction of irradiating the light according to distances from the image pickup apparatus to the object and the reflection object and a second mode for manually controlling the irradiating direction. In a case where the second mode has been selected, when a first operating portion is operated, the irradiating direction is controlled according to the detected posture information.

An illumination device selects any one of a first mode, in which, when a detection unit detects a rotation of a second casing even when a second casing is not rotated by a drive unit, a control unit causes the drive unit to rotate the second casing to a position of the second casing before the rotation of the second casing is detected by the detection unit or a second mode, in which, when the detection unit detects the rotation of the second casing even when the second casing is not rotated by the drive unit, the control unit does not cause the drive unit to rotate the second casing to the position of the second casing before the rotation of the second casing is detected by the detection unit.

An imaging apparatus includes an operation unit and a control unit to perform photographing using an illumination apparatus capable of automatically driving a movable unit, including a light emitting unit, for changing an irradiation direction of the light emitting unit. The operation unit receives an instruction to start a photographing operation. The control unit performs control, in a case where the operation unit receives an instruction to start a photographing operation while the movable unit is being automatically driven to change the irradiation direction of the light emitting unit, not to perform flash photography in which the light emitting unit is caused to emit light.

The present invention provides a light-reflecting device for a photographic light, comprising a positioning member which is engageable with a support member, a top end of the support member being provided with a jacket; wherein the positioning member is provided with a locking mechanism of the jacket, the locking mechanism being provided with a movable lock button, the lock button being movably connected to the jacket. The present invention has the following beneficial effects: compact integral structure, convenient disassembling operation, and long life time.

An apparatus is described. The apparatus includes a camera comprising a beam splitter to impose different optical paths for visible light and infra red light received by the camera. The camera also includes an infra red light detector to detect the infra red light and a visible light detector to detect the visible light, wherein, the different optical paths include an optical path having more than one internal reflection within the beam splitter.

A general-purpose battery compartment, comprising a compartment body that can receive either lithium batteries or AA batteries therein and separate the AA batteries received therein to prevent contact therebetween; wherein spring leafs used to connect with the lithium batteries or the AA batteries are provided within the compartment body, and contact points of anode and cathode of the lithium batteries are respectively connected to the two spring leafs that are connected to output terminals of anode and cathode of the battery compartment.

An apparatus is described. The apparatus includes a camera comprising a beam splitter to impose different optical paths for visible light and infra red light received by the camera. The camera also includes an infra red light detector to detect the infra red light and a visible light detector to detect the visible light, wherein, the different optical paths include an optical path having more than one internal reflection within the beam splitter.