A device for taking images of an article, the device including: a reflective optical system extending around an axis of symmetry, including a recess centered on the axis of symmetry and including at least one reflecting surface facing towards the axis of symmetry; and at least one imager arranged to capture at least one image of at least a portion of the article as reflected by the reflecting surface(s) substantially parallel to the axis of symmetry when the reflective optical system is arranged around the portion of the article.

An image pickup apparatus equipped with a flash unit that is capable of popping up a light emitting unit even if a display panel is directed to a photographing direction. The flash unit is provided on an upper face of a body of the image pickup apparatus and includes three parallel rotating shafts, a first support member that is rotatably connected with the light emitting unit through the first rotating shaft, and a second support member that is rotatably connected with the first support member through the second rotating shaft and is rotatably connected with the body through the third rotating shaft. The light emitting unit is movable between a light-emitting position projected and a retracted position inside the body even if the display unit is in a stand-up position that is rotated from a regular position opposite to a back face of the body by 180 degrees.

A mobile device case for coupling around a mobile device that includes a miniature camera module has defined therein a lens attachment aperture shaped both to permit light from an object to be captured as a digital image to travel along the optical path of the miniature camera module to a built-in image sensor of the miniature camera module of the mobile device, and to facilitate stable coupling of an auxiliary lens in optical alignment with the miniature camera module. The case comprises electric circuit components positioned to balance an attached auxiliary lens approximately at a grip location.

Disclosed are a flash unit, a camera and a camera flash system, and relates to the technical field of underwater photographic equipment, including a flash lamp, capable of illuminating an photographed object; a video lamp, having the functions of color temperature adjustment and full color gamut coverage by light; a camera body, taking photos for the illuminated object; a waterproof case; a flash trigger, capable of generating an optical signal; and a repeater, capable of receiving the optical signal from the flash trigger, and then encoding and transmitting a new high-power optical signal. According to the present disclosure, under the cooperation of components such as the flash trigger and the repeater, the optical signal can be transmitted wirelessly over long distance underwater, thus achieving the effect of using the flash and video lamps far away from the camera. The present disclosure has a broad market application prospect.

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 extension photoflash light and a camera system using the same are provided. The extension photoflash light to be externally mounted on a mobile device with a photographing function comprises a HID lamp, a mounting mechanism, a light sensing circuit and a control circuit. The mounting mechanism is for mounting the extension photoflash light. The light sensing circuit is disposed on the mounting mechanism. The control circuit is coupled to the HID lamp and the light sensing circuit. When a camera program is executed, a specific block on a flat panel display of the mobile device emits a light signal. The control circuit controls the light sensing circuit to detect the light signal of the specific block, and decodes a decoding message according to luminance of the detected light signal, and controls the HID lamp to perform flashing at a specific timing according to the decoding message.

A mobile device case is configured to facilitate coupling of an auxiliary lens assembly along an optical path of a miniature camera module of a mobile device. A case processor and electrical circuitry embedded within the case are configured to detect the presence of the auxiliary lens assembly that is coupled to the lens attachment interface. A lens recognition sensor is coupled to the case processor and electrical circuitry and is configured to identify the auxiliary lens with a specific lens type.

An image pickup apparatus that comprises a mechanism that causes a light emitting unit for illuminating to move from a storage position at which the light emitting unit is housed in the apparatus body to a light emission enabled position at which the light emitting unit protrudes outside of the apparatus body is provided. The image pickup apparatus comprises a holding member that holds the light emitting unit; a trigger coil that is provided at the light emitting unit; and a magnetic member that is held by the holding member. The magnetic member is arranged adjacent to the trigger coil so that a direction of a magnetic field of the magnetic member is not a direction opposite to a direction generated in the trigger coil by a first wave of a voltage input to the trigger coil.

Disclosed is a system for improving chroma key compositing technique in photography and/or videography. The system comprises at least a first flashlight arranged to be directed towards an object to be photographed, a chrome backdrop in front of which the object is to be photographed, and at least a first reflecting surface arranged partly in front of the first flashlight in such a manner that part of the light from the first flashlight is directed to the object to be photographed and part of the light from the first flashlight is reflected towards the chrome backdrop. The first reflecting surface has essentially the same colour as the chrome backdrop.

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.