DISCLOSURE OF CAMERA INVENTION

The present invention is a more compact and flexible 35mm
camera.  Its features are as follows.

1. The camera is loaded with a magazine of single 35mm
frames rather than a roll.  This is what makes it compact.

2. Exposed frames may be removed and processed at any time
without disturbing unexposed frames.

3. Different film types and speeds can be mixed in the magazine, because
a memory in the magazine remembers the type of each frame.  The user
can select the type of the next exposure.

4. An auxiliary device is used to load magazines from ordinary roll
film, cutting the film into frames.  It may attach borders to the
frames for easier handling by the mechanism of the camera.  Another
auxiliary device takes film from magazines, sorts it by type, and
fastens the frames of one type into strips for conventional
processing.  These two devices make the new system compatible with the
present system of handling film.  Ordinarily the first device would be
owned by the camera owner, so he could buy and load film from any
source, and the second device would be owned by film processors.

5. A variety of geometric arrangements are to be covered by the claims.

	a. The space for the manipulation and sorting of
film frames is below the magazine which is inserted from the
rear.  The front of the magazine is the image plane.

	b. The magazine is below the image plane.  A frame is lifted
up when the shutter is tripped and lowered afterwards.  This permits
through-the-lens focussing without a mirror.

6. All the manipulation and the memory of what frames have been
exposed is remembered by the computer controlling the camera.
It can also remember for separate recording exposure parameters
and time.

7. The overall shape camera is similar to that of a pistol, and
this makes it convenient to carry in a holster.

Questions:

1. Is this enough information for a patent search?

2. How much reduction to practice is required to file
a patent application.

3. The appropriate mechanical technology is related to that
used in copiers which manipulate single sheets of paper.
Should whoever supplies this technology be a co-inventor?