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A focus detecting apparatus, characterized in that it comprises, multiple detecting zones situated in a focal plane, an orientation changing mechanism which changes the orientations of images formed in these zones, an image separating device which separate these images into image pairs, and multiple

A focus detecting apparatus, characterized in that it comprises, multiple detecting zones situated in a focal plane, an orientation changing mechanism which changes the orientations of images formed in these zones, an image separating device which separate these images into image pairs, and multiple sensors, having a different positional relationship to that of the multiple detecting zones, which detect the image pairs.

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1. A focus detecting apparatus, comprising: multiple detecting zones arranged in a first orientation configuration in a focal plane of a lens; means for changing an orientation of images formed in said multiple detecting zones; means for separating each image into an image pair; and a sensor u

1. A focus detecting apparatus, comprising: multiple detecting zones arranged in a first orientation configuration in a focal plane of a lens; means for changing an orientation of images formed in said multiple detecting zones; means for separating each image into an image pair; and a sensor unit having multiple line sensors arranged in a second orientation configuration that differs from said first configuration of said multiple detecting zones. 2. The focus detecting apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of said multiple detecting zones is arranged in a radial direction of said lens, the remaining multiple detecting zones being arranged in a sagittal direction. 3. The focus detecting apparatus of claim 2, wherein said orientation changing means comprises two mirrors which reflect images of said multiple detecting zones arranged in said radial or sagittal direction, and one mirror which reflects images of said multiple detecting zones arranged in the other of said radial and sagittal directions so that images of all of said multiple detecting zones are formed in a same direction on said sensor unit. 4. The focus detecting apparatus of claim 3, wherein said orientation changing means forms images of all of said multiple detecting zones in a straight line on said sensor unit. 5. The focus detecting apparatus of claim 3, wherein said orientation changing means forms images of all of said multiple detecting zones in two parallel straight lines on said sensor unit. 6. The focus detecting apparatus of claim 1, wherein said multiple detecting zones comprise a central zone that is situated on an optical axis of said lens, and peripheral zones that are situated on a periphery of said central zone. 7. The focus detecting apparatus of claim 1, wherein said separating means forms multiple detecting zone images on a same line sensor of said sensor unit, said apparatus further comprising means for obstructing which allows only one of said multiple detecting zone images to remain and obstructs light beams from all other multiple detecting zones. 8. The focus detecting apparatus of claim 1, wherein said multiple detecting zones comprise at least one center detecting zone and at least one peripheral detecting zone which are arranged in said first orientation configuration, said orientation changing means comprising a first mirror for deflecting an image formed in said at least one center detecting zone and second and third mirrors for deflecting an image formed in said at least one peripheral detecting zone. 9. A focus detecting apparatus, comprising: multiple detecting zones having a first orientation configuration arranged along a focal plane of a lens; a sensor unit having multiple line sensors; means for separating an image formed on each of said multiple detecting zones into an image pair; means for deflecting said image pair so that multiple image pairs are formed on one line sensor of said sensor unit; and obstructing means for passing only one of said multiple image pairs, while obstructing all remaining multiple image pairs of said multiple image pairs. 10. The focus detecting apparatus of claim 9, further comprising means for changing an orientation of images formed in said multiple detecting zones so that said multiple line sensors are arranged according to an orientation configuration that differs from said first orientation configuration. 11. The focus detecting apparatus of claim 9, wherein said deflecting means comprises a prism. 12. The focus detecting apparatus of claim 9, wherein said deflecting means comprises a lens which is off-center with respect to an optical axis of a light beam passing through said lens. 13. The focus detecting apparatus of claim 9, wherein said obstructing means comprises a liquid crystal shutter. 14. The focus detecting apparatus of claim 9, wherein said obstructing means comprises an opaque screen. 15. A focus detecting apparatus, comprising: multiple detecting zones having a first orientation configuration arranged along a focal plane of a lens; means for changing an orientation of images formed in said multiple detecting zones; means for separating each image into an image pair; and a sensor unit having multiple line sensors arranged in a second orientation configuration that differs from said first orientation configuration, wherein said orientation changing means comprises a mirror which reflects images of said multiple detecting zones so that images of all of said multiple detecting zones are formed in one direction on said sensor unit. 16. The focus detecting apparatus of claim 15, wherein said orientation changing means forms images of all of said multiple detecting zones in a straight line on said sensor unit. 17. The focus detecting apparatus of claim 15, wherein said orientation changing means forms images of all of said multiple detecting zones in two parallel straight lines on said sensor unit. 18. A focus detecting apparatus, comprising: a detector having a plurality of detecting zones arranged according to a first orientation configuration; a deflector that changes an orientation of an image formed in said plurality of detecting zones; means for separating said light ray into an image pair; and a sensor having a plurality of line sensors arranged according to a second orientation configuration that differs from said first configuration. 19. A focus detecting apparatus, comprising: multiple detecting zones arranged in a first two-dimensional configuration in a focal plane of a lens; means for separating each image formed in said multiple detecting zones into an image pair; a sensor unit having a plurality of sensors arranged in a second two-dimensional configuration, that differs from said first two-dimensional configuration; and means for configuring each of said images so as to conform to said second two dimensional configuration. 20. The focus detecting apparatus according to claim 19, said means for separating comprising separating lenses of different focal lengths. 21. The focus detecting apparatus according to claim 19, said means for separating comprising a one-piece construction including a plurality of individual lenses. 22. The focus detecting apparatus according to claim 19, said multiple detecting zones comprising a central detecting zone not intersecting an optical axis of the lens. 23. The focus detecting apparatus according to claim 19, said configuration changing means comprising a mirror. 24. the focus detecting apparatus according to claim 19, said configuration changing means comprising a prism. 25. A focus detecting apparatus, comprising: multiple detecting zones arranged in a first configuration in a focal plane of a lens; a sensor unit having a plurality of sensor areas arranged in a second configuration that differs from said first configuration; and means for changing the configuration of images formed in said multiple detecting zones so as to conform to said second configuration. 26. A focus detecting apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said first configuration defines an orientation of said multiple detecting zones and said second configuration defines an orientation of said plurality of sensor areas. 27. The focus detecting apparatus according to claim 25, further comprising means for separating each image formed by said multiple detecting zones into an image pair. 28. The focus detecting apparatus according to claim 25, each of said plurality of sensor areas comprising a line sensor. 29. The focus detecting apparatus according to claim 28, wherein said line sensors are arranged independently of the arrangement of said multiple detecting zones in a focal plane. 30. The focus detecting apparatus according to claim 25, wherein two peripheral detecting zones are oriented parallel to the sagittal direction of the lens and perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of a central detecting zone. 31. The focus detecting apparatus according to claim 25, said plurality of sensors being arranged in a straight line. 32. The focus detecting apparatus according to claim 25, said sensor unit comprising a single sensor having regions corresponding to said detecting zones.