The present invention discloses a switching mechanism for a photographic camera having a panoramic photographing function, wherein changeover between ON/OFF of a main switch as well as changeover of photographing mode (PANORAMA, NORMAL, etc.) can be simultaneously performed by a single manipulator and thereby not only the number of parts required for desired switching operation but also the space demand for these parts can be effectively reduced. More specifically, there is provided a changeover knob being slidably movable over a range which is associated at one end with OFF of the main switch, at a middle with ON of the main switch as well as one of NORMAL and PANORAMA MODES, and at the other end with the other MODE so that the camera is made ready for photographing in one of NORMAL and PANORAMA MODES as the changeover knob is slidably moved to its ON position and the camera is ready for photographing in the other MODE as the changeover knob is further slidably moved to the other end of its slidable movement range.