JP2000350234A - Electronic camera and print controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily confirm a color or black-and-white photograph mode and to enable reproduction and print output corresponding to the color or black-and- white photograph mode or by re-setting the color or black-and-white mode. SOLUTION: The color or black-and-white photograph mode is set through an operation part 80. In the color photograph mode, a digital encoder 76 performs movie output of a color video signal through a video output terminal 82 and in the black-and-white photograph mode, the digital encoder 76 performs movie output of a black-and-white video signal through the video output terminal 82. Further, R, G, and B data for recording are inputted from a CCD 56 and converted into Y/C data, which are further compressed and then recorded on a memory card 52. At this time, a discrimination flag indicating the color or black-and-white photograph mode is also recorded together. According to the discrimination flag, reproduction and print output are carried out corresponding to the color or black-and-white photograph mode or the color or black-and- white photograph mode is re-set irrelevantly to the discrimination flag to perform reproduction and print output.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic camera and a print control device, and more particularly to an electronic camera and a print control device capable of performing color / monochrome photography and color / monochrome print.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image processing system capable of color / black and white printing has been proposed (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-1227).
No. 22). This image processing system always performs color photography with a color video camera regardless of color / black and white printing, and stores a color image signal acquired by the color video camera as a still image when a shutter button is pressed. When the color is selected by the color / black and white selection button, the stored color image signal is output to the monitor. When the black and white is selected, the color image signal is converted into a black and white image signal. The converted monochrome image signal is output to a monitor.

After that, when the print button is pressed, a color image signal is output to the printer when the color is selected by the color / black and white selection button, and the converted black and white image signal is output when the black and white is selected. Is output to the printer. As a result, it is possible to confirm whether color printing or black-and-white printing is performed by the monitor and the image to be printed before printing.

Further, in this image processing system, a moving image (color image) photographed by a color video camera is displayed on a monitor before a shutter button is pressed.

[0005]

However, the above-mentioned conventional image processing system always outputs a color image to a monitor before a shutter release, regardless of the selection of color / black and white by a color / black and white selection button. In addition, there is a problem that it is not possible to confirm on a monitor whether color photography or black-and-white photography is performed before the shutter release.

[0006] Regardless of color / black and white selection, a color image signal is obtained at the time of shutter release, and when black and white is selected, the obtained color image signal is converted into a black and white image signal to obtain a black and white image signal. Even in such a case, the photographing conditions and composition may be different between the case of taking a picture in advance to obtain a color image and the case of taking a picture in order to obtain a black-and-white image. It is important to confirm which shooting is being performed.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and has both color / black-and-white shooting functions so that a user can easily confirm which shooting is to be performed. It is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic camera capable of reproducing / printing output corresponding to black / white shooting. Further, the present invention has both color / black and white printing functions, and allows the user to easily confirm whether color / black and white printing is to be performed. It is an object of the present invention to provide a print control device capable of outputting a color and black / white image when printing, and reproducing and printing out the image.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic camera, comprising: a photographing unit capable of acquiring a color image signal and a black-and-white image signal; Color to select /
A black-and-white selecting means for recording a color image signal obtained by the photographing means on a recording medium regardless of a color / black-and-white photographing mode at the time of recording a photographed image; Recording means for recording identification information indicating the following on a recording medium, and movie output means for outputting the color image signal to a monitor in a color shooting mode and outputting the black and white image signal to a monitor in a black and white shooting mode. It is characterized by. This makes it possible to confirm whether the color shooting mode or the black-and-white shooting mode is selected based on whether the image displayed on the monitor is a color image or a black-and-white image.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a color / monochrome conversion means for processing the color image signal and outputting a monochrome image signal. As described in claim 3 of the present application, a color image signal recorded on the recording medium is read out during reproduction, and when the identification information recorded together with the color image signal indicates a color photographing mode, the color image signal is monitored. When the identification information indicates a black-and-white shooting mode, the color image signal is converted into a black-and-white image signal by the color / black-and-white conversion means and output to a monitor.

As a result, only a color image signal is recorded on the recording medium, but an image photographed as a monochrome image based on the identification information is reproduced as a monochrome image, and an image photographed as a color image is reproduced as a color image. It is reproduced as an image. Further, as set forth in claim 4 of the present application, a color image signal recorded on the recording medium is output to a monitor, and the color image signal is converted to a black and white image signal converted via the color / monochrome conversion means. And the output of
It is characterized by having switching means for switching regardless of the identification information. As a result, an image captured as a monochrome image can be reproduced as a color image, and an image captured as a color image can be reproduced as a monochrome image.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic camera, comprising: a photographing unit capable of acquiring a color image signal and a black and white image signal;
Color / black and white selection means for selecting color print or black and white print, movie output means for outputting the color image signal to the monitor when color print is selected, and outputting the black and white image signal to the monitor when black and white print is selected, and color print selection Print output means for occasionally outputting the color image signal to a printer and outputting the monochrome image signal to the printer when monochrome print is selected. This makes it possible to confirm whether color printing or black-and-white printing is selected based on whether the image displayed on the monitor is a color image or a black-and-white image.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a color / monochrome conversion means for processing the color image signal and outputting a monochrome image signal. Claim 7 of the present application
The print control device according to, together with the color image signal,
Capturing means for capturing a color image signal and the identification information from a recording medium on which identification information indicating whether the color image signal has been recorded in a color photography mode or a monochrome photography mode is recorded; A color / black and white conversion means for processing the image signal to convert it into a black and white image signal; and when the color image signal is determined to be recorded in the color photographing mode based on the identification information at the time of printing, the color image signal is converted. Print output means for outputting to a printer a black-and-white image signal obtained by converting the color image signal through the color / monochrome conversion means when it is determined that the color image signal has been recorded in the black-and-white shooting mode. It is characterized by.

As a result, only a color image signal is recorded on the recording medium, but an image photographed as a black and white image based on the identification information is printed as a black and white image, and an image photographed as a color image is reproduced as a color image. Printed as an image. When the color image signal is determined to be a color image signal recorded in a color image capturing mode based on the identification information, the color image signal is output to a monitor, and the monochrome image signal is output. If it is determined that the color image signal is recorded in the mode,
The image processing apparatus further comprises means for outputting a monochrome image signal obtained by converting the color image signal through the color / monochrome conversion means to a monitor. This makes it possible to confirm whether color printing or black-and-white printing is selected based on whether the image displayed on the monitor is a color image or a black-and-white image.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, a color image signal recorded on the recording medium is output to a monitor and a printer, and the color image signal is converted to a monochrome image by the color / monochrome conversion means. It is characterized by having switching means for switching between output of an image signal to a monitor and output to a printer irrespective of the identification information. As a result, color / black and white can be set again at the time of printing, and even if the image is captured as a black and white image, it can be reproduced and printed as a color image. Can also be reproduced and printed as a black and white image.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of an electronic camera and a print control device according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing an embodiment of an electronic camera according to the present invention. A lens barrel 3 in which a photographing lens 2 is incorporated is attached to the center of the front of the electronic camera 1, and a flash window 4 and a finder window 5 are formed above the photographing lens 2. An AF (auto focus) light emitting window 6 and an AF light receiving window 7 are located on the right side of the finder window.
Are provided side by side. Reference numeral 8 denotes a flash light control sensor.

The photographing lens 2 comprises a zoom lens, and a zoom lever 20 provided on the back of the electronic camera 1.
The focal length can be changed to 9.2 mm to 25.8 (corresponding to 35 mm to 105 mm in 35 mm camera conversion) by the driving force of a motor (not shown) driven according to the operation of FIG. Although not shown in detail, a moving lens group constituting an objective lens is arranged inside the finder window 5, and the moving lens is driven in conjunction with a change in the focal length of the taking lens 2. A zoom finder is configured. Furthermore, by setting to × 2 mode,
A 2x electronic zoom can be performed. That is, the optical zoom and the electronic zoom enable a maximum of 6 times zoom.

A light projecting means such as an infrared light emitting diode is provided inside the AF light projecting window 6, and a light receiving means including a light receiving element such as a photodiode is arranged inside the AF light receiving window 7. These light emitting means and light receiving means constitute a distance measuring unit for measuring the distance to the subject. This distance measuring unit (AF unit) obtains the distance to the subject based on, for example, the principle of triangulation, and the result is determined by autofocus (A
F) Used for control.

On the upper surface of the electronic camera 1, a shutter button 9, a mode dial 10, an up / down dial 1
1. An accessory shoe 12, a liquid crystal display panel 13 are provided. On the left side of the liquid crystal display panel 13, a strobe button 14, an erase button 15, a macro button 1
6 are provided side by side. The mode dial 10 is provided rotatably in both forward and reverse directions, and can change the function of the electronic camera 1 depending on the setting position of the dial. For example, "OFF"-"AUT" for each click stop position of the rotation operation
O "-" SETUP "-" P "-" S "-" A "-
The mode is sequentially changed in nine stages of "M"-"PC"-"PLAY". After "PLAY", the mode returns to "OFF" and the dial makes one rotation.

The "OFF" mode is a position set when the electronic camera 1 is not used. In this mode, the power of the electronic camera 1 is turned off. “AUTO” is a mode set when performing automatic photographing. Under this mode, AF and AE (automatic exposure control) function effectively.
The photographer can perform photographing only by pressing the shutter button 9 without performing any other special operation. "SETU
"P" means date, time, sensitivity correction, compression mode, color /
This is a mode for making various settings such as black and white. In this mode, the user operates the up / down dial 11 and a set button 23 (FIG. 2) described later while checking the display on the liquid crystal display panel for each item to be set. Input the desired setting.

"P" is a program AE, "S" is shutter priority, "A" is aperture priority, and "M" is a position for setting a shooting mode of manual exposure. For the program selection, shutter speed setting, aperture value setting, and the like in each of these shooting modes, desired input is performed by operating the up / down dial 11 and the set button 23. “PC” is a mode in which the electronic camera 1 and a personal computer are connected by a dedicated cable to transmit and receive image data. “PLAY” is a mode set when a captured image is reproduced.

The flash button 14 is a button used to set whether or not to use the flash in the photographing mode, and the erase button 15 is a button used to issue an instruction to delete image data stored in the memory card. is there. Further, on the liquid crystal display panel 13, the set states of the various switches, the remaining amount of the battery, the use status of the memory, and the like are displayed.

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the electronic camera shown in FIG. A zoom lever 20 is provided on the back of the electronic camera 1, and by operating the zoom lever 20 upward or downward, the focal length of the photographing lens 2 is set to the long focal length (tele) or short focal length (wide). Can be changed to An eyepiece 22 of a finder is formed at the upper left corner of the camera rear surface, and a field of view substantially equal to the angle of view can be observed from the eyepiece 22.

A set button 23 and an auto / MF (manual focus) button 24 are vertically arranged on the left side of the eyepiece 22 of the finder. The set button 23 is used for the up / down dial 11 as described above.
Used when setting various inputs in combination with. Auto /
When the auto focus is selected by the MF button 24, the subject distance is measured by the distance measuring unit in response to the pressing operation of the shutter button 9, and the photographing lens 2 is moved to a focus position corresponding to the subject distance. The lens is moved in focus by lens driving means (not shown).

When the MF is selected by the auto / MF button 24, the set button 23 and the up /
The photographic lens 2 is moved in focus by the lens driving means to the subject distance input and set by operating the down dial 11. The auto / MF button 24 is also used as an execution button when printing a reproduced image.

A memory card cover 25 is provided on the right side of the electronic camera 1 in FIG. A memory card loading chamber is formed inside the electronic camera 1, and the memory card cover 2 is provided.
5 is released and a memory card is inserted into the electronic camera 1,
Alternatively, the memory card can be taken out from the electronic camera 1. A transparent memory card confirmation window 27 is formed in the center of the rear surface of the electronic camera 1, through which it is possible to confirm whether a memory card is loaded in the electronic camera 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a bottom surface of the electronic camera shown in FIG. An extension terminal 3 on the bottom of the electronic camera 1 for electrically connecting to an extension unit 40 described later.
0, a tripod screw hole 32, and a unit mounting hole 34 are provided. The tripod screw hole 32 is also used as a fixing screw hole of the extension unit, and the unit mounting hole 34 has an L-shaped inside so that an L-shaped hook (see FIG. 4) formed on the extension unit side can be engaged. Is formed.

A battery cover 36 is provided on the bottom of the electronic camera 1 via a hinge 37 so as to be openable and closable. A battery cover open knob 38 formed on the battery cover 36 is operated to operate the battery cover. By opening 36, the battery can be replaced. FIG. 4 is an external perspective view of an extension unit attached to the bottom surface of the electronic camera shown in FIG. still,
FIG. 4 shows a state viewed from the back side of the extension unit 40.

On the upper surface of the extension unit 40, a terminal 42 to be fitted with the extension terminal 30 of the electronic camera 1 and a fixing screw 43
And a substantially L-shaped hook 44 are provided. The extension unit 4 is attached to the bottom of the electronic camera 1 by engaging the hook 44 with the unit mounting hole 34 on the electronic camera 1 side and screwing the fixing screw 43 into the tripod screw hole 32.
The electronic camera 1 and the extension unit 40 are electrically connected by the extension terminals 30 and the terminals 42.
The extension terminal 30 and the terminal 42 are, for example, 40-pin connectors.

A 25-pin SCSI terminal (not shown) is provided on the left side of the extension unit 40 in the figure, and can be directly connected to a personal computer or a digital printer 54 via a SCSI cable (FIG. 5). , FIG. 6). On the back of the extension unit 40, a slide switch 46 and a dip switch 48 are provided. The slide switch 46 is used for switching between an OFF position, a SCSI position, and the like. When the switch is set to the OFF position, the slide switch 46 enters a power save mode, and suppresses consumption of a battery mounted on the electronic camera 1 side. In other words, this is substantially equivalent to a state where the extension unit 40 is not attached to the electronic camera 1. When the slide switch 46 is set to the SCSI position, a personal computer or digital printer 54 connected via the SCSI terminal is set.
The transmission and reception of data with becomes effective. That is, the captured image can be sent to a personal computer, and the electronic camera 1
Can be performed. Further, photographed image data can be directly transferred to the digital printer 54 for printing.

On the other hand, a four-position up / down type dip switch 48 is used, and more detailed setting in the SCSI mode is performed by a combination of the four switches. That is, when the SCSI mode is selected by the slide switch 46, the DIP switch 48 is used to set the PC operation mode in which the PC connection is further enabled, or the printer connection is set to the print mode in which the printing is enabled by the connection. Settings are made.

FIG. 5 shows the configuration of a system in which the digital camera shown in FIG. 1 and the extension unit shown in FIG. 4 are combined. The electronic camera 1 converts the captured image to N
It has a video output terminal for transmitting in a predetermined signal format such as TSC, and the video output terminal is connected to the accessory shoe 12 by a liquid crystal viewfinder or a liquid crystal monitor 5.
0 or by connecting to an image display device such as a television monitor, a through image (moving image) or a captured image can be confirmed.

In the electronic camera 1, a memory card 5 is provided.
2 is loaded, and photographed image data is recorded on the memory card 52 in a predetermined format. For the recording method, for example, Ex
A format conforming to the if format is adopted, and image data compressed in JPEG format and 80 × 6
Zero pixel thumbnail data is recorded as a set. Further, together with the image data, tag information of the image data and an identification flag indicating a color / monochrome photographing mode according to the present invention are recorded.

As the memory card 52, a PC card or a smart media (SSFDC) which can be used in a compatible manner with a PC card by a PC card adapter is used. The memory card 52 is removable from the electronic camera 1, can be inserted into a notebook personal computer having a PC card slot, or a PC card reader, and can use image data in various devices.

The extension unit 40 mounted on the bottom of the electronic camera 1 can be directly connected to the digital printer 54 via a SCSI cable. Digital printer 54
And the extension unit 40, bidirectional communication is performed, and a printer model,
Information about the paper size and the like is sent to the extension unit 40 side.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the internal structure of the electronic camera and the like. This electronic camera 1
Mainly include a photographing lens 2, a CCD 56, an analog decoder 57, an A / D converter 58, a card interface (card I / F) 60, a SCSI I / F 62, a central processing unit (CPU) 64, a work memory 68, and a frame memory controller. 70, compression / decompression engine 72,
It comprises a digital encoder 76, a frame memory 78, an operation unit 80 and the like. In addition, SCSI I / F
62 is provided on the extension unit 40 side.

Light from the subject is imaged on the light receiving surface of the CCD 56 by the photographing lens 2. The CCD 56 has, for example, a 2/3 inch and 1.4 million pixels, and the image light formed on the light receiving surface of the CCD 56 is R, G, B
Each sensor having a filter accumulates electric charges for a predetermined time and converts the signals into R, G, and B signals in amounts corresponding to the light intensity. The R, G, and B signals are guided to an analog decoder 57, where the gains of the R, G, and B signals are controlled. The R, G, and B signals output from the analog decoder 57 are converted into digital signals (R, G, and B data) by an A / D converter 58, and the R, G, and B data are converted into Y / C signals.
The data is converted into Y / C data (luminance signal Y and chroma signal C) by the conversion processing, and stored in the frame memory 78 via the frame memory controller 70.

When a compression command is sent from the CPU 64, the compression / expansion engine 72 compresses the Y / C data in the frame memory 78 and sends the compressed data to the card I / F.
Output to the memory card 52 via 60. Thus, the compressed data is recorded on the memory card 52. When the compressed data recorded on the memory card 52 is reproduced, the compression / decompression engine 72
2 is expanded, and the expanded Y / C data is expanded in the frame memory 78.

The digital encoder 76 receives the Y signal from the frame memory 78 via the frame memory controller 70.
For example, an NTSC color composite video signal is generated based on the input Y / C data, and is output to a video output terminal 82. Also,
When receiving a command to output a monochrome video signal as a movie from the CPU 64, the digital encoder 76 sets the gain of the chroma signal C in the Y / C data to 0 to generate a composite video signal, and sends the composite video signal to the video output terminal 82. Output.

An on-screen device (OSD) controller 74 generates various character signals indicating characters and the like based on a command from the CPU 64 and mixes them with the video signal output from the digital encoder 76. Further, in a photographing print or reproduction print mode, which will be described later, the CPU 64 stores the Y / C data stored in the frame memory 78 into R,
The data is converted into G and B data and stored in the work memory 68.
The R, G, and B data are transferred to the SCSI I / F 62
Is transferred to the digital printer 54 via the. On the other hand, in the case of monochrome printing, when converting the Y / C data into R, G, and B data, the chroma signal C of the Y / C data is discarded, and the luminance signal Y is replaced with Y = R = G = B. The R, G, and B data are transferred to the digital printer 54 via the SCSI I / F 62. The ROM 66 stores a control program and a color correction look-up table (LUT) corresponding to the model of each printer.

Next, the operation of the electronic camera configured as described above will be described. The CPU 64 controls the overall operation of the electronic camera 1, based on various switch inputs from an operation unit 80 including a shutter button 9, a mode dial 10, an up / down dial 11, and the like. The reproduction print mode and the like are determined, and each circuit is controlled according to each mode.

Here, the photographing mode is a mode in which photographed color image data is recorded on the memory card 52.
Set the mode dial 10 of the electronic camera 1 to "AUTO",
Adjust to any one of "P", "S", "A", and "M", and do not connect the extension unit 40 to the electronic camera 1 or switch the slide switch 46 of the extension unit 40 to the SCSI position. This is the mode set in the case.

In the photographing print mode, the photographed image is
This is a mode in which printing is performed immediately on the digital printer 54 connected to the CSI, and the mode dial 1 of the electronic camera 1 is used.
0 is set to any one of "AUTO", "P", "S", "A", and "M", and the slide switch 46 of the extension unit 40 is switched to the SCSI position. This mode is set when the user selects to enable the printer connection below.

The reproduction print mode is a mode in which reproduced images are printed on the digital printer 54 connected to the SCSI.
This mode is set when 0 is set to “PLAY”, the slide switch 46 of the extension unit 40 is switched to the SCSI position, and the DIP switch 48 is set to enable the printer connection under the SCSI mode.

Next, a processing operation when the electronic camera 1 is set to the photographing mode will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG. In this shooting mode, it is first determined whether the mode is the color shooting mode or the black-and-white shooting mode (step S10). The color / monochrome shooting mode is set by turning the mode dial 10 to “SETUP”, rotating the up / down dial 11 to display the color or monochrome item on the liquid crystal display panel 13, and operating the set button 23. It is done by doing.

When the color photographing mode is set, the CPU
The digital encoder 76 capable of switching between a color video signal and a black-and-white video signal in response to a command from the microcomputer 64 outputs a movie of the color video signal to the liquid crystal monitor 50 (see FIG. 5) via the video output terminal 82 (step S1).
2). Thus, the color image is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 50 as a moving image. When the color photographing mode is set, the identification flag F for identifying color / black and white is set to "0" (step S14).

On the other hand, when the monochrome shooting mode is set, the digital encoder 76 outputs a monochrome video signal to the LCD monitor 50 via the video output terminal 82 as a movie (step S16). As a result, the monochrome image is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 50 as a moving image. When the monochrome shooting mode is set, the identification flag F for identifying color / black and white is set to "1" (step S18).

The photographer can confirm whether the image displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 50 is set to the color photographing mode or the monochrome photographing mode depending on whether the image is a color image or a black and white image. Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the shutter button 9 has been turned on (step S).
20). If the shutter button 9 is not turned on, the process returns to step S10, and a color image or a monochrome image is continuously displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 50. Therefore, the composition can be determined while looking at the color image or the black and white image.
It is also possible to switch from the color photography mode to the monochrome photography mode or from the monochrome photography mode to the color photography mode.

When the shutter button 9 is turned on, the R, G, B data for recording is taken in from the CCD 56 (step S22), and the R, G, B data is converted into Y / C data. The result is stored in the frame memory 78 (step S24). The Y / C data stored in the frame memory 78 is compressed by the compression / decompression engine 72 (step S26), and the compressed data is recorded on the memory card 52 (step S28).

The tag of the compressed data (image data) is recorded on the memory card 52, and at this time, the identification flag F indicating the color / monochrome photographing mode is also recorded (step S30). That is, the memory card 52 has a color /
Color image data is recorded irrespective of the monochrome photography mode, and an identification flag F indicating the color / monochrome photography mode is recorded.

Next, the processing operation when the electronic camera 1 is set to the photographing print mode will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. Note that the same steps as those in the shooting mode shown in FIG. 7 are denoted by the same step numbers, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. In the photographing mode, image data is recorded on the memory card 52, but in this photographing print mode, image data is printed out. That is, in step S24, after converting into Y / C data and storing the Y / C data in the frame memory 78, the identification flag F indicating the color / monochrome shooting mode is set.
It is determined whether it is "0" or "1" (step S40).

When the identification flag F is “0” (in the case of the color photographing mode), the Y stored in the frame memory 78 is
/ C data is converted to R, G, B data (step S4
2) The R, G, and B data are stored in the work memory 68 (step S46). On the other hand, when the identification flag F is "1" (in the case of the monochrome photographing mode), the frame memory 7
The chroma signal C of the Y / C data stored in 8 is discarded, the luminance signal Y is replaced with Y = R = G = B (step S44), and the R, G, B data is stored in the work memory 68 (step S44). S46).

The R, G, B data stored in the work memory 68 is stored in the digital printer 54
Are corrected by using the LUT corresponding to, and then transferred to the digital printer 54 (step S4).
8). Next, a print execution is instructed to the digital printer 54 (step S50). Thus, color printing or black-and-white printing is performed by the digital printer 54.

Next, the processing operation when the electronic camera 1 is set to the reproduction print mode will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. The same steps as those in the photographing print mode shown in FIG. 8 are denoted by the same step numbers, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. In the photographing print mode, image data obtained at the time of photographing is immediately printed out, but in the reproduction print mode, image data read from the memory card 52 is printed out.

That is, compressed data (image data) is fetched from the memory card 52 (step S60), the fetched compressed data is decompressed by the compression / decompression engine 72, and the decompressed Y / C data is stored in the frame memory 78. It is developed (step S62). At the start of reproduction, the latest compressed data is fetched from the memory card 52.

Subsequently, it is determined whether the identification flag F indicating the color / monochrome photographing mode recorded in association with the acquired compressed data is "0" or "1" (step S64).
If the identification flag F is "0", the frame memory 7
The digital encoder 76 that generates a video signal from the Y / C data expanded in 8 outputs a color video signal to the liquid crystal monitor 50 via the video output terminal 82 (Step S)
66). On the other hand, if the identification flag F is "1", the digital encoder 76 converts the signal into a monochrome video signal and outputs the monochrome video signal to the liquid crystal monitor 50 via the video output terminal 82 (step S68).

As a result, the color image data photographed and recorded in the color photographing mode is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 50 as a color image, and the color image data photographed and recorded in the black and white photographing mode is converted to a black and white image. And is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 50. Thereafter, in step S70, it is determined whether another image is selected. Whether or not to select another image is determined based on the operation of the up / down dial 11, and when the up / down dial 11 is operated, another compressed data is captured in step S60 according to the operation. Thereby, the frame advance of the reproduced image is performed.

In step S72, it is determined whether or not there is a print instruction for the currently reproduced image. This print instruction is performed by operating the auto / MF button 24, which is shared as an execution button for printing a reproduced image. Then, when there is a print instruction input, it is determined whether the identification flag F is "0" or "1" as described in FIG. 8 (step S4).
0), the Y / C data stored in the frame memory 78 is converted into R, G, B data based on the determination result (step S42 or S44), and the R, G, B data is stored in the work memory 68. It is stored (step S46). Then, the R, G, and B data stored in the work memory 68 are transferred to the digital printer 54 (step S48), and the digital printer 54 is instructed to execute printing (step S50). Thereby, the digital printer 5
4 performs color printing or black and white printing.

In this embodiment, color image data is reproduced on a monitor as a color image or a monochrome image based on an identification flag indicating the color / monochrome photographing mode.
Although color printing or black-and-white printing is performed, the color image data is recorded in the memory card 52 regardless of the color / black-and-white shooting mode.
It is possible to reproduce and print a color image as a black and white image or a black and white image as a color image prior to the identification flag.

In this embodiment, the monitor is externally attached to the electronic camera. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and an electronic camera having an integrated monitor may be used. It may be built-in.

[0060]

As described above, according to the present invention, a color image signal is output to a monitor in a color shooting mode and a monochrome image signal is output to a monitor in a black and white shooting mode. It is possible to easily confirm whether the color photographing mode or the monochrome photographing mode is selected, depending on whether the image is a color image or a monochrome image. In addition, a color image is displayed on the monitor during color printing, and a black and white image is displayed on the monitor during black and white printing. Therefore, it is possible to easily confirm whether color printing or black and white printing is to be performed before starting printing.

Furthermore, regardless of the color / monochrome photographing mode, a color image signal is recorded, and identification information indicating one of the color / monochrome photographing modes is recorded. A captured image can be reproduced and / or printed out as a color image, and an image captured as a black and white image can be reproduced and / or printed out as a black and white image.

Also, regardless of the identification information,
Color / black and white can be set again by switching between black and white, an image shot as a color image can be played back and / or printed out as a black and white image, and an image shot as a black and white image can be played back and / or printed as a color image It can also be printed out. Therefore, when a plurality of identical images are printed on the same paper, such as an ID photograph, mixed printing of color / black and white can be easily realized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing an embodiment of an electronic camera according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the electronic camera shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the electronic camera shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an external perspective view of an extension unit.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a system in which the electronic camera shown in FIG. 1 and a device connected to the electronic camera are combined;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of an internal configuration of an electronic camera or the like.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart used to explain a processing operation in a shooting mode;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart used to explain a processing operation in a photographing print mode;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart used to explain a processing operation in a reproduction print mode.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Electronic camera, 2 ... Photographing lens, 9 ... Shutter button, 40 ... Expansion unit, 52 ... Memory card, 54 ...
Digital printer, 56 ... CCD, 60 ... Card I /
F, 62: SCSI I / F, 64: CPU, 68: Work memory, 70: Frame memory controller, 72
... compression / decompression engine, 76 ... digital encoder, 7
8: frame memory, 80: operation unit, 82: video output terminal

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 5C052 AA17 GA02 GA03 GA05 GB06 GB09 GD09 GE08 5C055 AA09 AA14 BA03 BA06 BA07 BA08 CA07 EA02 EA04 EA19 FA22 HA24 HA31

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A photographing means capable of acquiring a color image signal and a monochrome image signal, a color / monochrome selecting means for selecting a color photographing mode or a monochrome photographing mode, and a color / monochrome photographing mode when recording a photographed image Recording means for recording, on a recording medium, a color image signal acquired by the photographing means irrespective of whether or not the photographing mode at the time of the recording is either a color / monochrome photographing mode; An electronic camera, comprising: a movie output unit that outputs the color image signal to a monitor in a shooting mode, and outputs the monochrome image signal to a monitor in a black and white shooting mode. 2. An electronic camera according to claim 1, further comprising a color / black and white conversion means for processing said color image signal and outputting a black and white image signal. Reading a color image signal recorded on the recording medium at the time of reproduction; outputting the color image signal to a monitor when the identification information recorded together with the color image signal indicates a color photographing mode; 3. The electronic camera according to claim 2, wherein when the identification information indicates a black-and-white shooting mode, the color image signal is converted into a black-and-white image signal by the color / black-and-white conversion means and output to a monitor. 4. An output of a color image signal recorded on the recording medium to a monitor and an output of a monochrome image signal obtained by converting the color image signal through the color / monochrome conversion means to a monitor. 4. The electronic camera according to claim 2, further comprising a switching unit for switching regardless of the identification information. 5. A photographing means capable of acquiring a color image signal and a black-and-white image signal, a color / black-and-white selecting means for selecting color print or black-and-white print, and outputting the color image signal to a monitor when color print is selected. Movie output means for outputting the black and white image signal to a monitor when black and white print is selected; print output means for outputting the color image signal to a printer when color print is selected and outputting the black and white image signal to a printer when black and white print is selected; An electronic camera comprising: 6. An electronic camera according to claim 5, further comprising a color / black and white conversion means for processing said color image signal and outputting a black and white image signal. 7. A color image signal and the identification information from a recording medium in which identification information indicating whether the color image signal was recorded in a color photography mode or a black-and-white photography mode is recorded together with the color image signal. Capturing means for capturing; color / monochrome converting means for processing the captured color image signal to convert it to a black and white image signal; and when the color image signal is recorded in a color photographing mode based on the identification information at the time of printing. If it is determined, the color image signal is output to the printer, and if it is determined that the image is recorded in the black-and-white shooting mode, the monochrome image signal obtained by converting the color image signal through the color / monochrome conversion means is output to the printer. And a print output unit. 8. When the color image signal is determined to be a color image signal recorded in a color photographing mode based on the identification information, the color image signal is output to a monitor and recorded in a monochrome photographing mode. 8. A print control apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising means for outputting a black and white image signal obtained by converting the color image signal through the color / black and white conversion means to a monitor when the color image signal is determined to be a color image signal. apparatus. 9. An output of a color image signal recorded on the recording medium to a monitor and a printer, and an output of a monochrome image signal obtained by converting the color image signal through the color / monochrome conversion means to a monitor and a printer. The print control apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a switching unit configured to switch between the first and second settings regardless of the identification information.