JP2002191014A - Electronic camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic camera that can surely prevent images photographed temporally consecutively by a so-called consecutive shot function from being erased all in mistake. SOLUTION: This electronic camera has a reproduction function that totally displays the images temporally consecutively photographed as one representative image or displays all the images in a spreaded way, and a system controller 28 inquires of a user about erasure of the representative image or total erasure of all the images when the temporally consecutive images photographed by e.g. the consecutive shot function are displayed collectively as the one representative image and an erasure instruction is made while the representative image collectively displayed is selected. The electronic camera executes the erasure of the image according to the result of inquiry so as to surely prevent accidental erasure and efficiently executes individual erasure of the representative image.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electronic camera that captures a subject image using a semiconductor imaging device such as a two-dimensional image sensor. In particular, for example, a plurality of images captured consecutively in time by a so-called continuous shooting function are mistakenly erased collectively. The present invention relates to an electronic camera that reliably prevents the occurrence of an image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a subject image is formed on a semiconductor image sensor, for example, a CCD two-dimensional image sensor by an imaging optical system and converted into an electric signal, and the image data of the obtained subject image is converted into a semiconductor memory or a magnetic field. A so-called electronic camera that records data on a recording medium such as a disk has been widely used.

[0003] This type of electronic camera has, for example, a continuous shooting function, a pre-capture function, an auto bracket function, and the like.
Various functions are provided for continuously photographing a plurality of images.
The continuous shooting function is to repeatedly execute image shooting while the release button is fully depressed, for example, and all images shot at this time are recorded on a recording medium. On the other hand, in the pre-capture function, for example, while the release button is half-pressed, the image is repeatedly shot while using the buffer so as to store a predetermined number in a new order, and when the release button is fully pressed. To
The image stored in the buffer and the photographed image when fully pressed are recorded on a recording medium. In addition, the auto bracket function repeatedly performs image shooting a predetermined number of times while changing the exposure for each frame, centering on the settings of the user, and records the obtained image on a recording medium.

Further, this type of electronic camera is provided with a monitor for reproducing a photographed image recorded on a recording medium, and a user can view the image on the monitor immediately after photographing. Therefore, in order to efficiently use a limited recording medium, it is possible to easily delete unnecessary images on the spot.

[0005]

By the way, in this type of electronic camera, a plurality of temporally continuous images taken by a continuous shooting function, a pre-capture function, an auto bracket function, etc. are collectively displayed as one representative image. It is also possible to expand and display all the images one by one. These are switched according to the operation of the user. Note that the representative image here is, for example, the first captured image when the continuous shooting function is activated, the captured image when the release is fully pressed when the pre-capture function is activated,
This refers to a photographed image or the like based on user-set exposure when the auto bracket function is activated, but is not limited to this, and a representative image may be selected according to an arbitrary rule.

In this type of electronic camera, when an image is to be deleted individually, the image is first displayed on a monitor to make a selection instruction, and then the selection instruction is made by, for example, pressing a delete button or the like. Delete the deleted image. At this time, if the selected image is a representative image at the time of collective display, all of the plurality of images collectively displayed by this representative image are erased collectively.

However, if the user is instructed to delete an image in such a procedure, it is desired that the images be left erroneously when trying to delete each of a plurality of temporally consecutive images individually. There is a possibility that other images may be erased at once. This example will be described with reference to FIGS.

Now, as shown in FIG. 7, it is assumed that six images that are temporally continuous are taken by the continuous shooting function.
Then, it is assumed that the user intends to delete another image while leaving only the second image out of the six images.

[0009] To explain the correct procedure in this case, the user first displays this image on a monitor. FIG.
This is an example of a monitor display at this time, and since images that are temporally continuous are taken by the continuous shooting function, the first image is selected as a representative image and is index-displayed together with other images. That is, in this case, the images continuously photographed by the continuous shooting function are displayed collectively by this one representative image.

Here, the user operates, for example, a cross button or the like to select this representative image from the four images displayed in the index display. When a representative image at the time of batch display is selected, a guide message such as “development → DRIVE” is displayed. By pressing a drive button, the display shifts from batch display to expanded display in which only continuously shot images are collectively displayed. Will be notified. Then, the user presses the drive button,
Switches the monitor display from batch display to expanded display. FIG.
Is an example of the monitor display after switching to the expanded display.

During the expanded display, for example, "Back → DRIV
A guide message such as "E" is displayed, and when the drive button is pressed, it is notified that the display is shifted from the expanded display to the collective display. Here, as in the case of selecting the representative image, the user operates, for example, a cross button or the like to select an unnecessary image, for example, the first image from among the four images that are being expanded and displayed. . And
The user presses the erase button, for example,
An instruction to delete the selected image is issued.

When an instruction to delete an image is given, for example, FIG.
As shown in (2), a selection screen for confirming whether or not to execute the image erasure is displayed. Here, for example, when the OK button is pressed, the image erasure is executed.

With the above procedure, the first image is erased,
By repeating the same procedure for the third to sixth images, the intended purpose of erasing the other images while leaving only the second image out of the six images is achieved. .

Here, referring again to the monitor display shown in FIG. 8, the representative image at the time of batch display, which is index-displayed, is the first image, that is, the image which is unnecessary by the user and which should be deleted. It is. However, selecting and instructing the representative image at the time of batch display and pressing the delete button,
Further, if the OK button is pressed in response to the selection screen shown in FIG. 10, not only the unnecessary first image but also all the images including the second image which is considered to be retained are collectively erased. Will be done.

That is, in the conventional procedure, there is a problem that all images including the image to be retained may be erased collectively by a slight misunderstanding of the user.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and for example, ensures that a plurality of images taken consecutively in time by a so-called continuous shooting function are erroneously erased collectively. To an electronic camera for prevention.

[0017]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, an electronic camera according to the present invention displays a plurality of temporally continuous images taken by, for example, a continuous shooting function as one representative image. When the deletion instruction is given while the representative image at the time of the batch display is selected,
Inquiring whether to delete only the representative image or all of the representative images at once is performed. For this purpose, a plurality of images taken consecutively in time are displayed collectively as one representative image, or An electronic camera having a playback function of expanding and displaying all images; an image selection unit for arbitrarily selecting an image being displayed; an erasure instruction unit for instructing erasure of the image selected by the image selection unit; When an erasure instruction is given by the erasure instruction means, when the image selected by the image selection means is a representative image being displayed collectively, only the representative image is deleted, or the representative image is displayed collectively. Selection screen display means for displaying a selection screen for selecting whether to erase all of the plurality of images collectively, and the selection screen display means Based on the selection in 択画 plane, characterized by comprising an image erasing means for executing erase images.

In the electronic camera according to the present invention, a selection screen for inquiry is displayed in response to an erasing instruction in a state where the representative image at the time of the batch display is selected. Can be confirmed, and when the representative image is an unnecessary image, the individual erasure can be efficiently executed without going through the expanded display.

Whether only the representative image is deleted or not.
Instead of inquiring whether to erase all of the images at once, it is possible to confirm the user's clear intention before erasing a plurality of images at once, only by giving a warning of the execution of the erase.

Further, the electronic camera according to the present invention further comprises a protection means for setting a desired image to erasure inhibition, wherein the image erasing means executes the batch erasure.
When there is an image that is set to the erasure prohibition by the protection means among a plurality of images displayed collectively as the representative image, the image is excluded from the erasure target.

In the electronic camera according to the present invention, further prevention of erroneous erasure is realized for a particularly important image among a plurality of images that are temporally continuous.

[0022]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an appearance of an electronic camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, this electronic camera mainly comprises a camera body 1 and a lens barrel 2.
The camera body 1 has an electronic viewfinder (EVF) 3
A release button 5, a mode dial 6, a cross button 7, an OK button 8, a drive button 9 and an erase button 10 are provided as operation units in addition to a flash unit 4 and a pop-up type strobe 4, and a color liquid crystal display (LCD) is further provided as a display unit. 11 are provided.

Next, a detailed configuration inside the electronic camera will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 2, the amount of subject light passing through a lens 12 provided in the lens barrel 2 is controlled by an aperture 13 and a shutter 14. The aperture 13 mechanically limits the amount of light passing through the subject in accordance with the positions of a plurality of internal blades, and the shutter 14 opens and closes at the position of the blade to pass or block the subject light. It is.

This lens 12, aperture 13, shutter 14
Is guided into the camera body 1 and enters a CCD two-dimensional color image sensor (hereinafter simply referred to as a CCD) 15 which is a color semiconductor image pickup device.
A subject image is formed on the imaging surface of D15.

The CCD 15 constitutes an imaging surface by arranging a plurality of pixels for performing photoelectric conversion in a two-dimensional matrix.
Furthermore, a color filter is arranged on the imaging surface,
The signal charges corresponding to the subject image formed on the imaging surface are accumulated. The CCD 15 is provided with an imaging circuit 16, which controls exposure, reading, element shutter, gain adjustment, power supply, and the like. The output from the CCD 15 is converted into a digital signal by an A / D converter 17 and then guided to an image processing unit 18 where ISO sensitivity setting, auto white balance, luminance /
By performing color signal generation and gamma processing, a color image signal of a predetermined format is generated.

The color image signal generated by the image processing section 18 is temporarily stored in a buffer memory 19 composed of, for example, a DRAM. This buffer memory 1
9 is connected to a liquid crystal controller 20, and a color image signal is
Here, after being converted into a form suitable for display output, it is supplied to a color liquid crystal display (LCD) 11 such as a TFT system and displayed as an image.

The buffer memory 19 is further connected to a compression / expansion unit 21. The compression / expansion unit 21 reads out the image signal stored in the buffer memory 19 and performs a compression (encoding) process, thereby forming a form suitable for recording on the recording medium 22. An expansion processing unit for reading out image data recorded on the medium 22 and performing expansion (decoding) processing. As a method of this compression processing, for example, a JPEG method is used, but it is not limited to this. At the time of reproduction, the expanded image signal is temporarily stored in the buffer memory 19,
A color liquid crystal display (LC)
D) Displayed at 11 as appropriate. As the recording medium 22, for example, a memory card composed of a semiconductor memory such as a card type flash memory is generally used, but the recording medium 22 is not limited to this, and for example, a hard disk or a floppy (registered trademark) disk may be used. Various types of magnetic recording media and the like can be used.

This electronic camera is provided with a peeping type electronic viewfinder (EVF) 3 separately from a color liquid crystal display (LCD) 11, and a finder for an output from an A / D converter 17. The moving image processing of n frames / sec is performed in the image generation unit 23, and as a through image, an electronic viewfinder (EV) is output via the liquid crystal control unit 24.
F) Displayed from 3 or from the color liquid crystal display (LCD) 11 via the liquid crystal control unit 20.

The output from the A / D converter 17 is A
E (automatic exposure) processing unit 25 and AF (automatic focus adjustment)
The image is also input to the processing unit 26 as an image signal.

The AE processing section 25 receives the digitized pixel signals output from the A / D converter 17 and performs an arithmetic processing mainly on the cumulative addition of the pixel signals from each pixel. A according to the brightness of the subject based on
Find the E evaluation value.

The AF processing section 26 receives the digitized pixel signal output from the A / D converter 17, extracts a high-frequency component of the pixel signal for one screen by a high-pass filter, and accumulates the extracted high-frequency component. By performing arithmetic processing such as addition, an AF evaluation value corresponding to the contour component amount on the high frequency side is calculated.

The strobe 4 is a light source for illuminating a subject, and the amount of light emitted from the strobe 4 is controlled by a strobe control circuit 27. The strobe control circuit 27
A strobe capacitor capable of storing a predetermined amount of charge is provided, and the strobe 4 is driven by charging and discharging the strobe capacitor.

The operation of each unit described above is entirely controlled by a system controller 28. The system controller 28 is based on the processing results of the AE processing unit 25 and AF processing unit 26 and commands from the operation unit 30. It controls each unit and is configured using a CPU.

That is, the system controller 28
Based on the AE evaluation value obtained by the E processing unit 25, the aperture 13
By controlling the amount of light, or by controlling the charge accumulation time of the CCD 15 through the photographing circuit 16,
An automatic exposure (AE) process is performed, and based on the AF evaluation value obtained by the AF processing unit 26, the lens 12 is moved in the optical axis direction to perform an automatic focus adjustment (AF) process.

The operation unit 30 generates a command signal for performing various operations based on an operation by a user and transmits the command signal to the system controller 28. Specifically, the operation unit 30 is provided with a first-stage release switch 31 and a second-stage release switch 32 as switches for instructing photographing.

The first-stage release switch 31 generates a command signal for starting AE processing and AF processing, which are preliminary operations performed prior to an image capturing operation. The second-stage release switch 32 receives a command signal generated by the first-stage release switch 41 and generates a command signal for starting an actual image pickup operation of an image. By the way, in the continuous shooting function, while this second-stage release switch 32 is on,
Repeat the image capture. On the other hand, in the pre-capture function, buffering of a captured image is started when the first-stage release switch 31 is turned on, and actual image capturing is performed when the second-stage release switch 32 is turned on. In the auto bracket function, when the second-stage release switch 32 is turned on, a predetermined number of image shootings are executed while changing the exposure around the value of the automatic exposure processing.

Further, a mode switch 33 for setting an operation mode and a photographing mode of the electronic camera, for example, a cross switch for selecting an arbitrary image from a plurality of images displayed as an index, is provided on the operation unit 30. 3
4. OK switch 35 for giving various confirmation instructions, for example, switching between displaying a plurality of temporally continuous images collectively as one representative image or displaying all images one by one. Switch 36 for erasing and erase switch 3 for instructing erasure of an image
7 and the like are provided.

To explain the correspondence with FIG. 1, the first-stage release switch 31 and the second-stage release switch 32
This switch is turned on when the release button 5 is pressed.
Only the step release switch 31 is turned on to give an instruction to prepare for photographing an image, and the AE processing and AF, which are preliminary operations prior to the photographing operation, are controlled by the system controller 28.
Processing is started.

When the release button 5 is fully pressed, the second-stage release switch 32 is also turned on to instruct shooting and recording of an image. The image is shot under the control of the system controller 28 and recorded on the recording medium 27. Is done.

The mode switch 33 is set to the mode dial 6
Is a switch for generating a signal corresponding to the position, and an operation mode and a photographing mode are set by the command signal.
The cross switch 34 is a switch that is turned on when the cross button 7 is pressed. When the cross switch is turned on, for example, a selection frame added to any one of a plurality of images displayed as an index is displayed. Move. O
The K switch 35 is a switch that is turned on when the OK button 8 is pressed. When the OK switch 35 is turned on, for example, the image deletion during the inquiry is actually executed.

The drive switch 36 is turned on when the drive button 9 is pressed. When the drive switch 36 is turned on, for example, batch display / expansion display of a plurality of temporally continuous images is performed. Switch. In addition, the erase switch 37 is an erase button 1
This switch is turned on when 0 is pressed, and when the delete button 10 is turned on, an instruction to delete an image with a selection frame is given.

Further, in addition to the above-described various controls, the system controller 28 reliably prevents a plurality of images taken successively in time by, for example, a so-called continuous shooting function from being accidentally erased collectively. Such as
The erasure prevention control unique to the present invention is provided. Hereinafter, the erroneous erasure prevention control will be described in detail.

In this electronic camera, for example, on the screen shown in FIG. 8, the erase switch 37 is turned on in a state where the representative image at the time of batch display is selected.
0 is pressed, and the OK switch 35 is turned on while the selection screen shown in FIG.
When the button 8 is pressed, instead of immediately executing the batch erasure of all the images including the representative image as in the related art, as shown in FIG. Further displays a selection screen for inquiring whether to erase all at once. Then, when erasing only the representative image is selected on this selection screen, erasing only the representative image is executed, and when batch erasing is selected, all images including the representative image are erased. Perform erasure.

That is, for example, a plurality of temporally consecutive images shot by the continuous shooting function or the like are displayed collectively as one representative image, and an erasing instruction is given in a state where the representative image at the time of the collective display is selected. When this is performed, the electronic camera asks whether to delete only the representative image or all the images including the representative image at once (hereinafter referred to as collective deletion). It is possible to confirm the user's clear intention before the batch erasure, and it is possible to reliably prevent a plurality of images from being erroneously erased in a batch.

The electronic camera has a protection function of setting a desired image to be set to prohibition of erasure. The setting is executed by a selection operation using the cross button 7 and a confirmation operation using the OK button 8. If a protected image is present in a plurality of temporally consecutive images, the protected image is not erased even if batch erasure is selected in the above-described procedure.
Thereby, further prevention of erroneous erasure is realized.

For example, when the deletion of only the representative image is selected on the selection screen shown in FIG.
Only the first image (representative image) of the images is deleted, and during the subsequent index display, as shown in FIG. 4, the second image becomes the representative image and is captured continuously in time. Batch display of a plurality of images is performed. The fact that the delete button 10 is pressed on the screen shown in FIG. 8 means that the user does not consider that at least the first image is unnecessary. Thus, the deletion of only the representative image is added to the options. Thus, when individually deleting the representative images, consideration is given to eliminating waste such as depressing the drive button 9 and temporarily switching to the expanded display.

Note that this inquiry does not have to be made when the OK switch 35 is turned on while the selection screen shown in FIG. 10 is being displayed, that is, when the OK button 8 is pressed. When the delete button 10 is pressed on the screen shown in FIG. 8, it may be determined whether or not the selected image is a representative image at the time of collective display. That is, this inquiry may be made at any timing as long as erroneous batch erasure can be reliably prevented.

Next, the operation procedure of the erroneous erasure prevention control will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. First, with reference to FIG.
The operation procedure will be described.

When the erase button 10 is pressed, the system controller 28 first displays a screen for inquiring whether or not to execute (step A1: for example, FIG. 1).
0). Here, when execution is instructed (Y in step A2)
ES), the system controller 28 checks whether the image instructed to be erased is a continuously shot image (step A3). If the image is not a continuously shot image (NO in step A3), the image is individually erased (step A3). Step A4).

On the other hand, if the image is a continuous image (YES in step A3), the system controller 28 subsequently checks whether or not it is a representative image at the time of batch display (step A).
5) If the batch display is not being performed (NO in step A5: for example, FIG. 10), the image is individually erased (step A4).

If it is a representative image at the time of batch display (YES in step A5), it is inquired whether to delete only this representative image or all of them (step A6: for example, FIG. 3). If the erasure is selected (YES in step A7), only the representative image is erased (step A8), while if the batch erasure is selected (NO in step A7), the representative image is deleted. Batch erasure of all images including images is executed (step A9).

Next, a second operation procedure of the erroneous erasure prevention control will be described with reference to FIG.

When the delete button 10 is pressed, the system controller 28 first checks whether or not the image instructed to be deleted is, for example, a continuously shot image (step B1). If the image is not a continuously shot image (NO in step B1). Then, a screen for inquiring of the execution is displayed (step B2). Here, when execution is instructed (NO in step B3), the system controller 28 executes individual deletion of the image (step B4).

On the other hand, if the image is a continuous image (YES in step B1), the system controller 28 subsequently checks whether it is a representative image at the time of batch display (step B1).
5) If the batch display is not being performed (NO in step B5: for example, FIG. 10), the process proceeds according to the procedure from step B2 described above.

If it is a representative image at the time of batch display (YES in step B5), an inquiry is made as to whether only this representative image is to be erased, whether all the representative images are to be erased at once, or whether to stop the erase (step B6: for example). (Fig. 3). Here, when the cancellation of the erasing is selected (Step B)
7 (YES), this process ends. If the deletion of only the representative image is selected (YE in step B8)
S) Then, a screen for inquiring whether or not to execute is displayed (step B9). When execution is instructed (NO in step B10), only the representative image is deleted (step B11). When the batch erasure is selected (NO in step B8), a screen for inquiring whether or not to execute is displayed (step B12). When execution is instructed (NO in step B13), the representative image is displayed. Batch deletion of all the images including the image is executed (step B14).

As described above, according to the erroneous erasure prevention control of the electronic camera, it is ensured that a plurality of images taken successively in time by, for example, a so-called continuous shooting function are erroneously erased collectively. In addition, the representative image at the time of batch display can be efficiently deleted without undergoing expansion display.

In the above-described embodiment, as an example in which a plurality of temporally continuous images are collectively displayed as one representative image, an example is shown in which the representative image is index-displayed together with other images. It is not limited to this,
The erroneous erasure prevention control is effective even when the erasure is instructed in this case.

In the above-described embodiment, an example has been described in which the erroneous erasure is reliably prevented by inquiring whether to erase only the representative image or all of the representative images. It is also possible to achieve the intended purpose by alerting the execution of.

[0062]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, a plurality of temporally continuous images taken by, for example, a continuous shooting function are displayed collectively as one representative image, and When an erasure instruction is given in the state where the representative image at the time of display is selected, it is asked whether to erase only this representative image or all at once. A selection screen for inquiry is displayed in response to the deletion instruction in the selected state, so that the user's clear intention can be confirmed before deleting a plurality of images at once, and the representative image is unnecessary. When the image is an image, the individual erasure can be efficiently executed without going through the expanded display.

When a protected image is present in a plurality of temporally consecutive images, the image is excluded from the target of collective erasure, thereby more reliably preventing erroneous erasure.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is an exemplary view for explaining a detailed configuration inside the electronic camera of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an exemplary view showing a selection screen displayed by the electronic camera of the embodiment for inquiring whether to delete only a representative image or to delete all images at once.

FIG. 4 is an exemplary view showing an index image displayed by the electronic camera according to the embodiment after deleting only a representative image.

FIG. 5 is an exemplary flowchart for explaining a first operation procedure of erroneous erasure prevention control of the electronic camera according to the embodiment;

FIG. 6 is an exemplary flowchart for explaining a second operation procedure of erroneous erasure prevention control of the electronic camera of the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a first diagram illustrating a problem included in an image erasing procedure adopted by a conventional electronic camera.

FIG. 8 is a second diagram for describing a problem included in an image erasing procedure adopted by a conventional electronic camera.

FIG. 9 is a third diagram illustrating a problem included in an image erasing procedure employed by a conventional electronic camera.

FIG. 10 is a fourth diagram illustrating a problem included in an image erasing procedure adopted by a conventional electronic camera.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 camera body 2 lens barrel 3 electronic viewfinder (EVF) 4 strobe 5 release button 6 mode dial 7 cross button 8 OK button 9 drive button 10 erase button 11 color liquid crystal display ( LCD) 12 ... Lens 13 ... Aperture 14 ... Shutter 15 ... CCD two-dimensional color image sensor (CCD) 16 ... Imaging circuit 17 ... A / D converter 18 ... Image processing unit 19 ... Buffer memory 20 ... Liquid crystal control unit 21 ... Compression / expansion Unit 22 recording medium 23 finder image generating unit 24 liquid crystal display unit 25 AE processing unit 26 AF processing unit 27 strobe control circuit 28 system controller 30 operating unit 31 first release switch 32 second release Switch 33: Mode switch 34: Cross switch 35: OK Pitch 36 ... drive switch 37 ... erase switch

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G03B 19/02 H04N 5/225 F 5C053 H04N 5/225 A 5/907 B 5/765 101: 00 5 / 781 5/91 J 5/907 5/781 510G // H04N 101: 00 520D F term (reference) 2H018 AA32 BE02 2H054 AA01 CB20 CD03 2H102 AB11 BB08 CA12 5C022 AA13 AC18 5C052 AA17 DD02 EE03 EE08 GA02 GB06 GC05 GE06 GE08 5 FA23 KA04 LA01

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An electronic camera having a reproduction function of displaying a plurality of images taken consecutively in time as one representative image at a time, or developing and displaying all images, wherein an image being displayed is arbitrarily selected. An image selecting unit for selecting the image, an erasing instruction unit for instructing erasure of the image selected by the image selecting unit, and when the erasing instruction is issued by the erasing instruction unit, the images selected by the image selecting unit are collectively displayed. When the representative image is being displayed, whether to delete only that representative image,
Or, a selection screen display means for displaying a selection screen for selecting whether to delete all of a plurality of images collectively displayed in the representative image at once, and on the selection screen displayed by the selection screen display means. An electronic camera, comprising: an image erasing unit that erases an image based on the selection of (1). 2. An electronic camera having a reproduction function of displaying a plurality of images taken consecutively in time as one representative image or expanding and displaying all the images. An erasing instruction unit for instructing erasure of the image selected by the image selecting unit; and when the erasing instruction is issued by the erasing instruction unit, the images selected by the image selecting unit are collectively displayed. A warning screen display unit for displaying a warning screen for warning that all the plurality of images collectively displayed in the representative image are collectively erased when the representative image is being displayed; and the warning screen display. An electronic camera, comprising: an image erasing means for erasing an image when execution of batch erasure is instructed on a warning screen displayed by the means. 3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a protection unit configured to set a desired image to erasure prohibition, wherein the image erasure unit performs the protection in a plurality of images displayed collectively by the representative image when the batch erasure is performed. 3. The electronic camera according to claim 1, wherein when there is an image for which erasure is prohibited by the means, the image is excluded from erasure targets. 4. An electronic camera having a reproduction function of displaying a plurality of images taken consecutively in time collectively as one representative image or developing and displaying all the images, wherein: An electronic camera, comprising: a protection unit that sets a desired image to be prohibited from being erased.