JP2003333378A - Imaging apparatus, method for displaying luminance distribution diagram, and control program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an imaging apparatus capable of making a relation clear between an entire object image and a prescribed range of the object image and more surely assisting adjustment of an exposure condition and to provide a method for a displaying luminance distribution diagram and a control program. <P>SOLUTION: The imaging apparatus is configured to include: an imaging means for outputting an electronic object image; a display means (114) for displaying the object image; an entire diagram generating means (118) for generating an entire luminance distribution diagram being a luminance distribution as to all ranges of the object image; a partial diagram generating means (118) for generating a partial luminance distribution diagram being a luminance distribution as to a partial range of the object image; and a control means (116) for control of displaying the entire luminance distribution diagram and the partial luminance distribution diagram on the display means (114) at the same time. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image pickup apparatus for electronically capturing a subject image and confirming information of the subject image on a display screen, a luminance distribution map display method, and a control program.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An image of a subject is electrically captured, and the captured image is used as digital data, for example, CompactFlash (registered trademark) or SmartMedia (registered trademark).
Conventionally, a digital camera has been known as one of imaging devices for recording in a recording medium such as. Digital camera
An image of a subject is electrically captured by an image pickup device such as a CCD, the image is converted into digital data, and the digitized image is controlled to be displayed on a display unit such as a liquid crystal. This control is performed not only when the shutter is operated during shooting, but also when the shooting mode is in the shooting standby state.In this shooting standby state, the subject images are sequentially captured and the thinned images are displayed. It is displayed on the display unit as a through image. Now, even when shooting a subject using such a digital camera, the angle of view is determined like a silver salt camera,
It is necessary to perform various settings such as focusing and determining exposure conditions by adjusting the aperture and shutter speed. The angle of view in the silver halide camera is determined by changing the direction of the silver halide camera so that the subject is within the viewfinder except for the viewfinder. However, the image actually taken is usually a wider range than what you can see from the viewfinder, and you are unfamiliar with determining the angle of view accurately by looking into the viewfinder with a small viewing window. There are also some photographers. On the other hand, a digital camera can use a display unit with a large display screen, and the angle of view of the subject image displayed on this display screen is the angle of view of the subject image that is actually captured. However, the angle of view of the subject can be easily determined.

Further, when the exposure condition is determined using this display screen, the photometry section of the digital camera normally measures the light in a specific range within the angle of view, and the aperture and shutter speed are adjusted based on the result of the photometry. Done. Taking the case of shooting as an example, the brightness value of the subject is calculated based on the shooting signal of the specific range captured from the CCD before shooting, and the photometric unit performs the process of setting this value as the photometric value.
Furthermore, based on the program diagram that shows the relationship between the photometric value, aperture, shutter speed, etc., the aperture and shutter speed conditions for the specific range of photometric values measured by the photometric unit are calculated, and the conditions are set so that the conditions are met. The aperture and shutter speed of the digital camera are automatically adjusted. The specific range can be changed, and spot metering is also performed in which the specific range is narrowed to perform point-wise photometry. By having such a function, the digital camera is adjusted so that the proper exposure of the subject image can always be obtained at the time of shooting.

On the other hand, however, it is difficult to obtain the proper exposure due to an unexpected photographing environment, and it is difficult to obtain the proper exposure according to all the preferences of the photographer. Generally, it also has a function of adjusting the exposure condition. Then, as a guideline for adjusting the exposure condition, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-2452.
04), a luminance distribution map in which the luminance information of the subject image displayed on the display screen is color-coded according to the adjustment value of the exposure condition,
It is a known technique to display them in an overlapping manner. That is, in this publication, the brightness value of each pixel of the subject image displayed on the display screen is calculated, and the statistics (count number) of the number of pixels is calculated for each calculated brightness value. The resulting brightness distribution map is displayed overlaid on the subject image on the display screen, and this brightness distribution map is displayed in different colors according to the brightness value, or when the photographer has reached the limit of adjusting the exposure conditions. A display example of the luminance distribution map, such as coloring the luminance distribution map, is shown. By using this luminance distribution map, it is possible to adjust to appropriate exposure conditions at first glance even when the subject image is too bright or too dark as a whole.

[0005]

By the way, since an image of a subject photographed by a digital camera has a smaller latitude (also called a dynamic range) of the photographed image than that of a silver halide camera, exposure based on a photometry result in a specific range is performed. If shooting is performed under certain conditions, there is a risk that overexposure and underexposure will occur in other areas depending on the shooting environment. The digital camera is usually set as a default to perform photometry centering on the center of the subject, and the exposure condition is set so that the range is properly exposed. Therefore, for example, in a backlit scene, only the center is dark and the surroundings are bright,
When the light is metered in the center of the subject, the luminance distribution diagram is generally biased toward the higher luminance value position, and at first glance it looks like overexposure. In this way, the positioning of the photometric range such as the automatic exposure function (AE) and the positioning of the brightness distribution reflected in the brightness distribution map are different.
There is a problem in the conventional luminance distribution map that the proper exposure calculated by and the impression received from the luminance distribution map are deviated. In addition, the part of the subject image that you want to capture more clearly is not limited to the center, but it may extend to other parts, and even if you try to check the brightness value of that part from the brightness distribution map, it is not possible with the conventional brightness distribution map. It is possible.

Therefore, the present invention clarifies the relationship of the luminance distribution between the entire subject image and a predetermined range of the subject image, and can more reliably assist the adjustment of the exposure condition, the method for displaying the luminance distribution map, And to provide a control program.

[0007]

The present invention is configured as follows to solve the above problems. That is, one of the aspects of the present invention is to create an image pickup means for outputting an electronic subject image, a display means for displaying the subject image, and an overall luminance distribution map which is a luminance distribution for the entire range of the subject image. And a partial view creating unit that creates a partial brightness distribution diagram that is a brightness distribution for a partial range of the subject image, and the entire brightness distribution diagram and the partial brightness distribution diagram on the display unit. And a control means for controlling to display at the same time.

With this configuration, both the whole luminance distribution chart and the partial luminance distribution chart are displayed on the display means, so that the relationship between the two luminance distributions becomes clear. The control means may control the partial luminance distribution map to be overlapped with the corresponding position of the overall luminance distribution map and displayed on the display means.

With this configuration, the above-mentioned 2
It is possible to efficiently represent the correspondence between two luminance distribution maps in a small space. Further, the partial view creating unit may be configured to create the partial brightness distribution diagram based on a photometric range for determining an exposure condition designated on the subject image displayed on the display unit.

With this arrangement, the luminance distribution in the photometric range is the target of the partial luminance distribution chart. Further, it may be configured such that it further has a changing unit for changing the photometric range, and the partial view creating unit creates a partial luminance distribution map according to the changed photometric range.

With such a configuration, the luminance distribution of the changed photometric range becomes the target of the partial luminance distribution map in accordance with the change of the photometric range. Further, the partial view creating means may be configured to create a partial luminance distribution map based on a focus range for focus detection.

With this configuration, the luminance distribution in the focusing range is the target of the partial luminance distribution chart. Further, it may be configured to further include a partial range setting means for setting the partial range which is a creation range of the partial luminance distribution map.

With this configuration, the partial range can be set by the partial range setting means dedicated to the partial range setting. The partial view creating unit creates a brightness distribution map for each of the plurality of set partial ranges, and the control unit causes the display unit to display the plurality of brightness distributions in a mutually distinguishable manner. Such a configuration may be adopted.

With this structure, the correspondence relationship between the plurality of partial luminance distribution charts and the entire luminance distribution chart becomes clear. Further, the control means displays the whole luminance distribution chart and the partial luminance distribution chart on the same scale with respect to the luminance value axis which is one axis of the luminance distribution chart (entire luminance distribution chart and partial luminance distribution chart), Regarding the axis of the frequency of occurrence, which is the other axis, the scale of the partial luminance distribution map may be enlarged and displayed rather than the entire luminance distribution map.

With this configuration, the partial luminance distribution map can be clearly discriminated from the entire luminance distribution map without being buried. Further, the control means further defines a predetermined position inside or in the vicinity of the partial luminance distribution map and at a position corresponding to an average luminance value in a partial range of a subject image for which the partial luminance distribution map is created. May be displayed.

With this configuration, the average luminance value can be easily discriminated even in the dispersed partial luminance distribution chart. Further, one of other aspects of the present invention is a whole luminance distribution chart which is a luminance distribution over the entire range of an electronically imaged subject image and a portion which is a luminance distribution over a partial range of the subject image. Create a luminance distribution map,
A method is adopted in which the partial luminance distribution map is overlapped with the corresponding position of the entire luminance distribution map and the two luminance distribution maps are displayed on the display unit.

By adopting such a method, both the whole luminance distribution chart and the partial luminance distribution chart are displayed in an overlapping manner on the display section, so that the relationship between the two luminance distributions becomes clear. Further, according to another aspect of the present invention, an overall view creating step of creating an overall brightness distribution map, which is a brightness distribution over the entire range of an electronically captured subject image, and a part of the subject image And a partial brightness distribution map for creating a partial brightness distribution map, which is a brightness distribution for a range, and displaying the two brightness distribution maps on the display unit by overlapping the partial brightness distribution map with the corresponding position of the overall brightness distribution map. There are control steps for causing the computer to execute the control steps.

According to this control program, both the whole luminance distribution chart and the partial luminance distribution chart are displayed on the display unit, so that the relationship between the two luminance distributions becomes clear.

[0019]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, a digital camera as an example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a block configuration of the digital camera. Reference numeral 100 in the drawing is Lens which is composed of an optical lens. CCD on this optical axis
102, and the exposure time of the CCD 102 is adjusted based on the setting of the exposure time setting unit 104. Lens1
When the subject image input through 00 is converted into an electric signal by the CCD 102, the subject image is converted to CDS / AD.
The C unit 106 performs gain adjustment and noise removal processing, and converts the digital image data. The digital image data is output to the AE / AF unit 108, and the AE / AF unit 1
At 08, exposure setting and focus detection are performed based on the digital image data. For the exposure (AE), the data in the photometric area is extracted from the digital image data, the subject brightness is measured based on the brightness of the extracted image data, and the exposure is set according to the photometric value. Focusing (AF) is performed by extracting brightness data in a focusing area from digital image data,
The position where the contrast of the brightness data is maximized is detected. Digital image data output from the CDS / ADC unit 106 is subjected to color signal processing, resizing processing, γ conversion processing, and the like in the image processing circuit 110, and display image data output as a result is stored in the display memory 112. Then, it is displayed on the display unit 114, for example, a display unit such as an LCD monitor. A CPU (Central Processing Unit) 116 controls the exposure time setting unit 104 according to the exposure set by the AE / AF unit 108 described above, controls the display unit 114, and controls the image processing circuit 110.
The histogram processing unit 118 that creates a luminance distribution map based on the luminance data of each pixel of the display image data generated in step 1 and calculates the average luminance value is controlled as necessary. When the exposure correction operation is performed from the operation unit 120, the CPU 116 causes the exposure time setting unit 104 to correct and set the exposure time set by the AE / AF unit 108. Also, C
When the PU 116 receives an operation instruction from the operation unit 120 to display the brightness distribution map on the display unit 114, the PU 116 specifies the brightness distribution map to the histogram processing unit 118, for example, in a region set by default or in the display unit 114. The area is processed by being color-coded from other areas, and set processing such as displaying the image data for display displayed on the display unit 114, for example, is performed, and operation of the cross button or the like is performed from the operation unit 120. Then, for example, processing such as displaying predetermined information on the display unit 114 or moving a target mark or various cursors displayed on the display unit 114 is performed. The CPU 116 has a control program for realizing the above processing contents, and performs the above processing by reading and executing the control program.

FIG. 2 is an example of an operation flow of the digital camera having the above block configuration in a photographing standby state. In the shooting standby state in which the through image of the subject is displayed on the display unit 114 of the digital camera (S20
0), the exposure set by the AE / AF unit 108, and if there is an exposure correction operation, the CCD 102 is exposed in accordance with the exposure time set by the exposure time setting unit 104. Is performed (S20
2). After the exposure is completed, the image signals are thinned out and read from the CCD 102 (S204). The thinning-out reading is performed in a shorter time than reading the signals of all the images of the CCD 102, so that a through image with smooth movement can be displayed, and the display unit 114 can display all the pixels of the CCD 102. This is because the number is small compared to the number, and even a thinned-out image does not affect the display image quality. The image signal read out by thinning out is the CDS / ADC unit 106.
In the image processing circuit 110, predetermined gain adjustment and noise removal processing are performed, and further, in the image processing circuit 110, color signal processing, γ conversion processing, resizing processing for display, and the like are performed.
The image data output from is stored in the display memory 112 as display image data (S206). The display image data output from the image processing circuit 110 is also input to the histogram processing unit 118, and the histogram processing unit 118 creates a brightness distribution map based on the brightness data of the display image data (S208). ). The brightness distribution map is displayed together with the display image data on the display unit 114 (S210). The photographer compares the display image data displayed on the display unit 114 with the luminance distribution chart, and if the desired exposure is obtained, issues a photographing instruction included in the operation unit 120. Whether or not there is a shooting instruction is determined (S21).
2) If there is a shooting instruction, shooting is performed (S21).
4). If there is no shooting instruction, the process returns to step S202, exposure is performed again, and a series of display processing is repeated.

The value set in the exposure time setting unit 104 in step S202 can be reset by operating the operation unit 120 or the like. Next, the display unit 114 shows a method of designating a predetermined luminance distribution which is a luminance distribution of a predetermined area of the display image data and a display example of the predetermined luminance distribution with respect to the entire luminance distribution which is the entire luminance distribution of the display image data.
In the following, the case of displaying on the screen will be described as an example.

FIG. 3 shows an example in which the brightness distribution of the display image data surrounded by the target mark displayed in the center of the display unit 114 is displayed in the display unit 114. As shown in the figure, the subject is composed of the person A as the center, the mountain B, the sky C, and the sun D, and the subject image captured from the CCD 102 is displayed on the display unit 114 as display image data.
On the display unit 114, the target mark 300 is at the center, the luminance distribution map 302 of a predetermined size is located on the left side of the target mark 300, and the set value 304 of the current exposure condition is located above the target mark 300, that is, from the left, by the display selection from the operation unit 120. Mode (P, P means program mode), aperture (F1.8), shutter speed (1/250), and exposure compensation (+0.
0), and the number of images (25) that can be taken at the present time is displayed in the lower left. In the luminance distribution diagram 302, the horizontal axis represents the luminance value (for example, if it is 8 bits, 0 to 255 levels are shown), and the vertical axis represents the luminance value count of the pixels in the designated area. Is displayed. In this example, the entire luminance distribution 306 is represented by the hatched area in the figure, and the predetermined luminance distribution 308 based on the area surrounded by the target mark 300 is overlapped and displayed in a shaded manner. In the example of the figure, the predetermined luminance distribution 308 is from the left with respect to the overall luminance distribution 306, that is, the luminance value is lower. When the exposure correction level of the display image data is increased by one step from the operation unit 120, the luminance distribution diagram 302 of the display unit 114 becomes as shown in FIG. That is, the brightness of the entire display image data is increased by increasing the exposure correction level by one step,
The predetermined luminance distribution 308 also becomes higher and moves to the center of the luminance value. The set value of the exposure correction displayed above the display unit 114 is +1.0. As described above, as the luminance distribution chart, both the entire luminance distribution 306 and the predetermined luminance distribution 308 are displayed on the display means, so that an accurate exposure setting can be made by comparing the both distribution charts. Further, since the display modes are displayed differently and overlappingly, it is possible to display the two distribution maps in a small space.

FIGS. 5 to 8 show an example in which the designated area of the predetermined luminance distribution described in FIG. 3 is set to the photometric area instead of the target mark. FIG. 5 shows an example in which the designated area is a photometric area of average photometry in which the entire luminance distribution of the display image data is evaluated and the focal length and brightness are taken into account. As described above, since the photometric area is the entire display image data, the predetermined luminance distribution 308 of the luminance distribution chart 302 displays the entire range of the entire luminance distribution 306 as shown in the figure. In this example, an icon indicating that the photometric method is average photometry is displayed on the upper right of the display unit 114. Further, as in the following example, the photometric condition is changed by changing the position and size of the photometric area, and the shutter speed is also changed. Therefore, the shutter speed displayed on the display unit 114 is the value in FIG. Has changed from.

FIG. 6 shows an example in which the photometric area is defined as an area surrounded by a rectangle having a spread of about 1/4 of the display image data from the center of the display image data, and the photometric area is designated as the designated area. . As shown in the figure, the photometric area is indicated by a dotted line, and in the luminance distribution diagram 302, the predetermined luminance distribution 308 of the photometric area is filled in and displayed with respect to the overall luminance distribution 306 indicated by diagonal lines. Since the target region of the predetermined luminance distribution is wider than that in the case of FIG. 3, the area of the predetermined luminance distribution is also larger than that in FIG. Also in this example, the photometric method is the main photometric method at the upper right of the display unit 114,
That is, it is decided to display an icon indicating that the center-weighted photometry is performed.

FIG. 7 shows an example in which the photometric region is defined as a region surrounded by a rectangle having a spread of about 1/25 of the display image data from the center of the display image data, and the photometric region is designated as the designated region. . As shown in the figure, the photometric area is shown by a dotted line (also in the following example, the designated area or the area that can be designated is shown by a dotted line), and the luminance distribution chart 3
In 02, the predetermined luminance distribution 308 in the photometric region is filled in and displayed with respect to the entire luminance distribution 306 indicated by diagonal lines. Also in this example, the icon 310 indicating that the photometric method is the main photometric method, that is, the spot photometric method is displayed at the upper right of the display unit 114.

FIG. 8 shows an example in which a photometric area surrounded by a movable rectangular cursor is designated as a designated area.
The photometric area has the same size as in FIG. In (8-1) of the figure, it is an example of the case where the center of the photometric cursor coincides with the center of the display image data. The predetermined brightness distribution 308 of the enclosed area is displayed in black. The cursor for photometry can be freely moved in the display unit 114 by operating the cross key button as shown in (8-2) of the figure from the operation unit 120. In this example, from the state of (8-1) in the figure, as shown in (8-2) of the figure, the up button 31
2 shows the case where 2 is pressed, and the result is (8-
As shown in 3), the cursor for photometry moves upward.
At this time, since the designated area is within the photometric cursor, the area designated within the photometric cursor (a part of the sky C in this example)
The luminance distribution of is displayed on the luminance distribution diagram 302 in a state of being shifted to the higher luminance side. Since spot metering is also performed in this example, an icon 310 indicating spot metering is displayed at the upper right of the display unit 114. As described above, since the predetermined brightness distribution corresponds to the brightness in the photometric area, it can be associated with AE.

FIG. 9 shows an example in which the designated area of the predetermined brightness distribution is an autofocus (AF) area. In the example shown,
This is an example in which five AF areas have already been set in a cross arrangement. A desired AF area is selected from these AF areas as shown in FIG.
By pressing the cross key button of the operation unit 120 as shown in (8-2), the predetermined brightness distribution of the AF area is displayed on the display unit 114. In the example of the figure, the AF area on the right side of the center is selected, and the predetermined luminance distribution of this AF area is displayed on the display unit 114 as described above. In this example, the luminance distribution map 302 is displayed at the lower right of the display unit 114 so as not to overlap the AF area. As described above, since the predetermined brightness distribution corresponds to the brightness in the focusing range, it becomes possible to easily set the exposure to the focusing target.

FIG. 10 shows an example in which a designated area having a predetermined brightness distribution is surrounded by a dedicated cursor dedicated to the brightness distribution measurement. In the example of the figure, a rectangular exclusive cursor is arranged above the AF area, and the area surrounded by the exclusive cursor is displayed in the luminance distribution diagram 302 in the above manner. Although not shown in the drawing, this dedicated cursor can be freely moved in the display unit 114 by operating the cross key button of the operation unit 120 as shown in (8-2) of FIG. The luminance distribution diagram 302 is displayed as described above.

FIG. 11 (11-1) shows an example in which the screen is divided into a plurality of areas and the brightness distribution of each area is displayed in the brightness distribution chart 302 in different colors. In this example, the screen is divided into nine (E1 to E9) on the display unit 114 as indicated by a broken line, and each predetermined luminance distribution of each divided predetermined area is color-coded and displayed on the luminance distribution diagram 302. (11-2) of the figure is an enlarged view of the luminance distribution diagram 302. Regions of different colors shown by E1 to E9 in (11-2) of the figure show respective luminance distributions corresponding to the luminance of the regions of E1 to E9 of (11-1) in the figure. Note that the luminance distribution chart 3
In 02, as shown in (11-3) of the figure, the average luminance value for each predetermined area may be color-coded and displayed with respect to the entire luminance distribution. Further, in this example, all the divided areas are not displayed as the predetermined areas on the luminance distribution diagram 302, but are designated by the operation of the cross key button from the operation unit 120 as shown in (8-2) of the figure. The divided area may be displayed as a predetermined area in the luminance distribution diagram 302 as described above. Further, the predetermined luminance distributions may be displayed in different colors. As described above, the display of the predetermined luminance distribution makes it possible to collectively judge the luminance for each area of the entire screen.

FIG. 12 shows an example of an enlarged display method of the luminance distribution diagram 302. Since the predetermined area described above, particularly the predetermined area designated by spot metering, has a small number of pixels, the area displayed for the entire luminance distribution is small and the visibility is poor. Therefore, in this example, an example is shown in which the predetermined luminance distribution is enlarged and displayed with respect to the entire luminance distribution. As shown in the figure, in contrast to the luminance distribution diagram 302 having a small predetermined luminance distribution 308 (12-1), a new luminance distribution diagram in which the predetermined luminance distribution 308 is enlarged and displayed without changing the overall luminance distribution 306 ( 12-2) is shown. This new luminance distribution map may be set to this setting from the beginning, or the operation unit 1
It may be replaced with (12-1) by a selection switching button from 20 or the like, and there are various switching methods.

FIG. 13 is an example of a display method of the predetermined brightness distribution displayed on the brightness distribution chart 302. This is particularly effective when the luminance distribution in the predetermined area is dispersed. In this example, the average luminance of the predetermined luminance distribution is obtained, and the average luminance value is indicated by (1
As shown in 3-1), an instruction mark 314 such as Δ is displayed in the vicinity of the luminance distribution diagram 302 (immediately below the luminance distribution diagram 302 in the example of the figure). Also, as another example,
As shown in FIG. 13B, a vertical line 316 is displayed at the position of the average luminance value in the luminance distribution diagram 302 so as to extend over the entire count number direction, or as shown in FIG. For example, by displaying another instruction mark 318 such as ▽ above the position of the average luminance value in the distribution map 302,
There are various ways to give instructions.

Regarding the display layout of the brightness distribution chart described above, the size, shape and layout may be set as appropriate, and the display layout is not so large that the display image data displayed together is too large. Is desirable. Further, the brightness distribution map may be made semi-transparent and displayed on the display image data, or the display method may be appropriately set such that the brightness distribution map is displayed or hidden by switching instructed from the operation unit 120. You can do it.

Further, since it is sufficient to distinguish the entire luminance distribution and the predetermined luminance distribution at a glance, it is possible to appropriately set them as long as they are visually recognizable methods such as a pattern, in addition to the color classification. Further, in the present embodiment, the histogram display in which the luminance distribution diagram is composed of the luminance value and the number of counts has been described as an example, but in addition to this, a graphical display such as a pie chart may be used depending on the situation. .

Further, various cursors for designating the predetermined area do not have to be rectangular and can be set appropriately. Further, the brightness distribution map and the display image data may be displayed independently, or a dedicated display unit for displaying only the brightness distribution map may be provided separately.

Further, in the present embodiment, an example is shown in which various luminance distributions of the display image data acquired in the photographing standby state are displayed, but, for example, it is recorded from a recording unit (not shown). It is also possible to apply in other situations, such as reading the photographed image data on the display unit 114 and displaying the various luminance distributions on the read photographed image data.

In the present embodiment, the various luminance distribution map displays described above are applied to a digital camera. For example, when a still image or a moving image of a video camera is on standby, or when the captured image data is displayed. It can also be applied when reading to a department. In the digital camera configured in this manner, the relationship between the brightness distribution of the entire captured image of the subject and the predetermined area of the target image becomes clear, so that, for example, the luminance value of the overall brightness distribution at the time of shooting is biased. If the photographer does not easily adjust the exposure condition so that the bias is eliminated, the photographer can adjust the exposure condition by considering whether or not the brightness value of the target area is appropriate. It becomes possible to use it as a standard for setting the exposure condition in consideration of the balance between the whole and the predetermined area.

Further, by designating the predetermined area as the photometric area, the brightness distribution of the photometric area becomes clear. Further, by setting the designation of the above-mentioned predetermined area as the focus area,
The brightness distribution in the focused area becomes clear, and by moving the focused area, the brightness distribution can be confirmed in any area that can be moved within the subject image.

Further, by making it possible to specify the above-mentioned predetermined area with a dedicated cursor, the brightness distribution in the dedicated cursor becomes clear, and by moving the dedicated cursor, the area can be moved within the subject image. If so, the luminance distribution can be confirmed in any area.

Further, by displaying the brightness distributions of a plurality of predetermined areas of the subject image at the same time, the relationship between the brightness distributions of the designated areas becomes clear. Further, by enlarging and displaying the luminance distribution of the designated area, the luminance distribution becomes clear particularly in the designated area where the area is narrow.

Further, by adding an instruction mark indicating the average of the luminance distribution of the designated area to the luminance distribution chart, the correspondence between the dispersed luminance distribution of the designated area and the overall luminance distribution becomes clearer. As described above, the present invention is realized by the CPU reading the control program data relating to the contents of the above processing from the memory and executing the control program data.
Therefore, the control program, the storage medium storing the control program, or the program product are also included in the present invention. The control program data may be stored in a nonvolatile built-in memory of the digital camera from a portable memory card such as SmartMedia (registered trademark) instead of being recorded in the built-in memory of the digital camera in advance, or network communication. It is also possible to configure a digital camera equivalent to the present invention by storing it in the nonvolatile built-in memory of the digital camera via the.

[0041]

As described above, according to the present invention, the relationship between the brightness distribution of the entire subject image and the predetermined range of the subject image can be clarified, and the adjustment of the exposure condition can be more reliably assisted. As a result, desired exposure conditions can be set.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an example of a block configuration of a digital camera.

FIG. 2 is an example of an operation flow of the digital camera in a shooting standby state.

FIG. 3 is an example in which a luminance distribution surrounded by target marks is displayed in a display unit 114.

FIG. 4 is an example in which the exposure correction level is increased by one step from the state shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is an example in which a photometric area of average photometry is set as a designated area.

FIG. 6 is an example of a case where a photometric area of center-weighted photometry is set as a designated area.

FIG. 7 is an example of a case where a photometric area of spot photometry is set as a designated area.

FIG. 8 shows an example in which a movable photometric area is set as a designated area.

FIG. 9 is an example of a case where an AF area is used as a designated area.

FIG. 10 is an example of a case where an area surrounded by a dedicated cursor is a designated area.

FIG. 11 is an example in which a plurality of designated areas are displayed in different colors.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged display example of a predetermined luminance distribution.

FIG. 13 is an example of a case where an instruction mark having an average brightness of a predetermined brightness distribution is displayed.

[Explanation of symbols]

100 Lens 102 CCD 104 Exposure time setting section 106 CDS / ADC section 108 AE / AF section 110 image processing circuit 112 display memory 114 display 116 CPU 118 Histogram processing unit 120 control panel

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Masami Totsuka             2-43 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Ori             Inside Npus Optical Industry Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Takashi Fujii             2-43 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Ori             Inside Npus Optical Industry Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Akira Yukitake             2-43 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Ori             Inside Npus Optical Industry Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hisashi Yokokawa             2-43 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Ori             Inside Npus Optical Industry Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 5C022 AA13 AC01 AC13 AC42 AC69

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. An image pickup means for outputting an electronic subject image, a display means for displaying the subject image, and an overall diagram creating means for producing an overall luminance distribution chart which is a luminance distribution over the entire range of the subject image. And a partial view creating means for creating a partial brightness distribution map which is a brightness distribution for a part of the subject image, and control for simultaneously displaying the whole brightness distribution map and the partial brightness distribution map on the display means. An image pickup apparatus comprising: 2. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the display unit to display the partial luminance distribution map so as to overlap the corresponding position of the entire luminance distribution map. . 3. The partial view creating unit creates a partial luminance distribution map based on a photometric range for determining an exposure condition designated on the subject image displayed on the display unit. Item 1. The imaging device according to Item 1 or 2. 4. The changing means for changing the photometric range is further included, and the partial view creating means creates a partial luminance distribution map in accordance with the changed photometric range.
The imaging device described. 5. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the partial view creating unit creates a partial luminance distribution map based on a focus range for focus detection. 6. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a partial range setting unit that sets the partial range which is a creation range of the partial luminance distribution map. 7. The partial view creating unit creates a brightness distribution map for each of the plurality of set partial ranges, and the control unit allows the display unit to distinguish the plurality of brightness distributions from each other. The image pickup device according to claim 2, wherein the image pickup device is displayed. 8. The control means displays the whole luminance distribution chart and the partial luminance distribution chart on the same scale with respect to the luminance value axis which is one axis of the luminance distribution chart, and the occurrence frequency number which is the other axis. The image pickup apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein a scale of the partial luminance distribution map is enlarged and displayed with respect to the axis of (1). 9. The control means further includes a position inside or near the partial luminance distribution map, which corresponds to an average luminance value in a partial range of a subject image for which the partial luminance distribution map is created. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a predetermined display is displayed on the display. 10. An overall luminance distribution map, which is a luminance distribution over the entire range of an electronically captured subject image, and a partial luminance distribution diagram, which is a luminance distribution over a partial range of the subject image, are created. A method for displaying a brightness distribution map, characterized in that the two brightness distribution maps are displayed on a display unit by overlapping the partial brightness distribution maps at corresponding positions of the whole brightness distribution map. 11. An overall map creating step of creating an overall brightness distribution map that is a brightness distribution for the entire range of an electronically captured subject image, and a part that is a brightness distribution for a partial range of the subject image. A step of creating a partial brightness distribution map and a step of controlling the partial brightness distribution map to overlap the corresponding positions of the overall brightness distribution map to display the two brightness distribution maps on a display unit; Control program to let.