JP2004053722A - Camera - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a camera with which a desired picture can be taken under desired conditions without missing a photo opportunity. <P>SOLUTION: On the top surface of the camera 10, a plurality of release buttons 18A, 18B , and 18C are provided and to the release buttons 18A to 18C, different functions (photographic modes and photographic conditions) can be allocated at a user's choice. For example, focus positions (in-focus object distances) of "∞ (infinity)", "5m", and "1m" are set to the respective release buttons 18A to 18C respectively. Setting information is stored in an EEPROM in the camera 10. The contents of the functions set to the respective buttons 18A to 18C are displayed at function display parts 22A to 22C. A photographer decides which release button should be depressed in photography and only depresses the corresponding release button to speedily takes an intended picture. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a camera, and more particularly to a camera having a plurality of release buttons.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-313247 proposes a camera having two release buttons. According to this, the release button is properly used depending on how the camera is held in correspondence with the landscape orientation shooting (horizontal shooting) and the portrait orientation shooting (vertical shooting).
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above-described conventional camera, the two release buttons have the same function and operate the one that is easier to press when holding the camera. In recent years, in response to diversification of applications, full-auto shooting mode, shutter priority mode, aperture priority mode, manual mode, portrait mode, landscape mode, macro mode, sport mode, night view mode, etc. , Has various shooting modes. On the other hand, it takes time to change the setting of the shooting mode and shooting conditions, and a momentary photo opportunity may be missed.
[0004]
The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a camera capable of taking a desired photograph under desired conditions without missing a photo opportunity.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
To achieve the above object, the camera according to the present invention includes a plurality of release buttons, selection means for a user to select a function to be assigned to each release button, and assignment to each release button according to a selection operation of the selection means. Storage means for storing information on the function that has been performed, and control means for performing control according to the information stored in the storage means so as to realize an operation corresponding to the operated release button among the plurality of release buttons. It is characterized by having.
[0006]
That is, the camera of the present invention includes a plurality of release buttons, and each release button can have different functions (shooting mode and shooting conditions). The user can freely set what function is assigned to each release button. The user operates the selection means to set a desired function in advance on each release button. For example, the user sets frequently used shooting modes and shooting conditions. Release button setting information (function information associated with the release button) is stored in storage means in the camera. It is preferable to use a non-volatile storage means such as an EEPROM as the storage means.
[0007]
At the moment when the release button is pressed (during shooting), the user determines which release button should be pressed according to the shooting purpose and presses the corresponding release button. By pressing the release button, shooting is performed based on the function assigned to the release button. As a result, a desired photograph can be taken under desired conditions without missing a photo opportunity.
[0008]
According to one aspect of the present invention, in addition to the above-described configuration, display means for displaying the contents of the function assigned to each release button, and display on the display means according to the setting of the function corresponding to the release button And display control means for changing the contents.
[0009]
Since the user can freely select the function of the release button, it is preferable that the function of each button is clearly indicated to the user by the display means.
[0010]
Further, according to another aspect of the present invention, in a camera having a plurality of release buttons, each release button has a different focus position setting, a strobe mode setting, an autofocus (AF) mode setting, a scene select setting, Compression rate setting, image size setting, ISO sensitivity setting, white balance setting, or still image and movie recording mode setting are assigned, and corresponds to the operated release button among the plurality of release buttons. The photographing operation is executed according to the setting to be performed.
[0011]
By setting different functions to multiple release buttons in advance, the photographer can quickly capture the desired photo without missing a photo opportunity and without making troublesome mode settings and condition settings. You can shoot under certain conditions.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a camera according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Here, a digital camera will be described as an example, but the present invention can be applied to various cameras such as a silver salt camera and an instant camera regardless of an image recording method.
[0013]
FIG. 1 is a front view of a camera according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a top view. The camera 10 is a digital camera that converts an optical image of a subject into digital image data and records it on a recording medium such as a memory card. As shown in FIG. 1, a photographing lens 12, an optical viewfinder window 14, and a strobe (electronic flash device) 16 are provided on the front surface of the main body 11 of the camera 10, and a rear portion of the photographing lens 12 is not shown. A CCD solid-state imaging device is provided. Instead of the CCD solid-state image sensor, another type of image sensor such as a MOS type may be used.
[0014]
As shown in FIG. 2, three release buttons 18 </ b> A, 18 </ b> B, 18 </ b> C and a power switch 20 are provided on the upper surface of the camera 10. Each release button 18A, 18B, 18C can be assigned a different function (shooting mode or shooting condition) according to the user's selection.
[0015]
Near the release buttons 18A, 18B, and 18C, liquid crystal display units (hereinafter referred to as function display units) 22A, 22B, and 22C for displaying functions assigned to the buttons are provided. The function display units 22A to 22C are means for displaying the function information of the release buttons 18A to 18C by characters, symbols, simple icons (pictograms), or a combination thereof, and the functions set in the release buttons 18A to 18C are used. Accordingly, the display contents of the display units 22A to 22C are changed. In addition, each of the function display units 22A to 22C may be configured by separate displays, or may be configured by dividing a display area using a single display.
[0016]
FIG. 3 is a rear view of the camera 10. On the back of the camera 10, a viewfinder 24, a liquid crystal monitor 26, a mode selection switch 28, an up / down lever 30, a left / right button 32, a cancel button 34, a menu / OK button 36, and a display button 38 are provided. Reference numeral 40 denotes a grip portion for making it easier to hold the camera 10.
[0017]
The liquid crystal monitor 26 can be used as an electronic viewfinder for checking the angle of view at the time of shooting, and can reproduce and display recorded images. The liquid crystal monitor 26 is also used as a user interface display screen, and displays information such as menu information, selection items, and setting contents as necessary. Instead of the liquid crystal monitor 26, other types of display devices (display means) such as an organic EL may be used.
[0018]
The mode selection switch 28 is operation means for switching the operation mode of the camera 10. When the mode selection switch 28 is slid to stop at the “shooting mode position” (the stop position on the left side in FIG. 3), the camera 10 is set to a shooting mode (a mode for shooting and recording an image). When the mode selection switch 28 is stopped at the “playback mode position” (the stop position on the right side in FIG. 3), the camera 10 is set to a playback mode (a mode for playing back a captured image).
[0019]
The menu / OK button 36 is an operation button having both a function as a menu button for instructing display of a menu screen and a function as an OK button for instructing confirmation and execution of selection contents. The cancel button 34 is used to delete a desired target such as a selection item, cancel an instruction content, or return to the previous operation state.
[0020]
The up / down lever 30 and the left / right button 32 are operation units for inputting instructions in four directions, up, down, left, and right. For example, an item is selected from a menu screen, or various setting items are selected from each menu. It functions as a button (cursor moving operation means). The up / down lever 30 functions as a zoom switch at the time of shooting or a playback zoom switch at the time of playback, and the left / right button 32 functions as a frame advance (forward / reverse direction) button in the playback mode. Instead of the up / down lever 30 and the left / right button 32, a cross button may be used. The display button 38 is an operation means for switching on / off the liquid crystal monitor 26 and switching a reproduction method and presence / absence of screen display (display / non-display of information such as frame number).
[0021]
FIG. 4 is a principal block diagram of the camera 10 exemplifying means for realizing the function assignment to the release buttons 18A to 18C. The CPU 42 mounted on the camera 10 functions as a control unit that controls the camera system according to a predetermined program, and also performs a calculation unit such as an automatic exposure (AE) calculation and an automatic focus adjustment (AF) calculation. Function as. That is, the CPU 42 controls the operation of each circuit in the camera 10 based on an instruction signal input from the up / down lever 30, the left / right button 32, or other operation unit, for example, lens drive control, shooting operation control, Image processing control, image data recording / reproduction processing control, strobe light emission control, function setting control of the release buttons 18A to 18C, display control of the function display units 22A to 22C, display control of the liquid crystal monitor 26, and the like are performed.
[0022]
The CPU 42 includes a ROM (Read Only Memory) (not shown) in which a control program and various data are stored, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) (not shown) used as a work area for performing various arithmetic processes. Yes. The CPU 42 is connected to an EEPROM 44 which is a nonvolatile storage means. Information on the functions assigned to the release buttons 18A to 18C is stored in the EEPROM 44. The information content stored in the EEPROM 44 is retained even when the camera 10 is turned off. The CPU 42 performs rewrite control of information in the EEPROM 44 based on a user operation, and performs operation control when the release buttons 18A to 18C are pressed and display control of the function display units 22A to 22C according to the information in the EEPROM 44.
[0023]
Next, the operation of the camera 10 configured as described above will be described.
[0024]
As a first example, an example will be described in which three types of focus positions (in-focus subject distances) are set to correspond to the three release buttons 18A to 18C, respectively. If the AF mode is set in the conventional AF camera, AF and AE are executed by half-pressing the release button, and shooting is performed with the focus position adjusted based on the AF result when the release button is fully pressed. To be controlled.
[0025]
However, AF processing requires a certain amount of time. Particularly, in a digital camera that performs CCDAF (contrast AF) using a video signal, the time required for AF is relatively long, and a photo opportunity may be missed. . On the other hand, if the focus position is fixed in the “manual focus (MF) mode”, the AF time is not necessary, but the focus distance is fixed to one, and it is impossible to immediately shoot subjects at various distances. There are drawbacks.
[0026]
Therefore, in the camera 10 according to the present embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 5, shooting operations with focus positions of “∞ (infinity)”, “5 m”, and “1 m” are assigned to the three release buttons 18A to 18C, respectively. . The photographer determines how far the subject is at the time of shooting, and presses the release button 18A, 18B, or 18C suitable for it. Thereby, photographing of the focus position according to the setting is executed.
[0027]
Since the focus position is set in advance for each of the release buttons 18A to 18C, the AF time is not required as in the “MF mode”, and it is possible to take a picture without missing a photo opportunity. Note that the photographer can freely select (set) what focus position is assigned to each of the release buttons 18A to 18C, and the specific focus position is also “∞ (infinity)” or “5 m”. , The example is not limited to “1 m”, and can be designated by the user as appropriate. It is also possible to assign the “AF mode” to one of the three release buttons 18A to 18C.
[0028]
As a second example, an example in which strobe light emission conditions are made to correspond to the release buttons 18A to 18C will be described. Conventional AE cameras are known that perform shooting by automatically firing a strobe according to the brightness of a subject. Also, not only the brightness of the entire screen (shooting image frame) but also the brightness distribution in the screen is automatically determined. For example, if the center of the screen is dark and the periphery is bright, it is determined that the scene is backlit and the flash is turned on. A camera that automatically shoots and takes a picture is also known.
[0029]
However, depending on the scene, there are cases where the strobe wants to emit light, but it does not emit light, or conversely, there is a case where it does not want the strobe to emit light but automatically emits light. For example, even if the subject is at a distance that the strobe light does not reach, even if it is determined that the subject is “dark” based on the result of AE and the strobe is fired, only a dark photograph can be taken. In such a scene, it is desirable to shoot with a strobe disabled and a long shutter speed.
[0030]
Therefore, in the camera 10 according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, two flash release buttons 18A and 18B out of the three release buttons 18A to 18C are set to “strobe flash prohibition mode” and “forced flash mode”, respectively. assign. The photographer may determine the necessity / unnecessity of the strobe light according to the subject and press the release button 18A or 18B suitable for it. Thereby, shooting is executed in the strobe mode according to the setting.
[0031]
According to this aspect, the photographer can take an intended photograph without setting the flash emission with another button or menu screen. The “automatic light emission mode” may be assigned to the third release button 18C.
[0032]
Here, a procedure for assigning a function to the release buttons 18A to 18C (customizing the release buttons 18A to 18C) will be described.
[0033]
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a user interface screen when customizing the release buttons 18A to 18C. The customization operation is performed according to the following procedure.
[0034]
[Procedure 1] First, the menu / OK button 36 is pressed to display the menu screen on the liquid crystal monitor 26 as shown in FIG. 7A, and "release customization" is selected from the menu. The cursor is moved with the up / down lever 30 and the selection is confirmed (executed) with the menu / OK button 36. By this selection operation, the camera 10 enters a customization mode (a mode for assigning functions of the release buttons 18A to 18C). Note that a dedicated operation unit such as a customization button may be provided in the camera 10 and the mode may be shifted to the customization mode by operating the operation unit (customization button or the like).
[0035]
[Procedure 2] When the customize mode is entered, a list of customization items is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 26 as shown in FIG. The user selects an item to be customized from the list display. For example, select “Flash firing conditions”.
[0036]
[Procedure 3] Next, as shown in FIG. 7C, a release button selection screen to be assigned is displayed, and the user selects the release button to be customized. For example, the release button B (18B) is selected.
[0037]
[Procedure 4] Next, as shown in FIG. 7D, assignable function (content) candidates are displayed. The user selects a desired function from the displayed functions. For example, “prohibit light emission” is selected.
[0038]
[Procedure 5] When a function to be assigned is selected, a confirmation screen is displayed as shown in FIG. When the user inputs a “YES” command, the selected function is associated (assigned) with respect to the designated release button, and the function setting information in the EEPROM 44 is rewritten.
[0039]
The functions that can be assigned to the release buttons 18A to 18C are not limited to the examples shown in FIGS. FIG. 8 to FIG. 14 show other allocation examples. In FIG. 8, the difference in AF mode is associated with the release buttons 18A and 18B. The normal mode is, for example, a mode in which shooting can be performed in a range of the subject distance from about 80 cm to infinity. The macro mode is a mode suitable for short-distance shooting, and shooting is possible within a subject distance range of about 20 cm to 80 cm.
In FIG. 9, the scene select is associated with the release buttons 18A to 18C. The scene select is a mode for automatically performing settings suitable for a shooting scene such as a person (portrait) / landscape / night view / sports. In the portrait mode, the depth of field is shallow and the background is beautifully blurred. In the landscape mode, you can take a deeply focused picture from the near view to the distant view by increasing the depth of field. The night view mode allows you to take beautiful sunset and night view photos with exposure control suitable for dark subjects. Sports mode allows you to take lively sports photos with fast shutter speeds and stopped moving for a moment. It is possible to assign different scene select modes to the release buttons 18A to 18C.
[0040]
FIG. 10 shows an example in which the difference in compression rate is associated with the release buttons 18A to 18C. According to FIG. 10, each release button 18 </ b> A to 18 </ b> C corresponds to a standard compression rate (for example, 1/8 JPEG), high image quality (for example, 1/4 JPEG), and non-compression.
[0041]
11 shows an example in which the difference in image size (pixel size), the difference in camera sensitivity (ISO sensitivity) in FIG. 12, and the difference in white balance in FIG. 13 correspond to the release buttons 18A to 18C. In FIGS. 5 to 13, an example of performing “one-shot shooting” in which one still image is recorded by pressing the release button 18 </ b> A, 18 </ b> B, or 18 </ b> C has been described, but a digital camera capable of recording still images and moving images. In this case, as shown in FIG. 14, it is also possible to assign a difference between the still image and moving image recording modes to the release buttons 18A and 18B. That is, in FIG. 14, when the release button 18A is pressed, still image shooting is executed, and when the release button 18B is pressed, moving image shooting is executed.
[0042]
As described above, by setting different functions (shooting modes and shooting conditions) in advance for the plurality of release buttons 18A to 18C provided on the main body 11 of the camera 10, the photographer can bother from the menu screen or the like. Even if the setting is not changed, an intended photograph can be taken quickly by simply pressing one of the release buttons 18A, 18B or 18C.
[0043]
In the embodiment described above, the three release buttons 18A to 18C are provided. However, the number of release buttons is not limited to three when the present invention is implemented, and an appropriate number of two or more can be provided.
[0044]
Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the digital camera was illustrated, the application range of this invention is not limited to a digital camera, It can apply also about other cameras regardless of recording formats, such as a silver salt camera. For example, the function assignment examples shown in FIGS. 5, 6, 8, and 9 can be similarly applied to a silver salt camera.
[0045]
Further, in the above embodiment, the release buttons 18A to 18C are customized using the liquid crystal monitor 26. However, when the present invention is implemented, the release buttons 18A are displayed using the display of the function display units 22A to 22C. A mode of performing an operation of selecting a function of -18C is also possible.
[0046]
Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the user can freely set the functions of the release buttons 18A to 18C. However, any of the function assignments illustrated in FIGS. It is also possible to realize a camera in which such an allocation example is set in advance.
[0047]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the camera of the present invention, the plurality of release buttons are configured to have different functions (shooting mode, shooting conditions), so that the photographer does not miss a photo opportunity or is troublesome. It is possible to shoot an intended photograph speedily under desired conditions without performing mode setting or condition setting.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a front view of a camera according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a top view of the camera shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a rear view of the camera of this example. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example in which different focus positions are assigned to a plurality of release buttons. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example in which different release positions are assigned to a plurality of release buttons. Diagram showing an example of assignment [FIG. 7] Screen transition diagram showing a procedure for customizing release buttons [FIG. 8] Diagram showing an example of assigning different AF modes to a plurality of release buttons [FIG. 9] Multiple release buttons FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example in which different scene selections are assigned to each. FIG. 10 shows an example in which different compression ratios are assigned to a plurality of release buttons. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example in which different image sizes are assigned to a plurality of release buttons. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example in which different ISO sensitivities are assigned to a plurality of release buttons. FIG. Chart showing examples of assigning different white balances. [FIG. 14] Chart showing examples of assigning different still image or movie recording modes to a plurality of release buttons.
10 ... Camera, 18A, 18B, 18C ... Release button, 22A, 22B, 22C ... Function display section, 26 ... LCD monitor, 30 ... Up / down lever, 32 ... Left / right button, 34 ... Cancel button, 36 ... Menu / OK button, 42 ... CPU, 44 ... EEPROM

Claims (3)

Multiple release buttons,
A selection means for the user to select a function to be assigned to each release button;
Storage means for storing information on the function assigned to each release button according to the selection operation of the selection means;
Control means for controlling to realize an operation corresponding to the operated release button among the plurality of release buttons according to the information stored in the storage means;
A camera characterized by comprising Display means for displaying the contents of the function assigned to each release button;
Display control means for changing display contents on the display means in accordance with the setting of the function corresponding to the release button;
The camera according to claim 1, further comprising: In cameras with multiple release buttons,
Each release button has a different focus position setting, strobe mode setting, auto focus (AF) mode setting, scene select setting, compression rate setting, image size setting, ISO sensitivity setting, white balance setting, Or the recording mode settings for still images and movies are assigned,
A camera, wherein a shooting operation is executed according to a setting corresponding to an operated release button among the plurality of release buttons.

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