JP2001069377A - Digital camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a digital camera in which the difference between the expectation color of a user and the color of an actually finished picture can be recognized without changing a posture during a camera operation when an optical finder is used. SOLUTION: A digital camera 1 has an optical lens 401 in a finder 400, an image pickup sensor 303 which photoelectrically converts an object light image and takes the resultant signal in, a display monitor 304 which picture- displays a picture signal which is taken in on a screen and a small liquid crystal monitor 406 which displays the picture signal that is taken in on a small screen different from the above screen. At the time of pre-viewing, an object light image taken by the optical lens 401 or the display picture by the small liquid crystal monitor 406 is guided to a finder window 404 through a prism 403.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a digital camera having both an electronic viewfinder and an optical viewfinder.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a digital camera having an electronic viewfinder such as an LCD as a viewfinder, a photographed image is monitored before photographing by a subject image displayed on the electronic viewfinder (hereinafter, referred to as a preview). You can do it.

However, an electronic viewfinder in a digital camera is continuously used during a photographing standby or a photographing preparation period in which photographing is not actually performed, which consumes a battery and significantly lowers power supply efficiency.

Therefore, in a digital camera, display / non-display of an electronic view finder can be selected, and an optical finder is provided. When an angle of view before photographing is set, the electronic view finder is hidden and only the optical finder is displayed. A battery that can be used to save battery power has been commercialized.

[0005]

In such a digital camera, generally, an electronic viewfinder is disposed on the back of a camera body, and the electronic viewfinder is not displayed during a preview such as when waiting for photographing or preparing for photographing. Often only the viewfinder is used,
Depending on the light source of the subject, the color of the subject light image that the user can see through the optical viewfinder and the color of the actual digital image whose color balance is automatically corrected may differ. If the subject is photographed with the viewfinder alone, there is a problem that a difference occurs between the color expected by the user and the color of the actual digital image. Also, the brightness of the subject light image may be different from the brightness of the actual digital image.

The user can avoid the above-mentioned inconvenience by displaying the electronic viewfinder as appropriate at the time of the preview and monitoring the color balance and brightness of the photographed image. Must be changed from the posture in which the optical viewfinder looks at the subject to the posture in which the display image of the electronic viewfinder is visually recognized, which causes a problem that the operability of the camera is reduced.

As a camera having both an electronic viewfinder and an optical viewfinder, there is also disclosed a technique in which the optical path of the optical viewfinder and the electronic viewfinder is switched by moving an optical member in a camera capable of video shooting and film shooting. (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-3)
In this camera, there is a possibility that subtle deterioration of optical performance is caused by movement of the optical member.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it has been made clear that a user expects colors and brightness when using an optical viewfinder without changing a posture during operation of a camera, and colors and brightness of an actual finished image. It is intended to provide a digital camera capable of confirming the difference between the two.

[0009]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided the following:
An optical viewfinder having an optical path for guiding a subject light image captured by the optical system to the eyepiece, and a digital camera including imaging means for capturing the subject light image captured by the second optical system, Image display means for displaying an image, provided between the first optical system of the optical viewfinder and the eyepiece, and combining the light image of the subject with the image displayed by the image display means to form the eyepiece And a light image synthesizing unit that emits light to the digital camera.

In such a configuration, the light image of the object and the image displayed by the image display means are synthesized by the light image synthesizing means provided between the first optical system of the optical viewfinder and the eyepiece. Since the light is emitted to the eyepiece, the user can observe the light image of the subject captured by the optical viewfinder with the eyepiece while looking through the eyepiece of the optical viewfinder (function as an optical viewfinder). Also, a function (a function as an electronic viewfinder) that allows an image displayed by the image display means to be observed with the eyepiece can be used. Therefore, both of the optical image and the image can be visually recognized from the same eyepiece window by performing both functions, so that it is not necessary to change the posture during the operation of the camera, and the operability of the camera is improved.

The image display means is convenient if it displays predetermined information (claim 2). For example, the predetermined information may include a shutter speed, an aperture, and a warning mark (claim 3).

The image display means further displays an image picked up by the image pickup means. The image display means is provided between the first optical system and the light image synthesizing means, and the eyepiece section of a light image of a subject is provided. A light path opening / closing means for opening / closing the light path to the optical viewfinder, and a control means for closing the light path opening / closing means when the image display means displays a captured image. You can immediately switch between the optical viewfinder and electronic viewfinder functions while looking through the section. Therefore, the user
By appropriately monitoring the color balance and brightness of the captured image from the eyepiece at the time of the preview, the inconvenience of causing a difference between the color expected by the user and the color of the actual digital image is eliminated.

Further, the optical image synthesizing means is a prism which transmits the subject light image captured by the optical finder and reflects the image displayed by the image display means to perform the synthesizing. Item 5): Since both functions of the optical viewfinder and the electronic viewfinder can be exhibited without involving the movement of the optical member as in the prior art, there is no delicate deterioration in optical performance, and therefore, no adjustment for that is necessary. Becomes

Furthermore, if the second optical system also serves as the first optical system (claim 6), the present invention can be applied to a single-lens reflex camera.

[0015]

FIG. 1 is a structural view showing an embodiment of a digital camera according to the present invention.

The digital camera 1 according to the present embodiment basically has a box-shaped camera body 30 as shown in FIG.
0 and an imaging lens 200 provided in the camera body 300, and a finder 400 is provided on the upper part of the camera body 300.

The imaging lens 200 transmits reflected light (incident light) A from a subject under a light source (not shown) to the camera body 3.
The camera body 300 is provided for capturing the image on the imaging surface, and is fixed to the front surface of the camera body 300. Shooting lens 200
Includes an imaging optical system 201 composed of a plurality of lens groups and an optical diaphragm 202 interposed in the imaging optical system 201 to regulate the amount of incident light. At a predetermined position.

The camera body 300 includes the photographing lens 200
Constitute a dark box for capturing the subject light image, photoelectrically convert the subject light image into an image signal with a photoelectric conversion element, and capture
The image signal is subjected to predetermined signal processing, recorded on a recording medium such as a memory card, and the recorded image is reproduced.

On the back of the camera body 300, a display monitor 304 such as an LCD is provided. The display monitor 304 operates in the playback mode (PLAY mode).
This is for reproducing and displaying a recorded image recorded on a recording medium.

In the camera body 300, a photographing lens 2 is provided.
An image sensor (photoelectric conversion element) 303 such as a CCD area sensor is located on the optical axis B of FIG.
Are arranged. The imaging sensor 303 is, for example, R
An area sensor in which primary color transmission filters (red), G (green), and B (blue) are arranged in a checkered pattern in pixel units, and is an all-pixel readout type. An optical low-pass filter 305 having a predetermined thickness for removing moire of the image sensor 303 is provided on the front surface of the image sensor 303.
Are arranged.

In this embodiment, the image sensor 30
3 is a progressive scan type CCD area sensor having a light-shielded transfer section, and the image pickup (exposure) is controlled by controlling the charge accumulation and the reading of the accumulated charge. Absent. However, an ordinary CCD area sensor having no light-shielded transfer unit is used as the imaging sensor 303, and a mechanical shutter is provided immediately before the imaging surface, and exposure is controlled by controlling the mechanical shutter. Good.

The finder 400 guides the subject light image to the eyepiece so that an image actually taken from the eyepiece can be confirmed. , A finder shutter 402 capable of blocking a subject light image D captured from the optical lens 401, a prism 403 transmitting the subject light image captured through the finder shutter 402 from the optical lens 401, and forming light transmitted through the prism 403. An optical viewfinder including an eyepiece optical system and a viewfinder window 404 as an eyepiece for a user to look into an image formed is provided. Therefore,
A function (a function as an optical finder) of observing the subject light image captured by the optical lens 401 through the finder window 404 can be exhibited. The finder shutter 402 is constituted by, for example, a mechanical shutter, but may be an electro-optical shutter. Further, instead of the prism 403, a half mirror having a similar function may be used.

On the other hand, a transmission type small liquid crystal monitor 406 and a light source 405 for illuminating the liquid crystal are provided below the prism 403. The prism 403 also reflects the image of the small liquid crystal monitor 406 and guides the image to the finder window 404. These constitute an electronic viewfinder. Therefore, a function (a function as an electronic viewfinder) of observing an image displayed on the small liquid crystal monitor 406 through the finder window 404 can be exhibited. However, instead of the combination of the small liquid crystal monitor 406 and the light source 405, another type of flat panel display such as a plasma display or an EL display may be used.

That is, in the recording mode (REC mode), a changeover switch for setting switching between an optical viewfinder mode mainly exhibiting the function of the optical viewfinder and an electronic viewfinder mode exhibiting the function of the electronic viewfinder. By the operation (not shown), at least one of the subject light image itself and the video image of the subject (moving image) can be visually recognized from the viewfinder window 404 during the optical photography standby.

FIG. 2 shows a digital camera 1 according to this embodiment.
3A is a front view, FIG. 3B is a side view, FIG. 3C is a top view, and FIG. 3D is a rear view. 2A to 2D, the photographing lens 200 is shifted rightward toward the front of the camera body 300.
And the finder 400, the shutter button 50 is shifted leftward toward the upper surface on the opposite side.
3a is provided. The shutter button 503a is
The push button is a push button that can be operated as an S1 switch 503a1 that is a switch for instructing shooting preparation or an S2 switch 503a2 that is a switch for instructing release. In addition, a switch 503b for switching between the electronic finder mode and the optical finder mode is provided above the display monitor 304 provided substantially at the center of the rear surface. The changeover switch 503b is, for example, a slide switch that can be click-stopped at each set position so as to be in the optical viewfinder mode at the upper side and to be in the electronic viewfinder mode at the lower side.

The switching setting between the electronic finder mode and the optical finder mode by the changeover switch 503b is effective in the recording mode as described above, but usually has no meaning in the reproducing mode and the power-off state. Not done. For this purpose, the changeover switch 5
03b can be operated independently of a main switch (not shown) for switching and setting each of a recording mode, a reproduction mode, and a power-off mode. However, from the viewpoint of preventing useless operation, a mechanical or electric interlock may be operated between both switches.

When the changeover switch 503b is set to the upper position in FIG. 2D, the finder 400 is set to the optical finder mode, and predetermined information necessary for photographing is obtained.
OS such as shutter speed, aperture, warning mark, etc.
Only the D (On Screen Display) display is displayed overlapping the optical image. When the changeover switch 503b is set downward in the figure, the viewfinder 400 enters the electronic viewfinder mode, and displays an image and OSD. When the camera mode is cancelled, the viewfinder enters a dark state to prevent a shooting malfunction. If OSD display is not required in the optical viewfinder mode, the light source 405 may be turned off by operating a switch (not shown), for example.

In the above configuration, the subject light image is condensed by the imaging optical system 201 of the imaging lens 200 and guided to the imaging sensor 303 in the camera body 300 via the optical stop 202. On the other hand, in the viewfinder 400,
Light condensed by the optical lens 401 and passed through the prism 403 via the finder shutter 402 is
An image is formed by the eyepiece optical system and guided to the finder window 404.

On the other hand, the image of the small liquid crystal monitor 406 projected by the light source 405 is inverted by the prism 403, superimposed on the light condensed by the optical lens 401, and guided to the finder window 404. In both the optical viewfinder mode and the electronic viewfinder mode, in the shooting standby state, the optical aperture 202 is set to a predetermined aperture value, and the image sensor 30
By driving the camera 3 at a predetermined cycle, an image (moving image) of a subject which has been video-captured for monitoring the subject on the small liquid crystal monitor 406 is captured.

During photographing, the shutter button 503a is pressed halfway (the S1 switch 503a1 is turned on).
Then, the optical aperture 202 is set to a predetermined control aperture value based on the calculated exposure control value, and the charge accumulation time of the image sensor 303, that is, the exposure time is set. At this time, the imaging optical system 20 is controlled by an unillustrated AF mechanism.
1 is moved back and forth with respect to the camera body 300, and the focal length is also set. Next, when the shutter button 503a is fully pressed (the S2 switch 503a2 is turned on) and a release is instructed, the optical aperture 202 remains set to the aperture value, and the imaging optical system 201 remains set to the focal length. After the accumulated charge is once cleared, the image sensor 303 is reset for a predetermined exposure time and is exposed with a predetermined exposure amount.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an image pickup process by the digital camera according to the first embodiment.

In the figure, the same members as those shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals. Also, in the figure, a camera control section 500 centrally controls the photographing operation of the digital camera 1. Camera control unit 50
0 controls an aperture driver 501, a timing generator 502, and a finder shutter drive circuit 504, which will be described later, to perform shooting, and the analog signal processing unit 5
05, digital image processing section 600, display monitor 30
4. After performing predetermined image processing on the photographed image by controlling the light source 405 and the small liquid crystal monitor 406, the photographed image is recorded on the memory card 800 or displayed on the display monitor 304 and the small liquid crystal monitor 406. Or

When the changeover switch 503b is set to switch to the electronic viewfinder mode, the camera control section 500 outputs a setting signal. An image signal included in a predetermined photometry area preset in the screen is extracted from the captured image signal, an exposure control value at the time of release is calculated using the image signal, and the calculation result and a preset exposure control value are calculated. Using the program diagram, the aperture value of the optical aperture 202 and the charge accumulation time of the image sensor 303 are set as the exposure time (shutter speed).

An aperture driver 501 is provided for the photographing lens 200.
This controls the driving of the optical stop 202 in the inside. The aperture driver 501 sets the aperture of the optical aperture 202 to a predetermined aperture based on the aperture value input from the camera control unit 500.

The timing generator 502 controls the photographing operation of the image sensor 303 (such as charge accumulation based on exposure and reading of accumulated charges). The timing generator 502 generates a predetermined timing pulse based on a shooting control signal from the camera control unit 500 and outputs the generated timing pulse to the imaging sensor 303.
A frame image is fetched every 30 (seconds) and sequentially output to the analog signal processing unit 505.

At the time of release during photographing, electric charges are accumulated in synchronization with the exposure operation of the image sensor 303 (that is, photoelectric conversion of a subject light image into image signals), and the accumulated electric charges are output to the analog signal processing unit 505. Let it. on the other hand,
Each frame image in the shooting standby state is displayed on the small liquid crystal monitor 406 if the electronic viewfinder mode is set after the analog signal processing unit 505 and the digital image processing unit 600 perform predetermined image processing and then enter the electronic viewfinder mode. At the time of release, the captured image is recorded on the memory card 800 after predetermined image processing is performed by the analog signal processing unit 505 and the digital image processing unit 600.

Viewfinder shutter drive circuit 504
Controls the driving of the finder shutter 402. The finder shutter drive circuit 504 is
The finder shutter 40 is set based on the electronic finder mode setting signal input from the camera control unit 500.
2 is controlled.

The camera operation switch 503 is a switch for inputting operation information of various operation buttons provided on the camera body 300 to the camera control section 500. The camera operation switch 503 includes a main switch (not shown) corresponding to a power switch and the like, and an S1 switch 503a1 and an S2 switch 503a corresponding to the shutter button 503a.
2. Includes a changeover switch 503b for setting switching between the electronic viewfinder and the optical viewfinder.

The analog signal processing unit 505 performs predetermined signal processing on an image signal (a group of analog signals received by each pixel of the CCD area sensor) output from the image sensor 303, and converts the image signal into a digital signal. Output. The analog signal processing unit 505 includes the CDS circuit 50
6, an AGC circuit 507 and an A / D conversion circuit 508. The CDS circuit 506 reduces reset noise included in the analog image signal. AGC circuit 5
07 corrects the level of the analog image signal. The A / D conversion circuit 508 converts an analog image signal into, for example, a 10-bit digital image signal (hereinafter, this digital image signal is referred to as image data). Note that the image data is finally converted to 8 bits by the gamma correction circuit 603 of the digital image processing unit 600, but the A / D conversion circuit 508 converts the image data to 10-bit image data by gamma correction. This is because the gamma correction is performed by the circuit 603 with a highly nonlinear gamma characteristic, so that image quality deterioration in the gamma correction processing is reduced.

The digital image processing unit 600 performs pixel interpolation on the image data input from the analog signal processing unit 505,
It performs signal processing such as white balance (WB) adjustment, gamma correction, and image compression / decompression, and also controls reproduction and display of the digital image after signal processing on the display monitor 304 and recording on the memory card 800.

The digital image processing unit 600 includes a pixel interpolation circuit 601, a white balance control circuit 602, a gamma correction circuit 603, an image compression / decompression circuit 604, a video encoder 605, and a memory card driver 606.

The pixel interpolating circuit 601 interpolates the data at the pixel position where the frame image is insufficient for each of the R, G, and B color components. That is, in the present embodiment, a single-plate CCD area sensor in which pixels of each color component of R, G, and B are arranged in a checkered pattern is used as the imaging sensor 303, so that frame images of each color component are discretely arranged. And a plurality of data at the specified pixel position (hereinafter, this data is referred to as pixel data). Pixel interpolation circuit 60
Reference numeral 1 denotes interpolation of pixel data at a non-existent pixel position using a plurality of existing pixel data. The digital images of the R, G, and B color components input from the analog signal processing unit 505 are temporarily stored in the image memory 700, respectively, and then read out to the pixel interpolation circuit 601 to perform pixel data interpolation processing. Will be Pixel interpolation circuit 601
For a frame image of a G color component, after the image data constituting the frame image is masked with a predetermined filter pattern, pixels existing around the pixel position to be interpolated using a median (intermediate value) filter Among the data, the average value of the pixel data from which the maximum value and the minimum value have been removed is calculated, and the average value is interpolated as the pixel data at the pixel position. Further, for the R and G color components, after the image data constituting the frame image is masked with a predetermined filter pattern, the average value of the pixel data existing around the pixel position to be interpolated is calculated, and the average value is calculated. Interpolation is performed as pixel data at the pixel position. Then, the pixel interpolation circuit 601 stores the frame image of each color component after pixel interpolation in the image memory 700 again.

The white balance control circuit 602 adjusts the WB of the digital image subjected to pixel interpolation.
The white balance control circuit 602 includes an image memory 700
, The image data of the R and B color components is read out, and the level is corrected based on the WB adjustment data set by the camera control unit 500. That is, the white balance control circuit 602 generates ratio data (Dr / Dg) and (Db / D) for the image data of the R and B color components, respectively.
The level is corrected according to g), and the corrected image data is stored in the image memory 700 again.

The gamma correction circuit 603 corrects the gradation characteristics of the WB-adjusted image data to the gradation characteristics of the display monitor 304 or an externally output monitor television. The gamma correction circuit 603 non-linearly converts the level of the image data read from the image memory 700 using a predetermined gamma characteristic for each color component, and stores the converted image data in the image memory 700 again. I do.

An image compression / decompression circuit 604 compresses image data constituting a captured image to be recorded on the memory card 800 and forms a captured image read out from the memory card 800 for reproduction and display on the display monitor 304. This is for expanding image data. The reason why the compression processing is performed at the time of recording is to increase the recording capacity of the memory card 800 by reducing the number of captured image data to be recorded on the memory card 800. When recording the captured image, the image compression / decompression circuit 604 compresses the image data according to, for example, the JPEG method when the image data of the captured image after the gamma correction is read from the image memory 700. The compressed image data is read out and recorded on the memory card 800 via the memory card driver 606. Also, at the time of reproducing the captured image, when the recorded image is read from the memory card 800 via the memory card driver 606, a predetermined decompression process is performed to decompress the image data. The decompressed image data is transferred to the video encoder 6
At step 05, the video signal is converted to a video signal, output to the display monitor 304, and reproduced and displayed.

Since the video monitor 605 drives the display monitor 304 and the small liquid crystal monitor 406 based on the video signal of the NTSC system or the PAL system, the video encoder 605 converts the image data to be displayed on the display monitor 304 and the small liquid crystal monitor 406 into the NTSC system. Alternatively, it is converted into a PAL image signal and output to the display monitor 304 and the small liquid crystal monitor 406.

At the time of preview in the recording mode and when the electronic finder mode is set, the frame image of each frame after gamma correction stored in the image memory 700 is read out to the video encoder 605, and the NTSC The image signal is converted into an image signal of the PAL system or the PAL system and output to the small liquid crystal monitor 406.

In the reproduction mode, the captured image (compressed image) recorded on the memory card 800 is transmitted to the image compression / decompression circuit 60 via the memory card driver 606.
4 is decompressed to the original image size, converted into an NTSC or PAL image signal by the video encoder 605, and output to the display monitor 304.

The image memory 700 is a memory for temporarily storing the image data in order to perform predetermined digital image processing on the image data as described above. Image memory 700
Has a capacity capable of storing at least three images, and the captured image is stored in a state of being separated into R, G, and B color components. The memory card 800 is a memory for recording and storing the compressed image data as described above, and by exchanging the memory, the image data can be externally stored.

In the above configuration, the digital camera 1
When the main switch is set to the recording mode, first, an image pickup process during preview is performed, and the image pickup operation is repeated by the image pickup sensor 303 every 1/30 second. The captured image of each frame is subjected to predetermined signal processing such as pixel interpolation, WB adjustment, and gamma correction by the analog signal processing unit 505 and the digital image processing unit 600, and then the changeover switch 503b is set to the electronic finder mode. Then, the captured image (moving image) is displayed on the small liquid crystal monitor 406.

In this state, the shutter button 503 is pressed.
When a is operated to instruct shooting, an exposure control value is calculated from the preview image, and the opening amount of the optical aperture 202 and the exposure time of the imaging sensor 303 are controlled based on the exposure control value, and the imaging sensor is controlled. At 303, a still image of the subject light image is captured. This captured image is subjected to pixel interpolation by the analog signal processing unit 505 and the digital image processing unit 600, and W
After performing predetermined signal processing such as B adjustment, gamma correction, and image compression, the image is recorded on the memory card 800.

Next, the operation of the digital camera 1 during shooting will be described.

FIG. 4 shows a digital camera 1 according to this embodiment.
FIGS. 7A and 7B are explanatory diagrams showing an operation at the time of photographing, in which FIG. 7A is a diagram showing an operation in an optical finder mode, FIG. 7B is a diagram showing an operation in an electronic finder mode, and FIG. The figure which shows the operation | movement at the time of OSD display, (d)
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a case where the mode is set to other than the recording mode. In each drawing, the light source 405 is hatched in an off state and not hatched in an on state.

FIG. 4A shows a preview of the recording mode and a case where the optical finder mode is set. In this case, the light source 40 of the small liquid crystal monitor 406 is shown.
5 is off and the viewfinder shutter 4
Since 02 is in the open state, only the optical viewfinder functions. Therefore, the user can view the viewfinder window 4
The object light image captured by the optical lens 401 can be confirmed through the viewfinder shutter 402 and the prism 403 as it is.

FIG. 4B shows a preview of the recording mode and a case where the electronic viewfinder mode is set. In this case, the light source 40 of the small liquid crystal monitor 406 is used.
5 is turned on, and the finder shutter 402 is closed. In this state, the external light is shut out, and the image on the small liquid crystal monitor 406 can be confirmed on the finder window 404 via the prism 403.

FIG. 4C shows the case of the OSD display in the preview in the recording mode and in the optical finder mode. In the optical viewfinder mode, OSD display cannot be performed, and only display information is displayed on the small liquid crystal monitor 406. In this case, the finder shutter 402 is opened, and only the display information is turned on on the small liquid crystal monitor 406, so that the display information can be displayed together with the subject light image captured by the optical lens 401. That is, through the finder shutter 402, the prism 4
03 on the small liquid crystal monitor 406 whose optical axis is changed by 90 ^° by the prism 403 to the optical image transmitted through
Only SD display information is superimposed. Thus, the optical image on which the OSD display information is superimposed can be confirmed in the finder window 404.

In FIG. 4D, in the case of setting other than the recording mode, the finder shutter 402 is closed and the small liquid crystal monitor 40
The light source 405 of No. 6 is turned off so that both cannot be displayed. In this case, nothing is displayed on the viewfinder window 404.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the optical lens 401 of the finder 400 and the finder window 404
The optical lens 4 is provided by the prism 403 provided between
01 is combined with the image displayed on the small LCD monitor 406 to obtain a viewfinder window 404.
Out of the viewfinder window 404
Not only the function of observing the subject light image captured by the optical viewfinder through the viewfinder window 404 (function as an optical viewfinder), but also the function of observing the image displayed on the small LCD monitor 406 through the viewfinder window 404. (Function as an electronic viewfinder) can also be used. Therefore, both the subject light image and the image can be visually recognized from the same finder window 404 by exerting both functions, so that it is not necessary to change the posture during the operation of the camera, and the operability of the camera is improved.

When a captured image is displayed on the small LCD monitor 406, the camera control unit 50 is switched from the optical finder mode to the electronic finder mode by operating the changeover switch 503b.
0 activates the finder shutter drive circuit 504 so as to close the finder shutter 402, so that the user can look at the finder window 404,
You can immediately switch between the optical viewfinder and electronic viewfinder functions. Therefore, when the user appropriately monitors the color balance and brightness of the captured image from the finder window 404 at the time of the preview, the inconvenience of causing a difference between the user's expected color and the like and the actual digital image and the like is eliminated. Since the switching does not involve the movement of the optical member, the optical image does not deteriorate.

In the above embodiment, the imaging optical system 20
Although the intermediate machine having the viewfinder optical lens 401 is illustrated separately from the above, the scope of the present invention is not limited to this, and it is needless to say that the present invention can be applied to other models. For example, by branching the optical path from the imaging optical system 201 to the optical viewfinder, the present invention can be applied to a single-lens reflex camera in which the optical lens 201 is omitted.

[0061]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, an optical viewfinder having an optical path for guiding a subject light image captured by the first optical system to the eyepiece, and a second optical system. What is claimed is: 1. A digital camera, comprising: an image display unit that displays an image, and an image display unit that displays an image, and is provided between a first optical system and an eyepiece of the optical finder. A digital camera is characterized in that an optical image synthesizing means for synthesizing an image and an image displayed by the image display means and outputting the synthesized image to the eyepiece is provided.

In such a configuration, the subject light image and the image displayed by the image display means are combined by the light image combining means provided between the first optical system of the optical viewfinder and the eyepiece. Since the light is emitted to the eyepiece, the user can observe the light image of the subject captured by the optical viewfinder with the eyepiece while looking through the eyepiece of the optical viewfinder (function as an optical viewfinder). Also, a function (a function as an electronic viewfinder) that allows an image displayed by the image display means to be observed with the eyepiece can be used. Therefore, both of the optical image and the image can be visually recognized from the same eyepiece window by performing both functions, so that it is not necessary to change the posture during the operation of the camera, and the operability of the camera is improved.

The image display means is convenient if it displays predetermined information (claim 2). For example, the predetermined information may include a shutter speed, an aperture, and a warning mark (claim 3).

The image display means is for displaying an image picked up by the image pickup means. The image display means is provided between the first optical system and the light image synthesizing means, and is connected to the eyepiece section of a subject light image. A light path opening / closing means for opening / closing the light path to the optical viewfinder, and a control means for closing the light path opening / closing means when the image display means displays a captured image. You can immediately switch between the optical viewfinder and electronic viewfinder functions while looking through the section. Therefore, the user
By appropriately monitoring the color balance and brightness of the captured image from the eyepiece at the time of the preview, the inconvenience of causing a difference between the color expected by the user and the color of the actual digital image is eliminated.

Further, the optical image synthesizing means is a prism which transmits the subject light image captured by the optical finder and reflects the image displayed by the image display means to perform the synthesizing. Item 5): Since both functions of the optical viewfinder and the electronic viewfinder can be exhibited without involving the movement of the optical member as in the prior art, there is no delicate deterioration in optical performance, and therefore, no adjustment for that is necessary. Becomes

Further, if the second optical system also serves as the first optical system (claim 6), the present invention can be applied to a single-lens reflex camera.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

2A and 2B are external views showing operation members of the digital camera 1 according to the embodiment, wherein FIG. 2A is a front view, FIG. 2B is a side view, FIG. 2C is a top view, and FIG. It is.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an imaging process in the digital camera according to the embodiment.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are explanatory diagrams illustrating an operation of the digital camera 1 according to the embodiment at the time of shooting, where FIG. 4A illustrates an operation in an optical finder mode, and FIG. 4B illustrates an operation in an electronic finder mode; FIG. 3C is a diagram illustrating an operation at the time of OSD display in the optical viewfinder mode, and FIG. 3D is a diagram illustrating an operation when the mode is set to a mode other than the recording mode.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 digital camera 200 imaging lens 201 imaging optical system (second optical system) 202 optical aperture 300 camera body 303 imaging sensor (imaging means) 304 display monitor 400 viewfinder (optical viewfinder) 401 optical lens (first optical system) 402 Finder shutter (optical path opening / closing unit) 403 Prism (optical image combining unit) 404 Finder window (eyepiece unit) 405 Light source 406 Small liquid crystal monitor (image display unit) 500 Camera control unit (control unit) 501 Aperture driver 502 Timing generator 503 Camera Operation switch 503a Shutter button 503a1 S1 switch 503a2 S2 switch 503b Changeover switch 504 Finder shutter drive circuit 505 Analog signal processing circuit 600 Digital Image processing unit

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An optical viewfinder having an optical path for guiding a subject light image captured by a first optical system to an eyepiece, and an imaging unit for capturing a subject light image captured by a second optical system. Image display means for displaying an image, provided between the first optical system of the optical viewfinder and the eyepiece, and configured to display a subject light image and an image displayed by the image display means. A digital camera, comprising: a light image synthesizing means for synthesizing and emitting the light to the eyepiece. 2. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein said image display means displays predetermined information. 3. The digital camera according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined information includes a shutter speed, an aperture, and a warning mark. 4. The image display means further displays an image picked up by the image pickup means. The image display means is provided between the first optical system and the light image synthesizing means, and is provided for connecting the object light image to the object. 4. An optical path opening / closing means for opening / closing an optical path to an eye, and a control means for closing the optical path opening / closing means when the image display means displays a captured image. Digital camera. 5. The prism according to claim 1, wherein the light image synthesizing unit is a prism that transmits the subject light image captured by the optical finder and reflects the image displayed by the image display unit. A digital camera according to any one of claims 1 to 4. 6. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein said second optical system also functions as said first optical system.