JP2002290803A - Digital camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To adequately make a live view display when a dark subject such as a night scene is photographed. SOLUTION: The digital camera which makes the live view display to confirm the subject is provided with an interruption button 235 which interrupts the exposure during the live view display. When the interruption button 235 is operated, an image pickup control part 282 interrupts the exposure to a CCD 303 and new exposure is started. After the exposure is completed, an obtained image is displayed as a next live view image on an LCD 10. Consequently, even when the exposure time of the live view display becomes long because of the dark subject such as the night scene, a proper image can speedily be displayed on the LCD 10 by operating the interruption button 235 after the direction, attitude, etc., of the digital camera are changed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a so-called live view display technique which is executed in a digital still camera (hereinafter, referred to as "digital camera") before photographing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a digital camera, imaging and display of a subject are repeatedly performed, and a display provided in a main body can be used as a finder. Such a display on the display is called a live view display.

[0005] For example, by repeatedly performing image pickup and display every 1/15 second, it is possible to display a subject image almost in real time on a display. The user can easily confirm the main subject and the shooting range (so-called framing) by looking at the display on the display.

[0004]

By the way, photometry is also performed during imaging during live view display, and the exposure time and aperture value of the CCD are calculated to perform exposure control. Here, in an operation mode in which a subject is extremely dark, such as a night view mode, in which long exposure is performed (hereinafter, referred to as a “long exposure mode”), the gain value is set high enough to make noise inconspicuous, and the aperture is reduced. Even if is opened, the exposure time will be several seconds to ten and several seconds.

At this time, the display update of the subject image also takes several seconds to several tens of seconds similarly to the exposure time. Therefore, even if the direction, posture, zoom magnification, and the like of the digital camera are changed, the subject image after the change is appropriately displayed. There is a problem that it takes time to be displayed.

FIG. 11 is a time chart showing the relationship between exposure and display in live view display. Code E9
1 to E95 each indicate one exposure, and the symbol D
Reference numerals 91 to D95 denote displays of images acquired by the exposures E91 to E95, respectively. That is, the display is performed after the exposure, and while the subsequent exposure is performed, the display of the image acquired by the preceding exposure is continued.

Here, when the orientation, posture, zoom magnification, and the like of the digital camera are changed at time T91 during the exposure E94, the image displayed on the display D94 is blurred. Therefore, an appropriate image is displayed after the change of the orientation of the digital camera or the like from time T92. As a result, between the time T91 and the time T92, there is a waiting time until an appropriate image is displayed. In particular, in the case of the long exposure mode, the waiting time becomes very long, and there is a problem that framing becomes troublesome.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to quickly display an appropriate image in live view display even in a long exposure mode.

[0009]

According to the present invention, there is provided a digital camera, comprising: an imaging unit for acquiring a still image; an exposure time determining unit for determining an exposure time of the imaging unit; Imaging control means for causing the imaging means to sequentially perform imaging at an exposure time continuously determined by time determination means, display means for sequentially displaying images acquired by the imaging means, and the imaging control means Instruction means for interrupting the exposure of the imaging means and starting a new exposure.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the digital camera according to the first aspect, an interrupted image related to the interrupted exposure is displayed on the display unit immediately after the exposure is interrupted.

[0013] The invention according to claim 3 is the digital camera according to claim 2, further comprising a gain control means for increasing a gain of the interrupted image when the interrupted image is displayed.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the digital camera according to the third aspect, the gain is determined based on an actual exposure time for the interrupted image.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the digital camera according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein a subject can be confirmed only by the display means.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the digital camera according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, the instruction means further includes an operation member operated by an operator to interrupt the exposure. .

[0015]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS <1. Digital Camera Configuration>
1 to 4 are views showing an example of the appearance of a digital camera 1 for acquiring a still image of a subject as digital data. FIG. 1 is a front view, FIG. 2 is a rear view, FIG.
FIG. 4 is a bottom view.

The digital camera 1 is, as shown in FIG.
It is composed of a box-shaped camera body 2 and a rectangular parallelepiped imaging unit 3.

A zoom lens 301 with a macro function, which is a photographing lens, is provided on the front side of the image pickup unit 3 and, similarly to a silver halide lens shutter camera, a light control sensor for receiving reflected light of flash light from a subject. 305 is provided.

On the front side of the camera body 2, a grip 4 is provided at the left end, a built-in flash 5 is provided at the upper center, and a shutter button 8 is provided on the upper side. The shutter button 8 is a two-stage switch capable of detecting a half-pressed state and a fully-pressed state as employed in a silver halide camera.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG.
A liquid crystal display (LCD) for displaying a captured image on a monitor (corresponding to an electronic viewfinder) and displaying a recorded image at substantially the center of the rear side of the LCD.
play) 10 is provided. A key switch group 22 for operating the digital camera 1 is provided below the LCD 10.
1 to 226 and a power switch 227 are provided. On the left side of the power switch 227, an LED 228 that lights up when the power is on and an LED 229 that indicates that the memory card is being accessed are arranged.

A mode setting switch 14 for switching the mode between a "photographing mode" and a "playback mode" is further provided on the back side of the camera body 2. The shooting mode is a mode in which a photograph is taken to generate an image related to a subject, and the playback mode is a mode in which an image recorded on a memory card is read out and played back on the LCD 10.

The mode setting switch 14 is a two-contact slide switch. The slide switch is set to the lower position to operate the photographing mode, and the slide set to the upper position operates the reproduction mode.

A button group 23 is located on the right side of the back of the camera.
0, and buttons 231 and 231 in the photographing mode.
Pressing 32 changes the zooming magnification,
Exposure correction is performed by pressing the buttons 233 and 234. The center button 235 is used to determine the selection of an item displayed on the LCD 10 and is also used at the time of live view display in the shooting mode (details will be described later).

As shown in FIG. 2, on the back of the image pickup unit 3,
A macro button 321 is provided. Macro photography (close-up photography)
At times, by pressing the macro button 321, the imaging unit 3 enters a state where macro shooting is possible.

As shown in FIG. 3, a terminal portion 236 is provided on a side surface of the camera body portion 2. The terminal portion 236 has a DC input terminal 236a and an external video monitor for displaying contents displayed on the LCD 10. And a video output terminal 236b for outputting to

As shown in FIG. 4, a battery loading chamber 18 and a card slot (card loading chamber) 17 are provided on the bottom surface of the camera body 2. The card slot 17 is for loading a detachable memory card 91 or the like for recording a captured image or the like. Card slot 1
7 and the battery loading chamber 18 are clamshell type lids 1.
5 makes it openable and closable. In this digital camera 1, four AA batteries are loaded into the battery loading chamber 18, and a power supply battery connected in series is used as a driving source. Also, the DC input terminal 2 shown in FIG.
By attaching an adapter to 36a, power can be supplied from the outside and used.

<2. Internal Configuration of Digital Camera> Next, the configuration of the digital camera 1 will be described in more detail. FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the digital camera 1.

As shown in FIG. 5, an image pickup circuit having a CCD 303 is provided at an appropriate position behind the zoom lens 301 in the image pickup section 3. Further, inside the imaging unit 3, a zoom motor M1 for changing the zoom ratio of the zoom lens 301 and moving the lens between the accommodation position and the imaging position, and a zoom lens 30 for adjusting the focus are provided.
A focus motor M2 for moving the focus lens in the zoom lens 1 and an aperture motor M3 for adjusting the aperture diameter of an aperture provided in the zoom lens 301 are provided.

The CCD 303 converts the light image of the subject formed by the zoom lens 301 into R (red), G (green),
The image signal is photoelectrically converted into an image signal of a B (blue) color component (a signal composed of a signal sequence of pixel signals received by each pixel) and output.

The timing generator 314 is a CCD 3
03 is generated. The timing generator 314 generates clock signals such as, for example, a timing signal of integration start / end (exposure start / end) and a readout control signal (horizontal synchronization signal, vertical synchronization signal, transfer signal, etc.) of a light receiving signal of each pixel. , To the CCD 303.

The signal processing circuit 313 performs predetermined analog signal processing on an image signal (analog signal) output from the CCD 303. The signal processing circuit 313
It has a DS (correlated double sampling) circuit 313a and an AGC circuit 313b. The noise of the image signal is reduced by the CDS circuit 313a, and the level of the image signal is adjusted by adjusting the gain by the AGC circuit 313b.

The light control circuit 304 controls the light emission amount of the built-in flash 5 during flash photography to a predetermined light emission amount set by the overall control unit 211. At the time of flash photography, the reflected light of the flash light from the subject is received by the dimming sensor 305 at the same time as the start of the exposure. Thereby, the light emission amount of the built-in flash 5 is controlled to a predetermined light emission amount.

The exposure control in the image pickup unit 3 is performed by adjusting the aperture and adjusting the exposure amount of the CCD 303, that is, the charge accumulation time of the CCD 303 corresponding to the shutter speed. In normal photographing that is not a long exposure mode such as a night view mode, if an appropriate aperture and shutter speed cannot be set due to a dark subject, the CCD 30
By adjusting the level of the image signal output from the control unit 3, inappropriate exposure due to insufficient exposure is corrected. That is,
At the time of low brightness, control is performed so that the exposure level becomes an appropriate level by combining aperture, shutter speed, and gain adjustment. Note that the level adjustment of the image signal is performed by the AGC (Auto Gain Control) circuit 3 in the signal processing circuit 313.
13b.

Next, the blocks of the camera body 2 will be described.

In the camera body 2, the A / D converter 205 converts the signal of each pixel of the image into, for example, a 10-bit digital signal. A / D converter 205
Is a pixel signal (analog signal) based on an A / D conversion clock input from the timing control circuit 202.
Into a 10-bit digital signal.

The timing control circuit 202 includes a reference clock, a timing generator 314, and an A / D converter 20.
5 is generated.
The timing control circuit 202 is controlled by the overall control unit 211.

The zoom motor drive circuit 215, the focus motor drive circuit 214, and the aperture motor drive circuit 216
Is a circuit for driving each of the zoom motor M1, the focus motor M2, and the aperture motor M3 according to a signal from the overall control unit 211.

The black level correction circuit 206 corrects the black level of the A / D converted image to a predetermined reference level. The output from the black level correction circuit 206 is WB
The signal is input to the (white balance) circuit 207 and also to the overall control unit 211 for performing calculations relating to exposure and focusing.

The WB circuit 207 performs level conversion of the R, G, and B color components of the pixel so that the white balance is also adjusted after the γ correction. WB circuit 20
7 converts the levels of the R, G, and B color components of the pixel using the level conversion table input from the overall control unit 211. The conversion coefficient (gradient of the characteristic) of each color component in the level conversion table is set by the overall control unit 211 for each captured image.

The gamma correction circuit 208 corrects the gamma characteristics of the image. The image memory 209 stores the γ correction circuit 20
8 is a memory for storing image data output from the memory 8. The image memory 209 has a storage capacity for one frame. That is, the image memory 209 stores the CCD 30
When 3 has n rows and m columns of pixels, it has a storage capacity for data of n × m pixels, and data of each pixel is stored at a corresponding address.

The VRAM (video RAM) 210 is an LC
This is a buffer memory for images reproduced and displayed on D10.
The VRAM 210 has a storage capacity capable of storing image data corresponding to the number of pixels of the LCD 10.

In the photographing standby state in the photographing mode, L
Live view display is performed on the CD 10. In particular,
For each image obtained at predetermined intervals from the imaging unit 3,
After performing various kinds of signal processing in the A / D converters 205 to γ correction circuit 208, the overall control unit 211
09 stored in the VRAM 210
, The captured image is displayed on the LCD 10. The live view display is performed by updating the image displayed on the LCD 10 every predetermined time.
With the live view display, the photographer can visually recognize the subject based on the image displayed on the LCD 10. When an image is displayed on the LCD 10, the backlight 16 is turned on under the control of the overall control unit 211.

In the reproduction mode, the image read from the memory card 91 is subjected to predetermined signal processing by the general control unit 211 and then transferred to the VRAM 210.
It is reproduced and displayed on the LCD 10.

The card interface 212 is an interface for writing and reading an image to and from the memory card 91 via the card slot 17.

The flash control circuit 217 is a circuit for controlling the light emission of the built-in flash 5.
The light emission of the built-in flash 5 is stopped on the basis of the above-mentioned light emission stop signal while the built-in flash 5 is caused to emit light based on the control signal from the CPU.

RTC (real time clock) circuit 21
Reference numeral 9 denotes a clock circuit for managing the shooting date and time.

The operation unit 250 includes the above-described various switches and buttons, and information input and operated by a user is transmitted to the overall control unit 2 via the operation unit 250.
11 is transmitted.

The general control unit 211 organically controls the driving of each member in the image pickup unit 3 and the camera main unit 2, and controls the entire operation of the digital camera 1 related to photographing and reproduction. The overall control unit 211 serves as a CPU for performing calculations, various dedicated electrical circuits (circuits for performing calculations relating to automatic exposure and automatic focusing, and the like), a ROM 211a for storing operation programs of the overall control unit 211, and a work area. A RAM 211b, and the CPU
The operation of the digital camera 1 is controlled by executing the calculation according to the program in the above.

<3. Operation in Shooting Mode> FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a schematic flow of the operation of the digital camera 1 in the shooting mode. In the shooting mode, live view display is performed on the LCD 10 in a state where no operation is performed (steps S1 and S2). That is, the CCD3
At 03, an image is acquired and stored in the image memory 209. The image data in the image memory 209 is VR
The data is transferred to AM 210 and displayed on LCD 10. Thus, when the subject is bright, the subject image is displayed on the LCD 10 almost in real time.

When the shutter button 8 is half-pressed (step S2), the overall control unit 211
Automatic focusing (AF (autofocus) control) is performed on the basis of the output from step 06 (step S3). That is, the acquisition of the image and the driving of the focus motor M2 are repeated so that the contrast of the image output from the black level correction circuit 206 is maximized.

Next, photometry is performed by the overall control unit 211 based on the output from the black level correction circuit 206, and a calculation for automatic exposure (AE (auto exposure) calculation) is performed. Thereby, the exposure time and the aperture value of the CCD are determined (step S4). Note that the colorimetric calculation is performed together with the AE calculation, and the gain setting of the WB circuit 207 is also performed.

The calculation relating to the exposure at the time of actual photographing is different from the calculation relating to the exposure at the time of live view display, which will be described later. These calculations are executed by a dedicated AE calculation circuit and CPU in the overall control unit 211. Note that the data to be calculated regarding the exposure may be data in the image memory 209.

When the AF control and the AE calculation are executed,
The state shifts to a state of waiting for the full press of the shutter button 8 (steps S5 and S9). When the shutter button 8 is fully pressed, the exposure for the main photographing is executed (step S6), and the obtained image is displayed on the LCD 10. (Step S7).

Thereafter, the user is inquired as to whether or not to save the image obtained in the main photographing, and when saving is selected, the image is saved in the memory card 91 (step S).
8). When the main shooting is completed, or when the shutter button 8 is not fully pressed from the half-pressed state, the process returns to step S1, and the live view display is performed.

<4. Operation in Live View Display>
In the digital camera 1, it is possible to set an operation mode according to a type of a subject in a shooting mode. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a state in which an item for selecting an operation setting in the photographing mode is displayed on LCD 10.

The landscape mode, the portrait mode, and the text mode are modes for setting image processing in the digital camera 1 in order to obtain images suitable for photographing landscapes, people, and documents, respectively. The night view mode is a mode in which an exposure longer than a normal exposure can be set in order to appropriately capture a night view. When the night view mode, which is the long exposure mode, is selected, it takes time to update the image during the live view display.
In the night view mode, live view display for reducing stress on the user is executed.

FIG. 8 shows the overall control unit 2 during live view display.
It is a figure which shows 11 main functions with a peripheral structure with a block. 8, an AE calculation unit 281, an imaging control unit 282, a display control unit 283, and a gain correction unit 28
Reference numeral 4 denotes operations of various electric circuits in the overall control unit 211 and functions realized by control of the CPU.

The AE operation section 281 is provided with a black level correction circuit 2
An AE calculation is performed based on the image data from step 06 (see FIG. 5) to obtain an exposure value. Then, based on the exposure value, R
An exposure time and an aperture value are determined according to a program diagram for live view display prepared in advance in the OM 211a. The exposure time and the aperture value are output to the imaging control unit 282.

The imaging control unit 282 outputs a signal indicating the exposure time to the timing control circuit 202 and controls the exposure time of the CCD 303 via the timing generator 314. Also, based on the aperture value, the aperture motor drive circuit 21
6 and the diaphragm motor M3 is driven to stop the diaphragm 30.
2 is controlled.

The display control unit 283 writes image data to be displayed in the VRAM 210 and controls the display on the LCD 10. The gain correction unit 284 increases the gain of an image at the time of live view display in the later-described night view mode.

In FIG. 8, the button 235 in FIG. 2 used at the time of live view display in the night view mode is shown as an interrupt button 235.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a flow of the operation of the live view display (step S1) in FIG. First, the operation of the live view display in a mode other than the night view mode will be described.

In the live view display, after the exposure is started under the control of the timing control circuit 202, the exposure is terminated when the exposure time has elapsed (steps S11 and S1).
3, S14). Thus, an image is obtained in the image memory 209. The AE calculation unit 281 determines an exposure time and an aperture value for the next exposure based on the brightness of the acquired image (step S15).

Thereafter, the data in the image memory 209 is transferred to the VRAM 210 by the display control unit 283, and the obtained image is displayed on the LCD 10 (step S1).
6).

If the photographing operation is not performed, the process immediately returns to step S11, and the exposure is performed with the exposure time and the aperture value obtained by the AE calculating section 281 (see FIG. 6). That is, the imaging control unit 282 sets the CC based on the exposure time and the aperture value continuously determined by the AE calculation unit 281.
D303 is sequentially imaged, and the acquired images are sequentially L
Displayed on CD10.

When the subject has normal brightness, imaging during live view display is performed quickly at intervals of about 1/30 to 1/15 seconds. Therefore, the subject image is displayed on the LCD 10 while changing in real time according to the change in the direction of the digital camera 1. In the live view display, the aperture value may be a fixed value in advance. In this case, the AE calculation unit 281 determines only the exposure time.

When the night view mode is set in the digital camera 1, the aperture value set by the AE calculator 281 during live view display is almost an open value because the subject is dark. Although the gain is increased to some extent by the AGC circuit 313b, long-time exposure is performed while suppressing an increase in gain in order to prevent deterioration in image quality. Therefore, the time from step S11 to step S16 in FIG. 9 is several seconds to several tens of seconds. As a result, the display update of the live view image is also performed at intervals of several seconds to several tens of seconds.

On the other hand, in the digital camera 1, when the orientation, posture, zoom magnification, and the like of the digital camera 1 are changed in the night view mode (that is, when the area to be photographed is changed),
An interrupt button 235 for forcibly interrupting the exposure of the CD 303 and starting a new exposure is provided.

As shown in FIG. 9, in the night scene mode, it is confirmed whether or not the interruption button 235 has been operated during the exposure (step S12). When the stop button 235 is operated, a signal indicating the operation is input to the imaging control unit 282, and the exposure in execution is forcibly terminated (step S1).
7). If the exposure is forcibly interrupted, the image memory 20
9 stores image data acquired due to insufficient exposure, the gain is increased by the gain correction unit 284, and L
An image is displayed on the CD 10 (steps S18, S1
6).

The gain G set by the gain correction unit 284 is determined by the actual exposure time Tr for the image whose exposure has been interrupted and the exposure time Ts (expected exposure time) obtained by the AE calculation unit 281 by photometric calculation. Time) and is calculated by Equation 1.

[0070]

(Equation 1)

That is, after the exposure is started, the stop button 235
As soon as is operated, the gain correction unit 284 increases the gain G. The processing by the gain correction unit 284 may be performed by software multiplying the value of each pixel by the gain G, or may be performed by a dedicated electric circuit.

Thereafter, by returning to step S 11, re-exposure is executed immediately after the operation of the suspend button 235, and when the exposure is completed, an image after the change of the orientation, posture, zoom magnification, etc. of the digital camera 1 is displayed on the LCD 10. (Steps S11 to S16). Note that the exposure time of the re-exposure is the exposure time obtained for the interrupted exposure.

FIG. 10 is a time chart showing the relationship between exposure and display when the suspend button 235 is used. In FIG. 10, symbols E1 to E6 indicate one exposure, and symbols D1 to D6 indicate the display of images acquired by the exposures E1 to E6, respectively. Time T1 is a time when the orientation, posture, zoom magnification, and the like of the digital camera 1 are changed, and time T2 is a time when the suspend button 235 is operated.

The exposure E4 in which the orientation, posture, zoom magnification, and the like of the digital camera 1 are changed is forcibly terminated at time T2 by operating the suspend button 235, and the next exposure E5 is started immediately. The image acquired during exposure E4 is
The gain is increased by the gain correction unit 284 corresponding to the short exposure time, and is displayed on the LCD 10 during the display D4.

Thereafter, when the exposure E5 is completed, at time T3
, The image acquired by the exposure E5 is displayed as the display D5. That is, an appropriate image after the orientation of the digital camera 1 is changed from the time T3 is displayed. As a result, after changing the orientation of the digital camera 1 or the like, the time until an appropriate live view image is displayed is reduced as compared with the case where the exposure is not interrupted.

For example, in the time chart shown in FIG. 10 and the time chart shown in FIG. 11 in which the exposure is not interrupted, the exposure times of the exposures E1 to E3 in FIG.
Exposure E5 which is the same as the exposures E91 to E93 of FIG.
10 is equal to the exposure time of the exposure E94, an appropriate image is displayed at time T3 in FIG. 10, whereas an appropriate image is displayed only at time T92 in FIG. Is displayed. The symbol T92 shown in FIG. 10 indicates a position corresponding to the symbol T92 shown in FIG.

As described above, in the digital camera 1, in the live view display for photographing a night view or the like, the LCD is used.
Even if it takes time to update the image displayed on the display 10, an appropriate image after the change can be displayed as soon as possible after the change of the orientation, posture, zoom magnification, and the like of the digital camera 1. In particular, in the case where the digital camera 1 does not have an optical viewfinder and the subject can be confirmed only by the LCD 10, it is important to perform live view display in the night view mode as quickly as possible.

<5. Modifications> Although the digital camera 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible.

[0079] Overall control unit 211 in the above embodiment.
Is an AE operation unit 281, an imaging control unit 2 as shown in FIG.
Although the functions as 82, the display control unit 283, and the gain correction unit 284 are realized, all of these functions may be configured as hardware by a dedicated electric circuit.
Conversely, all of these functions may be realized by software. That is, the various functions may be realized by a dedicated electric circuit or by the CPU performing calculations according to a program, or may be realized by a cooperative operation of the dedicated electric circuit and the CPU. Therefore, the configuration for realizing these functions does not need to be provided in the digital camera 1 so as to be clearly separable.

In the above-described embodiment, it has been described that the suspend button 235 functions only in the night view mode. However, whether or not the suspend button 235 can be used needs to be strictly distinguished according to the mode. Absent. In the case of photographing a subject of normal brightness, the display update of the image is performed quickly, so that even if the processing by the interruption button 235 is executed, the display substantially similar to the normal live view display is performed. Because it becomes.

In the above embodiment, an image related to the interrupted exposure is displayed on the LCD 10 immediately after the exposure is interrupted. This image is different from an image blurred due to a change in the orientation, posture, zoom magnification, etc. of the digital camera 1. Therefore, the display of the image related to the interrupted exposure may be omitted. Alternatively, the fact that re-exposure is being performed may be displayed on LCD 10.

The gain of the interrupted image can be increased by
The maximum value of the pixel value is simply the maximum value that the pixel value can take (for example, 1023, 8 when the pixel value is 10 bits).
In the case of a bit, it may be performed to be 255).

In the above embodiment, the exclusive operation member called the interrupt button 235 is provided, but another button may have a function as a button for instructing the interrupt. For example, when the buttons 231 and 232 for zoom operation have the same function as the interrupt button 235, re-exposure is quickly performed in response to a change in the photographing range. Further, a sensor for detecting a change in the orientation or posture of the camera may be provided, and this sensor may instruct the imaging control unit 282 to suspend the exposure.

[0084]

According to the first to sixth aspects of the present invention, by interrupting the exposure and starting a new exposure, even if the exposure time is long, after changing the orientation, posture, zooming, etc. of the digital camera. An appropriate image can be promptly displayed.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, an interrupted image can be displayed. In the third and fourth aspects of the present invention, the gain for the interrupted image can be made appropriate.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, an appropriate image can be promptly displayed even when the subject can be confirmed only by the display means.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the exposure can be interrupted by the operation member.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a digital camera.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the digital camera.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the digital camera.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the digital camera.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a digital camera.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a flow of operation of the digital camera in a shooting mode.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a setting screen of a shooting mode.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing main functions of the overall control unit at the time of live view display together with peripheral components.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a flow of operation of the digital camera related to live view display.

FIG. 10 is a time chart showing a relationship between exposure and display when a suspend button is used.

FIG. 11 is a time chart showing a relationship between exposure and display in a conventional live view display.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Digital Camera 10 LCD 211 Overall Control Unit 235 Interruption Button 281 AE Operation Unit 282 Imaging Control Unit 283 Display Control Unit 284 Gain Correction Unit 303 CCD

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2H002 CC00 CC01 EB09 FB51 FB58 GA68 HA11 JA07 2H054 AA01 CD03 5C022 AA13 AB15 AB17 AC01 AC03 AC11 AC32 AC69 CA00

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A digital camera, comprising: an imaging unit that acquires a still image; an exposure time determination unit that determines an exposure time of the imaging unit; and an exposure time that is continuously determined by the exposure time determination unit. Imaging control means for causing the imaging means to sequentially perform imaging, display means for sequentially displaying images acquired by the imaging means, and causing the imaging control means to interrupt the exposure of the imaging means to perform a new exposure. A digital camera, comprising: instruction means for starting. 2. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein an interrupted image related to the interrupted exposure is displayed on the display immediately after the exposure is interrupted. 3. The digital camera according to claim 2, further comprising: gain control means for increasing a gain of the interrupted image when the interrupted image is displayed. 4. The digital camera according to claim 3, wherein the gain is determined based on an actual exposure time for the interrupted image. 5. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein a subject can be confirmed only by said display means. 6. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein the instruction unit further includes an operation member operated by an operator to interrupt the exposure. camera.