JP2002305684A - Imaging system and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an imaging system that can record an image with a gradation range desired by a user. SOLUTION: This invention provides the imaging system and program characterized in that it processes an image group constituted by at least two images picked up under different exposure conditions to the same object to generate a synthesized image, designates the gradation range used when the synthesized image is recorded in a range of M-N bits and applies gradation conversion to the synthesis image to have the designated number of bits, where M bits are the gradation range of the synthesis image and N bits are a gradation range processed by a display output system (M>=N).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an imaging system for obtaining a wide dynamic range image by synthesizing a plurality of images having different exposure amounts, and more particularly, to enabling a user to freely select an image format at the time of output. The present invention relates to an imaging system and a program for improving a degree of freedom and operability.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a CCD image pickup device used in a general electronic camera has a problem that a dynamic range width relating to gradation is narrower than a silver halide film. With respect to such a problem, a method of generating one wide dynamic range image by combining a plurality of images having different exposure amounts has been proposed. However, the wide dynamic range image obtained in this manner cannot be handled by a display output system such as a normal monitor or a printer, so that the dynamic range needs to be compressed again. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-50151 discloses an example in which the above processing is performed in a camera and an example in which the processing is performed by a processing device outside the camera. Also disclosed is an example in which when processing is performed by a processing device outside the camera, synthesis information necessary for synthesis is recorded together with a plurality of images of different exposures.

[0003]

However, the prior art has not been able to cope with storing an image having an appropriate gradation width according to the required image quality. Also, once the dynamic range has been compressed, it has not been possible to cope with maintaining high image quality when performing post-processing. In addition, the user cannot directly set a desired file format. Furthermore, when multiple images with different exposures are stored, it is not possible to cope with storing the images in a format suitable for computer processing. Further, it cannot cope with a point that a compression process suitable for a file format to be recorded is performed. further,
It was not possible to cope with the point of performing high-precision image quality adjustment in post-processing. In addition, it has not been possible to cope with efficient recording in the moving image mode and high-precision image quality adjustment in post-processing. Furthermore, the predetermined bi
When a dynamic range image other than t was recorded, it was not possible to directly display the image. Further, it has not been possible to cope with efficient storage when a plurality of images with different exposures are stored.

In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide an imaging system and a program for improving the degree of freedom and operability of a user in an imaging system for obtaining a wide dynamic range image.

[0005]

In the imaging system according to the present invention, the configuration specifying means in the claim includes a liquid crystal 200, a selection key 204, and a decision switch 205 shown in FIG.
However, the tone conversion unit 119 shown in FIG. 1 corresponds to the configuration conversion unit in the claim, and the output unit 124 and the control unit 125 shown in FIG. 1 correspond to the configuration recording unit in the claim. A preferred embodiment of the present invention is the liquid crystal 20 shown in FIG.
0, a selection key 204, and a decision switch 205 to input a gradation width at the time of recording of a wide dynamic range image, convert the gradation width to a designated gradation width by a gradation conversion unit 119, and transfer to the output unit 124 for recording. is there. Thereby, it is possible to perform photographing with a gradation width desired by the photographer.

The configuration calculating means in the claim corresponds to the difference information calculating section 121 shown in FIG. 1, and the configuration recording means in the claim corresponds to the output section 124 and the control section 125 shown in FIG. The preferred embodiment of the present invention is a liquid crystal 200, a selection key 204, a decision switch 205 shown in FIG.
, A gradation width at the time of recording of a wide dynamic range image is input, and the gradation conversion unit 119 converts the gradation width into a designated gradation width. This is an imaging system that separately calculates information lost in the tone conversion, and transfers the information after the tone conversion and the information lost in the tone conversion to the output unit 124 for recording. As a result, the photographer can perform photographing with a desired gradation width, and a high-quality image can be obtained even when correction is performed by post-processing after photographing.

The configuration selecting means in the claim includes a liquid crystal 200, a selection key 204, and a decision switch 2 shown in FIG.
In FIG. 5, the configuration recording means in the claim corresponds to the output unit 124 and the control unit 125 shown in FIG. A preferred embodiment of the present invention is an imaging system that selects an image file to be recorded from the liquid crystal 200, the selection key 204, and the enter switch 205 shown in FIG. 2, and transfers the selected image file to the output unit 124 for recording. . As a result, a file desired by the photographer can be stored, and the degree of freedom in photographing is improved.

[0008] The component accumulating means in the claim corresponds to the accumulating unit 123 shown in FIG. A preferred application form of the present invention is an imaging system in which a plurality of images of different exposures are integrated into one file so as to be a multiple of 8 bits in the integration unit 123 shown in FIG. 1 and transferred to the output unit 124 for recording. . A plurality of images of different exposures are recorded in units that are multiples of 8 bits. Thereby, the operability of the recording file is improved in the computer processing.

The reversible compression section 122 shown in FIG. 1 corresponds to the reversible compression section 122 in the claim, and the irreversible compression section 120 shown in FIG. 1 corresponds to the irreversible compression section in the claim. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the lossless compression unit 122 shown in FIG. 1 losslessly compresses a plurality of images of different exposures, the lossy compression unit 120 losslessly compresses the composite image subjected to gradation conversion, and outputs the image. This is an imaging system for transferring and recording to the unit 124. As a result, a plurality of images with different exposures used in the post-processing can obtain a high-quality image because there is no loss of information. Use is possible.

The configuration acquisition means in the claim is the photometric evaluation unit 107 and the in-focus detection unit 108 shown in FIG. 1, and the configuration addition means in the claim is the control unit 125 shown in FIG.
Is applicable. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the photometric evaluation section 107 and the in-focus point detection section 108 shown in FIG. 1 acquire photographing information, and the control section 125 transfers the captured information together with a plurality of images of different exposures to the output section 124 for recording. This is an imaging system. Thus, when a wide dynamic range image is synthesized from a plurality of images of different exposures in post-processing, information at the time of shooting can be used, and a higher quality image can be obtained by a simple operation.

The configuration mode switching means in the claim corresponds to the liquid crystal 200, the selection key 204 and the decision switch 205 shown in FIG. 2, and the configuration adding means in the claim corresponds to the control unit 125 shown in FIG. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the photometric evaluation unit 107 and the in-focus point detection unit 108 shown in FIG. 1 acquire photographing information, and the control unit 125 together with a plurality of images of different exposures at predetermined time intervals or predetermined scene changes. This is an imaging system that transfers the image data to the output unit 124 for recording each time. Thus, when a wide dynamic range image is synthesized from a plurality of images of different exposures in post-processing, information at the time of shooting can be used, and a higher quality image can be obtained by a simple operation. Further, information at the time of shooting is recorded only at a predetermined interval or when a scene changes, so that the storage medium can be used efficiently.

The thumbnail generating unit 300 shown in FIG. 3 corresponds to the thumbnail generating unit in the claim, and the output unit 124 and the control unit 125 shown in FIG. 3 correspond to the configuration recording unit in the claim. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a thumbnail creating unit 300 shown in FIG. 3 generates a thumbnail image having an image size and gradation width suitable for liquid crystal display from a wide dynamic range image, and sends the thumbnail image to the output unit 124 together with the wide dynamic range image. This is an imaging system for transferring and recording. As a result, the captured wide dynamic range image can be confirmed on the liquid crystal in the camera, so that an imaging system with excellent operability can be provided.

The reference image setting unit 400 shown in FIG. 4 is used as the configuration reference image setting unit in the claim, and the duplication information deletion unit 402 shown in FIG. 4 is used as the configuration deletion unit in the claim.
However, the configuration recording means in the claim corresponds to the output unit 124 and the control unit 125 shown in FIG. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a reference image is set from a plurality of images of different exposures in a reference image setting unit 400 shown in FIG. This is an imaging system that deletes information that overlaps between them, transfers the reference image and the image from which the duplicate information has been deleted to the output unit 124, and records the image. Thus, when a wide dynamic range image is synthesized from a plurality of images of different exposures in post-processing, unnecessary information need not be recorded and a recording medium can be effectively used. Further, by using the reference image without performing the synthesizing process, a normal print process can be performed, and versatility is improved.

[0014]

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

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a first embodiment of the present invention. An image captured via the lens system 100, the aperture 101, the low-pass filter 102, and the single-plate CCD 103 is converted into a digital signal by the A / D 104. The signal from the A / D 104 is “image buffer 1” 10
5, or transferred to the interpolation unit 110 and the work buffer 111 via the “image buffer 2” 106. Also,
The signal from the “image buffer 1” 105 is the photometric evaluation unit 1
07, is also transferred to the focal point detection unit 108. The photometric evaluation unit 107 includes an aperture 101, a CCD 103, a control unit 12
5, and the focus detection unit 108 is connected to an AF (autofocus) motor 109 and a control unit 125.

The work buffer 111 is connected to a Y / C separation unit 112 and a lossless compression unit 122. The Y / C separation unit 112 is connected to an image synthesis unit 117 via an appropriate exposure extraction unit 113, a luminance correction unit 115, or a color difference correction unit 116. The luminance correction unit 115 is connected to the color difference correction unit 116. Further, the image synthesizing unit 117 is connected to the tone converting unit 119 and the difference information calculating unit 121 via the synthesized image buffer 118. The tone conversion unit 119 is connected to the output unit 124 via the lossy compression unit 120, and the difference information calculation unit 12
1 is also connected. Then, the difference information calculation unit 1
Reference numeral 21 is connected to the output unit 124.

The reversible compression section 122 includes an accumulation section 123
Is connected to the output unit 124 via the. Further, the control unit 125 such as a microcomputer controls the interpolation unit 11
0, Y / C separation unit 112, proper exposure extraction unit 113, shooting situation estimation unit 114, brightness correction unit 115, image synthesis unit 11
7, connected to the tone conversion unit 119, the integration unit 123, and the output unit 124. Further, the photographing situation estimating unit 114
Are connected to the gradation conversion unit 119 and the output unit 124.

Next, the flow of signals will be described with reference to FIG.

First, a pre-imaging mode is entered by half-pressing a shutter button (not shown). The lens system 1
00, aperture 101, low-pass filter 102, CCD1
A / D 104 converts the video signal photographed via the A / D 104 into a digital signal, and converts it into a “image buffer 1” 105
Transferred to The video signal in the “image buffer 1” 105 is transferred to the photometry evaluation unit 107 and the focus detection unit 108. Then, the photometric evaluation unit 107 obtains a luminance level in the image and obtains the aperture 101 and the CCD 1 so that appropriate exposure is obtained.
The electronic shutter speed 03 is controlled. Also, the focus detection unit 108 detects the edge strength of the video signal,
By controlling the AF motor 109 so that this becomes the maximum, a focused image is obtained.

Next, the main photographing is performed by fully pressing a shutter button (not shown). A predetermined exposure ratio with respect to the exposure condition obtained by the photometric evaluation unit 107,
For example, the first image (short-time exposure image) is photographed under an exposure condition of 1/8, is converted into a digital signal by the A / D 104, and is transferred to the "image buffer 2" 106. Subsequently, a second image (long-time exposure image) is photographed under the exposure conditions obtained by the photometry evaluation unit 107, converted into a digital signal by the A / D 104, and the “image buffer 1” 105. Will be transferred. Further, the interpolation unit 110 sequentially reads the single-plate video signals on the “image buffer 1” 105 and the “image buffer 2” 106 under the control of the control unit 125, and performs known interpolation processing and white balance processing. , And generates a signal in a three-plate state that has been subjected to an enhancement process and the like, and transfers the signal to the work buffer 111. Next, the Y / C separation unit 112 reads the three-plate signals on the work buffer 111 in the order of a long-time exposure image and a short-time exposure image under the control of the control unit 125, and separates them into luminance and color difference signals. As for the luminance signal of the long-time exposure image, a region where overexposure occurs is extracted by the appropriate exposure extracting unit 113, and signals of other regions are transferred to the luminance correcting unit 115. In the case of a short-time exposure luminance signal, the appropriate exposure extraction unit 113 transfers a luminance signal corresponding to an area where the luminance signal of the long-time exposure image is overexposed to the luminance correction unit 115. Here, the luminance correction unit 115 generates a gradation conversion curve based on the cumulative histogram of the luminance signals sent from the appropriate exposure extraction unit 113, and converts the luminance signal of the long / short exposure image. The luminance signal before the conversion and the luminance signal after the conversion are transferred to the color difference correction unit 116.

The color difference corrector 116 calculates a correction coefficient for correcting the color difference signal from the luminance signal before and after the conversion from the luminance corrector 115 and a theoretical limit model where colors can exist, and calculates the Y / C separation coefficient. The color difference signal from the unit 112 is multiplied. Further, the image synthesizing unit 117 synthesizes the luminance signal corrected by the luminance correcting unit 115 and the color difference signal corrected by the color difference correcting unit 116 based on the control of the control unit 125 to generate a synthesized image with a wide dynamic range. The data is transferred to the composite image buffer 118. Then, the gradation conversion unit 119 reads the composite image having a wide dynamic range on the composite image buffer 118 based on the control of the control unit 125, and converts the wide dynamic range image to a predetermined bit gradation transferred from the control unit 125. Convert. At this time, the photographing situation estimation unit 1
Based on the information from 14, the weighting is switched from the shooting conditions such as landscape shooting, portrait shooting, close-up shooting, etc., so that the conversion is performed with emphasis on the main subject.

Then, the composite image converted by the gradation conversion unit 119 is transferred to the lossy compression unit 120 and the difference information calculation unit 121. The irreversible compression unit 120 compresses the converted composite image using a known image compression technique such as JPEG. Further, the difference information calculation unit 121 compares the original composite image on the composite image buffer 118 with the gradation conversion unit 119.
The difference information between the synthesized images converted by
Transfer to Also, the work buffer 1 is provided to the output unit 124.
11 is transferred via the reversible compression unit 122 and the accumulation unit 123.

The reversible compression unit 122 reversibly compresses the long / short exposure image using a known compression technique such as Huffman coding. In addition, the accumulation unit 123 combines the long / short-time exposure images on a bit basis and accumulates them into one file. In addition, if necessary,
Dummy data such as a value 0 can be added so as to be a multiple of the bit.

The output section 124 finally obtains the photographic information from the photographic state estimating section 114 and the irreversible compression section 120.
, The difference information calculated by the difference information calculation unit 121, and the long / short-time exposure image from the accumulation unit 123. The output unit 124 includes a control unit 1
Only necessary information is recorded on a recording medium such as a memory card or a magnetic disk based on the control of 25.

Next, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an embodiment of a specific configuration of the display unit and the operation unit of the assumed imaging system.

FIG. 2 shows the structure of the operation display panel, which comprises a liquid crystal 200, a liquid crystal ON / OFF switch 201, a still image / moving image switch 202, numeric keys 203, a selection key 204, and a decision switch 205.

In the liquid crystal 200, a still image mode is selected as a photographing mode, a composite image and a plurality of images of different exposures are both selected as output files stored in a recording medium, and a 10-bit gradation width of the composite image is selected. ing. Also,
At the bottom, there is an item indicating size information of an image required by the selected condition.

With the above configuration, photographing in an image format desired by the user becomes possible. By selecting the gradation width on the operation unit, a composite image of 10 to 12 bits can be set when correction or editing is performed in post-processing. As a result, a high-quality image can be obtained even after the correction processing. In addition, when the image is directly displayed on a monitor or printed out, it can be handled by selecting an 8-bit composite image. Further, even when an 8-bit composite image is selected, correction in post-processing can be performed with high quality by separately storing difference information from the original composite image. Furthermore, since the output file can be selected, when the user wants to manually perform the synthesizing process, he / she wants the image capturing system to automatically synthesize a plurality of images of different exposures such as long / short exposure images. In this case, a composite image can be set. Also, both images can be stored at the same time, and can be used as a reference image when performing a synthesis process manually. In addition, by performing compression without loss of information by reversible compression on a plurality of images with different exposures, a high-quality image can be obtained even in a synthesis process in post-processing.

On the other hand, by performing irreversible compression on the composite image, the recording medium can be efficiently used. Further, when outputting a plurality of images of different exposures such as long / short exposure images, the images are combined in bit units and integrated into one file, and if necessary, the size is set to a multiple of 8 bits. Since adjustment can be performed, handling on a computer becomes easy. In addition, since information at the time of photographing can be output at the same time, it helps to automate the processing when performing the synthesis processing in the post-processing.

In the case of the moving image mode, information at the time of photographing is output at predetermined time intervals, for example, every one second, thereby enabling efficient use of a recording medium without waste. further,
It is also possible to output information at the time of shooting when a change in a scene exceeds a predetermined threshold value by using known motion detection or the like.

In the above configuration example, the combination of two long / short-exposure images has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a configuration in which more images with different exposures are combined is also possible. is there.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
This will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a second embodiment of the present invention. According to the embodiment of the present invention, the photographing situation estimation unit 114, the gradation conversion unit 119, the irreversible compression unit 120, the difference information calculation unit 121, the lossless compression unit 122,
The configuration is such that the accumulation unit 123 is deleted, and a thumbnail creation unit 300 is newly added between the composite image buffer 118 and the output unit 124.

A control signal from the control unit 125 is connected to the thumbnail creation unit 300. Except for the above, the second embodiment is equivalent to the first embodiment, and the same components are assigned the same names and numbers.

First, it is basically the same as the first embodiment, and only different parts will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, the synthesized image having a wide dynamic range generated by the image synthesis unit 117 is transferred to the synthesized image buffer 118. The composite image on the composite image buffer 118 is transferred to the thumbnail creation unit 300, converted into an image size suitable for liquid crystal display, and converted into an 8-bit gradation width suitable for a general display device. The created thumbnail image is transferred to the output unit 124. Further, a buffer 1 for a composite image
The composite image on 18 is also transferred directly to the output unit 124.

The output unit 124 combines the composite image and the thumbnail image under the control of the control unit 125 and records the combined image on a recording medium such as a memory card or a magnetic disk.
With the above configuration, even when a composite image having a wide dynamic range of 8 bits or more is stored in a recording medium, the image can be easily confirmed on the liquid crystal. In the above configuration example, the gradation of the thumbnail image is set to 8 bits. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, when the liquid crystal display is 6 bits, a 6 bit configuration is possible.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a third embodiment of the present invention. In the embodiment of the present invention, the configuration between the working buffer 111 and the output unit 124 in the first embodiment is deleted, and the reference image setting unit 400, the reference image buffer 401, the duplication information deletion unit 402, the lossless compression The configuration is such that a unit 403 is added.

The work buffer 111 is connected to the reference image setting unit 400 and the duplication information deletion unit 402. The reference image setting unit 400 includes a reference image buffer 401.
, And the reference image buffer 401 is also connected to the duplication information deletion unit 402.
Further, the duplication information deletion unit 402 includes the lossless compression unit 40
3 is connected to the output unit 124. The control signal from the control unit 125 is connected to the reference image setting unit 400 and the duplication information deletion unit 402. Except for the above, the second embodiment is equivalent to the first embodiment, and the same components are assigned the same names and numbers.

First, basically, the second embodiment is equivalent to the first embodiment, and only different portions will be described. As shown in FIG. 4, the three-plate image of the long / short-time exposure image generated by the interpolation unit 110 is transferred to the work buffer 111. The three-plate image on the work buffer 111 is transferred to the reference image setting unit 400, an image close to proper exposure is selected based on the distribution state of the histogram, and transferred to the reference image buffer 401. In the duplication information deletion unit 402, based on the control of the control unit 125, the three images other than the reference image are stored in the work buffer 111.
Then, the selected reference image is read from the reference image buffer 401.

Thereafter, an area which has been appropriately exposed in the reference image is obtained, and data of the three-plate image corresponding to this area is replaced with 0. The three-plate image in which the data of the overlap area has been replaced with 0 is transferred to the lossless compression unit 403, subjected to a known lossless compression such as Huffman coding, and transferred to the output unit 124. The reference image on the reference image buffer 401 is also transferred to the output unit 124. The output unit 124 includes a control unit 1
Under the control of 25, the three-plate image for the reference image and the three-plate image reversibly compressed are recorded on a recording medium such as a memory card or a magnetic disk.

As described above, according to the above configuration, display and printing can be performed using the reference image even when the synthesizing process is not performed. In addition, even in the case of performing synthesis in post-processing, a high-quality wide dynamic range image can be obtained because there are three board images other than the reversibly compressed reference image.

In the above configuration example, the combination of two long / short exposure images has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a configuration in which more different exposure images are combined is also possible. is there. Further, similarly to the first embodiment, it is also possible to record photographing information at the same time.

As described above, by using the embodiment of the present invention, a file desired by a photographer can be stored.
The degree of freedom of photographing is improved, and the operability of a recording file is improved in computer processing. In addition, a plurality of images of different exposures used in the post-processing can obtain a high-quality image because there is no loss of information, and a gradation-converted composite image is stored at a high compression rate, so that the recording medium is efficiently used. Use is possible. Furthermore, when a wide dynamic range image is synthesized from a plurality of images of different exposures in post-processing, information at the time of shooting can be used, and a higher quality image can be obtained by a simple operation. Also, when combining a wide dynamic range image from a plurality of images with different exposures in post-processing, information at the time of shooting can be used, and a higher quality image can be obtained by a simple operation. Further, information at the time of shooting is recorded only at a predetermined interval or when a scene changes, so that the storage medium can be used efficiently. Furthermore, since the captured wide dynamic range image can be confirmed on the LCD in the camera,
An imaging system with excellent operability can be provided. Further, when a wide dynamic range image is synthesized from a plurality of images with different exposures in post-processing, unnecessary information need not be recorded, and a recording medium can be effectively used. Further, by using the reference image without performing the synthesizing process, a normal print process can be performed, and versatility is improved.

[0045]

According to the present invention, an image capturing system and a program which can perform image capturing with a step width desired by a photographer and can obtain a high-quality image even when correction is performed by post-processing after image capturing. Can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a specific configuration of a display unit and an operation unit of the assumed imaging system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 2,... Image buffer, 102, low-pass filter,
103: CCD, 107: photometric evaluation unit, 108: focus detection unit, 109: AF motor, 110: interpolation unit, 111
... Work buffer, 113 ... Appropriate exposure extraction unit, 114 ...
Imaging condition estimating unit, 115: luminance correcting unit, 116: color difference correcting unit, 117: image synthesizing unit, 118: buffer for synthesized image, 119: gradation converting unit, 120: irreversible compressing unit, 12
1: difference information calculation unit, 122: lossless compression unit, 123: accumulation unit, 200: liquid crystal,

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 5C022 AA13 AB03 AB17 AC56 AC69 5C052 AA17 DD04 GA02 GB06 GC05 GE08 5C053 FA07 FA27 GA11 GB36 KA01 KA22 LA01

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. An imaging system for processing a group of at least two images of the same subject captured under different exposure conditions to generate a composite image having a wide dynamic range, wherein the gradation width of the composite image is Mbit. Designating means for designating the gradation width when recording the composite image within a range of M to N bits, where the gradation width handled by the display output system is N bits (M ≧ N); Converting means for converting the number of gradations into the designated number of bits. 2. The imaging system according to claim 1, further comprising a recording unit for recording the composite image subjected to the gradation conversion. 3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a calculating unit configured to calculate the gradation information lost by the conversion unit, wherein the storage unit records the lost gradation information and the composite image after the gradation conversion. The imaging system according to claim 2, wherein: 4. An imaging system for processing a group of at least two or more images of the same subject photographed under different exposure conditions to generate a composite image having a wide dynamic range, wherein the image group or the composite image An imaging system, comprising: a selection unit that selects at least one of the following: and a recording unit that records the selected image. 5. A bi which is a multiple of 8 for said group of images.
The imaging system according to claim 4, further comprising: an accumulation unit that accumulates the t number of files into a single file. 6. The imaging system according to claim 4, further comprising: a lossless compression unit that performs lossless compression on the image group; and an irreversible compression unit that performs irreversible compression on the composite image. 7. An acquiring means for acquiring at least one or more photographing information of focusing information, photometric information, zoom position information, multi-spot photometric information, line-of-sight input information, and strobe light emission information when photographing the group of images. 5. The imaging system according to claim 4, further comprising: an addition unit configured to add the shooting information to the image group when the image group is selected by the selection unit. 8. A mode switching unit for switching between a still image mode and a moving image mode, and a predetermined time interval or a predetermined scene change when an image group is selected by the selection unit and switched to the moving image mode by the mode switching unit. The imaging system according to claim 7, further comprising: an adding unit that adds the shooting information to an image group for each image. 9. An imaging system for processing a group of at least two or more images of the same subject photographed under different exposure conditions to generate a composite image having a wide dynamic range. A thumbnail generation means for generating a thumbnail image having a reduced size from the composite image and a gradation width of N bits when the gradation width handled by the Mbit and display output system is N bits (M ≧ N); An image pickup system, comprising: a recording unit that records a thumbnail image and the Mbit composite image. 10. An imaging system for processing an image group consisting of at least two or more images of the same subject photographed under different exposure conditions to generate a composite image having a wide dynamic range. A reference image setting unit that uses an approximate image as a reference image; a deletion unit that deletes gradation information overlapping with the reference image for an image group other than the reference image; and recording the reference image and the image group after the deletion. An imaging system comprising: recording means. 11. An imaging system for processing a group of at least two or more images of the same subject captured under different exposure conditions to generate a composite image having a wide dynamic range. M bit, when the gradation width handled by the display output system is N bits (M ≧ N), a procedure for specifying the gradation width when recording the composite image within a range of M to N bits; And a program for executing the gradation conversion to the designated number of bits.