JP2005065079A - Camera - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a camera for obtaining an image in which a red eye is not generated easily for objects such as a figure and an animal, without missing moment for a good picture. <P>SOLUTION: The camera includes: a photographing means for photographing an object photoelectrically and obtaining image data of the object; a red-eye detecting means for detecting a red eye from the image data of the object shot by the photographing means; and a control means having a first control mode for photographing the object repeatedly by the photographing means until the red eye is not detected if the bloodshot eye is detected by the red-eye detecting means in the image data of the object shot by the photographing means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a camera for obtaining an image without red eyes when a subject including a person and an animal is photographed.

  Conventionally, in order to correct red-eye generated during shooting using a strobe or the like in an image shot of a subject including a person and an animal with a camera, etc., red-eye correction is performed on the image with red-eye by digital image processing separately. Was.

However, in such a red-eye correction method, correction omission may occur.
Therefore, a camera having a function of adjusting a stored digital pixel value in order to remove red eyes caused by a strobe has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
This conventional camera has a capturing unit including an image sensor such as a CCD for obtaining an image, and a display device for displaying an image obtained by the capturing unit.

  In the conventional camera disclosed in Patent Document 1, a face detection algorithm is executed on the framing image obtained by the capturing unit to detect all the faces in the framing image. Further, various algorithms are executed on the framing image to obtain a final captured image. A red-eye detection algorithm is executed on this final supplemental image. If red eyes are present in this final supplemental image, a warning is displayed on the display device by the red eye detection algorithm. After receiving this red eye notification, if the conventional camera is a digital camera, the photographer can run an automatic red eye correction algorithm to remove the unpleasant red highlight in the eye . As a result, an image with corrected red-eye can be obtained.

In addition to this conventional camera, in order to prevent the occurrence of red eyes, there has also been proposed a camera that performs photographing after pre-flashing a strobe (see, for example, Patent Document 2).
The conventional camera disclosed in Patent Document 2 is provided with a strobe light emitting unit including a group of LEDs whose brightness can be adjusted. This camera controls the light emission brightness or light emission color of this strobe light emission unit. When shooting with flash, the camera emits auxiliary shooting light from the LED group, and when shooting with red-eye reduction, the auxiliary shooting light comes before the auxiliary shooting light. In other words, red-eye reduction light having a lower emission luminance is emitted (pre-emission). Thereby, in the camera which prevents generation | occurrence | production of the red eye disclosed by patent document 2, the reduction of a number of parts and the cost reduction of a camera can be aimed at.

JP 2001-309225 A JP 2003-140236 A

However, the conventional camera disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a problem that the processing is complicated to obtain a desired image.
Further, the camera that pre-flashes to prevent red-eye disclosed in Patent Document 2 has a problem of missing a photo opportunity.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a camera that solves the problems based on the conventional technology and can easily obtain an image without red eyes without missing a photo opportunity for subjects such as people and animals. It is in.

  To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a photographing means for photoelectrically photographing a subject to obtain image data of the subject, and a red-eye detecting means for detecting red eyes from the image data of the subject photographed by the photographing means. And when the red-eye is detected in the image data of the subject photographed by the photographing means by the red-eye detecting means, the first control mode for repeatedly photographing the subject by the photographing means until no red-eye is detected. And a control means provided.

  In the present invention, there is further provided red-eye correction means for correcting red-eye of the image data of the subject photographed by the photographing means in which red-eye has been detected, and the control means is further configured to capture the photographing means by the red-eye detection means. A second control mode in which when the red eye is detected from the image data photographed by the above, the photographing unit stops photographing and the red eye correction unit corrects the red eye of the image data from which the red eye has been detected. Is preferred.

  In the present invention, it is preferable that the control unit changes a shooting condition of the subject when shooting repeatedly in the first control mode.

  Further, in the present invention, it is preferable that the red-eye detecting unit further includes a warning unit that issues a warning when red-eye is detected in the image data of the subject imaged by the imaging unit.

  In the camera of the present invention, when the red eye is detected in the image data of the subject including a person and an animal by the red eye detection unit, the red eye is not detected by the red eye detection unit in the image data of the subject photographed by the imaging unit. By providing the first control mode in which the subject is repeatedly photographed by the photographing means, an image without red eyes can be easily obtained without missing a photo opportunity for the subject.

  Hereinafter, the camera of the present invention will be described in detail based on preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of a camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.
In the present embodiment, a digital camera among the cameras will be described as an example.
A digital camera (hereinafter referred to as a camera) 10 shown in FIG. 1 basically includes a photographing unit 12, a strobe 14, a signal processing unit 16, a shutter button 18, a mode switching button 19, a display unit 20, a switch group 22, and a recording unit. 24, a compression unit 26, a red-eye automatic correction unit 28, a storage unit 32 having a DRAM and the like, a shutter 34, and a control unit (control means) 50. In the figure, reference symbol b is a system bus. As will be described later, the camera 10 of the present embodiment has at least three shooting modes, for example, a normal mode, an A mode (first control mode), and a B mode (second control mode).

  The configuration of the camera 10 of this embodiment is basically the same as that of a known digital camera except that the red-eye automatic correction unit 28 is included. Therefore, the camera 10 has an interface (I / F) such as a connector for connecting to an external device such as a photometric means for determining exposure, a microphone for recording, a personal computer (PC), etc. Various components of a normal digital camera, such as a zoom mechanism of the unit 12, a finder, driving means for various machine elements, a lamp for notifying operation states and warnings, a liquid crystal display panel for operation selection / instruction, and the like Of course, it has means to operate and control them.

The photographing unit 12 is the same as a photographing optical system of a normal digital camera, and includes an imaging lens 40, a diaphragm 42, an (area) CCD sensor 44, and a signal processing unit 16.
The mode switching button 19 switches various shooting modes such as a normal mode, A mode, B mode, and a landscape mode for shooting a landscape, which will be described later, and is connected to the control unit 50. Thereby, the control mode of the camera 10 by the control part 50 mentioned later is changed. The shooting mode of the camera 10 switched by the mode switching button 19 is preferably displayed on the liquid crystal display panel.

The imaging lens 40 is for forming an image of a subject (not shown) on the CCD sensor 44. The imaging lens 40 is not particularly limited, and may have a zoom function.
The diaphragm 42 is for adjusting the amount of light incident on the CCD sensor 44, and is provided between the imaging lens 40 and the CCD sensor 44. The aperture 42 is connected to the control unit 50, and the aperture value is adjusted by the control unit 50.
The CCD sensor 44 obtains an image signal for each of the three primary colors R (red), G (green), and B (blue) from the subject image formed by the imaging lens 40, and images of these three primary colors. The signal is output to the processing unit 16.

The signal processing unit 16 processes the image signal output from the CCD sensor 44 to obtain image data of a captured image of the subject. The signal processing unit 16 performs, for example, A / D conversion, shading correction, dark current correction, noise removal, log conversion, and the like on the image signal from the CCD sensor 44 to obtain image data of a captured image.
The signal processing unit 16 is connected to the storage unit 32 and the control unit 50, and outputs image data from the signal processing unit 16 to the storage unit 32 when the flash photography is not performed.
The photographing unit 12 also includes a strobe 14 and a shutter 34. The strobe 14 is the same as the strobe mounted on a normal digital camera. The amount of light emitted from the strobe 14 can also be adjusted by the control unit 50.

  The shutter 34 causes the red-eye automatic correction unit 28 to output image data for one frame from the signal processing unit 16 when the shutter button 18 is pressed. The shutter 34 is not limited to an electrical one but may be a mechanical one, and the shutter speed is adjusted by the control unit 50 described later.

The display unit 20 displays a captured image or displays for various operations using a GUI (Graphical User Interface), and includes, for example, a liquid crystal display mounted on a normal digital camera.
The switch group 22 is various switches for the user to operate the camera 10. For example, it includes a strobe switch, a zoom switch, a display switching button, or a cross button or an arrow button for performing various selections.
In the camera 10 of this embodiment, various operations including operations such as instructions for reprocessing red-eye correction processing described later are performed by using these switches, a switch, and a GUI using display on the display unit 20 or the liquid crystal display panel. I do.

The recording unit 24 records image data that has been shot and finally corrected for red-eye on a medium (recording medium). The recording unit 24 has a slot 46 for loading the medium, and a card I / F 48 for connecting the slot 46. It is comprised. The camera 10 in the illustrated example records image data or the like in an Exif format image file format (image file format) on, for example, a medium loaded in the slot 46. In the present invention, the available media are not particularly limited, xD-Picture Card ^TM, smart media ^TM, PC card, and a compact ^TM flash and media in various available which is used in digital cameras is there.

  The compression unit 26 compresses image data of a captured image into compressed image data in, for example, JPEG (Joint Photographic Expert Group) format in order to record image data on a medium or the like. The image data is output from and compressed. The compression unit 26 is connected to the recording unit 24, and the compressed image data is output to the recording unit 24.

The red-eye automatic correction unit 28 detects red eyes by image analysis on an image of a subject photographed by the camera 10 to generate red-eye position information, and further corrects the detected red eyes. The red-eye automatic correction unit 28 includes a red-eye automatic detection unit (red-eye detection unit) 29 and a red-eye automatic correction unit (red-eye correction unit) 30.
In the camera 10 of the present embodiment, the red-eye automatic correction unit 28 preferably has a dedicated calculation unit (Processing Unit) independent of the control unit 50 described above.
Hereinafter, the red-eye automatic correction unit 28 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the red-eye automatic correction unit of the camera according to the present embodiment.
Note that image data processed by the signal processing unit 16 is output from the imaging unit 12 illustrated in FIG.

  The red-eye automatic detection unit 29 detects red eyes by image analysis on the image data of the subject imaged by the camera 10 and checks the presence or absence of red eyes. For image data from which red eyes are detected, red-eye position information is also included. Generate. The red-eye automatic detection unit 29 is connected to the signal processing unit 16, the display unit 20, the storage unit 32, and the control unit 50. When the shutter 34 is released, the red-eye automatic detection unit 29 outputs image data for one frame from the signal processing unit 16. When red-eye is detected from the image data, the red-eye detection signal is displayed on the display unit 20 and the control unit. Output to 50. With this red-eye detection signal, a warning that red-eye has been detected is displayed on the display unit 20, and the control unit 50 outputs a control signal for re-taking to the imaging unit 12.

The red-eye automatic detection unit 29 outputs image data of an image with no possibility of red eye generation to the storage unit 32. For example, image data that is not flash photography is not likely to cause red eyes, and the image data of this image is output to the storage unit 32. For other image data, the output of the image data is controlled based on the control signal of the control unit 50.
Note that the accuracy of red-eye detection by the red-eye automatic detection unit 29 is preferably adjustable. For example, the accuracy of red-eye detection at the center of the image is increased, and the accuracy of red-eye detection at the edge of the image is decreased.

The red-eye processing (red-eye detection and red-eye correction) method in the red-eye automatic correction unit 28 is not particularly limited, and various known methods can be used.
For example, a fully automatic red-eye correction processing method is illustrated in which red-eye in an image is automatically detected from image data by image analysis (red-eye detection), and the correction (red-eye correction) is automatically performed by image processing. The

Note that the method for detecting red eyes is not particularly limited, and various known methods can be used. For example, a method of performing face extraction and detecting red eyes from the extracted face is exemplified.
This face extraction may be performed by a known method. For example, a face detection method based on edge detection or shape pattern detection, a face detection method based on hue extraction or skin color extraction, a candidate area is extracted, and the candidate area is reduced to a small area. A method of dividing and comparing the feature amount of each area with a preset face area pattern and extracting the face area from the accuracy (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-137788), extracting a face candidate area, A method of extracting a face area by evaluating the accuracy from the degree of overlap of each candidate area (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-149018), and extracting a face candidate area, and the density of each candidate area corresponds to a predetermined threshold value If it is a value, a torso candidate area is extracted, the accuracy is evaluated using the density and saturation contrast of the face and the torso candidate area, and a face area is extracted (see JP 2000-148980 A). ) And the like.

A method for detecting red eyes from the extracted face region can also be performed by a known method.
For example, eye detection using edge detection, shape pattern detection, position information, hue information, etc. to detect red eyes from hue, etc., edge detection, shape pattern detection, position information, etc. Extracting and extracting a low luminance region from the luminance histogram of the eye image data, extracting the pupil region by contracting the extracted low luminance region, detecting a red eye from hue, etc., and a face candidate region The image feature quantity z using the hue or the like is obtained for each pixel as the xy plane, the xyz three-dimensional space is set, the xy plane is divided from the z-valued mountain distribution, and shape information and statistics are obtained for each divided region. For example, a method of detecting red eyes from a characteristic image feature amount (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-76427) and the like are exemplified.

The red-eye automatic correction unit 30 performs red-eye correction on the image data to which the red-eye position information is given by the red-eye automatic detection unit 29. The red-eye automatic correction unit 30 is connected to the red-eye automatic detection unit 29, the display unit 20, the storage unit 32, and the control unit 50.
The red-eye automatic correction unit 30 corrects the image data in which red eyes are detected, obtains red-eye correction image data, and outputs the red-eye correction image data to the display unit 20 and the storage unit 32. Based on the red-eye corrected image data, the display unit 20 displays an image of the subject whose red eyes are corrected, that is, an image without red eyes. The storage unit 32 stores red-eye corrected image data without red-eye corrected for red-eye.

Also, the correction method of the detected red eye is not limited, and may be performed by a known method.
For example, a method of correcting red eyes by color conversion or saturation reduction of detected red eyes, and a method of correcting the saturation or lightness of all other pixels so as to approach the pixels of minimum brightness in the detected red eye region 2000-76427) and the like.

The red-eye automatic correction unit 30 preferably further includes a storage unit such as a DRAM. The display unit 20 expands a region where the red-eye exists in the corresponding image according to the red-eye position information generated by the red-eye automatic correction unit 28. Display.
Further, the red-eye automatic correction unit 30 includes red-eye position information generated by the red-eye automatic correction unit 28 and information on the time required for the red-eye processing by the red-eye automatic correction unit 28 (red-eye) processing time information. Red-eye correction information related to the image after red-eye correction, and red-eye related information such as cancellation information when red-eye detection by the red-eye automatic correction unit 28 (to be described later) is canceled inappropriately (corresponding) It may be additionally recorded in the image file of the media loaded in the slot 46 in association with the image data.

  Furthermore, the camera 10 of the present embodiment performs red-eye detection or red-eye correction according to an input instruction (manual instruction) by the user in response to a case where automatic red-eye processing by the red-eye automatic correction unit 28 fails. You may be able to do it.

  The storage unit 32 stores image data of an image taken by the camera 10, and the stored image data includes a red eye and a corrected red eye. The storage unit 32 includes, for example, a storage element such as a DRAM, and is connected to the photographing unit 12, the signal processing unit 16, the red-eye automatic detection unit 29, and the red-eye automatic correction unit 30. No image data is output and saved. Further, the image data without red-eye is stored in the recording unit 24 from the storage unit 32 through the compression unit 26.

The control unit 50 controls the entire camera 10 and is configured using a CPU or the like.
As will be described later, when the red-eye is detected in the captured image data by the red-eye automatic detection unit 29, the control unit 50 until the red-eye is not detected by the red-eye automatic detection unit 29 in the image data from which the red eye has been detected. The shooting unit 12 has an A mode (first control mode) in which the same subject is repeatedly shot in the same scene. Further, when the red-eye is detected from the image data by the red-eye automatic detection unit 29, the control unit 50 stops the photographing by the photographing unit 12, and corrects the red-eye of the image data in which the red-eye is detected by the red-eye automatic correction unit. 30 also has a B mode (second control mode). The A mode and B mode are switched by a mode switching button 19.

  In the A mode of this embodiment, when the shutter button 18 is pressed once, image data is output from the signal processing unit 16 to the red-eye automatic detection unit 29. Red eye detection is performed on the first image data. At this time, when a red eye is detected, the shutter 34 operates, and the next image data is output from the signal processing unit 16 to the red eye automatic detection unit 29. Then, red-eye detection is performed again by the red-eye automatic detection unit 29. This is repeated for the image data until the red-eye automatic detection unit 29 detects no red-eye. That is, re-shooting is performed until no red eye is detected. When performing this re-shooting, the shooting conditions such as the aperture value of the aperture 42, the shutter speed of the shutter 34 (accumulation time of the CCD sensor 44), and the light emission amount of the strobe 14 may be changed.

  Further, when a red eye is detected, a red eye detection signal may be output to the display unit 20 and a warning may be displayed on the display unit 20. In this case, the display unit 20 also serves as a warning unit. This warning is not limited to being displayed on the display unit 20, but may be light emission such as sound or light.

On the other hand, in the B mode, when the shutter button 18 is pressed once, image data for one frame is output from the signal processing unit 16 to the red-eye automatic detection unit 29. Red eye detection is performed on this image data. At this time, when a red eye is detected, a red eye detection signal is output to the display unit 20 to display a warning and the function of the photographing unit 12 is stopped, and the red eye is corrected by the red eye automatic correction unit 30. .
In the B mode, when red-eye is detected, the same subject is re-taken in the same scene, so a photo opportunity is not missed.

In this case, also in the B mode, as in the A mode, the warning by the warning means is not limited to being displayed on the display unit 20, and may be light emission such as sound or light.
There are many types of ordinary cameras in which shooting conditions suitable for a shooting scene are set and a photographer can select a shooting mode, such as a portrait mode, a landscape mode, and a night view mode.
Here, portraits are most likely to have red eyes, and many cameras prohibit strobe light emission in landscape mode. Therefore, a shooting scene or the like may be discriminated from the shooting mode, and the possibility of occurrence of red-eye may be estimated according to this.

  In the present embodiment, the B mode is not always necessary, and it is sufficient that at least the A mode is provided. In this case, the shooting mode in which red-eye correction is not performed and the A mode may be switched.

Hereinafter, the operation of the camera 10 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to a block diagram illustrating the red-eye automatic correction unit 28 illustrated in FIG. 2 and a flowchart of red-eye correction illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. In the present embodiment, only the A mode and the B mode will be described.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the A mode of the camera of the present embodiment.

First, the case where the camera 10 of this embodiment selects the A mode will be described.
First, a subject is photographed (step S10).
Next, in step S10, the presence or absence of strobe light emission is confirmed (step S12). In step S12, when there is no flash emission, no red eye is generated, so image data is stored in the storage unit 32 (step S16).

On the other hand, if there is strobe light emission in step S12, the image data is output from the photographing unit 12 to the red-eye automatic detection unit 29 to detect red eyes (step S14).
Next, when red eyes are not detected from the image data in step S14, the image data is stored in the storage unit 32 (step S16).

On the other hand, when red eyes are detected from the image data in step S14, the image data is stored in the red eye automatic detection unit 29, and a red eye detection signal is output to the control unit 50, and red eyes are detected on the display unit 20. A warning to that effect is displayed (step S18).
Then, the control unit 50 again outputs a shooting start signal for shooting the subject to the shooting unit 12, operates the shutter 34, and takes the same subject in the same scene (step S10).
Then, the above steps S10 to S14 are repeated until no red eye is detected from the image data. At the time of this re-shooting, shooting conditions such as shutter speed, aperture value, or flash emission amount may be changed.
Then, when the image data in which red-eye is not detected is obtained and the final image data is obtained, the shooting in the A mode ends.

In the A mode, image data in which red eyes are detected may be automatically deleted, and a message as to whether or not image data in which red eyes are detected is deleted is displayed on the display unit 20. Then, the photographer may be selected to delete.
In the A mode, red eye detection is performed on the image data of the photographed subject, and when red eye is detected, the image is captured again. However, the present invention is not limited to this. In the present embodiment, at least two shots are set in advance, a predetermined number of shots are shot, and all of the image data is stored in the storage unit 32. Then, when saving from the storage unit 32 to the recording unit 24, red eyes may be detected for each similar scene, and only those without red eyes may be stored in the recording unit 24.

Next, the B mode will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the B mode of the camera of this embodiment.
Note that the B mode is the same as the steps S10 to S14 in the A mode until the step (step S20 to step S24) of detecting red-eye for the image data of the photographed subject, as compared with the A mode. Detailed description thereof will be omitted.

  The B mode will be described from the process after step S24. Even in the B mode, the image data of the image captured without flashing and the red eye not detected are stored in the storage unit 32 (steps S22 and S24).

In step S24, when red-eye is detected by the red-eye automatic detection unit 29, a red-eye detection signal is output from the red-eye automatic detection unit 29, and a warning is displayed on the display unit 20 (step S26). At this time, if the red-eye detection signal is also output from the red-eye automatic detection unit 29 to the control unit 50, a stop signal is output from the control unit 50 to the photographing unit 12. As a result, the photographing unit 12 becomes incapable of photographing, and photographing is stopped.
Next, the image data in which the red eye is detected is output to the red eye automatic correction unit 30 to correct the red eye (step S28).
Next, the red-eye corrected image data with the corrected red-eye is stored in the storage unit 32 and is also output and displayed on the display unit 20 (step S30). In step S30, the image data in which the red eye before the red eye correction is detected is also stored in the storage unit 32 together with the red eye corrected image data.

  In the B mode, if the photographer determines that the red-eye correction result of the red-eye correction image displayed on the display unit 20 is insufficient, the same subject may be taken again in the same scene. In this case, for example, by providing a reshoot button on the switch group 22, the reshoot button is operated by the photographer, so that the redeye automatic correction unit 30 outputs a reshoot signal to the control unit 50. You may do it. When the re-shooting signal is input to the control unit 50, the control unit 50 outputs a control signal to the shooting unit 12, and the same scene is shot for the same subject.

In the B mode, not the photographer but the red-eye automatic correction unit 30 is provided with a belief unit for determining the reliability of the red-eye correction, and the red-eye-corrected image data is checked again by the belief unit. An inspection may be made to determine whether or not to retake. Further, without providing this belief unit in the red-eye automatic correction unit 30, the red-eye correction image data may be output to the red-eye automatic detection unit 29 to check whether the red-eye correction image data has red eyes.
In this case, the red-eye detection method may rank the red-eye detection accuracy, and the reliability of whether or not the red-eye exists may be rated based on this rank. Based on this rating, it may be determined whether or not there are red eyes.

  In the B mode, the image is shot once, and when the red eye is detected, the image capturing is stopped and the red eye correction process is performed. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Without stopping shooting, red-eye detection and red-eye correction may be performed between shootings or when all shootings are completed.

Further, in the B mode, the corrected image data corrected for red eyes may be displayed on the display unit 20 in order to confirm the correction of red eyes.
FIG. 5A is a schematic diagram showing a display image based on red-eye correction image data, and FIG. 5B is an enlarged view of a region F in FIG.
In the B mode, when the red-eye is corrected by the red-eye automatic correcting unit 30, a red-eye corrected image 60 is displayed as shown in FIG. In this case, for example, an enlarged display button is provided in the button group 22, and by pressing this enlarged display button, an enlarged image of the region F including the portion where the red-eye is detected is generated, and FIG. As shown, an enlarged image 62 including the region F may be displayed.

The generation of the enlarged image 62 may be performed by a known method according to the number of captured pixels.
The size of the enlarged image 62 on the display unit 20 is not particularly limited, and may be determined as appropriate according to the size of the display unit 20. Further, red-eye correction is performed even for a fixed size. The size of the enlarged image 62 may be appropriately changed according to the size of the person's face. Further, the user may be able to select the size of the enlarged image 62.
Further, the enlarged image 62 is not limited to the one displayed on the entire surface of the display unit 20, and may be displayed side by side on the red-eye correction image 60, and the enlarged image 62 smaller than the screen is superimposed on the red-eye correction image 60. Alternatively, the red-eye corrected image 60 and the enlarged image 62 may be alternately displayed at a predetermined timing. Furthermore, the position of the enlarged image 62 may be movable according to an input by the user, or the enlarged image 62 may be automatically displayed or moved to a position unrelated to the confirmation of red eyes.

  Here, in the image display of the display unit 20, it is preferable that the enlarged image 62 or the red-eye corrected image 60 makes it easy to confirm the red-eye correction portion (detected red-eye). For example, point the red-eye correction part with an arrow, put a mark such as ☆ or □ near the red-eye correction part, surround the red-eye correction part with a frame, or trace the red-eye correction part with a line, The method etc. which make it easy to confirm are mentioned.

As described above, in the camera 10 of the present embodiment, the A mode and the B mode are provided as shooting modes in order to shoot a subject including a person or an animal. Thereby, when the red eye is in the image data, the image is retaken or the red eye correction is performed inside the camera 10, so that an image without the red eye can be obtained. As described above, in the camera 10 of the present embodiment, in obtaining an image of a predetermined scene of the subject, it is possible to easily obtain an image in which red eyes do not occur without missing a photo opportunity.
In the camera 10 of the present embodiment, the A mode and the B mode are provided as shooting modes for preventing red eyes. These modes are appropriately selected by the photographer, and in any shooting mode. Even an image without red eyes can be obtained. The A mode and the B mode are photographing modes that are optimal for the portrait mode.

Further, in the B mode, the image data corrected by the red-eye automatic correction unit 30 may be stored in association with image data obtained by photographing the subject.
In the present embodiment, in A mode and B mode, when a face is detected from image data and no face is detected, it is not necessary to perform red-eye detection.
Further, in the present embodiment, when the shooting mode is the normal mode or the focal length of the imaging lens 40 is infinite, it is not necessary to detect red eyes.

The present invention is basically as described above.
Although the camera of the present invention has been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it is needless to say that various improvements or changes may be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the digital camera has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be a hybrid camera in which a digital camera and a silver salt camera are combined.

It is a block diagram which shows typically the structure of the camera which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram explaining the red-eye automatic correction | amendment part of the camera of this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows A mode of the camera of this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows B mode of the camera of this embodiment. (A) is a schematic diagram which shows the display image based on red-eye correction image data, (b) is an enlarged view of the area | region F of (a).

Explanation of symbols

10 Digital camera (camera)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 12 Image pick-up part 14 Strobe 16 Signal processing part 18 Shutter button 19 Mode switch button 20 Display part 22 Switch group 24 Recording part 26 Compression part 28 Red-eye automatic correction part 29 Red-eye automatic detection part 30 Red-eye automatic correction part 32 Storage part 34 Shutter 40 Connection Image lens 42 Aperture 44 Area CCD sensor 50 Control unit

Claims (4)

Photographing means for photoelectrically photographing a subject to obtain image data of the subject;
Red-eye detection means for detecting red eyes from image data of the subject imaged by the imaging means;
A control having a first control mode in which when the red eye is detected in the image data of the subject photographed by the photographing means by the red eye detecting means, the subject is repeatedly photographed by the photographing means until no red eye is detected. And a camera. Furthermore, it has red-eye correction means for correcting red-eye of the image data of the subject imaged by the imaging means in which red-eye is detected,
The control means further stops the photographing by the photographing means when the red eye is detected from the image data photographed by the photographing means by the red eye detecting means, and corrects the red eye of the image data from which the red eye is detected. The camera according to claim 1, further comprising a second control mode in which the red-eye correction unit performs the operation.   The camera according to claim 1, wherein the control unit changes a shooting condition of the subject when repeatedly shooting in the first control mode.   4. The camera according to claim 1, further comprising: a warning unit that issues a warning when the red eye is detected in the image data of the subject photographed by the photographing unit.

Images