JP2005184657A - Imaging device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technique by which a photography effect in response to the depth of field can be easily checked during direct manual focusing operations after completion of automatic focusing. <P>SOLUTION: After adjustment of the focal position by automatic focusing control (step SP1) by a digital camera 1, when manual focusing operations (steps SP14 and SP15) are performed for further adjusting the focal position by shifting the position of a taking lens in response to manual operations, the aperture is set to a set value for shooting (step SP11) after the automatic focusing control and an image obtained in such a state is displayed (step SP16). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus, and more particularly to a preview operation in a manual focus mode.

  In a single-lens reflex camera using a silver salt film, a subject image obtained through an optical system is confirmed using an optical viewfinder. In such a camera, at the preview time before the shutter button is pressed, the aperture of the taking lens is opened to ensure the brightness of the subject image, and when the shutter button is pressed, the aperture is set to a set value. Then, an exposure operation is performed to obtain a captured image.

  However, in this state, it is not possible to confirm the shooting effect (such as the degree of blur) according to the depth of field by the aperture setting value (aperture value at the time of shooting) at the preview time.

  Therefore, when a predetermined button is pressed even during previewing, the aperture is changed to a set value in response to the pressing of the button, and the shooting effect by the aperture at the set value is previewed and the subject image is confirmed. There is something that makes it possible.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a camera with an electronic viewfinder that can switch between an autofocus (AF) mode and a manual focus (MF) mode.

  When performing manual focus, this camera previews an image acquired by the CCD with the aperture opened on the LCD.

  When a predetermined button (aperture control button) is pressed during manual focus, the aperture value is changed to a set value in response to the pressing, and an image acquired by the CCD after the aperture change is previewed on the LCD. Is displayed. According to this, the operator can confirm the shooting effect according to the actual depth of field.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-119294

  By the way, in autofocus control, a desired subject may not be in focus due to perspective conflicts or the like. In order to eliminate such a situation, direct manual focus (hereinafter also simply referred to as DMF) in which manual focus operation (manual focus operation) is performed may be performed immediately after autofocus operation (automatic focus control). According to such direct manual focus, after the subject is brought into focus by auto focus control, the focus state can be further corrected by manual operation.

  If the above-described preview technique in manual focus is temporarily applied at the time of this direct manual focus operation, more specifically, manual focus operation after the end of autofocus, the following operation is performed. That is, as a general rule, an image (live view image) acquired by the CCD with the aperture opened is preview-displayed on the LCD (live view display), while the field of view at the time of actual shooting is displayed by the operator during preview. When it is desired to confirm the shooting effect according to the depth, an image acquired by the CCD after the aperture value is changed to the set value is displayed on the LCD by pressing a predetermined button.

  However, in such a technique, an image acquired with an aperture value different from the aperture value set at the time of shooting is displayed in live view on the LCD in principle, so that the shooting effect according to the depth of field at the time of shooting is displayed. Cannot be confirmed immediately. When it is desired to check the shooting effect according to the depth of field at the time of shooting at the time of preview, it is necessary to press a predetermined button each time, and there is a problem that the operation is complicated.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a technique capable of easily confirming a shooting effect according to the depth of field in a direct manual focus operation, more specifically, in a manual focus operation after the end of autofocus. There is.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 1 is an imaging apparatus, wherein the imaging lens, imaging means for imaging an image of a subject through the imaging lens, and a predetermined evaluation criterion for focusing are provided. An automatic focusing control unit that adjusts a focal position of the photographic lens so that the subject is in focus, and after the adjustment of the focal position by the automatic focusing control unit, the imaging according to a manual operation by an operator Manual focusing control means for performing manual focusing operation for further adjusting the focal position by moving the lens position of the lens, and aperture adjusting means for adjusting the aperture of the photographing lens, wherein the automatic focusing control means After adjustment of the focal position, aperture adjustment means for adjusting the aperture in a first mode for setting the aperture to a setting value for shooting, and after adjustment of the focal position by the automatic focusing control means , And display means for displaying the acquired image by the imaging means in a state of setting the aperture to the set value.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the imaging apparatus according to the first aspect of the invention, the aperture adjustment unit may change the aperture set to the set value to an operation for changing the aperture during the manual focusing operation. In response, the value is reset to a value different from the set value.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the imaging apparatus according to the first or second aspect of the invention, the aperture adjustment unit is configured to perform the first mode and the adjustment of the focal position by the automatic focusing control unit. Aperture adjustment is performed in a mode selected from a plurality of modes including a second mode in which the aperture is set to an open value.

  According to the first to third aspects of the present invention, it is possible to easily confirm the photographing effect according to the depth of field of the main image in the manual focusing operation after the completion of the automatic focusing control.

  In particular, according to the third aspect of the present invention, the aperture adjustment mode can be selected according to the operator's request, so that the flexibility is high.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

<A. Configuration>
<Outline of configuration>
1, 2, and 3 are diagrams showing an external configuration of a digital camera (more specifically, a digital still camera) 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a front view, and FIG. 2 is a top view. FIG. 3 corresponds to a rear view. These figures are not necessarily in accordance with the triangulation method, and are mainly intended to illustrate the appearance of the digital camera 1.

  A photographing lens 2 is provided on the front side of the digital camera 1. The photographing lens 2 has a zoom function, and is configured so that the photographing magnification can be changed by manually rotating the zoom ring 2a.

  A focus ring 8 is provided on the outer peripheral portion (in other words, the lens barrel portion) 2b of the photographic lens 2. The focus ring 8 is rotatable with respect to the lens barrel 2b, and the amount of rotation is detected by a predetermined sensor (not shown). Then, by changing the lens position of the photographing lens 2 according to the rotation amount, the focus position is adjusted according to the manual operation, that is, manual focusing (hereinafter referred to as “manual focus” or simply “MF”). Operation) becomes possible.

  Further, in this digital camera 1, only such a manual focus operation is used as an operation for adjusting the focal position by changing the lens position of the photographing lens 2 (more specifically, the lens position in the optical axis direction). In addition, an automatic focusing (hereinafter also referred to as “autofocus” or simply “AF”) operation is also performed. This AF operation is an operation for adjusting the focal position of the photographing lens 2 so that the subject is in focus according to a predetermined focus evaluation standard. Specifically, this AF operation is realized by using a focus evaluation value (for example, contrast or the like) related to a focus state evaluation region in the image.

  Further, the digital camera 1 can perform an operation for performing a manual focus operation subsequent to the autofocus operation, that is, a direct manual focus (hereinafter also referred to as DMF) operation. This DMF operation will be described in detail later.

  Further, a shutter button (release button) 9 is provided on the upper surface of the digital camera 1, and the shutter button 9 has a half-pressed state (also referred to as state S1) and a fully-pressed state (also referred to as state S2) by the user. It is a two-stage push-in switch that can be detected separately. When the autofocus mode is set, the autofocus control is started when it is half-pressed, and the recording image is displayed when it is fully pressed. The main shooting operation for shooting is started.

  On the top surface of the digital camera 1, there is provided a mode switching dial 3 for switching setting between “shooting mode”, “playback mode”, and “communication mode”. The shooting mode is a mode for shooting a subject and generating image data. The shooting mode is further divided into a still image shooting mode and a moving image shooting mode. The reproduction mode is a mode for reproducing and displaying the image data recorded on the memory card 90 on a liquid crystal display (LCD) 5 provided on the back side of the digital camera 1. Further, the communication mode is a mode in which data transfer with the external computer 91 or the like is performed via the external connection interface 38 provided on the side surface of the digital camera 1. Thus, the digital camera 1 has an image shooting function and an image playback function.

  On the back of the digital camera 1, a liquid crystal display 5 (hereinafter also referred to as an LCD) for displaying a preview before the actual photographing operation (that is, live view display), reproducing a recorded image, and the like, and an electronic viewfinder (Hereinafter also referred to as EVF) 4. Each of these LCD 5 and EVF 4 displays a color image. Note that both the display portions of the LCD 5 and the EVF 4 can be expressed as electronic viewfinders.

  The LCD 5 is a display unit configured using a liquid crystal and a light source. Various information including images such as live view images and captured images are displayed on the LCD 5.

  A menu button 6 is provided on the back of the digital camera 1, and various menu screens are displayed on the LCD 5 when the menu button 6 is pressed. Further, on the back surface of the digital camera 1, there are controls composed of cross cursor buttons 7U, 7D, 7L, 7R for moving the display cursor on the LCD 5 in four directions and a decision button 7C provided at the center of the cross cursor button. A button 7 is provided. By using the menu button 6 and the control button 7, various shooting parameter setting operations are performed. For example, a setting operation for enabling or disabling direct manual focus is performed.

  In addition to the above, various operation buttons such as an enlarge button 35a are arranged on the back of the digital camera 1.

  Further, the side surface of the digital camera 1 is provided with an insertion / mounting portion of a memory card 90 which is a detachable recording medium, and image data obtained by actual photographing is stored in the memory card 90 set in the insertion / mounting portion. To be recorded.

<Internal configuration>
Next, the internal configuration of the digital camera 1 will be described. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the internal functions of the digital camera 1.

  The photographing lens 2 is driven by a lens driving unit 31 and is configured to change the in-focus state of an image formed on the CCD image sensor 10. Note that when automatic focusing (autofocus) is set, the overall control unit 20 automatically determines the lens driving amount of the photographing lens 2 from the image, and the photographing lens 2 is driven based on this lens driving amount. When manual focusing is set, the lens driving amount is determined according to the operation amount (rotation amount) of the focus ring 8 by the user, and the photographing lens 2 is driven based on the lens driving amount.

  The CCD image pickup device 10 functions as an image pickup unit that picks up a subject image and generates an electronic image signal. The CCD image pickup device 10 has a predetermined number of pixels and an optical image of the subject formed by the photographing lens 2. Each pixel is photoelectrically converted into an image signal of R (red), G (green), and B (blue) color components (a signal composed of a signal sequence of pixel signals received by each pixel) and output. The timing generator 32 generates various timing pulses for controlling the driving of the CCD image sensor 10.

  An image signal obtained from the CCD image pickup device 10 is supplied to a signal processing circuit 11, and predetermined analog signal processing is performed on the image signal (analog signal) in the signal processing circuit 11. The signal processing circuit 11 has a correlated double sampling circuit (CDS) and an auto gain control circuit (AGC), performs noise reduction processing of the image signal by the correlated double sampling circuit, and gain is increased by the auto gain control circuit. The level of the image signal is adjusted by adjusting.

  The A / D converter 12 converts each pixel signal of the image signal into a 12-bit digital signal. The A / D converter 12 converts each pixel signal (analog signal) into a 12-bit digital signal based on an A / D conversion clock input from the overall control unit 20.

  A WB (white balance) circuit 13 performs level conversion of each color component of R, G, and B. The WB circuit 13 converts the levels of the R, G, and B color components using the level conversion table stored in the overall control unit 20. It should be noted that the parameters (characteristic gradients) of each color component in the level conversion table are set for each captured image by the overall control unit 20 either automatically or manually. The γ correction circuit 14 corrects the gradation of pixel data.

  The color correction unit 15 performs color correction on the image data input from the γ correction circuit 14 based on a parameter related to color correction set by the user, and converts the color information expressed in the RGB color space to the YCrCb color space. Convert to color information expressed in. By this color system conversion, luminance component values are obtained for all pixels.

  The resolution conversion unit 16 performs predetermined resolution conversion and region extraction on the image data obtained from the CCD image sensor 10.

  At the time of live view display before the start of automatic focusing control, image data (image signal) subjected to predetermined resolution conversion by the resolution conversion unit 16 is given to the display control unit 33 via the overall control unit 20, and A live view image is displayed on the LCD 5 and the EVF 4 and is also given to the photometric calculation unit 18 to calculate an evaluation value for automatic exposure (AE) control. On the other hand, at the time of automatic focusing control, the image data that has been subjected to predetermined resolution conversion by the resolution converting unit 16 is given to the AF evaluation value calculating unit 17, and an evaluation value for automatic focusing (AF) control (“ A focus evaluation value "or" AF evaluation value "is calculated, and is also provided to the photometry calculating unit 18, and an evaluation value for automatic exposure (AE) control (also referred to as" AE evaluation value "). Calculated. Further, after the automatic focusing control is completed, a direct manual focus operation is performed, and a live view image related to the subject is displayed on the LCD 5 or the like.

  The AF evaluation value calculation unit 17 functions when the shutter button 9 is half-pressed (S1) by the user, and performs an evaluation value calculation operation for performing contrast type automatic focusing control. Here, based on the image component of the AF evaluation area obtained from the resolution conversion unit 16, the sum of absolute differences between two pixels adjacent in the horizontal direction is calculated as the AF evaluation value Vf. The AF evaluation value Vf calculated by the AF evaluation value calculation unit 17 is output to the overall control unit 20. The overall control unit 20 adjusts the focal position of the taking lens 2 using the AF evaluation value Vf.

  The photometric calculation unit 18 divides the image data output from the resolution conversion unit 16 into a plurality of blocks, and calculates an AE evaluation value Ve based on the luminance value of each block. The AE evaluation value Ve calculated by the photometry calculation unit 18 is output to the overall control unit 20. The overall control unit 20 performs exposure control based on the AE evaluation value Ve. For example, when the exposure mode is the aperture priority mode, when the operator determines the aperture setting value by operating the dial 70 (see FIG. 2), the overall control unit 20 and the aperture control unit 61 set the aperture to the set value. Set to. Further, parameters other than the aperture (specifically, shutter speed and gain (sensitivity)) are changed and set so that the exposure of the subject is appropriate.

  The image memory 34 is a memory that temporarily stores image data obtained by the CCD image sensor 10 and subjected to the above-described image processing at the time of actual photographing. The image memory 34 has a storage capacity for at least one frame. When an after-view display of the image is performed after the main photographing, image data is given from the image memory 34 to the display control unit 33, and an image display for confirming the photographed image is performed. When a recording instruction is given by the user, the image data is transferred from the image memory 34 to the memory card 90, and the image data is recorded and saved.

  The card interface (card I / F) 37 is an interface for writing and reading image data to and from a memory card 90 attached to the insertion attachment portion on the side of the digital camera 1. When the image data is read from or written to the memory card 90, the compression / decompression unit 36 performs image data compression processing or decompression processing, for example, using the JPEG method. The external connection interface (external connection I / F) 38 is an interface for enabling communication with the external computer 91 via a communication cable or the like, and is realized by, for example, a communication interface compliant with the USB standard. A control program recorded on a recording medium such as a CD-ROM set in the memory card 90 or the external computer 91 via the card I / F 37 and the external connection I / F 38 is stored in the RAM 20a or the ROM 20b of the overall control unit 20. Can be imported.

  The operation unit 35 is an operation unit including the mode switching dial 3, the menu button 6, the control button 7, the shutter button 9, the enlargement button 35 a, and the like, and is a member for the user to operate the setting of the digital camera 1.

  The overall control unit 20 is constituted by a microcomputer having a RAM 20a and a ROM 20b therein, and functions as a control unit that comprehensively controls each of the above-described units when the microcomputer executes a predetermined control program.

<B. Operation>
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the photographing operation of the digital camera 1. Next, the photographing operation of the digital camera 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, when the operator (photographer) turns on the power, a live view image is displayed on the LCD 5. The operator can perform the framing operation while viewing the live view display.

  When the composition relating to the desired subject is determined, the operator presses the shutter button 9 halfway down to the state S1.

  When the digital camera 1 detects that the shutter button 9 has been pressed down to the half-pressed state S1, the digital camera 1 executes automatic focusing control (step SP1). Here, one-shot AF is performed as the automatic focusing control. One-shot AF performs one focusing operation in response to an instruction to start one automatic focusing control. In step SP1, in order to perform a more accurate AF operation, the aperture is set to an open value (or a value close to the open value), and the AF operation is performed with a shallow depth of field. The automatic exposure (AE) control operation is performed at any time until the end of the imaging and recording operation, and the exposure state of the subject is properly maintained.

  Ideally, the above-described automatic focus control operation should bring the desired subject into focus, but there may be cases where the desired subject is not in focus due to perspective conflict or the like. Since this digital camera 1 can correct the in-focus state by the manual focus operation after performing the autofocus control by the above-described DMF operation, it is possible to eliminate such a situation.

  Whether or not to enable the DMF operation can be determined in advance using, for example, a predetermined setting screen displayed on the LCD 5. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of this setting screen. This setting screen G1 is displayed when the menu button 6 is pressed in the shooting mode. This setting screen G1 is a screen for setting various setting items related to the shooting mode. For the DMF operation, an item for enabling the DMF (DMF = “present”) and disabling (DMF = “none”). And have items. Then, any item is selected according to the movement operation of the cursor CS and the item determination operation using the control button 7 by the operator. Here, the “present” item is selected to validate the DMF operation, but the “none” item may be selected to invalidate the DMF operation. In addition, the parameter value corresponding to the selection result is stored in the digital camera 1.

  In step SP1, an automatic exposure (AE) operation for determining exposure control parameters for photographing is also performed. In this embodiment, it is assumed that exposure control is performed in the “aperture priority mode”. The “aperture priority mode” is an exposure control mode in which the shutter speed and gain are determined so that the subject is properly exposed after the aperture is preferentially determined to a value specified by the operator. Specifically, the aperture is set to a specified value A2 (for example, F11.0) by the operator, and the shutter speed and the gain are appropriately set so that the exposure is appropriate. Note that the operator can designate the aperture value in advance by operating the dial 70 (see FIG. 2) or the like before the shutter button 9 is pressed halfway S1.

  When the one-shot AF operation (and AE operation) in step SP1 ends, the process proceeds to step SP2, and whether the DMF operation is enabled or disabled depends on the parameter value corresponding to the selection result. Determined.

  When it is determined that the DMF operation is invalidated, the live view image is updated at any time and displayed on the LCD 5, and waits until the shutter button 9 is fully depressed (step SP3, SP4). . The live view image displayed on the LCD 5 during this waiting period is an image captured with the aperture set to the value A1 (here, “open value” (eg, F2.8)). In other words, the live view display at this time is such that time-series images captured with the aperture set to the open value are continuously displayed (see FIG. 7). Note that exposure control parameters (specifically, shutter speed and gain) other than the aperture are appropriately determined so as to achieve appropriate exposure.

  After that, when the shutter button 9 is pressed down to the fully-pressed state S2, an exposure operation or the like is performed, and an actual captured image (still image) is acquired by the CCD, and the captured image is recorded in the memory card 90. (Step SP5).

  Note that the aperture value A1 (for example, F2.8) during standby (steps SP3 and SP4) is generally different from the aperture value A2 (for example, F11.0) during actual captured image shooting (step SP5). The live view image during standby (see FIG. 7) does not reflect the state of the actual captured image (see FIG. 8) (particularly the shooting effect according to the aperture). For example, FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 differ in the degree of blurring of the subject on the back side among the two subjects on the near side and the back side (rear side). 7 and 8 are images obtained by photographing the same subject. FIG. 7 is an image captured with the aperture value set to F2.8, and FIG. 8 is an image captured with the aperture value set to F11.0.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the DMF operation is enabled, the process proceeds to step SP11.

  In step SP11, based on the photographing aperture value A2 determined in step SP1, exposure control is performed in the “aperture priority mode”. Specifically, the aperture is set to the same value A2 as the set value for photographing, and the shutter speed and the gain are appropriately set so that the exposure is appropriate.

  More specifically, in principle, the aperture and gain are fixed to predetermined values, and only the shutter speed is changed to control the exposure appropriately. In order not to impair the real-time property of the live view image, it is preferable to set an upper limit value (for example, 1/30 second) to the shutter speed (exactly the exposure time of the image sensor). If the subject is dark and the shutter speed for accurate exposure (exactly the exposure time on the image sensor) is too long, set the shutter speed to its upper limit and increase the gain to make it appropriate. What is necessary is just to adjust so that it may become exposure.

  In the next step SP12, it is determined whether or not an aperture resetting operation has been performed. The aperture resetting operation is an operation for changing the aperture value by rotating the dial 70 (see FIG. 2), for example. If the resetting operation has not been performed, the process directly proceeds to step SP14. If the resetting operation has been performed, the aperture is changed to the reset value A3 (for example, F8.0) (step SP13). It progresses to step SP14 later.

  First, the case where the aperture resetting operation is not performed will be described. In this case, the process proceeds from step SP12 to step SP14, and it is determined whether or not the focus ring 8 has been moved (rotated) by the operator. If it is determined that the focus ring 8 has not been moved, the process proceeds to step SP16. On the other hand, when it is determined that the focus ring 8 is moved, the photographing lens 2 (specifically, the focus lens) is moved according to the movement amount (rotation amount) of the focus ring 8 (step SP15). By such a manual focus operation, the imaging position of the photographic lens 2 in the optical axis direction moves, and the in-focus state of the subject is adjusted.

  In the next step SP16, the live view image is appropriately updated and displayed. Specifically, an image captured with the aperture setting value A2 after the parameter change in step SP11 is displayed on the LCD 5 as a live view image.

  Then, it is determined whether or not the shutter button 9 has been fully pressed (step SP17). When the shutter button 9 has not yet been fully pressed S2, the process returns to step SP12 and the above-described operation is repeated.

  Thereafter, when it is determined that the shutter button 9 has been pressed down to the fully depressed state S2 (step SP17), an exposure operation or the like is performed, and a main photographic image (a still image as a photographic object) is acquired by the CCD. The captured image is recorded on the memory card 90 (step SP18).

  Here, the live view image displayed on the LCD 5 during the DMF operation (steps SP12 to SP17) is an image obtained by setting the same aperture value A2 as the aperture value at the time of actual image capture (step SP18). It is. Therefore, this live view image reflects the shooting effect according to the aperture value at the time of shooting the actual shot image.

  This will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a live view image acquired in a state where the aperture is fully opened (F2.8 in FIG. 7), and FIG. 8 is a state in which the aperture is set to a set value A2 (F11.0 in FIG. 8). It is a figure which shows the live view image acquired.

  Since the depth of field is relatively shallow in a state where the aperture is opened as shown in FIG. 7 (for example, F2.8), when the subject on the near side is focused on the live view image acquired in this state, the rear side The subject is blurred.

  On the other hand, in a state where the aperture is reduced as shown in FIG. 8 (for example, F11.0), the depth of field is relatively deep. For this reason, even when the front subject is focused in the live view image acquired in the state of FIG. 8, the focus is in a relatively wide range in the optical axis direction, and the blur of the rear subject is relatively small. (Or not blurred).

  Here, the actual captured image acquired in step SP18 is an image as shown in FIG. 8 because it is captured with the aperture set to the set value A2.

  If the aperture is set to open at the time of the DMF operation, an image as shown in FIG. 7 in which the blur is relatively larger than the actual captured image is obtained as a live view image. Therefore, since the degree of blur in the live view image is different from the degree of blur in the actual captured image, the degree of blur in the actual captured image may be confirmed depending on the live view image acquired in such a state. I can't.

  On the other hand, according to the above operation, the live view image at the time of the DMF operation (steps SP12 to SP17) is acquired with the same aperture value A2 as that at the time of capturing the actual captured image. Get as. That is, the live view image reflects the shooting effect according to the aperture value at the time of shooting the actual shot image. Therefore, it is possible to confirm the degree of blur (shooting effect) in the actual captured image by the live view image displayed in step SP16.

  Next, a case where it is determined in step SP12 that an aperture resetting operation has been performed will be described. In this case, by this resetting operation, the aperture at the time of photographing the main image is changed to the new value A3, and the aperture for obtaining the live view image is also changed to the value A3 in step SP13. Further, the shutter speed and / or the gain are changed so as to obtain an appropriate exposure according to the change of the aperture value.

  Then, after the above-described manual focus operation (steps SP14, 15) is performed, the live view image acquired with the changed aperture value A3 and the changed shutter speed and gain is updated and displayed (step SP16).

  Thereafter, when it is determined that the shutter button 9 is fully depressed (step SP17) (step SP17), an exposure operation or the like is performed, and a main captured image (still image) is acquired by the CCD, and the captured image is captured. Is recorded in the memory card 90 (step SP18).

  The actual captured image after the aperture resetting operation is an image obtained by changing the aperture to a new value A3. In other words, the live view image displayed on the LCD 5 during the DMF operation after resetting the aperture value is an image acquired with the aperture set to the same aperture value A3 as the actual aperture image. . Therefore, this live view image reflects the shooting effect according to the aperture value at the time of shooting the actual shot image.

<C. Modification>
In the above-described embodiment, when performing the DMF operation, the case where the aperture adjustment is always performed in the mode M1 in which the aperture is set to the setting value A2 for actual image shooting after the focus position adjustment by the AF control is illustrated. It is not limited to this.

  For example, it is possible to perform aperture adjustment in a mode selected from a plurality of modes including this mode M1 and a mode M2 in which the aperture is set to an open value after the focus position is adjusted by AF control. It may be configured.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an operation according to this modification. Below, it demonstrates centering around difference.

  Steps SP1 and SP2 are the same as those described above. Thereafter, in step SP9, a branching process is performed according to the setting information regarding which mode of the mode M1 and the mode M2 is selected. Which mode is selected is set in advance using, for example, a predetermined setting screen G2 (see FIG. 10).

  If it is determined that the mode M1 is selected, the process proceeds to step SP11. In steps SP11 to SP18, the same operation as described above is performed. As a result, the DMF operation is performed with live view display, and the actual captured image is acquired and recorded in response to pressing of the shutter button 9 to the fully pressed state S2.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the mode M2 is selected, the process proceeds to step SP21. In step SP21, the aperture is set to a value A1 (for example, F2.8), and the shutter speed and the gain are appropriately set so that the exposure is appropriate. If the aperture value at the time prior to step SP1 is equal to the value A1, the same value is continuously set as the aperture value.

  Further, the operations in steps SP24 to SP28 in the mode M2 are the same as the operations in steps SP14 to SP18 in the mode M1. In short, the DMF operation is performed with live view display, and the actual captured image is acquired and recorded in response to pressing of the shutter button 9 to the fully pressed state S2. However, the live view images in both modes M1 and M2 are different from each other. Specifically, the live view image in the mode M1 is an image obtained in a state where the aperture value is set to the setting value A2 at the time of actual shooting image shooting, whereas the live view image in the mode M2 is It is an image acquired with the aperture value set to the open value A1.

  As described above, the operator can obtain a captured image.

  According to this modification, the mode M1 and the mode M2 can be switched as the DMF operation mode. Therefore, the operator can select an appropriate mode as the DMF operation mode according to his / her request.

  More specifically, in mode M1, the aperture is set to the setting value for shooting the actual captured image and the DMF operation is performed. Therefore, it is easy to check the degree of blurring of the subject in the actual captured image during preview. On the other hand, in mode M2, since the MF operation is performed with the aperture set to the open value and the depth of field being shallow, more accurate focusing is possible. Therefore, the operator may adopt mode M1 if he wants to more surely check the degree of blur of the subject at the time of preview, and mode M2 if he wants the subject to be brought into focus more accurately.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the “aperture priority mode” is adopted as the exposure control mode is exemplified, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the above idea may be applied when the “shutter speed priority mode” is adopted as the exposure control mode. The “shutter speed priority mode” is an exposure control mode in which the aperture and gain are determined so that the subject is properly exposed after the shutter speed is preferentially determined to a value specified by the operator.

  Specifically, in setting the exposure control parameters (aperture, shutter speed, gain) in steps SP11 and SP13, the exposure control parameter is set to a value determined as a setting value for photographing by automatic exposure (AE) processing. do it. According to this, it is possible to confirm a live view image in which the same shooting effect as that of the main shooting image is reflected during DMF.

  Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the AF operation using the focusing evaluation value for the focusing state evaluation region in the image captured by the CCD 10 (more specifically, the so-called hill climbing method) is performed. Although illustrated, it is not limited to this. For example, various passive or active AF operations may be performed.

It is a front view which shows the external appearance structure of a digital camera. It is a top view which shows the external appearance structure of a digital camera. It is a rear view which shows the external appearance structure of a digital camera. It is a block diagram which shows the internal function of a digital camera. It is a flowchart which shows the imaging | photography operation | movement of a digital camera. It is a figure which shows an example of the setting screen regarding DMF operation | movement. It is a figure which shows the live view image acquired in the state which open | released the aperture_diaphragm | restriction. It is a figure which shows the live view image acquired in the state which set the aperture value to the setting value at the time of imaging | photography. It is a flowchart which shows the imaging | photography operation | movement which concerns on a modification. It is a figure which shows another example of the setting screen regarding DMF operation | movement.

Explanation of symbols

1 Digital Camera 2 Photo Lens 4 Electronic Viewfinder (EVF)
5 Liquid crystal display (LCD)
6 Menu button 7 Control button 8 Focus ring 9 Shutter button 10 Image sensor 70 Dial G1, G2 Setting screen

Claims (3)

An imaging device,
A taking lens,
An image pickup means for picking up an image of a subject through the photographing lens;
Automatic focus control means for adjusting the focal position of the photographing lens so that the subject is in focus according to a predetermined focus evaluation standard;
Manual focus control means for performing manual focus operation for further adjusting the focus position by moving the lens position of the photographing lens in accordance with a manual operation by an operator after the focus position is adjusted by the automatic focus control means. When,
A diaphragm adjusting means for adjusting a diaphragm of the photographing lens, wherein the diaphragm is adjusted by a first mode in which the diaphragm is set to a setting value for photographing after the focus position is adjusted by the automatic focusing control means. Adjusting means;
Display means for displaying an image acquired by the imaging means in a state where the aperture is set to the set value after the adjustment of the focal position by the automatic focusing control means;
An imaging apparatus comprising: The imaging device according to claim 1,
The aperture adjustment means resets the aperture set to the set value to a value different from the set value in response to the aperture changing operation during the manual focusing operation. Imaging device. In the imaging device according to claim 1 or 2,
The aperture adjusting unit is a mode selected from a plurality of modes including the first mode and a second mode in which the aperture is set to an open value after the focus position is adjusted by the automatic focusing control unit. An image pickup apparatus characterized in that aperture adjustment is performed using