JP2006014221A - Imaging apparatus and imaging method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize an imaging apparatus and an imaging method which can dramatically improve users' usability. <P>SOLUTION: In the imaging apparatus and the imaging method, even if an imaging content to be full-screen displayed in a display screen is zoomed-in, a recorded image in accordance with a recording region is constantly displayed with emphasis in an actual zoom-in scale factor by making the recording region into full screen dimensions, as well as an ineligible recording region surrounding the recording region is displayed as a background image. Therefore, a relatively big object can be constantly caught within an imaging area in zoom-in status in a large space to be continuously shot. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image pickup apparatus and an image pickup method, and is suitably applied to a digital camera that records an image picked up by an image pickup device on a recording medium, for example.

  Conventionally, in this type of digital camera, a still image captured at a timing desired by a user is sequentially displayed while a video image formed on an image sensor is displayed as a moving image on a display screen of a viewfinder provided in the camera body. It is designed to record on a memory card.

  Such a digital camera generally has a zoom function (hereinafter referred to as an optical zoom function) that controls the lens system in the optical block in accordance with a user's operation while zooming in or out of the photographing range of the subject to a desired magnification. Many of them are installed.

  In recent years, digital cameras equipped with such an optical zoom function have greatly increased in magnification like video cameras. For example, a subject is magnified at a high zoom-in magnification such as optical 5x zoom or optical 10x zoom. Some are designed to be displayed on the display screen of the viewfinder.

  However, recent digital cameras are required to be downsized as a whole, and the optical block needs to be downsized accordingly. Therefore, the size and arrangement state of the lens system in the optical block are also limited. In addition, there was a limit to increasing the magnification using the optical zoom function.

Therefore, in addition to the optical zoom function, in addition to the optical zoom function, in addition to the optical zoom function, the captured still image is subjected to predetermined image processing to enlarge and interpolate. There has been proposed a digital camera equipped with an electronic zoom function (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP-A-8-99654

  By the way, normally, when a user performs shooting using a digital camera, a subject in a stationary state can be easily captured within the shooting range even if the subject is zoomed in at a desired magnification. It has been very difficult to follow a subject with relatively large movement at a place so that the subject is always captured within the shooting range in a zoomed-in state.

  In other words, when a user uses a digital camera to shoot a subject that moves freely in a wide area from a distance, if the user zooms in at a very high magnification while capturing the subject as a subject, the viewfinder display screen The image of the subject is displayed so as to occupy most of the image.

  At this time, the viewfinder display screen shows almost no image of the surroundings of the subject, so the user always sees the image of the subject in the center of the shooting range without looking at the surroundings. It was very difficult to keep doing camera work.

  In solving this problem, in a digital camera equipped with an optical zoom function and an electronic zoom function as described in Patent Document 1 described above, the user zooms in on the subject and the surrounding situation at a desired magnification using the optical zoom function. By displaying on the viewfinder display screen and specifying the size of a part of the display screen as the actual shooting range, the shooting range is displayed as a frame, and at the same time, the video within the shooting range is displayed using the electronic zoom function. Further, the zoom-in is performed at a high magnification (FIG. 3C of Patent Document 1).

  However, in the digital camera disclosed in Patent Document 1, when the image is further enlarged beyond the limit of the optical zoom function, the enlargement state by the electronic zoom function designated by the user on the display screen of the viewfinder is superimposed and displayed as a frame representing the shooting range. It's just that.

  For this reason, within the magnification range of the optical zoom function, the video displayed in proportion to the magnification is displayed on the display screen of the viewfinder. As a result, the user cannot see the situation around the subject. There is a problem that it is difficult to obtain an optimal photo opportunity while always keeping the subject within the photographing range.

  The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to propose an imaging apparatus and an imaging method that can significantly improve the user-friendliness.

  In order to solve such a problem, in the present invention, a photographing means for photographing a subject, a display means for displaying a photographing content of the photographing means on a display screen, and a reduction ratio designated or preset in accordance with an external operation. Display control means for zooming out the shooting content and displaying the entire screen on the display screen, and at the same time, highlighting a recording area in which the entire display area of the display screen is reduced by a reduction ratio on a part of the display screen; , Image processing means for performing predetermined image processing on an image corresponding to a recording area displayed on the display screen as a recording target, and zoom-in designated in accordance with an external operation for shooting contents displayed on the full screen on the display screen Zoom control means for enlarging or reducing at a magnification or zoom-out magnification, and the image processing means is a zoom-in magnification or zoom-out designated by the zoom control means. And to perform image processing on the image corresponding to the recording area of the photographed contents are enlarged or reduced by the magnification.

  As described above, in the imaging apparatus, even when the captured content displayed on the full screen is zoomed in, the recording area corresponding to the recording area is always emphasized at the actual zoom-in magnification with the recording area as the full screen range. At the same time, a non-recording area surrounding the recording area can be displayed as a background image. As a result, a subject with relatively large movement in a wide area is always captured within the shooting range. Thus, it is possible to continue shooting while following.

  In the present invention, the first step of displaying the photographing content obtained by photographing the subject on the display screen, and zooming out the photographing content at a specified or preset reduction magnification according to an external operation. At the same time as displaying the entire screen on the display screen, a second step of highlighting and displaying the recording area in which the entire display area of the display screen is reduced by the reduction ratio is displayed on the display screen. A third step of performing predetermined image processing on the image corresponding to the recording area being recorded, and a zoom-in magnification or a zoom-out magnification designated in accordance with an external operation on the photographing content displayed on the full screen on the display screen And a fourth step for enlarging or reducing at step S3, and in the third step, recording is recorded out of the photographic contents enlarged or reduced at the designated zoom-in magnification or zoom-out magnification. And to perform image processing on the image corresponding to the frequency.

  As described above, in the imaging method, even when the captured content displayed on the full screen is zoomed in, the recording area corresponding to the recording area is always emphasized at the actual zoom-in magnification with the recording area as the full screen range. At the same time, a non-recording area surrounding the recording area can be displayed as a background image. As a result, a subject with relatively large movement in a wide area is always captured within the shooting range. Thus, it is possible to continue shooting while following.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the photographing means for photographing the subject, the display means for displaying the photographing content of the photographing means on the display screen, and the photographing at the specified or preset reduction magnification according to the external operation. A display control means for zooming out the content and displaying it on the display screen at the same time, and at the same time, highlighting a recording area in which the entire display area of the display screen is reduced by a reduction ratio on a part of the display screen; An image processing unit that performs predetermined image processing on an image corresponding to a recording area displayed on the display screen as a recording target, and a zoom-in magnification that is specified in accordance with an external operation on the captured content displayed on the display screen in full screen Or zoom control means for enlarging or reducing at the zoom-out magnification, and the image processing means enlarges or reduces at the zoom-in magnification or zoom-out magnification specified by the zoom control means. By performing image processing on the image corresponding to the recording area among the reduced shooting contents, even if the shooting contents displayed on the full screen on the display screen are zoomed in, the recording area is set as the full screen range. A recorded image corresponding to the recording area can always be displayed at an actual zoom-in magnification, and at the same time, a non-recording area surrounding the recording area can also be displayed as a background image. Imaging can be continued while following a large subject in a zoomed-in state so that the subject is always captured within the imaging range, and thus an imaging apparatus that can significantly improve user convenience can be realized.

  According to the present invention, the first step of displaying the photographing content obtained by photographing the subject on the display screen, and zooming out the photographing content at a specified or preset reduction magnification according to an external operation. And displaying the entire screen on the display screen at the same time as the second step of highlighting and displaying the recording area in which the entire display area of the display screen is reduced by the reduction ratio on a part of the display screen. A third step of performing predetermined image processing on the image corresponding to the recording area being recorded, and a zoom-in magnification or a zoom-out specified in accordance with an external operation on the captured content displayed on the full screen on the display screen A fourth step of enlarging or reducing at a magnification, and in the third step, a recording area of the photographic content enlarged or reduced at a designated zoom-in magnification or zoom-out magnification. As a result of performing image processing on the image corresponding to, the recorded image corresponding to the recording area is always set to the recording area as a full screen range even when the captured content displayed on the full screen is zoomed in. At the same time as displaying at the actual zoom-in magnification, it is also possible to display a non-recording area surrounding the recording area as a background image. As a result, it is always possible to zoom in on a subject with relatively large movement in a wide area. Shooting can be continued while following the camera so that it is captured within the shooting range, and thus an imaging method that can significantly improve the user-friendliness can be realized.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

(1) Overall Configuration of Digital Camera According to this Embodiment In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a digital camera as a whole, and imaging light L1 incident through a projection lens 2 is inputted to a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) 3. An imaging signal S1 is obtained by performing photoelectric conversion on the imaging surface, and is sent to a CDS (Correlated Double Sampling) and AGC (Auto Gain Control) unit 4.

  The CDS and AGC unit 4 reduces the noise component by clamping the signal level at a predetermined potential during a period when reset noise is generated in the imaging signal S1, and automatically adjusts the amplitude of the imaging signal S1. Thus, the contrast is prevented from changing by controlling the output to a predetermined value. The imaging signal S2 obtained in this way is sent to the subsequent analog / digital conversion (A / D) unit 5, converted into a digital imaging signal S3, and then sent to the signal processing unit 6.

  The signal processing unit 6 performs Y / C separation, white balance adjustment processing, γ (gamma) correction, and the like on the digital image pickup signal S3, and converts the digital image signal S3 into a video signal S4 by matrix processing. 7 to send.

  These CCD 3, CDS and AGC unit 4, A / D conversion unit 5, signal processing unit 6 and memory controller 7 are connected to a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 9 that controls the entire digital camera 1 through a bus 8. Various operations are executed based on the control of the CPU 9.

  The memory controller 7 sequentially writes the video signal S4 in a RAM (Random Access Memory) 10 in units of frames at the time of normal subject confirmation (that is, at the time of moving image capturing), and a predetermined method (for example, via the video encoder 11). After being converted into a composite signal S5 of the NTSC (National Television System Committee) etc., it is sent to the viewfinder 12 and the external connection terminal 13.

  At that time, when receiving a command for zoom processing or the like from the user, the memory controller 7 enlarges or reduces the video signal S4 by a specified magnification in units of frames, and sequentially writes the enlarged image or reduced image in the RAM 10. At the same time, it is displayed on the display screen 12 A of the viewfinder 12 via the video encoder 11.

  As a result, a moving image based on the composite signal S5 (hereinafter referred to as a finder image) is displayed in real time on the display screen 12A of the viewfinder 12, and a personal computer, a video monitor or the like (not shown) is displayed on the external connection terminal 13. 2) is connected, a finder image based on the composite signal S5 supplied via the external connection terminal 13 is displayed in real time.

  The CPU 9 also includes a ROM (Read Only Memory) 14 in which operation programs and various constants are stored, and a non-volatile memory 15 that can continuously store various constants and various information related to the operation of the digital camera 1 even when the power is turned off. Are connected to each other via a bus 8 so that various data can be recorded and / or reproduced from / to these memories 14 and 15 as necessary.

  Further, an operation unit 16 composed of various keys and the like is connected to the CPU 9 via an I / O (Input / Output) port 17 and the subsequent bus 8, and a memory card slot 18 is connected via the card interface 19 and the subsequent bus 8. Are connected to each other, and receive a transmission signal corresponding to the operation content of the operation unit 16 by the user and the insertion / removal of the memory card MC.

  Here, when the user presses a shutter button (not shown) of the operation unit 16 (that is, during still image capturing), the CPU 9 sends a recording command signal S10 to the memory controller 7 via the bus 8. Thus, the memory controller 7 reads out the frame image captured at the time of the shutter from the plurality of frame images based on the video signal S4 while writing the video signal S4 in the RAM 10, and then the data compression / decompression unit 20 via the bus 8. To send.

  The data compression / decompression unit 20 performs a compression encoding process based on the JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Groupe) standard on the frame image read from the RAM 10 to obtain a frame image in which image information is compressed. The compressed frame image thus obtained is written into the memory card MC inserted in the memory card slot 18 via the card I / F 19 under the control of the CPU 9.

  In addition to this configuration, in the digital camera 1, when the user performs a predetermined operation using the operation unit 16 in the shooting mode, as shown in FIGS. The current photographing content is processed (reduced, thinned out, etc.) into a desired set magnification (hereinafter referred to as framing magnification) on the display screen 12A and displayed as a finder image on a full screen (hereinafter referred to as this function). Is called a framing margin setting function).

  Actually, in executing the framing margin setting function, the digital camera 1 executes one or both of the optical zoom function and the electronic zoom function to process the photographing contents to the framing magnification set by the user. At this time, when only the optical zoom function is used, the photographic content is thinned out and displayed on the display screen 12A of the viewfinder 12 at the framing magnification. On the other hand, when the electronic zoom function is used, the captured content is cut (enlarged or thinned as necessary) and displayed on the display screen 12A of the viewfinder 12 at a framing magnification.

  At this time, as shown in FIG. 2B, the display screen 12A of the viewfinder 12 surrounds the recording area WA for displaying the captured content before reduction at the framing magnification as a recorded image, and the recording area WA. The frame FR includes a margin area MA for displaying a scene around the recording image as a background image, and a frame FR representing the boundary line between the recording area WA and the margin area MA is superimposed on the finder image. ing.

  In the case of the present embodiment, the framing magnification is set to a half of the zoom-in magnification by the zoom function (that is, twice the zoom-out magnification), and the user executes the zoom function to perform a desired zoom magnification (zoom-in). When the zoom magnification or zoom-out magnification is adjusted, the zoom magnification is changed in conjunction with the zoom magnification.

  Specifically, when executing the zoom function, the framing magnification is 1 when the zoom-in magnification is 2 times, and the framing magnification is 2 when the zoom-in magnification is 4 times. The adjustment range of the framing magnification is limited so as not to exceed the maximum zoom-in magnification that can be adjusted by the electronic zoom function.

  Actually, when the CPU 9 receives an instruction to execute the framing margin setting function from the user, the CPU 9 controls the memory controller 7 to execute one or both of the optical zoom function and the electronic zoom function, and Are processed into the framing magnification set by the user, and the frame image based on the obtained video signal S4 is sequentially displayed on the display screen 12A of the viewfinder 12 through the video coder 11.

  At the same time, under the control of the CPU 9, the memory controller 7 sequentially writes the frame image before processing to the framing magnification among the frame images based on the video signal S4 as a recorded image in the RAM 10, and identifies the recorded image as a recording range. The data is sequentially sent to the processing unit 21.

  Under the control of the CPU 9, the recording range identification processing unit 21 superimposes and displays a frame FR representing a boundary line between the recording area WA and the margin area MA other than the recording area WA on the display screen 12A of the viewfinder 12 ( FIG. 2 (B)). At the same time, the recording range identification processing unit 21 has the image size of the recorded image smaller or equal to the product of the number of pixels of the CCD 3 and the zoom-in magnification or zoom-out magnification (hereinafter referred to as electronic zoom magnification) by the electronic zoom function. Is determined to be larger or larger, and an image adjustment request signal S11 corresponding to the determination result is transmitted to the memory controller 7.

  Usually, the image size is VGA (Video Graphics Array) having a horizontal and vertical pixel number of 640 × 480, SVGA (Super Video Graphics Array) having 800 × 600, XGA (eXtended Graphics Array) having 1024 × 768, 1280 SXGA (Super eXtended Graphics Array) of × 1024, UXGA (Ultra eXtended Graphics Array) of 1600 × 1200, etc. are common.

  The memory controller 7 reads out the recording image corresponding to the frame image captured at the time of the shutter from the plurality of recording images while sequentially writing the recording images in the RAM 10, and then adjusts the image supplied from the recording range identification processing unit 21. Based on the request signal S11, when the image size of the recorded image is smaller than the product of the number of pixels of the CCD 3 and the electronic zoom magnification, a cropping process and an enlargement process are performed. Cuts and thins out.

  At this time, the memory controller 7 always depends on the electronic zoom magnification because the framing magnification described above is a fixed value. That is, for example, when the number of pixels of the CCD 3 is 2560 × 480 and the electronic zoom magnification is 2 times, the memory controller 7 performs a cut-out process on the photographic content with an image size of 1280 × 960, and then performs the recording. Enlargement processing or thinning processing is performed in accordance with the image size of the image.

  Thereafter, the memory controller 7 sends the recorded image subjected to the image processing according to the image adjustment request signal S11 to the data compression / decompression unit 20 via the bus 8. The data compression / decompression unit 20 obtains a frame image in which image information is compressed by performing a compression encoding process based on the JPEG standard on the frame image read from the RAM 10.

  The compressed frame image thus obtained is written into the memory card MC inserted in the memory card slot 18 via the card I / F 19 under the control of the CPU 9.

(2) Framing margin setting processing procedure Actually, in this digital camera 1, the framing margin setting function is executed by the user in a state where shooting contents are displayed as a finder image on the entire display screen 12 A of the viewfinder 12 in the shooting mode. When the operation is performed, the CPU 9 starts the framing margin setting processing procedure RT1 shown in FIG. 3 from step SP0, and determines the framing magnification desired by the user in the subsequent step SP1.

  Subsequently, the CPU 9 proceeds to step SP2 to execute one or both of the optical zoom function and the electronic zoom function to process the photographing contents to the framing magnification set by the user and based on the obtained video signal S4. The frame image is displayed as a finder image on the full screen on the display screen 12A of the viewfinder 12, and a frame representing the boundary line between the recording area and the margin area is superimposed on the finder image.

  Subsequently, in step SP3, after waiting for the user to press the shutter button, the CPU 9 proceeds to step SP4 only when determining that the shutter button has been pressed, and sets the image size of the recorded image to the preset image size. Compare.

  In step SP5, the CPU 9 proceeds to step SP6 when the product of the above-mentioned image size comparison result shows that the product of the number of pixels of the CCD 3 and the electronic zoom magnification is small with respect to the image size of the recorded image. If equal, the process proceeds to step SP7 and only the cut process is performed, or if larger, the process proceeds to step SP8 and the cut process and the thinning process are performed.

  Eventually, the CPU 9 proceeds to step SP9, performs a predetermined compression encoding process on the recorded image subjected to such image processing, writes the recorded image in the memory card MC, and then proceeds to step SP10 as it is. The framing margin setting processing procedure RT1 is terminated.

  As described above, in the digital camera 1, the framing margin setting function is executed in the shooting mode, and the display screen 12A of the viewfinder 12 is displayed at half the actual zoom-in magnification (that is, twice the zoom-out magnification). The finder image can be displayed on the full screen at the framing magnification of the following, and at the same time, the recorded image can be displayed at the actual zoom-in magnification or zoom-out magnification within the frame at the center of the finder image.

(3) Operation and Effect According to this Embodiment In the above configuration, in the digital camera 1, when the framing margin setting function is selected according to the user's operation in the shooting mode, the display screen 12A of the viewfinder 12 The finder image is displayed in full screen at a framing magnification that is half the actual zoom-in magnification (that is, twice the zoom-out magnification), and at the same time, a recording area representing the recorded image and the recording in the center of the finder image A frame representing a boundary line with a margin area surrounding the area is superimposed and displayed.

  At this time, even if the user executes the zoom function to zoom in on the captured content, the recorded image is always displayed at the actual zoom-in magnification within the frame, but the entire finder image including the recorded image has a zoom-in magnification of 2 Since it is displayed at a framing magnification of 1 / minute, for example, shooting in a wide area such as an athletic meet or a sporting event while tracking a subject with a relatively large movement zoomed in so that it is always captured within the shooting range. Can continue.

  In the digital camera 1, when the user presses the shutter button, only the recorded image in the frame among the finder images displayed on the display screen 12 </ b> A of the view funder 12 becomes an actual recording target, and the image size of the recorded image Are enlarged, cut, or thinned out so as to match the preset image size, and then subjected to a predetermined compression encoding process and written to the memory card MC.

  As a result, the user can enlarge the subject at a desired zoom-in magnification while recognizing the display screen 12A of the viewfinder 12, and can recognize the surrounding situation of the subject, thus keeping the subject within the shooting range. Optimum photo opportunity can be obtained while paying.

  According to the above configuration, in the digital camera 1, when the framing margin setting function is selected, the display screen 12A of the view funder 12 is half the actual zoom-in magnification (that is, twice the zoom-out magnification). The finder image is displayed in full screen at the framing magnification of, and at the same time, the frame serving as the boundary between the recording area and the margin area is superimposed on the center of the finder image, and the user zooms in on the captured content by executing the zoom function. Or, when zoomed out, the recorded image is always displayed within the frame of the finder image at the actual zoom-in magnification or zoom-out magnification, so that the movement is relatively large in a wide place such as an athletic meet or a sporting event. Always stay within the shooting range with the subject zoomed in Can continue imaging while following the so that, thus possible to realize a digital camera 1 that the user may perform the camera work easily.

(4) Other Embodiments In the above-described embodiment, the case where the digital camera 1 as shown in FIG. 1 is applied as the imaging apparatus according to the present invention has been described. The present invention is not limited to this, and can be widely applied to imaging devices having various configurations, and if it has a photographing means for photographing a subject, a wristwatch, a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA: Personal Digital Assistannts), etc. The present invention can also be widely applied to image display devices as mobile devices.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the photographing means for photographing the subject is configured by the imaging unit 3, the CDS and AGC unit 4, the A / D conversion unit 5, and the signal processing unit 6 has been described. The present invention is not limited to this, and as long as the photographing result of the subject can be obtained as image data, photographing means having other various configurations may be applied.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the viewfinder 12 mounted on the digital camera 1 is applied as the display means for displaying the imaging content as the imaging result on the display screen has been described. The present invention is not limited to this, and can be widely applied to display means having various other configurations, and can be applied from the main body of the digital camera 1 as long as it is electrically connected via a wire such as a cable or wireless such as a wireless LAN. It may be separated.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, in accordance with an external operation, the photographing content is zoomed out at a designated or preset framing magnification (reduction magnification) and displayed on the display screen 12A at the same time. Display control means for emphasizing and displaying a recording area in which the entire display area of the display screen 12A is reduced by a framing magnification (reduction magnification) is displayed on a part of 12A. The CPU 9 in the digital camera 1, the memory controller 7, and the recording Although the case where the range identification processing unit 21 is configured has been described, the present invention is not limited to this, and the point is that the entire recording area is zoomed in even when the shooting content displayed on the full screen is zoomed in. As the screen range, the recorded image corresponding to the recording area is always displayed with the actual zoom-in magnification highlighted, and at the same time, the recording area is surrounded. If it is possible to display the recorded outside the region as a background image, it may be widely applied to the display control means consisting of various other configurations.

  In the present embodiment, the framing magnification is set to half the zoom-in magnification by the zoom function (that is, twice the zoom-out magnification). You may make it set freely to various magnifications.

  Note that the CPU 9, the memory controller 7 and the recording range identification processing unit 21 as display control means zoom in the display screen 12A of the viewfinder 12 and display the framing magnification (reduction magnification) of the shooting content to be displayed on the full screen in the recording area. The image size of the recorded image corresponding to the image size can be set only within a range equal to or larger than the preset image size, so that the recorded image need only be cut out from the viewfinder image or thinned out. Therefore, it is possible to prevent deterioration of the image quality of the recorded image without performing enlargement processing on the recorded image.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the CPU 9, the memory controller 7, and the recording range identification processing unit 21 as the display control means include a framing magnification in which the entire display area of the display screen 12A is included in a part of the display screen 12A of the viewfinder 12. As a method for emphasizing and displaying a recording area reduced by (reduction ratio), as shown in FIG. 2B, a display area 12A of the viewfinder 12 and a margin area MA other than the recording area WA are displayed. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the recorded image displayed on the display screen 12A using various methods is not limited to this. The background image may be emphasized.

  For example, on the display screen 12A of the viewfinder 12, the image adjustment may be performed so that the luminance of the recording image corresponding to the recording area is different from the luminance of the background image corresponding to the margin area surrounding the recording area. Further, the image adjustment may be performed so that the color of the recording image corresponding to the recording area is different from the color of the background image corresponding to the margin area surrounding the recording area.

  Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, a digital camera is used as an image processing means for performing predetermined image processing on an image corresponding to a recording area displayed on the display screen 12A of the viewfinder 12 (that is, a recorded image). Although the case where the memory controller 7 in 1 is applied has been described, the present invention is not limited to this, and the main point is that the shooting contents enlarged or reduced at a zoom-in magnification or a zoom-out magnification designated in accordance with an external operation Among these, if predetermined image processing can be performed on an image corresponding to a recording area, it can be widely applied to image processing means having various configurations.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, a digital camera is used as a comparison unit that compares the image size of the recorded image corresponding to the recording area displayed on the display screen 12A of the viewfinder 12 with a preset image size. Although the case where the recording range identification processing unit 21 within 1 is applied has been described, the present invention is not limited to this, and the main point is to measure the image size of the recorded image in the finder image and compare it with other image sizes. If possible, the present invention may be widely applied to comparison means having various other configurations.

  Further, the memory controller (image processing means) 7 applies to the recorded image so that the image size of the recorded image matches the set image size based on the comparison result by the recording range identification processing section (comparison means) 21. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the point is that if the image size of the recorded image can be matched with the set image size, the present invention is not limited to this. In addition, various image processing may be performed.

  Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, as zoom control means for enlarging or reducing the photographing content displayed on the full screen on the display screen 12A of the viewfinder 12 with a zoom-in magnification or a zoom-out magnification designated according to an external operation. Although the case where the CPU 9 in the digital camera 1 is applied and the CPU 9 executes one or both of the optical zoom function and the electronic zoom function has been described, the present invention is not limited to this. If the captured content can be zoomed in or out on the twelve display screens 12A, the present invention can be widely applied to zoom control means for executing a zoom function by various other methods.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the image data is compression-encoded according to the data format based on the JPEG standard has been described. However, other than this, TIFF (Tagged Image File Format), Exif (Exchangeable Image File) Image data D1 is managed by various image file formats such as Format, CIFF (Camera Image File Format), GIF (Graphics Interchange Format), BMP (Bit Map), PICT (Quick Draw Picture Format) and FPX (Flash Pix) However, compression encoding may be performed as necessary.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be widely applied to portable devices having various photographing means in addition to a digital camera in an imaging device and an imaging method.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the digital camera by this Embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view for explaining the display state of the display screen of the view funder shown in FIG. 1. It is a flowchart with which it uses for description of a framing margin setting process sequence.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Digital camera, 6 ... Signal processing part, 7 ... Memory controller, 9 ... CPU, 10 ... RAM, 11 ... Video coder, 12 ... View funder, 12A ... Display screen, 16 ... Operation unit 20 Data compression / decompression unit 21 Recording range identification processing unit MC Memory card RT1 Framing margin setting processing procedure

Claims (6)

Photographing means for photographing the subject;
Display means for displaying the photographing content of the photographing means on a display screen;
In response to an external operation, the captured content is zoomed out at a specified or preset reduction ratio and displayed on the display screen in full screen, and at the same time, the entire display area of the display screen is displayed on a part of the display screen. Display control means for emphasizing and displaying the recording area reduced by the reduction ratio;
Image processing means for performing predetermined image processing on an image corresponding to the recording area displayed on the display screen as a recording target;
Zoom control means for enlarging or reducing the shooting content displayed in full screen on the display screen at a zoom-in magnification or a zoom-out magnification designated in accordance with an external operation;
The image processing means includes
An image pickup apparatus, wherein the image processing is performed on an image corresponding to the recording area among the photographing contents enlarged or reduced at a zoom-in magnification or a zoom-out magnification designated by the zoom control means. Comparing means for comparing the image size of the recorded image corresponding to the recording area displayed on the display screen with a preset image size,
The image processing means includes
Based on the comparison result by the comparison means, the recording image is subjected to enlargement processing, cropping processing, or thinning processing so that the image size of the recording image matches the set image size. The imaging device according to claim 1. The display control means includes
Zoom-out to the display screen and full screen display can be set only when the image size of the recorded image corresponding to the recording area is equal to or larger than the preset image size. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1. A first step of displaying the photographing content obtained by photographing the subject on the display screen;
In response to an external operation, the captured content is zoomed out at a specified or preset reduction ratio and displayed on the display screen in full screen, and at the same time, the entire display area of the display screen is displayed on a part of the display screen. A second step of highlighting and displaying the recording area reduced by the reduction ratio,
A third step of performing predetermined image processing on an image corresponding to the recording area displayed on the display screen as a recording target;
A fourth step of enlarging or reducing the shooting content displayed on the full screen on the display screen at a zoom-in magnification or a zoom-out magnification designated in accordance with an external operation;
In the third step,
An imaging method, comprising: performing the image processing on an image corresponding to the recording area out of the photographing contents enlarged or reduced at the designated zoom-in magnification or zoom-out magnification. In the third step,
After comparing the image size of the recorded image corresponding to the recording area displayed on the display screen with a preset image size, the image size of the recorded image is set based on the comparison result. The imaging method according to claim 4, wherein enlargement processing, cropping processing, or thinning-out processing is performed on the recorded image so as to coincide with the image size. In the second step,
Zoom-out to the display screen and full screen display can be set only when the image size of the recorded image corresponding to the recording area is equal to or larger than the preset image size. The imaging method according to claim 4.

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