JP2006033578A - Optical instrument compensation device and system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve a problem of no suitable anti-vibration system for a digital camera with an interchangeable lens. <P>SOLUTION: The digital camera includes a first photography mode for synthesizing two or more images, which were photographed continuously, and obtaining a compensated composite image and a second photography mode for obtaining an image corresponding to the composite image by one shot. One of the first and second modes is prohibited according to the switching of a blurring compensation mode of the interchangeable lens. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a photographing apparatus that improves the accuracy of a photographed image by correcting camera shake.

  In recent years, digital single-lens reflex cameras have become widespread, and interchangeable lenses used for these cameras have been developed on the assumption that lenses originally developed for silver salt single-lens reflex cameras can be used with the same system and function. . Among these interchangeable lenses for silver salt, products equipped with an image blur correction function have been developed, and when combined with a digital single lens reflex camera, the camera shake of the photographer functions in exactly the same way as a silver salt camera. It has a system with it.

  The characteristics of an interchangeable lens equipped with this camera shake correction function will be explained. There are two modes for correcting the camera shake correction function of the lens. One is a normal shooting mode, and the other is called a panning mode. In this mode, a moving subject is corrected. This panning mode is used, for example, when the subject is moving at a relatively high speed and the camera is moved together with the lens to perform continuous shooting while tracking the subject. At this time, the camera is intentionally moved. However, it is a mode for preventing a camera shake from being mistaken. When using this mode, the subject may be moving. In addition, when using this panning mode, the user often uses the auto-focus mode (servo AF) of the camera's autofocus mode, which is now taken for granted.

  By combining such a camera and lens, the camera shake is corrected without distinguishing whether the camera to be used is silver salt or digital, and also important work for shooting such as determining camera exposure and focusing. Everything is automated, and there is very little chance of shooting failure even for those who are inexperienced in camera operation.

  Here, a vibration-proof system that prevents camera shake will be briefly described.

  The camera shake at the time of shooting is usually a vibration of 1 Hz to 10 Hz as a frequency. However, as a basic idea for making it possible to take a photograph without image shake even if such a camera shake occurs at the time of exposure, Camera vibrations due to camera shake are detected, and the correction lens must be displaced within the plane orthogonal to the optical axis in accordance with the detection result (optical image stabilization system).

  That is, in order to take a picture that does not cause image shake even if camera shake occurs, it is necessary to first detect the camera vibration accurately and secondly correct the optical axis change due to camera shake.

  In principle, the image shake is corrected by detecting the acceleration, angular acceleration, angular velocity, angular displacement, etc. using a vibration gyroscope, laser gyroscope, etc., and mounting a vibration detection unit on the camera that appropriately calculates the detection result. Can be done. Then, image blur correction is performed by driving a correction optical device that decenters the photographing optical axis based on camera shake detection information from the vibration detection unit. At present, these systems are generally installed in interchangeable lenses.

On the other hand, in a digital camera, shooting is repeated a plurality of times with an exposure time that does not cause camera shake, and the images obtained by these shootings are combined while correcting image misalignment, and taken images with a long exposure time (synthesized) There are the following methods for obtaining images.
Japanese Patent No. 3110797

  In the image stabilization method as shown in Patent Document 1, since the photographing is repeated a plurality of times, the photographing time becomes long. For this reason, if this method is used unnecessarily, the number of failed photos may increase.

  If you compare this with a silver halide camera, it is the same principle as the method of shooting the same subject in multiple shots (multiple exposure shooting), and in the case of a silver halide camera, the effect of camera shake leads directly to deterioration of the photographic image, It is common to shoot using a tripod or the like.

  Patent Document 1 is a technique of using a digital camera and correcting the positions of individually captured image data to synthesize those images (coordinate conversion method). In this case, the problem relating to camera shake is reduced if the subject is stationary, but subject blurring, background blurring, and the like may occur in the case of a moving subject or a moving subject. Examples of this are shown in FIGS. 2B and 3A and 3B.

  If there is a possibility that such a picture will be taken in advance, the user can ban this type of photography. However, if the user is unfamiliar with the camera or starts moving suddenly after the start of shooting It will not be possible to deal with.

  In such a digital camera system including an interchangeable lens equipped with a camera shake correction function, there are many parameters for determining the necessity of use of image stabilization. It is becoming difficult and it becomes a system that is difficult to handle for users.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an image stabilization system for a digital camera including an interchangeable lens having a camera shake correction function different from that of a silver halide camera.

  The first invention of the present application is a first photographing mode for obtaining a composite image whose exposure is corrected by combining a plurality of images obtained by sequentially photographing, and an image corresponding to the composite image by one photographing. A photographing device capable of photographing in the second photographing mode, lens fixing means for attaching a lens to the photographing device, an interchangeable lens having a camera shake correction function, and at least two in the interchangeable lens. In the optical apparatus having two camera shake correction modes, when one of the two camera shake correction modes of the interchangeable lens is selected, the first shooting mode in the imaging apparatus is selected. It is characterized by prohibiting.

  The third invention of the present application provides a first shooting mode for obtaining a composite image whose exposure is corrected by combining a plurality of images obtained by sequentially shooting, and an image corresponding to the composite image by one shooting. A photographing device capable of photographing in the second photographing mode, and the photographing device includes a focus control means for focusing on the subject, and outputs from the focus control means before photographing and after photographing. If the difference is larger than a preset value, it is determined that the subject is a moving object, and the number of shots at the time of shooting in the first shooting mode is changed, or the first shooting mode is prohibited. It is characterized by doing.

  According to the present invention, in a photographing apparatus having an anti-vibration function, photographing failure can be reduced, which is convenient for the user.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a digital single-lens reflex camera (imaging device) and an interchangeable lens according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The light beam (photographing light) incident from the photographing lens 11 is imaged on the imaging unit 19 through the shutter 12a after the light amount is limited by the diaphragm 13a. The imaging unit 19 includes a semiconductor imaging element such as a MOS or a CCD.

  The taking lens 11 is composed of a plurality of optical lens groups, and some or all of these lens groups receive a driving force from the AF drive motor 14a and move on the optical axis 10 and stop at a predetermined focus position. To adjust the focus. The AF drive motor 14a is driven by receiving a drive signal from the focus drive unit 14b.

  In addition, some optical lens groups in the photographic lens 11 receive the driving force from the camera shake correction drive motor 15a and move in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis 10 to operate to reduce the camera shake of the user. The camera shake correction drive motor 15a is driven by receiving a drive signal from the camera shake correction drive unit 15b.

  In addition, when camera shake correction is performed by moving a part of the optical lens group of the photographic lens 11, two modes are set. Of the two modes, one is suitable for normal photographing (mode 1), and the other is suitable for a moving subject (mode 2). The difference between the two modes is the mode 1 that faithfully reduces the user's camera shake, and the mode 2 is operated mainly to correct the camera shake in the vertical direction. This is because the movement of a moving subject usually moves in the horizontal direction, and if the subject moving in the horizontal direction is to be continuously shot, the camera must be moved in the horizontal direction according to the subject. (Panning operation) In this case, a vibrating gyroscope or the like that detects camera shake misunderstands this horizontal operation as camera shake, and corrects the optical system to move in the direction opposite to the movement of the camera. Although the user follows the subject, the lens moves in the reverse direction, and an image in which the subject itself does not move is displayed. That is, the user is confused by the fact that the images obtained in response to the operation of the camera are not linked, and as a result, framing of the subject becomes difficult. Therefore, the user needs to set the mode 2 described above. When the mode 2 is set, the horizontal direction correction is not performed, and the camera shake correction is performed only in the vertical direction, so that the framing operation described above is easy to perform. To change the mode, a change-over switch 9 is provided on the interchangeable lens or camera (provided on the interchangeable lens in this embodiment), and the user switches the state of the switch. In other words, it is possible to determine in advance what kind of subject the user is shooting based on the state of the changeover switch. The same effect can be obtained by selecting the mode automatically by the camera instead of the switch based on the output value of the vibration gyroscope or the like. This can be done by judging and switching the difference between the output due to camera shake and the output due to the panning operation from the vibration gyro.

  The diaphragm 13a has a plurality of diaphragm blades, and these diaphragm blades are actuated by receiving a driving force from the diaphragm driving unit 13b to change the aperture area (diaphragm aperture diameter) serving as a light passage port. In the above description, parts other than the imaging unit 19 are accommodated in the interchangeable lens 8 (portion surrounded by a solid line in FIG. 1).

  The shutter 12a has a plurality of shutter blades, and these shutter blades open and close an opening serving as a light passage by receiving a driving force from the shutter driving unit 12a. Thereby, the light beam incident on the imaging unit 19 is controlled.

  Further, the strobe 16a is driven (emitted) in response to a driving signal from the flash drive unit 16b in accordance with shooting conditions (subject brightness, etc.).

  Further, in order to notify the photographer of the photographing operation, the speaker 17a is driven (sounded) in response to a driving signal from the sounding driving unit 17b.

  Driving of the focus driving unit 14b, the camera shake correction driving unit 15b, the aperture driving unit 13b, the shutter driving unit 12b, the flash driving unit 16b, and the sound generation driving unit 17b is controlled by the photographing control unit 18.

  The photographing control unit 18 includes a release operation unit 12c, an aperture operation unit 13c, a camera shake correction and changeover switch 9, a camera shake operation unit 15c (including a vibration gyro sensor for camera shake detection), a flash operation unit 16c, and a vibration control operation described later. An operation signal is input from the unit 120, and the operation signals are respectively input to the focus driving unit 14b, the camera shake correction driving unit 15b, the aperture driving unit 13b, the shutter driving unit 12b, and the flash according to the shooting state of the camera. Shooting conditions are set by giving to the drive unit 16b, and shooting is performed.

  The aperture diameter of the aperture 13a and the light emission of the strobe 16a are normally set automatically on the camera side during shooting. Therefore, the aperture operation unit 13c and the flash drive unit 16b are not necessary, but the photographer can arbitrarily shoot. It is provided for setting conditions.

  The photographing control unit 18 measures subject luminance (photometry) based on an image signal captured by a signal processing unit 111 described later, and based on the photometric result, the aperture diameter of the aperture 13a and the closing timing (exposure) of the shutter 12a. Time). Further, the photographing control unit 18 obtains the in-focus position of the photographing lens 11 based on the output from the signal processing unit 111 while driving the focus driving unit 14b.

  The video signal output from the imaging unit 19 is converted into a digital signal by the A / D conversion unit 110 and input to the signal processing unit 111. The signal processing circuit 111 performs signal processing such as forming a luminance signal and a color signal on the input signal to form a color video signal.

  Then, the video signal processed by the signal processing circuit 111 is input to the image correction unit 117 via the signal switching unit 112.

  The image correction unit 117 performs gamma correction and compression processing on the input signal.

  The signal of the image correction unit 117 is input to the display unit 118 and the recording unit 119, and the captured image is displayed on the display unit 118 and recorded on the recording unit 119.

  In the operation described above, if the subject to be photographed is dark and the exposure time is long, there is a risk of camera shake. Therefore, the photographer operates the image stabilization operation unit 120 to turn on the image stabilization system, and performs the following operations. Switch.

  First, when the photographer presses the release button of the release operation unit 12c halfway, a shooting preparation operation (focus adjustment operation, photometry operation, etc.) is started. The closing timing (exposure time) of the shutter 12a and the aperture diameter of the aperture 13a are set on the basis of the photometric value obtained by the photometric operation. Generally, the subject is dark under shooting conditions using an image stabilization system. Is fully open and the exposure time is long exposure.

  Therefore, this exposure time is divided into a plurality of short exposure times, and photographing is repeated by the divided number. When the exposure time is divided in such a short time, each image obtained by exposure is underexposed, but these images are less influenced by camera shake.

  Then, the exposure is improved by combining a plurality of images after completion of photographing to form a single image.

  However, when shooting multiple images, there may be slight deviations in the composition between the images due to camera shake during continuous shooting, even if there are no effects of camera shake in each image obtained by multiple shooting. is there. Here, if these images are combined as they are, the combined images become images in which the composition of each image is shifted by the amount of deviation.

  In the present embodiment, a plurality of image signals output for each shooting from the imaging unit 19 according to continuous shooting are converted into digital signals by the A / D conversion unit 110 and then subjected to signal processing by the signal processing unit 111. The

  On the other hand, when the image capturing control unit 18 is informed that the image stabilization control unit 120 is operated to turn on the image stabilization system, the image data from the signal processing unit 111 is transmitted to the image storage unit via the signal switching unit 112. 113 is input. That is, the input to the image correction unit 117 is cut off.

  The image storage unit 113 stores all of a plurality of captured images.

  The deviation detection unit 114 extracts a feature point in the image stored in the image storage unit 113, and calculates a position coordinate of the feature point in the shooting screen.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 2A, consider a case where a photograph is taken in which a person 122a stands on the background of a building 123a in a frame 121a. At this time, when a plurality of images are photographed, an image having a composition shifted from the frame 121a due to camera shake may be photographed as in the frame 121b.

  The deviation detection unit 114 takes out the edge 125a of the window 124a, which is a point with high brightness, from the building 123a located around the screen as a feature point by edge detection, and compares this feature point 125a with the feature point 125b in the frame 121b. Then, this difference is corrected (coordinate conversion).

  In FIG. 2, the frame 121b is coordinate-transformed such that the feature point 125b of the frame 121b overlaps the feature point 125a of the frame 121a as indicated by an arrow 126.

  Here, the reason why the periphery of the shooting screen is selected as the feature point will be described below.

  In many cases, the main subject is located near the center of the screen, and the main subject is often a person. In such a case, when the main subject is selected as a feature point, inconvenience due to subject shake occurs.

  That is, when shooting a plurality of images, not only the camera shake of the photographer but also the subject shake is superimposed, so that the coordinate conversion of the image is performed based on the subject shake.

  In this case, coordinate conversion is performed so that the composition of the main subject is appropriate, so it seems that a preferable image can be formed.However, generally, the movement of a person is complicated, and the accuracy of detection of deviation is large depending on the location where the feature points are selected. It depends.

  For example, if the eye of the main subject (person) is selected as a feature point, the effect of blinking will appear, and if the tip of the hand is selected as a feature point, the hand will move easily, which is different from the actual shake of the entire subject. End up.

  Thus, even if coordinate conversion of an image is performed using one point of a person as a feature point, not all of the person is appropriately coordinate-converted. Even when a plurality of images are coordinate-converted and combined, The position of coordinates varies from image to image, and a preferable image cannot be obtained. Therefore, in this case, it is possible to obtain a preferable image by selecting a still subject such as the background as a feature point and performing image coordinate conversion.

  The synthesized image data is input to the image correction unit 117, subjected to gamma correction and compression processing, and then displayed as a captured image on the display unit 118 and recorded in the recording unit 119.

  In contrast, in FIG. 2B, the description of the moving subject is continued.

  As shown in the figure, when the main subject 127d (car) is moving and the continuous shooting is performed by the above-described method, the camera is moved in accordance with the movement of the subject and the subject is always at the center of the screen as described above. The framing is generally performed as described above (panning operation). When a plurality of images are taken in such a state, it can be determined that it is preferable to perform coordinate conversion of the feature points according to the main subject 127d. However, regarding the background, it will be understood at a glance that the photograph is a composite picture such as 127a, 127b, 127c. It is difficult to correct this, and this is considered to be a drawback of this camera shake correction method.

  In such a case, it is desirable not to use this correction method, but unlike a movie, it is very difficult to judge whether the subject is stationary or moving before shooting. Conceivable. Therefore, it is possible to determine what kind of subject the user is going to shoot based on the state of the mode switch 9 described above, and when the mode switch 9 is set to mode 2, It is possible to prohibit camera shake correction by the coordinate conversion method.

  This state will be described with reference to FIG. 1. For example, when the mode switch 9 on the lens side is set to mode 2, the imaging control unit 18 determines that the image stabilization system is off, and the image data from the signal processing unit 111 is a signal. The image is input to the image storage unit 117 via the switching unit 112. That is, the input to the image storage unit 113 is interrupted.

  As another method, when the mode changeover switch 9 is set to mode 2, the photographing control unit 18 shortens the closing timing (exposure time) of the shutter 12a to be shorter than usual so as to reduce the number of photographing as much as possible. The same effect can be obtained. For example, when proper exposure is completed at a shutter speed of 1/15 as a result of the photometric operation, if the mode is 1, the shooting at the 4 times with the shutter speed of 1/60 is reduced to 2 at 1/30, so that the background etc. Multiple exposure can be relaxed.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart summarizing the shooting operation of the camera of this embodiment, and this flow starts when the camera is turned on.

  In step # 1001, the photographer waits until sw1 is turned on by half-pressing the release button. When sw1 is turned on, the process proceeds to step # 1002.

  In step # 1002, the imaging unit 19 performs imaging. The imaging control unit 18 drives the AF driving motor 14a to move the imaging lens 11 in the optical axis direction while detecting the contrast of the image based on the output from the signal processing unit 111.

  Then, when the contrast is highest, driving of the photographing lens 11 is stopped to bring the photographing optical system into a focused state (AF by hill-climbing method). Note that focus adjustment can also be performed by phase difference detection. When photographing a moving subject, the AF method based on phase difference detection is considered to be desirable because of its fast detection speed.

  In addition, the imaging control unit 18 obtains the brightness of the subject based on the output of the imaging unit 19 at the same time.

  In step # 1004, it is determined whether or not the photographer has turned on the image stabilization operation unit 120. If it is turned on, the process proceeds to step # 1005, and if it is off, the process proceeds to step # 1021. Even when the image stabilization operation unit 120 is turned on and the lens mode switch 9 is set to mode 2, the process proceeds to step # 1021.

  First, a flow that flows when the image stabilization operation unit 120 is turned on will be described.

  In step # 1005, the number of images to be taken and the respective exposure times are obtained from the photographing conditions such as the brightness of the subject obtained in step # 1002.

The shooting conditions here are:
・ Brightness of subject ・ Focal distance of photographic optical system ・ Brightness of photographic optical system (aperture value)
-It is 4 points of sensitivity of an image sensor.

  For example, assume that the sensitivity of the imaging unit 19 is set to ISO200.

  In order to measure the brightness of the subject (photometry) and to perform appropriate exposure based on the photometry result, the aperture 13a is fully opened (for example, f2.8) and the closing timing of the shutter 12a, that is, the exposure time is set to 1 /. Suppose that it needs to be 8 seconds.

  Here, when the focal length of the photographic optical system is 30 mm in terms of 35 mm film, there is a possibility that image shake may occur due to camera shake in shooting with an exposure time of 1/8 second. Is set to 1/32 seconds and set to take 4 shots.

  On the other hand, when the photographing focal length is 300 mm, the exposure time is set to 1/320 seconds so as not to cause camera shake, and the photographing is performed 40 times.

  In this way, the exposure time when shooting a plurality of images is determined according to the shooting conditions, and how many more images are shot is set according to the shooting conditions.

  Further, when the mode changeover switch 9 is set to mode 2, the same effect can be obtained by shortening the closing timing (exposure time) of the shutter 12a so as to reduce the number of photographing as much as possible. become. For example, if proper exposure is completed with an exposure time of 1/15 as a result of the photometric operation, if the mode is 1, the shooting time of 4 times with an exposure time of 1/60 is reduced to 2 times with 1/30. Images such as multiple exposure can be reduced and camera shake can be reduced.

  Even if the same subject is photographed separately, the image capturing unit 19 can capture accurate information when the exposure condition for each photographing is as close to the appropriate exposure as possible.

  For this reason, in the case of a dark subject, when the photographing lens is narrowed down and dark, or when the sensitivity of the imaging unit 19 is set low, the exposure time of each photographing is effective as long as possible even for multiple photographing. Use exposure conditions.

  However, if the exposure time is too long, the influence of image degradation due to camera shake appears on the image plane. Therefore, as described above, when the focal length of the photographing optical system is 30 mm in terms of 35 mm film, the focus is reduced so that camera shake does not occur. The exposure time is set to 1/32 seconds, which is equal to one distance.

  Then, the number of shots is supplemented for the lack of exposure time.

  When the focal length is long, image deterioration due to camera shake occurs unless the exposure time is further shortened. Therefore, the exposure time is further shortened, and the number of shots is increased correspondingly to perform exposure compensation.

  As described above, the exposure time in the multiple-image shooting becomes longer as the shooting subject becomes darker and the shooting lens becomes darker, becomes longer as the sensitivity of the imaging unit 18 becomes lower, and becomes shorter as the focal length of the lens becomes longer.

  The number of shots in the multiple-shot shooting increases as the shooting subject becomes darker and the shooting lens darkens, increases as the sensitivity of the image sensor decreases, and increases as the focal length of the lens increases.

  After the above calculations are completed, a message indicating that the image stabilization mode (multiple shooting mode) has been set is displayed on the display unit provided in the camera finder or on the liquid crystal display unit provided on the exterior of the camera. The photographer is displayed and the photographer is notified.

  In step # 1006, steps # 1001 to # 1006 are circulated and waited until sw2 is turned on by fully pressing the release button.

  In step # 1007, the first image is taken.

  At the same time, the start of shooting is pronounced by the speaker 17a via the tone generator 17b.

  This sound may be, for example, an electronic sound called “beep”, a shutter opening sound in a film camera or the like, or a mirror-up sound.

  Note that from step # 1007 to step # 1015, which will be described later, is an operation in a composite shooting mode in which shooting with a short exposure time is repeated a plurality of times and images obtained by the plurality of shootings are combined to make the apparent exposure appropriate.

  In step # 1008, the photographed image is temporarily stored in the image storage unit 113.

  In step # 1009, steps # 1007 and # 1008 are circulated and waited until all photographing is completed.

  Then, when the photographing is completed, the process proceeds to step # 1010.

  In step # 1010, the completion of shooting is pronounced by the speaker 17a via the tone generation drive unit 17b.

  This sound may be an electronic sound such as “beep”, or may be a shutter closing sound, a mirror down sound or a film winding sound in a film camera or the like.

  In the case of shooting a plurality of images in this way, the pronunciation representing the operation is one set (one time each for the start of exposure for the first shooting and the completion of the exposure for the last shooting), so it is not possible to give the photographer a sense of discomfort regarding the shooting of the plurality Absent.

  That is, the number of times of sound generation is the same in the case of performing normal shooting (one exposure) and in the case of shooting a plurality of images, and it is possible to prevent the photographer from feeling uncomfortable at the time of shooting.

  In step # 1011, the deviation detection unit 114 extracts a characteristic image (characteristic point) from the peripheral region of the image (for example, the building 123a in FIG. 2), and obtains the coordinates of the image.

  In step # 1012, the coordinate conversion unit 115 performs coordinate conversion of each image.

  In step # 1013, steps # 1011 and 1012 are circulated and waited until coordinate conversion for all images is completed. When coordinate conversion for all images is completed, the flow proceeds to step # 1014.

  In step # 1014, the image group is synthesized.

  Here, the synthesis of images is performed by averaging the signals of the coordinates corresponding to each image, and the random noise in the images is reduced by averaging. Then, the gain of the image with reduced noise is increased to optimize the exposure.

  In step # 1015, an area where the images do not overlap each other due to composition blur is cut from the synthesized image, and the image is diffusion-supplemented so as to have the original frame size.

  In step # 1016, gamma correction and compression processing are performed on the composite image signal.

  In step # 1017, the image obtained in step # 1016 is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit (display unit 118) disposed on the back surface of the camera.

  In step # 1018, the image data obtained in step # 1016 is recorded on a recording medium (recording unit 119) configured with, for example, a semiconductor memory and detachable from the camera.

  In step # 1019, the process returns to the start.

  If the release button is still half-pressed at step # 1019 and sw1 is turned on, the flow proceeds to steps # 1001, # 1002, # 1003, and # 1004 again.

  If the release button is fully pressed and sw2 is turned on at step # 1019, the process returns to the start and waits at step # 1019.

  Next, the flow that flows when the image stabilization operation unit 120 is off in step # 1004 will be described.

  If it is determined in step # 1004 that the image stabilization operation unit 120 is off, the process proceeds to step # 1021.

  In step # 1021, it is determined whether or not the image capturing condition causes image deterioration due to camera shake unless the image stabilization system is used.

  As described above, the shooting conditions are the brightness of the subject, the brightness of the lens, the imaging sensitivity, and the shooting focal length. The exposure time is obtained based on the brightness of the subject, the brightness of the lens, and the imaging sensitivity. In step # 1021, it is determined whether there is a possibility of image degradation due to camera shake at the current photographing focal length.

  If there is a possibility of image deterioration, the process proceeds to step # 1022, and if not, the process proceeds to step # 1023.

  However, the determination of the image deterioration at this time also needs to be changed depending on the camera shake mode of the lens, which has / does not have the camera shake correction function on the lens side.

  Based on this determination, in step # 1022, the image stabilization mode status is displayed on the display unit provided in the camera finder or on the liquid crystal display unit (display unit 118) provided on the exterior of the camera.

  In step # 1023, the release button is fully pressed, and steps # 1001 to # 1023 are circulated and waited until sw2 is turned on.

  In step # 1024, the process waits until normal photographing is completed, and proceeds to step # 1016 upon completion of exposure.

  Although omitted here, in the case of normal shooting, a shooting operation sound is generated from the speaker 17a in accordance with the operation from the start to the end of shooting.

  That is, in the composite shooting mode (combination of a plurality of shots) and the normal shooting mode, the same type of shooting operation sound is generated. In this case, the photographer can recognize whether or not the exposure is in a long time due to the difference in the length of the operation sound of the speaker 17a (the length from the shooting start sound to the shooting completion sound). The photographer does not know whether or not shooting is being performed.

  For this reason, the camera is not easy to use without giving the photographer the recognition that special shooting is being performed even in the composite shooting mode.

  In step # 1016, gamma correction and compression processing are performed on the composite image signal.

  In step # 1017, the image obtained in step # 1016 is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit (display unit 118) disposed on the back of the camera or the like.

  In step # 1018, the image data obtained in step # 1016 is recorded on a recording medium (recording unit 119) that can be attached to and detached from a camera including, for example, a semiconductor memory.

  In step # 1019, the process returns to the start.

  As can be seen from this flow, even when the image stabilization operation unit 120 is turned on, if it can be determined in advance that the subject shake due to moving object shooting will occur, the image stabilization will be displayed to the photographer and the image deterioration will not occur. To prevent.

  In the composite shooting mode, each exposure time is changed according to the focal length, so that desirable shooting can be performed at any focal length.

(Second Embodiment)
This embodiment is a modification of the first embodiment. The configuration of the camera of this embodiment is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment (FIG. 1), and the same members will be described with the same reference numerals.

  In the first embodiment, the camera shake correction operation of the coordinate conversion method is described in the state of the mode change switch 9 on the lens side, but the case where the autofocus function is used as another method will be described.

  In FIGS. 3A and 3B, a case where the main subject (car) is a moving object but gradually approaches from a distance will be described.

  In (a), when the main subject is a moving object, the exposure is started from the farthest point 128a, and when the divided exposure is completed at 128c, it is expected that the photograph shown in FIG. Shoot without moving the background). At this time, the camera-shake correction mode on the lens side does not need to be set to mode 2 (correction mode only in the vertical direction) described in the first embodiment, and camera shake correction is further reduced when shooting in mode 1. become. Mode 2 is a means for improving the framing mainly when the subject is moving in the horizontal direction. In the case of FIG. 3A, the subject itself is gradually increasing and moving in the approaching direction. There are multiple main subjects. Therefore, when shooting the subject in this case, it is necessary to set the camera so that the camera shake correction of the mode 1 and the coordinate conversion method is not used.

  Similarly, in (b), when the exposure is started from the farthest point 129a and the divided exposure is ended in 129c, it is expected that a photograph as shown in the figure will be completed by combining these (without moving the background). Taken on). At this time, the camera-shake correction mode on the lens side does not need to be set to mode 2 (correction mode only in the vertical direction) described in the first embodiment, and camera shake correction is further reduced when shooting in mode 1. become. Mode 2 is a means for improving the framing mainly when the subject is moving in the horizontal direction. In the case of FIG. 3B, the subject itself moves so as to gradually increase. The image looks like exposure. Therefore, when shooting the subject in this case, it is necessary to set the camera so that the camera shake correction of the mode 1 and the coordinate conversion method is not used.

  With respect to these shootings, in the first embodiment alone, since the lens side is set to mode 1, camera shake correction on the camera side is performed. Therefore, it is possible to make settings so as not to use camera shake correction of the coordinate conversion method of the camera even when the autofocus function of the camera is used and, as a result, it is detected that the main subject is a moving object.

  This will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In step # 1001, the photographer waits until sw1 is turned on by half-pressing the release button. When sw1 is turned on, the process proceeds to step # 1002.

  In step # 1002, the imaging unit 19 performs imaging. The imaging control unit 18 drives the AF driving motor 14a to move the imaging lens 11 in the optical axis direction while detecting the contrast of the image based on the output from the signal processing unit 111.

  Then, when the contrast is highest, driving of the photographing lens 11 is stopped to bring the photographing optical system into a focused state (AF by hill-climbing method). Note that focus adjustment can also be performed by phase difference detection. When photographing a moving subject, the AF method based on phase difference detection is considered to be preferable because the detection speed is faster.

  When this phase difference detection method is used, detection must be performed at least twice before the start of exposure. This is because a plurality of exposures are required for the camera shake correction in the coordinate conversion method, and if the subject moves during the exposure, an image as shown in FIGS.

  When the two phase detection outputs are compared and the values are almost the same, it is determined that the main subject is still (mode 1), and when the outputs are different or when the output difference is in advance. If it is larger than the set predetermined value, it is determined that the main subject is moving (mode 2).

  The imaging control unit 18 obtains the brightness of the subject based on the output of the imaging unit 19 at the same time.

  In step # 1004, it is determined whether or not the photographer has turned on the image stabilization operation unit 120. If it is turned on, the process proceeds to step # 1005, and if it is off, the process proceeds to step # 1021. Even when the image stabilization operation unit 120 is turned on and the lens mode switch 9 is set to mode 2, the process proceeds to step # 1021. Even when the mode changeover switch 9 is set to mode 1, the process proceeds to step # 1021 in the same manner when the mode set by the phase difference detection by the autofocus is 2.

  First, a flow that flows when the image stabilization operation unit 120 is turned on will be described.

  In step # 1005, the number of images to be taken and the respective exposure times are obtained from the photographing conditions such as the brightness of the subject obtained in step # 1002.

The shooting conditions here are:
・ Brightness of subject ・ Focal distance of photographic optical system ・ Brightness of photographic optical system (aperture value)
-It is 4 points of sensitivity of an image sensor.

  For example, assume that the sensitivity of the imaging unit 19 is set to ISO200.

  In order to measure the brightness of the subject (photometry) and to perform appropriate exposure based on the photometry result, the aperture 13a is fully opened (for example, f2.8) and the closing timing of the shutter 12a, that is, the exposure time is set to 1 /. Suppose that it needs to be 8 seconds.

  Here, when the focal length of the photographic optical system is 30 mm in terms of 35 mm film, there is a possibility that image shake may occur due to camera shake in shooting with an exposure time of 1/8 second. Is set to 1/32 seconds and set to take 4 shots.

  On the other hand, when the photographing focal length is 300 mm, the exposure time is set to 1/320 seconds so as not to cause camera shake, and the photographing is performed 40 times.

  In this way, the exposure time when shooting a plurality of images is determined according to the shooting conditions, and how many more images are shot is set according to the shooting conditions.

  When the mode changeover switch 9 is set to mode 2 or mode 2 is set when the autofocus function is used, the shutter 12a closing timing (to reduce the number of shootings as much as possible) A similar effect can be obtained by shortening the exposure time). For example, if proper exposure is completed with an exposure time of 1/15 as a result of the photometric operation, if the mode is 1, the shooting time of 4 times with an exposure time of 1/60 is reduced to 2 times with 1/30. Images such as multiple exposure can be reduced and camera shake can be reduced.

  Even if the same subject is photographed separately, the image capturing unit 19 can capture accurate information when the exposure condition for each photographing is as close to the appropriate exposure as possible.

  For this reason, in the case of a dark subject, when the photographing lens is narrowed down and dark, or when the sensitivity of the imaging unit 19 is set low, the exposure time of each photographing is effective as long as possible even for multiple photographing. Use exposure conditions.

  However, if the exposure time is too long, the influence of image degradation due to camera shake appears on the image plane. Therefore, as described above, when the focal length of the photographing optical system is 30 mm in terms of 35 mm film, the focus is reduced so that camera shake does not occur. The exposure time is set to 1/32 seconds, which is equal to one distance.

  Then, the number of shots is supplemented for the lack of exposure time.

  When the focal length is long, image deterioration due to camera shake occurs unless the exposure time is further shortened. Therefore, the exposure time is further shortened, and the number of shots is increased correspondingly to perform exposure compensation.

  As described above, the exposure time in the multiple-image shooting becomes longer as the shooting subject becomes darker and the shooting lens becomes darker, becomes longer as the sensitivity of the imaging unit 18 becomes lower, and becomes shorter as the focal length of the lens becomes longer.

  The number of shots in the multiple-shot shooting increases as the shooting subject becomes darker and the shooting lens darkens, increases as the sensitivity of the image sensor decreases, and increases as the focal length of the lens increases.

  After the above calculations are completed, a message indicating that the image stabilization mode (multiple shooting mode) has been set is displayed on the display unit provided in the camera finder or on the liquid crystal display unit provided on the exterior of the camera. The photographer is displayed and the photographer is notified.

  In step # 1006, steps # 1001 to # 1006 are circulated and waited until sw2 is turned on by fully pressing the release button.

  In step # 1007, the first image is taken.

  At the same time, the start of shooting is pronounced by the speaker 17a via the tone generator 17b.

  This sound may be, for example, an electronic sound called “beep”, a shutter opening sound in a film camera or the like, or a mirror-up sound.

  Note that from step # 1007 to step # 1015, which will be described later, is an operation in a composite shooting mode in which shooting with a short exposure time is repeated a plurality of times and images obtained by the plurality of shootings are combined to make the apparent exposure appropriate.

  In step # 1008, the photographed image is temporarily stored in the image storage unit 113.

  In step # 1009, steps # 1007 and # 1008 are circulated and waited until all photographing is completed.

  Then, when the photographing is completed, the process proceeds to step # 1010.

  In step # 1010, the completion of shooting is pronounced by the speaker 17a via the tone generation drive unit 17b.

  This sound may be an electronic sound such as “beep”, or may be a shutter closing sound, a mirror down sound or a film winding sound in a film camera or the like.

  In the case of shooting a plurality of images in this way, the pronunciation representing the operation is one set (one time each for the start of exposure for the first shooting and the completion of the exposure for the last shooting), so it is not possible to give the photographer a sense of discomfort regarding the shooting of the plurality Absent.

  That is, the number of times of sound generation is the same in the case of performing normal shooting (one exposure) and in the case of shooting a plurality of images, and it is possible to prevent the photographer from feeling uncomfortable at the time of shooting.

  In step # 1011, the deviation detection unit 114 extracts a characteristic image (characteristic point) from the peripheral region of the image (for example, the building 123a in FIG. 2), and obtains the coordinates of the image.

  In step # 1012, the coordinate conversion unit 115 performs coordinate conversion of each image.

  In step # 1013, steps # 1011 and 1012 are circulated and waited until coordinate conversion for all images is completed. When coordinate conversion for all images is completed, the flow proceeds to step # 1014.

  In step # 1014, the image group is synthesized.

  Here, the synthesis of images is performed by averaging the signals of the coordinates corresponding to each image, and the random noise in the images is reduced by averaging. Then, the gain of the image with reduced noise is increased to optimize the exposure.

  In step # 1015, an area where the images do not overlap each other due to composition blur is cut from the synthesized image, and the image is diffusion-supplemented so as to have the original frame size.

  In step # 1016, gamma correction and compression processing are performed on the composite image signal.

  In step # 1017, the image obtained in step # 1016 is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit (display unit 118) disposed on the back surface of the camera.

  In step # 1018, the image data obtained in step # 1016 is recorded on a recording medium (recording unit 119) configured with, for example, a semiconductor memory and detachable from the camera.

  In step # 1019, the process returns to the start.

  If the release button is still half-pressed at step # 1019 and sw1 is turned on, the flow proceeds to steps # 1001, # 1002, # 1003, and # 1004 again.

  If the release button is fully pressed and sw2 is turned on at step # 1019, the process returns to the start and waits at step # 1019.

  Next, the flow that flows when the image stabilization operation unit 120 is off in step # 1004 will be described.

  If it is determined in step # 1004 that the image stabilization operation unit 120 is off, the process proceeds to step # 1021.

  In step # 1021, it is determined whether or not the image capturing condition causes image deterioration due to camera shake unless the image stabilization system is used.

  As described above, the shooting conditions are the brightness of the subject, the brightness of the lens, the imaging sensitivity, and the shooting focal length. The exposure time is obtained based on the brightness of the subject, the brightness of the lens, and the imaging sensitivity. In step # 1021, it is determined whether there is a possibility of image degradation due to camera shake at the current photographing focal length.

  If there is a possibility of image deterioration, the process proceeds to step # 1022, and if not, the process proceeds to step # 1023.

  However, the determination of the image deterioration at this time also needs to be changed depending on the camera shake mode of the lens, which has / does not have the camera shake correction function on the lens side.

  Based on this determination, in step # 1022, the image stabilization mode status is displayed on the display unit provided in the camera finder or on the liquid crystal display unit (display unit 118) provided on the exterior of the camera.

  In step # 1023, the release button is fully pressed, and steps # 1001 to # 1023 are circulated and waited until sw2 is turned on.

  In step # 1024, the process waits until normal photographing is completed, and proceeds to step # 1016 upon completion of exposure.

  Although omitted here, in the case of normal shooting, a shooting operation sound is generated from the speaker 17a in accordance with the operation from the start to the end of shooting.

  That is, in the composite shooting mode (combination of a plurality of shots) and the normal shooting mode, the same type of shooting operation sound is generated. In this case, the photographer can recognize whether or not the exposure is in a long time due to the difference in the length of the operation sound of the speaker 17a (the length from the shooting start sound to the shooting completion sound). The photographer does not know whether or not shooting is being performed.

  For this reason, the camera is not easy to use without giving the photographer the recognition that special shooting is being performed even in the composite shooting mode.

  In step # 1016, gamma correction and compression processing are performed on the composite image signal.

  In step # 1017, the image obtained in step # 1016 is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit (display unit 118) disposed on the back of the camera or the like.

  In step # 1018, the image data obtained in step # 1016 is recorded on a recording medium (recording unit 119) that can be attached to and detached from a camera including, for example, a semiconductor memory.

  In step # 1019, the process returns to the start.

  As can be seen from this flow, even when the image stabilization operation unit 120 is turned on, if it can be determined in advance that the subject shake due to moving object shooting will occur, the image stabilization will be displayed to the photographer and the image deterioration will not occur. To prevent.

  In the composite shooting mode, each exposure time is changed according to the focal length, so that desirable shooting can be performed at any focal length.

The block diagram of the camera which is 1st, 2nd embodiment of this invention. Explanatory drawing in 1st Embodiment of this invention. Explanatory drawing in 2nd Embodiment of this invention. 6 is a flowchart showing a photographing operation in the first and second embodiments of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

8 Interchangeable Lens with Camera Shake Correction Function 9 Mode Changeover Switch 10 Optical Axis 11 Shooting Lens 12a Shutter 12b Shutter Drive Unit 13a Aperture 13b Aperture Drive Unit 14a AF Drive Motor 14b Focus Drive Unit 15a Camera Shake Correction Drive Motor 15b Camera Shake Correction Drive Unit 16a Strobe 16b Flash drive unit 17a Speaker 17b Sound generation drive unit 18 Shooting control unit 19 Imaging unit 110 A / D conversion unit 111 Signal processing unit 112 Signal switching unit 113 Image storage unit 114 Deviation detection unit 115 Coordinate conversion unit 116 Image composition unit 117 Image correction unit 118 Display unit 119 Recording unit 120 Anti-vibration operation unit

Claims (4)

  A first shooting mode for obtaining a composite image with exposure correction by combining a plurality of images obtained by sequentially shooting, and a second shooting mode for obtaining an image corresponding to the composite image by one shooting A photographing apparatus capable of photographing with a lens, lens fixing means for attaching a lens to the photographing apparatus, an interchangeable lens having a camera shake correction function, and the interchangeable lens having at least two camera shake correction modes. The optical apparatus is characterized in that, when one of the two camera shake correction modes of the interchangeable lens is selected, the first shooting mode in the photographing apparatus is prohibited. Optical instrument correction system.   One of the two camera shake correction modes included in the interchangeable lens is a mode suitable for normal photographing, and the other mode is a mode suitable for photographing a moving body. Item 1. School equipment system.   A first shooting mode for obtaining a composite image with exposure correction by combining a plurality of images obtained by sequentially shooting, and a second shooting mode for obtaining an image corresponding to the composite image by one shooting A photographing device capable of photographing with the camera, and a focus control means for focusing on the subject. The output from the focus control means before photographing and after photographing is compared with An optical device correction system characterized in that if it is larger than a set value, the subject is determined to be a moving body, and the number of shots at the time of shooting in the first shooting mode is changed.   A first shooting mode for obtaining a composite image with exposure correction by combining a plurality of images obtained by sequentially shooting, and a second shooting mode for obtaining an image corresponding to the composite image by one shooting A photographing device capable of photographing with a lens, and a focusing control means for focusing on the subject, and the output from the distance measuring means before photographing and after photographing is compared. An optical apparatus correction system characterized in that if it is larger than a preset value, it is determined that the subject is a moving body, and the first photographing mode in the photographing apparatus is prohibited.

Images