JP2006173860A - Electronic camera - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain an electronic camera in which an image where recording has priority to image quality or an image where image quality has priority to recording can be attained according to the need of a photographer at the time of photography under low luminance. <P>SOLUTION: The electronic camera is arranged such that the exposure time and stop are fixed to predetermined values when the detection result from a luminance detecting means is darker than a predetermined luminance of an object and the exposure sensitivity is altered by an exposure sensitivity setting means. At the time of altering the exposure sensitivity, the electronic camera can selects a first mode where the exposure sensitivity has a predetermined alteration width or a second mode where the exposure sensitivity has an alteration width narrower than that in the first mode. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic camera having an image sensor that photoelectrically converts a subject image.

  Conventionally, in an electronic camera, unlike a film camera, it is possible to set an exposure sensitivity freely and perform photographing with appropriate exposure. A camera is also known in which exposure sensitivity is automatically changed according to subject brightness for a set exposure time and aperture value to obtain an image with proper exposure.

  As such, when the exposure sensitivity that has been set is low and the brightness cannot be obtained with a combination of aperture value and exposure time, the exposure sensitivity is automatically changed to obtain the appropriate exposure. An electronic camera is disclosed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Furthermore, an electronic camera is disclosed which, when shooting in combination with an electric flash, tries to obtain an appropriate exposure by changing the exposure sensitivity when the subject is not within the electric flash control range at a long distance or the like. (For example, refer to Patent Document 2).
JP 2003-189175 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-166046

  The sensitivity change in the electronic camera is performed by changing the gain of the analog signal output output from the image sensor or correcting the digitized luminance data and color difference data after A / D conversion.

  In general, it is known that in an electronic camera, when exposure sensitivity is increased, noise components superimposed on an image signal are increased and image quality is lowered. For this reason, if the sensitivity is changed unconditionally in order to obtain appropriate exposure, an image different from the photographer's intention may be obtained under low luminance. In other words, the photographer gives priority to recording rather than the image quality, and the exposure amount is underexposed when photographing a person or landscape, for example, when it is desired to obtain an image with appropriate exposure even if there is noise in the dark part. However, there are two demands for obtaining an image that prioritizes image quality.

  For the electronic cameras described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 described above, there is a request to obtain an image with less noise even if the image is not properly exposed with noise generated in a dark portion, but slightly undertone. It cannot be answered.

  In view of the above problems, the present invention can obtain an image giving priority to recording rather than image quality and an image giving priority to image quality rather than recording according to the needs of the photographer when shooting under low luminance. The purpose is to obtain an electronic camera.

  The above object is solved by the following configuration.

  1) Image pickup means for obtaining image data by performing a predetermined process on a signal output from an image pickup device that photoelectrically converts an image of a subject led to a photographing lens, luminance detection means for detecting subject brightness, and the image pickup means Exposure sensitivity setting means for setting the exposure sensitivity of the light source, the subject brightness detected by the brightness detection means, and the exposure sensitivity set by the exposure sensitivity setting means, so that the desired exposure can be obtained and the exposure time and aperture And an exposure control means for performing exposure by changing at least one of the exposure control means, the exposure control means, when the brightness detection result by the brightness detection means is darker than the predetermined subject brightness, The exposure sensitivity is changed by the exposure sensitivity setting means, and the exposure sensitivity is changed in the first mode with a predetermined change width. , The first mode has a second mode of a narrow variation range than the first mode and the second mode can be selected and then the electronic camera, characterized in that the.

  2) The change width of the first mode is from the lowest sensitivity that can be set by the exposure sensitivity setting means to the highest sensitivity, and the change width of the second mode is from the lowest sensitivity to an intermediate sensitivity that is lower than the highest sensitivity. 1) The electronic camera.

  3) In the second mode, in the case of low brightness where a desired exposure cannot be obtained, the exposure sensitivity is set to the intermediate sensitivity, and exposure is performed by changing the exposure time. camera.

  4) Imaging means for obtaining image data by performing a predetermined process on a signal output from an imaging device that photoelectrically converts an image of a subject led to the photographing lens, luminance detection means for detecting subject luminance, and the imaging means Exposure sensitivity setting means for setting the exposure sensitivity of the light source, the subject brightness detected by the brightness detection means, and the exposure sensitivity set by the exposure sensitivity setting means, so that the desired exposure can be obtained and the exposure time and aperture In an electronic camera having an exposure control means for performing exposure while changing at least one of the above and an electric flash for irradiating auxiliary light, the exposure control means has a brightness detection result obtained by the brightness detection means that is greater than a predetermined subject brightness. When it is dark, the exposure time and aperture are fixed to a predetermined value, and exposure using the electric flash is performed. When it is determined that the desired exposure cannot be obtained even when using the lick flash, the exposure sensitivity is changed by the exposure sensitivity setting means, and the exposure sensitivity is a predetermined value for changing the exposure sensitivity. And a second mode having a narrower change width than the first mode, wherein the first mode and the second mode can be selected. camera.

  5) The determination as to whether or not a desired exposure can be obtained using the electric flash is made based on the result of measuring the amount of reflected light during preliminary irradiation of the electric flash or the subject distance detected by the subject distance detecting means. 4) Electronic camera.

  6) The change range of the first mode is from the lowest sensitivity that can be set by the exposure sensitivity setting means to the maximum sensitivity, and the change range of the second mode is from the lowest sensitivity to an intermediate sensitivity that is lower than the maximum sensitivity. The electronic camera according to 4) or 5).

  7) The electronic camera according to any one of 4) to 6), wherein in the second mode, the exposure sensitivity is set to the intermediate sensitivity and exposure is performed by changing the exposure time.

  According to any one of the above-mentioned 1) to 3), when performing steady light photography under low luminance, an image giving priority to recording rather than image quality and an image giving priority to image quality instead of recording are obtained. It is possible to obtain an electronic camera that can shoot according to the photographer's wishes.

  According to any one of the above 4) to 7), when performing flash photography under low luminance, an image giving priority to recording rather than image quality, and an image giving priority to image quality rather than recording, It is possible to obtain an electronic camera capable of photographing according to a photographer's request.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to embodiments, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

  FIG. 1 is an external view showing an example of an electronic camera according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1A is a view of the camera as viewed from the front, and FIG. 1B is a rear view of the camera.

  In FIG. 1A, 81 is a photographic lens, 82 is a main switch, 83 is a release button, 84 is a flash light emitting unit, and 86 is a sensor window for receiving flash reflected light.

  The release button 83 is pushed in one step (hereinafter referred to as switch S1 ON) to perform a camera shooting preparation operation, that is, a focusing operation and a photometric operation. The two-step push-in (hereinafter referred to as switch S2 ON) The exposure operation is performed.

  In FIG. 1B, a zoom button 93 is a button for zooming up and down. 95 is a menu button, 96 is a selection button, which is a four-way switch, and 97 is a set button. Reference numeral 100 denotes an image display unit which displays an image and other character information.

  The menu button 95 has a function of displaying various menus on the image display unit 100, selecting with the four-way switch of the selection button 96, and confirming with the set button 97. Reference numeral 98 denotes a main dial which can be rotated to select a still image shooting mode, a moving image shooting mode, a playback mode, a setup mode, a printer connection mode, and the like.

  Reference numeral 99 denotes a flash mode selection button, which can select a mode such as an auto mode in which flash emission is automatically performed and a light emission inhibition mode under low luminance.

  Although not shown, a tripod hole and a battery / card cover are arranged on the bottom surface. Inside the battery / card cover, a battery for supplying power to the camera and a card slot for recording captured images are provided. And a card-type recording memory for recording images can be inserted and removed. In addition, external input / output terminals, audio / video output terminals, and the like are arranged on the side.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of the electronic camera according to the present embodiment. In the present invention, a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) type image sensor, a CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor) type image sensor, or the like can be applied as an image pickup element. In this example, a CCD type image sensor is used as the image pickup element. This will be explained using

  In the figure, reference numeral 40 denotes a control unit (hereinafter also referred to as CPU) for controlling each circuit. The imaging lens 81 includes a lens unit 1, an aperture shutter unit 2, an optical filter 3 in which an infrared light cut filter and an optical low-pass filter are stacked, a first motor 4, a second motor 5, and an aperture shutter actuator 6.

  More specifically, the lens unit 1 is configured as a lens system having a plurality of lenses, and the position of the plurality of lenses on the optical axis is moved by driving the first motor 4 so that zooming is performed. It has become. Among these lenses, a lens used for focusing is driven by the second motor 5 to perform focus adjustment. Further, the aperture shutter unit is opened and closed by the aperture shutter actuator 6 to adjust the exposure amount. The first motor 4, the second motor 5, and the aperture shutter actuator 6 are respectively connected via a first motor drive circuit 7, a second motor drive circuit 8, and an aperture shutter drive circuit 9 controlled by control signals from the CPU 40. Driven.

  The timing generator 10 generates a drive control signal for the CCD 12 based on a clock sent from the timing control circuit 11. For example, a timing signal for starting and ending charge accumulation in the CCD 12 and a readout control signal for the charge accumulation amount of each pixel. A clock signal such as (horizontal synchronization signal, vertical synchronization signal, transfer signal) is generated and output to the CCD 12. The imaging circuit 13 photoelectrically converts subject light by the CCD 12 and, for example, in the case of a CCD using a primary color filter, it outputs image analog signals of each color component of R (red), G (green), and B (blue). Output to the processing unit 14.

  The signal processing unit 14 performs signal processing on the analog image signal output from the imaging circuit 13. The signal processing unit 14 performs noise reduction and gain adjustment of the image analog signal by correlated double sampling (CDS) and auto gain control (AGC), and outputs the result to the A / D conversion unit 15.

  The A / D converter 15 performs A / D conversion on the input image analog signal based on the A / D conversion clock from the timing control circuit 11 and converts it into a digital signal (hereinafter referred to as pixel data). Next, after storing the pixel data in the buffer memory 16, the pixel data is sent to the CPU 40. The CPU 40 corrects the black level of the pixel data, and then performs white balance (WB) adjustment, γ correction, and YcbCr conversion.

  The VRAM 17 is a buffer memory for images displayed on the image display unit 100, and has a storage capacity that is at least equal to or greater than the integrated value of the number of pixels of the image display unit 100 and the number of bits necessary for display. For the image display unit 100, for example, a display device such as an LCD or an organic EL is used. A D / A conversion unit that D / A converts pixel data is provided between the VRAM 17 and the image display unit 100 according to the display device used.

  Thereby, at the time of framing at the time of shooting, pixel data captured at a predetermined time interval is stored in the buffer memory 16 and transferred to the VRAM 17 and displayed on the image display unit 100 to check the subject image. It can be used as a viewfinder (referred to as a through image display or a preview image display).

  The photographed image recorded on the removable image recording memory card 50 is transferred to the compression / decompression circuit 49, and is transferred to the VRAM 17 after predetermined signal processing by the CPU 40, and displayed on the image display unit 100. It can be played back.

  The interface 32 exchanges signals with an external personal computer or printer, and communicates with an external personal computer or printer via an external input / output terminal (for example, a USB terminal) 88.

  The flash control circuit 21 is a circuit that controls the light emission of the flash light emitting unit 84. The flash control circuit 21 is controlled by the CPU 40 to control the presence / absence of flash light emission, the light emission timing, the charging of the light emission capacitor, etc., and the light emission input from the light receiving circuit 24 connected to the flash reflected light receiving sensor 23. The light emission is stopped based on the stop signal.

  The clock circuit 25 manages the date and time when the image was taken. The clock circuit 25 may operate by receiving power supply from a power supply circuit 27 that supplies power to each unit, but it is desirable to operate with a separate power source (not shown). .

  The power supply circuit 27 supplies power to the CPU 40 and each unit. The power supply circuit 27 is supplied with power from the A / C adapter 29 via the battery 26 or the DC input terminal 28.

  The operation switch group (hereinafter also referred to as operation SW group) 30 is a switch group that is turned on / off by various operation buttons such as a main switch, a main dial, a release button, a zoom button, a flash mode selection button, a menu button, and a set button. is there. The ON / OF signal of the operation SW group 30 is sent to the CPU 40, and the CPU 40 controls the operation of each unit according to the operation SW that is turned on.

  The EEPROM 31 is a non-volatile memory, and is used for storing different characteristic values for each camera. The individually different characteristic values are, for example, information on the infinite position of the focusing lens at each focal length of the imaging lens 81, and are written in the manufacturing process. The CPU 40 reads out the characteristic values that are different for each camera from the EEPROM 31 as necessary, and uses them for controlling each part.

  The CPU 40 performs not only data exchange and timing control of each unit, but also various other functions based on software stored in the ROM 20. For example, the subject brightness is acquired based on the pixel data obtained from the buffer memory 16, the exposure sensitivity of the image sensor is set, the aperture value at the time of shooting and the exposure condition of the shutter speed are determined (AE preparation operation), and the focusing lens is set. The image data is moved in small increments, image data is generated from the pixel data obtained by each, evaluation is performed based on the image data, and the optimum focusing lens position is determined (AF operation) control.

  The above is the internal block configuration of the electronic still camera according to the present embodiment.

  Hereinafter, an outline of an operation at the time of photographing by the electronic camera according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  3 and 4 are flowcharts showing an outline of the operation at the time of photographing by the electronic camera according to the present embodiment. The flow shown in both figures is for the shooting mode, and in the following description, the main dial is assumed to be set to the shooting mode. The following operations are controlled by the above-described CPU unless otherwise specified. Further, in this flow, the exposure sensitivity change width in the first mode is assumed to be ISO 50 to 800, and the exposure sensitivity change width in the second mode that is narrower than the first mode is assumed to be ISO 50 to 200. In this example, ISO 50 is the lowest sensitivity that can be set, and ISO 800 is the highest sensitivity that can be set.

  As shown in FIG. 3, it waits for the main switch to be turned on (step S101). When the main switch is turned on (step S101; Yes), each unit is activated (step S102).

  Next, a mode related to photographing is set to an initial value (step S103). More specifically, the flash mode is set to an auto mode in which flash emission is automatically performed under low luminance, and the exposure sensitivity change width is set to ISO 50 to 800 which is the first mode.

  Next, the image sensor is driven (step S104), and a preview image is displayed on the display device (step S105).

  Further, it is determined whether the flash mode has been changed to the light emission inhibition mode (step S106). If it is determined that the flash mode has been changed (step S106; Yes), the flash mode is set to the light emission inhibition mode (step S107). If it is determined that it has not been changed (step S106; No), the process jumps to step S108.

  In step S108, it is determined whether the exposure sensitivity change width has been changed. If it is determined that the exposure sensitivity change width has been changed (step S108; Yes), the exposure sensitivity change width is set to ISO 50 to 200 which is the second mode (step S109). If it is determined that it has not been changed (step S108; No), the process jumps to step S110.

  The exposure sensitivity change width is changed by, for example, displaying a menu on the display device 100 with the menu button 95 shown in FIG. 1, selecting the sensitivity change width with the upper and lower switches of the selection button 96, and setting with the set button 97. Can be done.

  In step S110, it is determined whether the main switch is turned on again (step S110). If it is turned on (step S110; Yes), it is determined whether S1 that is half-press of the release button is turned on (step S111). When S1 is not turned on (step S111; No), the operations of S104 to S111 are repeated to wait for S1 to be turned on.

  When S1 is turned on (step S111; Yes), an AE preparation operation and an AF operation are performed (step S112). The subject brightness is stored as the Bv value by the AE preparation operation. Thereafter, it is determined again whether S1 is turned on (step S113). If S1 is not turned on (step S113; No), the process returns to step S110, and if S1 is turned on (step S113; Yes), It waits for S2 which is a full press of the release button to be turned on (step S114). When S2 is turned on (step S114; Yes), the process proceeds to step S115 shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 4, when S2 is turned on (step S114; Yes), it is determined whether or not the flash mode is the light emission inhibition mode (step S115). When the light emission inhibition mode is set (step S115; Yes), it is determined whether the exposure sensitivity change width is set to ISO 50 to 800 which is the first mode (step S116). If it is set to ISO 50 to 800 which is the first mode (step S116; Yes), the process proceeds to step S117, and photographing is performed using the exposure sensitivity change width ISO 50 to 800 in steady light photographing without using a flash. Do. When the exposure sensitivity change width is set to ISO 50 to 200, which is the second mode (step S116; No), the process proceeds to step S118, and the exposure sensitivity change width ISO50 to 200 is obtained in steady light photography without using a flash. Take a picture using.

  On the other hand, if the light emission inhibition mode is not set (step S115; No), it is determined whether the exposure sensitivity change width is set to ISO 50 to 800 which is the first mode (step S119). When it is set to ISO 50 to 800 which is the first mode (step S119; Yes), the process proceeds to step S120, and photographing is performed using the exposure sensitivity change width ISO 50 to 800 at the time of flash photographing. When the exposure sensitivity change width is set to ISO 50 to 200 which is the second mode (step S119; No), the process proceeds to step S121, and shooting is performed using the exposure sensitivity change width ISO 50 to 200 at the time of flash shooting. .

  When shooting is completed, the shot image data is recorded in the memory card 50 (see FIG. 2) (step S122), the process returns to step S104 shown in FIG. 3, and the above-described operation is repeated.

  If the main switch is turned off in step S110 shown in FIG. 3, that is, if it is not ON (step S110; No), the process proceeds to step S130 to perform the end operation, and the process returns to step S101, where the main switch is turned on. It is in a state of waiting for being turned on.

  The above is a flowchart showing an outline of the operation at the time of shooting.

  Hereinafter, control at the time of photographing exposure in each of steps S117, S118, S120, and S121 shown in FIG. 4 will be described.

  In the following description, the aperture and shutter speed are determined so as to satisfy the relationship of proper exposure Ev = Bv + Sv = Av + Tv.

  FIG. 5 shows an example of a combination of exposure sensitivity, aperture value, and shutter speed set with respect to the subject brightness when shooting is performed with steady light shooting without using a flash. This figure is applied at the time of photographing in step S117 and step S118 shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 5, when the flash emission prohibition mode is selected and photographing is performed with steady light photographing, the luminance detected by the subject luminance detecting means, that is, the Bv value that is the subject luminance stored in the AE preparation operation in step S112. Between 10 and 5 on the high luminance side, the exposure sensitivity is set to 50 and the same regardless of the first mode (sensitivity change width ISO50 to 800) and the second mode (sensitivity change width ISO50 to 200). As shown in the figure, appropriate exposure is obtained by changing either the aperture value or the shutter speed. In addition, although the BV value is shown in increments of 1, the brightness during this period is exposed with the shutter speed as a value between them.

  When the Bv value is darker than 5, in the first mode, the aperture value (F2.8 in the figure) and the shutter speed (1/64 seconds in the figure) are fixed, and the exposure sensitivity is changed from ISO50. By changing sequentially up to ISO 800 on the high sensitivity side corresponding to the Bv value, it is possible to obtain appropriate exposure up to Bv1.

  On the other hand, in the second mode, when the Bv value is darker than 5, the aperture value (F2.8) and the shutter speed (1/64 seconds) are fixed, and the exposure sensitivity is changed from ISO50 to ISO200 until Bv3. Therefore, when the Bv value is darker than 3, exposure is performed without changing the aperture value (F2.8), shutter speed (1/64 seconds), and exposure sensitivity (ISO200). . That is, in the second mode, when the Bv value is less than 3, an underish image is obtained.

  FIG. 6 is another example of a combination of exposure sensitivity, aperture value, and shutter speed set for the subject brightness in the second mode when shooting with steady light shooting. In the first mode, the same control as in FIG. 5 is performed.

  In the second mode shown in this example, when the Bv value is between 10 and 5 on the high luminance side, the exposure sensitivity is similarly set to 50, and either the aperture value or the shutter speed is set as shown in FIG. By changing, it is possible to obtain an appropriate exposure.

  When the Bv value is darker than 5, the aperture value (F2.8) and the shutter speed (1/64 seconds) are fixed, and the exposure sensitivity is changed from ISO50 to ISO200 until Bv3. The Bv value is darker than 3. In this case, the aperture value (F2.8) and the exposure sensitivity (ISO200) are not changed, and the shutter speed is gradually changed to 1/16 second so that proper exposure is performed. By doing so, even in the second mode, it is possible to provide appropriate exposure up to a Bv value of 1.

  FIG. 7 shows an example of a combination of exposure sensitivity, aperture value, and shutter speed set for the subject brightness when the flash mode is the auto mode. This figure corresponds to the photographing in step S120 and step S121 shown in FIG.

  In the figure, when the Bv value is between 10 and 5 on the high luminance side, the exposure sensitivity is set regardless of the first mode (sensitivity change width ISO50 to 800) and the second mode (sensitivity change width ISO50 to 200). By setting either 50 or 50 and changing either the aperture value or the shutter speed as shown in the figure, an appropriate exposure can be obtained, and the flash is not used.

  On the other hand, if the Bv value is darker than 5, the flash is preliminarily irradiated and it is determined whether or not appropriate exposure can be obtained by the output of the reflected light receiving sensor (see FIG. 2). That is, when it is determined that the exposure sensitivity is ISO50 and the subject is positioned within the flash reach range and proper exposure is obtained, the aperture value (same as the first mode and the second mode). In the figure, F2.8) and the shutter speed (in the figure, 1/64 second) are fixed, the exposure sensitivity is ISO50, and the flash emission is controlled to perform flash photography (indicated by A in the figure).

  When the exposure sensitivity is ISO 50, when it is determined that the subject is located outside the flash reach range and proper exposure with flash light cannot be obtained, the following control is performed.

  In the first mode, the required exposure sensitivity is calculated within the range of ISO 100 to 800 based on the output of the reflected light receiving sensor (see FIG. 2), and the flash exposure is changed to the calculated exposure sensitivity (same as above). Indicated in the figure as B).

  In the second mode, the required exposure sensitivity is calculated in the range of ISO 100 to 200 based on the output of the reflected light receiving sensor (see FIG. 2), and when proper flash photography is possible with ISO 100 to 200, the exposure sensitivity Change the to make flash photography. When the exposure sensitivity is required to be ISO 200 or higher, underexposure is exposed, but flash exposure is performed with the exposure sensitivity fixed to ISO 200.

  The above is the details of the control at the time of photographing exposure in each of step S117, step S118, step S120, and step S121 shown in FIG.

  In the above description, the exposure sensitivity is changed, for example, in the block diagram shown in FIG. 2, the image analog signal obtained at the time of photographing exposure is output to the signal processing unit 14, and the signal processing unit 14 changes the AGC amplification factor. This is done.

  Although the method for determining whether or not the subject is within the flash range is described based on the method of determining the output of the reflected light receiving sensor at the time of preliminary irradiation, the subject distance is directly determined by providing an external distance measuring unit. Alternatively, it may be determined based on the subject distance detected by the subject distance detecting means such as detecting the position of the focusing lens group in the photographing lens and indirectly detecting the subject distance.

  In addition, the exposure sensitivity at the time of flash photography has been described in increments of one step, but in the case of these intermediate sensitivities, the amount of flash emission is controlled using an IGBT or the like so that appropriate exposure is performed. .

  Further, the above embodiment is an example, and the present invention is not limited to the above numerical value.

  As described above, when shooting with steady light, when the subject brightness is darker than the predetermined value, the exposure time and the aperture are fixed to the predetermined value, and the exposure sensitivity is changed to perform the shooting. The change has a first mode with a predetermined change width and a second mode with a change width narrower than the first mode, so that the first mode and the second mode can be selected. Thus, it is possible to obtain an electronic camera that can take an image that prioritizes recording rather than image quality and an image that prioritizes image quality rather than recording as desired by the photographer.

  Further, in the flash photography, when it is determined that the desired exposure cannot be obtained even when the flash is used, the exposure sensitivity is changed. And a second mode having a narrower change width than the first mode, and by enabling selection of the first mode and the second mode, an image giving priority to recording rather than image quality In addition, it is possible to obtain an electronic camera that can take an image that prioritizes image quality rather than recording according to a photographer's request.

It is an external view which shows an example of the electronic camera which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic block diagram which shows an example of the internal structure of the electronic camera which concerns on this Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement outline at the time of imaging | photography of the electronic camera which concerns on this Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement outline at the time of imaging | photography of the electronic camera which concerns on this Embodiment. 7 shows an example of a combination of exposure sensitivity, aperture value, and shutter speed set for subject brightness when shooting with steady light shooting without using a flash. This is another example of a combination of exposure sensitivity, aperture value, and shutter speed set for the subject brightness in the second mode when shooting with steady-light shooting. 7 shows an example of a combination of exposure sensitivity, aperture value, and shutter speed set for subject brightness when the flash mode is auto mode.

Explanation of symbols

81 Shooting lens 82 Main switch 83 Release button 84 Flash light emitting part 86 Sensor window for receiving flash reflected light 93 Zoom button 95 Menu button 96 Selection button 97 Set button 98 Main dial 99 Flash mode selection button 100 Image display part

Claims (7)

An imaging unit that obtains image data by performing predetermined processing on a signal output from an imaging element that photoelectrically converts an image of a subject led to the photographing lens, a luminance detection unit that detects subject luminance, and an exposure of the imaging unit Based on the exposure sensitivity setting means for setting the sensitivity, the subject brightness detected by the brightness detection means, and the exposure sensitivity set by the exposure sensitivity setting means, at least one of the exposure time and the aperture so as to obtain a desired exposure. In an electronic camera having an exposure control means for performing exposure by changing
The exposure control unit is configured to fix the exposure time and the aperture to predetermined values and change the exposure sensitivity by the exposure sensitivity setting unit when the luminance detection result by the luminance detection unit is darker than a predetermined subject luminance. ,
The change of the exposure sensitivity includes a first mode in which the exposure sensitivity has a predetermined change width, and a second mode in which the exposure width is narrower than the first mode, and the first mode and the second mode. An electronic camera characterized in that the mode can be selected. The change width of the first mode is from the lowest sensitivity that can be set by the exposure sensitivity setting means to the highest sensitivity, and the change width of the second mode is from the lowest sensitivity to an intermediate sensitivity lower than the highest sensitivity. The electronic camera according to claim 1. 2. The exposure according to claim 1, wherein in the second mode, when the brightness is low enough to obtain a desired exposure, the exposure sensitivity is set to the intermediate sensitivity, and the exposure time is changed to perform exposure. 2. The electronic camera according to 2. An imaging unit that obtains image data by performing predetermined processing on a signal output from an imaging element that photoelectrically converts an image of a subject led to the photographing lens, a luminance detection unit that detects subject luminance, and an exposure of the imaging unit Based on the exposure sensitivity setting means for setting the sensitivity, the subject brightness detected by the brightness detection means, and the exposure sensitivity set by the exposure sensitivity setting means, at least one of the exposure time and the aperture so as to obtain a desired exposure. In an electronic camera having an exposure control means for changing the exposure and an electric flash for irradiating auxiliary light,
The exposure control unit is configured to perform exposure using the electric flash while fixing an exposure time and an aperture to predetermined values when a luminance detection result by the luminance detection unit is darker than a predetermined subject luminance. ,
When it is determined that the desired exposure cannot be obtained even using the electric flash, the exposure sensitivity is changed by the exposure sensitivity setting means.
The change of the exposure sensitivity includes a first mode in which the exposure sensitivity has a predetermined change width, and a second mode in which the exposure width is narrower than the first mode, and the first mode and the second mode. An electronic camera characterized in that the mode can be selected. Whether or not a desired exposure can be obtained using the electric flash is determined based on a result of measurement of the amount of reflected light at the time of preliminary irradiation of the electric flash or a subject distance detected by a subject distance detecting unit. The electronic camera according to claim 4. The change width of the first mode is from the lowest sensitivity that can be set by the exposure sensitivity setting means to the highest sensitivity, and the change width of the second mode is from the lowest sensitivity to an intermediate sensitivity lower than the highest sensitivity. The electronic camera according to claim 4 or 5, wherein The electronic camera according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein, in the second mode, exposure is performed by setting an exposure sensitivity to the intermediate sensitivity and changing an exposure time.

Images