JP2006174023A - Photographing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent cost from raising by arbitrarily setting and selecting a view angle frame by a photographing device easily decideing the composition of a screen and an operation switch provided in the device. <P>SOLUTION: The photographing device has s zoom lens, a screen frame for displaying a plurality of view angles. and a view angle selection mode, and the zoom lens is moved to a WIDE end when the mode is set. The plurality of view angle frames are displayed at a WIDE end view angle and a desired view angle is selected, thereby facilitating the determination of screen compositiopn. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a digital camera, and in particular, to provide a digital camera that can display a plurality of angle-of-view symbols of a zoom lens in a preview image before shooting.

  In recent years, digital cameras have become high-pixel and are in widespread use. A digital camera is configured to photoelectrically convert imaging light with a CMOS or CCD, obtain image data, record it on a recording medium, and output it to an external image processing apparatus such as a personal computer. Print image data creation processing is performed, and the created print image data is output to a printer to print a photographed image on paper. In recent years, devices that can directly connect a digital camera and a printer to print a photographed image have been released.

  Many digital cameras include a liquid crystal display that displays a preview image and a reproduced image from image data recorded on a recording medium. The resolution of the image varies depending on the manufacturer, but the high resolution is 640 × 480 in the popular type. Many pixels have a standard resolution of about 320 × 240 pixels.

  In addition, liquid crystal displays are usually installed on the back of digital cameras or on the back side of double doors because of the demand to ensure the largest possible screen on a restricted-size digital camera. ing.

As a conventional example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-48949, a zoom range operation unit for generating a zoom signal for setting a zoom range is provided on the video monitor, and the zoom range is set. There is a method related to a control method of an image pickup apparatus that can easily perform zooming in a range.
JP 05-48949 A

  As described above, many digital cameras include a liquid crystal display, and are configured to display a preview image before photographing and a reproduced image from image data recorded on a recording medium.

  A conventional optical camera with a zoom function zooms up by changing the focal length of the lens.

  However, in the conventional optical camera with a zoom function, only an image corresponding to the focal length of the lens is displayed on the liquid crystal display as a preview image before photographing.

  Further, in the conventional example, the zoom interlocking range is unknown on the video monitor screen, and there is no description as to which position in the zoom position the displayed image is. For this reason, there is a problem that it is difficult to determine the configuration of the screen because it is impossible to compare the size of the image between the WIDE end and the TELE end. In particular, when a high-magnification zoom lens is used, it is difficult to determine the screen configuration because the difference between the WIDE end and the TELE end is large.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems of the prior art, and a first object of the invention is to propose an imaging device that makes it easy to determine the screen configuration. . The second object of the present invention is to avoid an increase in cost by making it possible to arbitrarily set and select an angle of view frame by using an operation switch provided in the photographing apparatus.

  In order to achieve the first and second objects, the photographing apparatus according to claim 1 includes display means such as a liquid crystal display for outputting an image, and a detachable or integral zoom lens with the photographing apparatus. An angle of view frame for displaying a plurality of angles of view on the display means; a selection means for selecting an angle of view frame; and a photographing apparatus for moving a lens focal length to the selected angle of view frame. A plurality of angle-of-view symbols are displayed, and a shooting mode is provided in which the lens focal length is moved in association with the selected angle-of-view frame.

  In order to achieve the first and second objects, the photographing apparatus according to claim 2 sets the zoom lens to the WIDE end when the photographing mode is set in the photographing mode according to claim 1. It is characterized by things.

  In order to achieve the first and second objects, the photographing apparatus according to claim 3 is characterized in that the angle of view frame can be set to an arbitrary angle of view.

  As described above, according to the photographing apparatus of the present invention, the zoom lens, the field angle frame for displaying a plurality of field angles, and the field angle selection mode are provided, and the zoom lens is moved to the WIDE end when the mode is set. It is characterized by this. Accordingly, each zoom angle of view becomes clear with respect to the angle of view at the WIDE end, and there is an effect that the configuration of the screen can be easily determined.

  Further, by making it possible to set the angle of view frame to an arbitrary angle of view, there is also an effect that a desired angle of view can be easily determined.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a liquid crystal display screen according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  Reference numeral 101 denotes an angle of view at the WIDE end, reference numerals 102 and 103 denote frame lines having the same aspect ratio as the WIDE end angle of view, and reference numeral 104 denotes a TELE end angle of view display frame. 102 and 103 can be set between the 101 WIDE end angle and the 104TELE end angle.

  FIG. 2 is a rear view showing the configuration of a single-lens reflex digital camera.

  Reference numeral 201 denotes an eyepiece window for finder observation. Reference numeral 202 denotes an AE (automatic exposure) lock button, and 203 denotes an AF (autofocus) distance measuring point selection button. 204 is an external display panel for confirming the setting state of the camera, and 205 is an LCD (liquid crystal display) monitor device for confirming and selecting a photographed image and selecting / setting a menu function.

  206 is a menu button for performing various settings such as a recording pixel / compression ratio, date time, and custom function, 207 is an INFO button for displaying the contents currently set in the camera, and 208 is a captured image. JUMP button for jumping and displaying the image, 209 is a playback button for confirming the photographed image, 210 is an erase button for erasing the photographed image, and 211 is an item selected by the menu function. A SET button 212 for setting, a moving button for selecting an item when performing various settings such as recording image quality and date / time, and 213 for an LCD (liquid crystal display) for displaying a photographed image An illumination button 214 for performing backlight illumination is an exposure correction setting button for setting exposure correction.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an electric circuit configuration of the single-lens reflex digital camera according to the present embodiment. In the figure, reference numeral 301 denotes a microcomputer for controlling the operation of the entire digital camera. This microcomputer has a 302 image display control circuit and a 303 image processing circuit incorporated therein. Reference numeral 304 denotes a lens control circuit. Since the present embodiment is a single-lens reflex digital camera, the lens control circuit takes charge of driving of a photographing lens (not shown) and driving of a diaphragm blade. An external display control circuit 305 controls the external display device 306 and the display device in the viewfinder. Reference numeral 307 denotes a switch sense circuit which serves to transmit signals from a number of switches provided in the digital camera to the 301 microcomputer. A strobe light emission dimming control circuit 308 is grounded via a 309X contact and controls an external strobe. A ranging circuit 310 has a function of detecting a defocus amount with respect to a subject for AF (autofocus). A photometric circuit 311 has a function of measuring the luminance of the subject. Reference numeral 312 denotes a shutter control circuit that performs appropriate exposure on the 314 CCD. Reference numeral 313 denotes an LCD monitor device, 306 an external display device, 314 a CCD, 315 a backlight illumination device, and 316 a hard disk device. Reference numeral 317SW1 denotes a switch for starting photographing preparation operations such as photometry and distance measurement, and reference numeral 318SW2 denotes a switch for starting photographing operations. When the release button of the camera is pushed down to the first stage, 317SW1 is turned on, and when the camera is pushed down to the second stage, 318SW2 is turned on.

  Next, the operation of the digital camera according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a flow of operation of the digital camera according to the present embodiment. First, in step 401, it is determined whether or not the main switch is turned on. When the main switch is turned on, it is determined in next step 402 whether or not the view angle selection mode has been selected. Step 402 to step 407 are features of the present invention. When the 402 angle-of-view selection mode is selected, the zoom of the photographing lens is moved to the WIDE end in step 404. By moving the zoom lens to the WIDE end, the WIDE end angle of view can be compared with the display frame described below.

  In step 405, the preset 103 field angle display frame 1, 102 field angle display frame 2, and TELE end field angle display frame are displayed on a 205 LCD (liquid crystal display) monitor. Here, the number of display frames is three for convenience, but the number of display frames is not limited. The angle of view frame may be set in advance depending on the type of the detachable photographic lens.

  In step 406, the angle of view desired by the photographer is selected from the plurality of displayed display frames. In step 407, the photographing lens is zoomed to the angle of view selected in step 406.

  If the angle-of-view selection mode is not selected in step 402, processing corresponding to each operation SW is performed by the microcomputer in step 403, and the process proceeds to step 408.

  In step 408, it is determined whether or not SW1 is turned on. SW1 is a state where the release button 104 is half-pressed. When the SW1 is turned on, the digital camera is ready for photographing. If SW1 is off (OFF), the system waits for SW1 to turn on. If SW1 is turned on, the digital camera performs photometry (AE) operation and distance measurement (AF) operation in the next step 409, and the taking lens. Is driven for focusing.

  Next, in step 409, it is determined whether or not SW2 is turned on. This SW2 is a state where the release button is pressed to the end, and when this SW2 is turned on, the digital camera starts a photographing operation. If SW2 is off (OFF), the process returns to step 409. If SW2 is on, the quick return mirror is raised in the next step 411, and the photographing operation is started. Next, in step 412, accumulation of the CCD 314 is started, and in the next step 413 and step 414, shutter exposure is performed, that is, in step 413, the front curtain is run, and in step 414, the rear curtain is run.

  Next, in step 415, the accumulation of the CCD 314 is completed, in the next step 416, image signals are read from the hard disk device 316, in the next step 417, reading of all image signals is completed, and in step 418, the quick return mirror is turned on. The series of shooting operations ends, and the state before shooting is restored.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the angle of view frame can be arbitrarily set, and a setting method will be described below with reference to FIG. First, when the view angle selection mode is set, the zoom lens moves to the WIDE end. Next, the field angle display frame is set to a 501TELE field angle or a 502WIDE edge field angle.

  In this state, by operating the 212 movement button, the view angle frame moves within the 5.3 view angle setting range. By pressing the 211 SET button after setting the desired angle of view, the zoom lens optically moves to a position where the set angle of view is reached. After moving the zoom lens, the normal shooting mode is set.

  In this embodiment, the view angle display frame is set by the 212 movement button and executed by the 211 SET button. However, an operation switch of the camera body or an accessory switch may be assigned.

  In addition, the notation for displaying the angle of view is the angle-of-view frame, but the notation method is not limited to this, and the effect of the invention is not affected as long as it indicates the zoom range.

It is a figure which shows the display at the time of the view angle setting mode selection which concerns on this invention. It is a rear view which shows the structure of a digital camera. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the electric circuit of a digital camera. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of operation | movement of a digital camera. It is a figure showing the field angle selectable range.

Explanation of symbols

101 WIDE edge angle of view 102 Angle of view display frame 1
103 Angle of view display frame 2
104 TELE end angle of view display frame 501 TELE end angle of view frame 502 WIDE end angle of view 503 Range of view angle setting

Claims (3)

  A display means such as a liquid crystal display for outputting an image, and a zoom lens that is detachable or integrated with the photographing apparatus, and that selects a view angle frame for displaying a plurality of view angles on the display means, and a view angle frame. In the photographing device for moving the lens focal length to the selected field angle frame, the selection means displays a plurality of the field angle symbols in the photographing preview image, and moves the lens focal length in association with the selected field angle frame. An imaging apparatus having an imaging mode.   2. A photographing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the photographing mode according to claim 1 is set, the zoom lens is set to the wide angle side.   2. The photographing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the field angle frame can be set to an arbitrary field angle.

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