JP2006174037A - Imaging apparatus and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an imaging apparatus for easily focusing on and photographing an imaging object even in the case that the composition of imaging is changed and a distance from the imaging object is changed. <P>SOLUTION: The imaging apparatus 1 recognizes a part similar to the imaging object from the focus image data (first image data) of the imaging object stored prior to imaging in a memory 17 for a focus image and image data (second image data) which are the image of an imaging range acquired from an imaging part 11 at the time of focusing before imaging, and performs control so as to focus on the recognized image part. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus and a program.

Conventionally, a digital camera or a film camera (hereinafter referred to as an “imaging device”) having an automatic focus adjustment mechanism has a shutter key that can be pressed with a two-stage stroke, and is in a first-stage pressed state “half”. AE (automatic exposure) processing, AF (autofocus) processing, etc. are performed on the object to be photographed by detecting “push”, and photographing is performed by detecting “full press”, which is the second-stage pressing state in which the pressing operation is stronger. There is something to do.
In the above-described imaging device, when the half-pressed state is held, the AE process and the AF process for the photographing target at the time when the half-pressed state is first detected are held, so that the user holds the half-pressed state. With, you can check the composition of the subject to be photographed from the viewfinder.

For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which a user does not release the focus according to the shooting target even if the user releases the half-pressed state after focusing on the shooting target by half-pressing the shutter button. According to this configuration, when pressing the shutter button again to perform shooting, focusing is not necessary, and shooting can be performed quickly, and it is not necessary to hold the half-pressed state. Can concentrate on composition (framing).
JP 2000-115617 A

  However, the configuration according to Patent Document 1 is effective for framing when the distance to the imaging target is the same, but it is necessary to perform focusing again when the distance to the imaging target changes. For this reason, there are many cases where it is desired to shoot the same object to be photographed from different locations. However, the conventional imaging apparatus is inconvenient because it requires a focusing operation each time.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an imaging apparatus that easily captures an image by focusing on the imaging target even when the distance to the imaging target is changed by changing the imaging composition.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention described in claim 1 is a first image acquisition unit that captures first image data indicating an object focused before the start of imaging in an imaging apparatus having a focus adjustment unit. Storage means for storing the first image data, second image acquisition means for capturing the second image data prior to the start of photographing, second image data acquired by the second image acquisition means, and the storage means Recognizing means for recognizing whether or not the first image exists in the second image based on the first image data stored in the first image data, and as a result of recognition in the recognizing means, And a control unit that controls the focus adjustment unit so that the first image is focused when one image is present.
Furthermore, a program for realizing the main functions shown in the invention described in claim 1 is provided to the computer of the imaging apparatus having the focus adjusting means (the invention described in claim 5).

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the determination as to whether or not the operation of acquiring the first image data by the first image acquisition unit has been continuously performed within a predetermined time. Means for capturing the first image data again prior to the start of photographing when it is determined by the determination means that the operation of acquiring the first image data is continuously performed within a predetermined time. And

  The storage means further includes a selection means for storing a plurality of the first image data, and selecting predetermined first image data from the plurality of stored first image data, and the recognition means includes the second image data. And whether the first image is present in the second image based on the selected first image data.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to third aspects, the image processing apparatus further includes a display unit that displays a first image based on the first image data, and the recognition unit includes the display unit. Whether or not the first image exists in the second image is recognized based on the first image data and the second image data displayed on the means.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, image data of a focused object that is an imaging target is held prior to shooting, and the imaging target is recognized from the image data obtained prior to the start of shooting and focused. Thus, even when the imaging composition is changed and the distance to the imaging target is changed, it is possible to easily focus on the imaging target and take a picture. For this reason, the user need not bother to consider the distance to the imaging target when imaging the imaging target by changing the composition or position, and can more easily capture the image.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, since it is configured to determine whether or not to update the image data of the imaging target again in response to an operation for acquiring the image data of the latest imaging target, The image data to be imaged can be updated by a simple operation such as continuously pressing halfway.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, since a plurality of image data of the imaging target is stored and the imaging target to be focused is selected, it is possible to save the trouble of re-acquiring the image of the imaging target once captured by the user. In addition, it is possible to focus on an imaging target desired by the user with a simple selection operation.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the image capturing target image data is displayed, the user can capture the image while confirming the image to be captured.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of an imaging apparatus 1 according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited to this embodiment. The embodiment of the present invention shows the most preferable mode of the present invention, and the terminology of the present invention is not limited to this.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating basic components of the imaging apparatus 1. The imaging device 1 includes a control unit 10, an imaging unit 11, a display unit 12, a finder unit 13, an input unit 14, a memory card I / F 15, an image processing memory 16, a focus image memory 17, a storage unit 18, and a timing unit 19. , And an external I / F 20, and each part is electrically connected to each other by a bus 21.

  The control unit 10 serving as a control means includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), an internal RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and the like (not shown), and the CPU uses a predetermined area of the internal RAM as a work area. In accordance with various control programs or various data stored in the ROM, a control signal is sent to each of the above-described units to perform overall control of the entire operation of the imaging apparatus 1. Note that the storage area of the above-described work area and various programs may be the storage unit 18 described later.

  Specifically, the control unit 10 includes a photographing lens system, a lens / mirror block such as a mirror, an image sensor such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device), a driving system thereof, a distance measuring sensor, a light quantity sensor, an analog processing circuit, a signal processing. The optical zoom of the image pickup unit 11 including a circuit is adjusted and controlled, and auto-focus drive control, shutter drive control, exposure, white balance, and the like are controlled. This photographing lens system includes a zoom lens system, and the angle of view is adjusted by changing the position of the moving lens in the zoom lens system according to the zoom-in / zoom-out operation. At that time, the control unit 10 monitors the current zoom magnification according to the position of the moving lens.

  In addition, the control unit 10 sends the image data captured by the imaging unit 11 and subjected to signal processing to the image processing memory 16 and temporarily stores the image data. Then, the image data in the image processing memory 16 is sent to the display unit 12 or the finder unit 13 for display according to an instruction from the control unit 10. In this case, the image data in the image processing memory 16 is sent to the memory card I / F 15 after being compression-encoded in response to an operation of a shutter button (not shown) provided in the input unit 14, and particularly shown in the drawing. Recorded and saved in file format on a memory card that does not. The image data in the image processing memory 16 may be stored in a data area in the storage unit 18 to be described later.

  The display unit 12 includes, for example, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) and is used as an image playback screen, an input operation screen, and a message screen. The resolution of the display unit 12 is substantially the same as the resolution of the image sensor in the imaging unit 11. It is a high-definition display.

  The finder unit 13 serving as a display means displays an objective lens to which light from the photographing direction is incident, a frame, a field frame, an image acquired as a focusing target, or various data according to an instruction input from the control unit 10. A finder LCD to be performed, an eyepiece that guides an incident light beam to a user's eye, and a prism that guides light from an objective lens and light from the finder LCD and guides the light to the eyepiece. By confirming the image from the finder unit 13, the user can easily know information related to shooting such as the imaging range (composition), the image to be focused, the aperture, or the shutter speed. Note that the display unit 12 may be configured to display a captured image by adding a field frame and various data to realize the functions related to the finder unit 13.

  The input unit 14 serving as a selection unit inputs various data and commands. In addition to a power button, a shutter button that can be pressed with a two-stage stroke of “half-press” or “full-press”, and a normal shooting mode Further, a mode switching button for switching the image focus mode and the like, a selection button for selecting and setting the focus image, and the like are provided.

  The memory card I / F 15 is an interface to which a memory card (not shown) is detachably mounted, and transfers image data and the like to the memory card. The memory card is a detachable and non-volatile recording medium, and includes, for example, a smart media, an IC card, and the like.

  The image processing memory 16, the focus image memory 17 as a storage means, and the storage unit 18 are configured by an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable and Programmable ROM), a flash memory, or the like, which is an electrically erasable and rewritable nonvolatile memory. The The image processing memory 16 and the focus image memory 17 are memories for temporarily storing image data for performing image processing and focus image data, and may be constituted by a volatile memory. The storage unit 18 includes a program storage area, a data storage area, and a work area. In this program storage area, a program for realizing an operation related to the present embodiment in accordance with an operation procedure shown in a flowchart to be described later is stored.

  The timer unit 19 as a time measuring unit includes a crystal oscillation circuit that outputs a clock signal by crystal oscillation at a constant frequency at all times, and a timer circuit that counts the clock signal and counts the current time (none of which is shown). The time data measured in the case of measuring time is output to the control unit 10. By storing this time data in the focus image memory 17 and referring to it when necessary, the control unit 10 can measure the time from a predetermined operation.

  The external I / F 20 is connected to a data processing device (such as a personal computer) as an external device, and controls transmission / reception of image data or various data performed based on a predetermined communication protocol by wired or wireless communication.

  Here, the details of the imaging unit 11 are shown in FIG. The imaging unit 11 includes a sensor unit 111, an optical system driving unit 112, a driving circuit 113, an imaging device 114, an analog processing circuit 115, an A / D circuit 116, a buffer 117, a signal processing circuit 118, a compression / decompression circuit 119, a lens 120, And a shutter 121, which is focused on a predetermined focal length according to an instruction from the control unit 10, converts the captured image data into a predetermined format, and outputs the image data to the image processing memory 16.

  The sensor unit 111 includes a distance measuring circuit using an infrared light projecting unit and a light receiving unit (not shown) and an exposure circuit using a photoconductor such as CdS, and controls the distance value and exposure value of an imaging target in the imaging direction. 10 is output.

  The optical system driving unit 112 is a circuit that drives a lens 120 and a shutter 121, which will be described later, by a stepping motor or the like, and an imaging element according to an instruction from the imaging unit 11 in accordance with a distance value or an exposure value obtained by the sensor unit 111 described above. The lens 120 is moved so that the image formed at 114 is focused on the object to be imaged, and the exposure is controlled by the shutter 121 so that the amount of light incident on the image sensor 114 is appropriate.

  The drive circuit 113 sequentially takes out the charge corresponding to each pixel photoelectrically converted by the image sensor 114 as an image signal, and gives it to the analog processing circuit 115. Specifically, the image sensor 114 is configured by an optical sensor such as a CCD or a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor), and outputs an image formed on the image sensor as an image signal corresponding to each pixel.

  The analog processing circuit 115 includes a CDS (Correlated Double Sampling) circuit that reduces noise of an image signal output from the image sensor 114, an AGC (Automatic Gain Control) circuit that amplifies the signal, The color separation circuit that separates the color difference components of R, G, and B using the difference of the color difference signals in the input image signal and the balance of the color difference components of R, G, and B are made equal. The white balance control circuit or the like adjusted to perform predetermined analog signal processing and output an analog image signal to the A / D circuit 116.

  The A / D circuit 116 converts the analog image signal output from the analog processing circuit 115 into a digital image signal and outputs the digital image signal to the buffer 117. The buffer 117 temporarily stores the digital image signal converted by the A / D circuit 116 and sequentially outputs it to the signal processing circuit 118 or the compression / decompression circuit 119 in accordance with an instruction from the control unit 10.

  The signal processing circuit 118 is configured by a DSP (Digital Signal Processor), not shown, and performs various image processing such as luminance processing, color processing, or contour detection processing with a predetermined threshold on the input digital image signal. Output. The image processing here may include processing for calculating the sharpness of a predetermined area of the image and outputting it to the control unit 10. Thereby, the control part 10 can perform the focusing in the predetermined area | region of an image by detecting the focused state which becomes the sharpest and contrast becomes high.

  The compression / decompression circuit 119 compresses or decodes the input digital image signal by a predetermined encoding method, decompresses the digital image signal, and outputs it to the control unit 10. Note that the compression / decompression here may be reversible, but may be irreversible compression. For example, conversion to a JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) image by processing such as ADCT (Adaptive Discrete Cosine Transform) or Huffman coding which is an entropy coding method may be used.

The lens 120 is a lens that can be adjusted so that an image to be imaged is imaged (focused) on the image sensor 114 described above. The lens 120 may be configured to be able to adjust the angle of view by a plurality of lens groups. Specifically, the lens group (focus) for focus adjustment from the subject side to the first group, the lens group (variator) for zooming (field angle adjustment) to the second group, and the zooming to the third group A lens group (compensator) for correcting the accompanying image and a lens group (relay) for image formation in the fourth group are used to adjust the angle of view by adjusting the position of the variator and adjusting the focus of the image by adjusting the position of the compensator. When the angle of view is adjusted, the control unit 10 calculates the angle of view (magnification) according to the position of the variator based on the position and angle of view reference table stored in the storage unit 18 and the finder unit. 13 may be displayed.
The shutter 121 is arranged between the lens 120 and the image sensor 114, and is configured to be able to control the opening diameter and the opening / closing time (exposure time) by a plurality of shutter blades.

Next, the operation in the present embodiment will be described.
A program for realizing each function described in each flowchart described later is stored in the storage unit 18 or the memory card in the form of readable program code, and the control unit 10 operates according to the program code. Are executed sequentially. In addition, the control unit 10 can sequentially execute an operation according to the program code transmitted from the outside via the external I / F 20. In other words, in addition to the program stored in the imaging apparatus 1, it is possible to realize an operation specific to the present embodiment using an externally supplied program or data.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the focusing and display operation on the finder unit 13 according to the present embodiment, which is executed by the control unit 10. The control unit 10 starts processing in response to a focus instruction from the user by, for example, half-pressing the shutter button in the input unit 14, and first, is “image focus mode” in which focus is performed on a predetermined imaging target. Is determined (step S11). Note that the focus instruction here may be configured to include a dedicated focus button in addition to the half-press of the shutter button, but more preferably the focus instruction is set at the time of half-press before the image is captured by full-press. A form that performs focusing is desirable.

  If the “image focus mode” is set in step S11 (step S11: Y), a predetermined value is obtained from the half-pressed state of the previous shutter button (acquisition of focus image data by the previous focus instruction) in step S12 as a determination unit. It is determined whether it is within time. By determining in step S12, the process can be branched by continuously pressing the shutter button halfway in a short time. If it is determined in step S12 that the time is within the predetermined time (step S12: Y), the processes in steps S13 to S17 are performed and the process ends.

  Each process of steps S13 to S17 as the first image acquisition unit will be described in detail. First, in step S13, after the “image focus mode” is canceled and the mode is shifted to the normal focus mode, distance measurement is performed on a subject (target object) in a predetermined distance measurement direction such as the center of the imaging direction. The focus adjustment is performed so that the adjustment and the image become clear (step S14).

  Here, the focusing performed in step S14 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 4 is a diagram exemplifying an image that is captured and displayed on the display unit 12 with a composition centered on the cup C placed on the table T. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the display of the finder unit 13 when the image of FIG. 4 is captured. On the finder unit 13, the guide line 31 and the guide line 32 are displayed so that an image to be captured is divided into a vertical half or a horizontal half, and a distance measuring marker 33 indicating a distance measuring direction is displayed at the center of the image capturing direction. The The user then focuses on a desired object (cup C in the case of FIG. 5) with reference to the distance measuring marker 33. The ranging marker 33 may be configured to be fixed at the center of the imaging direction, but may be configured to be set in an arbitrary direction within the imaging range.

  After step S14, the outline of the image at the focal position including the distance measuring marker 33 is extracted (step S15), and the focus image (first image) including the extracted outline is used as the focus image data (first image data). The image is stored in the focus image memory 17 (step S16) and set to the “image focus mode” (step S17).

  The contour extraction of the image performed in step S15 is performed by extracting, as a contour, a portion that has changed by a predetermined threshold or more with respect to the color tone detected by the distance measuring marker 33 serving as the center. For example, in the case of FIG. 5 described above, an image including the contour of the cup C is extracted. In step S15, as shown in FIG. 5, a configuration may be adopted in which the periphery of the extracted cup C is displayed as a recognition frame 34 in a rectangular shape.

  By the processes in steps S13 to S17 described above, for example, when the shutter button is half-pressed continuously in a short time, a new focus image can be captured.

  Next, when it is determined in step S12 that a predetermined time has elapsed since the last half-press of the shutter button (step S12: NO), the focus image that is the imaging target in step S18 and subsequent steps is recognized from the imaging range and The process of focusing on the focused image is performed and the process ends.

  First, in step S18, the focus image stored in step S17 is displayed as guidance, the imaging range is divided into a plurality of areas, and focusing is performed on one of the areas (step S19). Note that focusing on the region in step S19 is performed by detecting a state in which the sharpness of the target region is the highest.

  Note that the focusing on the region in step S19 may be configured such that the processing of steps S19 to S27 is performed in a loop by changing the focusing range (from the closest point to infinity) of the lens 120 stepwise. In this case, since all the focal lengths are focused, the process becomes strict and the accuracy can be further increased.

  After step S19, image data (second image data) of the area is captured (step S20), and compared with the focus image data displayed as guidance by steps S21 and S22 as recognition means, and the focus image is displayed. It is determined whether there is an image corresponding to. Note that the comparison and determination of the images in steps S21 and S22 determines whether or not a part of the captured image (second image) has a predetermined tone width with respect to the image obtained by enlarging or reducing the focus image, It is performed by determining whether the colors and / or shapes are similar depending on whether or not the overlapping of the shapes matches.

  If it is determined in step S22 that an image corresponding to the focus image exists in the captured image (step S22: Y), focus adjustment is performed so that the corresponding image has the highest sharpness. (Step S23), exposure control is performed to photograph the corresponding image with an appropriate exposure (Step S24), and a marker is displayed on the image portion corresponding to the focus image of the image displayed on the finder unit 13 ( Step S25) is ended.

  In step S22, when it is determined that there is no image corresponding to the focus image in the captured image (step S22: N), the focus image in steps S20 and S21 for the entire area of the imaging range. It is determined whether or not the comparison process has been performed (step S26), and if there is an area for which the comparison process has not been performed (step S26: N), the next unprocessed area is focused ( Step S27) and return to Step S20. On the other hand, if it is determined that the comparison process with the focus image has been performed for all the areas in the imaging range (step S26: Y), the focus image on which the guidance is displayed blinks (step S28). finish.

  As a result of the determination in step S26, it is possible to compare whether or not the focus image exists for all the areas of the imaging range. When the focus image does not exist in the process of step S28, guidance display is performed. The user can be warned by flashing the focused image to be displayed.

  Here, a display example of the finder unit 13 in a process of recognizing a focus image that is an imaging target in step S18 and subsequent steps from the shooting range and focusing on the focus image will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 6 is a display example of the finder unit 13 when the imaging range is divided into four areas and the composition is changed so that the cup C in FIG. 5 is positioned in the upper left image area P1. On the finder unit 13, the cup C of the focus image to be imaged is displayed as a guidance display 35 at the lower right of the screen, and a recognition frame 34 is displayed around the cup C. For this reason, the user can easily confirm the object to be focused by confirming the guidance display 35 at the same time that the user can easily focus on the cup C during imaging.

  FIG. 7 is a display example of the finder unit 13 when the cup C is imaged with a composition entering the image area P2 when the cup C is arranged at the back of the table T with respect to FIG. 5 described above. As shown in FIG. 7, the imaging device 1 recognizes the cup C even when the distance between the imaging device 1 and the cup C that is the imaging target changes, so that the cup is again connected to the distance measuring marker 33. There is no need to capture C and measure the distance again, and shooting can be performed easily.

  Thus, the user of the imaging device 1 does not need to consider the distance to the imaging target every time the composition is changed, and can concentrate more on shooting.

<Modification>
Here, as a modification, an operation of storing a plurality of pieces of focus image data and selecting and using one of the focus images will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, when a plurality of pieces of focus image data are stored, a plurality of pieces of focus image data stored in the focus image memory 17 in step S16 are stored. The stored data in the focus image memory 17 is stored in the order of storage or with time information added by the timer unit 19. If there is not enough free area in the focus image memory 17 due to the previously stored focus image data, the old data is deleted to secure the free area.

  Then, the focus image displayed on the guidance display 35 in step S18 is switched to any one of the plurality of focus images stored in the focus image memory 17 according to the selection operation instruction from the input unit 14, and step S19. Subsequent processing is performed based on the above-described switched focus image.

  Through the above-described operation, the imaging apparatus 1 can select any one of a plurality of stored focus images and take an image so that the image is in focus. Increases nature.

  The present invention can be freely changed and improved without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, the zoom function in the imaging apparatus 1 may be an electronic zoom by trimming and enlarging / reducing the image data from the image sensor 114 in addition to the optical zoom function by the lens 120, and either one of the optical zoom or the electronic zoom. Or the structure provided with both may be sufficient.

  Further, the division in step S19 is not limited to the four divisions shown in the embodiment, and may not be divided, or may be divided into rectangular areas of n × m divisions (n and m are natural numbers) or arbitrarily. May be divided into regions of the shape Furthermore, the structure which selects the division | segmentation form mentioned above by the operation instruction from the input part 14 in step S18 may be sufficient. In this case, the user can select an optimal division form while confirming the ratio of the imaging target to the imaging range viewed from the finder unit 13.

  Further, the imaging apparatus 1 may be configured to perform a plurality of divisions by looping the processing from step S19 to step S27. For example, in the case of not dividing, 2 × 2 division and 3 × 3 division The configuration may be such that the processing is performed for the three types of division forms. In this case, even when the imaging target is divided into a plurality of divided areas in a certain division form and cannot be normally recognized, it can be normally recognized by supplementing with the plurality of division forms.

  Further, the imaging apparatus 1 may be configured to store the focus image data in a memory card in the memory card I / F 15. In this case, the focus image data can be held even when the power of the imaging device 1 is turned off, and the focus image data recorded on the memory card by another device can be utilized by exchanging the memory card. Furthermore, the imaging apparatus 1 may include a configuration for transferring the focus image data from the storage unit 18 to an external device.

  Further, the imaging apparatus 1 may include a second imaging unit for film shooting separately from the imaging unit 11, and may be configured to focus the second imaging unit in response to the above-described focusing process. In this case, not only a digital camera but also a general film camera can be used.

It is the figure which showed typically the functional structure of the imaging device 1 which is this invention. 2 is a diagram schematically illustrating an internal configuration of an imaging unit 11. FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the imaging apparatus 1 according to the present invention. It is the figure which illustrated the image displayed on the display part 12 at the time of imaging the cup C distribute | arranged on the table T in the center. It is the figure which showed the example of a display of the finder part 13 at the time of imaging the cup C distribute | arranged on the table T in the center. It is the figure which showed the example of a display of the finder part 13 at the time of imaging the cup C with the composition which falls into the image area P1. It is the figure which showed the example of a display of the finder part 13 at the time of imaging the cup C with the composition which falls into the image area P2.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Imaging device 10 Control part 11 Imaging part 12 Display part 13 Finder part 14 Input part 15 Memory card I / F
16 Image processing memory 17 Focus image memory 18 Storage unit 19 Timekeeping unit 20 External I / F
21 Bus 111 Sensor unit 112 Optical system drive unit 113 Drive circuit 114 Image sensor 115 Analog processing circuit 116 A / D circuit 117 Buffer 118 Signal processing circuit 119 Compression / decompression circuit 120 Lens 121 Shutter 31 and 32 Guide line 33 Distance marker 34 Recognition Frame 35 Guidance display P1, P2, P3, P4 Image area C Cup T Table

Claims (5)

In an imaging apparatus having a focus adjustment means,
First image acquisition means for capturing first image data indicating an object focused prior to the start of imaging;
Storage means for storing the first image data;
Second image acquisition means for capturing second image data prior to the start of photographing;
Based on the second image data acquired by the second image acquisition means and the first image data stored in the storage means, it is recognized whether or not the first image exists in the second image. Recognition means;
Control means for controlling the focus adjustment means to focus on the first image when the first image is present in the second image as a result of recognition in the recognition means;
An imaging apparatus comprising:   A determination unit configured to determine whether or not the operation of acquiring the first image data by the first image acquisition unit is continuously performed within a predetermined time, and the operation of acquiring the first image data by the determination unit is constant The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when it is determined that the operation has been continuously performed within a time period, the first image data is captured again prior to the start of imaging. The storage means stores a plurality of the first image data,
A selecting means for selecting predetermined first image data from the plurality of stored first image data;
The recognition means recognizes whether or not the first image exists in the second image based on the second image data and the selected first image data. The imaging apparatus according to 1 or 2. A display means for displaying a first image based on the first image data;
The recognition means recognizes whether or not the first image exists in the second image based on the first image data and the second image data displayed on the display means. The imaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 3. In the computer of the imaging apparatus having the focus adjusting means,
First image acquisition means for capturing first image data indicating an object focused before the start of imaging;
Storage means for storing the first image data;
Second image acquisition means for capturing second image data prior to the start of photographing;
Based on the second image data acquired by the second image acquisition means and the first image data stored in the storage means, it is recognized whether or not the first image exists in the second image. Recognition means;
Control means for controlling the focus adjustment means to focus on the first image when the first image is present in the second image as a result of recognition in the recognition means;
Program to make it work.

Images