JP2006352712A - Photographing advising device, photographing advising method and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To support for improving the photographing skill of a camera user. <P>SOLUTION: The CPU 21 of a camera 10 judges the photographing conditions of an image displayed on a display unit 19 on the basis of information about the image, and in the case that the photographing conditions match with a predetermined condition in the judgement, makes advise information as operation information when photographing the image corresponding to the predetermined condition to be displayed on the display unit 19. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to camera technology, and more particularly to technology for enabling a user to take a desired picture.

  For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique that enables even a novice camera user who does not have specialized knowledge about setting of shooting conditions such as shutter speed and lens aperture to perform appropriate camera shooting. A sample image in which the type of the subject can be easily understood is presented to the user together with advice information that teaches a photographing operation for photographing such an image, and the sample image corresponding to the subject to be photographed from this is displayed from the sample image. A technique is disclosed in which, when is selected, a shooting condition associated with a selected sample image is set in the camera.

In addition, for example, Patent Document 2 discloses a technique in which image processing performed by a camera at the time of shooting is performed on an image shot in the past. A technique of correcting based on the history of processing is disclosed.
JP 2002-10133 A JP 2002-262174 A

  There are various types of cameras, such as cameras that have been carefully selected and can be used easily even by beginners, and cameras that have many functions to cope with a wide variety of shooting scenes. On the other hand, the camera user usually wants to take a good photo (a photo that matches the user's own desire), but the user has not used the functions of the camera properly. For this reason, it is not uncommon for people to take pictures that are unwilling.

  In order to prevent such unintentional shooting, it is necessary for the user to acquire high skills in camera shooting. However, improving photography skills is a very difficult task, and users have to try to improve photography skills by taking lessons from instructors, going to photography classes, or by repeating trial and error. Is the current situation.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and a problem to be solved is to provide support for improving the shooting skill of a camera user.

  An imaging advice device according to one aspect of the present invention includes a display unit that displays an image, a determination unit that determines a shooting status of the image displayed on the display unit based on information about the image, Presenting means for presenting advice information, which is operation information at the time of image shooting corresponding to the predetermined condition, when the shooting situation matches a predetermined condition in the determination. This feature solves the aforementioned problems.

  In the above-described photographing advice device according to the present invention, the advice information is information indicating that it is recommended to use a digital zoom at the time of photographing the image, or replacement of a lens used when photographing the image. You may comprise so that it may be information to that effect.

  At this time, the presenting means indicates that the image is taken at the telephoto end in the optical zoom and that the image is taken at a focus position at infinity. In such a case, the advice information may be presented.

  Further, in the above-described photographing advice device according to the present invention, the determination means determines whether or not the strobe light used when photographing the image has occurred, and the advice information is stored in an external strobe attached to the camera. You may comprise so that it may be the information to recommend use.

  Here, the presenting means includes information on the lens used when photographing the image, information on the focal length when photographing the image, and a flash built in the camera when photographing the image. When the information indicating the presence or absence of use matches the predetermined condition, the advice information may be presented.

  Further, in the above-described photographing advice device according to the present invention, the determination unit determines whether or not a light diffraction phenomenon occurs due to an excessively narrowed lens diaphragm at the time of photographing the image, and the advice information is You may comprise so that it may be the information which recommends changing the setting of the said lens aperture to the opening direction rather than the thing at the time of imaging | photography of the said image.

  In addition, the shooting advice method according to another aspect of the present invention determines a shooting situation of the image displayed on the display unit based on shooting information about the image, and the shooting situation is determined in the determination. When the predetermined condition is met, the advice information that is the operation information at the time of image capturing corresponding to the predetermined condition is presented. Solved.

  In addition, based on the information about the image, the process of determining the shooting status of the image displayed on the display unit, and when the shooting status matches a predetermined condition in the determination, the predetermined setting is performed. The present invention also relates to a program for causing a computer to perform a process of presenting advice information that is operation information at the time of image capturing corresponding to a given condition, and the program is executed by causing the computer to execute the program. As a result of the same operation and effect as the photographing advice device according to the present invention, the above-described problems are solved.

  According to the present invention, there is an effect that it is possible to support the improvement of the shooting skill of the camera user as described above.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Here, an embodiment in which the present invention is implemented with a camera (digital camera) will be described.
First, FIG. 1 will be described. FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a camera 10 that implements the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, an imaging processing unit 13, an image processing unit 14, a RAM 15, a memory I / F 16, a display control unit 18, a USB I / F 20, and a CPU 21 are all connected to a bus 24 and are mutually managed under the control of the CPU 21. Various data can be exchanged.

  The subject image formed by the lens 11 is converted into an electrical signal by an imaging unit 12 which is, for example, a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) and is input to the imaging processing unit 13. The imaging processing unit 13 amplifies the input electrical signal to a predetermined magnitude, performs analog-digital conversion, and outputs image data indicating an image representing the subject image.

  The image processing unit 14 performs image processing, such as γ correction, edge enhancement, and white balance correction, on the image data output from the imaging processing unit 13. When image data is recorded on the memory card 17, data compression processing is performed on the image data as necessary. Further, when the image represented by the image data recorded on the memory card 17 is reproduced and displayed, data expansion processing is performed on the image data read from the memory card 17 as necessary.

The RAM 15 is a random access memory that is used for work as necessary when the image processing unit 14 or the CPU 21 performs various processes.
A memory I / F (interface) 16 is an interface for connecting the memory card 17 to the bus 24, and allows various data to be read from and written to the memory card 17 under the control of the CPU 21.

  The memory card 17 is detachable from the camera 10 and is used as a recording medium for various data such as image data. In the present embodiment, the Exif (Exchangeable Image File Format) format used by many of today's digital still cameras is adopted as the image data storage format, and an image data file conforming to the format is used. It is assumed that recording is performed on the memory card 17. However, it is of course possible to employ other image data storage formats in the implementation of the present invention.

The display processing unit 18 performs digital-analog conversion on the image data sent via the bus 24 and supplies the converted data to the display unit 19.
The display unit 19 is an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), for example, and displays an image represented by the image data input to the display processing unit 18.

  The USB (Universal Serial Bus) I / F 20 is an interface for connecting the camera 10 to an external device such as a personal computer (PC) to exchange various data.

A CPU (Central Processing Unit) 21 controls the operation of the entire camera 10.
The ROM 22 is a read-only memory in which a control program executed by the CPU 21 and various data used as necessary when executing the control program are stored. The CPU 21 executes the control program as described above. Operation control is possible.

The operation input unit 23 is switches operated by the user of the camera 10, acquires an instruction from the user associated with the content of the operation, and passes it to the CPU 21.
FIG. 2 is a rear view of the camera 10. In the figure, a release button 23-1, which is provided on the housing 30, acquires a shooting operation execution instruction, a menu screen display instruction, a confirmation button 23-2 which acquires various operation execution instructions, and a direction instruction. The cross buttons 23-3, 23-4, 23-5, and 23-6 to be acquired, the guide button 23-7 to acquire an advice display instruction, and the like are all switches constituting the operation input unit 23.

FIG. 2 also shows that the finder 31 and the display unit 19 described above are provided on the back side of the housing 30.
Hereinafter, various control processes related to the present invention performed by the CPU 21 will be described. Each control process described below is realized by the CPU 21 reading and executing a control program stored in the ROM 22.

  First, FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B will be described. These drawings are flowcharts showing the processing contents of the first example of the advice processing. In this process, an operation (playback mode) in which an image recorded on the memory card 17 is played back and displayed on the display unit 19 for each frame when the user operates the operation input unit 23 to give a predetermined instruction. Start with 10.

  The advice process determines the shooting status of an image shot by the camera 10 based on Exif information indicating various setting statuses for the camera 10 at the time of shooting an image. In this determination, the shooting status is a predetermined condition. If it matches, advice information, which is information relating to image shooting, is presented. Exif information is stored in association with each image data in the image data file stored in the memory card 17.

  In this first example, the user is required to photograph a distant subject larger than the tendency of the Exif information recognized from the aggregation result when the Exif information of the images captured by the camera 10 is aggregated for a plurality of images. If it is estimated that the user wants, the recommendation to use the digital zoom is presented as advice information.

  In FIG. 3A, first, in S101, all stored image data files are read from the memory card 17, and processing for acquiring Exif information stored in each image data file is performed.

  In S102, the lens used for photographing is specified from the Exif information acquired by the process in the previous step, and the process of acquiring the focal length range of the specified lens is performed. Here, it is assumed that all images recorded on the memory card 17 have been taken using the same lens.

  In order to obtain the range of the focal length of the lens, for example, a database of interchangeable lenses stored in advance in the ROM of the camera 10 is used, and the lens specified by the identification information included in the Exif information is used. You may make it acquire the range of a focal distance from the database. Alternatively, information on the range of the focal length of the lens used at the time of shooting may be written in the Exif information by the camera 10 at the time of image shooting, and this information may be acquired by referring to the processing in S102. Good.

  In S103, a process of calculating an average focal length at the time of shooting an image recorded on the memory card 17 is performed. More specifically, this process is a process of calculating an average value of focal lengths for each image indicated in each Exif information read out in the process of S101.

In S104, processing for calculating an average in-focus position (shooting distance) at the time of shooting an image recorded in the memory card 17 is performed.
In S105, a process of determining whether or not the average focal length obtained by the process of S103 is located near the telephoto end (for example, a position of 90% or more of the focal length at the telephoto end) is performed. Here, when it is determined that it is located near the telephoto end (when the determination result is Yes), the process proceeds to S106, and when it is determined that it is not located near the telephoto end (the determination result is If No), the process proceeds to S108.

  In S106, a process is performed to determine whether or not the average focus position obtained by the process of S104 is located near infinity (for example, 90% or more of the latest focus positions using infinity). Is called. Here, when it is determined that it is located near infinity (when the determination result is Yes), the process proceeds to S107, and when it is determined that it is not located near infinity (when the determination result is If No), the process proceeds to S108.

  If both of the determination conditions in S105 and S106 described above are met and the results of these determination processes are both Yes, it is estimated that the user wants to photograph a distant subject in a large size. The Therefore, in S107, processing for setting an advice information display flag is performed.

  The advice information display flag is a flag defined at a predetermined storage position in the RAM 15, and in the first example of the advice processing, the distant subject is enlarged by setting this flag. It is estimated that the user wants to shoot, that is, the average focal length at the time of shooting of the image recorded on the memory card 17 is located near the telephoto end, and the image This shows that the average focus position at the time of shooting is located near infinity. Note that this flag is initialized (reset) when the execution of the advice process in FIG. 3A is started.

In S <b> 108, processing for reproducing and displaying an image taken most recently by the camera 10 on the display unit 19 is performed.
The process proceeds to FIG. 3B, and in S109, a process for determining whether or not the advice information display flag is set is performed. Here, when it is determined that the flag is set (when the determination result is Yes), the process proceeds to S110, and when it is determined that the flag is not set (when the determination result is No). Advances the process to S121.

  In S110, a process of acquiring a focal length and a focus position at the time of photographing the image is performed from the Exif information stored in the image data file in which the image data of the image currently being reproduced and displayed is stored. .

  In S111, processing is performed to determine whether or not the focal length obtained by the processing in S110 is located near the telephoto end (for example, as in S105, the position is 90% or more of the focal length at the telephoto end). Here, when it is determined that it is located near the telephoto end (when the determination result is Yes), the process proceeds to S112, and when it is determined that it is not located near the telephoto end (the determination result is If No), the process proceeds to S121.

  In S112, it is determined whether or not the in-focus position obtained by the processing in S110 is located near infinity (for example, as in S106, 90% or more of the latest in-focus positions using infinity). Processing is performed. Here, when it is determined that it is located near infinity (when the determination result is Yes), the process proceeds to S113, and when it is determined that it is not located near infinity (the determination result is If No), the process proceeds to S121.

  If the determination conditions in the above-described determination processes in S111 and S112 both match and the results of these determination processes are both Yes, the user is informed that the image being reproduced and displayed is a large image of a distant subject. It is estimated that the photo was taken as desired. Therefore, in S113, processing for displaying the advice information on the display unit 19 is performed.

  4A and 4B will be described here. Each of these figures is a reproduction display example of the image recorded on the memory card 17 on the display unit 19, FIG. 4A shows a state in which there is no advice information, and FIG. An example of a state in which advice information is displayed by the process of S113 is shown. As can be seen by comparing these two figures, in this screen example, the display “GUIDE” on the right side of the screen in FIG. 4B is a display indicating that there is advice information.

  In S114, a process for determining whether or not an instruction to display advice information from the user by a pressing operation on the guide button 23-7 of the operation input unit 23 is acquired is performed. If it is determined that the instruction has been acquired (when the determination result is Yes), the process proceeds to S115. On the other hand, when it is determined that the operation has not been acquired (when the determination result is No), the process proceeds to S121.

  In S115, instead of reproducing and displaying the captured image so far, a process of displaying a display screen of advice information as exemplified in FIG. 4C on the display unit 19 is performed. Note that the example of FIG. 4C is a display of a sentence “You can shoot further magnified when using digital zoom”, and presents information that recommends using digital zoom to the user.

  In S116, a digital zoom use selection instruction by pressing the operation input unit 23 (this use selection instruction is operated by operating the cross-shaped buttons 23-3, 23-4, 23-5, or 23-6 to the right of FIG. 4C). When “ON” is selected from the “ON / OFF” display below, a process for determining whether or not the confirmation button 23-2 is pressed is acquired is performed. If it is determined that the instruction has been acquired (when the determination result is Yes), the process proceeds to S117. On the other hand, when it is determined that the operation has not been acquired (when the determination result is No), the process proceeds to S118.

In S117, a process of changing the operation setting during the shooting operation of the camera 10 is performed so that the digital zoom functions in the subsequent shooting, and then the process proceeds to S120.
In S118, the digital zoom non-use selection instruction by pressing the operation input unit 23 (this non-use selection instruction is operated by operating the cross button 23-3, 23-4, 23-5, or 23-6 as shown in FIG. 4C. A process is performed to determine whether or not “OFF” is selected from the “ON / OFF” display at the lower right of FIG. Is called. If it is determined that the instruction has been acquired (when the determination result is Yes), the process proceeds to S119. On the other hand, when it is determined that the operation has not been acquired (when the determination result is No), the process returns to S116, and the process of acquiring the digital zoom use / non-use selection instruction is repeated.

In S119, processing for changing the operation setting during the shooting operation of the camera 10 is performed so that the digital zoom does not function in the subsequent shooting.
In S120, a process for deleting the display screen of the advice information displayed on the display unit 19 by the process of S115 and restarting the reproduction display of the original captured image is performed.

  In S121, when the operation input unit 23 is pressed, an instruction to display a photographed image that is the next frame before or after the photographed image currently displayed on the display unit 19 (this display instruction is a cross button 23-3, 23). -4, 23-5, or 23-6 is performed) is performed. Here, when it is determined that the instruction has been acquired (when the determination result is Yes), the process proceeds to S121, and a process of displaying an image of the frame related to the instruction on the display unit 19 is performed, and thereafter, S109. The process is returned to and the above process is repeated. On the other hand, when it is determined that the instruction has not been acquired (when the determination result is No), the process proceeds to S123.

  In S123, processing for determining whether or not the above-described advice information display flag is set is performed. Here, when it is determined that the flag is set (when the determination result is Yes), the process returns to S113 and the above-described process is repeated. On the other hand, when it is determined that the flag is not set (when the determination result is No), the process returns to S121, and the process for acquiring the display instruction for the captured image of the next frame is repeated.

  When the above processing is performed by the CPU 21, advice information is obtained when it is estimated that the user desires to photograph a distant subject larger than the tendency of a plurality of images captured by the camera 10. Is presented to the user and the use of digital zoom is recommended, which helps improve the user's shooting skills.

  In FIGS. 3A and 3B, when it is estimated that the user wants to photograph a distant subject greatly, in S109, it is recommended to use the digital zoom as illustrated in FIG. 4C. Information was displayed on the display unit 19 and presented to the user, but instead, as illustrated in FIG. 4D, as a camera accessory that can perform more telephoto shooting than that used for shooting, Advice information recommending the use of an interchangeable lens can also be presented to the user. Further, the advice information may include information such as a product number for individually specifying an interchangeable lens that can be used in the camera 10.

  In the processing of FIGS. 3A and 3B, the average focal length and the average in-focus position for all captured images recorded on the memory card 17 are used as judgment criteria for displaying advice information. However, instead of this, a predetermined number of images (or a predetermined ratio of images) of all the captured images recorded in the memory card 17 are set in advance for the focal length and the in-focus position. Whether or not to display advice information may be determined based on whether or not the threshold value exceeds the threshold value.

  Next, FIG. 5 will be described. This figure is a flowchart showing the processing contents of the second example of the advice processing. Also in this process, the camera 10 performs an operation (reproduction mode) for causing the display unit 19 to reproduce and display the image recorded on the memory card 17 for each frame when the user operates the operation input unit 23 to give a predetermined instruction. It starts when you do it.

  A second example of this advice processing is that the vignetting (not shown) of the strobe light (flash) built in the camera 10 has occurred in the captured image being reproduced and displayed on the display unit 19. When it is estimated from the information, the recommendation of using an external strobe attached to the camera 10 is presented as advice information. Note that vignetting of strobe light means that when a subject at a relatively short distance is shot with a flash, part of the strobe light is blocked by the lens barrel used at the time of shooting. It is reflected in the image.

  In FIG. 5, first, in S201, an image data file in which image data for an image being displayed on the display unit 19 is stored is read from the memory card 17, and Exif information stored in the image data file is acquired. Processing is performed.

In S202, processing for acquiring identification information for specifying the lens used for photographing is performed from the Exif information acquired by the processing in the previous step.
In S203, processing for acquiring a focal length at the time of shooting an image being displayed on the display unit 19 is performed from the Exif information acquired by the processing in S201.

In S204, processing for acquiring the use status of the built-in strobe at the time of shooting the image being displayed on the display unit 19 is performed from the Exif information acquired by the processing in S201.
In S205, based on the usage status of the built-in strobe acquired by the processing in the previous step, a process is performed to determine whether or not the image being displayed on the display unit 19 has been shot with the built-in strobe being emitted. Here, when it is determined that the built-in flash is fired (when the determination result is Yes), the process proceeds to S206, and when it is determined that shooting has been performed without the built-in flash being fired. If the determination result is No, the process proceeds to S214.

  In S <b> 206, processing is performed to determine whether or not vignetting of the built-in strobe can occur in the camera 10 for the lens specified by the identification information acquired in S <b> 202. Here, when it is determined that vignetting can occur (when the determination result is Yes), the process proceeds to S207, and when it is determined that vignetting cannot occur (when the determination result is No), S214. Proceed with the process.

  In S207, a process is performed to determine whether or not vignetting of the built-in strobe occurs due to the used lens at the focal length at the time of shooting acquired by the process of S203. If it is determined that vignetting occurs (when the determination result is Yes), the process proceeds to S208. If it is determined that vignetting does not occur (when the determination result is No), the process proceeds to S214.

  When both the determination conditions in the determination processing of S205, S206, and S207 described above are met and the results of these determination processing are all Yes, the vignetting of the strobe light is added to the captured image currently displayed on the display unit 19. It is estimated that it has occurred. Therefore, in S208, processing similar to that described above for setting an advice information display flag is performed, and in subsequent S209, processing for displaying that there is advice information on the display unit 19 is performed. However, in the second example of this advice processing, it is estimated that vignetting of strobe light has occurred in the captured image currently displayed on the display unit 19 by setting this flag. Is represented.

  6A and 6B will be described here. Each of these figures is an example of reproduction display on the display unit 19 of an image recorded on the memory card 17, and vignetting of strobe light occurs at the bottom of the image. Here, FIG. 6A shows an example of a state where advice information is not displayed, and FIG. 6B shows an example of a state where advice information is displayed by the processing of S209 described above. As can be seen by comparing these two figures, in this screen example, the display “GUIDE” on the right side of the screen in FIG. 6B is a display indicating that there is advice information.

  In S210, a process of determining whether or not an instruction to display advice information from the user by a pressing operation on the guide button 23-7 of the operation input unit 23 is acquired is performed. If it is determined that the instruction has been acquired (when the determination result is Yes), the process proceeds to S211. On the other hand, when it is determined that the operation has not been acquired (when the determination result is No), the process proceeds to S214.

  In S211, processing for displaying a display screen of advice information as exemplified in FIG. 6C on the display unit 19 is performed instead of the reproduction display of the captured image so far. The example of FIG. 6C is a display of a sentence “The vignetting disappears when using an external strobe.” And an example of a product of the external strobe, and information indicating that the use of an external strobe attached to the camera 10 is recommended. It is presented to the user. The display of the product example of the external strobe includes information such as a product number that individually identifies the external strobe that can be used with the camera 10.

  In S212, processing for determining whether or not an instruction to end display of advice information has been acquired by a pressing operation on the confirmation button 23-2 of the operation input unit 23 is performed, and it is determined that the instruction has been acquired. (Until the determination result is Yes), the process of S212 is repeated.

In S213, a process of deleting the advice information display screen displayed on the display unit 19 by the process of S211 and restarting the reproduction and display of the original captured image is performed.
In S214, when the operation input unit 23 is pressed, an instruction to display a photographed image that is the next frame before or after the photographed image currently displayed on the display unit 19 (this display instruction is a cross button 23-3, 23). -4, 23-5, or 23-6 is performed) is performed. Here, when it is determined that the instruction has been acquired (when the determination result is Yes), the process proceeds to S215, and a process of displaying an image of the frame related to the instruction on the display unit 19 is performed, and thereafter, S201. The process is returned to and the above process is repeated. On the other hand, when it is determined that the instruction has not been acquired (when the determination result is No), the process proceeds to S216.

  In S216, processing for determining whether or not the above-described advice information display flag is set is performed. When it is determined that the flag is set (when the determination result is Yes), the process returns to S208 and the above-described process is repeated. On the other hand, when it is determined that the flag is not set (when the determination result is No), the process returns to S214, and the process for acquiring the display instruction for the captured image of the next frame is repeated.

  When it is presumed that the vignetting of the strobe light used at the time of photographing with the camera 10 is generated by the CPU 21 performing the above processing, advice information is presented to the user and the camera is presented. Since it is recommended to use an external strobe externally attached to No. 10, it helps to improve the shooting skill of the user.

  Next, FIG. 7 will be described. This figure is a flowchart showing the contents of a third example of advice processing. Also in this process, the camera 10 performs an operation (reproduction mode) for causing the display unit 19 to reproduce and display the image recorded on the memory card 17 for each frame when the user operates the operation input unit 23 to give a predetermined instruction. It starts when you do it.

  A third example of the advice processing is that, based on the Exif information of the image, that the image was captured with the lens aperture being excessively reduced for the shutter speed in the captured image being reproduced and displayed on the display unit 19. When it is estimated, it warns of the possibility of image quality deterioration due to light diffraction phenomenon caused by excessive aperture of the lens aperture, and presents advice information that recommends shooting with the lens aperture open rather than the current situation It is. Note that the light diffraction phenomenon caused by excessively narrowing the lens aperture is a phenomenon in which incident light wraps around the back side of the wing aperture in the lens functioning as a lens aperture. When it appears, the subject image is blurred, and the resolution is lowered despite the fact that the lens diaphragm is narrowed down to reduce the influence of lens aberration.

  In FIG. 7, first, in S301, an image data file in which image data for an image being displayed on the display unit 19 is stored is read from the memory card 17, and Exif information stored in the image data file is acquired. Processing is performed.

In S302, processing for acquiring identification information for specifying the lens used for photographing is performed from the Exif information acquired by the processing in the previous step.
In S303, processing for acquiring the aperture value of the lens aperture at the time of shooting the image being displayed on the display unit 19 is performed from the Exif information acquired by the processing in S201.

In S304, processing for acquiring the shutter speed at the time of shooting the image being displayed on the display unit 19 is performed from the Exif information acquired by the processing in S201.
In S305, processing is performed to determine whether or not the lens specified by the identification information acquired in S302 can affect the image quality due to the light diffraction phenomenon in the aperture value acquired in S303. Here, when it is determined that the influence of the light diffraction phenomenon may occur (when the determination result is Yes), the process proceeds to S306, and the influence of the light diffraction phenomenon is extremely slight and can be ignored. When the determination is made (when the determination result is No), the process proceeds to S315.

  The determination as to whether or not the influence of the light diffraction phenomenon can occur is specified by the identification information included in the Exif information using, for example, a database of interchangeable lenses stored in advance in the ROM of the camera 10. A range of aperture values that may be affected by the light diffraction phenomenon may be acquired from the database. Alternatively, the camera 10 writes information on the range of the aperture value that may be affected by the light diffraction phenomenon of the lens used at the time of photographing in the Exif information at the time of photographing the image, and this information is referred to in the processing of S302. You may make it acquire by doing.

  In S306, in the lens specified by the identification information acquired in the process of S302, a process of acquiring the aperture value opening amount from the current lens aperture value until the influence of the light diffraction phenomenon can be ignored. Is done. The aperture value when the influence of the light diffraction phenomenon can be ignored can be obtained in the same manner as described above, for example.

  In S307, the shutter speed for obtaining an appropriate exposure when the lens aperture is set to the opening amount of the aperture value acquired by the process of the previous step is acquired by the aperture value acquired by the process of S303 and the process of S304. Processing to be obtained based on the shutter speed is performed.

  In S <b> 308, a process for determining whether or not the shutter speed obtained by the previous stop process can be used by the camera 10 is performed. Here, when it is determined that the shutter speed is usable (when the determination result is Yes), the process proceeds to S309, and when it is determined that the shutter speed is not usable (when the determination result is No). The process proceeds to S315.

  If both the determination conditions in the determination processes of S305 and S308 described above are met and the results of these determination processes are both Yes, it is estimated that the light diffraction phenomenon due to excessive aperture affects the captured image. And there are measures to eliminate the effect under proper exposure (opening the lens aperture and increasing the shutter speed). Therefore, in S309, the processing for setting the advice information display flag is performed in the same manner as described above, and in the subsequent S310, processing for displaying on the display unit 19 that there is advice information is performed.

  In the third example of the advice processing, this flag is set, which indicates that it is estimated that the light diffraction phenomenon due to excessive aperture affects the photographed image. Note that the display indicating that there is advice information may be a display of “GUIDE” on the right side of the screen, for example, as illustrated in FIGS. 4B and 6B.

  In S <b> 311, a process is performed to determine whether or not an instruction to display advice information from the user by a pressing operation on the guide button 23-7 of the operation input unit 23 has been acquired. If it is determined that the instruction has been acquired (when the determination result is Yes), the process proceeds to S312. On the other hand, when it is determined that the operation has not been acquired (when the determination result is No), the process proceeds to S315.

  In S <b> 312, a process for displaying the advice information display screen on the display unit 19 is performed instead of the reproduction display of the captured image so far. Note that the advice information to be displayed at this time is, for example, a display of a sentence “Image quality improves when the aperture is opened to N stages”, and is obtained by the process of S306 instead of “N” in the sentence. It is assumed that the open amount is displayed. In other words, information indicating that it is recommended to change the setting of the lens aperture to an opening direction rather than that at the time of shooting an image is presented to the user.

  In S313, a process for determining whether or not an instruction to end display of advice information has been acquired by a pressing operation on the confirmation button 23-2 of the operation input unit 23 is performed, and it is determined that the instruction has been acquired. The process of S313 is repeated until (until the determination result is Yes).

In S314, a process of deleting the advice information display screen displayed on the display unit 19 by the process of S312 and restarting the reproduction and display of the original captured image is performed.
In S315, by pressing the operation input unit 23, an instruction to display a photographed image that is the next frame before or after the photographed image currently displayed on the display unit 19 (this display instruction is a cross button 23-3, 23). -4, 23-5, or 23-6 is performed) is performed. Here, when it is determined that the instruction has been acquired (when the determination result is Yes), the process proceeds to S316, and a process of displaying the image of the frame related to the instruction on the display unit 19 is performed. The process is returned to and the above process is repeated. On the other hand, when it is determined that the instruction has not been acquired (when the determination result is No), the process proceeds to S317.

  In S317, processing for determining whether or not the above-described advice information display flag is set is performed. Here, when it is determined that the flag is set (when the determination result is Yes), the processing returns to S309 and the above-described processing is repeated. On the other hand, when it is determined that the flag is not set (when the determination result is No), the process returns to S315, and the process for acquiring the display instruction for the captured image of the next frame is repeated.

  When the above processing is performed by the CPU 21, when the occurrence of the light diffraction phenomenon due to the excessive lens aperture at the time of photographing with the camera 10 is estimated, advice information is presented to the user, A workaround for this phenomenon is proposed by setting the aperture and shutter speed under appropriate exposure, which helps to improve the user's shooting skills.

  The functions for presenting advice according to the image capturing status described above are all provided in the camera 10 that captures an image. Instead of this, the PC ( (Personal computer) may present such advice information.

Here, FIG. 8 will be described. This figure shows a configuration example when the present invention is implemented by a PC.
In the figure, a PC 40 is connected to the USB I / F 20 of the camera 10 and can exchange various data such as image data between the PC 40 and the camera 10. The PC 40 and the information server device 50 are logically connected via a communication line 60 such as the Internet, and can exchange various data with each other.

  The information server device 50 is connected to a database 51, which is installed by the manufacturer of the camera 10, for example. The database 51 stores information on interchangeable lenses that can be used in the camera 10 and various pieces of advice information as described above. These requests are received via the communication line 60 in response to requests from the PC 40. The information is sent to the PC 40.

  Note that the PC 40 and the information server device 50 each have a very standard computer configuration, that is, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) that controls each component by executing a control program, a ROM, a RAM, and a magnetic circuit. It consists of a storage device, etc., and stores a control program that causes the CPU to control each component, a storage unit used as a work area when the CPU executes the control program, or a storage area for various data, and corresponds to user operations An input unit from which various data is acquired, an output unit that presents various data on a display and notifies the user, and an I / F unit that provides an interface function for data exchange with other devices It has the structure of the computer provided.

  When the user operates the input unit of the PC 40 and gives a predetermined instruction, an image data file for an image captured by the camera 10 is read from the memory card 17 and sent from the camera 10 to the PC 40. The PC 40 stores this image data file in the storage unit. Here, when the user gives a predetermined instruction to the input unit of the PC 40, the reproduction and display processing of the image represented by the image data file stored in the storage unit is started, and the image captured by the camera 10 is started. Is displayed on the output unit of the PC 40 as illustrated in FIG. 9A.

  At this time, the CPU of the PC 40 reads and executes the control program stored in advance in the storage unit, thereby performing the advice processing shown in FIG. 3A, FIG. 3B, FIG. 5, or FIG. Then, when the processing of S113 in FIG. 3A, S209 in FIG. 5 or S309 in FIG. 7 is executed, a display indicating that there is advice information is displayed, for example, as shown in the right end of FIG. 9A. The

  Here, when it is detected by the process of S114 of FIG. 3A, S210 of FIG. 5 or S311 of FIG. 7 that the user has operated the input unit of the PC 40 to give an instruction to display advice information, S115 of FIG. 3A. , S211 in FIG. 5 or S312 in FIG. 7 is executed, and advice information as illustrated in FIG. 9B is displayed on the output unit of the PC 40 (this figure is an example in which the use of an interchangeable lens is recommended). Is called.

  In the above-described embodiment of the present invention with the camera 10, the camera 10 itself and the interchangeable lens have advice information and information regarding the interchangeable lens. However, under the configuration shown in FIG. When the present invention is implemented on the PC 40, when the information is necessary during execution of the advice processing described above, instead of the PC 40 holding the information in advance, a transfer request for the information is requested. And the PC 40 uses the information server device 50 to transfer the necessary information extracted from the database 51 by the information server device 50 to the PC 40 in response to the request. You may do it.

  Further, when the present invention is implemented by the camera 10, in the above-described embodiment, the camera 10 itself previously stores information on the advice information and the interchangeable lens, for example, in the ROM 22 itself. Instead, for example, when the camera 10 and the PC 40 are connected in the configuration of FIG. 8, the camera 10 or the PC 40 checks the update status of these information held by the camera 10, and this information is stored in the database 51. If it is older than the information it has, the PC 40 requests the information server device 50 to transfer the latest information, and the information server device 50 extracts and transfers it from the database 51 in response to this request. The information may be updated by sending the information from the PC 40 to the camera 10 so that the camera 10 can use the latest information.

  By the way, a control program for causing the CPU of the PC 40 to perform the advice processing shown in FIG. 3A, FIG. 3B, FIG. 5 or FIG. 7 is created and recorded on a recording medium readable by the PC 40. May be read from the recording medium by the CPU of the PC 40 and executed.

  As a recording medium from which the recorded program can be read by the PC 40, for example, a memory such as a RAM, a ROM, or a hard disk device provided as an internal or external accessory device in the PC 40, an FD (flexible disk), MO ( A portable recording medium such as a magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, or DVD-ROM can be used.

  The recording medium may be a storage device provided in a computer functioning as a program server connected to the PC 40 via a communication line. In this case, a transmission signal obtained by modulating a carrier wave with a data signal representing a program is transmitted from the program server through a line as a transmission medium, and the PC 40 demodulates the received transmission signal and reproduces the program. By doing so, the program can be executed.

In addition, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various improvements and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.
For example, information on shutter speed and focal length at the time of shooting an image reproduced and displayed on the display unit 19 of the camera 10 is acquired from Exif information about the image, and shooting exceeding the limit of camera shake is performed. Is estimated from these pieces of information, for example, information that suggests the use of a camera shake prevention function mounted on the camera 10, or information that suggests shooting at a high shutter speed by increasing the ISO sensitivity. Alternatively, information suggesting shooting at a high shutter speed using a lens brighter than that at the time of shooting may be presented. At this time, a detection switch is provided on the tripod seat or tripod hole of the camera 10 so that the advice information as described above is presented only when such shooting is performed without using the tripod. Also good.

  In the embodiment of the present invention with the camera 10 described above, the advice process is executed when the camera 10 is operated in the playback mode. However, the operation mode when the camera 10 performs shooting is described. The advice process may be executed in a shooting mode.

  For example, the advice processing shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 7 is started every time shooting is performed with the camera 10, and the determination of the shooting state in the shooting is performed based on the information indicated in the Exif information. It is preferable that the setting of the shooting state at the time of shooting is directly acquired and performed. This makes it possible to give advice (warning) about stray light vignetting and light diffraction phenomenon that occurs when the lens aperture is too narrow, not just after image shooting but also immediately before image shooting. become.

  In the advice processing shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, a history of shooting conditions for each shooting is stored in the RAM 15 or the like, and a request for advice information presented by the user operating the operation input unit 23 is made. When the camera 10 acquires the history, the history is collected to acquire the tendency of the shooting situation, and predetermined advice information is presented according to the tendency. In this way, it is possible to give advice that recommends the use of the digital zoom not just after shooting an image but also immediately before shooting an image.

The technical concept of the following configuration is also derived from the above-described embodiment.
[Appendix 1]
Display means for displaying an image;
Storage means for storing advice information for predetermined items;
Capture information of the image displayed on the display means is acquired, and it is determined whether at least one of the acquired information needs to be changed in the shooting operation corresponding to the predetermined item. Determination means to perform,
An informing means for informing advice information corresponding to the predetermined item when it is determined by the determining means that a change in operation at the time of shooting corresponding to the predetermined item is necessary;
An imaging advice device characterized by comprising:

[Appendix 2]
The predetermined item is average focal length information at the time of shooting in a plurality of images,
The advice information is shooting operation information that prompts the use of a digital zoom or shooting operation information that prompts the use of an interchangeable lens capable of telephoto shooting when shooting an image described in the display unit.
The photographing advice device according to appendix 1, wherein

[Appendix 3]
The predetermined item is information regarding vignetting of strobe light,
The advice information is photographing operation information that prompts the use of an external strobe when photographing the image displayed on the display means.
The photographing advice device according to appendix 1, wherein

It is a figure which shows the structure of the camera which implements this invention. It is a rear view of the camera shown in FIG. It is a flowchart (the 1) which shows the processing content of the 1st example of advice processing. It is a flowchart (the 2) which shows the processing content of the 1st example of advice processing. It is a figure which shows the example of reproduction | regeneration display of the image currently recorded on the memory card (the 1). It is a figure which shows the example of reproduction | regeneration display of the image currently recorded on the memory card (the 2). It is a figure which shows the example of a display screen of advice information (the 1). It is a figure which shows the example of a display screen of advice information (the 2). It is a flowchart which shows the processing content of the 2nd example of advice processing. It is a figure which shows the example of reproduction | regeneration display of the image currently recorded on the memory card (the 3). It is a figure which shows the example of reproduction | regeneration display of the image currently recorded on the memory card (the 4). It is a figure which shows the display screen example (the 3) of advice information. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content of the 3rd example of advice processing. It is a figure which shows the structural example when implementing this invention with PC. It is a figure which shows the example of reproduction | regeneration display of the image currently recorded on the memory card (the 5). It is a figure which shows the display screen example (the 4) of advice information.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Camera 11 Lens 12 Imaging part 13 Imaging processing part 14 Image processing part 15 RAM
16 Memory I / F unit 17 Memory card 18 Display processing unit 19 Display unit 20 USB I / F
21 CPU
22 ROM
23 Operation Input Unit 23-1 Release Button 23-2 Confirm Button 23-3, 23-4, 23-5, 23-6 Cross Button 23-7 Guide Button 24 Bus 30 Housing 31 Viewfinder 40 PC
50 Information server device 51 Database 60 Communication line

Claims (8)

Display means for displaying an image;
A determination unit that determines a shooting state of the image displayed on the display unit based on shooting information about the image;
Presenting means for presenting advice information, which is operation information at the time of image capturing corresponding to the predetermined condition, when the shooting situation matches a predetermined condition in the determination;
A photographing advice device characterized by comprising:   2. The advice information is information indicating that it is recommended to use a digital zoom at the time of photographing the image, or information that recommends replacement of a lens used at the time of photographing the image. The shooting advice device described in 1.   The presenting means provides the advice when the information about the image indicates that the image is captured at the telephoto end in the optical zoom and the image is captured at a focus position at infinity. The photographing advice apparatus according to claim 2, wherein information is presented. The determination means determines the presence or absence of vignetting of the strobe light used at the time of shooting the image,
The above advice information is information that recommends using an external strobe attached to the camera.
The photographing advice device according to claim 1, wherein:   The presenting means includes information on the lens used when photographing the image, information on the focal length when photographing the image, and use of a strobe built into the camera when photographing the image. 5. The photographing advice apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the advice information is presented when information indicating presence / absence matches the predetermined condition. The determination means determines the presence or absence of the occurrence of light diffraction due to excessive aperture of the lens diaphragm at the time of photographing the image,
The advice information is information indicating that it is recommended to change the setting of the lens aperture to an opening direction rather than that at the time of shooting the image.
The photographing advice device according to claim 1, wherein: Based on the shooting information about the image, determine the shooting status of the image displayed on the display unit,
In the determination, when the shooting situation matches a predetermined condition, advice information that is operation information at the time of image shooting corresponding to the predetermined condition is presented.
A shooting advice method characterized by that. A process of determining the shooting status of the image displayed on the display unit based on shooting information about the image;
A process of presenting advice information, which is operation information at the time of image shooting corresponding to the predetermined condition, when the shooting situation matches a predetermined condition in the determination;
A program that causes a computer to perform