JP2007133044A - Imaging apparatus and imaging method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an imaging apparatus and an imaging method which actualize focusing even on a low contrast object, an object under dark conditions, or such an object including noise. <P>SOLUTION: The imaging apparatus is equipped with: an automatic focus detecting means for detecting the contrast of a selected area including an object image thereby detecting a focal point, from image data obtained by receiving light from an object and from the circumference of the object after passing through a photographic lens; and a photometric means for dividing the object image into a plurality of photometric areas and obtaining the evaluation values of the respective divided photometric areas thereby performing photometry. In the imaging apparatus, object area setting means SW8, SW10 and SW12 for setting the size of an object area are provided and when a macro photographing mode is selected, the automatic focus detecting means make a comparison between, out of the evaluation values of the respective photometric areas obtained by the photometric means, the evaluation value of the selected area including the object and the evaluation value of the photometric area on the circumference of the object, and the size of an area for obtaining an AF evaluation value can be consequently made variable. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus and an imaging method that perform focus detection, particularly automatic focus (AF) detection for macro photography.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, techniques for limiting the detection range of an imaging apparatus that automatically performs focus detection have been proposed (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 3).
Such a technique is disclosed in the autofocus device of Patent Document 1 and the automatic focus detection device of Patent Document 2. In the disclosure of Patent Document 1, the area for acquiring the AF evaluation value is enlarged when it is dark, but if the AF area is inadvertently enlarged, it is affected by the background and fits the subject. There is a problem of not burning.
Similarly, the disclosure of Patent Document 2 enlarges the area for acquiring the AF evaluation value when it is dark, but this is not taken into consideration in an environment where the surroundings are bright and the subject is low contrast. A way to improve the problem was desired.
In addition, an electronic imaging device such as a digital still camera is generally equipped with an autofocus (hereinafter referred to as AF) device that automatically focuses. As the method, the hill-climbing AF control described in Patent Document 3 is widely used.
This hill-climbing AF control is a control in which an integral value of a high-frequency component or a luminance difference between adjacent pixels is obtained from a video signal obtained for each field or frame, and this is used as an AF evaluation value indicating the degree of focus. .
The AF evaluation value is large because the edge portion of the subject is clear when the subject is in focus, and the AF evaluation value is small when the subject is out of focus. When the AF operation is executed, the AF evaluation values are sequentially acquired while moving the lens, and the lens is stopped with the point where the AF evaluation value is maximized as the focal point.
An imaging apparatus that captures a still image, such as a digital still camera, generally requires strict focusing as compared to an imaging apparatus that captures moving images such as a video camera. For this reason, the AF operation is performed every time the photographing operation is performed, or the focusing operation is always repeated in the recording mode.
JP 11-215426 A JP 2003-29137 A Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 39-5265

However, when shooting an object with low contrast as a subject, noise may be generated due to low or low contrast of AF evaluation values, and multiple peaks may appear. There is a problem of not.
In close-up shooting such as in the macro mode, the camera and the subject are close to each other, so the camera may become a shadow, and the contrast of the subject may be lost. .
In view of the above, the object of the present invention is to make the AF evaluation value as low contrast or dark by making the area from which the AF evaluation value is acquired variable based on the photometric results of the subject and the surroundings in consideration of the above situation. An object of the present invention is to propose an imaging apparatus and an imaging method capable of focusing even in an environment in which a mountain of values becomes low or a plurality of mountains appear due to noise.

In order to solve the above problems, the invention described in claim 1 is directed to an imaging device that receives image data obtained by receiving light from a subject passing through a photographing lens and from the periphery of the subject. An automatic focus detection means for detecting a focus by detecting contrast, a photometry means for performing photometry by dividing the subject image into a plurality of photometry areas, and obtaining an evaluation value for each of the divided photometry areas, and an object area Subject area setting means for setting the size, and the subject area setting means includes the subject among the evaluation values of each photometric area obtained by the photometric means when the macro shooting mode is selected. The size of the subject area is set by comparing the evaluation values of the selected area and the photometric area around the subject.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the imaging apparatus according to the first aspect, the subject area setting means determines that an evaluation value of a photometric area which is a selected area including the subject is the subject as a result of the comparison of the evaluation values. If it is smaller than the surrounding photometric area, the selected area including the subject is set larger.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the imaging apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the subject area setting means has an evaluation value of a photometric area that is a selected area including the subject as a result of the comparison of the evaluation values. When smaller than the photometry area around the subject, the subject area is set larger with respect to the direction in which the evaluation value is larger than the photometry area that is the selection area including the subject.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the imaging apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, the subject area setting means is a photometric measurement that is a selected area including the subject as a result of the comparison of the evaluation values. When the evaluation value of the area is less than a predetermined size together with the photometry area around the subject, the subject area is set to be large.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an automatic focus detection step for detecting a focus by detecting a contrast of image data that is a subject area including a subject image while moving a focus lens in an optical axis direction, and the subject. The image data is divided into a plurality of photometry areas, and a photometry process is performed to obtain the evaluation value of each of the divided photometry areas. A photographing mode selection step capable of selecting at least a normal photographing mode and a macro photographing mode, and a photometric area and a subject including or close to the subject when the macro photographing mode is selected in the photographing mode selecting step. Set the size of the subject area by comparing the evaluation values with the surrounding photometry area It characterized by having a Utsushitai area setting step.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the imaging method according to the fifth aspect, in the subject area setting step, an evaluation value of a photometric area including the subject or close to the subject is determined based on a comparison result of the evaluation values. The subject area is set to be larger if it is smaller than the photometric area.
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the imaging method according to the fifth or sixth aspect, in the subject area setting step, an evaluation value of a photometric area including the subject or close to the subject is determined based on a comparison result of the evaluation values. If it is smaller than the photometry area around the subject, the subject area is set larger with respect to the direction in which the evaluation value is larger than the photometry area including or close to the subject.
According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the imaging method according to any one of the fifth to seventh aspects, in the subject area setting step, a photometric area that includes the subject or is close to the subject according to a comparison result of the evaluation values. When the evaluation value is less than a predetermined size together with the photometric area around the subject, the subject area is set to be large.

  According to the present invention, by focusing on the background by inadvertently expanding the area by increasing the area from which the AF evaluation value is acquired in the direction in which the luminance difference is large among the photometric results of the subject and the surrounding area. Will be solved.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a top view showing the appearance of a digital still camera. FIG. 2 is a front view showing the appearance of the digital still camera. FIG. 3 is a rear view showing the appearance of the digital still camera. FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of the digital still camera.
First, an outline of the operation of the digital still camera of this embodiment will be described. First, the operation key units (SW1 to SW13) will be described with reference to FIGS. In the operation key unit of the digital camera 3, SW1 is a release shutter button, SW2 is a mode dial switch, SW3h zoom switch (WIDE), and SW4 is a zoom switch (TELE).
In the operation key unit, SW5 is a self-timer / delete switch, SW6 is a menu switch, SW7 is an up / strobe switch, SW8 is a right switch, SW9 is a display switch, SW10 is a down / macro switch, SW11 is a left / image confirmation. A switch, SW12 is an OK switch, and SW13 is a power switch.

1 to 3 show an SD card / battery cover 2, an optical viewfinder 4, a distance measuring unit 5, a remote control light receiving unit 6, a lens barrel unit 7, a sub LCD 9, a strobe light emitting unit 10, and an AF (auto focus) LED 12 which will be described later. A strobe LED 13 and an LCD monitor 28 are shown.
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the lens barrel unit 7 includes a zoom optical system 7-1 including a zoom lens 7-1a for capturing an optical image of a subject, a zoom drive motor 7-1b, a focus lens 7-2a, a focus. Focus optical system 7-2 composed of drive motor 7-2b, diaphragm 7-3a, diaphragm unit 7-3 composed of diaphragm motor 7-3b, mechanical shutter unit 7- composed of mechanical shutter 7-4a, mechanical shutter motor 7-4b 4. It has a motor driver 7-5 for driving each motor.
The motor driver 7-5 is driven by a drive command from a CPU block 16-3 in the digital still camera processor 16 to be described later, based on an input from the remote control light receiving unit 6 or an operation input from the operation key units (SW1 to SW13). Drive controlled.
The ROM 18 stores a control program described by codes readable by the CPU block 16-3 and parameters for control. When the power of the digital still camera is turned on, the program is loaded into a main memory (not shown).
The CPU block 16-3 controls the operation of each part of the apparatus according to the program, and temporarily stores data necessary for the control in the RAM 17 and a local SRAM 16-4 in the digital still camera processor 16 described later.
By using a rewritable flash ROM as the ROM 18, the control program and parameters for control can be changed, and the function can be easily upgraded.
The CCD 8 is a solid-state image sensor for photoelectric conversion of an optical image. The F / E (front / end) -IC 14 includes a CDS 14-1 that performs correlated double sampling for image noise removal, an AGC 14-2 that performs gain adjustment, and an A / D 14-3 that performs digital signal conversion.
Further, the F / E-IC 14 is supplied with a vertical synchronizing signal (hereinafter referred to as VD) and a horizontal synchronizing signal (hereinafter referred to as HD) from the CCD 1 control (signal processing) block 16-1, and the CPU block 16. -3 (controlled by -3) and a TG (timing generator) 14-4 for generating a drive timing signal for the F / E-IC14.

The digital still camera processor 16 performs white balance setting and gamma setting on the output data of the F / E-IC 14 from the CCD 8, and as described above, the CCD1 control block 16-1 for supplying the VD signal and HD signal, the filtering By processing, a CCD2 control (signal processing) block 16-2 for converting into luminance data and color difference data, a CPU block 16-3 for controlling the operation of each part of the device, data necessary for the control, etc. are temporarily stored. In particular, it includes a local SRAM 16-4 for storage.
The digital still camera processor 16 also includes a USB block 16-5 for performing USB communication with an external device such as a personal computer, a serial block 16-6 for performing serial communication with an external device such as a personal computer, and a JPEG CODEC (for JPEG compression / decompression). JPEG codec) block 16-7, resizing block 16-8 for enlarging / reducing the size of the image data by interpolation processing, TV for converting the image data into a video signal for display on an external display device such as a liquid crystal monitor or TV It has a signal display block 16-9 and a memory card controller block 16-10 for controlling the memory card that records the captured image data.
The SDRAM 15 temporarily stores image data when the digital still camera processor 16 performs various processes on the image data. The stored image data is, for example, “RAW-RGB image data” in which the CCD 1 control block 16-1 takes in white balance and gamma settings from the CCD 8 via the F / E-IC 14. “YUV image data” in which luminance data and color difference data are converted by the CCD2 control block 16-2, or “JPEG image data” compressed by JPEG by the JPEG CODEC block 16-7.

The memory card slot 30 is a slot for mounting a removable memory card. In addition to the memory card, the memory card slot 30 can be mounted with a removable LAN card, a wireless LAN card, a Bluetooth card, and the like. The captured image can be transferred to an external device via the card.
The built-in memory 29 is a memory for storing captured image data even when no memory card is inserted in the memory card slot 30 described above.
The LCD driver 25 is a drive circuit that drives an LCD monitor 28 described later, and also has a function of converting the video signal output from the TV signal display block 16-9 into a signal for display on the LCD monitor 28. .
The LCD monitor 28 is a monitor for performing a role of monitoring the subject state before photographing and confirming the photographed image and displaying the image data recorded in the memory card or the built-in memory 29 described above.
The video AMP 26 is an amplifier for converting the impedance of the video signal output from the TV signal display block 16-9 to 75Ω. The video jack 27 is a jack for connecting to an external display device such as a TV. The USB connector 31 is a connector for performing USB connection with an external device such as a personal computer.
The serial driver circuit 32-1 is a circuit for converting the voltage of the output signal of the serial block 16-6 described above in order to perform serial communication with an external device such as a personal computer. The RS-232C connector 32-2 is a connector for performing serial connection with an external device such as a personal computer.

The sub CPU 19 is a CPU in which ROM / RAM is built in one chip, and outputs the output signals of the operation key units (SW1 to SW13) and the remote control light receiving unit 6 to the CPU block 16-3 described above as user operation information. Further, the camera state output from the CPU block 16-3 is converted into control signals for a sub LCD 9, AF (auto focus) LED 12, strobe LED 13, and buzzer 21, which will be described later, and output.
The sub LCD 9 is a display unit for displaying, for example, the number of shootable images. The LCD driver 20 is a drive circuit for driving the sub LCD 9 described above by the output signal of the sub CPU 19 described above.
The AF LED 12 is an LED for displaying an in-focus state at the time of photographing, and the strobe LED 13 is an LED for indicating a strobe charging state. The AF LED 12 and the strobe LED 13 may be used for another display application such as when a memory card is being accessed. The operation key units (SW1 to SW13) are key circuits operated by the user, and the remote control light receiving unit 6 is a signal reception unit of the remote control transmitter operated by the user.
The voice recording unit 23 includes a microphone 23-3 for inputting a voice signal by a user, a microphone AMP 23-2 for amplifying the input voice signal, and a voice recording circuit 23-3 for recording the amplified voice signal.
The audio reproduction unit 24 amplifies the speaker 24-3 that outputs the audio signal, the audio reproduction circuit 24-1 that converts the recorded audio signal into a signal that can be output from the speaker 24-3, and the converted audio signal, In addition, an audio AMP 24-2 for driving the speaker 24-3 is included.

By setting the mode dial switch SW2 of FIG. 1 to the recording mode, the digital still camera 3 is activated in the recording mode. The mode dial is set by the CPU block 16-3 detecting that the mode dial switch SW2 included in the operation key unit in FIG. The trunk unit 7 is moved to a position where photographing is possible.
Further, the power is turned on to the respective parts such as the CCD 8, F / E-IC 14, LCD display (monitor) 28 and the like to start the operation. When the power of each part is turned on, the operation in the finder mode is started.
In the finder mode, light incident on the image sensor (CCD) 8 through the lens is electrically converted and sent to the CDS circuit 14-1 and A / D converter 14-3 as analog signals R, G, B. .
Each signal converted into a digital signal by A / D conversion is converted into a YUV signal by a YUV converter in a digital signal processing IC (CCD2 signal processing block 16-2), and a memory controller in the digital still camera processor 16 Is written in the frame memory (SDRAM 15).
The YUV signal is read by the memory controller and sent to the TV or LCD monitor 28 via the display output control unit (TV signal display block 16-9) for display. This process is performed at 1/30 second intervals, and a finder mode display updated every 1/30 seconds is obtained.

Also, an AF evaluation value indicating the degree of focusing on the screen and an AE evaluation value indicating the exposure state are calculated from the digital RGB signals captured in the CCD I / F block in the digital still camera processor 16. The AF evaluation value data is read out as feature data to the CPU 16-3 and used for AF processing.
The AF evaluation value is created by, for example, an output integrated value of a high frequency component extraction filter or an integrated value of a luminance difference between adjacent pixels. When in the in-focus state, the edge portion of the subject is clear, so the high frequency component is the highest. By utilizing this, at the time of the focus detection operation by AF, the AF evaluation value at each focus lens position is acquired, and AF is executed with the point where the maximum is obtained as the focus position.
The AE evaluation value is obtained by dividing the digital RGB signal into several areas and using luminance data in the areas. A pixel that exceeds a predetermined threshold with respect to pixels in each area is determined as a target pixel, and the luminance value is added and multiplied by the number of target pixels. An appropriate exposure amount is calculated based on the luminance distribution of each area, and correction is performed for capturing the next frame.

When the release shutter button SW1 of FIG. 1 is operated, an AF operation that is a focus position detection and a still image recording process are performed. When the release shutter button SW1 is pressed, a still image shooting start signal is taken into the circuit from the camera operation unit (operation key units SW1 to SW13) in FIG. 4, and this circuit synchronizes with the frame rate, and the motor driver 7-5. A hill-climbing AF is performed by driving the lens via
When the in-focus range is the entire region from infinity to close, the focus lens 7-2a moves each focus position from close to infinity or from infinity to close to the digital signal processing IC (CCD1 signal processing block). The circuit reads out the AF evaluation value in each frame (= each focus position) created in 16-1). The focus lens 7-2a is moved to the in-focus position with the point at which the AF evaluation value at each focus position is maximized as the in-focus position.
The analog RGB signal taken out from the CCD 8 after the AF is completed is converted into a digital RGB signal and stored in the frame memory (SDRAM 15) via the digital signal processing IC (CCD1 signal processing block 16-1). The digital RGB signal is read again by the digital signal processing circuit (CCD2 signal processing block 16-2), converted into YUV data, and written back to the frame memory.
At the time of capturing a still image, YUV converted image data is sent to an image compression / decompression circuit (JPEG CODEC (JPEG Codec) block 16-7) in the digital still camera processor 16. The YUV data sent to the image compression / decompression circuit is compressed and written back to the frame memory (SDRAM 15). The compressed data in the frame memory is read through the digital signal processing circuit and stored in the frame memory (SDRAM 15).

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an LCD display screen when the macro mode is set.
Next, operations that characterize the present invention will be described. In FIG. 5, the area around the cross mark at the center of the screen is the AF evaluation value acquisition area, which is surrounded by a dotted line (the dotted line area is not displayed on the actual camera screen).
The release shutter button SW1 of the camera shown in FIG. 1 is a two-stage switch. When the shutter button SW1 is pressed halfway, a focusing operation is performed. When the shutter button is pressed further, a recording operation is performed. The focusing operation at this time is executed by setting a rectangular area surrounding the cross mark as an AF evaluation value acquisition area based on the position of the cross mark displayed on the screen of FIG.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an area position change mode screen. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an area position moving screen. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an area position determination screen. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an area expansion setting screen.
As a first embodiment, a digital still camera equipped with the present invention will be described. When the down / macro switch SW10 is pressed in the state of FIG. 5, the screen changes to the area position change mode screen as shown in FIG.
Here, the area position change mode is a mode that makes it possible to move the AF evaluation value acquisition area on the screen. The area frame change mode is a mode that allows the size of the AF evaluation value acquisition area to be changed.
When one of the up / down / left / right switches SW7, SW10, SW11, SW8 in FIG. 3 is pressed in the area position change mode, the cross mark displayed at the center of the screen can be moved. When the user moves to an arbitrary position on the screen (FIG. 7) and then presses the OK switch button SW12 (FIG. 3), the cross mark is fixed at that position (FIG. 8). When fixed, the area for acquiring the AF evaluation value is reset (FIG. 9).

FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining the AF area setting process. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the divided photometry areas. When the release shutter button SW1 (FIG. 1) is pressed halfway after changing the area position, the processing of the flowchart is executed.
First, the position of the AF area is confirmed (S1). After confirmation, a photometric area corresponding to the AF area is selected. In this embodiment, the photometric area is a photometric area obtained by dividing the screen into nine as shown in FIG. Now, if it is in the state of FIG. 8, the photometry area 3 shown in FIG. 11 is a photometry area corresponding to an AF area.
Next, the luminance of the selected photometric area, that is, the photometric area including or close to the subject and the photometric area around the subject is calculated, and it is determined whether the luminance difference between the AF area and the peripheral photometric area is large (S2). ). If the difference between the luminance value of the selected photometric area and the luminance value of the surrounding photometric area is large, the process proceeds to step S4. Otherwise, the process proceeds to step S3.
When the process proceeds to step S3, it is determined whether or not the luminance values of the selected photometric area and the peripheral photometric area are predetermined luminance values, that is, whether the luminance of the subject and the peripheral photometric area is low. Here, the predetermined luminance refers to luminance capable of hill-climbing AF, and is Lv3 in this embodiment.
If the selected photometry area and the surrounding photometry area are below a predetermined luminance value, the process proceeds to step S4, and the entire AF area is enlarged. Otherwise, the process proceeds to step S5, and the mountain climbing AF process is started.
As described above, in step S4, processing for enlarging the AF area indicated by the dotted line in FIG. 8 is performed. Actually, if the AF area is enlarged too much, it may be pulled to the background side, so at present, it is enlarged 20% both vertically and horizontally (FIG. 9). In step S5, hill-climbing AF is started and a peak position is calculated.

Next, a digital still camera equipped with the present invention will be described as a second embodiment. In the second embodiment, the AF area selection method is the same as in the first embodiment.
FIG. 12 is a flowchart for explaining the AF area setting process. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an AF area. FIG. 14 is an enlarged view showing the entire AF area. FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a divided photometric area in which a broken line indicates a portion with high luminance. FIG. 16 shows a partially enlarged AF area.
When the release shutter button SW1 in FIG. 1 is half-pressed, the processing in the flowchart in FIG. 12 is executed. First, the position of the AF area is confirmed (S10). After confirmation, a photometric area corresponding to the AF area is selected. The photometry area is as shown in FIG. 11, and if it is in the state shown in FIG. 13, the photometry area 5 in FIG. 11 is a photometry area corresponding to the AF area.
Next, the brightness of the selected photometry area and the surrounding photometry area is calculated, and it is determined whether the brightness difference between the AF area (subject) and the surrounding photometry area is large (S11). If the difference between the luminance value of the selected photometric area and the luminance value of the surrounding photometric area is large, the process proceeds to step S13. Otherwise, the process proceeds to step S12.

If the process proceeds to step S12, whether or not the luminance values of the selected photometric area (subject) and the surrounding photometric areas are predetermined luminance values, that is, whether the luminance values of the selected photometric area (subject) and the peripheral photometric areas are low. Judging. This predetermined luminance value is the same as that in the first embodiment. If the selected photometry area and the surrounding photometry area are below the predetermined luminance value, the process proceeds to step S15, and if not, the process proceeds to step S16.
Step S15 is the same as step S4 of the first embodiment, and the AF area is enlarged as a whole (FIG. 14), and the process proceeds to step S16. In step S13, the luminance difference between the selected photometry area and the surrounding photometry areas is compared.
Since the photometric area 5 (FIG. 11) corresponds to the selected photometric area, the photometric areas 1 to 4 and 6 to 9 correspond to the peripheral photometric areas. From this photometric area, a photometric area number having a luminance value larger than that of the selected area is extracted, and the process proceeds to step S14.
In step S14, the photometry area extracted in step S13 is read, and the AF area is enlarged only in the direction in which the photometry area is present. For example, when the photometry area 6, photometry area 8, and photometry area 9 are recorded as shown in FIG. 15, the AF area is enlarged rightward, obliquely downward, and downward (FIG. 16). In step S16, hill-climbing AF is started for the determined AF area, and the peak position is calculated.
As in the first and second embodiments described above, the luminance of the subject is low even in an environment where the subject is low in luminance or low in contrast, such as low-contrast AF. The peak position can be calculated by enlarging the AF area to the higher side. Further, even in an environment where the camera becomes a shadow and is difficult to focus when close to the camera, it can be improved by enlarging the AF area.

It is a top view which shows the external appearance of a digital still camera. It is a front view which shows the external appearance of a digital still camera. It is a back view which shows the external appearance of a digital still camera. It is a functional block diagram of a digital still camera. It is a figure which shows the LCD display screen when macro mode is set. It is a figure which shows an area position change mode screen. It is a figure which shows an area position movement screen. It is a figure which shows an area position determination screen. It is a figure which shows an area expansion setting screen. It is a flowchart explaining AF area setting processing. It is a figure which shows the divided photometry area. It is a flowchart explaining AF area setting processing. It is a figure which shows AF area. It is a figure which expands and shows the whole AF area. It is a figure which shows the divided photometry area which has shown the part with a high brightness | luminance with a broken line. It is a figure which shows AF area expanded partially.

Explanation of symbols

  3 digital still camera, 7 lens barrel unit, 7-2a focus lens, 7-5 motor driver, 16 photometric means (digital still camera processor), 16-3 CPU, 12 auto focus detection means (AF LED), SW1 release shutter Button, SW2 mode dial switch, SW8 subject area setting means (right switch), SW10 subject area setting means (down / macro switch), SW11 subject area setting means (left / image confirmation switch), SW12 subject area setting means (OK switch) ), SW13 power switch

Claims (8)

  In an imaging apparatus that obtains image data by receiving light from the subject and the surroundings of the subject that has passed through the photographing lens, automatic focus detection means for detecting a focus by detecting contrast of a selected area including the subject image, and the subject A plurality of photometric areas, and a photometric means for performing photometry by obtaining an evaluation value of each divided photometric area, and a subject area setting means for setting the size of the subject area, the subject area setting The means compares the evaluation values of the selected area including the subject and the photometric area around the subject among the evaluation values of the photometric areas obtained by the photometric means when the macro shooting mode is selected. An imaging apparatus, wherein the size of a subject area is set.   2. The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein, as a result of the comparison of the evaluation values, the subject area setting means determines that the evaluation value of the photometry area that is the selected area including the subject is smaller than the photometry area around the subject. An imaging apparatus characterized by setting a large selection area including   The imaging device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, as a result of the comparison of the evaluation values, the subject area setting means, when the evaluation value of a photometry area that is a selection area including the subject is smaller than the photometry area around the subject, An imaging apparatus, wherein the subject area is set larger with respect to a direction having a larger evaluation value than a photometric area that is a selection area including the subject.   4. The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the subject area setting unit is configured such that, as a result of the comparison of the evaluation values, an evaluation value of a photometry area that is a selected area including the subject is a photometry around the subject. An imaging apparatus, wherein the subject area is set to be large when the area does not reach a predetermined size together with the area.   An automatic focus detection step of detecting the focus by detecting the contrast of the image data that is the subject area including the subject image while moving the focus lens in the optical axis direction, and the subject image is divided into a plurality of photometric areas; At least a normal shooting mode in an imaging method including a photometric process for performing photometry by obtaining an evaluation value of each of the divided photometric areas, and obtaining image data by receiving light from the subject passing through the photographing lens and light from the periphery of the subject. When the macro shooting mode is selected in the shooting mode selection step, the evaluation value of the photometry area including or close to the subject and the photometry area around the subject is compared. A subject area setting step for setting the size of the subject area. Imaging method comprising and.   6. The imaging method according to claim 5, wherein, in the subject area setting step, when the evaluation value of the photometry area including the subject or close to the subject is smaller than the photometry area around the subject according to the comparison result of the evaluation values, the subject area Is set to a large value.   7. The imaging method according to claim 5, wherein, in the subject area setting step, when an evaluation value of a photometry area including or close to the subject is smaller than a photometry area around the subject, according to a comparison result of the evaluation values, An imaging method, wherein the subject area is set larger with respect to a direction in which an evaluation value is larger than a photometric area including or close to the subject.   8. The imaging method according to claim 5, wherein, in the subject area setting step, an evaluation value of a photometric area including or close to the subject is determined based on a comparison result of the evaluation values. In addition, if the predetermined size is not reached, the subject area is set to be large.

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