JP2008294972A - Imaging apparatus and control method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an imaging apparatus which is capable of preventing changed sensitivity from being forgotten to return, the imaging apparatus being capable of changing photographing sensitivity. <P>SOLUTION: When setting sensitivity, validity of the set sensitivity is enabled to be set by designating start date and time (S133) or an end date and time (S134), for example. After the expiration of the validity, for example, a user is notified of the photographing sensitivity being set at that point of time, and confirmation is required. Thus, the user is enabled to grasp the present sensitivity setting value and also to return the sensitivity as needed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus and a control method thereof, and more particularly, to an imaging apparatus capable of changing photographing sensitivity and a control method thereof.

  In recent years, digital cameras configured to convert a subject image formed by a photographing optical system into a video signal using an image sensor such as a CCD image sensor or a CMOS image sensor and record the image signal on a recording medium or the like are widely spread. is doing.

  One of the advantages over a so-called silver salt camera in which a digital camera uses a film is that the sensitivity can be easily changed. In the case of a silver salt camera, since the sensitivity depends on the film, changing the sensitivity requires a film exchange. For example, it is not realistic to change the sensitivity every time one image is taken. Therefore, in order to obtain an appropriate exposure for subjects with different brightness, it is necessary to change the combination of the shutter speed and the aperture value.

  However, in the digital camera, the sensitivity can be changed by changing the gain of the image sensor or the image processing circuit. Therefore, for example, it is easy to take a picture while changing the sensitivity one by one. Therefore, it is possible to shoot subjects with different brightness by changing the sensitivity while keeping the shutter speed and aperture value constant, and there are more choices of shooting expressions compared to silver halide cameras.

  There are digital cameras that take advantage of such advantages and automatically change the sensitivity according to the brightness of the subject (see Patent Document 1). The digital camera described in Patent Document 1 suppresses the occurrence of camera shake by automatically increasing the sensitivity so that shooting can be performed at a faster shutter speed when the subject brightness is low.

  Since the sensitivity setting affects the imaging result, it is preferable that the user can grasp the sensitivity setting value. For this reason, the sensitivity setting value is conventionally displayed on a display device included in the imaging device.

  However, a display device used for sensitivity display in an image pickup apparatus is generally small and does not have high resolution in order to avoid an increase in size and cost of the apparatus. On the other hand, since there is a lot of information to be displayed in addition to the sensitivity, it is not easy to display in an easy-to-understand manner for the user.

  From such a background, as a method for efficiently displaying the sensitivity on the display device of the imaging device, a method of using the same display area for displaying the film count value when the power is turned on and for displaying the sensitivity when the power is turned off has been proposed. (See Patent Document 2).

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-292740 (page 3, FIG. 2) JP-A-9-146159 (second page, FIG. 9)

  In digital cameras, the sensitivity can be easily changed, but on the other hand, it may happen that the sensitivity set temporarily is forgotten and forgotten. Since the sensitivity affects the photographing result, if the photographing is performed with an unintended sensitivity, the photographing result may be unintended by the photographer.

  In the case of the digital camera described in Patent Document 2, such a setting error cannot be avoided because the set sensitivity is not displayed when the power is turned on.

  In the case of the digital camera described in Patent Document 1, an upper limit value of sensitivity set by automatic change can be set in order to prevent high sensitivity unintended by the user from being set automatically. However, if the upper limit value is temporarily set low and then the setting is forgotten, the effect of preventing camera shake will not be sufficiently obtained.

  The present invention aims to improve at least one of the problems of the prior art.

  In the imaging apparatus that converts an object image into an electrical signal using an imaging element and records it, the above-described object is to obtain a photographing sensitivity designated by the user and a valid period thereof, and whether or not the valid period has elapsed. This is achieved by an imaging apparatus comprising: a means for determining; and a means for notifying the user of the currently set photographing sensitivity when the effective period has elapsed.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, in an imaging apparatus that converts an object image into an electrical signal using an imaging element and records the means, a means for acquiring a photographing sensitivity specified by the user and an effective period thereof, and the effective period has elapsed. It is also achieved by an imaging apparatus characterized by comprising means for determining whether or not the image has been obtained and means for changing the imaging sensitivity to a preset sensitivity when the effective period has elapsed.

  In addition, in the above-described object, in an image pickup apparatus control method for converting a subject image into an electrical signal using an image pickup device and recording the image, a step of acquiring a user-specified shooting sensitivity and its effective period, and an effective period have elapsed. It is also achieved by a method for controlling an imaging apparatus, comprising: a step of determining whether or not an image has been performed; and a step of notifying a user of a currently set imaging sensitivity when an effective period has elapsed.

  In addition, in the above-described object, in an image pickup apparatus control method for converting a subject image into an electrical signal using an image pickup device and recording the image, a step of acquiring a user-specified shooting sensitivity and its effective period, and an effective period have elapsed. It is also achieved by a method for controlling an imaging apparatus, comprising: a step of determining whether or not an image has been performed; and a step of changing a photographing sensitivity to a preset sensitivity when an effective period has elapsed.

  With such a configuration, according to the imaging apparatus and the control method thereof of the present invention, forgetting to return the imaging sensitivity temporarily set by the user can be suppressed.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a mechanical configuration example of a digital single lens reflex camera (SLR camera) as an example of an imaging apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the photographing sensitivity is assumed to be a commonly used ISO standard output sensitivity, and the sensitivity setting is performed by setting a value of ISO sensitivity.

  The SLR camera 100 includes a camera body 1 and an interchangeable photographing lens 3. The photographing lens 3 has a focus lens group and a zoom lens group inside, and is attached to a mount 2 provided in the camera body 1. In FIG. 1, each of these lens groups is represented as a single lens for the sake of convenience, but in actuality, it is composed of a combination of many lenses. The mount 2 has an interface unit (not shown) for communicating various signals between the taking lens 3 and the camera body 1 and supplying driving power for the lens.

  The main mirror 4 composed of a half mirror can be rotated according to the operating state of the SLR camera 100. When the subject is observed with the optical finder 19, as shown in FIG. 1, it is obliquely arranged on the photographing optical path, and a part of the light flux from the photographing lens 3 is reflected and guided to a finder optical system described later. Further, during photographing, it rotates upward and retracts from the photographing optical path, and guides the light beam from the photographing lens 3 to the image sensor 7 described later.

  The sub mirror 5 is also composed of a half mirror and rotates together with the main mirror 4. In the state of FIG. 1 in which the main mirror 4 is obliquely arranged on the photographing optical path, the light beam that has entered through the main mirror 4 is divided into a light beam that reaches an AF sensor 8 described later and a light beam that reaches an image sensor 7 described later. To do.

  The image sensor 7 is a CCD image sensor, a CMOS image sensor, or the like, and converts a subject image formed by the photographing lens 3 into an electrical signal. A shutter 6 is arranged in the vicinity of the imaging lens 3 side of the image sensor 7. The AF sensor 8 includes a secondary imaging lens, an area sensor composed of a plurality of CCDs, and the like, and performs focus detection by a known phase difference method.

  The focus plate 9 is disposed on the primary imaging surface of the photographic lens 3, a Fresnel lens (condenser lens) is provided on the incident surface (lower surface in the figure), and a subject image (finder image) on the exit surface (upper surface in the figure). Forms an image. Reference numeral 10 denotes a finder field frame that forms a finder field area, and 11 is a pentaprism for changing the finder optical path, and corrects the subject image formed on the exit surface of the focusing plate 9 to an erect image. Reference numerals 12 and 13 are eyepiece lenses. Here, an optical system constituted by the focus plate 9, the pentaprism 11, and the eyepieces 12 and 13 is referred to as a finder optical system. The user can look through the optical viewfinder 19 and observe the viewfinder image.

  The AE sensor 14 is composed of a photodiode corresponding to each region in the multi-divided shooting screen, and measures the luminance for each region of the subject image formed on the exit surface of the focus plate 9.

15 is an LED for LCD illumination, 16 is an LCD for displaying in the viewfinder, and 17 is a triangular prism. The light beam emitted from the LED 15 and transmitted through the LCD 16 is guided out of the viewfinder field by the triangular prism 17. Thus, the photographer can view various pieces of photographing information when observing the optical viewfinder 19.
The liquid crystal monitor 18 is used for displaying captured images and various types of shooting information.

2 is a block diagram showing an example of the electrical configuration of the digital single-lens reflex camera 100 having the configuration shown in FIG. 1, and the same reference numerals are assigned to the same configurations as those in FIG.
A microcomputer (central processing unit; hereinafter referred to as MPU) 50 executes a control program stored in a ROM (not shown) to control the entire camera. The memory controller 51 performs various controls of image data. The EEPROM 52 is a nonvolatile storage device that stores setting values for performing various controls, adjustment data, and the like. GUI data such as a setting screen described later can also be stored in the EEPROM 52.

  The lens control circuit 53 is provided in the photographing lens 3 and is connected to the MPU 50 in the camera body 1 via the mount 2 so as to be communicable. The lens control circuit 53 performs focus adjustment (focus drive) and aperture drive of the focus lens group included in the photographing lens 3 based on each information described later.

  The focus detection circuit 54 performs accumulation control and readout control of the area sensor included in the AF sensor 8 and outputs pixel information of each ranging point to the MPU 50. The MPU 50 performs focus detection by a known phase difference detection method from the pixel information of each ranging point, and sends the detected focus detection information to the lens control circuit 53 to perform focus adjustment of the focus lens. This series of operations from focus detection to focus adjustment is referred to as autofocus (hereinafter referred to as AF) operation.

  The photometry circuit 55 outputs a luminance signal from each area of the AE sensor 14 to the MPU 50. The MPU 50 performs A / D conversion of the luminance signal to obtain photometric information of the subject, and adjusts the photographic exposure using this photometric information. The operation for obtaining the photometric information is referred to as an AE operation.

A motor drive circuit 56 controls a motor that drives the main mirror 4 and a motor that charges the shutter 6.
The shutter drive circuit 57 controls the image sensor 7 to expose a predetermined amount of the magnet that travels the front curtain of the shutter 6 and the magnet that travels the rear curtain.

The display driving circuit 58 controls the LCD 16 and controls the lighting and blinking of the LED 15 according to the display contents, and displays shooting information such as a shutter speed (Tv), an aperture value (Av), and the number of shootable images in the finder.
Reference numeral 59 denotes a MODE button. When the electronic dial 61 is operated while being pressed, the shooting mode is changed according to the operation, and when the operation is stopped, the shooting mode at that time is determined.

  The release button 60 has two switches SW1 and SW2. SW1 is turned ON by the first stroke (half-press) operation of the release button 60, and photometry (AE) and AF operations are started. SW2 is turned on by the second stroke (full press) operation of the release button 60, and the exposure operation is started. The ON / OFF states of SW1 and SW2 are output to the MPU 50.

The electronic dial 61 is a user interface for selecting various settings, numerical values, data, and the like. An ON signal corresponding to the rotation click of the electronic dial 61 is output to an unillustrated up / down counter in the MPU 50, and the number of rotation clicks is counted. A value corresponding to this count is selected.
The SET button 62 is operated by the user when determining a numerical value or data in a selected state by operating the electronic dial 61.

  Reference numeral 63 denotes an ISO sensitivity button, which is used by the user when changing the setting of gain (sensitivity) in the image sensor 7 or an image processing circuit 74 described later. When the electronic dial 61 is operated while the ISO sensitivity button 63 is pressed, the gain is changed according to the count, and when the SET button 62 is pressed, the gain at that time is set. Actually, increase / decrease in gain is instructed by the user as increase / decrease in ISO sensitivity. Further, as will be described later, in the SLR camera 100 of the present embodiment, the effective period of the set ISO sensitivity can be set following the setting of the ISO sensitivity.

  A recording image quality button 64 is used by the user when setting the format and image quality for recording captured image data on the recording medium 78. When the electronic dial 61 is operated with the recording image quality button 64 pressed, the setting values of the image format and image quality (compression rate, etc.) at the time of recording are changed according to the count. Then, the set value at the time when the SET button 62 is pressed is finally set.

The power button 65 is a button for turning on / off the power of the SLR camera 100.
Reference numeral 66 denotes a DC / DC converter that converts the voltage of the power supply 67 into a voltage necessary for each circuit.
A clock circuit 68 counts the date and time. The current date and time are set in advance when the camera is manufactured. The date and time are referred to as date / time information.

  A CDS (correlated double sampling) / AGC (automatic gain adjustment) circuit 70 samples and holds an electric signal (image signal) output from the image sensor 7 and performs automatic gain adjustment. The A / D converter 71 converts the analog output of the CDS / AGC circuit 70 into a digital signal. A TG (timing generation) circuit 72 supplies a drive signal to the image sensor 7, a sample hold signal to the CDS / AGC circuit 70, and a sample clock signal to the A / D converter 71. Here, the image signal output from the image sensor 7 is received by the memory controller 51 via the CDS / AGC circuit 70 and the A / D converter 71, so that the focus detection of the subject image by the contrast detection method can be performed. It is.

  The SDRAM 73 temporarily records the image digitally converted by the A / D converter 71. The image processing circuit 74 performs image processing such as Y / C (luminance signal / color difference signal) separation, white balance correction, and γ correction on the image. The image compression / decompression circuit 75 compresses an image according to a format such as JPEG or decompresses the compressed image.

The D / A converter 76 converts an image recorded in the SDRAM 73 or the recording medium 78 into an analog signal for displaying on the liquid crystal monitor 18. Reference numeral 77 denotes an I / F (interface) with a recording medium 78 for recording and storing images.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating sensitivity setting processing in the SLR camera 100 of the present embodiment.
Assume that the MPU 50 detects that the ISO sensitivity button 63 is turned on in S131. Then, the MPU 50 displays the ISO sensitivity setting screen and the selected ISO sensitivity value on the liquid crystal monitor 18 or an information display LCD provided outside the camera (not shown).

  When the electronic dial 61 is operated in S132, the MPU 50 changes the currently displayed ISO sensitivity value according to the operation of the electronic dial 61 based on the ISO sensitivity button 63 being turned on in S131.

  When the SET button 62 is operated, the MPU 50 determines the ISO sensitivity value displayed (selected) at that time as the set sensitivity. Then, the MPU 50 changes the gain setting in the image sensor 7 and the image processing circuit 74 according to the set sensitivity. The gain setting value may be stored in the SDRAM 73 or the EEPROM 52, for example.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of an ISO sensitivity setting screen (GUI: graphical user interface) displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 18. As described above, this is displayed when the MPU 50 detects that the ISO sensitivity button 63 is turned on in S131. When the electronic dial 61 is operated in this state, the ISO sensitivity display 111 is changed (the ISO sensitivity value increases or decreases according to the rotation direction of the electronic dial 61). When the SET button 62 is operated while the desired ISO sensitivity is displayed, the ISO sensitivity is set.

  When the ISO sensitivity is set by pressing the SET button 62, the MPU 50 next causes the user to set the effective period of the ISO sensitivity. Specifically, for example, an effective period setting screen is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 18. Here, as an example, FIGS. 13A and 13B show an effective period setting screen when the effective date start date and end date and time are set on different screens.

  In other words, when the MPU 50 detects that the SET button 62 is pressed in S132 and the ISO sensitivity is set, the MPU 50 displays, for example, a valid period start date and time setting screen on the liquid crystal monitor 18 as shown in FIG.

  The MPU 50 displays the current date / time acquired from the clock circuit 68 as the initial value of the date displayed on the start date setting screen. The “OK” button 112 is selected from the beginning.

  Therefore, if the user wants to use the ISO sensitivity set in S132 immediately, if the user immediately presses the SET button 62, the current date / time is set to the start date / time of the effective period, and the installed ISO sensitivity becomes effective immediately. . On the other hand, when the user wants to change the start date and time, the user presses the SET button 62 after operating the electronic dial 61 to change to the desired date and time. Since this changing method is common to the setting operation of the end date and time, it will be described in detail later. When detecting that the SET button 62 has been pressed, the MPU 50 stores the date and time displayed at that time in the EEPROM 52 or the SDRAM 73 as the start date and time of the valid period (S133).

When the start date / time of the effective period is set in S133, the MPU 50 displays an end date / time setting screen for the effective period on the liquid crystal monitor 18 (S134).
An example of the end date and time setting screen is shown in FIG. Similar to the start date and time setting screen, the current time is displayed as an initial value, and another option of “continuous” is included.

  When the electronic dial 61 is operated on the end date and time setting screen, the MPU 50 moves the focus on the screen in the order of year / month / day / hour / minute, continuous, OK (or vice versa). When the SET button 62 is pressed in a state where the focus is other than “continuous” and “OK”, the MPU 50 makes the value of the focus position changeable with the electronic dial 61.

  Therefore, when the SET button 62 is pressed in the state shown in FIG. 13B, the value of the year is changed by the operation of the electronic dial 61 until the SET button 62 is pressed next time. When the SET button 62 is pressed, the focus moves to the moon. By such an operation, a desired end date and time can be set. FIG. 13C shows a state where the focus has moved to “hour”.

  When the MPU 50 detects that the SET button 62 is pressed while “OK” is selected on the end date and time setting screen, the MPU 50 stores the displayed date and time in the EEPROM 52 or SDRAM 73 as the end date and time of the valid period.

If it is detected that the SET button 62 is pressed while “continuous” is selected, the MPU 50 considers that the validity period has not expired (steady), and sets the expiration date and time of the validity period. do not do. Or you may set the value which means that there is no end date.
Thus, the set sensitivity is stored in association with the effective period, separately from the currently set sensitivity.

Next, sensitivity setting monitoring processing in the SLR camera 100 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
This monitoring process can be executed at least periodically during operation in, for example, the photographing mode. It is also desirable to execute it when the operation mode is switched from another operation mode.

In S101, the MPU 50 refers to the EEPROM 52 or the SDRAM 73 and confirms whether there is a sensitivity for which the valid period is set.
If there is a sensitivity for which the valid period is set, the MPU 50 repeats the process of S101. On the other hand, when there is a sensitivity for which a valid period is set, the MPU 50 acquires current time information (date and time) from the clock circuit 68. Then, the MPU 50 compares the current date and time with the set effective period, and determines whether or not the sensitivity for which the effective period is set is effective (S103).

  If the current date and time is within the effective period, that is, if the start date and time ≦ current date and time <end date and time, the MPU 50 determines whether or not the sensitivity for which the effective period is set is equal to the currently set sensitivity (S105).

  If the sensitivity for which the valid period is set is equal to the current set sensitivity, the MPU 50 moves the process to S109 without changing the current set sensitivity. If the sensitivity for which the valid period is set is different from the currently set sensitivity, the MPU 50 changes the current set sensitivity to the sensitivity for which the valid period is set in S107. At this time, a message may be displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 18 to notify the user that the sensitivity setting has been changed.

In S109, the MPU 50 compares the end date / time of the valid period with the current date / time to check whether the valid period has passed. If the current date / time has reached the end date / time, an expiration process is performed (S111). Details of the expiration process will be described later. If the current date / time has not reached the end date / time, the process of S109 is repeated.
When the expiration process ends, the MPU 50 returns the process to S101 and repeats the above process.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the details of the expiration processing in S111 of FIG.
In S161, the MPU 50 notifies the user that the valid period has elapsed by displaying a message on the liquid crystal monitor 18, the LCD 16, an information display LCD (not shown), or the like. FIG. 14 shows an example of a warning display using the liquid crystal monitor 18.

  Here, an example of a warning screen for notifying the user by notifying the user of at least the currently set sensitivity and asking for confirmation of the set value is shown. The user can reconfirm the current set value on the warning screen and can move to sensitivity setting processing if necessary. It should be noted that the warning screen may clearly indicate that the effective period, particularly the sensitivity effective period for which the end date and time has been set, has elapsed.

  In S162, the MPU 50 waits for an instruction input via the warning screen (depression of the SET button 62). When the execution of the sensitivity setting process is instructed, the MPU 50 performs the sensitivity setting process described with reference to FIG. 4 (S163) and ends the process. On the other hand, when cancellation is instructed, the MPU 50 ends the process without changing the setting sensitivity.

  In the above description, the start date / time of the effective period is set. However, the start date / time may be omitted at the end of the sensitivity setting process. In this case, the processes of S103 to S107 in the monitoring process of FIG.

  Further, as a method for specifying the effective period, instead of specifying a specific date and time such as a start date and an end date and time, an effective time (for example, 1 hour, 30 minutes, etc.) can be specified. In this case, for example, the date and time at the end of the sensitivity setting process may be stored as the starting point of the effective time, and instead of setting the end date and time, the effective time may be set in days / hours / minutes. Then, the monitoring process of FIG. 3 can be applied by calculating the end date / time from the stored start date / time and effective time.

  In addition, the user can set the sensitivity (basic sensitivity) for regular use separately, and when a sensitivity different from the basic sensitivity is set, a predetermined effective time (for example, 1 hour) is automatically set. May be. By doing so, the user is warned after the effective time has elapsed simply by performing the same sensitivity setting operation as before, so that it is possible to prevent the user from forgetting to return the changed sensitivity while omitting the trouble of specifying the effective period.

  In this case, even if there is a cancel instruction on the warning screen and a sensitivity setting different from the basic sensitivity is maintained, it can be confirmed to the user at an appropriate timing thereafter. For example, if it is detected that the basic sensitivity is different from the set sensitivity at the next power-on or when the camera enters the shooting mode again after shifting to another operation mode, a warning screen may be displayed. That's fine. Alternatively, the basic sensitivity may be automatically restored when the power is turned off or when another operation mode is entered.

  Further, before changing the sensitivity in S107 of the monitoring process, the user may be inquired as to whether or not to change the sensitivity, and the sensitivity may be changed if confirmation is obtained.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the effective period can be specified at the time of sensitivity setting, and the user is notified when the effective period has passed, so when the sensitivity is temporarily changed. You can prevent you from forgetting it back.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. Since the imaging apparatus according to the present embodiment may be the same as that of the first embodiment except for the contents of the sensitivity setting process and the expiration process, the description of the configuration and operation already described in the first embodiment is omitted.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining sensitivity setting processing in the SLR camera of this embodiment. Steps common to FIG. 4 are assigned the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.
This embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that a return sensitivity setting processing step S135 is added after the end date and time of the effective period is set.

  In S135, the MPU 50 presents on the liquid crystal monitor 18 a return sensitivity setting screen that allows the user to set the sensitivity to be returned after the effective period. This return sensitivity setting screen may have the same contents as the sensitivity setting screen shown in FIG.

The MPU 50 stores the set return sensitivity in the EEPROM 52 or the SDRAM 73 in association with the sensitivity set in S132 and the valid period information (end date and time, start and end date and time, start date and time and valid time, etc.).
The monitoring process may be common to the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing details of the expiration processing in the present embodiment.
When the effective period of the sensitivity for which the effective period is set expires, the MPU 50 reads the associated return sensitivity from the EEPROM 52 or the SDRAM 73. The MPU 50 automatically sets the return sensitivity (S261).

Although the case where the user is allowed to set the return sensitivity at the time of sensitivity setting is explained here, the normal sensitivity (basic sensitivity) is set separately by the user and automatically set to the basic sensitivity after the effective period has elapsed. It can also be configured to change the settings.
In this case, the sensitivity setting process is common to the first embodiment, and automatic setting is performed to the basic sensitivity instead of the return sensitivity in the expiration process.

  Further, when a basic sensitivity is set and a sensitivity different from the basic sensitivity is set by the sensitivity setting process, a predetermined effective time (for example, 1 hour) may be automatically set. good. By doing so, the user can simply return to the basic sensitivity after the effective time has elapsed by simply performing the same sensitivity setting operation as before, so the effort to specify the effective period can be saved and the changed sensitivity returned. You can prevent forgetting.

  Thus, in the present embodiment, the sensitivity to be restored after the effective period has elapsed can be set. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the user from forgetting to return the sensitivity setting while saving the trouble of setting the sensitivity again when the effective period has elapsed.

(Third embodiment)
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. Since the imaging apparatus according to the present embodiment may be the same as that of the first embodiment except for the contents of the sensitivity setting process and the expiration process, the description of the configuration and operation already described in the first embodiment is omitted.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining sensitivity setting processing in the SLR camera of this embodiment. Steps common to FIG. 4 are assigned the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

  In this embodiment, when the MPU 50 detects that the ISO sensitivity button 63 is turned on in S131, the MPU 50 determines whether or not a mode for automatically setting the ISO sensitivity (ISO sensitivity automatic mode) is set (S137). Then, the MPU 50 cancels the ISO sensitivity automatic mode if it is set, and stores release information indicating that the automatic mode is canceled, for example, a flag in the EEPROM 52 or the SDRAM 73 (S138). The rest is the same as FIG.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining expiration processing in the SLR camera of this embodiment.
When the valid period of the ISO sensitivity set in the sensitivity setting process has elapsed, the MPU 50 checks the presence / absence of release information (S360), and if there is release information, returns to the ISO sensitivity automatic mode (S361). If there is no release information, in order to execute the expiration process similar to the first embodiment, the process proceeds to S161.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the ISO sensitivity automatic mode is set, if there is a sensitivity setting instruction, the ISO sensitivity automatic mode is temporarily canceled. Then, when the set effective period of sensitivity elapses, the ISO sensitivity automatic mode is restored. Therefore, it is possible to cope with a temporary sensitivity change while fully utilizing the camera shake prevention effect of the ISO sensitivity automatic mode.

(Fourth embodiment)
In the third embodiment, when there is a sensitivity setting instruction when the ISO sensitivity automatic mode is set, the ISO sensitivity automatic mode is temporarily canceled. However, the ISO sensitivity automatic mode with the set sensitivity as the upper limit is executed within the set sensitivity effective period without canceling the ISO sensitivity automatic mode. After the effective period elapses, the ISO sensitivity automatic mode is executed. The upper limit value of sensitivity may be canceled.

  In this case, the processes of S137 and S138 in FIG. 8 are executed after the sensitivity setting process (S132), and in S132S138, instead of canceling the ISO sensitivity automatic mode, the sensitivity upper limit value in the ISO sensitivity automatic mode is set.

  According to the present embodiment, when the ISO sensitivity automatic mode is set, sensitivity adjustment can be performed according to the user's will while utilizing the effect as much as possible. Further, it is possible to prevent the user from forgetting to return the sensitivity setting to the original state and the effect of the original ISO sensitivity automatic mode cannot be obtained.

(Fifth embodiment)
Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described. Since the imaging apparatus according to the present embodiment may be the same as that of the first embodiment except for the operation in the ISO sensitivity automatic mode, the description of the configuration and operation already described in the first embodiment is omitted. The present embodiment is characterized in that the operation of the ISO sensitivity automatic mode is changed according to the sensitivity setting state in which the effective period is set and the date and time information.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining the operation in the ISO sensitivity automatic mode in the SLR camera of this embodiment. This operation is executed as part of an automatic exposure control process in a state where the ISO sensitivity automatic mode is set, for example. Accordingly, it is assumed that an operation mode in which at least one of the aperture and the shutter speed is automatically set is set. As described above, the automatic exposure control (AE) process is started when the release button 60 is pressed halfway and the SW1 is turned on.

  First, the MPU 50 refers to, for example, the EEPROM 52 or the SDRAM 73 and checks whether or not the sensitivity for which the valid period is set is set by the user (S501). When the setting exists, the MPU 50 determines whether the sensitivity setting is valid for the same period as S103 in FIG. 3 (S503).

  If it is determined that the period is valid, the MPU 50 temporarily disables the ISO sensitivity automatic mode and executes automatic exposure control using the sensitivity set by the user (S505).

  On the other hand, if there is no sensitivity setting for which the effective period is set in S501 and if there is a sensitivity setting for which the effective period is set in S503, but the effective period has elapsed, the MPU 50 Information is acquired from the clock circuit 68 (S507).

Then, the MPU 50 sets the initial sensitivity in the automatic sensitivity setting according to the acquired current date and time information (S509).
Specifically, for example, if the current time is daytime (for example, 7:00 to 18:00), ISO sensitivity 100 is used as the initial sensitivity, and if it is nighttime (for example, 18:00 to 7:00), ISO sensitivity 800 is used as the initial sensitivity. Set. Of course, this is merely an example, and other time segments may be introduced, or more detailed settings may be made with three or more segments. In addition, for example, in the winter period, the time division may be changed in consideration of the date, such as extending the night division back and forth.
Thereafter, the MPU 50 performs a normal exposure determination operation in the ISO sensitivity automatic mode (S511).

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an example of the exposure parameter determination operation performed in S511 in FIG. At this point, it is assumed that focus detection of the subject is performed by autofocus control.

In S <b> 410, the MPU 50 acquires various information regarding the lens such as a focal length from the photographing lens 3 attached to the mount 2 through the lens control circuit 53.
In S411, the MPU 50 calculates a camera shake limit shutter speed (Tv). For example, the calculation formula is camera shake limit Tv = 1 / (focal length of photographing lens 3).

  In S412, the MPU 50 calculates a shutter speed (shooting Tv) for shooting with appropriate exposure from the initial ISO sensitivity, the open f value of the shooting lens 3, and the subject brightness set in the processing of FIG.

In S413, the MPU 50 determines whether or not the shooting Tv calculated in S412 is equal to or greater than the camera shake limit Tv calculated in S411. The MPU 50 proceeds to S414 if the shooting Tv is slower than the camera shake limit Tv, and proceeds to S416 if the shooting Tv is equal to or greater than the camera shake limit Tv.
In S414, the MPU 50 calculates the difference in the number of steps between the shooting Tv and the camera shake limit Tv.

In S415, the MPU 50 increases the set initial ISO sensitivity according to the difference in the number of stages obtained as a result of the calculation, and sets the shooting Tv to be equal to or greater than the camera shake limit Tv. At this time, the ISO sensitivity may be further increased so that the aperture (Av) is reduced by a predetermined number of steps from the open value. The MPU 50 displays the Tv and Av set in this way on the LCD 16 through the display drive circuit 58.
In this way, the MPU 50 performs an automatic exposure control process in the ISO sensitivity automatic mode.

  Thereafter, when the release button 60 is fully pressed and SW2 is turned on, a shooting operation is performed according to the shooting conditions (aperture, shutter speed and ISO sensitivity) set in the above-described processing.

  In the above example, if there is a sensitivity setting with an effective period and the effective period is in effect, the automatic ISO exposure mode that temporarily disables the ISO sensitivity automatic mode and adopts the sensitivity set by the user is performed. Described as what to do. However, during the effective period of the sensitivity for which the effective period is set, the ISO sensitivity may be set with the sensitivity as the upper limit.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the operation of the ISO sensitivity automatic mode is changed according to the presence / absence of sensitivity setting with a valid period, the valid / invalid state, or the date / time information. Therefore, it is possible to take advantage of the ISO sensitivity automatic mode while respecting the user's intention and without the user being particularly conscious.

1 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a mechanical configuration example of a digital single-lens reflex camera as an example of an imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the electrical structural example of the digital single-lens reflex camera which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart explaining the monitoring process of a sensitivity setting in the digital single-lens reflex camera which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart explaining the sensitivity setting process in the digital single-lens reflex camera which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart explaining the detail of the expiration process in the digital single-lens reflex camera which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart explaining the sensitivity setting process in the digital single-lens reflex camera which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart explaining the detail of the expiration process in the digital single-lens reflex camera which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart explaining the sensitivity setting process in the digital single-lens reflex camera which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart explaining the detail of the expiration process in the digital single-lens reflex camera which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart explaining the operation | movement of the ISO sensitivity automatic mode in the digital single-lens reflex camera which concerns on the 5th Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the example of the exposure parameter determination operation | movement in the digital single-lens reflex camera which concerns on the 5th Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the ISO sensitivity setting screen which the digital single-lens reflex camera which concerns on embodiment of this invention displays. It is a figure which shows the example of the effective period setting screen which the digital single-lens reflex camera which concerns on embodiment of this invention displays. It is a figure which shows the example of a warning display screen which the digital single-lens reflex camera which concerns on embodiment of this invention displays.

Claims (7)

In an imaging apparatus that converts an object image into an electrical signal and records it using an imaging element,
Means for obtaining the user-specified shooting sensitivity and its validity period;
Means for determining whether the validity period has elapsed;
An image pickup apparatus comprising: means for notifying a user of a currently set photographing sensitivity when the effective period has elapsed. In an imaging apparatus that converts an object image into an electrical signal and records it using an imaging element,
Means for obtaining the user-specified shooting sensitivity and its validity period;
Means for determining whether the validity period has elapsed;
An image pickup apparatus comprising: means for changing the photographing sensitivity to a preset sensitivity when the effective period has elapsed.   When the automatic sensitivity mode for automatically setting the photographing sensitivity is set, the automatic sensitivity mode is temporarily canceled during the effective period of the photographing sensitivity specified by the user, and the automatic sensitivity mode is entered when the effective period elapses. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a returning unit.   When the sensitivity automatic mode for automatically setting the shooting sensitivity is set, the shooting sensitivity is automatically set with the shooting sensitivity specified by the user as an upper limit during the effective period of the shooting sensitivity specified by the user, and the effective 3. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for automatically setting the photographing sensitivity after the upper limit value is canceled when a period has elapsed. Means for acquiring date and time information at the time when the effective period of the photographing sensitivity specified by the user has passed;
5. The imaging apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising means for setting an initial sensitivity in the automatic sensitivity mode according to the date and time information. In a control method of an image pickup apparatus that converts an object image into an electric signal and records it using an image pickup element,
Obtaining the user-specified shooting sensitivity and its validity period;
Determining whether the validity period has elapsed;
And a step of notifying the user of the currently set photographing sensitivity when the effective period has elapsed. In a control method of an image pickup apparatus that converts an object image into an electric signal and records it using an image pickup element,
Obtaining the user-specified shooting sensitivity and its validity period;
Determining whether the validity period has elapsed;
And a step of changing the photographing sensitivity to a preset sensitivity when the effective period has elapsed.

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