JP2009025651A - Digital camera - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To variously express the depth of field in images acquired in continuous shooting. <P>SOLUTION: The digital camera 1 comprises a diaphragm 8 having an opening 10 variable in size to limit a luminous flux incident on an imaging element 9; a shutter operation part 7 which is operated in continuous shooting; a sensor 13 which detects an operation quantity or operation force of the shutter operation part 7; and a total controller 19 which adjusts the size of the opening 10 of the diaphragm 8 based on the operation quantity or operation force detected by the sensor 13. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a digital camera.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a camera that continuously shoots at time intervals that are inversely proportional to the amount of shutter depression during continuous shooting is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
According to this camera, when shooting a subject that moves rapidly, it is possible to acquire more images simply by increasing the amount by which the shutter is pressed according to the intensity of the subject's motion. The probability of being acquired can be increased.
JP 2006-162725 A

However, in a camera that can take 30 or more continuous shots per second, the shooting conditions are changed during continuous shooting rather than acquiring a number of similar images under the same shooting conditions. Thus, it is expected to perform so-called bracket photography in which the subject is expressed in various variations.
In response to such a demand, there is an inconvenience that a camera that only changes the frame rate as disclosed in Patent Document 1 cannot respond.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and provides a camera that can express the depth of field in various variations in an image acquired during continuous shooting. Objective.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention employs the following means.
The present invention detects a variable aperture having a variable aperture that restricts a light beam incident on an image sensor, a shutter operation unit operated during continuous shooting, and an operation amount or operation force of the shutter operation unit. A camera is provided that includes a detection unit and a control unit that adjusts the size of the aperture of the variable diaphragm based on the operation amount or the operation force detected by the detection unit.

  According to the present invention, when continuous shooting is performed, by operating the shutter operation unit, the operation amount or the operation force is detected by the operation of the detection unit, and is incident on the image sensor by the operation of the control unit. The size of the aperture of the variable aperture that restricts the luminous flux to be adjusted is adjusted. Accordingly, the depth of field can be reduced by increasing the aperture of the variable stop, and the depth of field can be increased by reducing the aperture. Therefore, the depth of field can be arbitrarily changed during continuous shooting by a simple method of changing the operation amount or operating force of the shutter operation unit.

  For example, during continuous shooting, if an unnecessary subject comes in front of or behind the subject (main subject) you want to shoot, open the variable aperture to reduce the depth of field. The subject can be blurred so that the main subject can be taken up. On the other hand, when you want to shoot other subjects that have come in front of or behind the main subject, you can reduce not only the main subject but also the front and back by reducing the aperture of the variable aperture and increasing the depth of field. You can also focus on other subjects.

In the above invention, the detection unit may detect an operation amount of the shutter operation unit, and the shutter operation unit may include an operation amount holding unit that holds the operation amount.
With this configuration, since the operation amount of the shutter operation unit detected by the operation of the detection unit is held by the operation of the operation amount holding unit, the opening of the variable aperture opening can be maintained without continuing to operate the shutter operation unit. The size can be kept constant. Therefore, continuous shooting can be performed while maintaining a constant depth of field even if the hand is released from the shutter operation unit.

Moreover, in the said invention, the said shutter operation part is good also as being a push button provided so that it could protrude from the housing | casing surface.
Moreover, in the said invention, the said shutter operation part is good also as being a dial rotatable around the axis line substantially orthogonal to the housing | casing surface.
In the above invention, the shutter operation unit may be a stick that can swing around an axis substantially parallel to the surface of the housing.
Moreover, in the said invention, the said shutter operation part may be a slider which can move to the direction along a housing | casing surface.

  According to the present invention, the size of the aperture of the variable aperture can be arbitrarily changed during continuous shooting, and the depth of field can be expressed in various variations.

[First Embodiment]
Hereinafter, a digital camera (camera) according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the digital camera 1 according to the present embodiment includes a camera body (housing) 3 formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and a lens provided so as to protrude from the front surface of the camera body 3. A unit 5 and a shutter operation unit 7 provided on the upper end surface of the camera body 3 and performing an operation of acquiring an image from the lens unit 5 are provided.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the camera body 3 includes an image sensor 9 such as a CCD that captures an image of a subject formed by the lens unit 5, and analog image data (not shown) acquired by the image sensor 9. An analog front end (hereinafter simply referred to as “AFE”) 11 that performs amplification processing with a gain amplifier and converts it into digital image data; a sensor (detection unit) 13 that detects the operation amount of the shutter operation unit 7; An overall control unit 15 that controls the entire apparatus by inputting the operation amount obtained by the sensor 13 and the digital image data processed by the AFE 11, and the digital image data input to the overall control unit 15 is a captured image. And a memory unit 17 for storing data. In addition, the camera body 3 includes a shooting mode switching unit (not shown) and can switch between a single shooting mode and a continuous shooting mode.

  For example, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B and FIGS. 5A and 5B, the lens unit 5 collects light from the outside and forms an image of a subject on the image sensor 9. 6 and a diaphragm (variable diaphragm) 8 having a variable aperture 10 that restricts a light beam collected by the lens 6 and incident on the image sensor 9. The diaphragm 8 is formed by combining a plurality of thin blade-like plates 8a, and the size of the opening 10 is changed by opening and closing these plates 8a. As a result, the amount of light incident on the image sensor 9 and the depth of field change according to the amount of aperture.

  Specifically, if the aperture 10 is made smaller, the light flux that is transmitted through the lens 6 and incident on the image sensor 9 becomes thinner, and the amount of light incident on the image sensor 9 is reduced, thereby reducing the brightness of the image. On the other hand, the depth of field is deepened and the range in focus is widened. In addition, when the aperture 10 is enlarged, the light flux that is transmitted through the lens 6 and incident on the image sensor 9 becomes thicker, and the amount of light incident on the image sensor 9 increases, increasing the brightness of the image. The depth of field becomes shallower and the focus range becomes narrower.

  The shutter operation unit 7 is a push button type shutter button that can be pushed in the vertical direction with respect to the upper end surface of the camera body 3, and the shutter is cut by pushing a predetermined amount. In the shutter operation unit 7, the stroke length in the push-in direction corresponds to the size of the opening 10 of the diaphragm 8. As a result, when the continuous shooting mode is set, the size of the aperture 10 of the diaphragm 8 changes according to the amount of pressing of the shutter operation unit 7. Specifically, as the push amount of the shutter operation unit 7 increases, the aperture 10 of the diaphragm 8 becomes smaller and the light beam incident on the image sensor 9 becomes thinner, that is, the push amount of the shutter operation unit 7 is increased. In proportion, the depth of field is increased.

  The overall control unit 15 includes an overall controller (control unit) 19 that controls the entire camera, a video signal processing unit 21 that performs processing such as color correction and JPEG compression on digital image data output from the AFE 11, and an overall controller 19. A gain control unit 23 that controls the AFE 11 based on a control signal that is sent, a timing control unit 25 that controls the image sensor 9 and the AFE 11 based on a control signal sent from the overall controller 19, and a control signal sent from the overall controller 19 And a lens unit controller 27 for controlling the lens unit 5 based on the above.

  The memory unit 17 is a buffer memory 29 that temporarily stores photographed image data, and a liquid crystal display that displays a photographing range via the lens unit 5 and displays photographed image data stored in the buffer memory 29. 31 (hereinafter simply referred to as “LCD”) and a card interface 33 for storing photographed image data stored in the buffer memory 29.

The operation of the digital camera 1 according to this embodiment configured as described above will be described.
When the digital camera 1 according to the present embodiment is activated, an image of a subject formed through the lens 6 of the lens unit 5 is captured by the image sensor 9 and output as analog image data. After being converted to data, the video signal processing unit 21 performs image processing and displays the data on the LCD 31 via the overall control unit 15.

  In this situation, when the shutter operation unit 7 is pushed by a predetermined amount, the overall control unit 15 controls the timing control unit 25 and the lens unit control based on the digital image data of the subject at that time output from the video signal processing unit 21. The unit 27 and the gain control unit 23 are activated. Thereby, the lens unit 5, the image sensor 9 and the AFE 11 are controlled so that the captured image has proper exposure, and the image sensor 9 acquires analog image data of the subject.

  Analog image data acquired by the image sensor 9 is converted into digital image data by the AFE 11, and then output to the buffer memory 29 via the overall controller 19 and temporarily stored. The digital image data stored in the buffer memory 29 can be displayed as a still image on the LCD 31 or stored in the card interface 33 by the operation of the overall controller 19.

Next, the operation of the digital camera 1 according to this embodiment during continuous shooting will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
When the shooting mode switching means is set to the continuous shooting mode (step SA1), detection of the operation amount of the shutter operation unit 7 by the sensor 13, that is, the pressing amount is started (step SA2). When the pushing amount of the shutter operation unit 7 is zero (step SA3 “YES”), the photographing is finished (step SA4).

  On the other hand, when the push amount of the shutter operation unit 7 is not zero, that is, when the push amount is detected by the sensor 13 (step SA3 “NO”), the overall controller 19 reduces the aperture based on the detected push amount. A lens aperture value indicating the size of the eight apertures 10 is calculated. The calculated lens aperture value is sent to the lens unit controller 27, and the lens unit controller 27 sets the aperture amount of the lens unit 5, that is, the size of the aperture 10 of the aperture 8 (step SA5).

Further, the overall controller 19 calculates the shutter speed and the ISO sensitivity value based on the calculated lens aperture value so that the captured image is properly exposed. The calculated shutter speed is sent to the timing control unit 25, and the drive timing of the image sensor 9 is set by the timing control unit 25, and is output as a sampling timing from the timing control unit 25 to the AFE 11, and is not shown in the AFE 11 The drive frequency of the AD converter is set. The calculated ISO sensitivity is sent to the gain control unit 23, and is set as the gain value of the analog gain amplifier of the AFE 11 by the gain control unit 23 (step SA6).
Thus, continuous shooting is performed so as to achieve proper exposure by the operations of the lens unit 5, the image sensor 9 and the AFE 11 controlled according to the lens aperture value (step SA7).

  While the continuous shooting mode is set, the sensor 13 always detects the pressing amount of the shutter operation unit 7 and repeats the operations of Step SA2 to Step SA7. Thereby, for example, when the amount of pressing of the shutter operation unit 7 detected by the sensor 13 is increased, the aperture 10 of the diaphragm 8 is controlled to be reduced accordingly, and the shutter speed of the image sensor 9 and the ISO of the AFE 11 are controlled. The sensitivity is controlled so as to achieve appropriate exposure according to the size of the aperture 10 of the diaphragm 8. On the other hand, when the pressing amount of the shutter operation unit 7 is decreased, the aperture 10 of the diaphragm 8 is controlled to increase accordingly, and the shutter speed of the image element 9 and the ISO sensitivity of the AFE 11 are It is controlled so as to obtain an appropriate exposure according to the size.

  For example, when an unnecessary subject comes in front of or behind the main subject during continuous shooting (see FIG. 7A), the amount of pushing of the shutter operation unit 7 is reduced accordingly and the aperture 8 is reduced. When the aperture 10 is opened and the opening 10 is enlarged (see FIG. 7B), the shutter speed of the image sensor 9 is increased according to the size of the opening 10 (see FIG. 7C), and the ISO sensitivity of the AFE 11 is low. As shown (see FIG. 7D), each is automatically controlled.

On the other hand, when the unnecessary subject is out of the shooting range, the push amount of the shutter operation unit is increased accordingly, and the aperture 8 is reduced to make the aperture 10 smaller. Each is automatically controlled so that the shutter speed becomes slow and the ISO sensitivity of the AFE 11 becomes high.
As a result, while keeping the exposure amount of the image sensor 9 at an appropriate value (see FIG. 7E), the depth of field is made shallow, unnecessary subjects in the front or rear are blurred, and the main subject is photographed so that it appears to rise. can do.

  Further, when it is desired to shoot including other subjects that have entered the front or back of the main subject during continuous shooting, when another subject enters the front or back of the main subject (FIG. 8). (Refer to FIG. 8A)) When the amount of pushing of the shutter operation unit 7 is increased and the aperture 8 is reduced to reduce the opening 10 (see FIG. 8B), the shutter speed of the image sensor 9 decreases accordingly. (See FIG. 8 (C)) Since the ISO sensitivity of the AFE 11 is increased (see FIG. 8 (d)), each is automatically controlled. The depth can be increased, and the main subject and other subjects in front or behind can be focused and photographed.

  As described above, according to the digital camera 1 according to the present embodiment, the aperture 10 of the aperture 8 is obtained during continuous shooting while obtaining appropriate exposure by a simple method of operating the shutter operation unit 7 and adjusting the push amount. The luminous flux incident on the image sensor 9 can be arbitrarily changed by changing the size of. As a result, the depth of field can be expressed in various variations.

  In the present embodiment, an example has been described in which the opening 10 of the diaphragm 8 is reduced when the amount of pushing of the shutter operation unit 7 is increased, and the opening 10 of the diaphragm 8 is enlarged when the amount of pushing is decreased. Instead, for example, the opening 10 of the diaphragm 8 may be increased when the amount of pressing of the shutter operation unit 7 is increased, and the opening 10 of the diaphragm 8 may be decreased when the amount of pressing is decreased.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the example of changing the size of the opening 10 of the diaphragm 8 based on the operation amount of the shutter operation unit 7 has been described as an example, but instead of this, for example, the shutter operation unit 7 The size of the opening 10 of the aperture 8 may be changed based on the operating force, that is, the operating pressure at the time of pushing. In this case, the sensor 13 may detect the operation pressure of the shutter operation unit 7.

[Second Embodiment]
Hereinafter, a digital camera 101 according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the digital camera 101 according to the present embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the configuration of the shutter operation unit 107.
In the following, portions having the same configuration as those of the digital camera 1 according to the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  The shutter operation unit 107 of the digital camera 101 includes a substantially cylindrical dial-type aperture value dial 107A having a rotation axis perpendicular to the upper end surface of the camera body 3, and a perpendicular to the upper end surface of the aperture value dial 107A. A shutter button 107B that can be pushed in the direction and an operation amount holding means (not shown) that holds the operation amount of the aperture value dial 107A are provided.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the aperture value dial 107A is provided with a step in which the change amount of the lens aperture value is provided around the outer periphery, and the size of the aperture 10 of the aperture 8 is changed by rotating around the axis. It has become. Specifically, when the continuous shooting mode is set, by rotating the aperture value dial 107A while pressing the shutter button 107B, the size of the aperture 10 of the aperture 8 changes according to the rotation amount. It has become. When the increment of the aperture value dial 107A is 0 position, the aperture amount of the lens unit 5 is set with the lens aperture value of the program set by the overall controller 19.

  For example, as the amount of rotation is increased clockwise such that the aperture value dial 107A is incremented +1, +2 and +3, the aperture 10 of the aperture 8 becomes smaller and the light beam incident on the image sensor 9 becomes thinner. In other words, the depth of field is increased in proportion to the amount of rotation. Further, as the rotation amount is increased counterclockwise, such as the −1 position, the −2 position, and the −3 position in increments, the aperture 10 of the diaphragm 8 increases, and the light beam incident on the image sensor 9 becomes thicker. In other words, the depth of field is shallow in proportion to the amount of rotation. In the aperture value dial 107A, the stroke length around the outer periphery corresponds to the size of the aperture 10 of the aperture 8, that is, the upper and lower limits of the lens aperture value.

  When the continuous shooting mode is set, the operation amount holding unit operates by rotating the aperture value dial 107A while pressing the shutter button 107B, and when the aperture value dial 107A is set to a position other than the 0 position of the step. The aperture value dial 107A is held at its rotational position.

The operation of the digital camera 101 according to the present embodiment configured as described above will be described.
In the digital camera 101 according to the present embodiment, during continuous shooting, as shown in FIG. 12, the operation amount of the aperture value dial 107A, that is, the rotation amount is detected by the sensor 13 (step SB2). If the rotation amount of the aperture value dial 107A is zero (step SB3 “YES”), the lens aperture value of the program set by the overall controller 19 is set (step SB4).

On the other hand, when the rotation amount of the aperture value dial 107A is not zero, that is, when the rotation amount is detected by the sensor 13 (step SB3 “NO”), the overall control unit 15 determines the rotation amount based on the detected rotation amount. A lens aperture value is calculated.
Then, the lens unit 5, the image sensor 9 and the AFE 11 are controlled based on the calculated lens aperture value, and continuous shooting is performed so as to achieve proper exposure (step SB7).

  While the continuous shooting mode is set, the sensor 13 always detects the amount of rotation of the aperture value dial 107A, and the operations in steps SB2 to SB7 are repeated. Thereby, for example, when the rotation amount of the aperture value dial 107A detected by the sensor 13 is increased clockwise, the aperture 10 of the aperture 8 is controlled to be decreased accordingly. On the other hand, when the amount of rotation of the aperture value dial 107A increases counterclockwise, the aperture 10 of the aperture 8 is controlled to increase accordingly.

  In this case, if the aperture value dial 107A is rotated and set to a position other than the 0 position in increments, the aperture value dial 107A is held at that rotational position, so that the user operates the shutter operation unit 7. Without continuing, the size of the opening 10 can be kept constant.

  As described above, according to the digital camera 101 according to the present embodiment, continuous shooting is performed while obtaining appropriate exposure by a simple method of operating the shutter operation unit 7 and changing the rotation amount of the aperture value dial 107A. The depth of field can be arbitrarily changed by increasing or decreasing the size of the aperture 10 of the aperture 8 during shooting. Further, even if the user releases his / her hand from the shutter operation unit 7, continuous shooting can be performed while maintaining a certain depth of field.

  In the present embodiment, the example in which the size of the opening 10 of the diaphragm 8 is changed based on the rotation amount of the diaphragm value dial 107A has been described as an example, but instead of this, for example, as the diaphragm value dial 107A Alternatively, a structure in which the operating force is changed according to the rotation angle by a spring or the like may be adopted, and the size of the opening 10 may be changed based on the operating force of the aperture value dial 107A. In this case, the sensor 13 may detect the operating force of the aperture value dial 107A.

[Third Embodiment]
Hereinafter, a digital camera 201 according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the digital camera 201 according to the present embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the configuration of the shutter operation unit 207.
In the following, portions having the same configuration as those of the digital camera 1 according to the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  The shutter operation unit 207 of the digital camera 201 includes a stick-type aperture value stick 207 </ b> A that protrudes upright from the upper end surface of the camera body 3. Also, a shutter button 207B is provided so as to be able to be pushed in a vertical direction on a convex portion on the LCD 31 side end surface in the vicinity of the aperture value stick 207A. Further, as shown in FIG. 15, the aperture value stick 207A is provided in the vicinity of the upper end surface of the camera body 3 so as to be swingable around an axis line disposed along the surface.

  Specifically, the shutter button 207B and the aperture value stick 207A are configured such that when the user holds the both ends of the digital camera 201 in the longitudinal direction, the index finger indicates the aperture value with the thumb of the right hand attached to the shutter button 207B. It arrange | positions so that it may be hooked on stick 207A. Accordingly, the aperture value stick 207A can be pushed down with the index finger while pushing the shutter button 207B with the thumb.

  The aperture value stick 207A changes the shutter speed according to the tilt angle. More specifically, when the continuous shooting mode is set, the aperture value stick 207A is pushed down while the shutter button 207B is pressed, so that the size of the aperture 10 of the aperture 8 changes according to the tilt angle. ing. In the state where the aperture value stick 207A stands upright, the aperture amount of the lens unit 5 is set with the lens aperture value of the program set by the overall controller 19.

  For example, as the tilt angle of the aperture value stick 207A increases, the aperture 10 of the aperture 8 becomes smaller and the light beam incident on the image sensor 9 becomes thinner, that is, in proportion to the tilt angle of the aperture value stick 207A. , The depth of field is getting deeper. In the aperture value stick 207A, the tilt angle stroke corresponds to the size of the opening 10 of the aperture 8, that is, the upper and lower limits of the lens aperture value. It should be noted that the aperture value stick 207A may be provided so that the tilt angle can be changed stepwise so that the user can know the operation amount.

An operation of the digital camera 201 according to this embodiment configured as described above will be described.
In the digital camera 201 according to the present embodiment, during continuous shooting, as shown in FIG. 16, the sensor 13 detects the operation amount of the aperture value stick 207A, that is, the tilt angle (step SC2). When the tilt angle of the aperture value stick 207A is zero (step SC3 “YES”), the lens aperture value of the program set by the overall controller 19 is set (step SC4).

On the other hand, when the tilt angle of the aperture value stick 207A is not zero, that is, when the tilt angle is detected by the sensor 13 (step SC3 “NO”), the overall control unit 15 determines the tilt angle based on the detected tilt angle. A lens aperture value is calculated.
As a result, the lens unit 5, the image sensor 9 and the AFE 11 are controlled based on the calculated lens aperture value, and continuous shooting is performed so as to achieve proper exposure (step SC7).

  While the continuous shooting mode is set, the sensor 13 always detects the tilt angle of the aperture value stick 207A, and the operations of Step SC2 to Step SC7 are repeated. Thereby, for example, when the tilt angle of the aperture value stick 207A detected by the sensor 13 is increased, the aperture 10 of the aperture 8 is controlled to be decreased accordingly. On the other hand, when the tilt angle of the ISO sensitivity stick 207A is decreased, the aperture 10 of the diaphragm 8 is controlled to be increased accordingly.

  As described above, according to the digital camera 201 according to the present embodiment, continuous shooting is performed while obtaining appropriate exposure by a simple method of operating the shutter operation unit 7 and changing the tilt angle of the aperture value stick 207A. The depth of field can be arbitrarily changed by increasing or decreasing the size of the aperture 10 of the aperture 8 during shooting.

  In the present embodiment, the aperture 10 of the aperture 8 is reduced when the tilt angle of the aperture value stick 207A is increased, and the aperture 10 of the aperture 8 is increased when the tilt angle is decreased. Instead, for example, when the aperture value stick 207A is tilted to the right, the aperture 10 of the aperture 8 decreases as the tilt angle increases, and when the aperture value stick 207A is tilted to the left, the aperture 10 of the aperture 8 increases as the tilt angle increases. It is good also as controlling.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the example of changing the size of the aperture 10 of the aperture 8 based on the tilt angle of the aperture value stick 207A has been described, but instead of this, for example, the aperture value stick 207A The size of the opening 10 of the diaphragm 8 may be changed based on the operating force of the tilt angle, that is, the operating pressure when the lever is pushed down. For example, the aperture 10 of the aperture 8 may be reduced as the pressure for tilting the aperture value stick 207A to the right increases, and the aperture 10 of the aperture 8 may be increased as the pressure for tilting to the left increases. In this case, the sensor 13 may detect the operation pressure of the aperture value stick 207A.

As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was explained in full detail with reference to drawings, the specific structure is not restricted to this embodiment, The design change etc. of the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention are included.
For example, the digital camera 201 according to the third embodiment includes a slider-like aperture value slider that can move in the direction along the surface of the camera body 3 in place of the aperture value stick 207A of the shutter operation unit 207. It is good. In this case, for example, the aperture value slider is provided so as to be slidable in one direction. When the slider is slid in one direction, the opening 10 of the aperture 8 is reduced according to the slide length, and when the slider is slid in the other direction, the aperture length is adjusted. The aperture 10 of the diaphragm 8 may be increased.

  Further, in each of the above embodiments, the image pickup device 9 is configured so that the photographed image is appropriately exposed based on the size of the opening 10 of the diaphragm 8 that is changed by the operation amount or the operation force of the shutter operation units 7, 107, and 207. The shutter speed and the ISO sensitivity of the AFE 11 are controlled. However, when the aperture 10 becomes smaller or larger than the adjustable range of the exposure amount by controlling the shutter speed and ISO sensitivity, proper exposure is performed. Unable to obtain a large amount of captured images. Therefore, for example, it may be set so that the size of the opening 10 can be changed within a range in which an appropriate exposure amount is obtained by controlling the shutter speed and ISO sensitivity, or measures such as notifying some kind of alarm are provided. It is good also as setting so that the magnitude | size of the opening 10 may be changed beyond the range used as an appropriate exposure amount.

  In each of the above embodiments, the shutter speed of the image sensor 9 and the ISO sensitivity of the AFE 11 are controlled according to the size of the aperture 10 of the diaphragm 8. However, the shutter speed and the ISO sensitivity are not necessarily described. It is not necessary to change both of them, and either the shutter speed or the ISO sensitivity may be changed so that proper exposure can be obtained.

1 is a top view of a digital camera according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a rear view of the digital camera of FIG. It is a block diagram inside the camera main body of the digital camera of FIG. 4A shows the diaphragm of the digital camera shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4B shows how the luminous flux is limited. FIG. 5A shows the diaphragm of the digital camera of FIG. 1, and FIG. 5B shows how the luminous flux is limited. It is a flowchart figure which shows the operation | movement at the time of the continuous shooting imaging | photography of the digital camera of FIG. 7A shows the presence or absence of an unnecessary person, FIG. 7B shows the aperture of the digital camera of FIG. 1, FIG. 7C shows the shutter speed of the digital camera of FIG. (D) shows the ISO sensitivity of the digital camera of FIG. 1, and FIG. 7 (e) shows the exposure amount of the digital camera of FIG. 8A shows the presence or absence of another subject, FIG. 8B shows the aperture of the digital camera of FIG. 1, FIG. 8C shows the shutter speed of the digital camera of FIG. 8 (d) shows the ISO sensitivity of the digital camera of FIG. 1, and FIG. 8 (e) shows the exposure amount of the digital camera of FIG. It is a top view of the digital camera which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 10 is a rear view of the digital camera of FIG. 9. FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of an aperture value dial of the digital camera of FIG. 9. It is a flowchart figure which shows the operation | movement at the time of the continuous shooting of the digital camera of FIG. It is a top view of the digital camera which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a rear view of the digital camera of FIG. It is an enlarged view of the aperture value stick of the digital camera of FIG. It is a flowchart figure which shows the operation | movement at the time of the continuous shooting of the digital camera of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1 Digital camera (camera)
7 Shutter operation section 8 Aperture (variable aperture)
9 Image sensor 10 Aperture 13 Sensor (detection unit)
19 Overall controller (control unit)

Claims (6)

A variable stop having a variable aperture that limits the light beam incident on the image sensor;
A shutter operation unit operated during continuous shooting,
A detection unit for detecting an operation amount or an operation force of the shutter operation unit;
A camera comprising: a control unit that adjusts an opening size of the variable diaphragm based on an operation amount or an operation force detected by the detection unit. The detection unit detects an operation amount of the shutter operation unit;
The camera according to claim 1, wherein the shutter operation unit includes an operation amount holding unit that holds an operation amount.   The camera according to claim 1, wherein the shutter operation unit is a push button provided so as to be able to appear and retract from the surface of the housing.   The camera according to claim 1, wherein the shutter operation unit is a dial that is rotatable around an axis substantially orthogonal to the surface of the housing.   The camera according to claim 1, wherein the shutter operation unit is a stick that can swing around an axis substantially parallel to the surface of the housing.   The camera according to claim 1, wherein the shutter operation unit is a slider that can move in a direction along the surface of the housing.

Images