JP2009224882A - Image pickup device, display method of image pickup device, program, and computer readable recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To clearly show which zoom position approximates a subject most to photograph it and how close it can approach the subject, so that they are known instantly. <P>SOLUTION: A screen 1 displays an icon 4 and a bar 6 inside a zoom bar 3. The bar 6 shows a zoom position where a subject is approximated most of all the zoom areas for photography in a macro photography mode. Numerical information 7 is displayed in the proximity of the bar 6. The numerical information 7 clearly shows how close (in centimeters) the subject can be approximated in the zoom position and be photographed. In an example shown in one of the figures, the subject can be approximated by 1 cm and photographed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus such as a digital still camera, a mobile phone with a camera function, and a video camera, a display method thereof, a program, and a computer-readable recording medium.

  In recent image pickup apparatuses, most models include a zoom optical system, a normal shooting mode, and a macro shooting mode for shooting at a distance closer to the subject distance that can be shot in the normal shooting mode. In such an imaging apparatus, in most cases, the “shortest shooting distance” that indicates how close the distance to the subject can be focused differs for each zoom position. In normal shooting mode, set the shortest shooting distance to a certain extent so that the shortest shooting distance is the same for each zoom position, or even if the shortest shooting distance is slightly different for each zoom position. This is often not a problem because it is relatively small with respect to the distance.

  On the other hand, in the macro shooting mode, some cameras have a minimum shooting distance of 1 cm at a certain zoom position. If the shortest shooting distance differs by, for example, 10 cm depending on the zoom position, the zoom is performed after setting the imaging device at a certain zoom position. If you try to shoot the same subject by moving the position, the camera will not be in focus, and you will have to change the position of the imaging device that has been set at the corner.

  Also, for example, when there is an imaging device that complains that it is possible to take a picture close to the subject up to 1 cm, there is no problem if the zoom position that can be taken at 1 cm is the zoom position at the wide-angle end or the telephoto end. , You may not know where you can shoot 1cm in zoom position. In order to avoid such a situation, there is an image pickup apparatus that automatically moves the optical system to a zoom position where the macro shooting mode can be set at the same time as the macro shooting mode is set. However, in this case, it becomes impossible to move the zoom from the zoom position, so that a restriction on use is given to the user, or if the zoom is permitted to move, the zoom can be taken at 1 cm. Since the position is lost, the user has to return to the normal shooting mode and enter the macro shooting mode again.

  In order to deal with the above problems, conventionally, a method of displaying a zoom bar as shown in FIG. 5 has been proposed. In the figure, (a) shows the state of the screen 1 in the normal photographing mode, and (b) shows the state of the screen 1 in the macro photographing mode. 2 is a subject displayed on the screen 1, 3 is a zoom bar indicating the zoom position, 4 is an icon indicating the current zoom position, and W and T in the figure indicate a wide end and a tele (telephoto) end, respectively. The icon 4 moves up and down in response to the change of the zoom position. Reference numeral 5 denotes a tulip mark indicating the macro mode.

  For example, in Patent Document 1, the current zoom position and a zoom position that is inappropriate for macro photography are displayed at the same time, so that the user can adjust the zoom position suitable for macro photography.

For example, Patent Document 2 discloses an invention in which a display method is devised to prompt the user to perform an operation in order to move to a zoom position suitable for shooting in the macro mode when the macro mode is set. .
JP 2005-208395 A JP 2006-25314 A

  However, in either case of Patent Documents 1 and 2, the user cannot understand in detail where the object can be photographed closest to the subject within the zoom region suitable for macro photography.

  In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to make it possible for the user to instantly understand the zoom position at which the user can take a picture closest to the subject.

  In order to solve the above problems, an image pickup apparatus according to the present invention detects a zoom position, a macro shooting mode for shooting a close range, an optical zoom unit having a characteristic that a shortest focusing distance to a subject changes depending on a zoom position, and a zoom position. Zoom position detection means for performing shooting information display means for displaying shooting information, shooting information output means for outputting shooting information to the shooting information display means, information storage means for storing shooting information, The shortest in-focus zoom position search means for obtaining the zoom position that is the shortest in-focus distance to the subject, and the shortest in-focus zoom position and the shortest in-focus zoom position obtained by the shortest in-focus zoom position search means in the shooting information display means Display control means for displaying the closest possible distance to the subject in the display.

  The display control means displays the settable zoom position on a straight line, displays the zoom position at the shortest focusing distance at the settable zoom position with a bar, and indicates the zoom position in use on the straight line. It is characterized by being displayed.

  The display control means displays a proximity distance to the subject at each zoom position.

  The display control means is represented by a graph with the approachable distance and the settable zoom position as axes, and the zoom position being used is displayed as an icon on the graph.

  The display control means displays a scale in the graph.

  In addition, the display method of the imaging apparatus according to the present invention detects a zoom position by a macro shooting step for shooting a close range, an optical zoom step having a characteristic that a shortest focusing distance to a subject changes depending on a zoom position, and a zoom position. Zoom position detection step, shooting information display step for displaying shooting information, shooting information output step for outputting shooting information to shooting information display means, information storage step for storing shooting information, and subject Subject in the shortest in-focus zoom position and the shortest in-focus zoom position obtained in the shortest in-focus zoom position search step Display control step to display the closest possible distance to Characterized in that it comprises a.

  In the display control step, the settable zoom position is displayed on a straight line, the zoom position that is the shortest focusing distance is displayed as a bar at the settable zoom position, and the zoom position being used is indicated by an icon on the straight line. It is characterized by being displayed.

  The display control step is characterized in that the proximity distance to the subject at each zoom position is displayed.

  The display control step is characterized in that the display is represented by a graph with the approachable distance and the settable zoom position as axes, and the zoom position being used is displayed as an icon on the graph.

  The display control step displays a scale in the graph.

  According to the present invention, in the macro shooting mode, the user can recognize at a glance the distance at which the distance to the subject can be closest in all zoom positions.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing an imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention having the functions of the respective embodiments. In FIG. 1, the control part 10 controls the whole. The photographing unit 11 photographs a subject, and the image signal is processed by the image signal processing unit 12. The zoom position detector 13 detects the current zoom position. The shooting information output unit 15 creates and outputs shooting information such as a zoom bar, an icon, a tulip mark, and numerical information, and displays the shooting information on the shooting information display unit 14. The operation unit 16 receives various operations by the user such as a shutter button. The RAM 17 stores processing data such as various types of photographing information, and the ROM 18 stores programs and the like.

  FIG. 2 is a screen in the macro shooting mode according to the embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, a linear bar 6 is displayed in the zoom bar 3. The bar 6 indicates a zoom position at which shooting can be performed closest to the subject in the entire zoom area in the macro shooting mode. That is, when the icon 4 is at the same position as the bar 6, it is possible to take a picture closest to the subject.

  Also, numerical information 7a is displayed in the vicinity of the bar 6. This numerical information 7a clearly indicates how close (up to how many cm) the subject can be photographed when the zoom position at the bar 6 position is selected. In the illustrated example, the numerical information 7a indicates 1 cm, and if the zoom position displayed by the bar 6 is selected, it is possible to photograph close to the subject up to 1 cm. In addition, it is possible to display the shooting distance when the tele end and the wide end are selected as shown in 7b and 7c in the figure. Also good.

  According to this embodiment, it is clearly shown which zoom position is the zoom position that can be photographed closest to the subject, and the user can instantaneously adjust to the zoom position, and at the same time, the closest distance can be set. It is possible to know.

  FIG. 3 shows a screen 1 in the macro shooting mode according to another embodiment of the present invention. In the screen 1 according to the present embodiment, the zoom bar 3 has a curved shape. In the illustrated example, the zoom bar 3 is curved so as to swell to the right. In addition, a scale 8 indicating the distance to the subject is displayed below the zoom bar 3.

  According to the present embodiment, it is possible to visually know the closest distance at each zoom position visually. That is, in the example of FIG. 3, when the zoom position at the wide end is selected, the subject can be approached only up to 5 cm, but when using the zoom position at the most swollen curved portion, it can be as close as 1 cm. It is. It can also be seen that when the zoom position is at the telephoto end, it must be 10 cm away from the subject.

  In addition, the shape of the zoom bar in the present embodiment is not limited to an arc, and may be a polygonal line as shown in FIG.

  According to the present embodiment, it is possible to clearly indicate how close the subject can be photographed at all zoom positions, thereby further improving convenience for the user in macro photography.

  A program for the CPU to execute processing for realizing the functions of the embodiments constitutes a program according to the present invention. The recording medium for recording the program constitutes a computer-readable recording medium according to the present invention. As this recording medium, a semiconductor storage device, an optical and / or magnetic storage device, or the like can be used. By using such a program and recording medium in an apparatus or system having a configuration different from that of the above-described embodiment and causing the CPU to execute the program, substantially the same effects as those of the present invention can be obtained.

1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating an imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows another embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows another embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the conventional display method.

Explanation of symbols

1 Screen 2 Subject 3 Zoom bar 4 Icon 5 Tulip mark indicating macro photography 6 Bar 7a, 7b, 7c Numerical information 8 Scale

Claims (12)

Macro shooting mode for shooting close range,
An optical zoom means having the characteristic that the shortest focusing distance to the subject changes depending on the zoom position;
Zoom position detection means for detecting the zoom position;
Shooting information display means for displaying shooting information;
Shooting information output means for outputting shooting information to the shooting information display means;
Information storage means for storing the photographing information;
A shortest focus zoom position search means for obtaining a zoom position that is the shortest focus distance to the subject;
The photographing information display means comprises display control means for displaying the shortest focus zoom position obtained by the shortest focus zoom position search means and the closest distance to the subject at the shortest focus zoom position. An imaging device.   The display control means displays a settable zoom position on a straight line, displays a zoom position at the shortest focusing distance at the settable zoom position with a bar, and indicates a zoom position in use on the straight line. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the imaging apparatus is displayed with an icon.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display control unit displays a proximity distance to a subject at each zoom position by a number.   The imaging according to claim 1, wherein the display control unit is represented by a graph having a proximity distance and a settable zoom position as axes, and the zoom position being used is displayed as an icon on the graph. apparatus.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display control unit displays a scale in the graph. A macro shooting step for shooting a close range;
An optical zoom step with the characteristic that the shortest focusing distance to the subject changes depending on the zoom position;
A zoom position detection step for detecting the zoom position;
A shooting information display step for displaying shooting information;
A shooting information output step for outputting shooting information to the shooting information display means;
An information storage step for storing the photographing information;
A shortest focus zoom position search step for obtaining a zoom position that is the shortest focus distance to the subject;
The shooting information display step includes a display control step of displaying the shortest focus zoom position obtained in the shortest focus zoom position search step and the closest possible distance to the subject at the shortest focus zoom position. A display method of the imaging apparatus.   The display control step displays a settable zoom position on a straight line, displays a zoom position at the shortest focusing distance at the settable zoom position with a bar, and indicates a zoom position in use on the straight line. The display method of the imaging apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the display is performed with an icon.   The display method of the imaging apparatus according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the display control step displays a proximity distance to a subject at each zoom position.   The imaging according to claim 6, wherein the display control step is represented by a graph having a proximity distance and a settable zoom position as axes, and the zoom position being used is displayed as an icon on the graph. Device display method.   The display method of the imaging apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the display control step displays a scale in the graph.   The program which makes a computer perform the method of any one of Claim 6 to 10.   The computer-readable recording medium which recorded the program of Claim 11.

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