JP2010268031A - Digital camera - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a digital camera for displaying imaging information for imaging a composition desired by a user by specifying the composition. <P>SOLUTION: The digital camera includes: an imaging part for focusing luminous flux from an imaging optical system to be converted to an image signal, and outputting the image signal as image data; a display part for displaying the image data; an information acquisition part for acquiring the image data outputted by the imaging part; a specification reception part for receiving the specification of the composition from a user; and a specification information part for specifying information related to the imageable composition. When the specification of the composition is issued to the specification reception part, the specification information part displays, on the display part, information showing whether image data corresponding to the specified composition can be imaged by the imaging optical system based on the acquired image data. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a digital camera that displays photographing information for photographing a composition by instructing a composition desired by a user.

  There is known a digital camera capable of automatically setting a composition in order to photograph with a composition desired by a user.

  As such a digital camera, guide information is stored in advance, and guide information according to the subject is displayed in the shooting mode, so that the user can perform framing while referring to the display image during shooting, and shooting failure Has been disclosed (see Patent Document 1).

  In addition, the user acquires target composition data indicating the position and size of a predetermined subject to be imaged in the frame, and detects the predetermined subject on a pre-captured image obtained by calling and shooting during imaging standby. The difference between the position and size of the detected subject and the position and size of the subject represented by the target composition data is calculated and the difference is calculated. In addition, an imaging apparatus (see Patent Document 2) that guides at least one of the predetermined subject positions is also disclosed.

JP 2002-281356 A JP 2007-259035 A

  The conventional digital camera as described above presents information related to the photographing technique based on the photographing scenes indicated by the digital camera, and does not have means for instructing the digital camera to the composition desired by the user.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and confirms whether or not the target subject can be shot with the composition desired by the user by instructing the digital camera to the composition desired by the user. Provide a digital camera that can.

  According to one embodiment of the present invention, an imaging unit that forms an image of a light beam from the imaging optical system, converts the image into an image signal, and outputs the image signal as image data, a display unit that displays the image data, and the imaging unit An information acquisition unit that acquires the image data output by the user, an instruction reception unit that receives a composition instruction from a user, and an instruction information unit that instructs information about a composition that can be photographed, the instruction information unit, Information indicating whether image data corresponding to the instructed composition can be captured by the imaging optical system based on the acquired image data when the instruction receiving unit is instructed to compose It displays on a display part.

  In one embodiment of the present invention, by configuring in this way, by instructing the digital camera to the composition desired by the user, it is confirmed whether or not this composition can be photographed by the current imaging optical system. Can do.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to display information indicating whether or not the desired composition can be photographed by instructing the digital camera 1 to the desired composition, and the user can change or change the zoom magnification. It is possible to confirm whether the desired composition can be taken without changing the lens.

It is a functional block diagram of the digital camera of the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart at the time of imaging | photography with the digital camera of the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a more detailed flowchart at the time of imaging | photography with the digital camera of the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the instruction | indication of the composition which the user of the 1st Embodiment of this invention desires. It is explanatory drawing of judgment of whether the composition which the user of the 1st Embodiment of this invention desires is imageable. It is explanatory drawing of an example of the imaging condition of the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram of the operation part of the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of an example of the imaging condition of the 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a digital camera 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  The digital camera 1 includes an imaging unit 2, a control unit 3, a display unit 4, an operation unit 5, a storage unit 6, and an image processing unit 7.

  The imaging unit 2 forms a subject image, and converts the image into electronic data by photoelectric conversion, thereby capturing the subject image as image data.

  The display unit 4 displays captured image data and information related to the operation of the digital camera 1.

  The operation unit 5 receives an operation from the user.

  The storage unit 6 stores captured image data, programs related to the operation of the digital camera 1, and the like.

  The image processing unit 7 synthesizes the captured image data and information to be displayed and displays it on the display unit 4.

  The control unit 3 controls the imaging unit 2, the display unit 4, the operation unit 5, the storage unit 6, and the image processing unit 7.

  The imaging unit 2 includes an imaging optical system 21 including a photographing lens 211, a zoom mechanism 212, an AF mechanism 213, and a zoom lens 214, a signal conversion unit 22 including an imaging element, and a signal processing unit 23.

  In the digital camera 1 of the present embodiment, the imaging optical system 21 is configured to be removable, and is configured as a replaceable interchangeable lens 21.

  The subject image formed by the photographing lens 211 is converted into an image signal by photoelectric conversion in the signal converter 22. The converted image signal is sent to the signal processing unit 23. The signal processing unit obtains signal components such as luminance and color difference signals from the image signal, and sends them to the storage unit 61 as image data.

  The zoom mechanism 212 is controlled by the magnification changing unit 31 of the control unit 3. Under this control, the zoom mechanism 212 moves the zoom lens 214 to change the angle of view. As a result, the composition that can be photographed is changed by changing the angle of view.

  The AF mechanism 213 is controlled by the AF changing unit 32 of the control unit 3. With this control, the AF mechanism 213 moves the photographing lens 211 to change the focus. Thereby, AF (autofocus) in which a subject image is formed by the signal conversion unit 22 is executed.

  The control unit 3 includes a magnification change unit 31, an AF change unit 32, an information acquisition unit 33, and a movement detection unit 34.

  The magnification changing unit 31 controls the zoom mechanism 212 of the imaging unit 2 based on an operation from the user to the Wide side (wide angle side) or the Tele side (telephoto side) in the zoom operation unit 51 of the operation unit 5. . By this control, the zoom lens 214 of the imaging optical system 21 is moved, and the zoom magnification is changed to the Wide side or the Tele side.

  The information acquisition unit 33 acquires target image data of the subject from the signal processing unit 23 based on an instruction from the user in the photographing operation unit 52 of the operation unit 5. The acquired image data is temporarily stored in the storage unit 61.

  The movement detection unit 34 is configured by an acceleration sensor, for example, and detects this movement when the photographing direction of the digital camera 1 is moved.

  The display unit 4 includes an optical viewfinder 41 and an LCD 42 that displays an image.

  The optical finder 41 is configured by, for example, a mirror, a pentaprism, a relay optical system, or the like, and displays a subject image that has passed through the imaging optical system 21 or another finder optical system so as to be visible to the user.

  The LCD (liquid crystal display) 42 is image data converted by the signal conversion unit 22 of the imaging unit 2, image data stored in the storage unit 61 of the storage unit 6, or an image composition unit 71 of the image processing unit 7. The synthesized image data or the like is displayed so as to be visible to the user.

  The operation unit 5 includes a zoom operation unit 51, a shooting operation unit 52, and an instruction reception unit 53.

  The zoom operation unit 51 receives an operation from the user to the Wide side (wide angle side) or the Tele side (telephoto side), and instructs the magnification changing unit 31 to perform this operation.

  The shooting operation unit 52 receives a shooting operation from a user or an instruction of a desired composition, and instructs the information acquisition unit 33 to perform this operation.

  The instruction receiving unit 53 receives an instruction of a desired composition from the user. The instruction of the desired composition by the user will be described later with reference to FIG.

  The storage unit 6 includes a storage unit 61 and a storage unit 62.

  The storage unit 61 is used as a working memory for the control unit 3 or the image processing unit 7 and temporarily stores captured images, reproduced images, images obtained from the information acquisition unit, synthesized images, and the like.

  The storage unit 62 stores captured image data. Note that the storage unit 62 may be configured by a removable memory such as a memory card.

  The image processing unit 7 includes an image composition unit 71 and an instruction information unit 72.

  The image composition unit 71 superimposes the instruction information created by the instruction information unit 72 and the image data, and displays them on the LCD 42 or the like.

  The instruction information unit 72 creates instruction information for instructing the user about shooting conditions and the like. This instruction information is displayed on the LCD 42 together with the image data. The instruction information may be information such as numerical values.

  Next, the operation of the first embodiment of the present invention configured as described above will be described.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart of processing at the time of shooting according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  The user refers to the target subject through the display unit 4 (optical viewfinder 41 or LCD 42) of the digital camera 1. Here, the flowchart is executed when the user operates the digital camera 1 to instruct the digital camera 1 of a desired composition when shooting the subject.

  First, the user operates the instruction receiving unit 53 to instruct the digital camera 1 with a desired composition (S201).

  For example, the user operates the instruction receiving unit 53 to instruct the upper end side of the desired composition, and then changes the shooting direction of the digital camera 1 to instruct the lower end side of the desired composition.

  The instruction by the user is not limited to this method. For example, the user may directly input a numerical value (distance or subject size).

  In response to this instruction, the information acquisition unit 33 receives the subject image data from the signal processing unit 23, the distance from the subject from the AF changing unit 32, and information related to the movement of the digital camera 1 in the shooting direction from the movement detection unit 34. , Get each. The acquired information is sent to the instruction information unit 72.

  The instruction information unit 72 creates information indicating the range that can be photographed by the currently mounted interchangeable lens 21 for the composition desired by the user from these pieces of information. Then, this information is displayed on the LCD 42 (S202).

  Next, the instruction information unit 72 displays conditions for photographing the composition desired by the user on the LCD 42 (S203).

  By instructing the composition desired by the user through such processing, the conditions necessary for photographing the desired composition can be displayed on the LCD 42 of the digital camera 1.

  FIG. 3 is a more detailed flowchart of the process of FIG.

  First, in step S201 described above, the information acquisition unit 33 acquires information on the upper end side and the lower end side of the composition desired by the user in accordance with an instruction from the user to the instruction reception unit 53. Further, the distance from the subject is acquired from the AF changing unit 32. In addition, information regarding movement in the shooting direction of the digital camera 1 is acquired from the movement detection unit 34. Then, from these pieces of information, the information acquisition unit 33 obtains the size of the subject by a triangulation method (S211).

  Next, the instruction information unit 72 displays a composition that can be photographed based on the angle of view of the interchangeable lens 21 currently attached to the digital camera 1 (S212).

  Next, the instruction information unit 72 determines whether or not the composition desired by the user can be photographed based on the zoomable angle of view of the interchangeable lens 21 currently mounted (S213). When it is determined that the composition desired by the user, that is, the obtained size of the subject can be photographed based on the angle of view of the interchangeable lens 21 that is currently mounted, the processing according to this flowchart ends. Thereafter, the user performs shooting at a desired angle of view.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the instructed composition cannot be photographed depending on the currently mounted interchangeable lens, the process proceeds to step S214.

  The case where photography is not possible is, for example, the case where all the obtained subjects cannot be photographed at the angle of view at the Wide end of the currently mounted interchangeable lens.

  In this case, in step S214, the instruction information unit 72 creates shooting conditions for shooting the composition desired by the user, and displays this on the LCD 42 (S214).

  This shooting condition is determined by measuring the distance between the current digital camera 1 and the subject, and an instruction for replacement with an interchangeable lens having a focal length necessary for shooting all desired compositions. An instruction to move (relative to the subject).

  In accordance with the shooting conditions displayed on the LCD 42, the user performs exchange with the designated interchangeable lens, movement of the shooting location, etc., and performs shooting with a desired composition (S215).

  Next, the composition instruction desired by the user will be specifically described.

  FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a composition instruction desired by the user, which is executed in step S201 of FIG.

  The user refers to the target subject 301 on the display unit 4 (optical viewfinder 41 or LCD 42) of the digital camera 1. The user desires a composition for photographing the subject 301 without leaving it.

  Therefore, the user first operates the instruction receiving unit 53 to direct the photographing direction of the digital camera 1 toward the upper end side 302 of the subject 301 and to indicate that it is the upper end side of the composition. Thereafter, the shooting direction of the digital camera 1 is directed toward the lower end side 303 of the subject 301 to instruct that it is the lower end side of the composition.

  At this time, the information acquisition unit 33, as described above, the information on the upper end side 302 and the lower end side 303, the information on the distance to the subject acquired from the AF changing unit 32, and the digital acquired from the movement detection unit 34. Information about movement in the shooting direction of the camera 1 is acquired. And from these information, the information acquisition part 33 calculates | requires the magnitude | size of a to-be-photographed object.

  Next, the instruction information unit 72 determines whether or not shooting is possible with the instructed composition from the size of the subject obtained by the information acquisition unit 33 and the angle of view of the interchangeable lens 21 currently mounted. I do.

  FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for determining whether or not the desired composition can be shot.

  FIG. 5 shows a field angle 311 on the Wide side and an image 312 on the Tele side of the interchangeable lens 21 currently attached to the subject 301 instructed by the user.

  According to this, it is not possible to photograph all of the subject 301 depending on the angle of view 311 on the Wide side of the interchangeable lens 21 currently mounted. Therefore, the instruction information unit 72 determines that the composition desired by the user cannot be captured.

  FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of an example of the shooting conditions displayed by the instruction information unit 72.

  As shown in FIG. 5 described above, when it is determined that the currently mounted interchangeable lens 21 cannot capture the composition desired by the user, the instruction information unit 72 is displayed on the LCD 42 in FIG. A shooting condition 400 as shown is displayed.

  In the example shown in FIG. 6, the image data 401 indicating the difference between the angle of view that can be taken with the currently mounted interchangeable lens 21 and the composition desired by the user is shown as the shooting condition 400.

  According to this image data 401, a subject image only in a range of an angle of view that can be photographed by the currently mounted interchangeable lens 21 is displayed, and a portion that cannot be photographed is displayed by shading.

  The shooting condition 400 indicates the size 402 of the subject. Information 403 indicating how much the user moves from the current position (with respect to the subject) to satisfy the required angle of view from the current distance between the digital camera 1 and the subject in order to photograph the subject. Indicated. Also shown is information 404 indicating the angle of view (or focal length) of the lens recommended for photographing this subject from the current position.

  With this display, the user can know the range that can be photographed with the current configuration of the digital camera 1 (the interchangeable lens 21 that is mounted), and the photographing conditions necessary for photographing with the desired composition. I can know.

  As described above, in the first embodiment of the present invention, by instructing the digital camera to the composition desired by the user, it is easy to determine whether or not the target subject can be photographed with the composition desired by the user. Can be confirmed. In addition, when the desired composition cannot be photographed at the current configuration or photographing location of the digital camera 1, conditions for photographing the desired composition (interchangeable lens 21, distance to the subject) can also be confirmed.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment will be described.

  In the first embodiment described above, information indicating whether or not the composition desired by the user can be photographed by the currently mounted interchangeable lens 21 is displayed.

  On the other hand, in the second embodiment, the operation unit 5 includes a lens information input unit 54 and is configured to display information on lens information input by the user on the LCD 42.

  In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the structure same as 1st Embodiment, and the description is abbreviate | omitted.

  FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of the operation unit 5 according to the second embodiment.

  The operation unit 5 includes a lens information input unit 54 in addition to the zoom operation unit 51, the shooting operation unit 52, and the instruction reception unit 53.

  The lens information input unit 54 inputs lens information (for example, focal length, zoom range, etc.) of the interchangeable lens 21 by a user operation. This lens information is stored in the storage unit 61.

  The lens information is not limited to this, and may be information indicating the manufacturer's model number or lens performance. Further, the zoom position of the interchangeable lens 21 may be anywhere.

  This lens information is used for display of photographing conditions by the instruction information unit 72.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 6 of the first embodiment described above, a frame indicating an angle of view based on lens information input by the user is displayed at the same time that the interchangeable lens 21 that is currently mounted displays a shootable range. Is displayed.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8, the field angle of the interchangeable lens 21 included in the lens information input by the user is added to the subject image only in the range of the field angle that can be photographed by the currently mounted interchangeable lens 21. Display a frame.

  In the example of FIG. 8, for the composition desired by the user, a field angle frame 501 of a wide-angle lens having substantially the same angle of view as this composition, and an angle of view of a standard lens having a smaller angle of view than this wide-angle lens. Frame 502, a field angle frame 503 of a telephoto lens having a smaller field angle, and a field angle frame 504 of a super telephoto lens having a smaller field angle are displayed.

  The display may be different, for example, by changing the color of the field angle frame of the interchangeable lens 21 currently attached to the digital camera 1 and the field angle frame of the other interchangeable lens 21.

  By this display, the user can know not only the interchangeable lens 21 currently possessed by the digital camera 1 but also the range that can be photographed by the interchangeable lens 21 possessed elsewhere.

  As described above, in the second embodiment of the present invention, in addition to the same effects as those of the first embodiment, other exchanges input by the user regarding whether or not the target subject can be photographed with the desired composition. The digital camera 1 can display the information including the lens 21.

  In the first and second embodiments described above, the display is performed on the LCD 42 of the display unit 4. However, the present invention is not limited to such a configuration. For example, the optical finder 41 may be configured as a so-called EVF (Electronic View Finder) having a display device such as an LCD inside, and may be displayed on the optical finder 41. Further, the optical finder 41 or the LCD 42 may be configured by an organic EL or other display device.

  In the first and second embodiments described above, a digital camera with interchangeable lenses has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to such a configuration. The same applies to video cameras and mobile phones with camera functions.

  For example, a mobile phone with a camera function may be configured to display an instruction to attach a telephoto lens or a wide-angle lens attachment in order to capture a composition desired by the user.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Digital camera 2 Imaging part 3 Control part 4 Display part 5 Operation part 6 Storage part 7 Image processing part 21 Imaging optical system (interchangeable lens)
33 Information Acquisition Unit 34 Movement Detection Unit 41 Optical Finder 42 LCD (Liquid Crystal Display)
52 Shooting Operation Unit 53 Instruction Accepting Unit 54 Lens Information Input Unit 61 Storage Unit 71 Image Composition Unit 72 Instruction Information Unit

Claims (5)

An imaging unit that forms an image of a light beam from the imaging optical system, converts the image into an image signal, and outputs the image signal;
A display unit for displaying the image data;
An information acquisition unit for acquiring image data output by the imaging unit;
An instruction receiving unit for receiving an instruction of composition from the user;
An instruction information section for instructing information on a composition that can be photographed;
With
The instruction information unit can shoot image data corresponding to the instructed composition by the imaging optical system based on the acquired image data when an instruction to compose is given to the instruction receiving unit. A digital camera characterized in that information indicating the above is displayed on the display unit.   The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein the instruction information unit displays the acquired image data and information indicating an angle of view that can be captured by the imaging optical system on the display unit.   The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein the instruction information unit displays information on the imaging optical system necessary for photographing image data corresponding to the instructed composition on the display unit. . The imaging optical system is configured to be replaceable,
2. The instruction information unit displays information indicating whether image data corresponding to the instructed composition can be photographed by the interchangeable imaging optical system on the display unit. The digital camera described. An input unit for inputting information relating to the imaging optical system;
The instruction information unit includes information indicating whether image data corresponding to the instructed composition can be captured by at least one of the input imaging optical systems based on the input information, The digital camera according to claim 4, wherein the digital camera is displayed on a display unit.

Images