JP2011069920A - Illuminator, imaging apparatus and illuminating method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an illuminator that performs bounce imaging on a better condition. <P>SOLUTION: The illuminator, which illuminates an imaging object when imaging the imaging object, includes: a light-emitting part configured to generate illuminating light; a driving part configured to change an irradiating direction of the illuminating light; a measuring part configured to measure luminance of the imaging object irradiated with the illuminating light in a plurality of irradiating directions changed by the driving part; and a determination part configured to determine an irradiating direction, in which the highest luminance is measured out of luminance measured by the measuring part, as an irradiating direction adapted when imaging the imaging object. In the illuminator, the driving part may change the irradiating direction within a range where the imaging object is irradiated with the illuminating light as indirect light. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an illumination device, an imaging device, and an illumination method.

  In imaging by artificial illumination, there is an imaging method called bounce imaging in which illumination light of a lighting device is reflected on a wall surface, a ceiling surface, or the like, and an imaging target is illuminated with indirect light (see Patent Document 1).

JP 2008-256849 A

  In bounce imaging, illumination light is irradiated in a direction different from the direction from the imaging device toward the imaging target. For this reason, it has been difficult to select an appropriate irradiation direction of illumination light.

  In order to resolve the above-mentioned problems, as a first aspect of the present invention, a lighting device (300) that illuminates an imaging target when imaging the imaging target (530), and a light emitting unit (310) that generates illumination light, A driving unit (340) for changing the irradiation direction of the illumination light, a measuring unit (232) for measuring the luminance of the imaging target irradiated with the illumination light in the plurality of irradiation directions changed by the driving unit, and a measuring unit There is provided an illuminating device including a determination unit (230) that determines an irradiation direction in which the highest luminance among the measured luminances is measured as an irradiation direction when an imaging target is imaged.

  As a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an imaging apparatus including the above-described illumination apparatus and an imaging unit (210) that irradiates illumination light in the irradiation direction determined by the determination unit and images an imaging target.

  As a third aspect of the present invention, a light emission control unit (330) that generates illumination light in the light emitting unit while changing the irradiation direction, and an imaging target irradiated with illumination light generated from the light emitting unit in a plurality of irradiation directions. An imaging apparatus is provided that includes a measurement unit that measures luminance, and a determination unit that determines an irradiation direction in which the highest luminance among the luminances measured by the measurement unit is measured as an irradiation direction when imaging an imaging target. .

  As a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an illumination method for illuminating an object to be imaged when taking an image, wherein the illumination stage generates illumination light while changing the irradiation direction, and illumination light generated by the emission stage. A measurement stage for measuring the brightness of the irradiated imaging target, and a determination stage for determining an irradiation direction in which the highest brightness among the brightnesses measured in the measurement stage is measured as an irradiation direction when imaging the imaging target An illumination method is provided.

  The above summary of the present invention does not enumerate all necessary features of the present invention. Further, a sub-combination of these feature groups can be an invention.

2 is a perspective view of a camera body 200 to which an interchangeable lens 100 is attached. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the flash unit 300. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a camera system 400. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a lighting system 401. FIG. It is a figure explaining a bounce imaging. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure which determines a bounce angle. It is a flowchart which shows a part of procedure which determines a bounce angle.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described through embodiments of the invention, but the following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims. In addition, not all the combinations of features described in the embodiments are essential for the solving means of the invention.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a camera body 200 to which the interchangeable lens 100 is attached as viewed from the back side. The interchangeable lens 100 is attached to a mount disposed on the front surface of the housing 201 of the camera body 200.

  The interchangeable lens 100 has an optical system, and forms an optical image of a subject on an image sensor built in the camera body 200. The interchangeable lens 100 can be replaced according to imaging conditions, imaging intentions, and the like.

  The camera body 200 includes a shutter release button 202, a mode dial 204, and an accessory shoe 280 disposed on the top surface of the housing 201, a cross key 206, an execution button 208, a display unit 296, and the like disposed on the back surface of the housing 201. Have.

  The accessory shoe 280 is fitted to a part of peripheral devices such as a flash unit 300 described later and holds the attached peripheral device. In addition, the accessory shoe 280 has a plurality of connection electrodes 282 and also serves as a signal path between the peripheral device mounted on the accessory shoe 280 and the camera body 200.

  The viewfinder 290 is a member for allowing the user to visually recognize an image equivalent to the light image formed on the image sensor 210. The user can determine the imaging range, focus, and the like by looking through the viewfinder 290.

  The display unit 296 includes a liquid crystal display panel and the like, and includes ISO sensitivity, white balance setting values, a remaining battery level of a battery (not shown) built in the camera body 200, and a storage medium (not shown) built in the camera body 200. The information such as the remaining storage medium is shown to the user. Furthermore, the display unit 296 is used for reproducing and displaying captured images. Note that an optical image received by the image sensor 210 may be displayed before imaging.

  The shutter release button 202 is mainly used when instructing an imaging timing. That is, when the user depresses the shutter release button 202, the shutter is opened and the image sensor 210 is exposed to a light image.

  The mode dial 204 is operated when the operation mode of the camera body 200 is selected. The selection of the operation mode includes selection of a self-timer imaging mode, a bulb imaging mode, and a captured image reproduction mode, in addition to selection of an imaging mode (for example, shutter speed priority mode, aperture value priority mode, etc.).

  The cross key 206 is used when selecting an option displayed on the display unit 296. Further, when no option is displayed on the display unit 296, it is used for operations such as pre-assigned exposure correction and flash mode change.

  The execution button 208 is also used when the option selected by the cross key 206 is confirmed. The execution button 208 is also used, for example, for an instruction to start moving image capturing according to the operation mode of the camera body 200 set by the mode dial 204.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the flash unit 300. The flash unit 300 has a fixed housing 302 and a movable housing 304.

  The lower surface of the fixed housing 302 has a leg portion 390 that fits into the accessory shoe 280 of the camera body 200. Thereby, the flash unit 300 can be used by being attached to the accessory shoe 280 of the camera body 200.

  A plurality of contacts 391 are disposed on the lower surface of the leg portion 390. The contact 391 contacts the connection electrode 282 of the accessory shoe 280 when the flash unit 300 is attached to the camera body 200. Thereby, the flash unit 300 attached to the camera body 200 is electrically connected to the camera body 200.

  The fixed housing 302 has a display unit 360 and an operation unit 370 on the back surface. The display unit 360 displays the operation state of the flash unit 300 itself, such as the remaining battery level of a battery 382 built in the flash unit 300 described later, the charging state of the light emitting circuit, and the operation mode set in the flash unit. The operation unit 370 includes a push button, a rotary dial, and the like, and is used to select and instruct power-on of the flash unit 300, operation setting, test light emission, and the like.

  The fixed housing 302 has an auxiliary light emitting unit 320 on the front surface. The auxiliary light emitting unit 320 includes an auxiliary light source 322 and a reflector 324. The auxiliary light generated by the auxiliary light source 322 is irradiated forward by the reflector 324 and assists in focusing the camera body 200.

  The fixed housing 302 includes a circuit board 380 and a battery 382. In addition to the control circuit of the flash unit 300, the circuit board 380 includes a communication circuit with the camera body 200, a display unit driving circuit that generates an image to be displayed on the display unit 360, and the like. The battery 382 supplies power for operating the flash unit 300.

One end of the movable housing 304 is pivotally supported by a rotating shaft 306 that extends perpendicularly to the paper surface in the illustrated state. Thereby, the movable housing 304 can be rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow R in the drawing. Movable body 304 is rotated by, for example, from substantially becomes parallel position to the horizontal plane (indicated by symbol P ₁ in the drawing), to a position to be substantially perpendicular to the horizontal plane (indicated by the symbol P ₃ in the drawing). It is also possible to position with any inclination between the position P ₁ to the position P ₃ (indicated at P ₂ in the drawing).

  The movable casing 304 has a rotary scale 352 that rotates around the rotation shaft 306 together with the movable casing 304. The turntable 341 is provided with an encoder 354 that reads the scale of the rotary scale 352. Thereby, it is possible to accurately detect the tilt of the movable housing 304 that is driven by the motor 342 and changes the angle.

  The rotating shaft 306 is supported by a rotating table 341 that rotates about an axis parallel to the paper surface. As a result, the movable casing 304 can rotate with respect to the fixed casing 302 perpendicular to the paper surface. A drive unit 340 is disposed on the turntable 341. Drive unit 340 includes a motor 342, a pinion gear 344, and a gear 346.

  The motor 342 has a drive shaft parallel to the rotation shaft 306. The pinion gear 344 is attached to the drive shaft of the motor 342 and rotates together with the drive shaft. The gear 346 meshes with the pinion gear 344 and rotates around the rotation shaft 306 together with the movable housing 304. Thereby, the angle of the movable housing 304 with respect to the horizontal plane can be changed through rotation control of the motor 342.

  The other end of the movable housing 304 supports the light emitting unit 310. The light emitting unit 310 includes a discharge tube 312, a reflection plate 314, and a diffusion plate 316. The illumination light generated in the discharge tube 312 is given directivity by the reflection plate 314 and is diffused by the diffusion plate 316 to irradiate illumination light that uniformly illuminates a wide range.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the camera system 400. The camera system 400 indicates the whole including the interchangeable lens 100, the camera body 200, and the flash unit 300 that are mechanically and electrically coupled to each other.

  The interchangeable lens 100 includes a fixed tube 110, a plurality of lenses L1, L2, and L3 arranged in the fixed tube 110, and a lens barrel control unit 111 disposed in the fixed tube 110. One end of the fixed cylinder 110 is fixed to the mount 260 of the camera body 200. Thereby, the mounting angle of the interchangeable lens 100 with respect to the camera body 200 is stabilized.

  Inside the fixed cylinder 110, a plurality of lenses L1, L2, and L3 held by individual lens frames 140, 150, and 160 are disposed. The lenses L1, L2, and L3 are arranged on a common optical axis X to form an optical system. Each of the lenses L1, L2, and L3 may be a lens group that includes a plurality of optical components. The lens frame 150 also holds the aperture device 222.

  A focus ring 120 and a zoom ring 130 are disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the fixed cylinder 110. The focus ring 120 is rotated along the peripheral surface of the fixed cylinder 110 by the user's operation, and moves a focusing lens group, for example, the lens L1 along the optical axis X. Thereby, the optical system can be focused by changing the focal position of the interchangeable lens 100.

  The zoom ring 130 is rotated along the peripheral surface of the fixed cylinder 110 by a user operation, and moves a zoom lens group, for example, the lenses L2 and L3, along the optical axis X. Thereby, the focal length of the interchangeable lens 100 can be changed, and the magnification of the image to be captured can be changed.

  A connection terminal 114 is disposed at the end of the fixed cylinder 110 on the camera body 200 side. The connection terminal 114 is in contact with the contact unit 116 disposed adjacent to the mount 260 of the camera body 200 to electrically couple the interchangeable lens 100 and the camera body 200. Thereby, the lens barrel control unit 111 communicates with the camera body 200 side. In some cases, the interchangeable lens 100 is supplied with power from the camera body 200.

  The camera body 200 includes an optical system including a main mirror 240, a pentaprism 270, and a viewfinder 290, and a body control unit 230. The main mirror 240 is between a descending position that is inclined on the optical path of incident light incident from the optical system of the interchangeable lens 100 and an ascending position (indicated by a dotted line in the drawing) that ascends while avoiding the optical path. To move.

  The main mirror 240 in the lowered position guides incident light to a focusing screen 272 disposed above. The focusing screen 272 is disposed at a position where an image is formed when the optical system of the interchangeable lens 100 is focused, and visualizes the image.

  The image connected to the focusing screen 272 is observed by the user from the viewfinder 290 via the pentaprism 270. As a result, the image on the focusing screen 272 is viewed as a normal image from the viewfinder 290.

  A part of the light emitted from the pentaprism 270 is guided to the photometry unit 232. The photometry unit 232 measures the brightness of the incident light, its distribution, and the like. The measurement result is referred to from the body control unit 230 when determining the shooting condition.

  A sub mirror 242 is disposed on the back surface of the main mirror 240. The sub mirror 242 guides part of the incident light transmitted through the main mirror 240 to the distance measuring unit 250 disposed below the sub mirror 242. The distance measuring unit 250 detects the focal position of the optical system of the interchangeable lens 100. When the main mirror 240 moves to the raised position, the sub mirror 242 also retracts from the optical path of the incident light.

  A shutter 220, an optical filter 212, and an image sensor 210 are arranged along the optical path of the incident light behind the main mirror 240 with respect to the incident light from the interchangeable lens 100. When the shutter release button 202 is pressed and the shutter 220 is opened, the main mirror 240 moves to the raised position immediately before that. Accordingly, the incident light travels straight and enters the image sensor 210. Thereby, the optical image formed by the incident light is converted into an electrical signal in the image sensor 210.

  The body control unit 230 comprehensively controls the various operations as described above. Further, the in-focus position detected by the distance measuring unit 250 is transmitted to the lens barrel control unit 111 of the interchangeable lens 100 to form an autofocus system. Further, the body control unit 230 determines the shutter speed and aperture value at which proper exposure is obtained based on the luminance information obtained from the photometry unit 232. Then, the body control unit 230 notifies the lens barrel control unit 111 of the aperture value (the aperture value set in the aperture priority mode), and controls the operation of the aperture device 222. Further, when the flash unit 300 is attached to the camera body 200, a dimming system is formed in cooperation with the circuit board 380 of the flash unit 300.

  Since the display unit 296 disposed on the back surface of the camera body 200 behind the image sensor 210 has already been described with reference to FIG. 1, redundant description is omitted. The flash unit 300 is also as already described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an illumination system 401 formed by the camera body 200 and the flash unit 300 in cooperation. In addition, the same reference number is attached | subjected to the same element as another figure, and the overlapping description is abbreviate | omitted. The illumination system 401 is formed by cooperation of the camera body 200 and the flash unit 300.

  On the camera body 200 side, the body control unit 230 receives a user instruction from the operation system such as the shutter release button 202, the mode dial 204, the cross key 206, and the execution button 208. In addition, the body control unit 230 displays information on the display unit 296 and transmits the information to the user. Furthermore, the body control unit 230 performs a control operation with reference to the measurement results of the photometry unit 232, the distance measurement unit 250, and the like.

  On the flash unit 300 side, the flash control unit 330 receives a user instruction from the operation unit 370. In addition, the flash control unit 330 causes the display unit 360 to display information to be communicated to the user. Further, the flash controller 330 refers to the measurement result of the encoder 354 and executes a control operation. On the flash unit 300 side, the light emitting unit 310, the auxiliary light emitting unit 320, and the driving unit 340 are controlled by the flash control unit 330.

  In the illumination system 401, for example, user operation reception may be concentrated on the camera body 200 side, and the operation unit 370 on the flash unit 300 side may not be used. Conversely, the camera body 200 may follow the setting on the flash unit 300 side.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating bounce imaging by the camera system 400. Here, it is assumed that the camera system 400 equipped with the flash unit 300 is used to capture an image of the imaging target 530 placed on the table 520. The camera system 400 is fixed on a tripod 510.

  The flower of the imaging target 530 is located substantially in front of the interchangeable lens 100. On the other hand, the movable housing 304 of the flash unit 300 is directed obliquely upward. For this reason, the illumination light emitted from the flash unit 300 is once irradiated to the ceiling 540, and the reflected light from the ceiling 540 is irradiated to the imaging target 530 obliquely from above.

  Here, if the bounce angle θ is set such that the irradiation direction of the indirect light with respect to the imaging target 530 is in a range S between the irradiation direction B and the irradiation direction C indicated by arrows in the drawing, the imaging target 530 is illuminated light. Illuminated. On the other hand, when the bounce angle is larger or smaller and the indirect light irradiation direction is the irradiation direction A or the irradiation direction D indicated by the dotted line in the figure, the indirect light irradiated on the imaging target 530 is reduced. To do. Therefore, the bounce angle θ is preferably selected so that the irradiation direction is in the range S, but it is difficult for the user to select the angle by eye measurement.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure in which the lighting system 401 determines the bounce angle. Each control in the flowchart shown in FIG. 6 is performed by the body control unit 230 executing a program recorded in advance in a ROM (not shown) provided in the camera body 200. When imaging is started in the camera system 400, the body control unit 230 attempts to communicate with the flash control unit 330 and determines whether the power of the flash unit 300 is turned on (S101).

  When the body control unit 230 determines that the power of the flash unit 300 is not turned on (S101: NO), imaging using the flash unit 300 is not limited to bounce imaging. Therefore, the body control unit 230 monitors the state of the shutter release button, and when it is determined that the button is pressed (S115), the body control unit 230 starts photometry and focusing (S116), and executes imaging (S112).

  When the body control unit 230 determines that the power of the flash unit 300 is turned on (S101: YES), the body control unit 230 determines whether or not the bounce imaging mode is designated (S102). In addition to the case where the bounce imaging mode is set by a user instruction, the body control unit 230 refers to the output of the encoder 354, and the inclination of the movable casing 304 is determined, so that the orientation of the movable casing 304 is exchanged. You may set based on whether it is parallel to the optical axis of the lens 100 or not.

  A user instruction such as bounce imaging mode setting is input from the operation unit 370 of the flash unit 300, for example. In some cases, the mode dial 204 of the camera body 200 is designated. Further, there is a case where the selection is made by the cross key 206 from the menu displayed on the display unit 296 of the camera body 200 and the execution button 208 is confirmed.

  When it is determined by the body control unit 230 that the bounce imaging mode is set (S102: YES), the body control unit 230 determines whether or not the determination of the bounce angle is left to the camera system 400, that is, bounce. It is determined whether or not the angle optimization mode is on (S103). When it is determined that the bounce angle optimization mode is on (S103: YES), the body control unit 230 prepares for execution of the bounce angle optimization operation in cooperation with the flash control unit 330.

  The start of the bounce angle optimization operation is assigned to the execution button 208, for example. That is, when it is determined by the body control unit 230 that the user has determined the imaging target and held the camera system 400 at the imaging position and then pressed the execution button 208 (S104), the body control unit 230 A bounce angle optimization operation is started (S105).

  When the body control unit 230 determines that the bounce angle optimization mode is not turned on (S103: NO), the body control unit 230 waits for the shutter release button 202 to be pressed, and the button is pressed. If it is determined that it has been determined (S109), photometry and focusing are started. (S110) Further, if necessary, the light emitting unit 310 is dimmed by pre-emission (S111), and then imaging is performed (S112). In this case, the body control unit 230 performs the determination as to whether or not the flash unit 300 emits light and the dimming when the flash unit 300 emits light without considering the bounce angle.

  The bounce angle optimization operation is executed as follows. First, based on an instruction from the body control unit 230, the flash control unit 330 causes the light emitting unit 310 to emit modeling light while operating the driving unit 340 and changing the angle of the movable housing 304. Modeling light emission is light emission that artificially increases the irradiation time by executing light emission continuously at high speed. The modeling light emission is preferably executed continuously by the light emitting unit 310 while suppressing the light emission intensity.

  Here, since the purpose is to optimize the bounce angle, it is preferable that the drive unit 340 change the bounce angle in a range in which the illumination light generated by the flash unit 300 is irradiated as indirect light to the imaging target 530. Therefore, an angle at which the illumination light can be directly applied to the imaging target 530 may be held in advance as a threshold value, and the subject luminance may be examined for a bounce angle range larger than the threshold value.

  Further, the body control unit 230 calculates the distance to the imaging target based on the focal position of the optical system measured by the distance measuring unit 250 on the camera body 200 side, and illumination light is applied to the imaging target 530 based on the calculated distance. You may calculate the bounce angle irradiated directly.

  Alternatively, as will be described later, if the subject brightness suddenly increases while measuring the subject brightness while changing the angle of the movable casing 304, it is determined that the imaging target is illuminated with direct light. Also good. From this point of view, in the bounce angle optimization operation under the control of the body control unit 230, it is preferable to scan the bounce angle from the side with the larger bounce angle toward the side with the smaller bounce angle.

  Further, when the bounce angle is reduced, the illumination area by the indirect light becomes far away, and there is a high probability that the imaging target cannot be illuminated. Therefore, it is preferable that the body control unit 230 performs control so that the change in the bounce angle is fine when the bounce angle is large.

  The body control unit 230 changes the luminance of the imaging target 530 (hereinafter referred to as “subject luminance”) to the photometric unit 232 of the camera body 200 during a period in which the flash unit 300 repeatedly emits light while changing the bounce angle. Measurement is performed (S105). When the flash unit 300 has some photometric function, the subject brightness may be measured on the flash unit 300 side without using the photometric unit 232 of the camera body 200.

  Next, the body control unit 230 referring to the measurement result of the photometry unit 232 determines whether or not the subject luminance has changed significantly (S106). For example, when it is determined by the body control unit 230 that the subject brightness has changed beyond a given threshold (S106: YES), the body control unit 230 determines that the movable case when the measured brightness is the highest. The bounce angle θ of the body 304 is obtained from the encoder 354. Thereby, the bounce angle at which the illumination light generated by the light emitting unit 310 efficiently illuminates the imaging target 530 can be determined.

  When the optimal bounce angle is determined, the flash control unit 330 activates the drive unit 340 again based on an instruction from the body control unit 230, and sets the bounce angle θ of the movable housing 304 to the above-described optimal angle (S107). . Thus, since the movable housing 304 is set to the optimum bounce angle, the camera system notifies the user that the bounce angle optimization operation has been completed (S108). In addition to the visual notification by the display units 360 and 296, a warning sound may be generated by a sounding unit (not shown).

  The camera system 400 in which the bounce angle is set in this way waits for the shutter release button 202 to be pressed, and when the body control unit 230 determines that the button is pressed (S109), it starts photometry and focusing (S109). S110). Further, the body control unit 230 performs light control by pre-emission as necessary (S111), and then executes imaging (S112). In this way, bounce imaging with an optimum bounce angle can be performed easily and reliably.

  Note that when the position of the camera system 400 with respect to the imaging target 530 changes, the optimum bounce angle also changes. Therefore, when movement of the camera system 400 exceeding a given threshold is detected by the body control unit 230, for example, it is preferable to initialize the bounce angle optimization operation and execute the bounce angle optimization operation again. In that case, the display unit 296 may display that the bounce angle optimization operation should be performed again. The movement of the camera system 400 can be detected using, for example, an acceleration sensor, a tilt sensor, a GPS (Global Positioning System), or the like.

  On the other hand, when it is determined by the body control unit 230 that a change exceeding the given threshold value of the subject luminance measured by the photometry unit 232 is not detected (S106: NO), the light amount of the light emitting unit 310 is insufficient. This is a case where the lighting effect by the bounce illumination by the flash unit 300 is substantially insufficient due to the reason that the reflectance of the reflecting surface such as the ceiling 540 is remarkably low. Therefore, the body control unit 230 forcibly releases the bounce imaging mode (S113). Further, the body control unit 230 communicates with the flash control unit 330 to cancel the bounce imaging mode on the flash unit 300 side.

  When the body control unit 230 determines that the subject brightness detected by the photometry unit 232 is particularly low, the body control unit 230 does not simply cancel the bounce imaging mode, but instead uses the flash unit 300 to capture the imaging target 530. You may control to switch to the mode which illuminates directly. In addition, the flash control unit 330 operates the drive unit 340 based on an instruction from the body control unit 230 to change the direction of the movable housing 304, and the illumination light generated by the light emitting unit 310 is directly applied to the imaging target 530. You may control so.

  Furthermore, the camera system 400 notifies the user that the bounce imaging mode has been canceled (S114). For example, in addition to displaying that the bounce imaging mode has been canceled on the display unit 360 of the flash unit 300 or the display unit 296 of the camera body 200 based on an instruction from the body control unit 230, the camera system 400 is permitted to generate an operation confirmation sound. In such a case, a warning sound may be generated together by a sounding unit (not shown).

  As described above, when the body control unit 230 determines that the bounce imaging mode is released (S113), the body control unit 230 waits for the shutter release button 202 to be pressed. Next, when it is determined by the body control unit 230 that the button has been pressed (S109), the body control unit 230 starts photometry and focusing (S110). Further, the body control unit 230 performs light control by pre-emission as necessary (S111), and then executes imaging (S112). In this case, the body control unit 230 also determines whether or not the flash unit 300 emits light and performs dimming when the flash unit 300 emits light without considering the bounce angle.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart including a procedure that can be added to the procedure shown in FIG. Steps for performing the same processing as the processing in FIG. 6 are omitted, or the same reference numerals as those shown in FIG. 6 are given. Each control in the flowchart shown in FIG. 7 is also performed by the body controller 230 executing a program recorded in advance in a ROM (not shown) provided in the camera body 200. If it is determined in step S106 that the body control unit 230 has not detected a change in the subject brightness exceeding the given threshold (S106: NO), it may be caused by insufficient light emission intensity of the light emitting unit 310 in modeling light emission. obtain. Therefore, prior to step S105 of the procedure shown in FIG. 6, a later-described step of performing light emission (trial light emission) for optimizing the light emission intensity of the light emitting unit 310 in modeling light emission may be provided.

  After step S104, with the bounce angle θ of the movable casing 304 fixed, the flash control unit 330 performs test light emission at a predetermined initial light emission intensity based on an instruction from the body control unit 230. The light-emitting unit 310 is controlled, and the body control unit 230 controls the photometry unit 232 to measure the subject brightness when the test light is emitted (S201). Next, in a state where the bounce angle θ of the movable casing 304 is fixed, the flash control unit 330 emits light by a predetermined amount that is predetermined in comparison with the previous test light emission intensity based on an instruction from the body control unit 230. The light emitting unit 310 is controlled to increase the intensity so as to perform the test light emission, and the body control unit 230 controls the photometry unit 232 to measure the subject brightness when the test light is emitted (S202).

  Next, the body control unit 230 refers to the latest measurement result of the photometry unit 232 and the previous measurement result, and determines whether or not a change in subject brightness exceeding a given threshold has occurred in the subject brightness. (S203). When it is determined by the body control unit 230 that no change in subject brightness exceeding a given threshold has occurred (S203: NO), the body control unit 230 determines whether the latest test emission intensity is maximum. Is determined (S204).

  When the body control unit 230 determines that the light emission intensity is not the maximum (S204: NO), the process proceeds to step S202 in order to further increase the light emission intensity. Accordingly, by repeating Step S202, Step S203, Step S204, and Step S205, the subject luminance is measured while increasing the amount of trial light emission.

  Further, the body control unit 230 sequentially determines whether or not a change in subject brightness exceeding a given threshold has occurred by comparing the latest subject brightness with the previous subject brightness. Thereby, it is possible to detect the light emission intensity at which the effect of the bounce illumination is surely effective. In addition, if the effect appears even at a low light emission intensity, power can be saved.

  On the other hand, when the body control unit 230 determines that the light emission intensity is maximum (S204: YES), it is determined that the bounce illumination by the flash unit 300 is not effective, and the control is performed at this time. The process proceeds to step S113.

  If the body control unit 230 determines that a change in subject brightness exceeding a given threshold has occurred (S203: YES), the flash control unit 330 determines the emission intensity based on an instruction from the body control unit 230. (S205). At this time, it is preferable that the body control unit 230 performs control so as to notify that an effective light emission intensity has been detected. By such an additional procedure, there are cases where the release of the bounce imaging mode (S113) due to insufficient light emission intensity of the light emitting unit 310 in modeling light emission can be avoided.

  In the above embodiment, the state in which the flash unit 300 is attached to the camera body 200 has been described. However, the flash unit 300 may be provided with a photometric system, and the bounce angle optimization operation may be executed by the flash unit 300 alone. Even when the camera body 200 and the flash unit 300 can communicate without going through the accessory shoe 280, the bounce angle optimization operation of the flash unit 300 that is not attached to the camera body 200 can be executed.

  In the above embodiment, the bounce angle optimization operation is performed by rotating the movable casing 304 around the horizontal rotation axis 306. However, the bounce angle optimization operation is performed by rotating the movable casing 304 around the vertical axis. May also be effective. Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the flash unit 300 that generates a flash is used as the illumination device. However, the bounce angle optimization operation is effective even in bounce imaging using a continuous light source.

  Further, the lens attached to and detached from the camera body 200 is not limited to the interchangeable lens 100 of the above-described form, and the bounce angle optimization operation is effective even when various interchangeable lenses are attached. Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the description has been given by taking the digital single-lens reflex camera with interchangeable lenses as an example. However, the bounce angle optimization operation is effective even in a digital camera with an integrated lens. The bounce angle optimization operation is also effective in digital video cameras and analog cameras using silver halide films.

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated using embodiment, the technical scope of this invention is not limited to the range as described in the said embodiment. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications or improvements can be added to the above-described embodiment. It is apparent from the scope of the claims that the embodiments added with such changes or improvements can be included in the technical scope of the present invention.

  The order of execution of each process such as operations, procedures, steps, and stages in the apparatus, system, program, and method shown in the claims, the description, and the drawings is particularly “before” or “prior to”. It should be noted that the output of the previous process may be realized in any order unless used in a subsequent process. Regarding the operation flow in the claims, the description, and the drawings, even if it is described using “first”, “next”, etc. for convenience, it means that it is essential to carry out in this order. It is not a thing.

100 Interchangeable Lens, 200 Camera Body, 202 Shutter Release Button, 204 Mode Dial, 206 Four-way Key, 208 Execution Button, 230 Body Control Unit, 232 Metering Unit, 234 Flash Metering Unit, 250 Distance Measuring Unit, 300 Flash Unit, 302 Fixed casing, 304 movable casing, 310 light emitting section, 330 flash control section, 340 drive section, 342 motor, 344 pinion gear, 346 gear, 352 rotary scale, 354 encoder, 370 operation section, 400 camera system, 530 imaging target 540 Ceiling

Claims (10)

An illumination device that illuminates the imaging target when imaging the imaging target,
A light emitting unit for generating illumination light;
A drive unit that changes the irradiation direction of the illumination light;
A measurement unit that measures the luminance of the imaging target irradiated with the illumination light for a plurality of irradiation directions changed by the drive unit;
An illuminating device comprising: a determining unit that determines an irradiation direction in which the highest luminance is measured among the luminances measured by the measurement unit as an irradiation direction when imaging the imaging target.   The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the driving unit changes the irradiation direction within a range in which the illumination light is irradiated as indirect light to the imaging target.   When the luminance measured in the plurality of irradiation directions does not change, the determination unit determines an irradiation direction in which the illumination light is directly applied to the imaging target as an irradiation direction when imaging the imaging target. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the lighting device is determined as follows.   The lighting device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the determination unit determines again the irradiation direction of the light emitting unit when detecting a change in a relative position between the imaging device and the imaging target.   The measuring unit measures the luminance of the imaging target while changing the light emission amount of the light emitting unit whose irradiation direction is fixed, and the light emission amount when the measured luminance changes, and the plurality of irradiation directions of the light emitting unit The illumination device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the luminance of the imaging target irradiated with the illumination light is measured for each.   The said drive part enlarges the change of the said irradiation direction, so that the irradiation direction of the said illumination light approaches the irradiation direction which becomes direct light with respect to the said imaging target. Lighting device. The lighting device according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
An imaging apparatus comprising: an imaging unit configured to irradiate illumination light in the irradiation direction determined by the determination unit and image the imaging target. A light emission control unit that generates illumination light in the light emitting unit while changing the irradiation direction;
A measurement unit that measures the luminance of an imaging target irradiated with illumination light generated from the light-emitting unit in a plurality of irradiation directions;
An imaging apparatus comprising: a determining unit that determines an irradiation direction in which the highest luminance is measured among the luminances measured by the measurement unit as an irradiation direction when imaging the imaging target.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising an imaging unit that irradiates illumination light in the irradiation direction determined by the determination unit and images the imaging target. An illumination method for illuminating an imaging target when imaging,
A light emission stage for generating illumination light in the light emitting part while changing the irradiation direction;
A measuring step of measuring the luminance of the imaging target irradiated with the illumination light generated by the light emitting step;
An illuminating method comprising: a determining step of determining an irradiation direction in which the highest luminance is measured among the luminances measured in the measurement step as an irradiation direction when imaging the imaging target.

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