JP2012034199A - Imaging device, control method, program and recording medium for imaging device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To present candidates for photographing settings only when a user repeats necessary retakes instead of making recommendation for photographing all the time.SOLUTION: An imaging device has: means for discriminating a scene from a photographing image (step S501); means for counting the predetermined operation number of similar scenes (step S503); and means for determining whether the number of the similar scenes exceeds a predetermined number (step S504). If the number of the similar scenes exceeds the predetermined number, the imaging device presents corresponding candidates for photographing settings.

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus, a control method for an imaging apparatus, a program, and a recording medium having a function of presenting a shooting mode, setting items, and the like to a user so that suitable shooting can be performed according to shooting conditions.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, an imaging apparatus has been developed that can perform scene determination using image analysis technology and perform shooting with few failures without performing complicated camera shooting settings. On the other hand, such an imaging apparatus is required to be able to easily cope with a subject for which scene determination is difficult and reflect user's preference.

  Conventionally, in such an imaging apparatus, a method for automatically setting or displaying a processing condition by performing scene discrimination from a captured image has been proposed. For example, a technique for rearranging shooting modes according to scenes based on the result of scene detection has been proposed (for example, Japanese Patent No. 3948652).

Special registration 03948652

  However, in an imaging apparatus that presents scene discrimination, if a display that suggests scene discrimination every time a picture is taken is displayed, it is not easy to use when it is desired to take a picture with priority on the shutter chance. There's a problem.

  An object of the present invention is to make it possible to perform suitable photographing so that a scene discrimination proposal is made when it is determined that a scene discrimination proposal is necessary for the user. At the same time, to provide an imaging device, an imaging device control method, a program, and a recording medium that eliminates the inconvenience of making a scene discrimination proposal in a situation where no scene discrimination proposal is required, and improves usability With the goal.

  In order to achieve the above object, an imaging apparatus according to the present invention includes an imaging unit, a scene determination unit that determines a shooting scene based on information obtained by analyzing an image captured by the imaging unit, and a predetermined operation. The similarity determination means for determining whether or not the shooting scene determined by the scene determination means is a shooting scene similar to that when the predetermined operation was performed last time, and the similarity determination A counting unit that counts the number of times that the shooting unit determines that the scene is similar, and a shooting setting candidate according to a shooting situation in the imaging unit when the number of times counted by the counting unit exceeds a threshold. And presenting means.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is not always recommended to determine a scene at the time of shooting, but only when the imaging apparatus determines that the user needs a scene determination proposal. Candidates can be presented. As a result, it is possible to improve the usability by making a proposal for scene discrimination so that suitable shooting can be performed and eliminating the annoyance of making a scene discrimination proposal in a situation where there is no need for a scene discrimination proposal. effective.

1 is an external view of a digital camera according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the digital camera concerning 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the whole operation | movement of the digital camera concerning this 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows a series of processes in the still image recording mode of the digital camera concerning this 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the recommendation process of the digital camera concerning this 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the imaging | photography mode recommendation display of the digital camera concerning this 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the display with recommendation of the digital camera concerning this 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the imaging | photography recommendation display of the digital camera concerning this 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows imaging | photography setting operation of the digital camera concerning 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the imaging | photography setting recommendation display of the digital camera concerning 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the imaging | photography setting display of the digital camera concerning 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, a digital camera capable of capturing still images and moving images according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

[Digital camera configuration]
FIG. 1 is an external view of a digital camera according to the first embodiment, in which 100 is a digital camera body, 28 is a display unit for displaying images and various information, 72 is a power switch for switching power on and power off, 61 Is a shutter button.

  The digital camera 100 includes a mode switch 60 that switches various modes such as a still image recording mode, a moving image recording mode, and a reproduction mode.

  The digital camera 100 is connected to an external device via a connection cable 111 and a connector 112.

  The digital camera 100 receives various commands input by a user operating various buttons and an operation member such as a touch panel provided on the screen of the image display unit 28 as shown in FIG.

  Various buttons of the operation unit 70 are an erase button, a menu button, a SET button, a four-direction button (up button, down button, right button, left button) arranged in a cross, a wheel 73, and the like.

  The digital camera 100 includes a recording medium 200 such as a memory card or a hard disk. The recording medium 200 is a recording medium such as a memory card or a hard disk. The recording medium 200 includes a recording unit 19 composed of a semiconductor memory, a magnetic disk, and the like, an interface 37 with the digital camera 100, and a connector 36 for connecting the recording medium 200 and the digital camera 100.

  The recording medium 200 is stored in the recording medium slot 201 and used. The recording medium 200 stored in the recording medium slot 201 can communicate with the digital camera 100. Reference numeral 202 denotes a lid of the recording medium slot 201.

  Next, the schematic configuration of the electrical system of the digital camera according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG.

  In the block diagram of FIG. 2, 103 is a photographing lens, 101 is a shutter having a diaphragm function, 22 is a CCD or CMOS element that converts an optical image into an electric signal, and these constitute an imaging system for photographing a subject image. ing.

  The digital camera 100 also includes an A / D converter 23 that converts an analog signal into a digital signal. The A / D converter 23 has a function of converting an analog signal output from the imaging unit 22 into a digital signal, or a function of converting an analog signal output from the audio control unit 11 into a digital signal.

  The imaging system of the digital camera 100 includes a barrier 102 for preventing dirt and breakage of the photographing lens 103, the shutter 101, and the imaging unit 22 detachably in front of the photographing lens 103.

  The digital camera 100 includes a timing generation unit 12 for supplying a clock signal and a control signal to the imaging unit 22, the audio control unit 11, the A / D converter 23, and the D / A converter 13. The timing generator 12 is controlled by the memory controller 15 and the system controller 50.

  The digital camera 100 includes an image processing unit 24 that performs resize processing and color conversion processing such as predetermined pixel interpolation or reduction on the data from the A / D converter 23 or the data from the memory control unit 15.

  The image processing unit 24 performs predetermined calculation processing using the captured image data, and the system control unit 50 performs exposure control and distance measurement control based on the obtained calculation result. As a result, so-called TTL (through-the-lens) AF (autofocus) processing, AE (automatic exposure) processing, and EF (flash pre-emission) processing are performed. The image processing unit 24 performs predetermined arithmetic processing using the captured image data, and performs so-called TTL AWB (auto white balance) processing based on the obtained arithmetic result.

  In the digital camera 100, output data from the A / D converter 23 is written into the memory 32 via the image processing unit 24 and the memory control unit 15 or directly via the memory control unit 15.

  The memory 32 stores image data obtained by the imaging unit 22 and converted into digital data by the A / D converter 23 and image data to be displayed on the image display unit 28. Note that the memory 32 is also used to store audio data recorded by the microphone 10, a still image, a moving image, and a file header when configuring an image file. Therefore, the memory 32 has a storage capacity sufficient to store a predetermined number of still images, a moving image and sound for a predetermined time.

  The digital camera 100 includes a compression / decompression unit 16 that compresses and decompresses image data by adaptive discrete cosine transform (ADCT) or the like.

  The compression / decompression unit 16 reads a captured image stored in the memory 32 using the shutter 101 as a trigger, performs compression processing, and writes the processed data in the memory 32. In addition, the compression / decompression unit 16 performs decompression processing on the compressed image read into the memory 32 from the recording unit 19 or the like of the recording medium 200, and writes the processed data in the memory 32.

  The image data written to the memory 32 by the compression / decompression unit 16 is filed in the file unit of the system control unit 50 and recorded on the recording medium 200 via the interface 18. The memory 32 also serves as an image display memory (video memory).

  The digital camera 100 includes a D / A converter 13. The D / A converter 13 converts the image display data stored in the memory 32 into an analog signal and supplies it to the image display unit 28. The image display unit 28 performs display according to an analog signal from the A / D converter 23 on a display such as an LCD. In this way, the display image data written in the memory 32 is displayed on the image display unit 28 via the D / A converter 13.

  The digital camera 100 includes a microphone 10. The audio signal output from the microphone 10 is supplied to the A / D converter 23 via the audio control unit 11 constituted by an amplifier or the like, converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter 23, and then stored in the memory. The data is stored in the memory 32 by the control unit 15.

  The audio data recorded on the recording medium 200 of the digital camera 100 is read into the memory 32 and then converted into an analog signal by the D / A converter 13. The voice control unit 11 drives the speaker 39 by this analog signal and outputs a voice.

  The digital camera 100 is an electrically erasable / recordable memory, and includes a non-volatile memory 56 composed of, for example, an EEPROM. The nonvolatile memory 56 stores constants and programs for operating the system control unit 50. Here, the program is a program for executing various processes shown in the flowcharts described later.

  The digital camera 100 includes a system control unit 50 that controls the entire digital camera 100. The system control unit 50 executes various processes described later by executing the program recorded in the nonvolatile memory 56 described above.

  The digital camera 100 includes a system memory 52 composed of a RAM. In the system memory 52, constants and variables for operation of the system control unit 50, programs read from the nonvolatile memory 56, and the like are expanded.

  The digital camera 100 includes a mode switch 60, a first shutter switch 62, a second shutter switch 64, and an operation unit 70, which are operation means for inputting various operation instructions to the system control unit 50.

  The mode changeover switch 60 is configured to selectively switch the operation mode of the system control unit 50 to any one of a still image recording mode, a moving image recording mode, a reproduction mode, and the like.

  The digital camera 100 includes a shutter button 61. A first shutter switch 62 and a second shutter switch 64 are attached to the shutter button 61.

  The first shutter switch 62 is turned on while the shutter button 61 is being operated (half-pressed), generates a first shutter switch signal SW1, and transmits the first shutter switch signal SW1 to the system control unit 50. Upon receiving the first shutter switch signal SW1, the system control unit 50 starts operations such as AF (autofocus) processing, AE (automatic exposure) processing, AWB (auto white balance) processing, and EF (flash preflash) processing. To do.

  The second shutter switch 64 is turned on when the operation of the shutter button 61 is completed (fully pressed), generates a second shutter switch signal SW2, and transmits it to the system control unit 50. The system control unit 50 that has received the second shutter switch signal SW2 starts a series of shooting processing operations from reading a signal from the imaging unit 22 to writing image data on the recording medium 200.

  The operation unit 70 of the digital camera 100 includes operation members. Each operation member is assigned an appropriate function for each scene by selecting and operating various function icons displayed on the image display unit 28, and functions as various function buttons. The function buttons here include, for example, an end button, a return button, an image advance button, a jump button, a narrow button, an attribute change button, and the like. For example, when a menu button is pressed, a menu screen on which various settings can be made is displayed on the image display unit 28.

  The digital camera 100 is configured such that a user can make various settings intuitively using a menu screen displayed on the image display unit 28, a four-way button, and a SET button.

  The digital camera 100 includes a power switch 72 that switches between power on and power off. The digital camera 100 includes a power supply unit 30 including a primary battery such as an alkaline battery or a lithium battery, a secondary battery such as a NiCd battery, a NiMH battery, or a Li battery, an AC adapter, or the like.

  The digital camera 100 includes a battery detection circuit, a DC-DC converter, a switch circuit that switches a block to be energized, and the like, and includes a power control unit 80 that detects whether or not a battery is installed, the type of battery, and the remaining battery level. . The power control unit 80 controls the DC-DC converter based on the detection result and an instruction from the system control unit 50, and supplies a necessary voltage to each unit including the recording medium 200 for a necessary period. The power supply control unit 80 is connected to the power supply unit 30 by connectors 33 and 34.

  The digital camera 100 includes an RTC (Real Time Clock) 40 that measures the date and time. The RTC 40 has a power supply unit therein separately from the power supply control unit 80, and is configured to continue the time counting state even when the power supply unit 30 is in a state of being dropped. In this digital camera 100, a system timer is set using the date and time acquired by the system control unit 50 from the RTC 40 at the time of activation, and timer control is executed.

  The digital camera 100 includes an interface 18 with a recording medium 200 such as a memory card or a hard disk. The interface 18 is connected to the recording medium 200 via the connector 35. The connector 35 includes a recording medium attachment / detachment detection unit 98 that detects whether or not the recording medium 200 is attached.

  The digital camera 100 includes a communication unit 110 that performs various communication processes such as RS232C, USB, IEEE1394, P1284, SCSI, modem, LAN, and wireless communication. The digital camera 100 is configured to be connectable to other devices via the communication unit 110 and a connector (antenna in the case of wireless communication) 112.

[Overall operation of digital camera]
Next, an overall general operation process of the digital camera according to the first embodiment configured as described above will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  The system control unit 50 of the digital camera 100 waits until the power switch 72 is operated and the power is turned on (NO in step S300). Then, when the power is switched on (YES in step S300), the system control unit 50 initializes flags, control variables, and the like in step S301.

  Next, the system control unit 50 starts management processing relating to the file recorded on the recording medium 200 (step S302).

  Next, the system control unit 50 determines the set position of the mode switch 60 (step S303). If the system control unit 50 determines that the still image recording mode has been set (YES in step S303), the system control unit 50 proceeds to step S304 and executes still image recording mode processing. Details of the still image recording mode processing in step S304 will be described later with reference to FIG.

  If the system control unit 50 determines that the still image recording mode is not set (NO in step S303), the system control unit 50 proceeds to step S305.

  If the system control unit 50 determines that the moving image recording mode is set (YES in step S305), the system control unit 50 proceeds to step S306. Then, the system control unit 50 executes a moving image recording mode process (step S306).

  If the system control unit 50 determines that the moving image recording mode is not set (NO in step S305), the system control unit 50 proceeds to step S307.

  Next, when the system control unit 50 determines that the mode switch 60 is set to the reproduction mode (YES in step S307), the system control unit 50 proceeds to step S308. Then, the system control unit 50 executes playback mode processing (step S308).

  If the system control unit 50 determines that the mode changeover switch 60 is not set to the reproduction mode (NO in step S307), the system control unit 50 proceeds to step S309 and executes other mode processing corresponding to the selected mode. To do. The other mode processing includes transmission mode processing for transmitting a file stored in the recording medium 200 and reception mode processing for receiving a file from an external device and storing it in the recording medium 200.

  After executing the process corresponding to the mode set by the mode changeover switch 60 in steps S304, S306, S308, and S309 described above, the system control unit 50 proceeds to step S310. In step S310, the system control unit 50 determines whether the power switch 72 is in an OFF state. If the system control unit 50 determines that the power switch 72 is set to power on (NO in step S310), the system control unit 50 returns to step S303.

  On the other hand, if the system control unit 50 determines that the power switch 72 is set to power off (YES in step S310), the system control unit 50 proceeds from step S310 to step S311 and performs end processing.

  This termination process includes, for example, a process of changing the display of the image display unit 28 to a termination state and closing the lens barrier 102 to protect the imaging unit. Further, the termination process includes a process of recording parameters, setting values, and setting modes including flags, control variables, and the like in the nonvolatile memory 56 and shutting off the power to parts where power supply is unnecessary. After completing the end process in step S311, the system control unit 50 ends the general operation process and turns off the power.

[Still Image Recording Mode Processing (Step S304)]
Next, the still image recording mode process of step S304 in the general operation process shown in FIG. 3 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Note that the still image recording mode process shown in FIG. 4 is terminated by an interrupt process or the like when the mode switch 60 is switched to another mode or when the power switch 72 is set to OFF.

When the still image recording mode process is started, the system control unit 50 determines the shooting mode in the following case in step S401.
(A) This shooting mode is determined by acquiring the shooting mode at the end of the previous still image recording mode from the nonvolatile memory 56 and storing it in the system memory 52.
(B) The shooting mode is determined by storing the shooting mode that has been set and input in the system memory 52 when the operation unit 70 is operated by the user and a shooting mode setting is input.

  The shooting mode referred to here is a mode realized by combining a shutter speed and an aperture value suitable for a shooting scene, a flash emission state, sensitivity setting, and the like. The digital camera 100 according to the first embodiment has the following shooting modes.

  First, auto mode: A mode in which various parameters of the camera are automatically determined by a program incorporated in the digital camera 100 based on the measured exposure value.

  Second, manual mode: a mode in which the user can freely change various parameters of the camera.

  Third, a scene mode: a mode in which a combination of shutter speed and aperture value, flash emission state, sensitivity setting, etc. suitable for the shooting scene is automatically set.

The scene mode includes the following modes.
(1) Portrait mode: A mode that specializes in portrait photography by blurring the background to make people stand out.
(2) Night scene mode: A mode specialized in night scenes that records a background with a slow shutter speed by applying flashlight to a person.
(3) Landscape mode: A mode specialized for wide scenery scenes,
(4) Night & Snap mode: A mode suitable for taking beautiful night views and people without a tripod.
(5) Kids & Pet Mode: A mode that allows children and pets that move around to take pictures without missing a photo opportunity.
(6) Fresh green & autumnal leaves mode: A mode suitable for shooting colorful trees and leaves
(7) Party mode: A mode that shoots in a color faithful to the subject while suppressing camera shake under a fluorescent light bulb.
(8) Snow mode: A mode in which a person does not darken even when the snow scene is in the background, and no blueness is left.
(9) Beach mode: A mode in which people can shoot without darkening even on the sea or sandy beach where sunlight is strongly reflected.
(10) Fireworks mode: A mode for shooting the fireworks display vividly with optimal exposure.
(11) Aquarium mode: A mode for setting sensitivity, white balance, and color suitable for photographing fish in an indoor aquarium.
(12) Underwater mode: A mode in which the white balance is set to be optimal for underwater, and the image is shot in shades of blue.
(13) Shooting shooting mode: A mode in which the macro mode is set and the contrast is set higher.
(14) Flower shooting mode: A mode in which the macro mode is set and the saturation is set higher.
(15) Cooking shooting mode: A mode in which the macro mode is set, the saturation is set higher, and the flash is not set.

  Next, when the shooting mode is determined in step S401, the system control unit 50 subsequently performs a through display for displaying the image data from the imaging unit 22 (step S402).

  Next, the system control unit 50 determines whether there is a problem in the operation of the digital camera 100 due to the remaining capacity of the power supply unit 30 configured by a battery or the like using the power supply control unit 80, the presence or absence of the recording medium 200, Is determined (step S403). If the system control unit 50 determines that there is a problem (NO in step S403), in step S404, the system control unit 50 performs a predetermined warning display with an image or sound using the image display unit 28, and returns the process to step S401.

  When it is determined that there is no problem in the state of the power supply unit 30 and the recording medium 200 (YES in step S403), the system control unit 50 performs a recommendation display process based on the recommendation determination process (step S420). Details of the recommendation display will be described later with reference to FIG.

  Next, the system control unit 50 performs automatic setting of classification information on / off as necessary (step S405). This automatic grant on / off setting can be arbitrarily set by the user on a menu screen (not shown) displayed on the image display unit 28 by pressing a menu button on the operation unit 70. The automatic setting of classification information on / off is set by a flag indicating whether or not classification information is automatically given according to the scene mode and subject conditions. This set value (flag ON / OFF value) is held in the system memory 52.

  In the digital camera 100, by providing a function for automatically setting on / off of classification information, it is possible to prevent the classification information unintended from being given by the user from time to time. The classification information will be described later.

  Next, the system control unit 50 performs face detection for detecting whether or not a human face exists in the through-displayed image signal (step S406). When the face detection process detects a human face, the system control unit 50 uses the face position coordinates, size (width, height), detected number, reliability coefficient, etc. detected in the image signal as face information. Store in the system memory 52. If no face is detected in this face detection process, 0 is set in areas such as position coordinates, size (width, height), number of detections, reliability coefficient, etc. in the system memory 52.

  Next, the system control unit 50 determines whether or not the first shutter switch signal SW1 is ON (step S407). If the first shutter switch signal SW1 is OFF, the process returns to step S420, and the processes of steps S420, S405, and S406 described above are repeated.

  On the other hand, when the first shutter switch signal SW1 is ON, the system control unit 50 proceeds to step S408. In step S408, the system control unit 50 performs a distance measurement process to focus the photographing lens 103 on the subject, and performs a photometry process to determine an aperture value and a shutter time (shutter speed).

  Note that the system control unit 50 also sets a flash if necessary in the photometric processing. At this time, if a face is detected in step S406, the system control unit 50 may be configured to perform distance measurement within the detected face range.

  Next, the system control unit 50 determines the ON / OFF state of the second shutter switch signal SW2 (step S409).

  Next, when the system control unit 50 determines in step S409 that the second shutter switch signal SW2 has been turned on, the system control unit 50 proceeds to step S411.

  If the system control unit 50 determines that the second shutter switch signal SW2 is OFF in step S409, the system control unit 50 proceeds to step S410.

  Next, when the system control unit 50 determines that the first shutter switch signal SW1 is OFF, the system control unit 50 returns to step S420.

  Furthermore, the system control unit 50 repeats the processes of steps S409 and S410 while the first shutter switch signal SW1 is in the ON state and the second shutter switch signal SW2 is in the OFF state.

  Next, when it is detected in step S409 that the second shutter switch SW2 has been pressed, the system control unit 50 proceeds to step S411 and sets the display state of the image display unit 28 from the through display to the fixed color display state. .

  Next, the system control unit 50 executes photographing processing including exposure processing and development processing (step S412). In the exposure process in the photographing process, the image data obtained through the imaging unit 22 and the A / D converter 23 is directly transmitted from the image processing unit 24 and the memory control unit 15 or directly from the A / D converter 23. The data is written into the memory 32 via the memory control unit 15.

  Further, in the developing process in the photographing process, the system control unit 50 reads out the image data written in the memory 32 using the memory control unit 15 and, if necessary, the image processing unit 24, and performs various processes.

  Note that the distance measurement process and photometry process (step S408) described above and the image capturing process including the exposure process and the development process (step S412) operate according to the set image capturing mode.

  Next, the system control unit 50 performs a REC review display of the image data obtained by the photographing process on the image display unit 28 (step S413). The REC review referred to here is a process of displaying image data on the image display unit 28 for a predetermined time (review time) before recording the subject on the recording medium after photographing to confirm the photographed image. is there.

  Next, the system control unit 50 performs a recommendation determination process from the image data obtained by the shooting process (step S419). Details of the recommendation determination process will be described later with reference to FIG.

  Next, after the REC review display, the system control unit 50 executes a recording process for writing the image data obtained by the photographing process into the recording medium 200 as an image file (step S414).

  Next, the system control unit 50 determines the ON / OFF state of the second shutter switch signal SW2 (step S415). If it is determined that the second shutter switch signal SW2 is ON, the system control unit 50 repeats the determination in step S415 and waits for the second shutter switch signal SW2 to be OFF.

  During this time, the system control unit 50 continues to display the REC review. That is, when the recording process (step S414) ends, the system control unit 50 continues the REC review display on the image display unit 28 until the second shutter switch signal SW2 is turned off.

  According to the digital camera configured as described above, the user can carefully check the captured image data using the REC review by continuing to fully press the shutter button 61.

  Next, the system control unit 50, after the user has fully pressed the shutter button 61 to take a picture, releases the fully pressed state by releasing the shutter button 61 (OFF in step S415). Proceed to the next Step S416.

  Next, the system control unit 50 continues the review process until a predetermined review time elapses (NO in step S416), and proceeds to the next step after the review time elapses (YES in step S416).

  Next, the system control unit 50 returns the display state of the image display unit 28 from the rec review display to the through display state (step S417). With this process, after the captured image data is confirmed by the REC review display, the display state of the image display unit 28 is automatically switched to a through display state in which the image data from the imaging unit 22 is sequentially displayed for the next shooting. become.

  Next, the system control unit 50 determines whether the first shutter switch signal SW1 is ON / OFF, and when it is determined that the first shutter switch signal SW1 is ON (ON in Step S418), the process returns to Step S409. That is, when the shutter button 61 is half-pressed (the first shutter switch signal SW1 is ON), the system control unit 50 prepares for the next shooting (steps S409 and S410).

  Further, the system control unit 50 returns the process to step S420 when it is determined that the first shutter switch signal SW1 is OFF (OFF in step S418). That is, when it is determined that the shutter button 61 has been released (the first shutter switch signal SW1 is OFF), the system control unit 50 ends the series of shooting operations and returns to the shooting standby state (step S420).

[Recommendation Processing (S419)]
Next, details of the recommendation determination process in step S419 of FIG. 4 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  When the recommendation determination process starts, the system control unit 50 refers to face detection information, AF (autofocus) process information, and AE (automatic exposure) process information from the image data obtained by the shooting process. At the same time, the system control unit 50 refers to EF (flash pre-flash) processing information, AWB (auto white balance) processing information, and other image information, and performs processing for determining a shooting scene. Further, the system control unit 50 stores information indicating what the determined shooting scene is in the system memory 52 (from the next time on, the shooting scene determined last time is used) (step S501). That is, the system control unit 50 determines a shooting scene based on information obtained by analyzing an image picked up by an image pickup means configured by a CCD, a CMOS element 22 or the like that converts an optical image into an electric signal. Configure the means.

  Next, the system control unit 50 determines whether or not the previously determined shooting scene stored in the system memory 52 and the shooting scene determined in this step S501 are the same or similar (step S502). ). In step S501, it is determined that any one of the plurality of scenes that can be determined is stored, but the plurality of scenes that can be determined are recorded in the nonvolatile memory 56 with similar scenes associated with each other in advance. It shall be. As similar scenes, similar scenes that are difficult to determine in the determination in step S501 are associated with each other. For example, if there are night scenes, landscapes, people, and fireworks as shooting scenes that can be determined in step S502, the night scenes and fireworks are associated in advance as similar scenes. That is, the system control unit 50 determines whether or not the shooting scene determined by the scene determination unit when a predetermined operation is performed is similar to the shooting scene when the predetermined operation was performed last time. Similarity determination means is configured.

  Next, the system control unit 50 determines whether or not they are similar based on the association of similar scenes (step S502). If the system control unit 50 determines that the scenes are the same or similar (YES in step S502), the system control unit 50 proceeds to step S503.

  Then, the system control unit 50 adds 1 to the counter value of the similar scene counter for counting the number of times similar scenes prepared in the system memory 52 are continuously determined (step S503), and proceeds to step S504.

  If the system control unit 50 determines that the scenes are not the same or similar (NO in step S502), the system control unit 50 proceeds to step S506, clears the counter value of the similar scene counter, and proceeds to step S504.

  Next, the system control unit 50 determines whether or not the counter value of the similar scene counter has exceeded a predetermined threshold in step S504, and if it is determined that the counter value has exceeded (YES in step S504), the step is performed. The process proceeds to S505.

  Next, the system control unit 50 sets a flag for enabling the recommendation display (stores information indicating that the comment display is enabled in the system memory 52) (step S505). When this flag is set, a shooting display suitable for the shooting scene is displayed as a setting candidate and presented to the user during standby for shooting by a recommendation display process described later with reference to FIG. Become. Alternatively, when this flag is set, candidates to be adjusted in the shooting scene are displayed and presented to the user by a recommendation display process described later with reference to FIG.

  When it is determined in step S504 that the counter value does not exceed the threshold value, or when the process of step S505 is terminated, the recommendation determination process of FIG. 5 is terminated.

[Shooting Mode Recommendation Display (S420)]
Next, details of the shooting mode recommendation display processing in step S420 of FIG. 4 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  When the shooting mode recommendation display process is started, the system control unit 50 refers to the flag in the system memory 52 and determines whether or not the recommendation display is enabled in the recommendation determination process (step S601).

  Next, when it is determined that the recommendation display is invalid (NO in step S601), the system control unit 50 ends the recommendation display process without executing the recommendation display.

  In addition, if the system control unit 50 determines that the recommendation display is valid (YES in step S601), the system control unit 50 proceeds to the next step S602. Then, the system control unit 50 confirms the result of the AF (autofocus) process from the image data obtained by the shooting process, and determines whether or not the subject is a short distance (step S602). The determination in step S602 is a determination as to whether or not the current shooting situation is short-distance shooting.

  Next, when it is determined that the distance is not short (NO in step S602), the system control unit 50 determines a shooting mode to be presented in another case, and then performs another scene recommendation process for presenting the shooting mode. This is performed (step S611). The other scene recommendation processing is the same as the recommendation display processing, and a description thereof will be omitted.

  If the system control unit 50 determines that the short-distance shooting is performed (YES in step S602), the system control unit 50 proceeds to step S603. In step S603, the system control unit 50 displays a shooting mode predetermined as a shooting mode to be recommended when the current shooting state is short-distance shooting on the display unit 28, and is a setting candidate to be recommended to the user. Present as. Here, as in the screen display example shown in FIG. 8, an object shooting mode, a flower shooting mode, a cooking mode, and an auto mode (left to the camera) are presented.

  The digital camera according to the first embodiment displays the confirmation screen as shown in FIG. 7, waits for a display instruction of a shooting mode to be recommended from the user, and only receives the display instruction of FIG. You may comprise so that such a display may be performed.

  Next, the system control unit 50 determines whether any shooting mode has been selected from the recommended shooting modes (step S604). Note that the user uses the operation unit 70 to specify a recommended shooting mode.

  If it is determined that the shooting mode has not been selected (NO in step S604), the system control unit 50 ends the recommendation display process without changing the shooting mode from the current shooting mode.

  On the other hand, if the system control unit 50 determines that the shooting mode has been selected (YES in step S604), the system control unit 50 proceeds to step S605.

  Next, the system control unit 50 determines whether or not the shooting mode selected in step S605 is the cooking shooting mode. If the system control unit 50 determines that the cooking mode is set (YES in step S605), the system control unit 50 proceeds to step S610, changes the current shooting mode, and switches to the cooking mode.

  Next, the system control unit 50 proceeds to step S606 if it is determined in step S605 that the dish photography mode is not selected (NO in step S605). If the system control unit 50 determines that the flower shooting mode has been selected (YES in step S606), the system control unit 50 proceeds to step S609 and switches to the flower shooting mode. If the system control unit 50 determines that the flower shooting mode has not been selected (NO in step S606), the system control unit 50 proceeds to step S607, and determines whether the shooting mode has been selected (step S607). . If the system control unit 50 determines that the shooting mode has been selected (YES in step S607), the system control unit 50 proceeds to step S608, changes the current shooting mode, and switches to the shooting mode.

  Next, if the system control unit 50 determines in step S607 that the shooting mode has not been selected (NO in step S607), the auto mode has been selected, and thus the process proceeds to step S612. In this case, the system control unit 50 switches the current shooting mode to the auto mode (step S612), and returns to step S405 in FIG.

  As described above, in the digital camera according to the first embodiment, if the shooting scene count value exceeds the threshold when the user has shot several times in the same scene, the setting candidate is set. Several shooting modes are displayed.

  This is considered that when a similar scene is shot many times, it is highly likely that one shot is not satisfactory and the same subject is shot several times. For this reason, this digital camera is configured to present a shooting mode other than the current shooting mode to the user and to encourage shooting in a more preferable shooting mode.

  As a result, the user can concentrate on shooting without looking at the candidate display of the shooting mode during normal shooting. In addition, only when the user is troubled with shooting settings and methods for a certain scene, the user can easily set the other shooting mode and take his / her intended shooting by looking at the recommended shooting mode automatically displayed. Become. In addition, this digital camera also has an effect of encouraging a photographed image not to be uniform when the user has photographed the same subject many times.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a digital camera capable of capturing still images and moving images according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  In the digital camera according to the second embodiment, if the shooting setting is changed several times when the shooting setting is changed, it is considered that the user is troubled with the setting. The digital camera is configured to display, as recommended, several shooting setting items corresponding to the shooting situation at that time among shooting setting items whose settings can be changed. That is, in this digital camera, it is determined whether or not a shooting operation or a shooting preparation operation has been performed a predetermined number of times or more, and a shooting setting candidate corresponding to a shooting scene is presented when a shooting condition change operation is performed during the predetermined number of operations. Constitute.

  Next, in the series of processing in the still image recording mode of the digital camera according to the second embodiment, processing when an exposure correction operation is performed in the shooting standby state will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. This process is performed after step S406 and before step S407 in FIG.

  That is, the processing when the exposure correction operation is performed in the shooting standby state is the face detection in which the system control unit 50 detects whether a human face is present in the through-displayed image signal (step S406). Start after performing. In the process when the exposure correction operation is performed in the shooting standby state, the system control unit 50 determines whether or not the user has performed the exposure correction operation (step S901).

  When it is determined that the exposure correction operation has been performed, the system control unit 50 performs a recommendation determination process (step S902). This recommendation determination process is the same as the process described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  Next, after executing the recommendation display process (step S903), the system control unit 50 proceeds to step S407 in FIG.

  If it is determined in step S901 that the exposure correction operation has not been performed (NO in step S901), the process proceeds to step S407 in FIG.

[Shooting setting recommendation display (S903)]
Next, another example of the recommendation display process will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  When the shooting setting recommendation display process starts in step S903 of FIG. 9, the system control unit 50 determines whether the recommendation display is enabled (step S1001). If the system control unit 50 determines that the recommendation display is in an invalid state (NO in step S1002), the system control unit 50 ends the recommendation display process.

  Further, when the system control unit 50 determines that the recommendation display is valid, the system control unit 50 determines a scene from the image data obtained by the shooting process and determines whether the scene is a sunset (step S1002).

  If the system control unit 50 determines that the scene is other than a sunset scene (NO in step S1002), the system control unit 50 performs a process of displaying a recommendation for another scene (step S1011).

  If the system control unit 50 determines that the scene is an evening scene (YES in step S1002), the system control unit 50 displays on the image display unit 28 that there is a recommendation display (step S1003).

  Next, when it is determined that the user has selected a recommendation (YES in step S1004), the system control unit 50 presents recommended settings for “brightness”, “color”, and “contrast” to the user. The recommended setting is displayed by a method for presenting the setting to the user as illustrated in FIG.

  If the system control unit 50 determines that the user has not selected a recommendation (NO in step S1004), the system control unit 50 ends the shooting setting recommendation display process and returns to step S407 in FIG.

  Next, the system control unit 50 determines whether or not a brightness operation has been performed. If it is determined that a brightness operation has been performed (YES in step S1005), the system control unit 50 proceeds to step S1010 and executes an exposure correction process.

  If the system control unit 50 determines that the brightness operation has not been performed (NO in step S1005), the system control unit 50 proceeds to the next step S1006. Then, the system control unit 50 determines whether or not a color operation has been performed. If it is determined that a color operation has been performed (YES in step S1006), the system control unit 50 proceeds to step S1009 and executes a white balance (WB) process. To do. If the system control unit 50 determines that the color operation is not performed (NO in step S1006), the system control unit 50 proceeds to the next step S1007.

  Next, the system control unit 50 determines whether or not a contrast operation (an operation for softening the image quality) has been performed (step S1007). If the system control unit 50 determines that a contrast operation has been performed (YES in step S1007), the system control unit 50 proceeds to step S1008 and executes contrast correction processing. If the system control unit 50 determines that the operation for correcting the contrast has not been performed (NO in step S1007), it ends the shooting setting recommendation display process and returns to step S407 in FIG.

  As described above, the digital camera according to the second embodiment is configured to present other shooting setting candidates to the user when the user repeats shooting settings such as exposure correction in a similar scene.

  Therefore, in the digital camera according to the second embodiment, for example, when the exposure correction operation is performed on a similar scene, the user is presented with color settings and contrast settings related to making a sunset scene based on the scene discrimination result. To do. As a result, there is an effect that the user of the digital camera according to the second embodiment can easily make a picture without being familiar with the camera settings.

  In addition, the user of the digital camera according to the second embodiment can concentrate on shooting because he / she does not have to look at unnecessary shooting guidance when performing automatic shooting without changing settings. .

  In the digital camera according to the second embodiment, the exposure correction, which is one of the shooting operation and the shooting condition changing operation, has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to the shooting preparation operation and the shooting other than the exposure correction. You may apply about condition change operation.

  In the present invention, the precision of recommendation display may be improved by narrowing the count of similar scenes within a predetermined time during a shooting operation. Furthermore, the present invention is configured to improve the accuracy of recommendation display by not counting the second and subsequent frames during continuous shooting (only the first frame is counted as the number of times of shooting during continuous shooting). May be.

  Further, in the present invention, as a method of presenting the shooting setting candidates, a method of displaying an explanation of the effect in text, a method of actually reflecting the effect on the live view display, and displaying a plurality of effects (this method can simultaneously compare the effects ) May be used. At the same time, the method of presenting the shooting setting candidates is a method of alternately displaying the effect on the live view display (According to this method, when the display is small, it is easier to confirm the effect if it is displayed as large as possible. ) May be used.

  Further, the digital camera of the present invention may be configured such that a recommendation display is performed when there are a predetermined number of times of shooting operations or shooting preparation operations and there is a shooting condition changing operation.

  Note that the control of the system control unit 50 may be performed by one piece of hardware, or the entire apparatus may be controlled by a plurality of pieces of hardware sharing the processing.

  Further, although the present invention has been described in detail based on preferred embodiments thereof, the present invention is not limited to these specific embodiments, and various forms within the scope of the present invention are not limited thereto. Included in the invention. Further, each of the above-described embodiments is merely an embodiment of the present invention, and the embodiments can be appropriately combined.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to a digital camera has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this. That is, the present invention is applicable to any display control device that can be controlled to display a plurality of images simultaneously. The present invention can be applied to, for example, a personal computer, a PDA, a mobile phone terminal, a portable image viewer, a display for selecting and confirming a print image provided in a printer, a digital photo frame, and the like.

(Other embodiments)
The present invention is also realized by executing the following processing. That is, software (program) that implements the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus via a network or various storage media. This is a process in which a computer (or CPU, MPU, etc.) of the system or apparatus reads and executes the program code. In this case, the program and the storage medium storing the program constitute the present invention.

Claims (14)

Imaging means;
A scene determination unit that determines a shooting scene based on information obtained by analyzing an image captured by the imaging unit;
Similarity determination means for determining whether or not a shooting scene determined by the scene determination means when a predetermined operation is performed is similar to a shooting scene when the predetermined operation was performed last time;
A counting means for counting the number of times that the similarity determination means determines that the scene is similar;
Presenting means for presenting photographing setting candidates according to photographing conditions in the imaging means when the number of times counted by the counting means exceeds a threshold;
An imaging device comprising:   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined operation includes at least one of a photographing operation, a photographing preparation operation, and a photographing condition changing operation.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for presenting shooting setting candidates according to the shooting scene when the count value of the shooting scene exceeds a threshold value within a predetermined time. Means for determining a shooting scene based on information obtained by analyzing an image;
Means for determining whether a shooting operation or a shooting preparation operation has been operated a predetermined number of times;
Means for detecting an operation for changing the shooting condition;
Means for presenting shooting setting candidates according to the shooting scene when the shooting condition change operation is performed when the operation is performed a predetermined number of times;
An imaging device comprising:   5. The imaging apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising means for presenting shooting setting candidates according to a shooting scene when the number of shooting operations or shooting preparation operations exceeds a threshold value within a predetermined time.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for presenting a shooting mode as the shooting setting candidate.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for presenting shooting conditions as the shooting setting candidates.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for presenting the effect of the setting candidate as a sentence when presenting the photographing setting candidate corresponding to the photographing scene.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for simultaneously presenting the effects of the setting candidates on a display when presenting the shooting setting candidates according to the shooting scene.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a unit that alternately presents the effect of the setting candidate on a display when the shooting setting candidate corresponding to the shooting scene is presented.   5. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising means for counting only the first image as the number of times of shooting during continuous shooting when counting the shooting operations. An imaging step for imaging a subject image;
A scene determination step for determining a shooting scene based on information obtained by analyzing the image captured in the imaging step;
A similarity determination step for determining whether or not the shooting scene determined by the scene determination step when a predetermined operation is performed is a similar shooting scene to that when the predetermined operation was performed last time;
A counting step for counting the number of times the similar determination step determines that it is a similar shooting scene;
When the number of times counted in the counting step exceeds a threshold, a presenting step for presenting shooting setting candidates according to shooting conditions in the shooting step;
A method for controlling an imaging apparatus, comprising:   A program for causing a computer to execute the control method for an imaging apparatus according to claim 12.   A recording medium storing the program according to claim 13 in a readable manner.

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