JP2012134810A - Photographing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a photographing apparatus for automatically obtaining a focus effect at the start or end of moving image recording.SOLUTION: The photographing apparatus includes: imaging means 11 for acquiring an object image through a photographing optical system 201 at a prescribed frame rate; recording means 101 for recording images of a plurality of frames acquired in the imaging means 11 in a recording medium 35; imaging control means 101 for controlling the imaging means 11 so as to start the acquisition of images for recording corresponding to a recording start instruction and to end the acquisition of the images for recording corresponding to a recording end instruction; and effect imparting means 101 for performing at least one of including the images of the plurality of frames in which image blurring changes gradually in the head part of the images to be recorded and including the images of the plurality of frames in which the image blurring changes gradually in the end part of the images to be recorded.

Description

  The present invention relates to a photographing device for photographing a moving image.

  There is known an imaging apparatus that performs focus-in that gradually focuses from a blurred state, and focus-out that gradually blurs from a focused state (see Patent Document 1).

JP 2008-46225 A

  In the conventional technology, in order to obtain the focus effect of focus-in (or out), focus-in (or out) operation is required during video recording, and it is considered that it is automatically performed at the start or end of video recording Was not.

  An imaging apparatus according to the present invention includes an imaging unit that acquires a subject image that has passed through an imaging optical system at a predetermined frame rate, a recording unit that records a plurality of frames of images acquired by the imaging unit, and a recording start instruction. In response to the image pickup control means for controlling the image pickup means to start the acquisition of the recording image and to end the acquisition of the recording image in response to the recording end instruction, and the image blur gradually changes in the head portion of the image to be recorded. And an effect providing means for performing at least one of including a plurality of frames of images to be included and a plurality of frames of images in which the image blur gradually changes at the end of the recorded image.

  In the photographing apparatus according to the present invention, a focus effect is automatically obtained at the start or end of moving image recording.

It is a figure which illustrates the external appearance of the single-lens reflex electronic camera by 1st embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram explaining the structure of an electronic camera. It is a figure which illustrates an image in case a focus adjustment lens is located in the near side. It is a figure which illustrates an image in case a focus adjustment lens is located in a photographic subject side. It is a figure which illustrates an image in case a focus adjustment lens is located in the infinity side. It is a figure which illustrates an operation screen. It is a figure which illustrates an operation screen. It is a figure which illustrates an operation screen. It is a figure which illustrates an operation screen. It is a flowchart explaining the flow of the control processing performed at the time of effect addition moving image photography. It is a figure which illustrates an image in case a depth of field is deep. It is a figure which illustrates an image in case a depth of field is shallow. It is a flowchart explaining the flow of the control processing performed at the time of effect addition moving image photography by 2nd embodiment. It is a figure which illustrates the image before adding blur. It is a figure which illustrates the image after adding blur. It is a flowchart explaining the flow of the control processing performed at the time of effect addition moving image photography by 3rd embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the external appearance of a single-lens reflex electronic camera according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a photographic lens barrel 200 that is detachably attached to the camera body 100 is attached. On the upper surface of the camera body 100, a main switch SW1, a release button SW2, and a monochrome liquid crystal monitor 31 are provided. On the back of the electronic camera, a left selection switch SW4, a right selection switch SW5, an upper selection switch SW6, a lower selection switch SW7, a confirmation switch SW8, a command dial 53, a moving image switching lever 55, and a moving image start button 57. And a color liquid crystal monitor 29.

  The electronic camera determines whether to perform moving image shooting, whether to perform normal (no effect added) moving image shooting, or effect added moving image shooting according to the setting state of the switching lever 55. “Effect addition” means adding an effect that makes a subject stand out to a moving image. “Effect-added moving image shooting” refers to moving image shooting that adds an effect of making a subject stand out by blurring captured images at the start and end of a moving image. Details of effect-added moving image shooting, which is a feature of this embodiment, will be described later.

  For example, the electronic camera when the switching lever 55 is switched to the white circle position does not perform moving image shooting. The electronic camera when the switching lever 55 is switched to the black circle position starts normal moving image shooting in response to the pressing operation of the moving image start button 57, and when the moving image start button 57 is pressed again, the normal moving image shooting is performed. Exit.

  Furthermore, the electronic camera in the case where the switching lever 55 is switched to the hatched circle position starts effect-added moving image shooting in response to the pressing operation of the moving image start button 57, and the moving image start button 57 is pressed again. And effect-added movie shooting ends.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the electronic camera described above. The electronic camera is controlled by the microcomputer 101. The main switch SW1 outputs an operation signal for instructing power on / off of the electronic camera. The release switch (SW2) outputs a signal instructing the start of still image shooting in conjunction with the pressing operation of the release button SW2.

  The mode switch SW3 outputs an operation signal for switching the operation mode of the electronic camera, that is, the photographing mode and the reproduction mode. The left selection switch SW4, the right selection switch SW5, the upper selection switch SW6, and the lower selection switch SW7 each output an operation signal indicating a selection direction. The confirmation switch SW8 outputs an operation signal indicating operation confirmation.

  The cancel switch SW9 outputs an operation signal indicating operation cancellation. The deletion switch 10 outputs an operation signal instructing deletion of the recorded image file. The switch SW11 and the switch SW12 output an operation signal according to the rotation operation of the command dial 53.

  The switch SW13 and the switch SW14 output an operation signal according to the switching operation of the switching lever 55 described above. When the switching lever 55 is switched to the white circle position, both the switch SW13 and the switch SW14 output an off operation signal. When the switching lever 55 is switched to the black circle position, only the switch SW13 outputs an ON operation signal. When the switching lever 55 is switched to the shaded circle position, only the switch SW14 outputs an ON operation signal. The switch SW15 outputs a signal indicating an operation signal in conjunction with the pressing operation of the moving image start button 57.

  The lens barrel 200 includes a lens barrel CPU (not shown) and communicates with the microcomputer 101. The CPU in the lens barrel drives and controls the focus driving device 205 and the aperture driving device 203 in accordance with an instruction from the microcomputer 101, and moves the focus adjustment lens (not shown) of the photographing optical system 201 forward and backward in the optical axis direction. Or the aperture (not shown) of the aperture is controlled. The imaging device 11 captures a subject image formed on the imaging surface by the photographing optical system 201 and outputs a photoelectric conversion signal corresponding to the brightness of the subject image.

  In the present embodiment, when a mirror (not shown) of a single-lens reflex electronic camera is in a down state, focus detection processing is performed using an AF element 15 described later, whereas when the mirror is in an up state, the image sensor 11 A focus detection process is performed based on the output signal.

  The contrast AF processing circuit 13 performs a focus detection process of a known contrast detection method that detects contrast using an output signal (pixel data) from a predetermined pixel of the image sensor 11. Specifically, the focus adjustment lens (focus position adjustment) is performed by searching for a lens position where the contrast of the image is maximized while moving the focus adjustment lens forward and backward, and moving the focus adjustment lens to the lens position.

  The AF element 15 includes an image sensor used in a known pupil division type focus detection process. The phase difference AF processing circuit 14 performs a phase difference detection calculation process (correlation process, phase difference detection process) on the basis of the output signal from the AF element 15, so that a pair of focal points that have passed through different areas of the photographing optical system 201. An image shift amount between a pair of images obtained by the detection light beam is detected. Further, the deviation (defocus amount) of the current image plane with respect to the planned focal plane is calculated by multiplying the image shift amount by a predetermined conversion coefficient. Then, the movement direction and movement amount of the focus adjustment lens are calculated according to the defocus amount. The phase difference AF processing circuit 14 performs focus adjustment (focus position adjustment) by moving the focus adjustment lens toward the lens position where the defocus amount is eliminated.

  The photometric device 21 receives the subject light that has passed through the photographing optical system 210 and performs photometric calculation. The driver circuit 102 drives the mechanical shutter 23 in response to a command from the microcomputer 101. The driver circuit 103 drives the mirror mechanism 25 in response to a command from the microcomputer 101. The mirror mechanism 25 drives a mirror (not shown) up or down.

  The driver circuit 104 drives the AF ranging area irradiation device 27 in response to a command from the microcomputer 101. The AF distance measurement area irradiating device 27 emits distance measurement auxiliary light during the focus detection process to illuminate the subject.

  The display control unit 28 generates a drive signal for the color liquid crystal monitor 29 in response to a command from the microcomputer 101. The color liquid crystal monitor 29 displays images and operation menus. The display control unit 30 generates a drive signal for the monochrome liquid crystal monitor 31 according to a command from the microcomputer 101. The monochrome liquid crystal monitor 31 displays shooting information such as the number of frames and shooting conditions.

  The external interface 33 is an interface circuit that outputs (transmits) data in the electronic camera to an external device such as a personal computer or another electronic camera, and inputs (receives) data from the external device. Examples of the external interface 113 include RS232C, USB, and IEEE1394.

  The memory card 35 is a recording medium that can be attached to and detached from the camera body 100 via the card connector 34. Image data and audio data are recorded in the memory card 35.

  The gain control unit 37 performs gain control according to the brightness of the acquired image so that the subject brightness does not change more than a predetermined value between frames when recording a moving image in response to a command from the microcomputer 101. Specifically, the image is corrected brightly by applying a gain to an image that is too dark, and correction is performed to suppress the brightness without applying a gain to an image that is too bright.

  The image blur processing unit 39 performs blur processing to add blur to an image electronically (that is, by image processing) according to a command from the microcomputer 101. When adding blur to a still image, the amount of blur to be added can be adjusted. When adding blur to a moving image, the amount of blur added between successive frames is changed in stages, so that the effect of gradually blurring the image during movie playback or the image blur during movie playback A moving image having a gradually clearing effect is generated. When generating a moving image to which blur is added, there are a case where a blur is added to the original moving image itself, and a copy of an image cut out from the original moving image is generated, and a blur is added to the copied image. .

  When the image blur processing unit 39 generates a plurality of frames of images in which the amount of blur is changed stepwise, the movie editing processing unit 40 converts the plurality of frames of images into the original movie so as to be continuous with the original moving image. It is inserted into an image to synthesize moving image data. Each of the image blur processing unit 39 and the moving image editing processing unit 40 performs the above-described processing when an effect-added moving image is shot and the blur is added electronically.

  The image storage memory 41 temporarily stores image data during the above-described blur processing, moving image synthesis processing, and other compression / decompression processing described later. The compression / decompression circuit 42 compresses the image data by a predetermined method, and decompresses the compressed image data. The memory 43 is used as a work area for the microcomputer 101. The timer 44 measures the time designated by the microcomputer 101 and outputs a time-up signal.

  The electronic buzzer 45 generates a beep sound according to a command from the microcomputer 101. The speaker 46 reproduces sound based on the sound signal in response to a command from the microcomputer 101. The built-in microphone 47 converts the collected sound into an electrical signal. The battery 49 supplies power to each part in the electronic camera.

  Since the present embodiment is characterized by effect-added moving image shooting performed by the electronic camera, the following description will be focused on effect-added moving image shooting. In the first embodiment, the focus adjustment lens is moved (that is, the focus adjustment state is changed) instead of electronically adding blur to the acquired original image (or a copy of the cut-out image). , Get an image with blur.

  When acquiring an image having blur by changing the focus adjustment state, there are the following two patterns. In the first pattern, the main subject image is gradually clarified by moving the focus adjustment lens from the closest side (lens position that focuses on the shortest shooting distance) to the subject side (lens position that focuses on the main subject). This is a pattern that gradually blurs the main subject image by moving the lens from the subject side (lens position where the main subject is in focus) to the closest side (lens position where the shortest shooting distance is in focus).

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an image when the focus adjustment lens is positioned on the close side, and FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an image when the focus adjustment lens is positioned on the subject side. In FIG. 3, the window frame close to the electronic camera is clear while the person is blurred. In FIG. 4, the person is clear and the window frame is blurred.

  The second pattern makes the image gradually clearer by moving the focus adjustment lens from the infinity side (lens position where the far subject is in focus) to the subject side (lens position where the main subject is in focus). The pattern gradually blurs the image by moving from the subject side (lens position where the main subject is in focus) to the infinity side (lens position where the far subject is in focus).

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an image when the focus adjustment lens is located on the infinity side. In FIG. 5, a tree far away from the electronic camera is clearly seen, but a person can grow. In FIG. 4, a person is clear, but a distant tree grows.

<Video settings and menu settings>
A menu setting operation performed to acquire an image having blur by changing the focus adjustment state will be described with reference to the operation screens illustrated in FIGS. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a “general menu” screen displayed on the color liquid crystal monitor 29. When an operation signal is input from the mode switch SW3, the microcomputer 101 activates the menu mode process and displays the “overall menu” screen.

  The microcomputer 101 changes the selection item up and down according to the operation signal from the upper selection switch SW6 or the lower selection switch SW7, and the operation signal is input from the confirmation switch SW8 while the “shooting” item is selected. Then, the “shooting menu” screen is displayed instead of the “general menu” screen. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a “shooting menu” screen displayed on the color liquid crystal monitor 29.

  The microcomputer 101 changes the selection item up and down in accordance with the operation signal from the upper selection switch SW6 or the lower selection switch SW7, and operates from the confirmation switch SW8 in a state where the “effect at the time of moving image recording” is selected. When the signal is input, the “effect when recording video” screen is displayed instead of the “shooting menu” screen. FIG. 8 is a diagram exemplifying an “effect at the time of moving image recording” screen displayed on the color liquid crystal monitor 29.

  The microcomputer 101 changes the selection item up and down in accordance with the operation signal from the upper selection switch SW6 or the lower selection switch SW7, and selects the operation signal from the confirmation switch SW8 while selecting the “add this effect” item. Is input, a setting screen illustrated in FIG. 9 is displayed instead of the “effect at the time of moving image recording” screen. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an effect setting screen displayed on the color liquid crystal monitor 29.

  In FIG. 9, the microcomputer 101 changes the selection item up and down in accordance with an operation signal from the upper selection switch SW6 or the lower selection switch SW7. Then, when an operation signal is input from the right selection switch SW5 while the item of “effect type” is selected, a selection operation of four contents from the “effect type” is accepted. “From close to the subject, from the subject to the close” corresponds to the first pattern described above. “From infinity to subject, from subject to infinity” corresponds to the second pattern described above.

  The “subject depth change” is to acquire an image having blur by changing the aperture diameter (that is, changing the depth of field) instead of obtaining blur by changing the focus adjustment state. Details of “subject depth change” will be described in a second embodiment to be described later.

  “Simple blur” is to add blur to an acquired image electronically. The “simple blur” is performed by the image blur processing unit 39 and the moving image editing processing unit 40 described above. “Simple blur” will be described in a third embodiment to be described later.

  The microcomputer 101 changes the selection item up and down in accordance with an operation signal from the upper selection switch SW6 or the lower selection switch SW7. When an operation signal is input from the left selection switch SW4, the item selected at that time is determined, and the state again returns to the state in which the item "effect type" is selected (FIG. 9).

  When the microcomputer 101 receives the operation signal from the right selection switch SW5 in the state where the “effect applying time” item is selected, the microcomputer 101 selects two contents from the “effect applying time”. Accept. “1.5 seconds” is to set the additional time of blurring to 1.5 seconds during moving image reproduction. “3 seconds” is to set the additional time of blur to 3 seconds. In addition, 1.5 seconds and 3 seconds are illustrated, and other time may be set.

  When the microcomputer 101 selects an item of “audio recording at the time of effect” and an operation signal is input from the right selection switch SW5, an item of “audio recording at the time of effect” is selected. Accept the operation. “Synchronize audio recording” is to change the recording level during “time to apply the effect”. In conjunction with the amount of blur and the added time of blur, the recording level is gradually raised from the state in which the recording level is reduced to the normal level, and the recording level is gradually reduced from the normal level.

  “Voice recording is constant” is to keep the recording level of “time to apply effect” constant. While adding blur, record at the normal level. “No voice recording” is to silence the recording level of “time to apply effect”.

  When the microcomputer 101 receives an operation signal from the confirmation switch SW8 in a state where the “setting end” item is selected, the microcomputer 101 ends the menu mode process.

(i) Effect-added moving image shooting using the first pattern The microcomputer 101 has the first pattern “from close to the subject, from the subject to the close” is set, and the switching lever 55 is switched to the shaded circle position. If it is, the effect-added moving image shooting of the first pattern is performed.

-Focus-in processing-
When the moving image start button 57 is pressed, the microcomputer 101 gradually takes a predetermined time t (t is equivalent to “time to apply an effect”) from a state where the close focus is in focus (FIG. 3). The focus adjustment lens is moved to a state in which the subject is in focus (FIG. 4), and normal movie shooting is continued from there. For audio recording, the content of the item selected for “audio recording at effect” is followed.

-Focus-out processing-
When the moving image start button 57 is pressed again during moving image shooting, the microcomputer 101 starts a predetermined time t (t is equivalent to “effect applying time”) from the state where the main subject is in focus (FIG. 4). Then, the focus adjustment lens is gradually moved to a state where the close focus is in focus (FIG. 3), and the moving image shooting ends. For audio recording, the content of the item selected for “audio recording at effect” is followed.

(ii) Effect-added moving image shooting using the second pattern The microcomputer 101 is set with the first pattern “from infinity to subject, from subject to infinity”, and the switching lever 55 is switched to the circled position with hatching. If it is, the effect-added moving image shooting of the second pattern is performed.

-Focus-in processing-
When the moving image start button 57 is pressed, the microcomputer 101 gradually takes a predetermined time t (t is equivalent to “effect applying time”) from a state where the focus is on the infinity side (FIG. 5). The focus adjustment lens is moved to a state where the subject is in focus (FIG. 4), and normal movie shooting is continued from there. For audio recording, the content of the item selected for “audio recording at effect” is followed.

-Focus-out processing-
When the moving image start button 57 is pressed again during moving image shooting, the microcomputer 101 starts a predetermined time t (t is equivalent to “effect applying time”) from the state where the main subject is in focus (FIG. 4). Then, the focus adjustment lens is gradually moved to a state where the focus is infinitely toward the infinity side (FIG. 5), and the moving image shooting is finished. For audio recording, the content of the item selected for “audio recording at effect” is followed.

  The flow of control processing executed by the microcomputer 101 when shooting an effect-added moving image using the first pattern will be described with reference to the flowchart illustrated in FIG. When the switching lever 55 is switched to the hatched circle position, the microcomputer 101 displays the live view image on the color liquid crystal monitor 29 and starts the processing shown in FIG. The live view image is a monitor image that is reproduced based on pixel data captured at a predetermined frame rate by the image sensor 11.

  In step S101 of FIG. 10, the microcomputer 101 starts the focus detection process of the contrast detection method and proceeds to step S103. Thus, the main subject is continuously focused so as to maximize the contrast based on the live view image. In step S103, the microcomputer 101 determines whether the start of moving image recording has been instructed. When the moving image start button 57 is pressed, the microcomputer 101 makes a positive determination in step S103 and proceeds to step S105. When the moving image start button 57 is not pressed, the microcomputer 101 makes a negative determination in step S103 and repeats the determination process. .

  In step S105, the microcomputer 101 temporarily stores the current focus control position (position of the focus adjustment lens) in the memory 43, and proceeds to step S107. In step S107, the microcomputer 101 sends an instruction to the CPU in the lens barrel 200, moves the focus adjustment lens to the closest end position, and proceeds to step S109. Thereafter, the focusing is interrupted until step S113 described later.

  In step S109, the microcomputer 101 starts moving image recording and proceeds to step S111. As a result, image acquisition is started (recording start) at a predetermined frame rate (for example, 60 frames / second). Note that audio acquisition is also started (recording start) except when “no audio recording” is selected. In step S111, the microcomputer 101 sends an instruction to the CPU in the lens barrel 200, moves the focus adjustment lens to the position temporarily stored in the memory 43 during time t, and proceeds to step S113. Time t corresponds to “time for effect”. If “synchronize audio recording” is selected, the audio gain is controlled so that the recording level changes from silence to a normal level during time t.

  In step S113, the microcomputer 101 restarts the focus detection process of the contrast detection method and proceeds to step S115. The microcomputer 101 sends an instruction to the gain control unit 37 to appropriately perform gain control in accordance with the brightness of the acquired image so that the subject brightness does not change by a predetermined value or more between frames for moving image recording.

  In step S115, the microcomputer 101 determines whether an instruction to end moving image recording has been issued. If the moving image start button 57 is pressed, the microcomputer 101 makes a positive determination in step S115 and proceeds to step S117. If the moving image start button 57 is not pressed, the microcomputer 101 makes a negative determination in step S115 and returns to step S113. When returning to step S113, the image acquisition is continued while focusing and controlling the brightness.

  In step S117, the microcomputer 101 sends an instruction to the CPU in the lens barrel 200, moves the focus adjustment lens to the closest end position during time t, and proceeds to step S119. Time t corresponds to “time for effect”. If “synchronize audio recording” is selected, the audio gain is controlled so that the recording level changes from the normal level to silence during time t.

  In step S119, the microcomputer 101 ends the moving image recording. That is, a predetermined moving image file for storing the acquired moving image and a predetermined audio file for storing the audio data are respectively generated and recorded in the memory card 35, and the processing of FIG.

  When the microcomputer 101 executes the action-added moving image shooting by the second pattern, the following processing is performed in steps S107 and S117 in FIG. That is, in step S107, the microcomputer 101 sends an instruction to the CPU in the lens barrel 200, moves the focus adjustment lens to the infinity end position, and proceeds to step S109. Thereafter, the focusing is interrupted until step S113 described later.

  In step S117, the microcomputer 101 sends an instruction to the CPU in the lens barrel 200, moves the focus adjustment lens to the infinity end position during time t, and proceeds to step S119. Time t corresponds to “time for effect”. If “synchronize audio recording” is selected, the audio gain is controlled so that the recording level changes from the normal level to silence during time t.

According to the first embodiment described above, the following operational effects can be obtained.
(1) The electronic camera captures the subject image that has passed through the photographing optical system 201 at a predetermined frame rate, and the microcomputer 101 records a plurality of frames of images acquired by the image sensor 11 on the recording medium 35. And a microcomputer 101 that controls the image sensor 11 to start acquisition of a recording image in response to a recording start instruction and end acquisition of a recording image in response to a recording end instruction, and a head portion of the image to be recorded And a microcomputer 101 for performing at least one of including a plurality of frames of images with gradually changing image blur and including a plurality of frames of images with gradually changing image blur at the end of the recorded image. Thereby, a moving image having a focus-in (or out) effect automatically at the start or end of moving image recording can be obtained.

  For example, when a moving image is reproduced, the eyes of the person viewing the reproduced moving image can be directed to the main subject by the focus-in effect at the top. In addition, it is possible to make the viewer think of the end of playback by the focus-out effect at the end.

(2) The electronic camera further includes a contrast AF processing circuit 13 that adjusts the focal position of the photographing optical system 201. The microcomputer 101 changes the focus adjustment state once according to a recording start instruction, and then before the change. The contrast AF processing circuit 13 is instructed to return to the original focus adjustment state, while the image pickup device 11 starts to acquire the recording image before returning to the focus adjustment state before the change, and the focus adjustment is performed according to the recording end instruction. While instructing the 13 stages of the contrast AF processing circuit to change the state, the image pickup device 11 is made to end the acquisition of the recording image after the change. As a result, a plurality of frames of progressively focused images are obtained at the start of moving image recording, and a plurality of frames of progressively out of focus are automatically obtained at the end of moving image recording.

(3) Since the contrast AF processing circuit 13 adjusts the focal position so that the main subject is focused before the recording start instruction, the contrast AF processing circuit 13 can grasp the in-focus position in advance.

(4) With a single-lens reflex type camera, a clear image blur can be obtained in the background of the main subject as compared with a compact camera. By performing focus-in (or out) utilizing this image blur, an advantageous focus-in (or out) effect can be obtained compared to a compact camera.

(Modification 1)
In the first embodiment, the moving image recording is started in step S109 after the preparatory operation for defocusing in the focus-in process (that is, after steps S105 and S107), but the moving image recording is performed before steps S105 and S107. May be started.

(Modification 2)
In the first embodiment, the moving image recording start instruction is accepted in the focused state (after step S101) (step S103). However, after the moving image recording start instruction is accepted (step S103 is positively determined). Focusing may be performed, and the focus adjustment lens after focusing may be moved to the closest end position (step S107).

(Modification 3)
In the first embodiment, the focus adjustment lens is moved to the closest end position (in the case of the first pattern) or moved to the infinite end position (in the case of the second pattern) in the focus-in process. In this case, it is sufficient to move the position of the focus adjustment lens to at least a position where the main subject is out of focus, and it is not always necessary to move the focus adjustment lens to the closest end position (or infinity end position). For example, in the case of a multi-point AF distance detection method that detects the focus adjustment state at a plurality of distance measurement points in the shooting screen, the focus adjustment lens is moved to a position where another subject different from the main subject is in focus. It may be configured.

(Second embodiment)
The second embodiment corresponds to the “subject depth change” described above, and does not acquire an image having blur by changing the focus adjustment state, but changes the aperture diameter (that is, changes the depth of field). As a result, an image having blur is obtained.

  The microcomputer 101 performs effect-added moving image shooting according to the second embodiment when “change in depth of field” is set and the switching lever 55 is switched to the circle position with diagonal lines.

-Focus-in processing-
When the moving image start button 57 is pressed, the microcomputer 101 is in a predetermined time t (t is a time for applying an effect) from a state in which the focus is narrowed down from the closest range to the infinite range (FIG. 11). ) To gradually open the aperture, change the depth of field to a state where the main subject is in focus (FIG. 12), and then continue normal movie shooting. For audio recording, the content of the item selected for “audio recording at effect” is followed.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an image when the depth of field is deep, and FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an image when the depth of field is shallow. In FIG. 11, the window frame close to the electronic camera including the person to the distant tree is clear. In FIG. 4, the window frame near the electronic camera and the distant tree are blurred only by making the person clear.

-Focus-out processing-
When the moving image start button 57 is pressed again during moving image shooting, the microcomputer 101 takes a predetermined time t (t is equivalent to “effect applying time”) from the state where the main subject is in focus (FIG. 12). Then, the aperture diameter is gradually narrowed, the depth of field is changed to a state where the focus is in a wide range (FIG. 11), and the moving image shooting is finished. For audio recording, the content of the item selected for “audio recording at effect” is followed.

  A flow of control processing executed by the microcomputer 101 at the time of effect-added moving image shooting according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to a flowchart illustrated in FIG. When the switching lever 55 is switched to the hatched circle position, the microcomputer 101 displays the live view image on the color liquid crystal monitor 29 and activates the processing shown in FIG.

  In step S201 of FIG. 13, the microcomputer 101 starts the focus detection process of the contrast detection method and proceeds to step S203. Thus, the main subject is continuously focused so as to maximize the contrast based on the live view image. In step S203, the microcomputer 101 determines whether the start of moving image recording has been instructed. If the moving image start button 57 is pressed, the microcomputer 101 makes a positive determination in step S203 and proceeds to step S205. If the moving image start button 57 is not pressed, the microcomputer 101 makes a negative determination in step S203 and repeats the determination process. .

  In step S205, the microcomputer 101 temporarily stores the current aperture value in the memory 43 and proceeds to step S207. The current aperture value is, for example, a control aperture value determined based on a photometric calculation result by the photometric device 21. In step S207, the microcomputer 101 sends an instruction to the CPU in the lens barrel 200, and the aperture driving device 205 moves the aperture to the minimum aperture (maximum aperture) state, and proceeds to step S209. At this time, the microcomputer 101 sends an instruction to the gain control unit 37 to appropriately perform gain control according to the brightness of the acquired image so that the subject brightness does not change by a predetermined value or more even if the aperture value is changed. Note that focusing is interrupted until step S213 described later.

  In step S209, the microcomputer 101 starts moving image recording and proceeds to step S211. As a result, image acquisition is started (recording start) at a predetermined frame rate (for example, 60 frames / second). Note that audio acquisition is also started (recording start) except when “no audio recording” is selected. In step S211, the microcomputer 101 sends an instruction to the CPU in the lens barrel 200, moves the aperture to the aperture value temporarily stored in the memory 43 during time t, and proceeds to step S213. Time t corresponds to “time for effect”. The microcomputer 101 sends an instruction to the gain control unit 37 to appropriately gain control according to the brightness of the acquired image so that the subject brightness does not change more than a predetermined value even if the aperture value is changed. If “synchronize audio recording” is selected, the audio gain is controlled so that the recording level changes from silence to a normal level during time t.

  In step S213, the microcomputer 101 restarts the focus detection process of the contrast detection method and proceeds to step S215. The microcomputer 101 sends an instruction to the gain control unit 37 to appropriately perform gain control according to the brightness of the acquired image so that the subject brightness does not change by a predetermined value or more between frames for moving image recording.

  In step S215, the microcomputer 101 determines whether the end of moving image recording has been instructed. If the moving image start button 57 is pressed, the microcomputer 101 makes a positive determination in step S215 and proceeds to step S217. If the moving image start button 57 is not pressed, the microcomputer 101 makes a negative determination in step S215 and returns to step S213. When returning to step S213, image acquisition is continued while focusing and controlling the brightness.

  In step S217, the microcomputer 101 sends an instruction to the CPU in the lens barrel 200, moves the aperture to the minimum aperture (maximum aperture) state during time t, and proceeds to step S219. Time t corresponds to “time for effect”. The microcomputer 101 sends an instruction to the gain control unit 37 to appropriately perform gain control according to the luminance of the acquired image so that the subject luminance does not change by a predetermined value or more even if the aperture value is changed. If “synchronize audio recording” is selected, the audio gain is controlled so that the recording level changes from the normal level to silence during time t.

  In step S219, the microcomputer 101 ends the moving image recording. That is, a predetermined moving image file for storing the acquired moving image and a predetermined audio file for storing the audio data are respectively generated and recorded in the memory card 35, and the processing of FIG.

  According to the second embodiment described above, the following operational effects can be obtained. That is, the electronic camera further includes an aperture driving device 203 that adjusts the aperture of the photographing optical system 201. The microcomputer 101 changes the aperture adjustment state once in response to a recording start instruction, and then adjusts the aperture before the change. The diaphragm driving device 203 is instructed to return to the state, while the image pickup device 11 starts to acquire a recording image before returning to the aperture clause state before the change, and the aperture adjustment state is changed according to the recording end instruction. In this manner, the diaphragm driving device 203 is instructed, and after the change, the image pickup device 11 is made to finish acquiring the recording image. As a result, the depth of field gradually changes (for example, becomes shallower) at the start of moving image recording to obtain a plurality of frames with different image blurs, and the depth of field gradually changes at the end of moving image recording (for example, Multiple frames of images with different image blur are automatically obtained.

(Modification 4)
In the second actual form, in step S207 and step S217, the aperture is moved to the minimum aperture (maximum aperture) state. Instead, the aperture is moved to the maximum aperture (the aperture is in the most open state). It may be.

(Third embodiment)
The third embodiment corresponds to the “simple blur” described above, and electronically adds blur to an acquired image.

  The microcomputer 101 performs effect-added moving image shooting according to the third embodiment when “simple blur” is set and the switching lever 55 is switched to the hatched circle position.

-Focus-in processing-
Unlike the first and second embodiments, when the moving image start button 57 is pressed, the microcomputer 101 starts normal moving image shooting in a state where the main subject is in focus (FIG. 14). After the end of the moving image shooting, N images of the first frame (the number of reproduction times corresponding to the above “time to apply effect”) are duplicated, and different blurs are added to the entire duplicated images in stages. For example, the largest blur is given to the first copy of the N copies (FIG. 15), the blur is gradually reduced, and the smallest blur is given to the duplicate N copies.

  FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an image before adding blur, and FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an image after adding blur. In FIG. 14, the window frame close to the electronic camera and the distant tree are blurred only by making the person clear. In FIG. 15, the entire image including the person is further blurred.

-Focus-out processing-
When the moving image start button 57 is pressed again during moving image shooting, the microcomputer 101 immediately ends moving image shooting, unlike the first and second embodiments. After the end of the moving image shooting, N images of the last frame (the number of reproduction times corresponding to the above “time to apply effect”) are duplicated, and different blurs are added to the entire duplicated images in stages. For example, the smallest blur is given to the first copy of N copies, the blur is increased step by step, and the largest blur is given to the duplicate N copies (FIG. 15).

  A flow of control processing executed by the microcomputer 101 at the time of effect-added moving image shooting according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to a flowchart illustrated in FIG. When the switching lever 55 is switched to the hatched circle position, the microcomputer 101 displays the live view image on the color liquid crystal monitor 29 and activates the processing shown in FIG.

  In step S301 in FIG. 16, the microcomputer 101 starts focus detection processing and pre-recording using the contrast detection method, and proceeds to step S303. As a result, the main subject is kept in focus so as to maximize the contrast based on the live view image, and pre-recording is performed with respect to the memory 43 at a normal recording level except when “no sound recording” is selected. I do. Pre-recording refers to recording a sound for a predetermined time t (t is equivalent to “time for applying an effect”) before the moving image start button 57 is pressed. In the pre-recording, the sound data of the latest time t is held in the memory 43, and the previous sound data is sequentially overwritten and erased in the memory 43.

  In step S303, the microcomputer 101 determines whether the start of moving image recording has been instructed. When the moving image start button 57 is pressed, the microcomputer 101 makes a positive determination in step S303 and proceeds to step S305. When the moving image start button 57 is not pressed, the microcomputer 101 makes a negative determination in step S303 and repeats the determination process. .

  In step S305, the microcomputer 101 starts moving image recording and proceeds to step S307. As a result, image acquisition is started (recording start) at a predetermined frame rate (for example, 60 frames / second). It should be noted that by switching from pre-recording to normal recording except when “no audio recording” is selected, time t immediately before the moving image start button 57 is pressed and after the moving image start button 57 is pressed. Do not overwrite and delete the acquired audio data.

  In step S307, the microcomputer 101 continues the focus detection process of the contrast detection method and proceeds to step S309. The microcomputer 101 sends an instruction to the gain control unit 37 to appropriately perform gain control according to the brightness of the acquired image so that the subject brightness does not change by a predetermined value or more between frames for moving image recording.

  In step S309, the microcomputer 101 determines whether the end of moving image recording has been instructed. If the moving image start button 57 is pressed, the microcomputer 101 makes a positive determination in step S309 and proceeds to step S311. If the moving image start button 57 is not pressed, the microcomputer 101 makes a negative determination in step S309 and returns to step S307. When returning to step S307, image acquisition is continued while focusing and controlling the brightness.

  In step S311, the microcomputer 101 ends the moving image recording, and continues to acquire the sound for a predetermined time t (t corresponds to the “time to apply the effect”) after the moving image recording ends (post recording), and then proceeds to step S313. move on.

  In step S313, the microcomputer 101 cuts out the first frame image from the images constituting the moving image recorded on the memory card 35, and proceeds to step S315. In step S315, the microcomputer 101 duplicates the N cut-out images as described above, and adds different blurs to the N duplicate images in stages by known image processing (for example, filter processing) in the image blur processing unit 39. Then, the process proceeds to step S317.

  In step S317, the microcomputer 101 sends an instruction to the moving image editing processing unit 40, and arranges the N images in order of increasing blur and edits them as a moving image. Then, the edited moving image is added to the head of the moving image recorded from step S305, and the process proceeds to step S319. If “synchronize audio recording” is selected, the audio gain is controlled so that the audio level recorded during the pre-recording time t gradually changes from silence to the normal level.

  In step S319, the microcomputer 101 cuts out the last frame image from the images constituting the moving image recorded on the memory card 35, and proceeds to step S321. In step S321, the microcomputer 101 duplicates the N cut-out images as described above, and adds different blurs to the N duplicate images in stages by known image processing (for example, filter processing) by the image blur processing unit 39. Then, the process proceeds to step S323.

  In step S323, the microcomputer 101 sends an instruction to the moving image editing processing unit 40, and arranges N images in ascending order of the blur and edits them as moving images. Then, the edited moving image is added to the end (end) of the moving image recorded from step S305. If “synchronize audio recording” is selected, the audio gain is controlled so that the audio level recorded during the post recording time t gradually changes from the normal level to the silence.

  The microcomputer 101 adds a moving image to which the blur is added step by step before and after the original moving image, stores a moving image after the addition, and audio data by pre-recording after audio gain control Then, audio files for storing predetermined recording data and audio data by post recording after audio gain control are respectively generated and recorded in the memory card 35, and the processing of FIG. 16 is terminated.

  According to the third embodiment described above, the following operational effects can be obtained. That is, the electronic camera further includes an image blur processing unit 39 that processes the image and adds blur to the image, and the microcomputer 101 duplicates a predetermined number of images of the first frame of the acquired plurality of frames, A different blur is added to each of the duplicate images so that the image blur is gradually reduced, and a predetermined number of images of the last frame of the obtained multi-frame images are duplicated, and gradually for each of the duplicate images. At least one of adding different blurring to increase image blur is performed. Thus, a plurality of frames of images with gradually decreasing image blur are obtained at the start of moving image recording, and a plurality of frames of images with gradually increasing image blur are automatically obtained at the end of moving image recording.

  The above description is merely an example, and is not limited to the configuration of the above embodiment. For example, a configuration in which either one of the focus in and the focus out is not performed may be used. Needless to say, the electronic camera may not be of a single-lens reflex type.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Image pick-up element 35 ... Memory card 39 ... Image blur processing part 101 ... Microcomputer 201 ... Shooting optical system 203 ... Aperture drive device 205 ... Focus drive device SW15 ... Movie start / end switch

Claims (6)

Imaging means for acquiring a subject image through a photographing optical system at a predetermined frame rate;
Recording means for recording a plurality of frames of images acquired by the imaging means on a recording medium;
Imaging control means for controlling the imaging means to start acquisition of a recording image in response to a recording start instruction and end acquisition of a recording image in response to a recording end instruction;
An effect applying means for performing at least one of including a plurality of frames of images with gradually changing image blur at the beginning of the image to be recorded and including a plurality of frames with gradually changing image blur at the end of the image to be recorded; ,
An imaging device comprising: The imaging device according to claim 1,
A focus adjusting means for adjusting a focal position of the photographing optical system;
The effect applying means is
In response to the recording start instruction, the focus adjustment unit is instructed to change the focus adjustment state once and then return to the focus adjustment state before the change, while the imaging before returning to the focus adjustment state before the change. To start the acquisition of the image for recording,
In response to the recording end instruction, the focus adjustment unit is instructed to change the focus adjustment state, and after the change, the imaging unit ends acquisition of the recording image.
An imaging device characterized by that. The imaging device according to claim 1,
A diaphragm adjusting means for adjusting the diaphragm of the photographing optical system is further provided,
The effect applying means is
In response to the recording start instruction, the aperture adjustment unit is instructed to change the aperture adjustment state once and then return to the aperture adjustment state before the change, while the imaging before returning to the aperture clause state before the change. To start the acquisition of the image for recording,
In response to the recording end instruction, the diaphragm adjustment unit is instructed to change the diaphragm adjustment state, and after the change, the imaging unit ends acquisition of the recording image.
An imaging device characterized by that. In the imaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The photographing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the focus adjusting unit adjusts the focal position so that the main subject is focused before the recording start instruction. The imaging device according to claim 1 or 2,
The focus adjusting means adjusts the focal position so as to focus on a main subject according to the recording start instruction,
The effect applying means instructs the focus adjusting means to change the focus adjustment state after the adjustment once and then return to the focus adjustment state before the change, while before returning to the focus adjustment state before the change. An imaging apparatus, characterized in that the imaging means starts acquisition of a recording image. The imaging device according to claim 1,
Further comprising blur adding means for processing the image and adding blur to the image;
The effect applying means is
Duplicating a predetermined number of images of the first frame of the acquired multiple-frame images, adding different blurs to each of the replicated images so as to gradually reduce image blur, and the acquired multiple-frame images Performing at least one of copying a predetermined number of images of the last frame of the image and adding different blurs to each of the copied images so that image blur gradually increases.
An imaging device characterized by that.

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