JP2016063242A - Imaging apparatus, information processing method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent reduction in the response of an imaging apparatus.SOLUTION: The imaging apparatus includes: imaging means; and recording means for recording image data obtained from the imaging means as a moving image. The recording means, in a first moving image recording mode, for recording a silent moving image, records by associating the moving image with silent data, and, in a second moving image recording mode, for recording the silent moving image, records the moving image without recording voice data.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus, an information processing method, and a program.

In recent years, in digital cameras, opportunities to shoot moving images as well as still images are increasing. As the number of movie shooting opportunities increases, there is an increasing need to edit a shot movie according to the user's preference using an editing function or an editing device of a digital camera.
For example, video data is shot by a video device, audio data is collected by an audio recording device, and these are connected by an editing device along a timeline, for example, timeline editing. In this case, since the video data and the audio data are recorded by different devices, the imaging device does not need to record the audio data even if the device can record the audio data, and only the video data can be recorded. .

  In order to realize such a method of use, some imaging apparatuses include a recording setting menu for setting whether to record audio data simultaneously when performing moving image shooting. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of moving image data recorded in the MOV or MP4 file format. In the MOV and MP4 formats, all data is stored in units called boxes, and is largely composed of a moov box and an mdat box. In an area called “moov box”, metadata included in moving image data is recorded, and header information related to data included in an mdat box described later is recorded. In the mdat box, data bodies such as video data and audio data included in the moving image data are recorded. Thereby, a plurality of tracks such as video data and audio data can be managed collectively. FIG. 5A is a diagram illustrating moving image data including a plurality of tracks such as a video track, an audio track, and a text track. The header information is stored in the moov of each track, indicating that the data is arranged in mdat. FIG. 5B is a diagram showing moving image data including only a video track.

  On the other hand, it is also desired that video data is automatically and simply edited when a digital camera is used so that the user can enjoy the game without editing it and can be viewed efficiently. A digital camera having such an automatic editing function can handle the same kind of data such as video data whose video data to be edited includes only video data, video data that includes both video data and audio data, and so on. , It can be combined.

  In Patent Document 1, when video data having different numbers of audio channels is stored in the same recording medium, the number of channels to be recorded is fixed, and audio data including silent data is added to unsupported audio channels. Technology is disclosed.

JP 2004-319003 A

  However, when the moving image data including only the video data, the moving image data including the video data and the audio data are to be combined, it is necessary to prevent the audio data from being shifted due to the presence or absence of the audio data. For example, it is necessary to perform special processing such as adding audio data without influence such as silence data as appropriate, or making audio data multi-channel so that it can be played back only at the timing of the target video. . For this reason, processing becomes complicated.

  FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of the moving image data combining process. As shown in FIG. 6A, when moving image data including video data and audio data is combined, a video track and an audio track are added to the moving image data, and header information is updated. As a result, it is possible to combine the video data and the audio data without shifting the reproduction timing. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6B, it is assumed that moving image data having video data and audio data is combined with moving image data having only video data. In this case, if the audio track is added as it is, the video data and the audio data are not synchronized so that the audio data 3 is reproduced when the video data 2 is reproduced. End up.

  As one countermeasure for avoiding this, there is a method of reproducing silence data while the video data 2 is reproduced. Thereby, the video data 3 and the audio data 3 can be synchronized. In this case, it is necessary to newly generate silence data for the reproduction time of the video data 2 and add it. As a result, the editing process takes time, and the response of the digital camera is reduced.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object thereof is to prevent a decrease in response of an imaging apparatus.

  Therefore, the imaging apparatus of the present invention includes an imaging unit and a recording unit that records the image data obtained from the imaging unit as a moving image, and the recording unit is a first moving image recording mode that records a silent moving image. In the case of the second moving image recording mode in which the moving image and the silent data are recorded in association with each other and the silent moving image is recorded, the moving image is recorded without recording the audio data.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent a decrease in response of the imaging apparatus.

It is a figure which shows a digital camera. It is a flowchart which shows a 1st imaging | photography process. It is a flowchart which shows the imaging | photography post-process. It is a flowchart which shows a 2nd imaging | photography process. It is a schematic diagram of conventional moving image data. It is explanatory drawing of the combining process of the conventional moving image data.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a digital camera 100 as an example of an imaging apparatus. A protection unit 10 is a barrier that prevents the imaging unit from being soiled or damaged by covering the imaging unit including the photographing lens 11 of the digital camera 100. Reference numeral 11 denotes a photographing lens, 12 denotes a shutter having a diaphragm function, 13 denotes an image sensor composed of a CCD or CMOS element for converting an optical image into an electric signal, and 15 denotes an analog signal output from the image sensor 13 to a digital signal. It is an A / D converter. A timing generation circuit 14 supplies a clock signal and a control signal to the image sensor 13, the A / D converter 15, and the D / A converter 21, and is controlled by the memory control circuit 22 and the system control circuit 50. An image processing circuit 20 performs predetermined pixel interpolation processing and color conversion processing on the data from the A / D converter 15 or the data from the memory control circuit 22.

  Further, the image processing circuit 20 performs a predetermined calculation process using the captured image data. Based on the obtained calculation result, the system control circuit 50 controls the exposure control 40 and the distance measurement control 41, and performs AF (autofocus) processing, AE (automatic exposure) processing, and EF (flash pre-flash) processing. Do. The image processing circuit 20 performs predetermined calculation processing using the captured image data, and also performs AWB (auto white balance) processing based on the obtained calculation result. Further, the image processing circuit 20 reads an image stored in the memory 25 and reads the JPEG format or MPEG-4 AVC / H. H.264 compression or expansion processing is performed, and the processed data is written into the memory 25.

  A memory control circuit 22 controls the A / D converter 15, the timing generation circuit 14, the image processing circuit 20, the image display memory 24, the D / A converter 21, and the memory 25. Data of the A / D converter 15 is written into the image display memory 24 or the memory 25 via the image processing circuit 20 and the memory control circuit 22 or directly via the memory control circuit 22. Reference numeral 24 denotes an image display memory, 21 denotes a D / A converter, 23 denotes a display unit including a TFT LCD, and the display image data written in the image display memory 24 is displayed via the D / A converter 21. Displayed on the unit 23. If image data captured using the display unit 23 is sequentially displayed, an electronic viewfinder function for displaying live video can be realized.

  Reference numeral 25 denotes a memory for storing captured still images and moving images, and has a sufficient storage capacity to store a predetermined number of still images and a predetermined time of moving images. The memory 25 can also be used as a work area for the system control circuit 50. Reference numeral 40 denotes exposure control means for controlling the shutter 12 having an aperture function. Reference numeral 41 denotes a distance measurement control means for controlling the focusing of the photographing lens 11, reference numeral 42 denotes a zoom control means for controlling zooming of the photographing lens 11, and reference numeral 43 denotes a barrier control means for controlling the operation of the protection means 10 as a barrier. Reference numeral 71 denotes a microphone as sound collection means for capturing external sound such as a subject, and 72 denotes a speaker that outputs operation sound and shutter sound of the digital camera 100 and sound during moving image reproduction. Reference numeral 73 denotes an audio control unit that performs control of the microphone 71 and the speaker 72, recording level and volume of input / output audio data, noise cancellation processing, and the like.

  A system control circuit 50 controls the entire digital camera. Reference numeral 51 denotes an electrically erasable / recordable non-volatile memory, such as an EEPROM. Not only the program but also map information is recorded. Note that the functions and processing of the digital camera 100 described later are realized by a system control circuit 50 including a CPU reading a program stored in the nonvolatile memory 51 and executing the program.

  Reference numerals 60, 61 and 62 denote operation means for inputting various operation instructions of the system control circuit 50. Reference numerals 60, 61, and 62 are configured by a single switch or a combination of a power switch, a mode change switch, a menu button, a cross key, a touch panel, a pointing by line-of-sight detection, a voice recognition device, and the like. Reference numeral 60 denotes a shutter switch SW1, which is turned on during the operation of a shutter button (not shown), and performs AF (auto focus) processing, AE (auto exposure) processing, AWB (auto white balance) processing, EF (flash pre-flash) processing, and the like. Instruct the start of operation.

  Reference numeral 61 denotes a shutter switch SW2, which is turned on when an operation of a shutter button (not shown) is completed, and instructs the start of a series of processing operations such as exposure processing, development processing, and recording processing. Here, the exposure process is a process of writing the image data into the memory 25 via the A / D converter 15 and the memory control circuit 22 from the signal read from the image sensor 13. The development process is a process using an operation in the image processing circuit 20 or the memory control circuit 22. The recording process is a process of reading image data from the memory 25, compressing the image data by the image processing circuit 20, storing the data in the memory 25, and then writing the image data to the external recording medium 91 via the card controller 90.

  An operation unit 62 includes various buttons and a touch panel. Reference numeral 62 denotes, for example, a power button, a menu button, a mode switching switch for switching between shooting mode / playback mode / other special shooting modes, a cross key, a set button, and a macro button. Reference numeral 62 denotes a multi-screen playback page break button, a flash setting button, a single shooting / continuous shooting / self-timer switching button, a menu movement + (plus) button, and a menu movement− (minus) button. Reference numeral 62 denotes a reproduction image movement + (plus) button, a reproduction image-(minus) button, a photographing image quality selection button, an exposure correction button, a date / time setting button, and the like.

  Reference numeral 70 denotes a moving image shooting button which is an operation member for instructing start and end of moving image shooting. Reference numeral 81 denotes power supply control means. A power source 80 includes 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. Reference numeral 90 denotes a card controller that transmits and receives data to and from an external recording medium such as a memory card. Reference numeral 91 denotes an external recording medium such as a memory card.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a first photographing process as an example of information processing by the digital camera 100. The first shooting process is a process executed when the digital camera 100 is set to the still image / moving image shooting simultaneous recording mode as the shooting mode. When the user switches the mode switch included in the operation unit 62, the shooting mode is set to the still image / moving image shooting simultaneous recording mode. The still image / moving image simultaneous shooting mode is a shooting mode in which a still image, a moving image before the release and a moving image after the release are simultaneously recorded in one release. In the still image / moving image recording simultaneous recording mode, there is a function of taking a still image and additionally recording a moving image previously shot on a moving image previously shot in the same mode. The user can repeat the shooting in this mode, so that, for example, a so-called digest version that can easily look back as a series of moving images taken during a certain event period and the situation when each still image was shot Can be obtained.

  When the digital camera 100 selects the still image / moving image recording simultaneous recording mode, the system control circuit 50 confirms the recording setting of the digital camera 100 in step S200. The digital camera 100 can switch the setting of the digital camera 100 using a menu button included in the operation unit 62. In the setting item, there is a recording setting menu for setting whether or not to record an external sound during moving image recording. In the recording setting menu, the system control circuit 50 advances the process to step S201 when “recording is present” for recording is set (Yes in step S200). In step S <b> 201, the system control circuit 50 sets the audio control unit 73 to record external audio. If the system control circuit 50 is set to “no recording” in which recording is not performed (No in step S200), the system control circuit 50 advances the process to step S202. In step S202, the system control circuit 50 sets the audio control unit 73 to invalidate the external audio and input mute (silence data) as audio data.

  In step S <b> 203, the system control circuit 50 controls the image sensor 13 having the appropriate exposure controlled by the exposure control 40, and generates a display moving image based on the output of the image sensor 13. Next, in step S204, the system control circuit 50 controls the image sensor 13 similarly to step S203, and generates a moving image recording moving image based on the output of the image sensor 13. Furthermore, in step S204, when “with recording” is set, the system control circuit 50 controls the speaker 72 to collect external audio and generates audio data in synchronization with the shooting timing. . Next, in step S205, the system control circuit 50 displays the display image created in step S203 on the display unit 23.

  In step S <b> 206, the system control circuit 50 starts a video data compression process using the video compression process included in the image processing circuit 20 for moving image recording images, and stores the compressed data in the memory 25. In addition to the compression of the video data, the system control circuit 50 also starts the compression process of the audio data input from the microphone 71 using the included audio compression process, and stores the compressed data in the memory 25. If the recording is not set, the system control circuit 50 compresses the mute data and stores it in the memory 25. As described above, the system control circuit 50 records video data and audio data in association with each other and records them in one moving image file regardless of the recording setting.

  In step S207, the system control circuit 50 checks whether or not the mode change from the still image / moving image simultaneous recording mode to another mode has been performed. The system control circuit 50 determines that there has been a mode change when there is a change in another shooting mode by the mode change switch included in the operation unit 62, a transition to the playback mode, a power OFF by the power switch, or the like. When the mode is changed (Yes in step S207), the system control circuit 50 advances the process to step S208. If the mode has not been changed (No in step S207), the system control circuit 50 advances the process to step S209. In step S208, the system control circuit 50 ends the video / audio compression processing, discards the video data and audio data stored in the memory 25, and ends the first photographing processing.

  On the other hand, in step S209, the system control circuit 50 confirms whether the menu button included in the operation unit 62 is pressed and an instruction to open the setting menu is given. When the menu button is pressed and a setting change instruction is accepted (Yes in step S209), the system control circuit 50 advances the process to step S210. If the menu button has not been pressed (No in step S209), the system control circuit 50 advances the process to step S215. In step S210, the system control circuit 50 stops the video / audio compression processing and discards the video data and audio data stored in the memory 25.

  Next, in step S211, the system control circuit 50 confirms whether or not a change in the recording setting is instructed in the menu change. When the system control circuit 50 receives an instruction to change the recording setting (Yes in step S211), the system control circuit 50 advances the process to step S212. If the system control circuit 50 does not accept the recording setting change instruction (No in step S211), the system control circuit 50 advances the process to step S213. In step S212, the system control circuit 50 changes the recording setting. Next, in step S213, the system control circuit 50 checks whether or not other changes have been instructed. If the system control circuit 50 receives another change instruction (Yes in step S213), the system control circuit 50 advances the process to step S214. If the system control circuit 50 does not accept any other change instruction (No in step 213), the process proceeds to step S200. In step S214, the system control circuit 50 changes the setting related to the instruction, and then proceeds to step S200.

  In step S215, the system control circuit 50 checks whether or not the shutter switch SW1 (60) has been pressed. When the shutter switch SW1 is pressed (Yes in step S215), the system control circuit 50 advances the process to step S216. If the shutter switch SW1 has not been pressed (No in step S215), the system control circuit 50 advances the process to step S203. In step S <b> 216, the system control circuit 50 performs focusing / exposure processing according to the focus mode and exposure mode set in the digital camera 100.

  In step S217, the system control circuit 50 checks whether or not the shutter switch SW2 (61) has been pressed. When the shutter switch SW2 is pressed (Yes in step S217), the system control circuit 50 advances the process to step S218. If the shutter switch SW2 is not pressed (No in step S217), the system control circuit 50 advances the process to step S215. In step S218, the system control circuit 50 stops the image display on the display device and stops the video / audio compression processing. Here, the system control circuit 50 does not discard the video data and audio data stored in the memory 25, and keeps them in the memory 25.

  Next, in step S219, the system control circuit 50 controls the image sensor 13, and captures still image data for recording based on the output of the image sensor 13. Next, in step S220, the system control circuit 50 generates a review image for image confirmation after shooting from the still image data for recording. Next, in step S <b> 221, the system control circuit 50 generates JPEG data for recording using a still image compression process included in the image processing circuit 20, and stores it in the memory 25. Thereafter, the system control circuit 50 performs post-shooting processing. The post-shooting process will be described later with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing detailed processing in post-shooting processing (step S222) by the digital camera 100. In step S301, the system control circuit 50 records the JPEG data stored in the memory 25 in step S221 on the external recording medium 91. Next, in step S302, the system control circuit 50 determines whether the video data stored in the memory 25 is longer than a predetermined recording time t0. If it is determined that the system control circuit 50 is long (Yes in step S302), the process proceeds to step S304. If it is determined that the system control circuit 50 is short (No in step S302), the process proceeds to step S303. In step S <b> 303, the system control circuit 50 discards the video data and audio data before still image shooting stored in the memory 25.

  In step S304, the system control circuit 50 determines whether or not a moving image file to which video / audio data can be additionally recorded is recorded in the external recording medium 91 in order to determine the recording destination of the video / audio data stored in the memory 25. Confirm. If no moving image file is recorded (No in step S304), the system control circuit 50 advances the process to step S305. In step S305, the system control circuit 50 records the video / audio data shot before shooting the still image as a new file, and then advances the process to step S307.

  On the other hand, when a moving image file is recorded (Yes in step S304), the system control circuit 50 advances the process to step S306. In step S306, the system control circuit 50 additionally records the video / audio data shot before shooting the still image in the existing moving image file, and then advances the processing to step S307. At this time, the additionally recorded moving image file is always recorded in a format in which video data and audio data are associated with each other. Depending on the setting of the recording setting menu, the audio data to be added may be either external audio recording data or silent data. In either case, the video file contains video data and audio. Recorded in a format that associates data. For this reason, video data and audio data can be additionally recorded in synchronization with the reproduction timing.

  In step S307, the system control circuit 50 displays the review image created in step S220 on the display unit 23. Next, in step S308, the system control circuit 50 checks whether or not the video data and audio data have been discarded in step S303. When the video data or the like is discarded (Yes in step S308), the system control circuit 50 advances the process to step S317, ends the video / audio compression process, and ends the post-shooting process. If the video data or the like has not been discarded (No in step S308), the system control circuit 50 advances the process to step S309.

  In step S <b> 309, the system control circuit 50 confirms whether or not the setting for recording the stop motion is valid together with the pre-still image data in the setting menu of the digital camera 100. If the stop motion recording is invalid (No in step S309), the system control circuit 50 advances the process to step S317. If the stop motion recording is valid (Yes in step S309), the system control circuit 50 advances the process to step S310. In step S310, the system control circuit 50 generates a stop motion image for moving image recording from the still image captured in step S219. Here, when the aspect of the still image is different from that of the moving image, the system control circuit 50 performs a resizing process so that all the still images are displayed, and paints the areas other than the still image display area in black. For example, when the aspect ratio of the still image is 4: 3 and the aspect ratio of the moving image is 16: 9, the system control circuit 50 generates a stop motion image in which the left and right areas are painted black.

  Next, in step S311, the system control circuit 50 confirms the recording setting. If the system control circuit 50 is set to “with recording” (Yes in step S311), the process proceeds to step S312. If the system control circuit 50 is set to “no recording” (No in step S311), the system control circuit 50 advances the process to step S313. In step S312, the system control circuit 50 sets the sound control unit 73 to embed shutter sound data stored in advance in the nonvolatile memory 51 as sound data. In step S 313, the system control circuit 50 compresses the image and audio data generated in step S 310 using the video / audio compression processing included in the image processing circuit 20, and stores the compressed data in the memory 25.

  Next, in step S314, the system control circuit 50 determines whether the video data compressed in step S313 is longer than the predetermined recording time t2. If it is determined that the system control circuit 50 is long (Yes in step S314), the process proceeds to step S315. If it is determined that the system control circuit 50 is short (No in step S314), the process proceeds to step S313. In step S315, the system control circuit 50 records the video data and audio data compressed in step S313 on the external recording medium 91. When the video data before photographing is recorded in steps S306 and S307, the system control circuit 50 adds and records the video data in the same file as the video data. In step S316, the system control circuit 50 waits until the recording of video data and audio data is completed. When the recording is completed, in step S317, the system control circuit 50 ends the video / audio compression processing and ends the post-shooting processing.

  As described above, the digital camera 100 always creates a moving image file including video data and audio data regardless of the recording setting in the still image / moving image simultaneous recording mode. Note that the audio data when “with recording” is set is recorded external audio, and the audio data when “without recording” is set is silent data. The “no recording” setting in the still image / moving image simultaneous recording mode is an example of a first moving image recording mode for recording a silent moving image. The “with recording” setting in the still image / moving image simultaneous recording mode is an example of a third moving image recording mode in which external sound is recorded together with the moving image.

  Furthermore, as described above, in the still image / moving image recording simultaneous recording mode according to the present embodiment, there is a function that a moving image shot together with a still image is additionally recorded on a moving image previously shot in the same mode. . That is, the still image / moving image recording simultaneous recording mode is a moving image capturing mode for editing a moving image obtained by shooting. The digital camera 100 records in a file format including audio data even when “no recording” is set in the moving image shooting premised on combining (editing) with other moving images. Therefore, moving image combination can be easily performed.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a second photographing process as an example of information processing by the digital camera 100. The second shooting process is a process executed when the moving image shooting mode is set as the shooting mode in the digital camera 100. When the user switches the mode change switch included in the operation unit 62, the shooting mode is set to the moving image shooting mode.

  In step S401, the system control circuit 50 confirms whether the mode has been changed. The process of step S401 is the same as the process of step S207 (FIG. 2). When the mode is changed (Yes in step S401), the system control circuit 50 ends the second imaging process. If the mode has not been changed (No in step S401), the system control circuit 50 advances the process to step S402. The processing in steps S402 to S406 is the same as the processing in steps S209 to S214 described with reference to FIG.

  After step S406, in step S407, the system control circuit 50 checks whether or not the moving image shooting button 70 has been pressed. When the moving image shooting button 70 is pressed (Yes in step S407), the system control circuit 50 advances the process to step S408. If the moving image shooting button 70 has not been pressed (No in step S407), the system control circuit 50 advances the process to step S401. In step S <b> 408, the system control circuit 50 starts moving image shooting, controls the image sensor 13 with proper exposure controlled by the exposure control 40, and generates a display moving image based on the output of the image sensor 13. Next, in step S409, the system control circuit 50 controls the image sensor 13 similarly to step S408, and generates a moving image recording image based on the output of the image sensor 13. Next, in step S410, the system control circuit 50 displays the display moving image created in step S408 on the display unit 23. Next, in step S <b> 411, the system control circuit 50 compresses the recording moving image into video data using the video compression processing included in the image processing circuit 20, and stores it in the memory 25.

  Next, in step S412, the system control circuit 50 confirms the recording setting. If the system control circuit 50 is set to “with recording” (Yes in step S412), the system control circuit 50 advances the process to step S413. In step S 413, the system control circuit 50 compresses the external audio input from the audio control unit 73 using the audio compression processing included in the system control circuit 50 and stores the compressed audio in the memory 25. If “no recording” is set (No in step S412), the system control circuit 50 advances the process to step S414 without creating audio data. In step S414, the system control circuit 50 records the data stored in the memory 25. The system control circuit 50 records the video data and the audio data in one moving image file when “with recording” is set. The system control circuit 50 also records only video data in one moving image file when “no recording” is set. The setting of “no recording” in the moving image shooting mode is an example of a second moving image recording mode for recording silent recording.

  Next, in step S415, the system control circuit 50 checks whether or not the moving image shooting button 70 has been pressed. When the moving image shooting button 70 is pressed (Yes in step S415), the system control circuit 50 advances the process to step S417. If the moving image shooting button 70 has not been pressed (No in step S415), the system control circuit 50 advances the process to step S417. In step S416, the system control circuit 50 checks whether or not there is a mode change. When the mode is changed (Yes in step S416), the system control circuit 50 advances the process to step S417. If the mode has not been changed (No in step S416), the system control circuit 50 advances the process to step S408 to continue moving image shooting.

  In step S417, the system control circuit 50 stops moving image shooting and ends the video compression process. Next, in step S418, the system control circuit 50 confirms the recording setting. If the system control circuit 50 is set to “with recording” (Yes in step S418), the process proceeds to step S419. If “no recording” is set (No in step S418), the system control circuit 50 advances the process to step S420. In step S419, the system control circuit 50 ends the audio compression process. Next, in step S420, the system control circuit 50 records all video data and audio data stored in the memory 25, completes moving image recording, and advances the process to step S401.

  As described above, in the moving image shooting mode, the digital camera 100 stores different types of moving image files such as a moving image file including video data and audio data or a moving image file including only video data in accordance with the recording setting. Record. As described above, when the digital camera 100 is set to a shooting mode in which a moving image is not edited after moving image shooting and is set to “no recording”, the digital camera 100 records only the moving image without associating it with the sound. As described above, the digital camera 100 according to this embodiment determines whether to record audio data in association with a moving image, whether to record silence data as audio data, or to record external audio, and to use the moving image. It can be set according to the mode.

  In the prior art, a moving image file to be recorded records data including only video data and data including video data and audio data in the same moving image file. For this reason, in order to synchronize the video data and audio data, in the data including only the video data, the compressed audio data for the same time as the video data is separately created and added, for example, Processing to correct the deviation was necessary. In contrast, the digital camera 100 according to the present embodiment formally generates audio data even when recording is not performed. Thereby, the process for synchronizing the video data and the audio data can be made unnecessary. In other words, the digital camera 100 can efficiently perform the moving image data combining process without degrading the response of the imaging apparatus.

<Other embodiments>
The present invention can also be realized by executing the following processing. That is, software (program) that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus via a network or various storage media. Then, the computer (or CPU, MPU, etc.) of the system or apparatus reads and executes the program.

  As described above, according to each of the above-described embodiments, it is possible to efficiently perform moving image data combining processing (connection processing) without causing a decrease in response of the imaging apparatus.

  The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, but the present invention is not limited to such specific embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the gist of the present invention described in the claims.・ Change is possible.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Shooting lens 12 Shutter 13 Image pick-up element 25 Memory 50 System control circuit 71 Microphone 91 Recording medium 100 Digital camera

Claims (6)

Imaging means;
Recording means for recording the image data obtained from the imaging means as a moving image,
In the first moving image recording mode for recording a silent moving image, the recording means records the moving image and the silent data in association with each other, and in the second moving image recording mode for recording the silent moving image, audio data is recorded. An image pickup apparatus that records the moving image without recording. A sound collecting means for collecting external sound;
The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sound collecting unit does not perform a process of collecting the external sound when the recording unit is in a mode of recording the silent moving image.   In the third moving image recording mode in which external sound is recorded together with the moving image, the recording unit records the external sound obtained by the sound collecting unit and the moving image in association with the shooting timing of the imaging unit. The imaging apparatus according to claim 2. It further has an image processing means for combining a plurality of moving image data,
The imaging apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the image processing unit combines the moving image recorded in the first moving image recording mode and the moving image recorded in the third moving image recording mode. An information processing method executed by an imaging apparatus,
Imaging step;
A recording step of recording the image data obtained from the imaging step as a moving image,
In the recording step, in the first moving image recording mode for recording a silent moving image, the moving image and the silent data are recorded in association with each other, and in the second moving image recording mode for recording the silent moving image, audio data is recorded. An information processing method, wherein the moving image is recorded without being recorded. On the computer,
Imaging step;
Recording step of recording the image data obtained from the imaging step as a moving image;
In the recording step, in the first moving image recording mode for recording a silent moving image, the moving image and the silent data are recorded in association with each other, and in the second moving image recording mode for recording the silent moving image, audio data is recorded. A program for recording the moving image without recording.

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