JP3721965B2 - Electronic still camera, image recording method thereof, and recording medium - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an electronic still camera, an image recording method thereof, and a recording medium.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, an electronic still camera that records a subject image captured using a solid-state imaging device such as a CCD as image data on a recording medium such as a flash memory has become widespread. Many electronic still cameras are equipped with a color LCD monitor, and in the shooting standby state, the subject image is sequentially captured regardless of the shutter operation and displayed as a through image, so that the viewfinder used for framing during shooting can be used. The LCD monitor also has this function.
[0003]
When shooting with such an electronic still camera, in general, each pixel of the two-dimensional array of the solid-state imaging device is scanned in the horizontal direction sequentially from the top line to the bottom line, and is equivalent to one screen. Pixel data is acquired. In addition, in an electronic still camera, a solid-state imaging device is arranged so that the scanning direction is horizontal when it is in a standard horizontal orientation, and a captured image is displayed in a direction corresponding to the scanning direction of the solid-state imaging device. Recorded as horizontal.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the electronic still camera, the captured image is recorded so that the direction corresponding to the scanning direction of the solid-state imaging device is the horizontal direction as described above, and thus the image when the camera body is photographed in the portrait orientation. For example, when the image is displayed on a liquid crystal monitor, if the camera body remains in the horizontal direction, the displayed image is displayed in a state tilted by 90 ° in the right (or left) direction. Of course, in that case, if the electronic still camera is oriented vertically as in the case of shooting, the image can be viewed in the correct orientation, but it is not very convenient.
[0005]
Further, when the recorded image is used in a personal computer or the like, it is necessary to rotate the image one by one using general-purpose or dedicated image processing software and store it again. Therefore, for example, when dealing with a large amount of images, there is a problem that it is extremely inconvenient.
[0006]
The present invention has been made in view of such conventional problems, and an electronic still camera, an image recording method thereof, and a recording medium capable of recording an image that is always reproduced in the correct orientation intended at the time of photographing. The purpose is to provide.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-described problem, in the invention of claim 1, in an electronic still camera that records an image captured by an imaging unit in accordance with a shooting operation, a display unit that displays shooting assistance information at the time of shooting, A conversion means for converting the orientation of the image captured by the imaging means based on the auxiliary photographing information displayed on the display means; and a recording means for recording the image whose orientation has been converted by the conversion means. did.
[0008]
In such a configuration, Therefore, it is possible to record an image that is always played back in the correct orientation intended at the time of shooting.
[0009]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in an electronic still camera for recording an image picked up by an image pickup means in response to a shooting operation, a display means for displaying shooting auxiliary information at the time of shooting and a recording in accordance with the shooting operation The information adding means for adding information indicating the orientation of the image based on the auxiliary photographing information displayed on the display means as the image direction information indicating the reproduction direction of the image.
[0010]
In such a configuration, when a shooting operation is performed with the shooting assistance information displayed, information indicating the orientation of the image based on the shooting assistance information is added to the captured image as image direction information indicating the direction during playback. Since the recorded image is automatically recorded, the recorded image is reproduced in the direction indicated by the image direction information. Therefore, it is possible to record an image that is always played back in the correct orientation intended at the time of shooting.
[0011]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided control means for displaying the photographing auxiliary information on the display means when a predetermined photographing mode is set.
[0012]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the display means is a viewfinder used for framing, and the shooting assistance information is a frame line indicating the arrangement of subjects according to a predetermined screen configuration. did.
[0013]
In such a configuration, the photographer can perform framing using the photographing auxiliary information.
[0014]
Further, in the invention of claim 5, there is provided selection means for allowing a photographer to select any of the screen configurations from a plurality of screen configurations prepared in advance, and the predetermined screen configuration is transmitted via the selection means. The selected screen configuration is assumed.
[0015]
Further, in the invention of claim 6, the image processing apparatus further comprises sample image storage means for storing a plurality of sample images having different screen configurations corresponding to the plurality of screen configurations, respectively, and the selection means is the sample image storage means. The photographer is allowed to select one of the screen configurations via one of the sample images stored in.
[0016]
In the invention according to claim 7, the orientation of the image based on the photographing auxiliary information is vertical.
[0017]
According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in an image recording method for an electronic still camera that records an image picked up according to a shooting operation, shooting auxiliary information is displayed prior to the shooting operation, and the image is picked up according to the shooting operation. The direction of the image is converted based on the photographing auxiliary information, and the converted image is recorded.
[0018]
In this method, when a shooting operation is performed in a state where the shooting assistance information is displayed, the orientation of the captured image is automatically converted based on the shooting assistance information. Therefore, it is possible to record an image that is always played back in the correct orientation intended at the time of shooting.
[0019]
According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in an image recording method for an electronic still camera that records an image picked up according to a shooting operation, shooting auxiliary information is displayed prior to the shooting operation, and the image is picked up according to the shooting operation. When an image is recorded, information indicating the orientation of the image based on the photographing auxiliary information is added to the image as image direction information indicating the direction at the time of reproduction.
[0020]
In such a method, when a shooting operation is performed with the shooting assistance information displayed, information indicating the orientation of the image based on the shooting assistance information is added to the captured image as image direction information indicating the direction during playback. Since the recorded image is automatically recorded, the recorded image is reproduced in the direction indicated by the image direction information. Therefore, it is possible to record an image that is always played back in the correct orientation intended at the time of shooting.
[0021]
In the invention of claim 10, a process of displaying auxiliary photographing information prior to the photographing operation on a computer included in an electronic still camera that records an image picked up according to the photographing operation, and photographing according to the photographing operation A computer-readable recording medium on which a program for performing the process of converting the orientation of the image based on the photographing auxiliary information and the process of recording the converted image is recorded.
[0022]
By using a program recorded on such a recording medium, the first and eighth aspects can be implemented.
[0023]
In the invention of claim 11, a process of displaying auxiliary photographing information prior to the photographing operation on a computer included in an electronic still camera that records an image picked up according to the photographing operation, and photographing according to the photographing operation. When a recorded image is recorded, a computer recording a program for causing the image to be subjected to processing for adding information indicating the orientation of the image based on the photographing assistance information as image direction information indicating the direction at the time of reproduction. A readable recording medium was obtained.
[0024]
By using a program recorded on such a recording medium, the second and ninth aspects can be implemented.
[0025]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
(First embodiment)
1A and 1B are views showing the appearance of an electronic still camera 1 according to the present invention. FIG. 1A is a rear view, FIG. 1B is a plan view, and FIG. 1C is a front view.
[0026]
The electronic still camera 1 has a fixed lens 4 on the front side, a TFT liquid crystal monitor 18 on the back side, and an optical finder 51 and a strobe 19. The electronic still camera 1 has a power switch 52, a shutter key 53, a zoom operation switch 54, an operation mode switching switch 55 for switching between a recording mode (REC mode) and a playback mode (PLAY mode). Various switches such as a liquid crystal monitor switch 56, a flash key 57, a self-timer key 58, and a menu key 59 are provided.
[0027]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an outline of the electrical configuration of the electronic still camera 1. The electronic still camera 1 compresses and expands an image picked up by the CCD 2 as an image pickup means, and a predetermined format, for example, a unified standard. The MPU 3 is mainly configured with an image processing function that generates and reproduces an image file in a format that conforms to DCF (Design Rule for Camera File system) and JPEG (Joint Photographic Expert Group). An optical image of the subject is formed on the light receiving surface of the CCD 2 through the fixed lens 4, the focus lens 5, and the diaphragm 6. The focus lens 5 is held by a drive mechanism 7 made of an AF motor or the like, and moves forward and backward on the optical axis when a drive signal output from the AF driver 8 is supplied to the drive mechanism 7 by a control signal from the MPU 3. Perform focusing operation. The diaphragm 6 is driven by a drive signal generated by the diaphragm drive unit 9 based on a control signal from the MPU 3 and adjusts the light quantity of the subject image incident on the CCD 2.
[0028]
Further, a TG (Timming Generator) 10 that generates a timing signal is connected to the MPU 3, and a V driver 11 (vertical driver) drives the CCD 2 based on the timing signal generated by the TG 10. An analog imaging signal corresponding to the luminance of the image is output and sent to the unit circuit 12. The unit circuit 12 includes a CDS that holds an imaging signal output from the CCD 2, a gain adjustment amplifier (AGC) that is an analog amplifier that is supplied with the imaging signal from the CDS, and an analog imaging that is amplified and adjusted by the gain adjustment amplifier. An A / D converter (AD) that converts the signal into a digital signal is used. The output signal of the CCD 2 is sampled with the black level matched and sent to the MPU 3 as a digital signal. The sent digital signal (imaging signal) is temporarily stored in the DRAM 13 and subjected to various kinds of image processing by the MPU 3, and finally is a compressed video signal as a flash memory (recording means of the present invention). FLASH) 14. The recorded video signal is read to the MPU 3 as necessary, and is generated into a digital video signal or an analog video signal through processing such as expansion processing, addition of a luminance signal and a color signal.
[0029]
Further, the MPU 3 is connected to the MROM 15, the power supply circuit 16, the operation key unit 17 including the various switch groups shown in FIG. 1, the TFT liquid crystal monitor 18, and the strobe 19. The MROM 15 is a program ROM in which an operation program for the MPU 3 is recorded. Further, the MROM 9 stores program AE data constituting a program diagram showing a combination of an aperture value (F) corresponding to an appropriate exposure value (EV) at the time of shooting and a shutter speed.
[0030]
The MPU 3 functions as a selection unit together with the conversion unit, the information addition unit, and the TFT liquid crystal monitor 18 of the present invention by operating according to the operation program using the built-in RAM as a working memory. Further, according to the program diagram, the charge accumulation time of the CCD 2, the degree of opening of the diaphragm 6, the gain setting of the gain adjustment amplifier (AGC) of the unit circuit 12, etc. are performed. The charge accumulation time set by the MPU 3 is supplied as a shutter pulse to the V driver 11 via the TG 10, and the charge accumulation time, that is, the exposure time is controlled by the V driver 11 driving the CCD 2 according to this. That is, the CCD 2 functions as an electronic shutter. The operation program stored in the MROM 9 includes a program related to autofocus control. Based on the program, the MPU 3 drives the focus lens 5 to perform focusing (autofocus).
[0031]
The TFT liquid crystal monitor 18 is a display means of the present invention. In the recording mode, the sequentially captured image is displayed as a through image, and a horizontal frame and a vertical frame to be described later are displayed. In the playback mode, the flash memory is displayed. The video based on the analog video signal generated from the image data recorded in the image 14 is displayed. The strobe 19 is driven as necessary when operating the shutter key 53 (at the time of shooting) and emits auxiliary light.
[0032]
The MROM 15 is a recording medium and sample image storage means of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3, the MROM 15 includes a program data area 15a, an imaging condition data area 15b, an additional information data area 15c, and a sample image data area. 15d and a frame image data area 15e are secured, and the program data area 15a stores the code data of the operation program described above.
[0033]
The shooting condition data area 15b stores the shooting condition data 101 shown in FIGS. The shooting condition data 101 includes shooting conditions of the electronic still camera 1 that are set in advance corresponding to each of a plurality of scene shooting modes (29 types in the present embodiment) that can be selected when setting a scene selection mode to be described later. More specifically, it is composed of the following data as shown in the figure. That is, each scene number and parameters indicating the contents of a plurality of control items that can be controlled in the electronic still camera 1 such as focus control, shutter speed, aperture, EV shift amount, sensitivity,...
[0034]
In the additional information data area 15c, a plurality of additional information data corresponding to each of the scene shooting modes is stored. This additional information data is preset for each scene shooting mode, for example, a scene description such as “Scenery and portraits”, advice information such as “The background is beautifully blurred when using zoom”, “Macro It is composed of three types of character string data such as a control explanation such as “mode is set and saturation is set higher”.
[0035]
The sample image data area 15d corresponds to each scene shooting mode together with the shooting condition data and the additional information data, and a plurality of sample images constituting a sample of a subject suitable for shooting in each scene shooting mode. Image data is stored. FIG. 6 shows an example of such a sample image 102. FIG. 6A shows a sample image corresponding to the scene shooting mode “1” (person and landscape 1), and FIG. 6B shows the scene shooting mode. A sample image corresponding to “2” (person and landscape 2) of FIG. 4C is an example of a sample image corresponding to “3” (up) of the scene shooting mode. In addition, although each sample image 102 is shown as a schematic image in this figure, it is an image actually taken or an image according to it.
[0036]
In the frame image data area 15e, a plurality of image data constituting the first to tenth frame images 103a to 103j shown in FIG. Stored corresponding to each sample image 102 of the scene number (1 to 10). The first to tenth frame images 103a to 103j are simply displayed on a predetermined part of the screen of the TFT liquid crystal monitor 18 at the time of shooting standby, and the arrangement of the subject according to the screen configuration (composition) of each sample image 102 at the time of framing. It is a frame line to show.
[0037]
The first to third frame images 103a to 103c, the fifth frame image 103e, the seventh frame image 103g, and the ninth frame image 103i are in landscape orientation corresponding to the screen configuration of each sample image 102 in landscape orientation. It is a frame. Similarly, the fourth frame image 103d, the sixth frame image 103f, the eighth frame image 103h, and the tenth frame image 103j are vertical frames corresponding to the screen configurations of the vertical sample images 102. At the same time, at the time of shooting, it indicates that the orientation of the electronic still camera 1 should be a vertical orientation rotated 90 ° to the left, and that the recorded image is recorded as a vertical image. Used as information.
[0038]
The above-mentioned various data stored in the MROM 15 can be stored on another recording medium such as an IC card that is separately provided or detachably mountable as long as the recorded contents can be retained. It may be configured to be recorded, or may be configured to be supplied from other devices such as a personal computer by communication.
[0039]
Next, the operation of the electronic still camera 1 having the above configuration will be described. First, when the user performs a predetermined operation with the menu key 59 prior to shooting, the electronic still camera 1 displays a mode selection screen 201 as shown in FIG. 8 on the TFT liquid crystal monitor 18. This screen has five shooting modes prepared in advance, that is, “normal”, “portrait”, “landscape”, “night view”, “scene select” shooting modes, and a predetermined function setting mode (“ This is a screen for selecting one of “function”). In the screen, descriptions of keys to which predetermined operations are assigned are also displayed.
[0040]
Hereinafter, the operation of the electronic still camera 1 after the scene selection mode (“scene selection”) is selected from the mode selection screen 201 by the user will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
[0041]
That is, when the scene selection mode is selected, the electronic still camera 1 switches the display on the TFT liquid crystal monitor 18 from the mode selection screen 201 to the scene selection selection screen 202 shown in FIG. Select (step SA1). On the scene selection selection screen 202 displayed here, the scene number (“1”, etc.) of the shooting mode stored in the MROM 15, the corresponding sample image 103, additional information, that is, a scene description (“Landscape and Person” , Etc.)) and advice information (“Frame is displayed”, etc.) are displayed. When a sample image 103 having a scene number having a corresponding control description is displayed, the control description (“focus is set to ∞, filter is set to red” or the like) is also displayed. Further, when the user operates a predetermined selection button (in this embodiment, [+] and [−] of the zoom button 54), the scene number, the sample image 103, and the additional information constituting the scene selection selection screen 202 are displayed. Are changed in ascending order or descending order in order of scene numbers, that is, feed display is performed.
[0042]
On the other hand, when any of the sample images 102 is displayed, that is, when the shutter key 53 (decision key) is pressed in the shooting mode selected state (YES in step SA2), the selected sample image 102 corresponds to the scene. Based on the parameters of the shooting condition data 101 stored in the MROM 15 corresponding to the number, the shooting conditions at the time of shooting in the electronic still camera 1 are set, and the REC mode is entered and a through image is displayed on the TFT liquid crystal monitor 18. Then, a shooting standby state is entered (step SA3). That is, when the photographer selects the sample image 102 corresponding to the subject to be photographed, photographing conditions suitable for photographing the subject are automatically set.
[0043]
At this time, it is determined whether or not the focus mode of the photographing condition is set to area specification (step SA4). If the selected sample image 102 has a scene number other than “1” to “10” (NO in step SA4), the state is maintained until the shutter key 53 is pressed while displaying a through image. (NO in step SA6). On the other hand, when the scene number of the selected sample image 102 is “1” to “10” (YES in step SA4), for example, the scene number of the sample image 102 is “2” (person and landscape 2). In some cases, as shown in FIG. 11A, the second frame image 103b (horizontal image frame) corresponding to the sample image 102 is displayed in the through image 301 and the focus position corresponds to the frame image 103b. The focus mark 203 is displayed in the predetermined area (step SA5), and the state is maintained until the shutter key 53 is pressed (NO in step SA6). FIG. 11B shows the through image 301 when the scene number of the selected sample image 102 is “6” (bust up 2) and the through image 301 (vertical frame image). It is an example.
[0044]
Therefore, for the photographer, when the second frame image 103b is displayed as shown in FIG. 11A, while holding the electronic still camera 1 normally, as shown in FIG. 11B. When the sixth frame image 103f is displayed as described above, the orientation of the electronic still camera 1 is rotated 90 degrees counterclockwise and the person is placed at a position corresponding to each of the frame images 103b and 103f. For example, framing is performed.
[0045]
Subsequently, when the shutter key 53 is pressed (YES in step SA6), the electronic still camera 1 performs imaging under the imaging conditions set in step SA3 (step SA7), and then performs a vertical frame (sixth frame). It is determined whether or not a frame image 103f or the like is being displayed (step SA8). If no vertical frame is displayed (NO in step SA8), the image data acquired by imaging is compressed and an image file is generated and recorded in the flash memory 14 (step SA10). Also, as shown in FIG. 12A, when a vertical frame is displayed when the shutter key 53 is pressed (YES in step SA8), after the image is converted to vertical, that is, After the image data acquired by imaging is rotated 90 ° to the left (step SA9), the processed image data is compressed and an image file is generated and recorded (step SA10). finish.
[0046]
Therefore, when an image recorded by the above operation is reproduced and displayed on the TFT liquid crystal monitor 18 in a state in which the reproduction mode is set by the user, the electronic still camera 1 can be As shown in FIG. 12B, even if the image is taken vertically, the electronic still camera 1 is kept in the landscape orientation as the correct portrait image 302 intended at the time of shooting. Will be displayed. Even when the image file recorded in the flash memory 14 is copied and used, for example, in a personal computer, the vertically oriented image is displayed correctly in the portrait orientation.
[0047]
Further, in the present embodiment, the vertical frame described above is used as photographing auxiliary information of the present invention, whereby the electronic still camera 1 at the time of photographing is rotated vertically by 90 °. Since the photographer is instructed, the photographer can adjust the orientation of the electronic still camera 1 to a predetermined orientation as a result without performing any attention to the orientation by simply performing framing as described above. Therefore, it is easier to use than the case where the auxiliary photographing information is displayed separately.
[0048]
(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the present embodiment, in the other electronic still camera having the configuration shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a plurality of image data (FIG. 5) constituting the above-described third to tenth frame images 103c to 103j is stored in the MROM 15. 7) and a program for causing the MPU 3 to perform control necessary for the operation described later.
[0049]
Hereinafter, in the electronic still camera of the present embodiment, the operation when the portrait photographing mode prepared in advance is set by the user operating the menu key 59 during photographing is shown in the flowchart of FIG. It explains according to.
[0050]
That is, when the portrait shooting mode is set, the electronic still camera automatically sets general-purpose shooting conditions suitable for normal portrait shooting (step SB1). Note that the shooting conditions set here are settings for a plurality of control items such as shutter speed, aperture, EV shift amount, sensitivity,..., As in the first embodiment shown in FIG. . Next, it is determined whether or not the use of the frame is selected by the user's key operation. If it is not selected (NO in step SB2), the image is taken in as it is and the through image is displayed on the TFT liquid crystal monitor 18. Is displayed and a shooting standby state is entered (step SB6).
[0051]
When the use of the frame is selected (YES in step SB2), the third to tenth frame images 103c to 103j are displayed as a list on the TFT liquid crystal monitor 18, or the sample image 103 in the first embodiment is displayed. In the same manner as described above, the photographer selects the frame to be used by performing a forward display according to the photographer's operation (step SB3). When a frame to be used is selected (YES in step SB4), any one of the selected frame images is displayed on the TFT liquid crystal monitor 18 (step SB5), and then an image is captured to display a through image. A shooting standby state is entered (step SB6).
[0052]
The through image display continues until the shutter key 53 is pressed (NO in step SB7). When the shutter key 53 is pressed (YES in step SA7), imaging is performed under the shooting conditions set in step SB1. (Step SB8). Next, it is determined whether or not a vertically oriented frame (the fourth frame image 103d or the like) is being displayed (step SB9). When a horizontally oriented frame is displayed, both the vertically oriented frame and the horizontally oriented frame are used. If not (NO in step SB9), the image data acquired by imaging is compressed, and an image file is generated as it is and recorded in the flash memory 14 (step SB10).
[0053]
FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an outline of the format of the image file 400 recorded here. The image file 400 has a configuration in which a vertical flag 402 is added to the compressed image data 401. The vertical orientation flag 402 is a flag indicating whether or not the orientation when displaying the image is vertical. When the vertical orientation flag 402 is vertical, “1” is set. Is set to “0”. Therefore, in the image file 400 recorded when the determination result in step SB9 is NO as described above, the vertical flag 402 is set to “0”.
[0054]
If the determination result in step SB9 is YES and a vertical frame is displayed when the shutter key 53 is pressed (see FIG. 12), the image data acquired by imaging is compressed, An image file 400 in which “1” is set in the vertical direction flag 402 is generated and recorded in the flash memory 14 (step SB11). In other words, if the expression is changed, a process of adding the vertical direction flag 402 to the image file 400 as image direction information indicating that the reproduction direction of the image is vertical is performed, and one shooting operation is completed.
[0055]
FIG. 15 shows the operation of the electronic still camera when the playback mode is set by the user after the image file 400 is recorded in the flash memory 14 according to the above procedure, and the image is played back from any one of the image files 400. It is a flowchart. When the recorded image is played back, the vertical direction flag 402 added to the image file 400 is read (step SC1), and it is determined based on the contents whether the image is in the vertical direction (step SC2). If the vertical flag 402 is “0” and not vertical (NO in step SC2), the image data 401 is decompressed and displayed on the TFT liquid crystal monitor 18 (step SC4). If the vertical direction flag 402 is “1” and the image is vertically oriented, the image data 401 is expanded, the image is converted to the portrait orientation, and then the image data is subjected to a rotation process in the left 90 ° direction. (Step SC3), the image is displayed on the TFT liquid crystal monitor 18 (Step SC4), and the reproducing operation is finished.
[0056]
Therefore, even in the present embodiment, even if the image is a portrait image taken with the electronic still camera in the portrait orientation at the time of photography, as shown in FIG. 12B, the electronic still camera is oriented in the landscape orientation. The image can be displayed as a correct portrait image 302 intended at the time of shooting. Further, even when an image file recorded in the flash memory 14 is copied to a personal computer, for example, a general-purpose or dedicated image loader corresponding to the image file 400 (see FIG. 14) is provided in advance. By installing it, the portrait image is displayed in the portrait orientation correctly. Further, as in the first embodiment, the photographer can adjust the orientation of the electronic still camera 1 to a predetermined orientation as a result by performing framing and paying little attention to the orientation. Convenience is also good.
[0057]
In addition, in the present embodiment, when the electronic still camera is photographed in the portrait orientation, the photographed image data is not subjected to the rotation process. Therefore, compared with the first embodiment, the photographed image is recorded. The processing speed becomes faster. Therefore, for example, in the case of performing continuous shooting in which a plurality of images are recorded by a single shooting operation, the number of shooting can be easily increased. In addition, the burden on the MPU 3 during recording is reduced. For this reason, for example, when the present invention is applied to an electronic still camera that does not have the TFT liquid crystal monitor 18 or the like and does not have a recorded image reproduction function unlike the present embodiment, image processing is performed. Devices with lower capabilities can be used. Therefore, the cost of the apparatus can be reduced.
[0058]
In each of the embodiments described above, a portrait frame that is displayed on the screen (through screen) of the TFT liquid crystal monitor 18 to guide the framing of the photographer as necessary, that is, FIG. The fourth frame image 103d, the sixth frame image 103f, the eighth frame image 103h, and the tenth frame image 103j shown in FIG. 5 are used as the photographing auxiliary information of the present invention. However, if the photographer can be instructed to set the electronic still camera 1 in the portrait orientation during shooting, other images and marks can be used as shooting assistance information.
[0059]
For example, when the electronic still camera 1 is held in a normal direction (landscape), an arrow that extends in the horizontal direction within the screen of the TFT liquid crystal monitor 18 and has an arrowhead on the right side may be used as the photographing auxiliary information. In addition, a “lower” character is placed on the left side of the screen in the horizontal direction, and an “upper” character is placed on the right side in the horizontal direction, and the direction of the electronic still camera 1 is rotated 90 ° leftward by these characters. You may be made to indicate that it should be in the portrait orientation. Further, even when a specific shooting mode such as “scene select” or “portrait” described above is not set, the above-described shooting auxiliary information is displayed as necessary and the above shooting operation is performed. You may do it.
[0060]
Further, the vertical frame and other photographing auxiliary information need not necessarily be displayed on the screen of the TFT liquid crystal monitor 18. For example, in the configuration having the optical finder 51 as shown in FIG. 1 or the configuration having only the optical finder 51, a vertical frame or the like is displayed or projected in the optical finder 51 by various methods. May be. Further, in addition to the optical viewfinder 51 and the TFT liquid crystal monitor 18, other display means including an LCD, an LED, and the like for displaying the photographing auxiliary information may be provided.
[0061]
Further, in the present embodiment, the description has been made on the assumption that the camera body is rotated 90 ° to the left when the electronic still camera 1 is mainly photographed in the vertical direction, but the camera body is 90 ° to the right. Assuming the case of shooting in a rotated state, a vertically oriented frame corresponding to the orientation may be prepared. Furthermore, assuming a case where the camera body is photographed with the camera body tilted at another angle, a plurality of types of frames having orientations corresponding to them may be prepared. In that case, in the first embodiment, the captured image may be recorded after being subjected to a process of rotating according to the orientation corresponding to each of the frames selected automatically or manually. In the first embodiment, instead of the vertical orientation flag 402 described above, data indicating the orientation corresponding to the orientation of the automatically or manually selected frame, specifically the rotation angle, is included in the captured image. It may be added and recorded.
[0062]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, in the present invention, when a shooting operation is performed in a state where the shooting assistance information is displayed, the orientation of the captured image is automatically converted based on the shooting assistance information and recorded, or the captured image is displayed. The information indicating the orientation of the image based on the auxiliary photographing information is automatically recorded in a state of being added as the image direction information indicating the direction at the time of reproduction. Therefore, it is possible to record an image that is always played back in the correct orientation intended at the time of shooting.
[0063]
Further, if the photographer can perform framing using the photographing auxiliary information, usability can be improved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an external appearance of an electronic still camera according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block configuration diagram of the electronic still camera.
FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing data recorded in a program ROM.
FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing photographing condition data recorded in the program ROM.
FIG. 5 is a diagram continuing from the bottom of FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is a view showing a sample image recorded in the program ROM.
FIG. 7 is a view showing a frame image recorded in the program ROM.
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a shooting mode selection screen.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an operation at the time of shooting using the scene select mode.
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a scene select selection screen and its change.
FIG. 11 is a screen display example when a specific scene is selected.
FIG. 12 is a rear view of the electronic still camera showing a state during photographing and during reproduction.
FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing an operation at the time of photographing in the second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram showing an outline of a format of an image file recorded at the time of shooting.
FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing an operation during reproduction according to the embodiment;
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Electronic still camera
2 CCD
3 MPU
13 DRAM
14 Flash memory
15 MROM
18 TFT LCD monitor
101 Shooting condition data
102 Sample images
103a to 103j First to tenth frame images
301 through image

Claims (11)

In an electronic still camera that records an image picked up by an image pickup means in accordance with a shooting operation,
Display means for displaying auxiliary shooting information at the time of shooting;
Conversion means for converting the orientation of the image captured by the imaging means based on the photographing auxiliary information displayed on the display means;
An electronic still camera comprising recording means for recording an image whose orientation has been changed by the converting means. In an electronic still camera that records an image picked up by an image pickup means in accordance with a shooting operation,
Display means for displaying auxiliary shooting information at the time of shooting;
Information adding means for adding, to the image recorded in accordance with the photographing operation, information indicating the orientation of the image based on the photographing auxiliary information displayed on the display means as image direction information indicating the direction at the time of reproduction of the image. An electronic still camera characterized by comprising. The electronic still camera according to claim 1, further comprising a control unit that causes the display unit to display the shooting auxiliary information when a predetermined shooting mode is set. 4. The display unit according to claim 1, wherein the display means is a viewfinder used for framing, and the photographing auxiliary information is a frame line indicating an arrangement of subjects according to a predetermined screen configuration. Electronic still camera. A selection unit that allows a photographer to select one of a plurality of screen configurations prepared in advance is provided, and the predetermined screen configuration is a screen configuration selected through the selection unit. The electronic still camera according to claim 4. Sample image storage means for storing a plurality of sample images having mutually different screen configurations corresponding to the plurality of screen configurations, respectively, and the selecting means via any of the sample images stored in the sample image storage means 6. The electronic still camera according to claim 5, wherein a photographer is allowed to select any screen configuration. The electronic still camera according to claim 1, wherein the image orientation based on the photographing auxiliary information is a vertical orientation. In an image recording method of an electronic still camera that records an image captured according to a shooting operation,
An image recording method comprising: displaying photographing auxiliary information prior to a photographing operation, converting a direction of an image captured according to the photographing operation based on the photographing auxiliary information, and recording the converted image. In an image recording method of an electronic still camera that records an image captured according to a shooting operation,
When shooting auxiliary information is displayed prior to a shooting operation and an image captured in response to the shooting operation is recorded, the image orientation based on the shooting auxiliary information is displayed on the image as image direction information indicating the direction at the time of playback. An image recording method comprising adding information to indicate. To a computer that has an electronic still camera that records images taken in response to shooting operations,
Processing for displaying auxiliary shooting information prior to shooting operation;
A process of converting the orientation of an image taken in accordance with a shooting operation based on the shooting assistance information;
A computer-readable recording medium on which a program for performing a process of recording an image after conversion is recorded. To a computer that has an electronic still camera that records images taken in response to shooting operations,
Processing for displaying auxiliary shooting information prior to shooting operation;
When recording an image picked up in accordance with a shooting operation, the image is subjected to processing for adding information indicating the direction of the image based on the auxiliary shooting information as image direction information indicating the direction at the time of reproduction. A computer-readable recording medium on which the program is recorded.

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