JP4475118B2 - Camera device, white balance bracketing shooting method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a camera device having a bracketing shooting function such as a digital still camera, and a white balance bracketing shooting method.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, some camera devices such as digital still cameras have a bracketing shooting function for recording a plurality of images while gradually changing shooting parameters. For example, as a shooting parameter, there is white balance bracketing shooting in which the white balance is changed gradually.

For example, when a white balance bracketing mode is set, there is an electronic still camera that continuously captures three frames of images with different white balances by simply pressing the release button once (Patent Document 1). In the electronic still camera described in Patent Document 1, the color temperature of the illumination light is detected by the color temperature detection sensor and set to the reference color temperature, and the first and second shift colors different from the reference color temperature and the reference color temperature are detected. White balance correction processing corresponding to each temperature is performed.
JP 2001-333432 A

  However, it is a very advanced and difficult technique to determine the light source in the surrounding environment when photographing with a camera device. Generally, before and after shooting, the image is analyzed, and the light source whose spectral characteristics or pixel color gamut distribution is determined to be “closest” to the color distribution characteristics of each light source is selected as the peripheral light source. Adjust the white balance to the color temperature of the light source and output the image.

  The color gamut in which the “color temperature” can be defined on the color space is very small when viewed from the entire color space, and most colors do not lie on the color temperature curve. This makes white balance adjustment difficult.

  In addition, the shape of the spectral characteristics is remarkably similar in part, but if the color temperature is judged, the light source will be different from the color seen by humans, or a mixed light source such as sunlight + fluorescent lamp, etc. In this case, it is difficult to correctly determine the light source, making it difficult to adjust the white balance appropriately. Fluorescent lamps are light sources that are particularly difficult to determine, but tungsten light sources are another difficult light source.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a camera device capable of acquiring a desired white balance corrected image by the white bracketing shooting function even in a situation where correct white balance control is difficult, and white balance bracketing shooting. It is to provide a method.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, in a camera device having a bracketing shooting function, a storage unit that stores color information corresponding to each of a plurality of light sources, and a light source range selection that selects a width of a light source range to be captured And a selection means for selecting a plurality of light sources included in a light source range having a width selected by the light source range selection means based on the color information stored in the storage means, and stored in the storage means. A plurality of white balance correction values respectively corresponding to the plurality of light sources selected by the selection unit based on the color information corresponding to the light source, and a plurality of correction values calculated by the calculation unit. And a control means for controlling the camera apparatus so as to execute the bracketing photographing while correcting the white balance.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the information processing apparatus further includes an acquisition unit that acquires color information of a subject, and the selection unit is configured to acquire the acquisition unit based on the color information stored in the storage unit. A plurality of light sources corresponding to the color information acquired by the above is selected.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the selecting unit selects a plurality of light sources according to a designation input from a user from a plurality of preset light sources.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first or third aspect of the present invention, the image processing apparatus further includes a photographing instruction input unit that inputs a photographing instruction, and the control unit performs whitening based on a plurality of correction values calculated by the calculating unit. The camera apparatus is controlled to execute bracketing shooting with the balance corrected.

The invention described in claim 5 is characterized in that, in the invention described in claim 1 or 3, a light source having spectral characteristics similar to those of a plurality of light sources selected as photographing objects is added.

The invention described in claim 6 is the invention described in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the plurality of light sources include light sources that can easily obtain images having similar spectral characteristics. .

The invention according to claim 7 is the invention according to claim 1 or 3, wherein the selecting means selects a plurality of light sources by individual selection for individually selecting light sources and group selection for selecting a group including a plurality of light sources. It is characterized by selecting.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a white balance bracketing photographing method for controlling a camera device having a storage unit for storing color information corresponding to each of a plurality of light sources and a bracketing photographing function . A light source range selection step for selecting the width, and a selection step for selecting a plurality of light sources included in the light source range of the width selected by the light source range selection step based on the color information stored in the storage means A calculation step of calculating a plurality of white balance correction values respectively corresponding to the plurality of light sources selected in the selection step based on color information corresponding to the light sources stored in the storage means; and The camera device is adjusted so that white balance is corrected with the calculated correction value and bracketing shooting is performed. And having a Gosuru control step.

According to the first and eighth aspects of the present invention, a plurality of light sources are selected based on color information corresponding to each of the plurality of light sources, and a plurality of white balances corresponding to the selected plurality of light sources are corrected. Because bracketing shooting (generation of multiple images) of the subject is performed corresponding to each of the light sources, it is possible to acquire a plurality of images including the correct light source even in situations where it is difficult to determine the light source Do Ri, further, by selecting a plurality of light sources according to the size of the selected light source range as an imaging target, or the determination of the light source is a difficult situation, or the like on whether the particular easy circumstances Accordingly, the width of the light source range can be selected, and the light source to be photographed can be selected.

According to the second aspect of the invention, a plurality of light sources corresponding to the color information acquired from the subject are selected, and the white balance corresponding to the selected plurality of light sources is corrected to correspond to each of the plurality of light sources. Thus, the bracketing photographing of the subject is executed, so that a plurality of images including the correct light source can be acquired even in a situation where it is difficult to determine the light source.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to select a plurality of light sources to be photographed from a plurality of preset light sources in accordance with a designation input from the user, and correspond to the selected light sources. The white balance is corrected and bracketing shooting of the subject is executed, so that even in situations where it is difficult to determine the light source, a plurality of light sources including the correct light source can be captured by shooting with a plurality of pre-selected light sources. Images can be acquired.

According to the invention of claim 4 , in addition to the effect of the invention of any one of claims 1 to 3, the white balance is corrected by the correction value for each of the plurality of light sources by inputting a shooting instruction. Bracketing shooting that generates a plurality of images can be executed.

According to the invention described in claim 5 , in addition to the effect of the invention of claim 1 or 3 , the light source having a spectral characteristic similar to that of the plurality of light sources selected as the photographing target is added, so that the light source is selected in advance. Even if the plurality of light sources are not correct light sources, an image including the correct light source can be easily obtained.

According to the invention described in claim 6 , in addition to the effect of the invention of any one of claims 1 to 3 , it is difficult to determine the light source by including a plurality of light sources having similar spectral characteristics. In any case, an image obtained by correcting the white balance for each of them can be acquired regardless of which is determined.

According to the invention of claim 7 , in addition to the effect of the invention of claim 1 or 3 , a plurality of light sources are selected by individual selection for individually selecting light sources and group selection for selecting a group including a plurality of light sources. By being able to do so, it is possible to select a fine light source.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a camera apparatus 1 equipped with a white balance bracketing shooting function according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  In the camera apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1, in the photographing mode which is the basic mode, the photographing lens 11 is moved to the lens position corresponding to the aperture position or the normal photographing by driving the motor (M) 10 in the lens optical system. A CCD (Charge Coupled Device) 12, which is an image pickup device disposed behind the photographing optical axis of the photographing lens 11, is scanned and driven by a timing generator (TG) 13 and a vertical driver 14, and is formed at regular intervals. A photoelectric conversion output corresponding to is output for one screen.

  The photoelectric conversion output is appropriately gain-adjusted for each primary color component of RGB in the state of an analog value signal, sampled and held by a sample hold (S / H) circuit 15, and digital data by an A / D converter 16. In addition, the image processing circuit 17 performs color process processing including pixel interpolation processing and γ correction processing to generate a digital luminance signal Y and color difference signals Cb and Cr, and a DMA (Direct Memory Access) controller. 18 is output. When the white balance bracketing mode is set under the control of the control unit 25, the image processing circuit 17 executes white balance correction corresponding to each of the plurality of light sources, and corresponds to each light source. Output image signal.

  The DMA controller 18 once uses the luminance signal Y and the color difference signals Cb and Cr output from the image processing circuit 17 by using the composite synchronization signal, the memory write enable signal, and the clock signal from the image processing circuit 17 once. And the DMA transfer to the DRAM 21 used as a buffer memory through the DRAM interface (I / F) 20.

  The control unit 25 includes a CPU, an R0M in which an operation program executed by the CPU, data, and the like are fixedly recorded, a RAM used as a work memory, and the like, and controls the entire camera device 1. .

  After completing the DMA transfer of the luminance and color difference signals to the DRAM 21, the control unit 25 reads the luminance and color difference signals from the DRAM 21 via the DRAM interface 20 and writes them to the VRAM 27 via the VRAM controller 26.

  The digital video encoder 28 periodically reads luminance and color difference signals from the VRAM 27 via the VRAM controller 26, generates a video signal based on these data, and outputs the video signal to the display unit 29.

  The display unit 29 functions as a monitor display unit (electronic finder) in the shooting mode, and performs display based on the video signal from the digital video encoder 28 to display image information captured from the VRAM controller 26 at that time. The base image (through image) is displayed in real time.

  When a through image is displayed in real time on the display unit 29, a trigger signal is generated when the shutter key of the key input unit 37 is operated at the timing of capturing a still image.

  In response to this trigger signal, the control unit 25 stops driving the CCD 12 at that time, and then performs an automatic exposure process to obtain an appropriate exposure value, and controls the aperture of the lens optical system and the exposure time of the CCD 12. Re-capture the image.

  After the newly obtained pixel data for one frame is DMA-transferred and written to the DRAM 21 in this way, the control unit 25 reads the pixel data for one frame written in the DRAM 21 and sends it to the image compression unit 30. Write. The image compression unit 30 encodes the pixel data by JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) with respect to the pixel data.

  The encoded pixel data is written into a memory card 32 that is detachably mounted as a recording medium of the camera device 1 or a built-in memory 33 that is fixedly built when the memory card 32 is not mounted. .

  As the writing of the pixel data to the memory card 32 or the built-in memory 33 for one frame is completed, the control unit 25 resumes the drive for displaying the through image from the CCD 12 via the DRAM 21 on the display unit 29. .

  In addition, a key input unit 37, an audio processing unit 40, and a strobe driving unit 41 are connected to the control unit 25.

  The key input unit 37 includes a power key, a shutter key, a mode switch, a menu key, a selection key, a zoom button, a cross key (cursor key), and the like. Is sent to.

  The audio processing unit 40 includes a sound source circuit such as a PCM sound source, digitizes the audio signal input from the microphone unit (MIC) 42 when recording audio, and performs a predetermined data file format such as MP3 (MPEG-1 Audio Layer-). 3) According to the standard, the data is compressed and an audio data file is created and sent to the memory card 32 or the built-in memory 33, while the audio data file sent from the memory card 32 or the built-in memory 33 is uncompressed at the time of playing the sound. Then, it is converted into an analog signal and the speaker unit (SP) 43 is driven to emit loud sounds.

  Furthermore, the sound processing unit 40 generates various operation sounds, for example, a pseudo shutter sound associated with the operation of the shutter key, a beep sound associated with the operation of other keys, and the like based on the control from the control unit 25. The sound is emitted from 43.

  The strobe drive unit 41 charges a large-capacitance capacitor for strobe (not shown) at the time of still image shooting, and then drives the strobe light emitting unit 45 to flash based on the control from the control unit 25.

  The camera device 1 according to the present embodiment has a bracketing shooting function. The bracketing shooting function is a function capable of generating and recording a plurality of images while automatically shifting various settings by one shooting operation. For example, white balance bracketing and AE bracketing are used as auto bracketing. And AF bracketing. In addition, multi-bracketing includes bracketing that generates an image while changing settings such as a color filter and sharpness again.

  The camera device 1 according to the present embodiment performs the above bracketing shooting on the display unit 29 by operating the bracketing mode setting key provided in the key input unit 37 or by controlling the control unit 25. It can be executed by setting the mode by operating the setting menu.

  In the camera device 1 according to the present embodiment, when the white balance bracketing mode is set, a plurality of light sources in the surrounding environment are assumed, and a plurality of images subjected to respective white balance corrections for the plurality of light sources are displayed. Can be generated.

(First embodiment)
Next, the bracketing shooting operation in which the white balance bracketing mode is set in the first embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  In the camera device 1 according to the first embodiment, based on color information (for example, a region position corresponding to a light source in a color space (hue, saturation, lightness, RGB, etc.)) representing characteristics of the light source corresponding to each of a plurality of light sources. Bracketing shooting that selects a plurality of light sources corresponding to color information acquired from a subject and generates a plurality of images corresponding to the plurality of light sources while performing white balance correction according to the characteristics of each light source. Execute.

  First, in the photographing (REC) mode, the optical image of the subject captured by the imaging lens 11 is converted into an electrical signal (image signal) by the CCD 12 and converted into digital data through the sample hold circuit 15 and the A / D converter 16. It is converted and stored in the DRAM 21. The image data stored in the DRAM 21 is written in the VRAM 27 and displayed on the display unit 29 as a through image (electronic viewfinder).

  The control unit 25 checks the presence / absence of a shooting instruction by the user, that is, whether or not the shutter key is fully pressed, and continuously performs through display until the shooting instruction is issued (step A1).

  Here, when the control unit 25 detects that a shooting instruction is given by an operation on the shutter key (step A1, Yes), the control unit 25 acquires color information of the subject image (step A2).

  Then, the control unit 25 selects a plurality of light sources corresponding to the inter-subject color information based on the color information corresponding to each of the plurality of light sources stored in advance in the light source information table 25a (step A3).

  FIG. 3 shows an example of color information stored in the light source information table 25a. In the light source information table 25a shown in FIG. 3, color information for each of a plurality of light source groups is stored. As the color information, information indicating an area position in the IQ space (described later) is stored.

  In each light source group, a plurality of light sources having similar spectral characteristics are grouped. For example, the sunlight group includes a light source such as sunlight, daylight fluorescent lamp,..., The tungsten light group includes a tungsten light,..., The white fluorescent group includes a white fluorescent lamp, a day white fluorescent lamp, Each light source is set.

  In FIG. 3, information on the area position in the IQ space is stored for each light source included in each light source group, but information on one area position may be set for the entire light source group. .

In the IQ space, the “orange-cyan axis” with the best resolution of the human eye is the I axis on the signal chromaticity diagram created to simplify the color signal due to the human visual characteristics, and the I axis Is a space representing the hue with the “yellow-magenta axis” as the Q axis, which is orthogonal to the human eye and has the worst resolution of the human eye. The I and Q values in the IQ space are expressed as I = 0.6R−0.28G−0.32B and Q = 0.21R−0.52G + 0.31B using RGB color information.
First, a process in the case where the light source is individually determined based on the subject image and the white balance correction value is calculated will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 4, areas of a plurality of light source determination areas A, B, C, D, and E corresponding to individual light sources are preset as area positions on the IQ space set in the light source information table 25a. Yes. The light source determination areas may overlap slightly, and the overlap tends to increase in the case of light sources belonging to the same light source group.

  As a first step, the distribution of all the pixels constituting the subject image in the IQ space is arranged. Next, it is determined in which region of the light source determination areas A, B, C, D, and E the distributed distribution is most distributed, and the light source corresponding to the corresponding light source determination area is a light source in the shooting environment. It is determined that In the example shown in FIG. 4A, it is assumed that the light source corresponding to the region C is selected.

  As a second stage, the coordinates of the area C where the most pixels are distributed are obtained on a weighted average. Next, the shift amount (correction value) from the central coordinate (predefined) in this area C to the load average coordinate is obtained. Since this IQ space represents the hue, the color shift amount (or the ratio change amount of the color difference signal) can be obtained from this IQ space.

  As a third stage, the color shift amount (correction value) obtained in the second stage is applied to the subject image as a correction process. That is, as shown in FIG. 4B, the colors are changed so that the colors are shifted in the same direction (in the color space) for all the pixels of the subject image. As a result, the white balance can be corrected.

  In the camera device 1 according to the present embodiment, it is originally determined that the light source corresponds to the light source determination area C. However, if the light source determination areas D and E are likely to be erroneously determined, each of the light source determination areas C, D, and E. A plurality of light sources corresponding to the above are selected, and the second and third steps described above are performed on the plurality of light sources to generate an image. In this case, three images are generated by bracketing shooting for three light sources.

  Here, a method for selecting a plurality of light sources corresponding to the color information of the subject will be described.

  A plurality of light sources to be subjected to bracketing photography can be selected by, for example, the methods shown in the following (1) to (3).

  (1) The light source determination is executed for each light source (first stage processing), and a plurality of light source determination areas (light sources) having a large number of pixels of the subject image are selected from the top. The number of light sources to be selected is determined by selecting a predetermined number of light source determination areas, or selecting a light source determination area in which the number of pixels in the subject image exceeds a predetermined reference. May be.

  (2) The light source determination is executed for each light source (first stage processing), the light source determination area corresponding to the above-described method (1) is determined, and the light source corresponding to the determined light source determination area. The light source group shown in FIG. In this case, all light sources included in the light source group are selected as bracketing shooting targets.

  (3) When a region position in the IQ space is set for a light source group including a plurality of light sources, the region corresponding to each light source group is processed in the same manner as (1) described above. The upper light source group is selected from the larger number of pixels in the subject image. In this case, all light sources included in the light source group are selected as bracketing shooting targets.

  In the case of selecting light source groups (2) and (3), not only one light source group but also a plurality of light source groups may be selected. Further, which of the selection methods (1) to (3) is used may be fixedly determined in advance, or may be arbitrarily changed by setting by the user. Alternatively, the number of images generated by bracketing shooting may be specified in advance by the user, and the methods (1) to (3) described above may be used so as to correspond to the number specified by the user.

  Thus, when a plurality of light sources to be subjected to bracketing shooting are selected (step A3), the control unit 25 corrects a correction value (shift amount) for one of the plurality of light sources by the process in the second stage described above. Is calculated (step A4).

  Under the control of the control unit 25, the image processing circuit 17 executes the process in the third stage described above to output a subject image signal obtained by photographing the subject, that is, correcting the white balance with the calculated correction value ( Step A5). The image signal from the image processing circuit 17 is written into a DRAM (random access memory) 21 by the DMA controller 18 via the DRAM interface 20.

  Here, if shooting has not been completed for all of the plurality of light sources selected in step A3 (step A6, No), correction values are calculated for other light sources in the same manner as described above, and the correction values are calculated. As a result, an image signal adjusted in white balance is output and written in the DRAM 21 (steps A4 and A5).

  In this way, when the processing is completed for all of the plurality of light sources selected in step A3 (step A6, Yes), bracketing shooting is finished.

  In this way, the camera device 1 of the first embodiment selects a plurality of light sources to be subjected to white balance bracketing shooting based on the color information of the subject image, and sets correction values for each of the plurality of light sources. The bracketing shooting for generating a plurality of images calculated and white balance corrected by this correction value is executed. Therefore, it is difficult to determine the light source, for example, when a light source that has similar spectral characteristics but is different from the color seen by humans is used, or a mixed light source such as sunlight and fluorescent lamp is used. Even if it is, it is possible to obtain a desired image with appropriate white balance correction by targeting multiple light sources that are determined according to the current shooting situation. It becomes possible to make it.

  In the first embodiment described above, a plurality of light sources to be subjected to bracketing shooting are selected based on the color information of the subject pixel obtained when there is a shooting instruction. However, there is a shooting instruction. Use the color information of the subject image obtained when the previous through image is displayed, or detect the state where the shutter key is half-pressed, and use the color information of the subject image obtained at this time. Also good.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a bracketing shooting operation in which the white balance bracketing mode is set in the second embodiment will be described.

  In the camera device 1 according to the second embodiment, a user can arbitrarily designate a light source to be subjected to bracketing shooting, and performs white bracketing shooting by selecting the plurality of designated light sources as shooting targets. It is.

  First, setting processing for selecting a light source to be subjected to bracketing shooting will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG.

  First, when an execution request for setting processing is input, the control unit 25 displays a setting screen for selecting a light source or a light source group for which light source determination is valid (photographing target) as shown in FIG. Step B1).

  In the setting screen shown in FIG. 6, a plurality of light source groups (sunlight group, tungsten light group, white fluorescent lamp group,...) Are listed. Each light source included in each light source group is displayed in a list. For example, sunlight, daylight color fluorescent lamps,... Are displayed for the sunlight group.

  Here, individual selection for individually selecting light sources and group selection for selecting a group including a plurality of light sources can be arbitrarily used.

  In addition, items for designating the width of the light source range to be subjected to bracketing shooting, that is, “all”, “large range”, “medium range”, and “small range” are displayed on the setting screen. By selecting the width of this light source range, for example, when a certain light source group is selected as an object for bracketing shooting, it is selected which of a plurality of light sources included in this light source group is targeted. be able to. For example, when “All” is selected as the default, and “Small range” is selected, only the most characteristic light source in the corresponding light source group is selected and selected as the range becomes wider. The light source is selected so that the number of light sources to be increased is increased.

  Note that the setting screen shown in FIG. 6 is for selecting a light source that enables light source determination, that is, a light source to be subjected to bracketing shooting, and a light source that is invalid among a plurality of preset light sources, It is also possible to select a light source that is not subject to bracketing shooting.

  In the example shown in FIG. 6, the sunlight group is selected by the group selection, and the white fluorescent lamp and the daylight white fluorescent lamp included in the white fluorescent lamp group are selected by the individual selection.

  The control unit 25 stores, as selection information, a light source to be subjected to bracketing shooting selected by the user in the selection screen (step B3).

  Next, the bracketing shooting operation in which the white balance bracketing mode is set in the second embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. Note that steps C3 to C5 shown in FIG. 7 are omitted because they are the same as steps A4 to A6 described in the first embodiment.

  First, in the photographing (REC) mode, the optical image of the subject captured by the imaging lens 11 is converted into an electrical signal (image signal) by the CCD 12 and converted into digital data through the sample hold circuit 15 and the A / D converter 16. It is converted and stored in the DRAM 21. The image data stored in the DRAM 21 is written in the VRAM 27 and displayed on the display unit 29 as a through image (electronic viewfinder).

  The control unit 25 checks the presence / absence of a shooting instruction by the user, that is, whether or not the shutter key is fully pressed, and continuously performs through display until there is a shooting instruction (step C1).

  Here, when the control unit 25 detects that a shooting instruction has been given by an operation on the shutter key (step C1, Yes), it reads the selection information stored by the setting process executed in advance, and performs the bracketing shooting target. Are selected (step C2).

  For example, in the setting process, when the selection is made as shown in FIG. 6, all the light sources included in the item summary group, and the white fluorescent lamp and the day white fluorescent lamp included in the white fluorescent lamp group are bracketed. (If the light source range is not selected).

  Thereafter, in the same manner as in the first embodiment, bracketing photographing for a plurality of selected light sources is executed (steps C3 to C5).

  In this way, the camera device 1 according to the second embodiment can execute bracketing shooting for a plurality of light sources that are selected in advance by the user through the setting process.

  In the second embodiment described above, only the light source selected by the user is a target for bracketing shooting. However, according to the light source selected by the user, the light source that is the target for bracketing shooting is selected from the unselected light sources. You may make it add automatically. For example, when a light source is selected by individual selection in the setting process, a light source having a spectral characteristic similar to that of the light source and easily subject to error in light source determination is added and added as an object for bracketing photography. As a result, even if the desired image cannot be obtained by bracketing shooting by user settings, it is possible to increase the possibility of obtaining an image in which the white balance is correctly corrected by shooting for the automatically added light source. .

In the second embodiment, a plurality of light sources can be selected by group selection for selecting a plurality of light sources grouped by selecting a light source group and individual selection for individually selecting the light sources in the light source group. However, other selection methods are possible. For example, you may make it select separately the light source which is not made into imaging | photography from the several light source contained in the light source group selected as imaging | photography object. In both group selection and individual selection,
In each embodiment, when a light source group is selected as an object for bracketing shooting, it is of course possible to select not only one light source group but also a plurality of light source groups.

  Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the white balance bracketing shooting is described as an object, but the present invention can also be applied to shooting in other bracketing modes.

  Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the determination is made based on the color information in the IQ space, that is, the hue when determining the light source for the subject image. However, the determination using other color information may be performed. good.

  Further, the above embodiments include inventions at various stages, and various inventions can be extracted by appropriately combining a plurality of disclosed constituent elements. For example, even if some constituent elements are deleted from all the constituent elements shown in the embodiment, at least one of the problems described in the column of problems to be solved by the invention can be solved, and described in the column of the effect of the invention. In a case where at least one of the obtained effects can be obtained, a configuration in which this configuration requirement is deleted can be extracted as an invention.

The block diagram which shows the structure of the camera apparatus 1 in which the white balance bracketing imaging | photography function in embodiment of this invention was mounted. 6 is a flowchart for explaining an operation of bracketing shooting in which a white balance bracketing mode is set in the first embodiment. The figure which shows an example of the color information memorize | stored in the light source information table 25a in 1st Embodiment. The figure for demonstrating the process in the case of determining the light source based on a to-be-photographed image, and calculating the correction value of a white balance. 12 is a flowchart for explaining a setting process for selecting a light source to be subjected to bracketing shooting in the second embodiment. The figure which shows an example of the setting screen for selecting the light source or light source group which validates the light source determination in 2nd Embodiment (photographing object). 10 is a flowchart for explaining an operation of bracketing shooting in which a white balance bracketing mode is set in the second embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Camera apparatus, 11 ... Shooting lens, 10 ... Motor (M), 12 ... CCD, 13 ... Timing generator (TG), 14 ... Vertical driver, 15 ... Sample hold circuit (S / H), 16 ... A / D converter, 17 ... Image processing circuit, 18 ... DMA controller, 20 ... DRAM interface (I / F), 21 ... DRAM, 25 ... Control unit, 26 ... VRAM controller, 27 ... VRAM, 28 ... Digital video encoder, 29 Display unit 30 Image compression unit 32 Memory card 33 Internal memory 37 Key input unit 40 Sound processing unit 41 Strobe drive unit 42 Microphone unit (MIC) 43 Speaker unit (SP), 45... Strobe light emitting unit.

Claims (8)

In a camera device having a bracketing shooting function,
Storage means for storing color information corresponding to each of the plurality of light sources;
A light source range selection means for selecting a width of a light source range to be photographed;
Selection means for selecting a plurality of light sources included in a light source range having a width selected by the light source range selection means based on the color information stored in the storage means;
Calculation means for calculating a plurality of white balance correction values respectively corresponding to a plurality of light sources selected by the selection means based on color information corresponding to the light sources stored in the storage means;
And a control unit that controls the camera apparatus so as to execute bracketing shooting by correcting white balance with a plurality of correction values calculated by the calculation unit. It further comprises acquisition means for acquiring subject color information,
The camera device according to claim 1, wherein the selection unit selects a plurality of light sources corresponding to the color information acquired by the acquisition unit.   The camera device according to claim 1, wherein the selection unit selects a plurality of light sources according to a designation input from a user from a plurality of preset light sources. A shooting instruction input means for inputting shooting instructions;
The control unit controls the camera apparatus to execute bracketing shooting by correcting white balance with a plurality of correction values calculated by the calculation unit in accordance with a shooting instruction input by the shooting instruction unit. The camera apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein   The camera device according to claim 1, wherein the selection unit adds a light source having spectral characteristics similar to those of a plurality of light sources selected as photographing targets.   4. The camera device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of light sources include light sources from which images having similar spectral characteristics can be easily obtained. 5.   The camera device according to claim 1, wherein the selection unit selects a plurality of light sources by individual selection for individually selecting a light source and group selection for selecting a group including a plurality of light sources. In a white balance bracketing photographing method for controlling a camera device having a storage means for storing color information corresponding to each of a plurality of light sources and a bracketing photographing function ,
A light source range selection step for selecting the width of the light source range to be photographed;
A selection step of selecting a plurality of light sources included in the light source range of the width selected by the light source range selection step based on the color information stored in the storage means ;
A calculation step of calculating a plurality of white balance correction values respectively corresponding to the plurality of light sources selected in the selection step based on color information corresponding to the light sources stored in the storage unit ;
A white balance bracketing photographing method comprising: a control step of controlling the camera apparatus so as to execute the bracketing photographing by correcting the white balance with the correction value calculated in the calculating step.

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