JP4720255B2 - Camera device, photographing method and photographing program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a camera device, a photographing method, and a photographing program.

  In recent years, a subject is imaged and recorded by a digital camera as one of the camera devices, and at the time of appreciation of a captured image, necessary image processing is performed, and then the captured image is displayed or printed. ing. The flow from shooting a subject to viewing a shot image is roughly as follows.

(1) First, the photographer specifies the resolution of the recorded image at a stage before the recorded image is recorded.

(2) Next, the brightness and hue of the subject existing in the direction in which the photographer faces the lens is measured (calculated).

(3) Next, shooting parameters that affect the brightness and hue such as the exposure value and white balance are determined according to the measurement (calculation) result in (2).

(4) When a photographing instruction is given by the photographer, photographing is performed with the photographing parameters determined in (3), and a photographed image is recorded at the resolution specified in (1).

(5) The recorded photographed image is appropriately displayed on a display or printed on paper and viewed by a photographer.

(5-1) When viewing, if the resolution at the time of shooting and recording is different from the resolution at the time of viewing, enlargement / reduction processing of the shot image is automatically performed.

(5-2) Also, if the shot image is dark or bluish because the exposure value or white balance setting during shooting recording is not appropriate, use image processing software. Correct the brightness and hue.

(5-3) Further, even when there is blur or blur of a photographed image due to sweetness of focus or camera shake during photographing recording, correction for sharpening the image is performed using image processing software.

(5-4) Further, even when there is a lot of noise in the photographed image because the sensitivity is set too high at the time of shooting and recording, the noise included in the image is removed using image processing software.

As described above, the flow from the photographing of the subject to the appreciation of the photographed image has been described. However, these techniques have been conventionally known. In order to prevent the noise from being enhanced along with this, a technique for switching the presence or absence of noise reduction processing according to the number of recorded pixels of a captured image is disclosed.
JP 2003-274245 A

  In cases where the exposure value or white balance setting at the time of shooting recording was not appropriate, the shot image was dark or bluish, or the sensitivity was set too high and there was a lot of noise in the shot image. Since the lost information is relatively small, the image can be restored to a satisfactory image in many cases of viewing by performing correction by image processing.

  However, if the resolution at the time of shooting and recording is extremely low compared to the resolution at the time of viewing, or if there is blurring or blurring of the shot image due to sweetness of focus or camera shake at the time of shooting and recording, the lost information is large Therefore, there is a limit to the correction by image processing. This is not particularly noticeable when viewing a captured image with a small image size, so there is no particular problem. For example, when a photographed image is enlarged and printed on a large sheet, a satisfactory image can be obtained. I can't.

  On the other hand, if the resolution at the time of shooting and recording is always fixed to a high resolution, or if shooting parameters are set with priority on only the focus and camera shake, shooting and recording conditions other than blurring and blurring may deteriorate, and shooting operations And the number of images and the number of recordable images are sacrificed.

  The present invention has been made paying attention to such a problem, and the object of the present invention is to take a photographic recording that is difficult to correct after the photographic recording by utilizing at least information on the complexity and fineness of the subject. By appropriately setting shooting parameters that affect quality prior to shooting, it is possible to perform shooting and recording in which a good image can be obtained.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide other shooting recording quality, operability at the time of shooting and recording, and shooting parameters that have a contradictory effect on the number of recordable images when setting the shooting parameters. Is to be able to set appropriately.

In order to achieve the above object, according to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a camera apparatus, wherein information per unit area is obtained based on a plurality of pixel data obtained from an image sensor while waiting for a shooting instruction. A calculation means for calculating the complexity of the subject or the steepness of the color change according to the magnitude of the amount, or the regularity of the spatial color change , or the sensitivity of the subject according to the contrast change per unit distance ; First acquisition means for acquiring image resolution or image size at the time of viewing, and complexity or delicacy of the subject calculated by the calculation means and image resolution at the time of viewing acquired by the first acquisition means or depending on the combination of the image size, and determination means for photographing and recording quality required the detailed confirmation of the captured image, shooting the required determined by the determining means Determining means for determining a photographing recording conditions based on the recording quality, characterized by comprising a.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the second aspect further comprises second acquisition means for acquiring operability at the time of photographing required by the photographer, and the determination means is determined by the determination means. Depending on the combination of the shooting record quality required for the detailed confirmation of the shot image and the operability at the time of shooting required by the photographer acquired by the second acquisition means, It is characterized by determining a priority ratio between accuracy and speed .

In addition, according to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect, the determination unit has a higher accuracy or lower speed in autofocusing as the recording quality required for the detail confirmation of the captured image increases. The priority ratio between the accuracy and the speed at the time of autofocus is determined so that the accuracy at the time of shooting required by the photographer becomes higher and the accuracy at the time of autofocus becomes lower or the speed becomes faster. .

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the image processing apparatus further comprises third acquisition means for acquiring the required photographic recording quality with respect to color reproducibility and noise of the photographic image. A combination of the photographic recording quality required for the detail confirmation of the photographic image determined by the determining means and the photographic recording quality required for the color reproducibility and noise of the photographic image acquired by the third acquiring means. The priority ratio between the exposure time and sensitivity at the time of exposure setting is determined according to the above .

In addition, according to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the fourth aspect, the determining means has a higher sensitivity at exposure setting or an exposure time as the photographing recording quality required for the detail confirmation of the photographed image becomes higher. The priority ratio between the exposure time and the sensitivity at the time of the exposure setting is set so that the sensitivity at the time of the exposure setting becomes lower or the exposure time becomes longer as the shooting recording quality required for the color reproducibility and noise of the captured image is shorter. It is characterized by determining .

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the information processing apparatus further includes fourth acquisition means for acquiring a remaining memory capacity, and the determination means confirms the details of the photographed image determined by the determination means. The resolution or compression rate for recording a captured image is determined in accordance with a combination of the recording quality required for the image and the remaining memory capacity acquired by the fourth acquisition unit .

In addition, according to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the sixth aspect, the determination means has a higher resolution when recording a photographic image as the photographic recording quality required for the detail confirmation of the photographic image increases. The resolution or compression rate for recording the captured image is determined such that the lower the compression rate and the lower the remaining amount of memory, the lower the resolution when recording the captured image or the higher the compression rate. .

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a photographing method, wherein the amount of information per unit area is small or spatial based on a plurality of pixel data obtained from an image pickup device while waiting for a photographing instruction. Calculation step for calculating the complexity or sharpness of the color change of the subject relating to the regularity of the color change, or the sensitivity of the subject relating to the contrast change per unit distance, and the image resolution or image at the time of viewing A combination of the first acquisition step of acquiring a size, the complexity or delicacy of the subject calculated by the calculation step, and the image resolution or image size at the time of viewing acquired by the first acquisition step. in response, a determination step the photographic recording quality required the detailed confirmation of the captured image, shooting the required determined by the determining step A determination step of determining shooting recording conditions based on recording quality, and a shooting recording step of performing shooting recording according to the determined shooting recording conditions when a shooting instruction is given by a photographer. To do.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention , there is provided a photographing program, wherein the computer is in standby for photographing instructions, and the amount of information per unit area is determined based on a plurality of pixel data obtained from the image sensor. Or calculation means for calculating the complexity of the subject relating to the regularity of spatial color change or the steepness of the color change or the sensitivity of the subject relating to the contrast change per unit distance, and an image at the time of viewing A first acquisition unit that acquires a resolution or an image size; a complexity or a subtlety of the subject calculated by the calculation unit; and an image resolution or an image size at the time of viewing acquired by the first acquisition unit; According to the combination, a determination unit that determines a required recording quality with respect to the detail confirmation of the captured image, and the required shooting determined by the determination unit Determining means for determining a photographing recording condition based on recording quality, characterized in that to function with.

According to the present invention, it is possible to determine the recording quality required for the detail confirmation of the captured image according to the combination of the complexity and delicacy of the subject and the image resolution or image size at the time of viewing. Since the shooting and recording conditions are determined based on the shooting and recording quality required for the detail confirmation of the shot image, shooting parameters can be set appropriately in consideration of both the state of the subject and the viewing conditions of the shot image. As a result, it is possible to perform shooting and recording with which a good image can be obtained .

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a camera apparatus 1 such as a digital camera to which the present invention is applied.

  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 sensor 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. The 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. The color process circuit 17 further performs color process processing including pixel interpolation processing and gamma correction processing to generate a digital luminance signal Y and color difference signals Cb, Cr, and a DMA (Direct Memory Access) controller. 18 is output.

  The DMA controller 18 once uses the luminance signal Y and the color difference signals Cb and Cr output from the color process circuit 17 by using the composite synchronization signal, the memory write enable signal, and the clock signal from the color process 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 into 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 on the display unit 29 in real time, a trigger signal is generated when the shutter key of the key input unit 37 is operated at the timing of photographing a subject.

  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 image data for one frame is DMA-transferred and written to the DRAM 21, the control unit 25 reads the image data for one frame written to the DRAM 21 and sends it to the image processing unit 30. Write. The image processing unit 30 encodes image data by JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group).

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

  Then, with the completion of the writing of the image data to the memory card 32 or the built-in memory 33 for one frame, 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, and signals associated with these key operations are sent to the control unit 25. Directly sent.

  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 driving unit 41 charges a strobe capacitor (not shown) when photographing a subject, and then drives the strobe light emitting unit 45 to flash based on the control from the control unit 25.

  FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a camera device used from shooting of a subject to viewing of a shot image.

  First, the following processing is performed before shooting and recording. The complexity / definition calculation unit 110 determines the complexity and sensitivity of the subject based on a plurality of pixel data (through images) obtained from the CCD 12 serving as an image sensor while waiting for a shooting instruction from the photographer. calculate. Details of this will be described later. The resolution / size input unit 111 is a part for inputting the resolution and size at the time of viewing a captured image assumed by the photographer. The shooting / recording quality determination unit 112 is required for the detail confirmation of the shot image using the output information from the complexity / definition calculation unit 110 and the information input via the resolution / size input unit 111. Judging recording quality. Note that it is also possible to determine the photographing recording quality based only on the output information from the complexity / definition calculator 110.

  The shooting / recording quality input unit 113 is a part where the photographer inputs shooting / recording quality required for color reproducibility and noise of the shot image. The brightness / hue measurement unit 114 measures the brightness and hue of the subject based on the light taken into the camera device 1. The operability input unit 115 is a part for inputting operability at the time of photographing required by the photographer. The remaining amount information acquisition unit 116 is a portion that acquires information regarding the remaining battery level and the remaining memory capacity.

  The shooting / recording condition determination unit 117 outputs information from the shooting / recording quality determination unit 112, information input via the shooting / recording quality input unit 113, output information from the brightness / hue measurement unit 114, and operability input. The photographing recording condition is determined by appropriately using the information input via the unit 115 and the output information from the remaining amount information acquiring unit 116. For example, based on the output information from the brightness / hue measuring unit 114, shooting parameters 118 that affect the brightness and hue of the shot image, such as the exposure value and white balance, are determined. Further, based on the output information from the shooting / recording quality determination unit 112 and the information input to the shooting / recording quality input unit 113, shooting parameters 119 that affect the noise of the shot image, such as exposure time and sensitivity, are determined. To do. Further, based on the output information from the shooting / recording quality determination unit 112 and the information input to the operability input unit 115, the shooting parameters 121 that affect the operability at the time of shooting such as the speed and accuracy of autofocus. To decide. Further, based on the output information from the shooting / recording quality determination unit 112 and the information input to the shooting / recording quality input unit 113 or the information input to the operability input unit 115, the exposure time, sensitivity, or autofocus speed The shooting parameters 120 that affect the blurring and blurring of the captured image, such as accuracy and accuracy, are determined. Further, based on the output information from the shooting / recording quality determination unit 112 and the output information from the remaining amount information acquisition unit 116, the resolution and compression rate 122 when recording a shot image are determined as shooting parameters. The above is the description of the functional blocks related to the processing before shooting and recording.

  Next, at the time of shooting and recording, the shooting and recording unit 123 executes a recording operation using the shooting parameters determined by the shooting and recording condition determination unit 117 as recording conditions. As a result, the image data 124 is captured and recorded.

  Next, the following processing is performed during image viewing. The appropriateness determination unit 125 determines appropriateness of brightness and hue from the image data 24 recorded and recorded. The degree determination unit 126 determines the degree of blurring or blurring from the image data 24 recorded and recorded. The resolution / size input unit 127 is a part for inputting the resolution and size when the photographer actually views the image data 24 recorded and recorded. The image processing content determination unit 128 includes a color correction process 129, a sharpness process 130, a noise removal 131, an enlargement / reduction 132, and the like based on outputs from the appropriateness determination unit 125, the degree determination unit 126, and the resolution / size input unit 127. The requested image processing content is determined.

  The image processing / output unit 133 executes the determined image processing and outputs the processed image to the display screen 134 or the printing paper 135.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a procedure of subject complexity calculation processing in the complexity / definition calculator 110 of FIG. In the through image (photographing frame 100) waiting for the photographing instruction as shown in FIG. 4, first, the scanning direction is initialized to 0 degree, that is, the horizontal direction (step S1), and the target color is initialized to G (green) ( Step S2), the scanning line is initialized to 1 (Step S3). Next, the image data of the designated scanning direction, line, and color is extracted from the image data of the shooting frame 100 currently displayed as a through image (step S4). Next, a line complexity calculation process is performed on the extracted image data (step S5).

  The line complexity calculation process will be described below. Here, in the through image in the photographing frame 100 as shown in FIG. 4, it is assumed that the scanning direction = 0 degrees (horizontal direction), the target color = G (green), and the designated line m = 240. Further, it is assumed that the pixel value of the target color (here, G) on the line m = 240 changes as shown in FIG. 5 as it shifts from A to B via B and C in the photographing frame 100.

  Then, a point at which the pixel value at m = 240 changes from plus to minus or from minus to plus (inflection points indicated by a to i in FIG. 5) is extracted to obtain an absolute difference between the points. That is, as shown in FIG. 5, the absolute value of the increase value or the decrease value in each section where the pixel value continuously increases or decreases (for example, decreases in the section ab and increases in the section bc). Ask. And after taking the logarithm with respect to each acquired absolute value, the value which added each value is made into line complexity. The reason why the logarithm is taken is to suppress the influence of a section having an absolute value larger than a predetermined value to a predetermined value or less. In addition, without performing the process which takes a logarithm, when the difference between each point becomes more than a predetermined value, you may make it round down the value more than the said predetermined value.

The above will be described specifically. In FIG. 5, points a to i are inflection points, and the difference between the points is 9 between a and b, 15 between bc, 12 between cd, and 58 between de. 29, ef is 13, gh is 38, gh is 38, and hi is 2. Thus, taking the logarithm and adding for each of these values, the line complexity =
log ₁₀ (9) + log ₁₀ (15) + log ₁₀ (12) + log ₁₀ (58) + log ₁₀ (29) + log ₁₀ (13) + log ₁₀ (38) + log ₁₀ (2) = 9.43
It becomes.

According to such a method, the line complexity of the subject can be determined quickly and accurately without being affected by the focus state. That is, even if the image is somewhat blurred, it can be detected as a line complexity comparable to that when the image is not blurred.

  Since the difference between the points d and e is the largest, the position of {d position (467) + e position (483)} / 2 = 475 is set as the maximum change position.

  Next, after the complexity for one line is calculated in step S5, it is determined whether or not the calculated line complexity is ranked higher in the already calculated line complexity (step S5). S7). The first line complexity calculation is YES. In the case of YES here, the rank information of the line complexity is updated (step S7). That is, the line complexity calculated this time is compared with other line complexity already calculated, and the order is changed in ascending order. An example of the rank information is shown in FIG.

  Next, the complexity calculation target line is updated to a value obtained by adding 10 lines (step S8). Here, skipping 10 lines is considered to have the same level of complexity when the line complexity is ranked higher, so it is possible to save time by omitting the calculation of the complexity of the surrounding lines. This is for shortening.

  On the other hand, if the determination in step S6 is NO, the line for which the complexity is to be calculated is updated to a value obtained by adding one line (step S9).

  Note that the number of lines added for updating may be changed as appropriate. For example, in AF area setting processing (FIG. 7) described later, when the number of AF areas to be set is small, 10 lines or more are added to reduce the calculation time, and when the number of AF areas is large, the number to be added Can be set to 10 lines or less.

  After step S8 or step 9, it is determined whether or not the final line has been reached (step S10). If NO, the process returns to step S4 to execute the subsequent processing. Then, when the complexity for all the horizontal lines in the frame is calculated, the determination in step S10 is YES and the process proceeds to step S11. In step S11, the target color is updated from G to B. Next, it is determined whether or not the final color has been reached (step S12). If NO, the process returns to step S3 to execute the subsequent processing. When the process for R is executed after the process for B is completed, the determination as to whether or not the final color in step S12 has been reached is YES. In step S13, the scanning direction is updated from the horizontal direction to the vertical direction. Next, it is determined whether or not the final scanning direction has been reached (step S14). If NO, the process returns to step S2 to execute the subsequent processing. When the complexity is calculated for all the vertical lines in the frame, the determination in step 14 is YES, and the process proceeds to step S15.

  In step S15, the rank information of the line complexity is viewed, and the information of the frames older than the predetermined number of frames is considered to be low and not important and is deleted. Next, an average value of a predetermined number of line complexity ranked higher is obtained, and the average value is stored or updated as the complexity of the subject. Next, it is confirmed whether or not the photographing is finished (step S17). If NO, the process returns to step S1 to perform the subsequent processing. When the photographing is finished, step S17 becomes YES and the processing is finished. To do.

  FIG. 6 is a table showing an example of line complexity rank information. Here, each time the complexity of one line is calculated, it is compared with the complexity of other lines that already exist, and the table is updated so as to be ordered in descending order of complexity. Further, in this embodiment, when the next frame image is captured at the time when the line complexity is calculated from the first line of the current frame image to the n-line position in the middle of the frame. The next line whose complexity should be calculated is not the n + 1 line of the current frame image, but the n + 1 line of the next frame image, and the line complexity is sequentially calculated for the lines below it. It has become. With this method, the line complexity can be calculated uniformly over the entire frame without affecting the frame rate.

  In the above embodiment, the entire image is divided into a plurality of lines and the complexity is calculated for each line. However, the entire image is further divided into a plurality of rectangular areas, and each rectangular area is divided into the rectangular areas. The complexity may be calculated for the image data in the image data by the method described above. In this way, the processing speed is somewhat slow, but the setting accuracy of the AF area can be increased.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining AF area setting processing in the present embodiment. First, for example, a predetermined number of points are extracted from those having higher line degree complexity with reference to the line complexity rank information table as shown in FIG. 4 (step S20). Next, an area including the extracted point is set as an AF target area (step S21).

  FIG. 8 shows three AF areas 1 to 3 set by the setting process.

  The above method is suitable for, for example, photographing document images including characters having different character sizes. In other words, if a focus is set by focusing on a high-complexity portion that is thought to contain a character with a small character size as an AF area, it is possible to shoot a document with characters printed with different character sizes. Even in such a case, it becomes possible to accurately detect and focus on a small-sized character, and it is possible to reduce information lost due to being unreadable.

  Here, the high complexity part of the subject or the subject image is a part where the amount of information per unit area is larger, and the part where the spatial color change is not regular but changes more irregularly. . In other words, just because many colors are included, the amount of information is not necessarily large. For example, when the color changes smoothly in a spatial manner like gradation, the amount of information is low, and the white background Even if a document is written in black characters, if the fine characters are densely arranged, the number of changes from black to white or white to black per unit area is large and the amount of information is large. Become. Also, just because the color change is steep, it does not necessarily mean that the color change is irregular. For example, in the outline part of a character, the color changes smoothly from white to black because the focus is sweet. The degree of irregularity of the color change is almost the same between the case where the color changes sharply from white to black because the focus is accurately adjusted.

  Further, the high-definition part in the subject or the subject image is a sharper and sharper color change, for example, a part where the contrast change per unit distance is large. While the above complexity is information that can be determined without being affected by the focus much, the determination of the sensitivity is greatly influenced by the focus.

  When shooting a subject that includes high and low complexity parts, the amount of information that is lost is low even if the focus is low on the low complexity part, but it is lost as the focus is low on the high complexity part. The amount of information increases. Therefore, when trying to obtain a photographed image that can be confirmed in detail up to the details of the subject, it is necessary to focus on a part with higher complexity.

  FIG. 9 is a flow chart for explaining the procedure of the subject fineness determination process during shooting standby using the AF area obtained by the above method. First, contrast obtained sequentially by continuous AF, which is set by the “AF area setting process” described above and performs continuous focusing operation by tracking the subject in each AF target area having a high degree of complexity in the subject. The maximum contrast value among the values is obtained and stored or updated (step S30).

  In the continuous AF, it is possible to appropriately set which AF area of the plurality of AF areas is to be focused on, for example, focus on the closest subject or all subjects. You may focus on the middle. Next, an average value of the maximum contrast values in each stored AF target area is obtained, and the average value is stored or updated as the sensitivity of the subject (step S31).

  Next, it is determined whether or not shooting is completed (step S32). If NO, the process returns to step S30 to perform the subsequent processing, and when YES is determined, the shooting is ended.

  In the following, how the shooting parameters used at the time of shooting and recording are determined based on the complexity / definition of the subject will be described. First, the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. First, information on the complexity or sensitivity of the subject is acquired from the complexity / definition calculator 110 (step S100). Next, information regarding the image resolution or image size input by the photographer via the resolution / size input unit 111 is acquired (step S101). Next, in the shooting / recording quality determination unit 112, a request for details confirmability of a shot image is made by referring to a table as shown in FIG. 13 based on the complexity or fineness of the acquired subject and the image resolution or image size. The shooting recording quality to be performed is determined (step S102). Note that the shooting / recording quality determination unit 112 can also determine the shooting / recording quality based only on information relating to the complexity or sensitivity of the subject.

  Next, information on the degree of operability at the time of photographing designated by the photographer via the operability input unit 115 is acquired (step S103). Next, a table as shown in FIG. 14 is obtained from the photographing recording quality determined in step S102 in the photographing / recording condition determining unit 117 and the degree of operability at the time of photographing designated through the operability input unit 115. Referring to FIG. 4, the speed / accuracy ratio, which are mutually contradictory parameters during autofocus, is determined (step S104). For example, if the required operability at the time of shooting is fast (for example, index 9) and the shooting recording quality required for detail confirmation is low (for example, index 2), the ratio (8: 2) is selected.

  Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The shooting / recording quality determination unit 112 determines the shooting / recording quality required for the detailed confirmation of the shot image by the same method as in the first example (steps S100 to S102).

  Next, information on the photographing recording quality required for the color reproducibility and noise of the photographed image designated by the photographer via the photographing / recording quality input unit 113 is acquired (step S105). Next, the table as shown in FIG. 15 is based on the shooting record quality determined in step S102 in the shooting record condition determination unit 117 and the shooting record quality designated via the shooting record quality input unit 113. Referring to FIG. 5, the ratio of exposure time and sensitivity, which are mutually contradictory parameters when setting the exposure, is determined (step S106). For example, if the photographic recording quality required for color reproducibility and noise is high (for example, index 9) and the photographic recording quality required for detail confirmation is low (for example, index 1), exposure time is more important than sensitivity. The selected ratio (9: 1) is selected.

  Next, a third embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The shooting / recording quality determination unit 112 determines the shooting / recording quality required for the detailed confirmation of the shot image by the same method as in the first example (steps S100 to S102).

  Next, information regarding the remaining memory capacity is acquired from the remaining capacity acquiring unit 116 (step S107). Next, the shooting / recording condition determination unit 117 refers to a table as shown in FIG. 16 based on the shooting / recording quality determined in step S102 and the remaining memory amount acquired from the remaining amount acquisition unit 116. The resolution (compression rate) for recording the captured image is determined (step S108). For example, if the remaining memory capacity is sufficient (90%) and the recording quality required for detail confirmation is high (index 9), the highest resolution is selected.

  It should be noted that parameters other than the above-described shooting parameters can be determined by referring to one or more tables prepared in advance.

  According to the above-described embodiment, information on the complexity and sensitivity of the subject is effectively used to appropriately set shooting parameters that affect shooting recording quality such as blurring and blurring that are difficult to correct after shooting and recording. can do. Furthermore, by unnecessarily increasing the shooting record quality, for example, the shooting recording state other than blurring and blurring, operability during shooting, and the remaining number of shots that can be shot and recorded are unconditionally sacrificed. Nothing will happen.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a camera apparatus 1 such as a digital camera to which the present invention is applied. It is a functional block diagram of a camera device used from shooting of a subject to appreciation of a shot image. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a procedure of subject complexity calculation processing in a complexity / definition calculator 110 in FIG. 2. It is a figure which shows an example of the through image in the standby of the imaging | photography instruction | indication. It is a figure which shows the change of the pixel value in line m = 240 of an imaging | photography frame. It is a table which shows an example of the rank information of line complexity. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the setting process of AF area | region in this embodiment. It is a figure which shows three AF area | regions 1-3 set by the setting process of this embodiment. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a procedure of a process for determining the degree of sensitivity of a subject during shooting standby. It is a figure for demonstrating 1st Embodiment which determines the imaging parameter used at the time of imaging | photography recording based on the complexity / definition of a to-be-photographed object. It is a figure for demonstrating 2nd Embodiment which determines the imaging parameter used at the time of imaging | photography recording based on the complexity / definition of a to-be-photographed object. It is a figure for demonstrating 3rd Embodiment which determines the imaging parameter used at the time of imaging | photography recording based on the complexity / definition of a to-be-photographed object. It is a table for judging the imaging | photography recording quality requested | required regarding the detailed confirmation property of a picked-up image. It is a table for determining the ratio of speed and accuracy during autofocus. It is a table for determining the ratio of the exposure time and sensitivity at the time of exposure setting. It is a table for determining the resolution (compression rate) at the time of recording a picked-up image.

Explanation of symbols

1 ... Camera device,
21 ... DRAM,
25. Control unit,
29 ... display part,
37: Key input section.

110: Complexity / definition calculator,
111 ... resolution / size input section,
112 ... Shooting / recording quality judgment unit,
113 ... Shooting record quality input section,
114 ... Brightness / hue measuring section,
115 ... operability input unit,
116... Remaining amount information acquisition unit,
117 ... Shooting / recording condition determining unit,
118: Shooting parameters that affect the brightness and hue of the shot image;
119: Shooting parameter 119 that affects the noise of the shot image;
120: Shooting parameters that affect blurring and blurring of the captured image,
121: Shooting parameters that affect operability during shooting,
122... Resolution and compression rate when recording captured images,
123: A photographing recording unit.

Claims (9)

While waiting for a shooting instruction, based on a plurality of pixel data obtained from the image sensor, the complexity or color change of the subject depending on the amount of information per unit area or the regularity of spatial color change Calculating means for calculating the degree of sharpness of the subject or the degree of contrast of the subject relating to the contrast change per unit distance ;
First acquisition means for acquiring image resolution or image size at the time of viewing;
A request for detail confirmation of a captured image according to a combination of the complexity or fineness of the subject calculated by the calculation unit and the image resolution or image size at the time of viewing acquired by the first acquisition unit. Determining means for determining the recording quality to be performed ;
Determining means for determining a photographing recording condition based on photographing recording quality required for the detail confirmation of the photographed image determined by the determining means;
Camera device being characterized in that comprises a. A second acquisition means for acquiring operability at the time of shooting required by the photographer;
The determination means includes a shooting record quality required for the detailed confirmation of the shot image determined by the determination means, and an operability during shooting required by the photographer acquired by the second acquisition means. The camera apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a priority ratio between accuracy and speed at the time of autofocus is determined according to a combination of the two. The determination means is configured such that the higher the shooting record quality required for the detail confirmation of the shot image, the higher the accuracy or speed of autofocus, and the higher the operability at the time of shooting required by the photographer, 3. The camera apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a priority ratio between the accuracy and the speed at the time of autofocus is determined so that the accuracy at the time of focusing is low or the speed is high. And further comprising third acquisition means for acquiring photographing recording quality required for color reproducibility and noise of the photographed image,
The determining means is required regarding the recording quality required for the detail confirmation of the captured image determined by the determining means, and the color reproducibility and noise of the captured image acquired by the third acquiring means. 2. The camera apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a priority ratio between exposure time and sensitivity at the time of exposure setting is determined in accordance with a combination with shooting record quality. The determination means has a higher sensitivity for exposure setting or a shorter exposure time as the recording quality required for the detail confirmation of the captured image becomes higher, and the required recording for color reproducibility and noise of the captured image. 5. The camera apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a priority ratio between the exposure time and the sensitivity at the time of exposure setting is determined so that the sensitivity at the time of exposure setting becomes lower or the exposure time becomes longer as the quality becomes higher. A fourth acquisition means for acquiring the remaining memory capacity;
The determining means is a photographed image according to a combination of the photographing recording quality required for the detailed confirmation of the photographed image determined by the determining means and the remaining memory capacity acquired by the fourth acquiring means. The camera apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a resolution or a compression rate at the time of recording is determined. The determination means records a photographed image as the photographing recording quality required for detail confirmation of the photographed image increases, so that the resolution when recording the photographed image is high or the compression rate is low, and the remaining amount of memory decreases. The camera apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the resolution or compression rate for recording the captured image is determined so that the resolution at the time is low or the compression rate is high. While waiting for a shooting instruction, based on a plurality of pixel data obtained from the image sensor, the complexity or color change of the subject depending on the amount of information per unit area or the regularity of spatial color change A calculation step of calculating the degree of sharpness of the subject or the degree of contrast of the subject relating to the contrast change per unit distance ;
A first acquisition step of acquiring image resolution or image size at the time of viewing ;
A request for detail confirmation of a captured image according to the combination of the complexity or fineness of the subject calculated in the calculation step and the image resolution or image size at the time of viewing acquired in the first acquisition step. A determination step for determining the recording quality to be performed ;
A determination step of determining a shooting recording condition based on a shooting recording quality required for the detail confirmation of the shot image determined by the determination step;
A shooting and recording step of performing shooting and recording according to the determined shooting and recording conditions when a shooting instruction is given by the photographer;
An imaging method comprising: Computer
While waiting for a shooting instruction, based on a plurality of pixel data obtained from the image sensor, the complexity or color change of the subject depending on the amount of information per unit area or the regularity of spatial color change Calculating means for calculating the degree of sharpness of the subject or the degree of contrast of the subject relating to the contrast change per unit distance;
First acquisition means for acquiring image resolution or image size at the time of viewing;
A request for detail confirmation of a captured image according to a combination of the complexity or fineness of the subject calculated by the calculation unit and the image resolution or image size at the time of viewing acquired by the first acquisition unit. Determining means for determining the recording quality to be performed;
Determining means for determining a photographing recording condition based on photographing recording quality required for the detail confirmation of the photographed image determined by the determining means;
Shooting program to make it function .

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