JP5037966B2 - Imaging apparatus and control method thereof - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus and its control how, particularly, relates to an imaging apparatus and its control how a feature on the white balance control.

  Conventionally, there are an auto white balance, a white balance set, a white balance preset, and the like as a white balance correction control method of an imaging apparatus.

  The auto white balance is automatically controlled so as to achieve an appropriate white balance based on image data of a subject or information of a color temperature sensor. In the white balance set, the white balance is corrected in advance so that the reference white becomes an appropriate white by operating while photographing a reference white subject in the photographing environment.

  For the white balance preset, a white balance correction value is prepared so that the white balance is appropriate under some presumed environments such as the preset indoor and the preset outdoor. The user can select any one of the white balance correction values.

  The video signal that has passed through the imaging system is recorded on a recording medium such as a magnetic tape or a DVD disk after being subjected to the above white balance correction. On the other hand, in a video playback device integrated (incorporated) with an imaging device, a recorded video is displayed on a display means such as a liquid crystal panel or a viewfinder so that a user can check the captured video during shooting.

  However, in this conventional imaging apparatus, the white balance correction of the video displayed on the display means such as a liquid crystal panel or a viewfinder is performed using a preset correction value. That is, it is not related to the white balance correction for the camera image at the time of shooting and the surrounding illumination / ambient light.

  For this reason, human vision is adapted to the shooting environment. If an image that has been white balance corrected with a camera image is displayed on the liquid crystal panel as it is, the illusion is that the image is shot with the white balance shifted.

  For example, when shooting under halogen illumination, if a white balanced image is displayed on the LCD panel as it is and viewed under halogen illumination, the eyes of the user adapting to the halogen will be bluer than actual. It looks like it feels like the white balance is off.

  Under such a background, an electronic camera that selects one color correction mode from a plurality of color correction modes according to an observation light source when observing a recorded image, performs color correction processing on the image, and records an image. It has been proposed (see Patent Document 1).

There has also been proposed an electronic camera that converts a color tone obtained under a light source at the time of photographing into a color tone at the time of photographing under a blue sky light source (see Patent Document 2). Furthermore, there has been proposed a digital camera that performs white balance adjustment with adjustment values having different characteristics in the white balance preview mode, and displays a plurality of sample images having different hues in a matrix on the viewfinder (see Patent Document 3).
JP 2001-177844 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-4558 JP 2006-74710 A

  However, the technique described in Patent Document 1 corrects a recorded image, and does not correct a display image so as to be visually equal in consideration of color adaptation of a human eye at the time of photographing.

  In addition, the technique described in Patent Document 2 is to approximate color reproduction under a certain limited light source, and to perform color reproduction close to the actual color tone by performing correction in consideration of color adaptation of the human eye. is not.

  Furthermore, the technique described in Patent Document 3 allows the user to select white balance correction that seems appropriate, and does not automatically perform white balance correction.

  An object of the present invention is to reduce the difference between the white balance of a camera image and the white balance of a display image caused by the lighting environment at the time of shooting, and can accurately grasp the white balance state of the image being shot by the user. An imaging device is provided.

In order to achieve the above object, an imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the imaging apparatus includes imaging means and display means for a user to check a video taken by the imaging means. Camera image signal processing means for correcting the white balance of the camera image according to the white balance information of the camera image for the obtained video signal , and a video signal obtained by correcting the white balance of the camera image by the camera image signal processing means White of the camera image by using a display image signal processing means for outputting to said display means after performing white balance correction of the display image, as white balance correction of the display image, the white balance information of the camera image to And control means for controlling the display image signal processing means so as to perform reverse correction of balance correction .

The imaging apparatus control method according to claim 6 is obtained from the imaging means in the imaging apparatus control method including an imaging means and a display means for a user to check a video imaged by the imaging means. to video signals, the camera image of the white and the camera image signal processing step of performing balance correction, display image of the white balance correction to the video signal white balance correction is performed in the camera image in accordance with the camera image of the white balance information A display image signal processing step for outputting to the display means and performing the display image signal processing step using white balance information of the camera image as white balance correction of the display image. This is characterized by performing reverse correction of white balance correction .

According to the present invention, the difference between the white balance of the camera image and the white balance of the display image caused by the lighting environment at the time of shooting is performed by performing reverse correction of the white balance of the display image using the white balance information of the camera image at the time of shooting. Can be reduced. And the white balance state of the image | video which the user image | photographed can be grasped | ascertained correctly.

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

  FIG. 1 is a block configuration diagram of an imaging apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  The imaging device of the present invention also has a function as a video reproduction device (the same applies to the second and subsequent embodiments).

  Hereinafter, the configuration will be described together with the operation.

  In FIG. 1, a diaphragm 102 is disposed behind the lens 101. The light passing through the lens 101 and the diaphragm 102 is imaged as a subject image on the image forming surface of the image sensor 105. In the image sensor 105, the formed subject image is converted from an optical signal to a video signal.

  The video signal obtained by the image sensor 105 is sent to the camera image signal processing unit 112. The video signal is subjected to predetermined processing in the camera image signal processing unit 112 and is output to the display 116 or is recorded on the magnetic tape 115, the DVD disk 117, or the memory card 118.

  The camera microcomputer (control means) 111 controls accumulation and reading of the image sensor 105 through the image sensor control unit 106. In addition, the lens control unit 103 performs control such as focusing and zooming of the lens 101.

  In addition, the camera microcomputer 111 controls the aperture 102 through the aperture control unit 104 using the luminance information of the subject obtained from the image data obtained from the image sensor 105, and also controls the shutter speed. Perform exposure control.

  In addition, the camera microcomputer 111 corrects camera shake at the time of photographing by the user by driving the lens 101 through the lens control unit 103 or by controlling the camera image signal processing unit 112.

  The user sets the white balance mode from the white balance (WB) mode input means 107. The information on the set white balance mode is sent to the camera microcomputer 111, and the camera microcomputer 111 performs white balance control for photographing an image through the camera image signal processing unit 112, so that the white balance of the image becomes appropriate. Process as follows.

  Further, the camera microcomputer 111 sends the camera image white balance correction information processed by the camera image signal processing unit 112 to the display image signal processing unit 108.

  The display image signal processing unit 108 performs white balance control of the liquid crystal panel 109 or the electronic viewfinder 110 using the received white balance correction information of the camera image, and performs processing so that the white balance of the display image becomes appropriate. To do. The white balance correction processing for the display image will be described in detail later.

  The display image signal is subjected to predetermined processing including white balance correction processing in the display image signal processing unit 108 and is output to the liquid crystal panel 109 or the electronic viewfinder 110.

  FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the imaging apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 2, a recording medium such as a DVD disk, a magnetic tape, and a memory card is accommodated in the imaging apparatus main body 120 so that a video signal and a still image can be recorded and reproduced.

  In the upper part, there are a lens unit 121 and a microphone 122. The microphone 122 is provided for recording sound during shooting. The electronic viewfinder 110 is provided for aiming and confirming a subject when taking a picture by looking into the camera.

  The moving image trigger switch 124 is a push button, and is a switch operated by the user in order to transmit moving image shooting start and end to the device. The still image trigger switch 125 is a push button, and is a switch that is operated by the user to transmit the start and end of still image shooting to the device.

  The flash device 131 emits light as necessary as an auxiliary means for capturing a still image. The mode dial 126 is composed of a rotary switch. The mode dial 126 can select, for example, “playback” set to the playback mode, “camera” set to the camera mode, and “OFF” which is none of them.

  The operation switch group 127 is provided with keys for inputting a white balance mode and keys for other menu operations and reproduction system operations for the user to operate the main body.

  The liquid crystal panel 109 attached to the side surface of the main body 120 so as to be freely opened and closed is mainly used for confirming a subject image when photographing with a camera and displaying a reproduced image when reproducing, like the viewfinder 110. The liquid crystal panel 109 can be rotated in the horizontal direction while being opened from the main body 120.

  The speaker 129 is provided to output audio when playing back video. The battery 130 is detachable from the main body 120.

  Next, display image white balance correction processing by the display image signal processing unit 108 in the imaging apparatus of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of white balance correction processing of a display image executed by the imaging apparatus of FIG.

  This process is executed by the camera microcomputer 111.

  In FIG. 3, when the power is turned on, the camera microcomputer 111 determines whether it is a recording mode or a playback mode (step S101). In the reproduction mode, the white balance correction process of the liquid crystal panel 109 is not performed, and it is determined whether shooting or reproduction is continued (step S104).

  In the recording mode, the display image signal processing unit 108 acquires the white balance correction information of the camera video processed by the camera image signal processing unit 112 from the camera microcomputer 111 (step S102).

  The display image signal processing unit 108 performs white balance correction processing of the liquid crystal panel 109 using the acquired white balance correction information of the camera video (step S103).

  Specifically, the white balance gain is the reciprocal of the white balance gain of the camera image so that the white balance of the displayed image is appropriate when viewed with the eyes of the user who has adapted to the surrounding lighting environment. The white balance of the liquid crystal panel 109 is corrected. The white balance correction of the display image is a reverse correction of the white balance of the camera image.

  Since this white balance correction is canceled by the visual chromatic adaptation effect, the user can view the captured image with an appropriate white balance. Here, when the user looks into the viewfinder 110, it is not affected by the surrounding lighting environment.

  Therefore, unlike the white balance correction of the liquid crystal panel 109, the white balance correction of the viewfinder 110 is performed with a predetermined setting regardless of the white balance information of the camera image.

  In the case of flash photography, the camera image white balance correction information acquired from the camera microcomputer 111 is white balance information in a preview image before the flash emission, not during the flash emission.

  Here, it has been described that the white balance correction of the liquid crystal panel 109 is obtained by the white balance gain that is the reciprocal of the white balance gain of the camera image. However, it is also possible to substitute by automatically selecting the optimum one from among a plurality of predetermined color temperature settings according to the white balance correction information of the camera image.

  After performing the above processing, it is determined whether shooting or playback is continued (step S104), and the processing from the recording mode / playback mode determination (step S101) until the power is turned off and the control ends. repeat. When the power is turned off, this process is terminated.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the camera image signal processing unit 112 that performs signal processing on a video signal and the display that performs signal processing on the output signals of the display means (the liquid crystal panel 109 and the viewfinder 110). An image signal processing unit 108 is provided.

  Then, by performing white balance correction of the display image using the white balance information of the camera image at the time of shooting, it is possible to reduce the difference in white balance between the camera image and the panel image caused by the lighting environment at the time of shooting. In addition, it is possible to accurately grasp the white balance state of the video being shot by the user.

  Further, the display unit includes a liquid crystal panel 109 and a viewfinder 110, and performs white balance correction of an image displayed on the liquid crystal panel 109 using white balance information of a camera image at the time of shooting. The white balance correction of the video displayed on the viewfinder is performed with a predetermined setting regardless of the white balance information of the camera image.

  As a result, the user can accurately grasp the white balance state of the photographed image regardless of whether the user uses the liquid crystal panel 109 for image confirmation or the viewfinder 110. Become.

  In addition, during flash photography, the white balance of the liquid crystal panel 109 is corrected using white balance correction in the preview image before flash emission so that the white balance state of the image obtained by flash photography can be accurately grasped. Become.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an imaging apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  Hereinafter, the configuration will be described together with the operation.

  In FIG. 4, a stop 202 is disposed behind the lens 201. The light passing through the lens 201 and the diaphragm 202 is imaged as a subject image on the image formation surface of the image sensor 205. In the image sensor 205, the formed subject image is converted from an optical signal to a video signal.

  The video signal obtained by the image sensor 205 is sent to the camera image signal processing unit 212. The video signal is subjected to predetermined processing in the camera image signal processing unit 212 and is output to the display 216 or is recorded on the magnetic tape 215, the DVD disk 217, or the memory card 218.

  The camera microcomputer 211 controls accumulation and reading of the image sensor 205 through the image sensor control unit 206. In addition, the lens control unit 203 controls the focus and zoom of the lens 201.

  Further, the camera microcomputer 211 controls the aperture 202 through the aperture control unit 204 using the luminance information of the subject obtained from the image data obtained from the image sensor 205, and also controls the shutter speed. Perform exposure control.

  Further, the camera microcomputer 211 corrects camera shake at the time of photographing by the user by driving the lens 201 through the lens control unit 203 or by controlling the camera image signal processing unit 212.

  The user sets the white balance mode from the white balance (WB) mode input means 207. The information on the set white balance mode is sent to the camera microcomputer 211, and the camera microcomputer 211 performs white balance control for taking an image through the camera image signal processing unit 212, so that the white balance of the image becomes appropriate. Process as follows.

  Further, the camera microcomputer 211 sends the white balance correction information of the camera image processed by the camera image signal processing unit 212 to the display image signal processing unit 208.

  The display image white balance switching means 214 is configured so that the user can select whether to perform the white balance correction processing of the display video using the white balance correction information of the camera video or not.

  The display image signal processing unit 208 performs white balance control of the liquid crystal panel 209 or the electronic viewfinder 210 using the received white balance correction information of the camera image, and performs processing so that the white balance of the display image becomes appropriate. To do. The white balance correction processing for the display image will be described in detail later.

  The display image signal is subjected to predetermined processing including white balance correction processing in the display image signal processing unit 208 and is output to the liquid crystal panel 209 or the electronic viewfinder 210.

  Next, display image white balance correction processing by the display image signal processing unit 208 in the imaging apparatus of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of white balance correction processing of a display image executed by the imaging apparatus of FIG.

  This process is executed by the camera microcomputer 211.

  In FIG. 5, when the power is turned on, the camera microcomputer 211 determines whether it is a recording mode or a playback mode (step S201). In the reproduction mode, the white balance correction process of the liquid crystal panel 209 is not performed, and it is determined whether shooting or reproduction is continued (step S205).

  In the recording mode, the display image signal processing unit 208 acquires the white balance correction information of the camera video processed by the camera image signal processing unit 212 from the camera microcomputer 211 (step S202).

  Next, the selection state of the display image white balance switching means 214 is determined (step S203), and it is determined whether or not to perform white balance correction processing of the display image using the white balance correction information of the camera image.

  When the white balance correction information of the camera image is not used, the white balance correction process of the liquid crystal panel 109 is not performed, and it is determined whether shooting or reproduction is continued (step S205).

  When the white balance correction process for the display video is performed using the white balance correction information for the camera video, the process proceeds to step S204. Then, the display image signal processing unit 208 performs white balance correction processing of the liquid crystal panel 209 using the acquired white balance correction information of the camera video.

  Specifically, the white balance gain is the reciprocal of the white balance gain of the camera image so that the white balance of the displayed image is appropriate when viewed with the eyes of the user who has adapted to the surrounding lighting environment. The white balance of the liquid crystal panel 209 is corrected.

  Since this white balance correction is canceled by the visual chromatic adaptation effect, the user can view the captured image with an appropriate white balance. Here, when the user looks into the viewfinder 210, it is not affected by the surrounding lighting environment.

  Therefore, unlike the white balance correction of the liquid crystal panel 209, the white balance correction of the viewfinder 210 is performed with a predetermined setting regardless of the white balance information of the camera image.

  In the case of flash photography, the white balance correction information of the camera image acquired from the camera microcomputer 211 is white balance information in a preview image before the flash emission, not during the flash emission.

  Here, it has been described that the white balance correction of the liquid crystal panel 209 is obtained by the white balance gain that is the reciprocal of the white balance gain of the camera image. However, it is also possible to substitute by automatically selecting the optimum one from among a plurality of predetermined color temperature settings according to the white balance correction information of the camera image.

  After performing the above processing, it is determined whether or not shooting or playback is continued (step S205), and processing from the recording mode / playback mode determination (step S201) until the power is turned off and the control ends. repeat. When the power is turned off, this process is terminated.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the display image white balance switching unit 214 is provided, and the user can switch whether to perform white balance correction of the display image using the white balance information of the camera image at the time of shooting. Like that. This makes it possible to set the white balance of the display image at the time of shooting to a state desired by the user.

  FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an imaging apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

  Hereinafter, the configuration will be described together with the operation.

  In FIG. 6, a diaphragm 302 is disposed behind the lens 301. Light passing through the lens 301 and the diaphragm 302 is imaged as a subject image on the image formation surface of the image sensor 305. In the image sensor 305, the formed subject image is converted from an optical signal to a video signal.

  The video signal obtained by the image sensor 305 is sent to the camera image signal processing unit 312. The video signal is subjected to predetermined processing in the camera image signal processing unit 312 and is output to the display 316 or is recorded on the magnetic tape 315, the DVD disk 317, or the memory card 318.

  The camera microcomputer (control unit) 311 controls the accumulation and reading of the image sensor 305 through the image sensor control unit 306. In addition, the lens controller 303 controls the focus and zoom of the lens 301.

  The camera microcomputer 311 controls the aperture 302 through the aperture control unit 304 using the luminance information of the subject obtained from the image data obtained from the image sensor 305, and controls the shutter speed together. Perform exposure control.

  Further, the camera microcomputer 311 corrects camera shake at the time of photographing by driving the lens 301 through the lens control unit 303 or controlling the camera image signal processing unit 312.

  The user sets the white balance mode from the white balance (WB) mode input means 307. Information on the set white balance mode is sent to the camera microcomputer 311, and the camera microcomputer 311 performs white balance control for photographing an image through the camera image signal processing unit 312, so that the white balance of the image becomes appropriate. Process as follows.

  Further, the camera microcomputer 311 sends the white balance correction information of the camera image processed by the camera image signal processing unit 312 to the display image signal processing unit 308.

  The display image signal processing unit 308 performs white balance control of the liquid crystal panel 309 or the electronic viewfinder 310 using the received white balance correction information of the camera image, and performs processing so that the white balance of the display image becomes appropriate. To do.

  The display video signal is subjected to predetermined processing including white balance correction processing in the display image signal processing unit 308, and is output to the liquid crystal panel 309 or the electronic viewfinder 310.

  The color temperature sensor 319 can detect color temperature information of the surrounding environment at the time of shooting and video reproduction.

  Here, the white balance correction processing of the display video at the time of shooting has been described as being performed using the white balance correction information of the camera video, but the color from the color temperature sensor 319 is used instead of the white balance correction information of the camera video. Temperature information may be used. When correcting the white balance of the display image, a specific one is selected from a plurality of predetermined color temperature settings.

  At the time of video reproduction, video data and image data recorded on the magnetic tape 315, the DVD disk 317, or the memory card 318 are subjected to predetermined processing in the reproduction image signal processing unit 314, and are displayed in the display image signal processing unit 308. Sent.

  The display video signal is subjected to predetermined processing including white balance correction processing in the display image signal processing unit 308, and is output to the liquid crystal panel 309 or the electronic viewfinder 310. The white balance correction processing of the display image at the time of image reproduction is performed using the color temperature information from the color temperature sensor 319.

  The white balance correction processing of the display video at the time of shooting and video playback will be described in detail later.

  FIG. 7 is an external perspective view of an imaging apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 7, a recording medium such as a DVD disk, a magnetic tape, and a memory card is accommodated in the imaging apparatus main body 320 so that a video signal and a still image can be recorded and reproduced.

  A lens unit 321 and a microphone 322 are provided on the upper part of the imaging apparatus main body 320. The microphone 322 is provided for recording the sound at the time of shooting, and the viewfinder 310 is provided for checking the subject at the time of shooting the camera by looking into the camera and for viewing the playback image at the time of playback.

  The moving image trigger switch 324 is a push button, and is a switch operated by the user to transmit the start and end of moving image shooting to the device. The still image trigger switch 325 is a push button, and is a switch operated by the user to transmit the start and end of still image shooting to the device.

  The flash device 331 emits light as necessary as an auxiliary means for capturing a still image. The mode dial 326 is composed of a rotary switch. The mode dial 326 can select, for example, “playback” set to the playback mode, “camera” set to the camera mode, and “OFF” which is none of them.

  The operation switch group 327 is provided with keys for inputting a white balance mode and other menu operations and reproduction system operations for the user to operate the imaging apparatus main body 320.

  A liquid crystal panel 309 attached to the side surface of the imaging apparatus main body 320 so as to be freely opened and closed is used mainly for confirming a subject image during camera shooting and for displaying a reproduced image during reproduction, like the viewfinder 310. The liquid crystal panel 309 can be rotated in the horizontal direction while being opened from the imaging device main body 320.

  The color temperature sensor 319 can detect color temperature information of the surrounding environment at the time of shooting and reproduction. The speaker 329 is provided to output audio when playing back video. The battery 330 can be attached to and detached from the imaging apparatus main body 320.

  Next, display image white balance correction processing by the display image signal processing unit 308 in the imaging apparatus of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of white balance correction processing for a display image executed by the imaging apparatus of FIG.

  This process is executed by the camera microcomputer 311.

  In FIG. 8, when the power is turned on, the camera microcomputer 311 determines whether it is a recording mode or a playback mode (step S301). In the reproduction mode, it is determined whether or not there is color temperature information from the color temperature sensor 319 (step S302).

  If there is no color temperature information, the white balance correction process of the liquid crystal panel is not performed, and it is determined whether shooting or reproduction is continued (step S306). When there is color temperature information, the display image signal processing unit 308 performs white balance correction processing of the liquid crystal panel 309 using the acquired color temperature information (step S303).

  Specifically, the color temperature obtained from the color temperature sensor 319 and the liquid crystal panel so that the white balance of the displayed image is appropriate when viewed with the eyes of a user who is adapted to the surrounding lighting environment. The white balance of the liquid crystal panel 309 is corrected so that the color temperatures coincide with each other.

  Since this white balance correction is canceled by the visual chromatic adaptation effect, the user can view the captured image with an appropriate white balance. Here, when the user looks into the viewfinder 310, it is not affected by the surrounding lighting environment.

  Therefore, unlike the white balance correction of the liquid crystal panel 309, the white balance correction of the viewfinder 310 is performed with a predetermined setting regardless of the white balance information of the camera image.

  On the other hand, when the recording mode is set in step S301, the display image signal processing unit 308 acquires the white balance correction information of the camera video processed by the camera image signal processing unit 312 from the camera microcomputer 311 (step S304).

  Here, when there is color temperature information from the color temperature sensor 319, the color temperature information from the color temperature sensor 319 can be used instead of the white balance correction information of the camera image.

  The display image signal processing unit 308 performs white balance correction processing of the liquid crystal panel 309 using the acquired white balance correction information of the camera image or the color temperature information from the temperature sensor 319 (step S305).

  Specifically, the white balance gain is the reciprocal of the white balance gain of the camera image so that the white balance of the displayed image is appropriate when viewed with the eyes of the user who has adapted to the surrounding lighting environment. The white balance of the liquid crystal panel 309 is corrected.

  Alternatively, the white balance of the liquid crystal panel 309 is corrected so that the color temperature obtained from the color temperature sensor 319 matches the color temperature of the liquid crystal panel 309. Since this white balance correction is canceled by the visual chromatic adaptation effect, the user can view the captured image with an appropriate white balance.

  Here, when the user looks into the viewfinder 310, the white balance correction of the viewfinder 310 is different from the white balance correction of the liquid crystal panel 309 because the user is not affected by the surrounding illumination environment.

  Therefore, a predetermined white balance correction is performed regardless of the white balance information of the camera image or the color temperature information from the color temperature sensor 319. In the case of flash photography, the white balance correction information of the camera image acquired from the camera microcomputer 311 is white balance information in a preview image before the flash emission, not during the flash emission.

  Here, it has been described that the white balance correction of the liquid crystal panel 309 is obtained by the white balance gain that is the reciprocal of the white balance gain of the camera image. However, it is also possible to substitute by automatically selecting the optimum one from among a plurality of predetermined color temperature settings according to the white balance correction information of the camera image.

  After performing the above processing, it is determined whether shooting or playback is continued (step S306), and the processing from the recording mode / playback mode determination (step S301) until the power is turned off and the control is completed. repeat. When the power is turned off, this process ends.

  In this embodiment, a display image signal processing unit 308 that performs signal processing on a video signal to be displayed and an environment detection unit (color temperature sensor 319) for detecting the surrounding environment are provided, and a user can reproduce the video at the time of playback. The white balance of the video signal to be displayed is corrected according to the viewing environment. This makes it possible to view the playback video with the correct white balance regardless of the viewing environment during playback.

It is a block block diagram of the imaging device which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. 1 is an external perspective view of an imaging apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 3 is a flowchart showing a procedure of white balance correction processing of a display image executed by the imaging apparatus of FIG. 1. It is a block block diagram of the imaging device which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of white balance correction processing of a display image executed by the imaging apparatus of FIG. It is a block block diagram of the imaging device which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is an external appearance perspective view of the imaging device which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. 7 is a flowchart showing a procedure of white balance correction processing of a display image executed by the imaging apparatus of FIG. 6.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 Lens 102 Diaphragm 103 Lens control part 104 Aperture control part 105 Image sensor 106 Image sensor control part 107 White balance mode input means 108 Display image signal processing part 109 Liquid crystal panel 110 Electronic viewfinder 111 Camera microcomputer (control means)
112 Camera image signal processing unit 115 Magnetic tape 116 Display 117 DVD disk 118 Memory card 120 Imaging device main body 121 Lens unit 122 Microphone 124 Movie trigger switch 125 Still image trigger switch 126 Mode dial 127 Operation switch group 129 Speaker 130 Battery 131 Flash apparatus

Claims (6)

In an imaging apparatus comprising: an imaging unit; and a display unit for a user to check an image captured by the imaging unit.
To video signal obtained from said image pickup means, a camera image signal processing means for performing white balance correction of a camera image in accordance with the camera image of the white balance information,
Display image signal processing means for outputting to the display means after performing white balance correction of the display image on the video signal that has been subjected to white balance correction of the camera image by the camera image signal processing means;
As the white balance correction of the display image, and control means for controlling the display image signal processing means to perform the inverse correction of the white balance correction of the camera image by using the white balance information of the camera image,
An imaging apparatus comprising: The display means includes a liquid crystal panel and a viewfinder,
The control means controls to display the display image subjected to the reverse correction on the liquid crystal panel and to display the display image corrected according to a predetermined setting on the viewfinder. The imaging device according to claim 1.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the white balance information of the camera image is white balance information in a preview image before flash emission at the time of flash shooting. A display image white balance switching means for the user to select whether to perform the reverse correction at the time of shooting;
The control means controls the display image signal processing means not to perform the reverse correction when the display image white balance switching means is selected not to perform the reverse correction. The imaging device according to any one of Items 3 to 3 . 2. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein when the white balance correction of the display image is performed, the reverse correction is performed at the time of photographing, and the reverse correction is not performed at the time of video reproduction. The imaging device according to any one of Items 4 to 4 . In a control method of an imaging apparatus comprising: an imaging unit; and a display unit for a user to check an image captured by the imaging unit.
To video signal obtained from said image pickup means, a camera image signal processing step of performing white balance correction of a camera image in accordance with the camera image of the white balance information,
A display image signal processing step for outputting to the display means after performing white balance correction of the display image on the video signal on which the white balance correction of the camera image is performed ,
Wherein the display image signal processing steps, as white balance correction of the display image, a control method of an imaging device and performing inverse correction of the white balance correction of the camera image by using the white balance information of the camera image.

Images