JP5293282B2 - Digital camera shooting method and digital camera - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a swing and tilt photographing method which allows even a beginner to easily obtain a natural image equal to that in swing and tilt photography, and to provide a camera capable of swing and tilt photography. <P>SOLUTION: A photographing method for a digital camera including an automatic focusing device includes: a divided region-setting step of setting divided regions by dividing a photographic image plane into a plurality of regions; a photographing distance-setting step of setting a photographing distance of each of the divided and set regions; a photographing step of successively repeating processing to focus the automatic focusing device on the set photographing distance; and a step of segmenting images in the focused divided region from respective taken images and compositing the images. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a tilt shooting method and a camera capable of tilt shooting in which a shooting effect equivalent to so-called tilt shooting can be easily obtained.

Conventionally, a professional cameraman uses a view camera to tilt the photographic lens and the imaging surface, that is, by making the imaging surface not orthogonal to the photographic lens optical axis, making the focus surface not parallel to the camera deep. I was shooting at a shallow or shallow depth. However, this Aori shooting required skill and was difficult for beginners.
As a conventional technique for solving such a problem, as a camera capable of obtaining a tilt shooting effect even if the photographer does not tilt the image pickup surface, data for combining is added to the bracketed image, and a plurality of images are obtained based on the data for combining. What constitutes is known (Patent Document 1).

JP-A-8-140025

  However, according to the conventional technique, since data for synthesis is added to a bracketed image and synthesized, the synthesized image becomes an unnatural image and is not practical.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a tilt shooting method and a camera capable of tilt shooting, in which even a beginner can easily obtain a natural image equivalent to tilt shooting.

In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention is a photographing method of a digital camera provided with an automatic focus adjustment device, wherein a photographing screen is divided into a plurality of divided regions in a radial direction, a horizontal direction, a vertical direction, or an oblique direction. Having a plurality of divided tilt shooting patterns, selecting one tilt shooting pattern from the plurality of tilt shooting patterns; setting a different shooting distance for each divided area of the selected tilt shooting pattern ; A step of sequentially repeating a process of focusing on a shooting distance set for each divided region of the selected tilt shooting pattern by the automatic focus adjustment device ; and cutting out an image of each divided region after the shooting is finished. Synthesizing the image into a single image.

The selection of the shooting distance is preferably selected from preset shooting distances. In this case, it is more preferable to set the shooting distance of the divided area so as to partially overlap the depth of field at the other shooting distance.

  In the shooting stage, shooting is performed by focusing in the order of the shooting distance on the far side from the shooting distance on the near side.

Invention relates to a digital camera capable of shooting by the imaging method is a digital camera having an automatic focusing device, divides the shooting screen radially horizontally, into a plurality of divided regions in the vertical direction or an oblique direction A selection means for selecting one tilt shooting pattern from the plurality of tilt shooting patterns; and a shooting distance setting for setting a different shooting distance for each divided area of the selected tilt shooting pattern Means; and an imaging means for sequentially repeating the process of photographing by focusing on the photographing distance set for each divided region of the selected tilt photographing pattern by the automatic focus adjustment device; Image processing means for cutting out an image and synthesizing it into a single image.

  Preferably, the information processing apparatus further includes a display unit and an operation unit, and the selection unit displays a display pattern on the display unit assuming a photographed image by a plurality of tilt shooting patterns, while the operation unit performs arbitrary tilt shooting. One pattern can be selected, and the shooting distance can be set for each divided region in the selected tilt shooting pattern.

As described above, according to the present invention relating to the tilt shooting method, shooting is performed at different shooting distances for each set divided area, so that an in-focus image can be obtained with respect to the subject in each divided area. Further, by cutting out and synthesizing the image of the divided area from which the focus has been adjusted from each captured image, it is possible to obtain an in-focus image with respect to a subject that cannot be focused by a single shooting.
According to the invention relating to the camera capable of tilting, it is possible to shoot at different shooting distances for each divided area, and to generate a shot image that is obtained by cutting out and synthesizing the shot image from each focused divided area. A tilt shot image is obtained.

It is the perspective view which looked at the embodiment of the digital single-lens reflex camera to which the tilt shooting method of the present invention was applied from the back. It is a circuit diagram which shows the main circuit structure of the digital single-lens reflex camera. It is a figure which shows the example of a pattern which carries out tilt photography in the digital single-lens reflex camera. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen for selecting a tilt shooting mode pattern in the digital single-lens reflex camera. FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen for explaining a method of setting a divided area and a shooting distance in the tilt shooting mode in the digital single-lens reflex camera. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen for explaining a method of setting a divided area and a shooting distance in the tilt shooting mode in the digital single-lens reflex camera.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a digital single-lens reflex camera to which a camera capable of tilt shooting by the tilt shooting method of the present invention is viewed from the rear.

In this digital single-lens reflex camera, an interchangeable lens 111 is detachably attached to a camera body 10. When the camera body 10 is viewed from the back, an optical viewfinder 11 is provided at the center of the upper portion of the camera body 10, and a liquid crystal panel (image display device) 46 is provided at the approximate center of the back 12. The liquid crystal panel 46 displays captured moving images, still images, and the like. A cross switch 13 is provided beside the liquid crystal panel 46, and a delete switch 14 and a menu switch 15 are provided below the cross switch 13. The cross switch 13 has a function of setting various operation modes, parameters, etc., the delete switch 14 has a function of erasing image data taken or written in a memory, and the menu switch 15 selects a shooting function. It has the function to do. The liquid crystal panel 46 constitutes display means, and the cross switch 13 constitutes operation means.

  On the right side of the upper part of the camera body 10, a shutter button 16 and a sub display 56 are provided. The sub display 56 includes a liquid crystal display element, and various setting states of the digital camera are displayed on the sub display 56 as characters or symbols. When the shutter button 16 is pressed halfway, photometry, AF, etc. are performed, and when the shutter button 16 is fully pressed, shooting is performed and a still image is written into the image memory and displayed on the liquid crystal panel 46.

  A memory card slot 17 is provided on the side surface of the camera body 10. Inside the memory card slot 17, a card connector 47 (see FIG. 2) to which a memory card is inserted is provided.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram mainly showing an electrical configuration of a digital single-lens reflex camera to which the present invention is applied. This digital single-lens reflex camera is an interchangeable lens type, and an interchangeable lens 111 is detachably attached to the camera body 10. The photographing operation and image processing of this digital single lens reflex camera are controlled by a system controller 31 having a microcomputer. That is, under the control of the system controller 31, a moving image or a still image is shot, the shot image is displayed as a moving image or a still image on the liquid crystal panel 46, and a still image is recorded on the flash memory card.

  The electric circuit of the interchangeable lens 111 is electrically connected to the electric circuit mounted on the camera body via the mount pins 112, 113 and 114. In the lens barrel of the interchangeable lens 111, a plurality of lens groups that are zoom photographing optical systems are provided, but only the front group lens 115 and the rear group lens 116 are shown in the figure. A diaphragm 117 is provided between the lenses 115 and 116. The focus adjustment operation for each of the lenses 115 and 116 is performed by the lens control circuit 118, and the zooming operation is performed by the zoom motor 119. The lens control circuit 118 and the zoom motor 119 operate according to control signals sent from the system controller 31 provided in the camera body 10 via the mount pins 113 and 114. The diaphragm 117 operates in accordance with a control signal sent from the diaphragm drive circuit 32 provided in the camera body via the mount pin 112, and the opening degree of the diaphragm 117 is adjusted. The aperture drive circuit 32 is controlled by the system controller 31.

  A main mirror 21 is provided on the optical axis of the lenses 115 and 116 in the camera body. The main mirror 21 is rotatable and movable between the illustrated observation position (tilt state) and the imaging position (horizontal state) rotated upward. A focusing screen 22 is provided above the object light transmitted through the lenses 115 and 116 and reflected by the main mirror 21, and a pentaprism 23 is provided above the focusing screen 22. An eyepiece lens 24 is disposed behind the pentaprism 23 from which the subject light incident on the pentaprism 23 exits.

  A focal plane type shutter 25 is provided behind the mirror 21, and an infrared cut filter 26, an optical low-pass filter 27, and a CCD type imaging device 33 are provided behind the shutter 25. The image sensor 33 is disposed such that the light receiving surface 33a coincides with the designed focus position, and the optical axes O of the lenses 115 and 116 are orthogonal to the light receiving surface 33a and pass through the center. That is, the light receiving surface 33a of the image pickup device 33 is focused so that a subject in a plane orthogonal to the optical axis O is focused, and at this time, the subjects before and after the subject in the plane are defocused. The focus state is reached.

  Up / down of the mirror 21 is controlled by a mirror drive circuit 34, and opening / closing of the shutter 25 is controlled by a shutter drive circuit 35. The mirror drive circuit 34 and the shutter drive circuit 35 are controlled by the system controller 31.

  The mirror 21 is normally held at the down position, and guides the subject light taken from the interchangeable lens 111 toward the focusing screen 22. The focusing screen 22 is disposed at a position optically equivalent to the light receiving surface 33a (imaging surface) of the image sensor 33, and the user observes the optical image on the focusing screen through the eyepiece 24 and the pentaprism 23 as an observation image. , The subject image (focus adjustment state) that will be formed on the light receiving surface 33a of the image sensor 33 can be monitored. At this time, the shutter 25 is closed, and the optical path from the interchangeable lens 111 toward the image sensor 33 is closed.

  At the time of photographing, the mirror 21 is rotated by the control of the mirror driving circuit 34 and is moved up to the photographing position, so that the focusing screen 22 is closed and a horizontal state is obtained. When the mirror 21 is lifted up, the shutter 25 is opened under the control of the shutter drive circuit 35, and subject light is irradiated onto the light receiving surface 33 a of the image sensor 33 by the interchangeable lens 111. That is, a subject image is formed on the light receiving surface 33a of the image sensor 33 by the lenses 115 and 116, and an imaging signal corresponding to the image is generated. As the mirror 21 is raised, the aperture driving circuit 32 controls the aperture 117 of the interchangeable lens 111 to a predetermined aperture value.

  A pulse signal generation circuit (PPG) 36 is connected to the system controller 31, and the pulse signal generation circuit 36 generates various pulse signals under the control of the system controller 31. Based on these pulse signals, the CCD drive circuit 37, the A / D converter 38, and the image signal processing circuit 39 are driven, and the operation of the image sensor 33 is controlled by the CCD drive circuit 37. That is, the image signal read from the image sensor 33 is converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter 38 and subjected to predetermined image processing in the image signal processing circuit 39. The image signal processing circuit 39 is connected to an image buffer memory 40 having a sufficient capacity for storing digital image data for one frame or more.

  In addition, a monitor I / F 41 and a card I / F 42 are connected to the image signal processing circuit 39.

  A liquid crystal panel 46 is connected to the monitor I / F 41 via a liquid crystal drive circuit 44. On the liquid crystal panel 46, the liquid crystal driving circuit 44 is controlled based on the image data read from the image buffer memory 40, and a still image is displayed. A card connector 47 is connected to the memory card I / F 42, and a flash memory card 43 is detachably attached to the card connector 47.

  An AF sensor 51, a photometric sensor 52, and an auto white balance (AWB) sensor 53 are connected to the system controller 31. The focus states of the lenses 115 and 116 are measured by the AF sensor 51, the subject brightness is measured by the photometric sensor 52, and the color temperature of the ambient light is measured by the auto white balance sensor 53. Although not shown, the AF sensor 51 is provided at a position for receiving subject light that is transmitted through a semi-transparent portion of the main mirror 21 and reflected downward by a sub-mirror provided behind the main mirror 21. The defocus amount is measured by a so-called phase difference method. The photometric sensor 52 and the auto white balance sensor 53 are arranged in the vicinity of the eyepiece lens 24 and receive an optical image on the focusing screen 22 via the pentaprism 23.

  Further, a photometric switch 54 and a release switch 55 are connected to the system controller 31. The metering switch 54 and the release switch 55 are linked to the shutter button 16, and the metering switch 54 is turned on when the shutter button 16 is half-pressed, and the metering switch 54 is kept on when the shutter button 16 is fully pressed. The release switch 55 is turned on. When the photometric switch 54 is turned on, focusing processing for driving the lens control circuit 118 based on the focus state measured by the AF sensor 51 is performed, and photometry is performed by the photometric sensor 52. When the release switch 55 is turned on, an imaging process is performed. That is, the mirror 21 is raised by the mirror drive circuit 34, the diaphragm 117 is narrowed down to a predetermined value by the aperture drive circuit 32, the shutter 25 is driven to open and close, the image sensor 33 is exposed, and the image sensor 33 is driven and controlled. An imaging signal corresponding to the exposed image is output from the imaging element 33.

Further, the system controller 31 is connected to switches operated by the cross switch 13, the delete switch 14 and the menu switch 15. The cross switch 13 is a so-called cross key switch 13 provided with switches at the top, bottom, left, right, and center. In this embodiment, when the left and right portions (arrow portions) of the cross switch 13 are pressed, the left and right switches 13L and 13R are turned on to select the mode, and the selected mode is displayed on the liquid crystal panel 46. In the mode displayed on the liquid crystal panel 46, when the upper and lower portions (arrow portions) of the cross switch 13 are pressed, the upper and lower switches 13U and 13D are turned on, and the variables that can be set in that mode are changed. When the center portion (OK portion) of the cross switch 13 is further pressed, the OK switch 13C is turned on, and the mode and variable displayed on the liquid crystal panel 46 are set and confirmed. The delete switch 14 and the menu switch 15 are interlocked with the delete switch 14 and the menu switch 15, respectively, and are turned on when the delete switch 14 and the menu switch 15 are pressed. The system controller 31 has functions as selection means, photographing means, and image processing means.

  This embodiment includes a tilt shooting mode, which is selected by operating the cross switch 13. The tilt shooting mode is one of the shooting modes. Other shooting modes include a program shooting mode (P mode), a close-up shooting mode, and a moving image shooting mode.

  In the tilt shooting mode of this embodiment, the shooting screen is divided into a plurality of divided areas, each of the divided areas is focused and shot, so-called focus bracket shooting is performed, and image data is recorded. This is a process of cutting out a focused area from data and creating composite image data. Hereinafter, this tilt shooting will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 3 shows a tilt shooting pattern suitable for nine types of assumed scenes. Each tilt shooting pattern divides the shooting screen into four divided areas 1 to 4 and focuses each divided area 1 to 4 to perform focus bracket shooting four times. In this embodiment, the shortest distance is the closest divided area 1, the farthest distance is the farthest divided area 4, the two divided areas between them are the closest divided areas 1, and the middle divided area 2 is the closest. The side close to the far division area 4 is referred to as a middle / near division area 3.

  The tilt shooting pattern in FIG. 3A assumes a scene in which the subject is radially close from the center of the farthest divided area 4 at the center of the shooting screen toward the most recent divided area 1 at the outermost periphery.

  In the tilt shooting pattern in FIG. 3B, the lower half of the screen is equally divided in the horizontal direction. A scene is assumed in which the subject is close to the camera in accordance with the divided areas 3, 2, 1 below the farthest divided area 4 in the upper half of the screen.

The tilt shooting pattern in FIG. 3C assumes that the subject is inclined in the oblique direction from the lower left divided area to the upper right divided area, and the shooting distance of each divided area 1 to 4 can be arbitrarily set. .

  In the tilt shooting pattern of FIG. 3D, the center left half of the screen is substantially equally divided in the vertical direction. A scene is assumed in which the subject is close to the camera according to the divided areas 3, 2, and 1 in the left direction from the farthest divided area 4 on the right half of the screen.

  The tilt shooting pattern of FIG. 3 (E) is equally divided in the vertical direction from side to side from the center area of the screen. A scene is assumed in which the subject is close to the camera and approaches from the farthest divided area 4 in the center of the screen in accordance with the divided areas 3, 2, and 1 in the left-right direction.

  The tilt shooting pattern of FIG. 3F is obtained by horizontally flipping the tilt shooting pattern of (D), and the right half of the center of the screen is substantially equally divided in the vertical direction. A scene is assumed in which the subject is close to the camera according to the areas 3, 2, and 1 in the right direction from the farthest area 4 on the left half of the screen.

  The tilt shooting pattern in FIG. 3G is divided vertically from the left to the right of the screen. A scene is assumed in which the subject is farther away from the nearest region 1 on the left side of the screen according to the divided regions 2, 3, and 4 in the right direction.

  The tilt shooting pattern in FIG. 3 (H) is horizontally divided at the bottom or top of the screen. A scene is assumed in which the subject is far from the camera in accordance with divided areas 2, 3, and 4 in the upward direction from the latest divided area 1 at the bottom of the screen.

  The tilt shooting pattern in FIG. 3 (I) is a pattern obtained by horizontally flipping the tilt shooting pattern in FIG. 3 (G). A scene is assumed in which the subject is far from the camera in accordance with divided areas 2, 3, and 4 in the left direction from the nearest divided area 1 on the right side of the screen.

  3B, 3D to 3I, the trapezoid shown in the screen indicates a scene that is assumed to be captured when a rectangular object is photographed. Can easily understand which tilt shooting pattern should be selected.

"Aori setting"
A method for selecting the tilt shooting pattern will be described below.
(1) First, the shooting mode selection screen is displayed on the liquid crystal panel 46, the left and right switches 13L and 13R of the cross switch 13 are operated to display the screen for selecting the tilt shooting mode, and the OK switch 13C is pressed to select. When the tilt shooting mode is selected, the display on the liquid crystal panel 46 is switched to the tilt setting screen (FIG. 4). In this embodiment, nine types of tilt shooting patterns are displayed.

  (2) The user operates the up / down switches 13U and 13D of the cross switch 13 to select a desired tilt shooting pattern from these tilt shooting patterns. The selected tilt shooting pattern is highlighted (FIG. 4). In this embodiment, the user setting tilt shooting pattern in the upper right is selected and highlighted.

  (3) When the menu switch 15 is turned ON while the user setting tilt shooting pattern is highlighted, the display on the liquid crystal panel 46 is switched to the detailed setting screen (FIG. 4). When the menu switch 15 is pressed in a state where another automatic setting shooting pattern is selected (highlighted), the display on the liquid crystal panel 46 is switched to the next page screen. Here, the screen is switched to the display screen of the selected tilt shooting pattern.

  (4) When the OK switch 13C is turned ON, the shooting state is set to the selected tilt shooting pattern.

  As described above, the reason why the tilt shooting pattern and shooting distance are preset in the embodiment of the present invention is as follows. The tilt shooting according to the present invention assumes a continuous shooting many times with a digital camera fixed to a tripod, especially in a wide range of landscape shooting. In the case of a wide range of landscape shooting, a person unrelated to shooting often enters the screen. Under such circumstances, in the AFTOAF mode, the passerby may be focused and the landscape may not be focused. For this reason, in order to fix a digital camera on a tripod and take a landscape where the distance does not change, manual setting is preferable, and automatic setting is not performed. In addition, when it is desired to take a landscape image including animals, passers-by, passing vehicles, etc., automatic setting may be used.

“Aori detail setting (manual shooting distance setting)”
Next, an operation for setting the shooting distance of each divided area in the user setting tilt shooting pattern will be described. On this tilt setting screen, four divided areas divided into steps are displayed.
(2-1) On the tilt setting screen display, the number of tilt shooting steps is set by turning on the left and right switches 13L and 13R (FIG. 5A).
(2-2) When the upper and lower switches 13U and 13D (lower switch 13D) are turned on, the lower stage is moved to set the distance of step 1.
(2-3) Similarly, the upper and lower switches 13U and 13D are turned on to move to the lower stage, and the distances of steps 2, 3, and 4 are set.
(2-4) When the menu switch 15 is turned on, the process proceeds to the divided area setting step.

  In the divided area setting step, the previously set state is displayed, and further, “Correct part of screen correction → OK switch, set new pattern → DEL switch” is displayed (FIG. 5B). . The user selects either partial correction or new. That is, either the OK switch 13C or the DEL switch 14 is turned on. Here, it is assumed that the OK switch 13C is turned on to set a new pattern. When the OK switch 13C is turned on, the number of the most recently divided area 1 is displayed blinking.

(3-1) Use the cross switch 13 to select a divided area to be set as the nearest divided area 1 (FIG. 5B).
(3-2) Confirm with OK switch 13C.
(3-3) To correct, press the OK switch 13C while pressing the DEL switch to cancel and return to the above (3-1), repeat the operations (3-1) and (3-2) Select the divided area you want to set to 1.
(3-4) The menu switch 15 is used to proceed to the next step (selection of the divided area to be set to the second closest middle / division area 2).

(4-1) Use the cross switch 13 to select a divided area to be the middle / middle divided area 2 (FIG. 5C).
(4-2) If the desired divided area can be set to the middle / middle divided area 2, it is determined by the OK switch 13C.
(4-3) When correcting the divided area for setting the middle / middle divided area 2, press the OK switch 13C while pressing the DEL switch to cancel and return to the above (4-1). (4-1), (4 Repeat step -2).
(4-4) The menu switch 15 is used to proceed to the next step (selection of a divided area to be set in the middle-to-far divided area 3 next to the middle and far divided area 2).

(5-1) Use the cross switch 13 to select a division area to be set as the middle / far division area 3 (FIG. 6A).
(5-2) When the desired divided area can be set to the middle-distance divided area 3, it is determined by the OK switch 13C.
(5-3) When correcting the divided area set as the middle- and far-distance divided area 3, press the OK switch 13C while pressing the DEL switch 14 to cancel and return to the above (5-1), and (5-1), (5 Repeat step -2).
(5-4) When the setting of the middle-distance divided area 3 is completed, the menu switch 15 is turned on to proceed to the next step (selection of the divided area to be set as the farthest divided area 4).

(6-1) The remaining area is the farthest farthest division area 4 (FIG. 6B).
(6-2) When the desired divided area can be set to the farthest divided area 4, the OK switch 13C is used to confirm, and the process proceeds to the photographing mode.
(6-3) When correcting the division area to be set to the farthest division area 4, cancel the OK switch 13C while pressing the DEL switch 14 and return to the above (6-1), (6-1), (6 Repeat step -2).
(6-4) When correcting the whole, the menu switch 15 is turned ON to return to the latest divided area 1 setting process (3-1).

“Calculation of optimum focus position (shooting distance)”
A calculation method in the case where the center of the screen is ∞ and the lower end is recent (the orientation shooting scene in FIG. 3B) will be described below.
Since the image pickup device 33 has various sizes, it will be described in terms of 35 mm full size. The focal length f of the interchangeable lens 111 and the subject height (subject height) h are as follows.
f = 28mm
1 / f = 0.035714
h = 1.5m

Under the above conditions, the vertical angle of view θ in the farthest divided area 4 is obtained. In the farthest position (∞), the focal length f of the interchangeable lens 111 is 28 mm, and the lower end of the light receiving surface 33a of the image sensor 33 is 12 mm from the center.
θ = arctan (12/28) = 32 (°)
It becomes.

The distance L when the upper end (lower end as the subject image) of the subject standing on the extension of the optical axis O and having a subject height h of 1.5 m is reflected on the lower end of the light receiving surface 33a is:
L = 1.5 × tanθ = 3.5
Thus, the upper end of a subject having a subject height h of 1.5 m located at a distance of 3.5 m is reflected on the lower end of the light receiving surface 33a.
At this time, the focal position a of the image of a subject with a distance of 3.5 m is
From 1 / f = 1 / a + 1 / b,
a = 1 / (1 / 28−1 / (3.5 × 1000)) = 28.226 (mm)
It becomes. Since the focal position (focal length) f in the case of ∞ (center) is 28 mm, the focus difference fd is 0.226 mm.

When 1/8 of the focus difference fd is obtained in order to distribute the focus difference fd into 4 steps, it is 0.028 mm. Table 1 shows the shooting distance and screen position where the focal position f corresponds to this 1/8 step. That is, if each divided area is set to a position (distance) corresponding to 1/4 step and the focus is set to the step position between them, the focus error is minimized (in this case, 0.028 mm). Thus, in this embodiment, the shooting distance is set to 27.8 m for the farthest division area 4, 9.3 m for the middle-distance division area 3, 5.6 m for the middle-distance division area 2, and 4.6 m for the latest division area 1. Shoot at a distance.
For other tilt shooting patterns, calculation is performed in the same manner as described above, and shooting distances of the divided areas 1 to 4 are set.

Table 1 shows examples of the shooting distance, the ray angle, the intersection distance d with the horizontal plane, the focus position f, and the focus error fd set for the divided areas 1 to 4. Table 1 shows an example of a pattern in which the lower half of FIG. 3B is horizontally divided so as to be farther upward from the bottom.
Note that the “image position” is the deviation of the imaging position when the subject is located at a predetermined distance (intersection distance d (m) with the horizontal plane) with reference to the state focused on the subject at infinity. ,
Ray angle is the maximum incident angle in the vertical direction (half angle of view in the vertical direction)
The focus position is the focus position (imaging position) when focused on the intersection distance d,
The focus error is a focus error (imaging position error) when focused on a predetermined intersection distance d.

全画角のピント差 ｆd＝0.226
均等割り ｆd／8＝0.028 <Table 1>

Focus difference of all angles of view fd = 0.226
Even split fd / 8 = 0.028

  In this embodiment, the shooting distance of the farthest divided area 4 is 27.8 meters, the shooting distance of the middle and far divided area 3 is 9.3 meters, the shooting distance of the middle and far divided area 2 is 5.6 meters, and the shooting distance of the latest divided area 1 is 4.0 meters. It is set to. Therefore, in the farthest divided area 4, the subject at the shooting distance of 27.8 meters is focused, the subject at infinity has a focus error of -0.028 mm, and the subject at the shooting distance of 13.9 meters has a focus error of 0.028 mm. If the focus error ± 0.028 mm is within the depth of focus, the subject at each shooting distance is substantially focused.

  In the case of other tilt shooting patterns, the shooting distance can be set in the same manner as described above.

When the release switch 55 is turned on in the state where the tilt shooting mode is set as described above, the system controller 31 first shoots while focusing on the shooting distance (4.0 m) of the latest divided area 1, Subsequently, the focus is adjusted to the shooting distance (5.6 m) of the middle-distance divided area 2, the focus is adjusted to the shooting distance (9.3 m) of the middle-far divided area 3, and the focal length of the farthest divided area 4 ( 27.8m) when shooting. Each captured image data is first written in the image buffer memory 40 and also in the memory card 43. When the four tilt shootings are completed, the images of the divided areas corresponding to the divided areas 1 to 4 of the tilt shooting pattern selected in the tilt shooting mode are read from the image buffer memory 40 from the respective shot image data. The combined image data is written into the memory card 43, and the tilt shooting is finished. The reason for photographing from a short distance is that the movement and change of the subject are considered to be remarkable as the distance is short.
It should be noted that a known image processing algorithm is used for image segmentation and image composition processing.

As described above, nine types of tilt shooting patterns are shown in the figure, but the patterns are not limited to the illustrated patterns. Also, the set number of divided areas may be less than 4 or 5 or more.
The focus position of each divided area, that is, each shooting distance is preferably set so as to partially overlap the depth of field at one other shooting distance, and more preferably, the shortest division as shown in Table 1 It is preferable to set so that subjects at all distances from the region 1 to the farthest divided region 4 are substantially in focus.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Camera body 13 Cross switch 14 Delete button 15 Menu button 25 Shutter 31 System controller 33 Image pick-up element 40 Image buffer memory 43 Memory card 46 Liquid crystal panel (image display apparatus)
51 AF sensor 52 Photometric sensor

Claims (6)

A method for photographing a digital camera equipped with an automatic focusing device,
Having a plurality of tilt shooting patterns obtained by dividing the shooting screen into a plurality of divided areas in the radial direction, horizontal direction, vertical direction or oblique direction, and selecting one tilt shooting pattern from the plurality of tilt shooting patterns; ;
Setting a different shooting distance for each divided area of the selected tilt shooting pattern ;
A step of sequentially repeating a process of focusing and shooting at a shooting distance set for each divided area of the selected tilt shooting pattern by the automatic focus adjustment device ;
Cutting out the image of each of the divided areas and synthesizing it into a single image after completion of the photographing;
A method for photographing a digital camera, comprising : In claim 1 photographing method for a digital camera, wherein the imaging distance is preset shooting method digital camera to choose from photographing distance. In claim 2 imaging method of the digital camera, wherein the object distance of each divided region, the method of capturing a digital camera that is set so as to partially overlap the depth of field in the object distance of the other one. In claims 1 to 3 any one method of capturing digital camera according to, in the photographing step, a digital camera for photographing the photographing distance of the near side is focused in the order of photographing distance far side imaging method . A digital camera equipped with an automatic focusing device,
A selection unit that has a plurality of tilt shooting patterns obtained by dividing the shooting screen into a plurality of divided areas in a radial direction, a horizontal direction, a vertical direction, or an oblique direction, and selects one tilt shooting pattern from the plurality of tilt shooting patterns. When;
Shooting distance setting means for setting a different shooting distance for each divided area of the selected tilt shooting pattern;
Photographing means for sequentially repeating the process of photographing by focusing on the photographing distance set for each divided area of the selected tilt photographing pattern by the automatic focus adjustment device;
Image processing means for cutting out the image of each divided region and combining it into a single image after completion of the photographing;
A digital camera comprising: The digital camera according to claim 5 further includes a display unit and an operation unit, wherein the display unit displays a plurality of tilt shooting patterns, and the operation unit selects one of the displayed tilt shooting patterns. select tilt shooting pattern, a digital camera that can photographing distance set for each divided region of the tilt shooting pattern selected.

Images