JP5304371B2 - Electronic camera - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic camera which can readily pick up an image of an object of low luminance and which excels in a long-time exposure mode. <P>SOLUTION: In a state where a shutter is made open by a shutter driving portion and an imaging element is driven by an image pickup element driving portion so as to start a series of image pickup for fireworks, a plurality of recording image data t1G to t7G, corresponding to each memory area are delayed on timing of recording start in each memory in order in a unit of continuous exposure predetermined for each memory area of an image memory until a predetermined time passes; recording image data Ga to Ge containing a component of image data are recorded in the same exposure timing to a memory area whose order of recording start is continuous each other; whereas, when the predetermined time has passed, the shutter is closed by the shutter driving portion so that a series of the image pickup are finished. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic camera having a long exposure mode.

  Conventionally, when imaging a relatively low-luminance subject such as fireworks with an electronic camera, for example, imaging is started compared to imaging a relatively high-luminance subject such as an outdoor landscape in fine weather. For this reason, the time from when the shutter is opened until the shutter is closed for the end of imaging is set longer. That is, in such a case, the operation mode for imaging in the electronic camera is switched to the long exposure mode that enables the image sensor to be exposed for a long time.

  However, in the long exposure mode, the photographer adjusts the shutter opening timing and opening time (in other words, shutter speed) by operating the release button so that the proper exposure is achieved when the fireworks are fully opened. Was not easy. Therefore, for example, in the electronic camera described in Patent Document 1, when the release button is operated, fireworks are automatically captured by continuous shooting, and a plurality of image data generated for each imaging in the continuous shooting. Among them, the image data having the maximum accumulated luminance value is determined and recorded as the image data of the optimum image in which the fireworks are captured most beautifully.

JP 2008-85463 A

  By the way, because the afterimage remains in the human eye, the trajectory when the fireworks are in the fully open state appears to have a long tail, but the shutter speed for each continuous shooting with an electronic camera is long. Since it is much faster than the shutter speed in the exposure mode, a long trajectory when the fireworks is fully open cannot be imaged, and can only be imaged as an instantaneous light spot. In other words, when continuously shooting low-luminance subjects such as fireworks one by one by continuous shooting, the amount of exposure that can be obtained instantaneously for each continuous shooting is weak, so the fireworks are fully open. Even when an image was captured when it was visible, the amount of exposure was actually insufficient, and it was not always possible to capture an optimal image with the fireworks fully open.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an electronic camera that can easily and satisfactorily image a low-luminance subject in a long exposure mode.

In order to achieve the above object, an electronic camera of the present invention captures an object based on an imaging start command unit that commands the start and end of a series of imaging, and a series of imaging start commands by the imaging start command unit An image sensor that generates the still image data of the subject imaged by the one image sensor, and a plurality of recordable still image data of the subject generated by the image data generation unit. In a state where a series of imaging is started based on a command from the recording unit and the imaging start / stop command unit, a predetermined continuous exposure unit is set in the image data generation unit until a predetermined series of imaging end conditions are satisfied. data of the causes for each recording unit generates a plurality of recording still image data corresponding, the recording start at every recording unit of the respective recording still image data for each recording unit in Timing sequentially be recorded by delaying, and the recording still made the still image data component at the same exposure timing from including a plurality of still image data component to the recording unit the order of recording start is continuous with each other And a controller that controls the imaging start / stop command unit so that the series of imaging is ended when the end condition is satisfied while the image data is recorded.

In the electronic camera of the present invention, the control unit causes the image data generation unit to generate still image data for recording based on imaging in a continuous exposure unit over a predetermined time.

In the electronic camera of the present invention, the control unit causes the image data generation unit to generate still image data for recording based on imaging in a continuous exposure unit in which a predetermined cumulative exposure amount can be secured. And

  In the electronic camera of the present invention, the control unit controls the imaging start / stop command unit so that the series of imaging is started when a predetermined operation unit is operated by a photographer during imaging of the subject. In addition, after that, when the operation unit is operated again by the photographer, it is determined that the end condition is satisfied.

  In the electronic camera of the present invention, the control unit determines that the end condition is satisfied when a predetermined time has elapsed after a series of imaging starts.

  According to the present invention, a low-luminance subject can be easily and satisfactorily imaged in the long exposure mode.

The block diagram which shows the circuit structure of a digital camera. The timing chart which shows a response | compatibility with the time passage at the time of a fireworks imaging, and a fireworks state. The flowchart of the imaging control routine in long exposure mode. Explanatory drawing which shows the production | generation process of the image data for recording in long exposure mode.

Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the present invention is embodied in a digital still camera (hereinafter referred to as “camera”) which is a kind of electronic camera will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 1, the camera 11 has a lens unit 12 (only one lens is shown in FIG. 1 for simplification of the drawing) including a plurality of lenses such as a zoom lens, and has passed through the lens unit 12. The camera body (not shown) has an image pickup element 14 that forms an image of subject light on the image space side of the lens unit 12 when the shutter 13 is in an open state. The imaging element 14 is composed of a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor or a charge coupled device (CCD) image sensor, accumulates signal charges corresponding to the subject image formed on the imaging surface, and stores the accumulated signal. The electric charge is output as an analog signal called a pixel signal.

  An A / D conversion circuit 15 and a signal processing circuit 16 functioning as an image data generation unit are connected in series on the output side of the image sensor 14, and a pixel signal composed of an analog signal output from the image sensor 14 is A / D After being converted into a digital signal by the D conversion circuit 15, it is input to the signal processing circuit 16. In addition, an MPU (Micro Processing Unit) 17 is provided in the camera body of the camera 11 as a control unit that comprehensively controls various operations in the camera 11 based on a predetermined control program stored in a ROM (not shown). Various control signals for generating image data are input from the MPU 17 to the signal processing circuit 16.

  In other words, the signal processing circuit 16 performs various image processing on the digitized pixel signal based on the control signal from the MPU 17 to generate predetermined image data. The image data generated in this way is recorded image data t1G to t7G in a predetermined continuous exposure unit with respect to the image memory 18 that also functions as a buffer memory connected to the MPU 17 (FIGS. 2 and 5). 4) and recording image data Ga to Ge (see FIG. 4) when they are subjected to multiple exposure processing, are temporarily recorded. Further, the recording image data Ga to Ge subjected to the multiple exposure processing can be recorded on a memory card 20 which is a recording medium which can be attached to and detached from the camera 11 via the card slot 19.

  Note that the image memory 18 as a recording unit in which the recording image data t1G to t7G and Ga to Ge are temporarily recorded has a plurality of (for example, five in this embodiment) memory areas 18a to 18e. . For each of the memory areas 18a to 18e, the MPU 17 controls the recording image data t1G to t7G, Ga to Ge while sequentially delaying the recording start timing for each of the memory areas 18a to 18e, and In addition, recording is performed in a recording mode in which image data components at the same exposure timing are included in memory areas in which the recording start order is continuous.

  In addition, a release button 21, a select button 22, a luminance sensor 23, a shutter drive unit 24, a monitor 25, and an image sensor drive unit 26 that function as an operation unit are connected to the MPU 17. The release button 21 is operated by the photographer when imaging of the subject is started. The select button 22 is operated by the photographer when changing various setting contents (for example, operation mode) in the camera 11. The luminance sensor 23 measures the luminance of the subject, and the MPU 17 determines the accumulated exposure amount based on the measurement result and the opening time of the shutter 13.

  The shutter drive unit 24 opens and closes the shutter 13 in accordance with a control command from the MPU 17. Various images such as a reproduced image are displayed on the monitor 25. Further, the image sensor driving unit 26 drives the image sensor 14 according to a control command from the MPU 17. Imaging of each image data and a series of imaging by the imaging element 14 described later are controlled by the MPU 17 via the imaging element driving unit 26.

  Next, an imaging control routine executed by the MPU 17 when imaging a firework that is a subject with relatively low brightness using the camera 11 of the present embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 2 is a timing chart showing the relationship between the passage of time and the state of the fireworks at the time of shooting the fireworks, but as shown in the figure, hereinafter, after the shutter 13 is opened at time t0. A firework imaging state until the shutter 13 is closed at time t8 will be described. In this case, after the fireworks are launched at time t2, the center of the fireworks reaches the highest point at time t3, starts to open at time t4, fully opens at time t5, and reaches at time t6. It shall be in the state immediately before disappearance. In addition, the fireworks image data t1G to t7G corresponding to the times t1 to t7 are images exposed to the image sensor 14 at each time tn after the shutter 13 is opened to start capturing fireworks. It is shown schematically.

  When capturing such fireworks, the operation mode for imaging in the camera 11 is switched through the operation of the select button 22 by the photographer. For example, the shutter 13 is opened to start imaging and then closed to end imaging, as compared to the normal mode, which is an operation mode when imaging a relatively bright subject such as an outdoor landscape in fine weather. It is possible to switch to the long exposure mode in which the shutter opening time (in other words, the shutter speed) is set to be long. When the operation mode is switched to the long exposure mode in this way, the MPU 17 executes an imaging control routine for imaging fireworks in the long exposure mode according to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  First, in step S11, the MPU 17 determines whether or not the release button 21 is turned on to start imaging, that is, whether or not the release is ON. If the determination result in step S11 is negative (S11 = NO), the MPU 17 periodically repeats the process in step S11. On the other hand, if the determination result of step S11 is affirmative (S11 = YES), the MPU 17 proceeds to the next step S12.

  Then, in step S <b> 12, the MPU 17 outputs an imaging start command control signal to the shutter driving unit 24 and the imaging element driving unit 26. Then, the shutter 13 is opened by the driving of the shutter driving unit 24, and a series of images of fireworks by the imaging device 14 is started by the driving of the imaging device driving unit 26. In step S12, the MPU 17 starts counting time tn using a counter (not shown), and then proceeds to the next step S13.

  In step S13, the MPU 17 sets the imaging end time (in the case of the present embodiment), which is set in advance as the time when the counted time tn closes the shutter 13 to end imaging and ends a series of imaging by the imaging device 14. As an example, it is determined whether or not time t8) has come. Incidentally, the imaging end time can be arbitrarily changed by the photographer operating the select button 22 while the setting screen is displayed on the monitor 25. And when the determination result of this step S13 is affirmation determination (S13 = YES), MPU17 transfers the process to the following step S14.

  Then, in step S14, the MPU 17 outputs a control signal of an imaging end command to the shutter driving unit 24 and the imaging device driving unit 26 so that the series of imaging about the fireworks by the imaging device 14 is completed, and then the processing thereof. To the next step S15. Then, in the next step S15, the MPU 17 records the recording image data Ga to Ge generated by the multiple exposure in the memory areas 18a to 18e of the image memory 18 at that time, and then records them on the memory card 20. The imaging control routine in the long exposure mode is terminated. In step S15, the image content of the recording image data Ga to Ge may be displayed on the monitor 25 for confirmation before recording the recording image data Ga to Ge on the memory card 20.

  On the other hand, when the determination result of step S13 is negative (S13 = NO), the MPU 17 shifts the process to step S16. In step S16, the MPU 17 determines whether the counted time tn is a time t7 that is one count time before the imaging end time t8. If the determination result is affirmative (S16 = YES), the MPU 17 proceeds to the next step S17.

  Then, in the next step S17, the MPU 17 obtains image data t7G corresponding to the image exposed on the imaging surface of the imaging device 14 at the time t7, among the five memory areas 18a to 18e in the image memory 18. Then, after recording in the fifth memory area 18e which is a memory area in the order of numbers obtained by subtracting “2” from the count value n at the time t7 (in this case, 7-2 = 5), the process returns to step S13. .

  On the other hand, if the determination result of step S16 is negative (S16 = NO), the MPU 17 shifts the process to step S18. In step S18, the MPU 17 determines whether or not the counted time tn is a time t6 that is two count times before the imaging end time t8. If the determination result is affirmative (S18 = YES), the MPU 17 proceeds to the next step S19.

  Then, in the next step S19, the MPU 17 obtains image data t6G corresponding to the image exposed on the imaging surface of the imaging device 14 at the time t6, among the five memory areas 18a to 18e in the image memory 18. The fourth memory area 18d, which is a memory area in the order of numbers obtained by subtracting “2” from the count value n at the time t6 (in this case, 6-2 = 4), and also from the count value n at the time t6, After recording in the fifth memory area 18e, which is the memory area in the order of numbers subtracted from “1” (in this case, 6-1 = 5), the process returns to step S13.

  On the other hand, if the determination result of step S18 is negative (S18 = NO), the MPU 17 proceeds to step S20. In step S20, the MPU 17 determines that the counted time tn is equal to or longer than the unit time t3 corresponding to the number of units preset as continuous exposure units (in the present embodiment, “3” as an example), and the imaging end time. It is determined whether or not it is smaller than the time t6 that is two count times before t8. If the determination result is affirmative (S20 = YES), the MPU 17 proceeds to the next step S21.

  Then, in the next step S21, the MPU 17 selects the image data corresponding to the image exposed on the imaging surface of the imaging device 14 at this time (in this case, any of time t3, time t4, and time t5) (this In this case, any one of the image data t3G, the image data t4G, and the image data t5G) is obtained by subtracting “2” from the count value n of the time tn in the five memory areas 18a to 18e in the image memory 18. A memory area (in this case, one of the first memory area 18a to the third memory area 18c) and a memory area in the order of numbers obtained by subtracting “1” from the count value n of the time tn (in this case, the first memory area 2 memory area 18b to any one of the fourth memory area 18d) and a memory area in the order of numbers equal to the count value n of the time tn (in this case, the third memory area 18c) After each recorded as one) of the fifth memory region 18e, and returns the process to step S13.

  On the other hand, if the determination result of step S20 is negative (S20 = NO), the MPU 17 shifts the process to step S22. In step S22, the MPU 17 determines whether or not the counted time tn is a time t2 that is one count time before the unit time t3 corresponding to the unit number preset as the continuous exposure unit. If the determination result is affirmative (S22 = YES), the MPU 17 proceeds to the next step S23.

  Then, in the next step S23, the MPU 17 obtains the image data t2G corresponding to the image exposed on the imaging surface of the imaging device 14 at the time t2 among the five memory areas 18a to 18e in the image memory 18. The first memory area 18a, which is a memory area in the order of numbers obtained by subtracting “1” from the count value n at the time t2 (2-1 = 1 in this case), is also equal to the count value n at the time t2. After recording in the second memory area 18b, which is the memory area in order of numbers (in this case, 2), the process returns to step S13.

  On the other hand, if the determination result of step S22 is negative (S22 = NO), the MPU 17 proceeds to step S24. Then, in step S24, the MPU 17 converts the image data t1G corresponding to the image exposed on the imaging surface of the imaging device 14 at that time (in this case, time t1) into five memory areas 18a to 18a in the image memory 18. 18e is recorded in the first memory area 18a, which is a memory area in the order of numbers equal to the count value n at the time t1, and then the process returns to step S13. Thereafter, each process after step S13 is repeatedly executed, and after step S15 is processed, the imaging control routine in the long exposure mode is terminated.

  Therefore, next, with respect to the operation of the camera 11 of the present embodiment configured as described above, particularly focusing on the operation when capturing fireworks in the long exposure mode, the following will be described with reference to FIGS. explain.

  When the operation mode for imaging is switched from the normal mode to the long exposure mode based on the operation of the select button 22 by the photographer, the camera 11 opens the shutter 13 that operates to open based on the ON operation of the release button 21. The time is longer than in the normal mode (in other words, the shutter speed is slower than in the normal mode). In this long exposure mode, the shutter 13 that is opened in response to the operation of the release button 21 is closed when a predetermined time has elapsed since the shutter button was opened, and is closed as a series of imaging end conditions are satisfied. 14, a series of imaging is completed.

  That is, when the release button 21 is turned on at time t0 shown in FIG. 2 by a photographer who wants to photograph fireworks, the shutter drive unit 24 opens the shutter 13 in response to a control command to start imaging from the MPU 17. The image sensor driving unit 26 drives the image sensor 14 to start a series of imaging. Further, the MPU 17 starts counting the time tn that elapses from the time t0.

  When the time t1 is counted by the MPU 17, the image data t1G corresponding to the image exposed to the image sensor 14 at the time t1 is recorded in the first memory area 18a of the image memory 18. At this time t1, since fireworks have not yet been launched, the image data t1G of the dark image is recorded in the first memory area 18a of the image memory 18.

  Thereafter, when the time t2 is counted by the MPU 17, the image data t2G corresponding to the image exposed to the image sensor 14 at the time t2 is stored in the first memory area 18a and the second memory area 18b of the image memory 18. Each is recorded. That is, in this case, the recording start is started at the time t2 when the recording start timing is delayed with respect to the second memory area 18b than the first memory area 18a where the recording of the image data has already started at the time t1. Is done. Then, the image data t2G, which is the image data component at the same exposure timing as time t2, is recorded in the first memory area 18a and the second memory area 18b in which the recording start order is continuous. In this case, in the first memory area 18a, the image data t1G of the dark image at the time t1 and the image data t2G of the firework image at the time t2 are recorded so as to be in the multiple exposure state. Will be.

  Thereafter, when the time t3 is counted by the MPU 17, the image data t3G corresponding to the image exposed to the image sensor 14 at the time t3 is stored in the first memory area 18a and the second memory area of the image memory 18. 18b and the third memory area 18c. That is, in this case, recording starts at time t3 when the recording start timing is further delayed with respect to the third memory area 18c than the second memory area 18b where recording of image data has already started at time t2. Is done.

  Then, image data t3G, which is an image data component at the same exposure timing of time t3, is stored in the first memory area 18a, the second memory area 18b, and the third memory area 18c in which the recording start order is continuous. Each is recorded. In this case, in the first memory area 18a, the image data t1G of the dark image at the time t1, the image data t2G of the firework image at the time t2, and the firework center at the time t3. As a result, the image data t3G of the image of the firework that has reached the highest point is recorded so as to be in a multiple exposure state, and as a result, image data Ga obtained by performing multiple exposure processing on the image data Ga is recorded. Similarly, in the second memory area 18b, the image data t2G of the firework image in the middle of launching at the time t2 and the image data t3G of the firework image with the highest firework center at the time t3 are subjected to multiple exposure. It is recorded so as to be in a state.

  Thereafter, when the time t4 is counted by the MPU 17, the image data t4G corresponding to the image exposed to the image sensor 14 at the time t4 is stored in the second memory area 18b and the third memory area of the image memory 18. 18c and the fourth memory area 18d. That is, in this case, recording starts at time t4 when the recording start timing is further delayed with respect to the fourth memory area 18d than the third memory area 18c where recording of image data has already started at time t3. Is done.

  Then, image data t4G, which is an image data component at the same exposure timing of time t4, is stored in the second memory area 18b, the third memory area 18c, and the fourth memory area 18d in which the recording start order is continuous. Each is recorded. In this case, in the second memory area 18b, image data t2G of a firework image in the middle of launching at time t2, and image data t3G of a firework image in which the center of the firework reaches the highest point at time t3. As a result, the image data t4G of the fireworks image that has started to open at time t4 is recorded so as to be in a multiple exposure state, and as a result, image data Gb obtained by subjecting them to multiple exposure processing is recorded. Similarly, in the third memory area 18c, the image data t3G of the firework image in which the center of the firework reaches the highest point at the time t3 and the image data t4G of the firework image that has started to open at the time t4 are subjected to multiple exposure. It is recorded so as to be in a state.

  Thereafter, when the time t5 is counted by the MPU 17, the image data t5G corresponding to the image exposed to the image sensor 14 at the time t5 is stored in the third memory area 18c and the fourth memory area of the image memory 18. 18d and the fifth memory area 18e. That is, in this case, recording starts at time t5 when the recording start timing is further delayed with respect to the fifth memory area 18e than the fourth memory area 18d where recording of image data has already started at time t4. Is done.

  Then, image data t5G, which is an image data component at the same exposure timing of time t5, is stored in the third memory area 18c, the fourth memory area 18d, and the fifth memory area 18e in which the recording start order is continuous. Each is recorded. In this case, in the third memory area 18c, image data t3G of the firework image in which the center of the firework reaches the highest point at time t3, and image data t4G of the image of the firework that has started to open at time t4, As a result, the image data t5G of the image of the fireworks in the fully open state at the time t5 is recorded so as to be in the multiple exposure state, and as a result, the image data Gc obtained by performing multiple exposure processing on these is recorded. Similarly, in the fourth memory area 18d, the image data t4G of the fireworks image that has begun to open at time t4 and the image data t5G of the fireworks image that has been fully opened at time t5 are in a multiple exposure state. To be recorded.

  Thereafter, when the time t6 is counted by the MPU 17, the image data t6G corresponding to the image exposed to the image sensor 14 at the time t6 is stored in the fourth memory area 18d and the fifth memory area of the image memory 18. 18e, respectively. In this case, image data t6G, which is an image data component at the same exposure timing as time t6, is recorded in each of the fourth memory area 18d and the fifth memory area 18e in which the recording start order is continuous. In this case, in the fourth memory area 18d, the image data t4G of the fireworks image that has begun to open at the time t4, the image data t5G of the fully open firework image at the time t5, and the time t6. As a result of recording the image data t6G of the firework image immediately before the extinction of the image in a multiple exposure state, the image data Gd obtained by performing multiple exposure processing on the image data is recorded. Similarly, in the fifth memory area 18e, the image data t5G of the fully open firework image at the time t5 and the image data t6G of the firework image just before disappearance at the time t6 are in the multiple exposure state. To be recorded.

  Thereafter, when the time t7 is counted by the MPU 17, the image data t7G corresponding to the image exposed to the image sensor 14 at the time t7 is recorded in the fifth memory area 18e of the image memory 18. At this time t7, since the fireworks have already disappeared, the fifth memory area 18e of the image memory 18 stores the image data t5G of the fully open fireworks image at the time t5 and the time t6. The image data t6G of the fireworks image just before the extinction and the image data t7G of the dark image at time t7 are recorded so as to be in a multiple exposure state, and as a result, image data Ge obtained by subjecting them to multiple exposure processing is recorded. Will be.

  Further, when the time t8 is counted by the MPU 17 thereafter, the shutter drive unit 24 causes the shutter 13 to close and the image sensor drive unit 26 stops driving the image sensor 14 in response to a control command from the MPU 17 to end the imaging. End the series of fireworks imaging. Thereafter, the select button 22 is operated by the photographer, and images corresponding to the recording image data Ga to Ge recorded in the multiple exposure states in the memory areas 18 a to 18 e of the image memory 18 are displayed on the monitor 25. Among them, an image to be finally recorded on the memory card 20, that is, image data of an optimal image in which the fireworks are fully opened is recorded. In the present embodiment, the image data Gd of the multiple exposure process recorded in the fourth memory area 18d is recorded as the image data of the optimum image.

According to this embodiment described above, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) In a state where the shutter 13 is opened by the shutter driving unit 24 at the time t0 and the imaging device 14 is driven by the imaging device driving unit 26 to start a series of imaging of fireworks, Until the time point t8 when it is determined that the end condition is satisfied, each memory area 18a to 18e of the image memory 18 corresponds to the number of units determined as the continuous exposure unit (time count number = 3). A plurality (three in this case) of recording image data t1G to t7G are recorded in the multiple exposure state. For each of the memory areas 18a to 18e, the recording image data t1G to t7G sequentially delay the recording start timing in each memory area, and the recording start order is mutually continuous. Recording image data Ga to Ge containing image data components at the same exposure timing are recorded for 18e. Therefore, when shooting low-luminance subjects such as fireworks in the long exposure mode, even the photographer who has little experience in such long exposure mode can easily and satisfactorily open the fireworks fully open. Can be captured clearly.

  (2) In each of the memory areas 18a to 18e of the image memory 18 as a recording unit, image data t1G to t7G corresponding to a firework image that changes with the passage of time tn is recorded in a multiple exposure state in units of continuous exposure. Therefore, unlike the case of instantaneous captured images by continuous shooting, it is possible to eliminate the risk of underexposure and obtain good recording image data Ga to Ge.

  (3) In order to take an image of fireworks in the long exposure mode, the shutter button 13 is opened by turning on the release button 21 and the release button 21 is pressed at an appropriate timing that does not cause overexposure after the imaging device 14 starts imaging. It is difficult for an imager who has little imaging experience to close the shutter 13 by turning on again and end the imaging by the imaging device 14. In this regard, in the camera 11 of the present embodiment, the MPU 17 counts the time from the time t0 when the release button 21 is turned on to open the shutter 13 and start a series of imaging by the image sensor 14, and the time t8. The shutter 13 is automatically closed when the image pickup time is reached, and a series of image pickup by the image pickup device 14 is ended. Therefore, even a photographer who has little imaging experience in the long exposure mode can capture a low-luminance subject such as fireworks so that the exposure is not overexposed.

The above embodiment may be changed to another embodiment as described below.
In the above embodiment, the continuous exposure unit in the case where a plurality of pieces of image data t1G to t7G are recorded in the multiple exposure state in the continuous exposure unit in each of the memory areas 18a to 18e of the image memory 18 is the time corresponding to 3 count times in the embodiment It is not limited to the continuous exposure unit corresponding to, and may be a continuous exposure unit corresponding to two or more count times.

  In the above embodiment, when a plurality of image data t1G to t7G are recorded in the multiple exposure state in continuous exposure units in the memory areas 18a to 18e of the image memory 18, not the continuous exposure unit corresponding to the count time, The cumulative exposure amount based on the measurement result of the luminance sensor 23 and the shutter opening time may be a continuous exposure unit in which a predetermined cumulative exposure amount is obtained.

  In the above embodiment, when the release button 21 is turned on again after starting a series of imaging related to fireworks based on the release button 21 being turned on, it is determined that the end condition of the series of imaging has been satisfied. You may do it.

In the above embodiment, the number of the memory areas 18a to 18e included in the image memory 18 is not limited to five in the embodiment, and may be a plurality other than five.
In the above embodiment, the delay time of the recording start timing for each of the memory areas 18a to 18e of the image memory 18 is mixed with a case where the delay is equal to or longer than 2 count times in addition to the case where the delay time is delayed by 1 count time. Also good.

  In the above embodiment, when image data corresponding to a firework image is recorded in each of the memory areas 18a to 18e of the image memory 18 based on the count of the time tn, the luminance sensor 23 measures a luminance value greater than a predetermined value. In this case, the recording may be started from the image data t2G at the time t2 in the case of the embodiment.

  In the above embodiment, the case of fireworks, which is a kind of low-luminance subject, has been described as an example. However, the present invention is applied to low-luminance subjects such as a panning shot of a running vehicle lamp on a highway at night. Also good.

  In the above embodiment, the camera having a configuration for opening and closing the shutter 13 is illustrated, but the present invention may be applied to a camera that does not have the shutter 13. That is, you may comprise a shutter only with what is called an electronic shutter.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Camera 14 ... Image pick-up element 16 ... Signal processing circuit 17 ... MPU
18 ... Image memory 21 ... Release button 24 ... Shutter drive

Claims (5)

An imaging start / stop command unit for instructing start and end of a series of imaging,
An image pickup device that picks up an image of a subject based on a command to start a series of image pickup by the image pickup start and stop command unit;
An image data generation unit that generates still image data of the subject imaged by one of the image sensors;
A plurality of recording units capable of recording still image data of the subject generated by the image data generation unit;
In a state in which a series of imaging is started based on a command from the imaging start / stop command unit, the recording in a predetermined continuous exposure unit is performed in the image data generation unit until a predetermined series of imaging end conditions are satisfied. A plurality of recording still image data corresponding to each copy is generated, and each recording still image data is recorded for each recording portion by sequentially delaying a recording start timing in each recording portion , and while for recording the recording still image data the still image data component consisting including a plurality of still image data component at the same exposure timing with respect to the recording unit the order of recording start is continuous with each other, wherein the termination condition An electronic camera, comprising: a control unit that controls the imaging start / stop command unit so that the series of imaging is ended when the imaging is satisfied. The electronic camera according to claim 1,
The control unit causes the image data generation unit to generate still image data for recording based on imaging in units of continuous exposure over a predetermined period of time. The electronic camera according to claim 1,
The control unit causes the image data generation unit to generate still image data for recording based on imaging in a continuous exposure unit in which a predetermined cumulative exposure amount can be secured. The electronic camera according to claim 1 or 2,
The control unit controls the imaging start / stop command unit so that the series of imaging is started when a predetermined operation unit is operated by a photographer during imaging of the subject, and thereafter the operation unit An electronic camera that determines that the end condition is satisfied when operated again by the photographer. The electronic camera according to claim 1 or 2,
The control unit determines that the end condition is satisfied when a predetermined time has elapsed after a series of imaging starts.

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