JP6493594B2 - Imaging device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus.

  In the imaging apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, when an enlarged display is performed during through image display, the entire screen range of the imaging device is divided into a plurality of readout areas, which corresponds to the enlarged display area 1 All pixel data is read out from one readout region. When the enlarged display area is moved and the readout area is changed, it is temporarily switched to the thinned-out readout for full-screen display, thereby confirming which area of the full-screen range is enlarged and displayed. Can do.

JP 2009-17517 A

  According to the technique described in Patent Document 1, exposure control may not be accurately performed.

  An imaging apparatus according to the present invention calculates an exposure control value from an imaging unit having a plurality of pixels that captures an image by a photographing optical system and outputs image data, and calculates the exposure control value based on the calculated exposure control value. An exposure control unit that controls exposure of imaging in the imaging unit, a first image based on first image data output by thinning out and reading out a plurality of pixels of the imaging unit, and a part that is a part of the first image A display control unit that displays on the display unit a second image based on the second image data obtained by reading out all pixels from the area, and the exposure control unit performs the imaging by using a first exposure control value calculated from the first image data. When the exposure of the first image and the second image is controlled at a part and the position of the partial area is changed, the position of the partial area is changed and then the first image captured by the imaging part is changed. From one image data By the issued second exposure control value for controlling the exposure of the imaging of the second image at the imaging unit.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to improve the accuracy of exposure control in the imaging apparatus.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the imaging device in one embodiment. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an enlarged display process performed by a control circuit of the imaging apparatus according to an embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of an enlarged display. It is a flowchart which shows the enlarged display process of the imaging device in a modification. It is a flowchart which shows the enlarged display process performed by the control circuit of the imaging device in a modification. It is a flowchart which shows the enlarged display process performed by the control circuit of the imaging device in a modification. It is a flowchart which shows the enlarged display process performed by the control circuit of the imaging device in a modification.

  FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a camera (digital single-lens reflex camera) 50 as an imaging apparatus according to an embodiment. This automatic focusing device (hereinafter referred to as an AF device) of the camera is a hybrid AF device of phase difference detection AF and contrast detection AF. The camera 50 includes a camera body 1 and a lens barrel 20, and the lens barrel 20 is attached to the camera body 1. In addition, although the lens interchangeable camera will be described as an example as the camera 50 in the present embodiment, the present invention is not limited to the interchangeable lens camera, and can be applied to a lens fixed camera and a compact camera. Effects can be obtained. Further, a digital camera having a hybrid AF device will be described as an example of the camera 50 in the present embodiment, but the present invention is not limited to a digital camera having a hybrid AF device, and phase difference detection AF and contrast detection The present invention can also be applied to a digital camera provided with only one of the methods AF, and the same effect can be obtained.

  The camera body 1 includes an image pickup device 2, a shutter 3, a focus detection optical system 4, a focus detection sensor 5, a focus detection calculation circuit 6, a control circuit 7, a drive circuit 8, a main mirror 9, a sub mirror 10, a viewfinder screen 11, and a viewfinder LCD 12. , A pentaprism 13, a photometric lens 14, a photometric sensor 15, an eyepiece 16, an LCD color monitor 17, an operation member 18, and the like.

  The imaging device 2 is composed of a CCD, a CMOS, or the like including a plurality of imaging pixels, and converts the subject image formed by the photographing lens 23 in the lens barrel 20 into an electrical signal and outputs it. When the release button (included in the operation member 18) is fully pressed (when the shutter is released), the shutter 3 is opened only for the time of the exposure calculation result or the shutter speed manually set by the photographer, and the image sensor 2 is exposed. . The shutter 3 is opened when the contrast detection method AF and the live view mode are set, and the image sensor 2 is exposed. The focus detection optical system 4, the focus detection sensor 5, and the focus detection calculation circuit 6 constitute a phase difference detection type focus detection device, and the focus detection calculation circuit 6 detects a defocus amount indicating the focus adjustment state of the photographing lens.

  The control circuit 7 includes a microcomputer (not shown) and peripheral components such as a memory. By executing a computer program stored in advance, a sequence such as photometry, focus detection, photographing (including display and recording of a photographed image), etc. Control and calculation control such as exposure calculation (including exposure calculation based on photometry by the image sensor 2 and exposure calculation based on photometry by the photometry sensor 15), focus evaluation value calculation in the contrast detection method AF, and the like are performed. As will be described in detail later, the memory of the control circuit 7 is also used as a temporary storage device for image data read from the image sensor 2. The drive circuit 8 drives and controls a lens and an aperture driving actuator 25 provided in the camera body 1. The viewfinder LCD 12 superimposes and displays a focus detection area on the subject image on the viewfinder screen 11 and displays shooting information such as a shutter speed, an aperture value, and the number of shots outside the subject image. The image sensor 2 and the photometric sensor 15 divide the photographing screen into a plurality of areas and output a photometric signal corresponding to the luminance of each area.

  An LCD monitor (monochrome or color rear monitor) 17 is provided on the rear surface of the camera body 1 and displays subject images and photographing information according to display control by the control circuit 7. This monitor 17 has a display function for playback display after still image shooting, through image display during moving image recording, and through image display during shooting standby. In live view display during moving image recording or shooting standby, a continuous output image from the image sensor 2 is subjected to image processing (such as enlargement processing or shift processing described later) by the control circuit 7, and then displayed according to display control by the control circuit 7. To do.

  The image sensor 2 for image recording has a large number of pixels in order to capture a fine image, but the monitor 17 mounted on the camera 50 has a smaller number of pixels than the image sensor 2. Therefore, all the pixels imaged by the image sensor 2 cannot be displayed on the monitor 17. Therefore, the control circuit 7 performs a so-called through image display in which pixel data is thinned out from all the pixels of the image sensor 2 by the number of pixels of the monitor 17 and read out and displayed on the monitor 17.

  The lens barrel 20 includes a focusing lens 21, a zooming lens 22, a diaphragm 24, a lens memory 26, and the like. In FIG. 1, the focusing lens 21 and the zooming lens 22 are represented by a single photographing lens 23. The focusing lens 21 is a lens that is driven in the optical axis direction by an actuator 25 to adjust the focus of the photographing lens 23. The zooming lens 22 is a lens that is driven in the optical axis direction by an actuator 25 to change the focal length of the photographing lens 23. The diaphragm 24 is driven by an actuator 25 to change the diaphragm opening diameter. The lens memory 26 stores information relating to the photographing optical system such as the open F value and focal length of the photographing lens 23. The lens barrel 20 is provided with an operation ring (not shown) that can manually adjust the position of the focusing lens 21 in the manual focus mode.

  An operation member 18 operated by a photographer is disposed on the camera body 1. The operation member 18 includes a release half-push switch that is turned on when the release button is half-pressed, a release full-push switch that is turned on when the release button is fully pressed, an area movement switch for moving the focus detection area, and a display on the rear monitor 17. An enlargement switch for enlarging a subject image to be magnified by image processing at an arbitrary magnification, a cursor switch for moving a cursor displayed on the rear monitor 17 up and down, left and right, a command dial for switching a shooting mode such as a live view mode, A contrast AF switch for executing the contrast detection method AF using the output of the image sensor 2, a phase difference AF switch for executing the phase difference detection method AF using the output of the focus detection sensor 5, and the like are included.

  A manual focus switch for adjusting the position of the focusing lens may be provided. When the manual focus switch is operated by the operator, the focusing lens 21 is driven in the optical axis direction by the actuator 25 in accordance with the operation amount and the operation direction.

  In the present embodiment, when the focus detection area is superimposed on the through image displayed on the rear monitor 17 and a part of the full-screen display image displayed on the through image is enlarged and displayed by digital zoom, the focus detection is performed. An image of a predetermined range centering on the position of the area (enlarged display image of the enlarged display area) is enlarged and displayed. In a state where the full screen display image or the enlarged display image is displayed on the rear monitor 17, the focus detection area is moved by the area movement switch of the operation member 18. In this way, the enlarged display area of the digital zoom is moved. In order to set and move the position of the enlarged display area of the digital zoom, the cursor superimposed on the through image of the rear monitor 17 is moved by the cursor switch of the operation member 18, and a predetermined range centered on the cursor position is moved. An image (enlarged display image of the enlarged display area) may be enlarged and displayed.

  During shooting, during contrast detection AF, during live view display (when the live view mode is set), and during moving image recording, as shown in FIG. 1, the main mirror 9 and the sub mirror 10 are retracted from the shooting optical path (mirror up). The light flux from the subject that has passed through the photographing lens 23 with the shutter 3 opened is guided to the image sensor 2. At this time, the light from the subject guided to the image sensor 2 forms a subject image on the image sensor 2. This subject image is displayed on the monitor 17 and also used for photometry. This is because when the main mirror 9 is retracted from the photographing optical path, light from the subject is not guided to the photometric sensor 15. The control circuit 7 performs an exposure calculation based on the pixel data output from the image sensor 2, and calculates an exposure control value according to the brightness of the shooting screen, for example, a shutter speed and an aperture value.

  The main mirror 9 and the sub mirror 10 are placed in the photographing optical path as shown by the broken lines in FIG. 1 as the main mirror 9a and the sub mirror 10a except when shooting, contrast detection AF, during live view display, and during moving image recording. . At this time, a part of the light from the subject that has passed through the photographing lens 23 is reflected by the main mirror 9 a and guided to the finder screen 11, thereby forming a subject image on the screen 11. This subject image is guided to the photographer's eyes via the pentaprism 13 and the eyepiece lens 16 and is also guided to the photometric sensor 15 via the pentaprism 13 and the photometric lens 14. The control circuit 7 performs an exposure calculation based on a photometric signal for each photometric area output from the photometric sensor 15, and calculates a shutter speed and an aperture value according to the brightness of the shooting screen.

  When the manual exposure shooting mode is set, shooting is performed using the shutter speed and aperture value set by the photographer operating the operation member 18. Further, as the aperture value during live view display (in the live view mode), the aperture value calculated by the exposure calculation or the aperture value set by the operation member 18 is used.

  On the other hand, another part of the light from the subject that has passed through the photographic lens is transmitted through the main mirror 9 a, reflected by the sub mirror 10 a, and guided to the focus detection sensor 5 through the focus detection optical system 4. In this embodiment, focus detection areas are set at a plurality of positions in the shooting screen, and the focus detection sensor 5 outputs a focus detection signal indicating the focus adjustment state of the shooting lens 23 for each focus detection area. . The focus detection calculation circuit 6 calculates a defocus amount indicating the focus adjustment state of the photographing lens 23 based on the focus detection signal for each focus detection area. The control circuit 7 calculates a lens drive amount based on the defocus amount, and drives the actuator 25 by the drive circuit 8 to drive the focusing lens 21 in focus.

  As described above, the main mirror 9 and the sub mirror 10 are retracted from the photographing optical path (mirror up) during photographing, the contrast detection method AF, and the live view mode setting, and the subject that has passed through the photographing lens 23 with the shutter 3 opened. Are guided to the image sensor 2. In contrast detection AF, the control circuit 7 detects the focus position based on the pixel output in the focus detection area of the image sensor 2 and drives the actuator 25 by the drive circuit 8 to drive the focusing lens 21 in focus. Further, at the time of shooting, shooting is performed by the image sensor 2.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the enlarged display process of the present embodiment. FIG. 3 shows the pixel data readout area of the image sensor 2 and the display screen of the monitor 17 during the enlargement display processing of the present embodiment. In FIG. 3, an area 100 surrounded by a black frame is a focus detection area indicating an enlargement position, and a hatched portion indicates a pixel data readout area. The operation of the present embodiment will be described with reference to these drawings. An enlarged display area to be described later is an area in a predetermined range centered on the focus detection area 100 (area 120 indicated by a dotted line in FIGS. 3A and 3B). In the present embodiment, the focus detection area 100 is described as being superimposed on the through image on the monitor 17 and the display indicating the area 120 is not performed. However, the display indicating the area 120 may be performed.

  In step S <b> 1, the control circuit 7 displays an image captured by the image sensor 1 including a plurality of imaging pixels on the rear monitor 17. At this time, as shown in FIG. 3A, the area in which the control circuit 7 reads out the pixel data of the imaging pixels from the image sensor 2 is the entire screen range 150, and thinning out is read out from the pixel data in the entire screen range. As shown in FIG. 3B, the pixel data read out by thinning is displayed on the display screen of the monitor 17 as a through image in full screen display. In this way, a pixel in which a full-screen display image for displaying an image captured by the image sensor 1 in a full screen is read out while thinning out some pixels from a plurality of pixels for imaging included in the image sensor 1. It is displayed on the display screen of the monitor 17 based on the data.

  The control circuit 7 calculates an exposure control value based on the pixel data read from the image sensor 2 when the full screen display image is displayed. When the calculation of the exposure control value is completed, in the processing after step S2, the control circuit 7 displays a full-screen display image or an image on the display screen of the monitor 17 as a subsequent through image display based on the exposure control value. Exposure control is performed when an enlarged display image to be described later is displayed. It should be noted that the processing after step S2 is preferably started after the completion of the calculation of the exposure control value in step S1, but this is not necessarily the case, and the processing of step S2 is started before the calculation of the exposure control value is completed. Also good. In that case, exposure control based on the exposure control value is performed from the screen display after the calculation of the exposure control value is completed. If a new exposure control value is not calculated before imaging in step S16, which will be described later, exposure control based on the exposure control value calculated in step S1 is performed at the time of imaging in step S16. To be done.

  In subsequent step S2, the control circuit 7 checks whether or not an operation for setting the position of the enlarged display area has been performed. As shown in FIGS. 3C to 3D, in the present embodiment, the focus detection area 100 is moved by the area movement switch of the operation member 18 to move the enlarged display area 120 of the digital zoom, and the imaging element 1 is imaged. The enlarged display area 120 is set at an arbitrary position in the screen. If there is no position setting operation for the enlarged display area 120 (in other words, the focus detection area 100) by the area movement switch, the process proceeds to step S14, and if there is a position setting operation, the process proceeds to step S3. In setting the enlarged display area, the control circuit 7 performs thinning readout from the pixel data of the entire screen range 150 of the image sensor 2 as shown in FIG. 3C, and thins out as shown in FIG. A full-screen display image based on the read pixel data is displayed on the monitor 17 as a through image, and the focus detection area 100 (indicated by a black frame) is moved on the full-screen display image displayed as the through image to an arbitrary position. The enlarged display area 120 is set to

  In step S <b> 3, the control circuit 7 inputs the position of the enlarged display area 120 (the center position of the area 120 (in other words, the area 100)) set by the area movement switch of the operation member 18. In subsequent step S <b> 4, the control circuit 7 determines a readout region for all the pixels of the image sensor 2 corresponding to the position of the enlarged display region 120. In the present embodiment, the imaging screen of the imaging device 2 is divided into three readout areas, ie, an upper area 200, a central area 250, and a lower area 300, with the boundaries of each area overlapping each other. By switching the boundaries between the areas, the enlarged display area 120 can be switched smoothly. Here, as shown in FIG. 3C, the position of the enlarged display area 120 is set to the upper part of the screen of the image sensor 2 by moving the focus detection area 100. The upper area 200 is set as a reading area.

  The division of the readout area of all the pixels of the image sensor 2 is not limited to the upper part, the center part, and the lower part of the present embodiment. For example, the image sensor 2 configured by CMOS can be accessed in units of pixels. May be divided into a plurality of regions by a plurality of concentric circles with respect to the center of the imaging screen. Among these readout areas, a readout area corresponding to the position of the enlarged display area 120 set by the area movement switch is determined. In the present embodiment, the enlarged display area 120 is smaller than the readout area, but the enlarged display area 120 may have the same size as the readout area.

  In step S <b> 5, the control circuit 7 confirms whether or not an enlargement operation for performing enlargement display by digital zoom has been performed. When the enlargement switch of the operation member 18 is operated, the process proceeds to step S6, and when not operated, the process proceeds to step S14. When the enlargement operation is performed, in step S6, the control circuit 7 reads out all the pixel data in the readout area 200 of the image sensor 2 (see FIG. 3 (f)), and further in the enlarged display area 120. Is extracted and displayed as an enlarged display image on the monitor 17 (see FIG. 3E). In the enlarged display image on the monitor 17, the black frame 100 indicating the focus detection area is also enlarged and displayed as shown in FIG.

  In step S7, it is confirmed whether or not an enlargement end operation has been performed. In the present embodiment, when the enlargement switch of the operation member 18 is operated again (ON operation) during the display of the enlarged display image, the control circuit 7 ends the enlarged display. When the enlargement display end operation is not performed, the process proceeds to step S8, and when the enlargement end operation is performed, the process proceeds to step S14. If the enlargement end operation has not been performed, the control circuit 7 confirms in step S8 whether or not an operation for moving the position of the enlarged display area has been performed. When the movement operation of the enlarged display area position is performed by the area movement switch of the operation member 18, the process proceeds to step S9, and when the movement operation is not performed, the process returns to step S6.

  When the movement operation of the enlarged display area position is performed, in step S9, the control circuit 7 confirms whether or not the readout area needs to be changed along with the movement of the enlarged display area position. As shown in FIG. 3H, when the enlarged display area 120 after movement (the frame display 100 of the focus detection area indicated by a black frame) is in the current read area 200, it is not necessary to change the read area. . If the position of the enlarged display area 120 after the movement is out of the current read area, the process proceeds to step S11 if the read area needs to be changed, otherwise the process proceeds to step S10. If there is no need to change the readout area, the control circuit 7 extracts the pixel data of the enlarged display area after movement from the current readout area and enlarges it on the monitor 17 in step S10. Then, it returns to step S7 and repeats the process mentioned above.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 3I to 3J, when the position of the enlarged display area after the movement reaches the lower end of the current readout area, the readout area is changed. In this case, in step S11, the control circuit 7 performs thinning readout from the pixel data of the entire screen range 150 of the image pickup device 2 as shown in FIG. 3 (k), and thins out as shown in FIG. 3 (l). A full screen display image based on the read pixel data is displayed on the monitor 17 as a through image. That is, the control circuit 7 switches the image display on the monitor 17 from displaying an enlarged display image to displaying a full screen display image.

  The control circuit 7 calculates an exposure control value based on the pixel data read from the image sensor 2 when the full screen display image is displayed. When the calculation of the exposure control value is completed, in the processing after step S12, the control circuit 7 displays a full-screen display image or an image on the display screen of the monitor 17 as a subsequent through image display based on the exposure control value. Exposure control when displaying an enlarged display image is performed. It should be noted that the processing after step S12 is preferably started after the completion of the calculation of the exposure control value in step S11, but this is not necessarily the case, and the processing of step S12 is started before the calculation of the exposure control value is completed. Also good. In that case, exposure control based on the exposure control value is performed from the screen display after the calculation of the exposure control value is completed. If a new exposure control value is not calculated before imaging in step S16, which will be described later, exposure control based on the exposure control value calculated in step S11 is performed at the time of imaging in step S16. To be done.

  In subsequent step S12, the control circuit 7 superimposes and displays a black frame 100 indicating the position of the center of the enlarged display area 120 after movement on the through image (full-screen display image) of the captured image displayed on the monitor 17. Thus, the photographer is made aware of where the enlarged display area is on the full-screen display image.

  Next, in step S13, the control circuit 7 switches the reading area. Here, as shown in FIG. 3 (n), the readout area is switched to the central area 250 of the photographing screen. Thereafter, the process returns to step S6, and the control circuit 7 switches the image display on the monitor 17 from the display of the full screen display image to the display of the enlarged display image. The control circuit 7 reads out all the pixel data in the new readout area 250 of the image sensor 2, further extracts the pixel data in the enlarged display area 120 after movement from among them, and performs a new enlargement based on the extracted pixel data The display image is displayed on the monitor 17 (see FIG. 3 (m)).

  If the operation for setting the position of the enlarged display area is not performed in step S2, the enlargement operation for performing the enlarged display is not performed in step S5, or the enlargement display end operation is performed in step S7. If YES in step S14, the control circuit 7 confirms the release button operation of the operation member 18. If there is no release button operation, the process returns to step S2, and the above-described processing is repeated. If there is a release button operation, the process proceeds to step S15, and the control circuit 7 ends the through image display of the full screen display image on the monitor 17. In step S16, the control circuit 7 performs imaging by the image sensor 2 based on the already calculated exposure control value, and in the subsequent step S17, reads the captured image from the image sensor 2, performs known image processing, and executes the memory card. The image data is recorded on a recording medium (not shown).

  It should be noted that the area where pixel data is read out from the entire screen range of the image sensor 2 is preferably as wide as possible, but is within a range where the image reading speed (frame rate) from the image sensor 2 during the through image display can be maintained. There is a need. For example, when a through image display is performed at a readout speed of 30 f / s at 30 frames per second, an area of image data that can be read out at a readout speed of 30 f / s for all pixel data in the readout area is set as the readout area. To do. By setting the readout area in this way, it is possible to perform enlarged display while maintaining the frame rate of the through image display, and it is possible to enlarge and display the movement of the subject in real time. FIG. 3 (o) is a diagram showing a readout region (lower region) 300 that is switched when the focus detection area 100 is moved further down on the monitor 17. FIG. As can be seen from comparison with FIG. 3 (n), the lower region 300 and the central region 250 partially overlap.

  In the present embodiment described above, all the pixel data in the readout area in the entire screen imaged by the image sensor 2 is read out, and the pixel data in the enlarged display area is extracted from the data and displayed on the monitor 17. A part of the image captured by the image sensor 2 is displayed on the monitor 17 as an enlarged display image. Therefore, the resolution of the enlarged display image is the same as the resolution at the time of imaging by the imaging device 2. That is, an enlarged image can be displayed with the resolution of the captured image.

  According to the present embodiment, the position (enlarged display area position) to be enlarged and displayed on the through image (full screen display image) displayed on the monitor 17 by the area movement switch of the operation member 18 is set. The control circuit 7 sets a readout area corresponding to the enlarged display area position on the imaging screen of the image sensor 2, reads out pixel data of the readout area from the image sensor 2, and obtains pixel data of the enlarged display area position from the pixel data. Extracted and displayed on the monitor 17. Since it did in this way, the enlarged image of the arbitrary positions in a imaging | photography screen can be displayed in real time according to a to-be-photographed object's motion, and the same resolution as a captured image.

  According to the present embodiment, the control circuit 7 determines whether or not to switch the reading area when the enlarged display position is moved by the operation member 18. When it is determined that the readout area is to be switched, the control circuit 7 once displays the full-screen display image of the captured image of the image sensor 2 on the monitor 17 as a through image, and superimposes the enlarged display area position after the movement. Thereafter, the control circuit 7 reads out the pixel data in the read-out area after switching from the image sensor 2, extracts the image data at the enlarged display area position after movement from the pixel data, and displays it on the monitor 17 as an enlarged display image. Thus, the photographer can easily recognize to which position on the shooting screen (full-screen display image) the enlarged display area position has been moved.

  According to the present embodiment, when the control circuit 7 determines not to switch the readout area, the control circuit 7 extracts the pixel data at the enlarged display area position after the movement from the image data in the readout area, and creates an enlarged display image. Displayed on the monitor 17. Therefore, it is not necessary to switch the readout area every time the enlarged display area position is moved, and the enlarged display process can be simplified.

  According to the present embodiment, the control circuit 7 takes the photographer of the area movement switch of the operation member 18 provided for setting the position for detecting the focus adjustment state of the photographing lens 23 in the photographing screen of the image sensor 2. The enlarged display area position is set according to the operation by. Therefore, when the photographing lens 23 is focused on the main subject intended by the photographer, the state of the image of the main subject can be confirmed on the monitor 17, and a photograph in which the main subject is in focus can be obtained. Can do.

  The camera 50 in the present embodiment includes an image sensor 2 and a control circuit 7. The imaging element 2 includes a plurality of imaging pixels and captures an image formed by the imaging lens 23. In step S <b> 1, the control circuit 7 reads out a full screen display image for displaying the full screen range 150 of the image captured by the image sensor 2 in full screen while thinning out some pixels from a plurality of imaging pixels. Displayed on the monitor 17 based on the pixel data. In step S6, the control circuit 7 displays the enlarged display image in which the enlarged display area 120 included in a part of the full screen display image is enlarged based on the pixel data corresponding to the position of the enlarged display area 120. To display. When the read area 200 from which the pixel data is read is changed to the read area 250 due to the movement of the position of the enlarged display area 120, the control circuit 7 changes the image display of the monitor 17 to the display of the enlarged display image in step S11. In step S6, the display of the image on the monitor 17 is switched to the display of the enlarged display image based on the pixel data corresponding to the position of the enlarged display area 120 after the movement. To do. In step S11, the control circuit 7 calculates the exposure control value based on the pixel data read out by switching the image display of the monitor 17 to the display of the full-screen display image, and based on the exposure control value, the monitor 17 The exposure control after step S6 is switched to display of the enlarged image display. Therefore, exposure control can be performed with high accuracy in the camera 50 according to the present embodiment. The live view is displayed with a live view that has been subjected to exposure control similar to the exposure control when the recorded image is captured. For example, the brightness of the main subject to be enlarged is captured by capturing the recorded image. The photographer can confirm whether or not this is done.

  The camera 50 in the present embodiment further includes an operation member 18. The operation member 18 sets the position of the enlarged display area 120 on either the full screen display image or the enlarged display image. In step S4, when the enlarged display image is displayed, the control circuit 7 reads out pixel data including at least pixel data corresponding to the position of the enlarged display area 120 from the pixel data of the plurality of imaging pixels. Region 200 is set. When the control circuit 7 switches the image display on the monitor 17 from the display of the enlarged display image to the display of the full screen display image in step S11, the control circuit 7 displays the enlarged display after moving to the full screen display image on the monitor 17 in step S12. Control is performed so that the position of the region 120 is displayed in a superimposed manner, and when the image display on the monitor 17 is switched from the full-screen display image display to the enlarged display image display in the subsequent step S6, it is used to display the enlarged display image The pixel data corresponding to the position of the enlarged display area 120 after the movement is at least a part of the pixel data of the read area 250 after the change. Even if the processing in step S12 is started before the calculation of the exposure control value started in step S11 is completed, the photographer confirms in which position the enlarged display area is on the full-screen display image in step S12. During this time, the calculation of the exposure control value can be continued.

  The control circuit 7 displays the image on the monitor 17 in step S6 after completing the calculation of the exposure control value started in steps S1 and S11 after the position of the enlarged display area 120 after movement is superimposed on the full screen display image. Is preferably switched to display of an enlarged display image. Immediately after the image display on the monitor 17 is switched to the display of the enlarged display image, exposure control based on the latest calculated exposure control value can be performed.

  In step S <b> 17, the control circuit 7 records the image captured by the image sensor 2 as a recorded image on a recording medium (not shown) such as a memory card. In step S6, after controlling to display on the monitor 17 an enlarged display image based on the pixel data corresponding to the position of the enlarged display area 120 after movement, recording is performed in step S17 based on the exposure control value calculated in step S11. Exposure control is performed when the recorded image to be captured is captured in step S16. For example, since the photographer confirms the brightness of the main subject to be magnified and displayed on the live view display after being confirmed by the photographer, the image is recorded and recorded. A corresponding recorded image is obtained.

The camera 50 according to the embodiment of the present invention described above may be modified as in the following modified example.
(1) In the enlargement display processing (see FIG. 2) of the embodiment described above, when an enlargement operation (step S5) for performing enlargement display by digital zoom is performed, the enlargement magnification at the time of enlargement display is Regardless of the configuration, all pixel data is read (step S6), but the present invention is not limited to this.

  In the following, the display processing operation of the present modification taking into account the enlargement magnification will be described. Note that steps that perform the same operation as the enlarged display process shown in FIG. 2 of the embodiment described above are denoted by the same step numbers and description thereof is omitted. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an enlarged display process of this modification. The difference from the above-described embodiment is that, in this modification, switching between all pixel readout and thinning readout is performed based on the enlargement magnification.

  After executing the processing of steps S1 to S5 in FIG. 2, the control circuit 7 proceeds to step S40 in FIG. 4, and whether the instruction content of the enlargement operation is an instruction to instruct enlargement display with a predetermined magnification (K times) or more. Determine whether or not. The predetermined magnification (K times) is a state in which the displayed image becomes rough and unbearable for viewing when enlarged display is performed on the LCD monitor 17 using the pixel data (through image) read out by thinning. It is the magnification which becomes. In other words, if the enlargement magnification is less than K times, it is a magnification at which an enlarged image that can be viewed is obtained even if the thinned-out image (through image) is enlarged and displayed on the LCD monitor 17. The information on the predetermined magnification (K times) is stored in advance in the memory of the control circuit 7 of the camera.

  If an affirmative determination is made in step S40 (the enlargement magnification is K times or more), the process proceeds to step S6, and if a negative determination is made (that is, the enlargement magnification is less than K times), the process proceeds to step S14. The subsequent processing is as described in FIG.

(2) In the above-described embodiment and modification, only two forms of thinning readout display (through image display) and all pixel readout display are used as display forms. However, the number of readout pixels is both (through image / all pixels). A display mode having an intermediate number of (reading) pixels may be provided as a high-definition through-image display mode. That is, this high-definition live view display mode is a display mode in which the thinning rate is different from the live view display described above (the thinning rate is lower than the thinning rate of the live view). With this configuration, the control circuit 7 of the camera 50 can appropriately select the readout display optimized for each enlargement ratio instructed to enlarge, and thereby read out the pixels regardless of the enlargement magnification. It is possible to enjoy the advantage that the appearance of the display image is not impaired while maintaining the time reduction (maintaining image quality that does not cause inconvenience for viewing).

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an enlarged display process when the high-definition live view display mode is provided. Note that steps that perform the same operations as those shown in FIG. 2 of the embodiment described above are denoted by the same step numbers and description thereof is omitted. After executing the processing of steps S1 to S5 in FIG. 2, the control circuit 7 instructs enlargement display in step S50 where the instruction content of the enlargement operation is greater than the instruction (1) first predetermined magnification (K times). Whether or not the content is instructed, or (2) whether or not the content is an instruction to display an enlarged display that is less than the first predetermined magnification but greater than or equal to the second predetermined magnification (J times) (J <K), Is determined. If the instruction (1) or (2) is affirmed, the process proceeds to step S51. If the determination is negative (that is, the enlargement magnification is less than J times), the process proceeds to step S14.

  In step S51, if the instruction (1) in step S50 is affirmed, the same processing as in step S6 in FIG. 2 is performed. On the other hand, if the instruction (2) in step SS50 is affirmed, the control circuit 7 performs an enlarged display on the LCD 17 in the above-described high-definition live view display mode.

  It should be noted that the first predetermined magnification (K times) in this modification is that on the LCD monitor 17 in either the through image display mode or the high-definition through image display mode when enlarged and displayed at a higher magnification. This is the magnification at which the image displayed in becomes rough and unbearable. Further, when the second predetermined magnification (J times) is enlarged and displayed at a higher magnification, the above-mentioned through image display is a magnification at which the image displayed on the LCD monitor 17 becomes rough and unbearable. It is. Information on these predetermined magnifications (K times, J times) is stored in advance in the memory of the control circuit 7 of the camera.

  Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S7, and thereafter the same processing as the processing shown in FIG. 2 is performed.

  In this modification, an example in which only one intermediate pixel number reading mode is added is shown. However, a plurality of reading modes having different pixel reading numbers are provided, and each enlargement display magnification ratio is set. You may make it use these several read-out modes properly.

  In addition, instead of configuring the camera 50 so that the user can select and set an arbitrary enlargement magnification, the control circuit 7 can easily perform enlargement display processing (thinning control when reading out pixels) when an enlargement display instruction is given. The camera 50 may be configured so that only the enlargement magnification can be selected and set (so that the enlargement magnification that can be set is limited).

(3) In the embodiment and the modification described above, the exposure control value is calculated by the control circuit 7 in step S1 prior to step S2 in which the enlarged display region position is set on the full screen display image by the operation member 18. Is done. Further, in step S11 in which the control circuit 7 switches the image display of the monitor 17 from the display of the enlarged display image to the display of the full screen display image, the control circuit 7 calculates the exposure control value. In the above-described embodiment and modification, when the enlarged display process shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 4 or FIG. 5 does not go through step S11, it goes through step S11 based on the exposure control value calculated in step S1. In this case, based on the exposure control value calculated in step S11, exposure control is performed by the control circuit 7 at the time of imaging in step S16 of the captured image recorded in step S17.

  In the case where the enlarged display process shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 4 or FIG. 5 passes through step S11, and the change in the subject is small, the exposure control value calculated in step S1 and the exposure control value calculated in step S11 The difference is less than a predetermined value. In such a case, exposure control based on the exposure control value calculated in step S11 by the control circuit 7 at the time of imaging and recording of the captured image in steps S16 and S17 is appropriately performed. However, if the difference is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, it is considered that the change in the subject is large. Therefore, as the time elapsed since the exposure control value was calculated in step S11, the exposure control value becomes an appropriate value in step S11. It may disappear.

  Therefore, in this modification, the control circuit 7 performs an enlarged display process shown in FIG. The enlarged display process shown in FIG. 6 includes step S115 instead of the process of step S15 included in the enlarged display process shown in FIG. In step S115 before the recording image is captured, when the release button is operated in step S14, the control circuit 7 ends the through image display of the full-screen display image on the monitor 17 and the exposure control value. When it is determined whether or not it is necessary to calculate, and when it is determined that it is necessary to calculate the exposure control value, the pixel data is read from the image sensor 2, and the exposure control value is newly calculated based on the read pixel data. . At the time of imaging in step S16, the control circuit 7 performs exposure control using the newly calculated exposure control value, and reads and records the image acquired by such imaging from the image sensor 2 in step S17. When the control circuit 7 determines that it is not necessary to calculate the exposure control value in step S115, if the enlarged display process shown in FIG. 6 passes through step S11, the control circuit 7 determines the exposure control calculated in step S11. Exposure control using values is performed, and an image acquired by such imaging is read out from the imaging device 2 and recorded in step S17. By doing so, a more preferable image is captured and recorded.

  In step S115, the control circuit 7 determines whether or not the exposure control value needs to be calculated based on the difference between the exposure control value calculated in step S1 and the exposure control value calculated in step S11. When the difference is less than the predetermined value, the control circuit 7 determines that it is not necessary to calculate the exposure control value, and when the difference is equal to or greater than the predetermined value, the control circuit 7 determines that the exposure control value needs to be calculated.

(4) In the embodiment and the modification described above, the control circuit 7 calculates the exposure control value based on the pixel data read from the image sensor 2 when the full-screen display image is displayed. When calculating the exposure control value, the control circuit 7 may also calculate a white balance control value based on the pixel data read from the same image sensor 2. FIG. 7 showing the enlarged display process corresponding to this modification includes steps S101 and S111, respectively, instead of the processes of steps S1 and S11 included in the enlarged display process shown in FIG. In steps S101 and S111, the control circuit 7 calculates an exposure control value and a white balance control value based on the pixel data read from the image sensor 2. When starting the exposure control based on the calculated exposure control value, the control circuit 7 also starts the white balance control based on the calculated white balance control value. By doing so, a more preferable through image is displayed.

1 camera body, 2 image sensor, 3 shutter, 7 control circuit, 9 main mirror,
10 sub-mirror, 17 monitor, 18 operation member, 20 lens barrel,
23 photographic lens, 50 cameras

Claims (7)

An imaging unit having a plurality of pixels that captures an image by a photographing optical system and outputs image data;
An exposure control unit that calculates an exposure control value based on the image data, and controls an exposure of an image captured by the imaging unit based on the calculated exposure control value;
A first image based on first image data output by thinning out and reading out a plurality of pixels of the imaging unit, and a second image based on second image data obtained by reading out all pixels of a partial area that is a part of the first image. A display control unit for displaying on the display unit,
The exposure control unit controls exposure of the first image and the second image captured by the imaging unit based on a first exposure control value calculated from the first image data, and the position of the partial region is changed. Then, the exposure of the imaging of the second image in the imaging unit is determined by the second exposure control value calculated from the first image data captured by the imaging unit after the position of the partial region is changed. An imaging device to be controlled. The imaging device according to claim 1,
The display controller is configured to display the second image based on the second image data picked up by the second exposure control value after the position of the partial region is changed. The imaging device according to claim 1 or 2,
When the position of the partial area is changed and the second image data is changed, the display control unit switches from the display of the second image to the display of the first image, and the display after the change An imaging apparatus that switches to display the second image based on two-image data. The imaging device according to claim 3.
An operation member for setting the position of the partial region on one of the first image and the second image;
A setting unit that sets second image data according to the position of the partial area from the image data;
The setting unit is configured to set the second image data before the position of the partial area is changed and the second image data after the position of the partial area is changed by setting at least a part of the second image data. apparatus. In the imaging device according to any one of claims 2 to 4,
A recording unit that records the image data output from the imaging unit in a storage device;
The exposure control unit is an imaging apparatus that performs exposure control of the image data by the imaging unit based on the calculated second exposure control value. The imaging apparatus according to claim 5,
When the difference between the first exposure control value and the second exposure control value is less than a predetermined value, the exposure control unit controls the exposure of the image data by the imaging unit based on the second exposure control value. And
An imaging device that performs exposure control of the image data by the imaging unit based on a third exposure control value different from the second exposure control value based on the first image data when the difference is equal to or greater than the predetermined value . In the imaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
An imaging apparatus further comprising a white balance control unit that performs white balance control together with the exposure control based on first image data read when exposure control is performed by the exposure control unit.

Images