JP6590560B2 - Imaging control apparatus and control method thereof - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging control device and a control method therefor, and more particularly to a technique for setting an image-related sensitivity to an appropriate value as a recording size setting is changed.

  In recent years, moving images with resolutions and recording sizes such as 4K2K, which are different from conventional FHD (full high-definition), etc. have appeared, and some imaging devices can also shoot with these multiple recording sizes.

  On the other hand, Patent Document 1 describes that noise reduction is increased as the ISO sensitivity increases.

JP 2010-278530 A

  When processing such as noise reduction is performed, the processing load increases as the recording size increases. When noise reduction is applied based on ISO sensitivity as in Patent Document 1, the processing load increases as the ISO sensitivity increases. Therefore, when the ISO sensitivity is high in an image with a large recording size, processing may not catch up particularly in shooting with a fixed frame rate such as a moving image, and the image may be interrupted, resulting in a reduction in image quality. On the other hand, if the ISO sensitivity is lowered in order not to deteriorate the image quality, there is a possibility that shooting is performed with a value different from the setting value intended by the user.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an imaging control apparatus that can perform imaging with optimum sensitivity without impairing image quality.

In order to achieve the above object, the imaging control device of the present invention provides an image in any one of a plurality of recording sizes including at least a first recording size and a second recording size larger than the first recording size. Is set as the sensitivity when the first recording size is switched to the second recording size by the switching means for switching the recording size, the setting means for setting the sensitivity relating to imaging, and the switching means. When the first value is larger than the upper limit value of the sensitivity that can be set in the second recording size, the sensitivity is changed from the first value to a second value smaller than the upper limit value, Control means for controlling the setting means so that the sensitivity is not changed from the first value when the first value is not more than the upper limit value .

  According to the present invention, it is possible to perform photographing with optimum sensitivity without deteriorating the quality of the image.

External view of a digital camera as an example of an apparatus to which the configuration of this embodiment can be applied 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a digital camera as an example of an apparatus to which the configuration of this embodiment can be applied. Flowchart showing recording size set setting processing in this embodiment The figure which shows an example of the setting screen of a recording size set in this embodiment, and a live view screen The figure which shows an example of the setting screen of the ISO value in this embodiment

  Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIGS. 1A and 1B are external views of a digital camera as an example of an imaging control apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 1A is a front perspective view of the digital camera 100, and FIG. 1B is a rear perspective view of the digital camera 100. In FIG. 1B, a display unit 28 is a display unit that displays images and various types of information. A touch panel 70 a capable of detecting a touch operation is superimposed on the display unit 28. The shutter button 61 is an operation unit for issuing a shooting instruction. The mode switch 60 is an operation unit for switching various modes such as moving images and still images. The power switch 72 is an operation member that switches the power of the digital camera 100 on and off. The electronic dial 73 is included in the operation unit 70 and is a rotation operation member included in the operation unit 70, and can perform movement of a selection frame, image feed, and the like. The cross key 74 is included in the operation unit 70, and is a cross key (four-way key) that can push in the upper, lower, left, and right portions. An operation corresponding to the pressed portion of the cross key 74 is possible. The SET button 75 is included in the operation unit 70, is a push button, and is mainly used for determining a selection item. The LV button 76 is included in the operation unit 70 and is a button for switching ON / OFF of the live view (hereinafter referred to as LV) image display. The menu button 78 is a button for switching between display and non-display of the menu screen. On the menu screen, setting of ISO sensitivity described later, setting of information displayed on the live view image, and the like can be performed. The Q button 77 (quick setting button) is a button for easily changing the setting of items on the live view screen without transitioning to the menu screen during shooting (live view image display). When the Q button 77 is pressed, the settable items (Q setting screen) are displayed superimposed on the live view screen, and the setting change operation can be performed while viewing the live view image.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the digital camera 100 according to the present embodiment.

  The lens 103 is usually composed of a plurality of lenses, but here, only a single lens is shown for simplicity. The shutter 101 is a shutter having an aperture function.

  The imaging unit 22 is an imaging device configured with a CCD, a CMOS device, or the like that converts an optical image into an electrical signal. The A / D converter 23 converts an analog signal into a digital signal. The A / D converter 23 is used to convert an analog signal output from the imaging unit 22 into a digital signal.

  The image processing unit 24 performs resizing processing such as predetermined pixel interpolation and reduction and color conversion processing on the data from the A / D converter 23 or the data from the memory control unit 15.

  Output data from the A / D converter 23 is directly written into the memory 32 via the image processing unit 24 and the memory control unit 15 or via the memory control unit 15. The memory 32 stores image data obtained by the imaging unit 22 and converted into digital data by the A / D converter 23 and image data to be displayed on the display unit 28. The memory 32 has a storage capacity sufficient to store a predetermined number of still images, a moving image and sound for a predetermined time.

  The memory 32 also serves as an image display memory (video memory). The D / A converter 13 converts the image display data stored in the memory 32 into an analog signal and supplies the analog signal to the display unit 28. Thus, the display image data written in the memory 32 is displayed on the display unit 28 via the D / A converter 13. The display unit 28 performs display according to the analog signal from the D / A converter 13 on a display such as an LCD. A digital signal once A / D converted by the A / D converter 23 and stored in the memory 32 is converted into an analog signal by the D / A converter 13 and sequentially transferred to the display unit 28 for display as an electronic viewfinder. It functions and can perform live view display (live view display). The display unit 28 is a rear monitor for displaying an image, and is not limited to a liquid crystal system as long as it is a display that displays an image, and may be a display of another system such as an organic EL.

  The nonvolatile memory 56 is an electrically erasable / recordable memory, and for example, an EEPROM or the like is used. The nonvolatile memory 56 stores constants, programs, and the like for operating the system control unit 50. Here, the program is a program for executing various flowcharts described later in the present embodiment. The non-volatile memory 56 is a setting value that is currently being set, and a setting recording area 56a for storing a value that is used for the current shooting. There is a storage recording area 56b for storing set values applicable in photographing. For example, a setting ISO value is recorded in the setting recording area 56a, and, for example, a saving ISO value is recorded in the saving recording area 56b.

  The system control unit 50 controls the entire digital camera 100. By executing the program recorded in the non-volatile memory 56 described above, each process of the present embodiment to be described later is realized.

  In the system memory 52, constants and variables for operation of the system control unit 50, programs read from the nonvolatile memory 56, and the like are expanded. The system memory 52 is a RAM. The system control unit 50 also performs display control by controlling the memory 32, the D / A converter 13, the display unit 28, and the like.

  The mode switch 60, the shutter button 61, and the operation unit 70 are operation means for inputting various operation instructions to the system control unit 50.

  The mode switch 60 switches the operation mode of the system control unit 50 to any one of a still image recording mode, a moving image shooting mode, a reproduction mode, and the like.

  The shutter button 61 is a button for issuing a still image shooting instruction, a moving image shooting start instruction, or a shooting end instruction. The first shutter switch 62 is turned on when the shutter button 61 provided in the digital camera 100 is being operated, so-called half-press (shooting preparation instruction), and generates a first shutter switch signal SW1. In response to the first shutter switch signal SW1, operations such as AF (autofocus) processing and AE (automatic exposure) processing are started. The second shutter switch 64 is turned ON when the operation of the shutter button 61 is completed, that is, when it is fully pressed (shooting instruction), and generates a second shutter switch signal SW2. In response to the second shutter switch signal SW2, the system control unit 50 starts a series of shooting processing operations from reading a signal from the imaging unit 22 to writing image data on the recording medium 200.

  Each operation member of the operation unit 70 is appropriately assigned a function for each scene by selecting and operating various function icons displayed on the display unit 28, and functions as various function buttons. Examples of the function buttons include a menu button 78, a SET button 75, a cross key 74, and an electronic dial 73.

  The power control unit 80 includes a battery detection circuit, a DC-DC converter, a switch circuit that switches a block to be energized, and the like, and detects whether or not a battery is installed, the type of battery, and the remaining battery level. Further, the power control unit 80 controls the DC-DC converter based on the detection result and an instruction from the system control unit 50, and supplies a necessary voltage to each unit including the recording medium 200 for a necessary period.

  The power supply unit 30 includes a primary battery such as an alkaline battery or a lithium battery, a secondary battery such as a NiCd battery, a NiMH battery, or a Li battery, an AC adapter, or the like. When the power switch 72 is instructed to switch power on and off, the system controller 50 is informed of the power on / off and can be turned on / off.

  The recording medium I / F 18 is an interface with the recording medium 200 such as a memory card or a hard disk. The recording medium 200 is a recording medium such as a memory card for recording a captured image, and includes a semiconductor memory, a magnetic disk, or the like.

  Here, the setting value (ISO value) of the ISO sensitivity in this embodiment will be described. The ISO value is a setting value related to the sensitivity that determines the brightness of the image, and can be set on the menu screen or the Q setting screen. In general, the higher the ISO value, the higher the sensitivity of shooting, but the more likely noise is in the image. The processing for removing noise (noise reduction) varies depending on the resolution of the image, and the larger the file size, the greater the degree of processing to the apparatus, and the higher the processing load. Alternatively, the content of processing such as changing the test range for noise reduction may be different due to the higher resolution. For this reason, if 4K and FHD (full high-definition) video shooting with greatly different recording sizes (resolution and file size) are shot with the same ISO value, it may take more time to process than 4F when shooting 4K. There is sex. If shooting is performed with the ISO value set after the user has set shooting with a high ISO value, there is a possibility that noise reduction processing may not catch up with the set frame rate. Therefore, there is a possibility that the image is interrupted by a frame that cannot be caught up, and the quality of the image is deteriorated. On the other hand, if the ISO value is set low so that the quality of the image does not deteriorate, the ISO value intended by the user is not reflected in the shooting, and the image intended by the user may not be obtained. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the initial value of the upper limit of the 4K ISO value with higher resolution (the upper limit value in the initial setting) is made smaller than the FHD, thereby preventing image quality from being reduced during 4K video shooting. . However, as will be described later, in the ISO value setting range setting screen, the 4K ISO value can be set to the same upper limit as that of FHD in accordance with the user operation. Therefore, when the user intentionally sets the image quality, Although there is a possibility of reduction, it is possible to shoot 4K moving images with high sensitivity.

  FIG. 5 shows the ISO value Q setting screen. The Q setting screen 501 in FIG. 5A shows that the recording size of the moving image being set is FHD, and the Q setting screen 502 in FIG. This shows a case where the recording size of the moving image is 4K. When the recording size of the moving image is set to FHD, an FHD setting screen is displayed. When the moving image recording size is set to 4K, a 4K setting screen is displayed. In each setting screen, the user can set the ISO value by operating the cross key 74 and the SET button 75 or touching an icon indicating the ISO value (can accept a setting change operation). The set ISO value is recorded in the setting recording area 56a and read in S303. As described above, in the initial setting of the FHD, the ISO value can be set in the range of 100 to 51200 as shown in FIG. On the other hand, in the initial setting of 4K, in order to appropriately perform noise control, the upper limit value of the ISO value that can be set is lower than in the case of FHD, and the ISO value is 100 as shown in FIG. It can be set in the range of ˜12800. However, this is a range in which the ISO value can be set in the initial setting, and an ISO value larger than 12800 cannot be set in 4K, and the ISO value setting range can be changed on the menu screen. When the menu button 78 is pressed to open the menu screen, the ISO sensitivity setting is selected, and the ISO value setting range is further selected, a 4K ISO value setting range setting screen 503 as shown in FIG. Is displayed. In the setting range setting screen 503 for the ISO value, the setting range can be changed by changing the upper limit value and the lower limit value of the ISO value that can be set on the Q setting screen 502 in FIG. The upper limit value is selected on the setting screen 503 for the 4K ISO value setting range, and the upper limit value can be increased by pressing the upper button of the cross key 74. Thus, the upper limit value and the lower limit value can be adjusted. Note that when the setting range of the 4K ISO value is changed, the ISO value displayed on the Q setting screen also changes. For example, when the upper limit value is set to 32000, the Q setting screen 502 for 4K further displays 16000, 20000, 25600, and 32000, and these ISO values can be set when the recording size is 4K. .

  Next, the setting of the moving image recording size will be described with reference to FIG. On the recording size setting screen 402 shown in FIG. 4A, the recording size, frame rate, and compression format of the moving image can be set. The recording size of moving images can be selected from either 4K or FHD, and the frame rate can be selected from any of 59.95 fps, 29.97 fps, and 23.98 fps. The compression format when the recording size of the moving image is 4K can be set to MJPEG (Motion JPEG), and the compression format for FHD is ALL-I (high image quality, a format suitable for the moving image to be edited) and IPB ( A format with a small file capacity and suitable for long-time recording). Therefore, as shown in the recording size setting screen 402 in FIG. 4A, icons are displayed (arranged in parallel) with the frame rate and compression format combined for each moving image recording size as a set. In other words, the icons 404 to 406 indicate 4K although the frame rates are different, and the icons 407 to 412 indicate FHD although either the frame rate or the compression format is different.

  The setting process of the recording size, frame rate, and compression format in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. This process is realized by developing a program recorded in the nonvolatile memory 56 in the system memory 52 and executing it by the system control unit 50. This process starts when the digital camera 100 is turned on and a live view screen is displayed on the display unit 28 in the moving image mode, and then an instruction to set the recording size, frame rate, and compression format is given. The instruction to set the recording size, the frame rate, and the compression format is performed by selecting an item for setting the recording size and the frame rate from the settable items displayed by pressing the Q button 77.

  In S301, the system control unit 50 displays the live view image 401 on the display unit 28 as illustrated in FIG.

  In S <b> 302, the system control unit 50 displays a recording size setting screen 402 superimposed on the live view image 401 displayed on the display unit 28 in S <b> 301. As described above, since the recording size setting screen 402 is displayed so as to be superimposed on the live view image 401, the user can perform a setting operation while checking the subject.

  In S303, as shown in the recording size setting screen 402 in FIG. 4A, the system control unit 50 reads the set recording size set (recording size, frame) read from the setting recording area 56a of the nonvolatile memory 56. A frame 403 is displayed on the set of rate and compression format. A recording size set surrounded by a frame 403 indicates that it is being set (selected). The guide 413 displays a description indicating the currently selected recording set.

  In S304, the system control unit 50 initializes (sets to 0) the storage ISO value recorded in the storage recording area 56b.

  In S305, the system control unit 50 reads the upper limit value of the ISO value for each recording size (4K and FHD). The ISO value of 4K can be set to a larger value on the ISO value setting range setting screen 503 shown in FIG. 5C, but is 12800 in the initial setting. When the setting range of the ISO value is changed, the upper limit value of the ISO value read in S305 is also different.

  In step S <b> 306, the system control unit 50 determines whether an operation has been performed on the digital camera 100. If it is determined that there is an operation, the process proceeds to S307, and if not, the process waits until there is an operation.

  In S307, the system control unit 50 determines whether or not the shutter button 61 is fully pressed (SW2) and an instruction to start shooting a moving image is issued. If it is determined that an instruction to start shooting a moving image has been issued, the process proceeds to S308; otherwise, the process proceeds to S311.

  In S308, the system control unit 50 hides the recording size setting screen 402 displayed in S302 as shown in FIG. 4D and displays the live view image 401. As described above, even if the recording size setting screen 402 is displayed, since shooting is performed when an imaging instruction is issued (that is, recording of an image), the user can perform setting without performing an operation of closing the recording size setting screen 402. You can immediately shoot with the recorded size set.

  In S309, the system control unit 50 processes the image obtained (captured) by the imaging unit 22 with the set value of the recording size set recorded in the recording area 56a being set, and further performs noise reduction processing. Recording is performed on the recording medium 200.

  In S310, the system control unit 50 determines whether or not the shutter button 61 has been fully pressed (SW2) and an instruction to end shooting of a moving image has been issued. If it is determined that an instruction to end shooting of a moving image has been issued, the recording size setting process is ended. If not, the process returns to S310 and recording is continued until an instruction to end shooting is issued.

  In S <b> 311, the system control unit 50 determines whether or not an instruction to end the setting change operation has been given by setting the recording size set in which the current frame 403 is displayed by pressing the SET button 75. If it is determined that an instruction to end the setting change operation has been issued, the recording size setting process ends, and if not, the process proceeds to S312.

  In step S312, the system control unit 50 determines whether or not a recording size set change operation has been performed. The recording size set can be changed by pressing the up / down / left / right button of the cross key 74, rotating the electronic dial 73, or touching the icons 404 to 412 indicating the respective recording size sets. When the right button of the cross key 74 is pressed, the set recording size is switched from left to right in the same row (selected in the order of icons 404, 407, and 410). When the right button of the cross key 74 is pressed while the recording size at the right end (for example, icon 410) is selected, the recording selected as the recording size at the left end of the next column (from icon 410 to icon 405). The size changes. Similarly, if the left button of the cross key 74 is pressed while the recording size at the left end is selected, the recording size selected as the recording size at the right end of the previous column is switched. For example, when the icon 404 is selected, since the icon 404 is in the uppermost row, the recording size selected from the icon 404 to the icon 412 is switched to the right end of the lowermost row. In this way, icons at positions corresponding to the direction (operation direction) of each key of the cross key 74 are selected one after another and set to a recording size set corresponding to each icon. When the selection operation is performed using the cross key 74, for example, when selecting the icon 412 from the icon 407 selected in FIG. 4A, it is better to press the left button of the cross key 74 twice. There are fewer operations than pressing the right button once and the lower button 1 twice. That is, even when the user switches the selection to the same type of recording size, such as from FHD to FHD, as shown in FIGS. 4 (a), 4 (b), and 4 (c). The number of operations is less when passing 4K in order. If it is determined that the recording size set change operation has been performed, the process proceeds to S314, and if not, the process proceeds to S313.

  In S313, the system control unit 50 performs processing according to the operation determined in S306. The processing to be performed includes, for example, an instruction to display a menu screen when the menu button 78 is pressed, and an instruction to change the setting of other items whose settings can be changed by Q setting when the Q button 77 is pressed. Detailed processing is omitted here.

  In S314, the system control unit 50 determines whether the recording size has been changed from FHD to 4K or from 4K to FHD due to the change in the recording size set in S312. If it is determined that the recording size has been changed, the process proceeds to S315, and if not, the process proceeds to S322.

  In S315, the system control unit 50 determines whether the recording size has been changed from FHD to 4K. If it is determined that the recording size has been changed from FHD to 4K, the process proceeds to S316; otherwise (the process has been changed from 4K to FHD), the process proceeds to S320.

  In S316, the system control unit 50 determines whether or not the setting ISO value recorded in the setting recording area 56a is larger than the upper limit value of the 4K ISO value read in S305. That is, it is determined whether the ISO value set by the user is larger than the upper limit value of the 4K ISO value. If it is determined that the value is larger than the upper limit value of the 4K ISO value, the process proceeds to S317, and if not, the process proceeds to S322. When the ISO value set by the user is less than or equal to the upper limit value of the 4K ISO value, shooting is performed with the ISO value set by the user even in 4K shooting.

  In S317, the system control unit 50 stores the setting ISO value that was recorded immediately before (recorded in the setting recording area 56a when the operation was performed in S306 immediately before) in the storage recording area 56b. To do. In other words, the storage ISO value recorded in the storage recording area 56b is rewritten from the initial value recorded in S304 to the ISO value currently set in the setting recording area 56a.

  In S318, the system control unit 50, as indicated by the guide 415 in FIG. 4B, the ISO value becomes 12800, which is the upper limit value of 4K, and explains that the ISO value is smaller than the set ISO value ( Warning) is displayed. Further, by changing the recording size from FHD to 4K, even if the ISO value is automatically changed to a lower value of 4K (clip), the user can increase the extended range of the upper limit value. Is also displayed. However, the guide described in S318 is not necessarily displayed only when the ISO value being set is clipped, but to indicate that the upper limit of the ISO value has changed in response to switching from FHD to 4K. May be displayed.

  In S319, the system control unit 50 records 12800, which is the upper limit value of the 4K ISO value, in the recording area 56a being set. In this way, the ISO value is set (clipped) to an appropriate value that does not reduce the quality of the image by changing the recording size from FHD to 4K. That is, when the user sets a high ISO value and switches to 4K having a large recording size, the user does not perform a setting change operation, and an appropriate value (4K upper limit value) is obtained when the ISO value is 4K. Is set. In this way, when the user performs a recording size change operation, it is possible to prevent a reduction in image quality such as an image being unintentionally interrupted. Further, since the upper limit value of the 4K ISO value is set to the currently set ISO value, even when the user sets an ISO value larger than the upper limit value of 4K, shooting is performed with a value closer to the value set by the user. be able to. Further, as described in S316, when the ISO value set by the user is smaller than the upper limit value of the 4K ISO value, the upper limit value of the 4K ISO value is not set even if the ISO value is switched to 4K. Shooting can be performed with the ISO value set in. By setting the ISO value in this way, shooting can be performed with an ISO value that is more in line with the user's intention in 4K shooting.

  The processing of S320 to S321 is processing when the recording size is switched from 4K to FHD in S315.

  In S320, the system control unit 50 determines whether or not the ISO value recorded in the storage recording area 56b is larger than the ISO value recorded in the setting recording area 56a. That is, whether the ISO value is clipped when the recording size is switched from FHD to 4K, whether the storage ISO value is rewritten from the initial value in S317, or the user exceeds the upper limit of the 4K ISO value. It is determined whether or not the set ISO value is large. If it is determined that the ISO value recorded in the storage recording area 56b is larger than the ISO value recorded in the setting recording area 56a, the process proceeds to S321, otherwise (the ISO value has not been clipped). In the case, proceed to S322. If the ISO value is not clipped, the ISO value is not reduced when the recording size is switched from FHD to 4K. Therefore, the processing for changing the recording size set is performed without changing the ISO value. Do.

  In S321, the system control unit 50 cancels the setting ISO value recorded in the setting recording area 56a, and newly sets the saving ISO value recorded in the saving recording area 56b. Is recorded as the ISO value during setting. In this way, since the storage ISO value recorded in the storage recording area 56b is rewritten into the setting recording area 56a as the setting ISO value, the clipped value when the recording size is changed from 4K to FHD. Instead, the ISO value set by the user can be taken. By performing the process of S319 and the process of S321, when the user sets the ISO value and switches the recording size, the image is taken with the ISO value intended by the user without reducing the image quality. be able to.

  In S322, the system control unit 50 records the selected recording size set in the setting recording area 56a by the recording size set changing operation determined in S306 and S312. Further, a frame 403 is displayed on the selected recording size set, and a guide display relating to the selected recording size is displayed. A guide 414 is displayed when the icon 404 in FIG. 4B is selected, and a guide 416 is displayed when the icon 412 in FIG. 4C is selected.

  As described above, according to the embodiment described above, when an operation for changing the recording size of a moving image is performed, the ISO value can be set to an appropriate value without performing an operation for changing the ISO value setting. With the ISO value set by the user, when there is a possibility that the image quality may be reduced at 4K, the recording size is switched from FHD to 4K (that is, the recording size, the number of recording pixels, and the resolution are increased). The value is set in line with the user's intention without reducing the quality of the user. In addition, when the recording size is switched from 4K to FHD (that is, when the recording size, the number of pixels to be recorded, and the resolution are lowered), shooting can be performed with the ISO value set by the user.

  In this embodiment, in 4K video shooting, the ISO value that may reduce the image quality is set to 12800. However, the ISO value is not limited to this, and may be 10,000 or 20000. The upper limit value of the 4K ISO value may be set by a processing method in noise reduction.

  In addition, the initial value of the storage ISO value is set to 0 in the present embodiment, but the value is not limited to this, and may be a value smaller than the upper limit value of the 4K ISO value.

  Note that the aperture and shutter speed values may be changed according to the ISO value setting being clipped. By changing the aperture and the shutter speed in this way, it is possible to prevent the exposure from being lowered too much even if the ISO value is clipped and reduced.

  In the present embodiment, the case of FHD and 4K recording size has been described. However, the present embodiment can also be applied to the case where the recording size can be selected including 8K having a larger recording size (higher resolution). . That is, when the ISO value set in response to the change from 4K to 8K is larger than the upper limit of the 8K ISO value, the upper limit is set to 8K. Further, when switching from 8K to FHD, the ISO value set by the user may be set to the upper limit value at 4K when switching to 4K.

  In addition, after the ISO value is clipped after switching from FHD to 4K, if the user resets the ISO value from the ISO value setting range at 4K, the ISO value is not changed by the user even if the recording size is returned to FHD. The value set by is not set. However, the ISO value for 4K and the ISO value for FHD are separately recorded in the nonvolatile memory 56, and the ISO value specified for shooting is recorded in the system memory 52 every time the recording size is switched. It may be. The user can set desired ISO values for 4K and FHD, respectively, and apply them to shooting.

  In addition, when the recording size can be set to HD having a lower resolution than FHD, the ISO value remains the value set by the user even when switching from FHD to HD, but when switching from FHD to 4K. The ISO value is clipped. Even if the recording size is changed in this way, when specific processing such as noise reduction is performed, clipping is performed if the image quality is affected if the ISO value remains high. The value set by the user is set without clipping.

  In the present embodiment, the description has been given of setting the ISO value to an appropriate value in accordance with the operation for changing the recording size of the moving image. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and photography is possible when the recording size of the moving image is changed. The present invention can also be applied to a case where a different shooting time is set. Further, the present invention is not limited to the moving image recording size, and can be applied to settings related to images and processes, and the upper limit values of other setting values related to images and processes change in accordance with the setting change.

  In the present embodiment, the recording size of the moving image has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention can be applied to a case where the recording size is different for still images, stereoscopic images, and the like.

  The imaging control apparatus may be controlled by a single piece of hardware, or the entire apparatus may be controlled by a plurality of pieces of hardware sharing the processing.

  Although the present invention has been described in detail based on the preferred embodiments thereof, the present invention is not limited to these specific embodiments, and various forms without departing from the gist of the present invention are also included in the present invention. included. Furthermore, each embodiment mentioned above shows only one embodiment of this invention, and it is also possible to combine each embodiment suitably.

  In the embodiment described above, the case where the present invention is applied to the digital camera 100 has been described as an example. However, this is not limited to this example, and changing the recording size may increase the processing load. The present invention can be applied to an imaging control apparatus that performs various processes. Further, the present invention can also be applied to an imaging control apparatus that controls an imaging apparatus that can perform imaging with different recording sizes. That is, the present invention is applied to a personal computer (PC), a mobile phone terminal, a portable image viewer, a digital photo frame, a music player, a game machine, an electronic book reader, a tablet PC, a smartphone, a home appliance having an imaging unit, and the like. Is possible. In addition, devices such as smartphones, tablet PCs, and desktop PCs that receive and display live view images taken with a digital camera or the like via wired or wireless communication and remotely control the digital camera (including a network camera) Applicable.

(Other embodiments)
The present invention is also realized by executing the following processing. That is, software (program) that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus via a network or various recording media, and a computer (or CPU, MPU, or the like) of the system or apparatus reads the program code. It is a process to be executed. In this case, the program and the recording medium storing the program constitute the present invention.

Claims (16)

Switching means for switching the image recording size to any one of a plurality of recording sizes including at least a first recording size and a second recording size larger than the first recording size;
Setting means for setting the sensitivity relating to imaging;
When the switching unit switches from the first recording size to the second recording size, the first value set as the sensitivity is the sensitivity that can be set in the second recording size. The sensitivity is changed from the first value to a second value that is smaller than the upper limit value .
An imaging control apparatus comprising: a control unit that controls the setting unit so that the sensitivity is not changed from the first value when the first value is equal to or less than the upper limit value . When the control unit is switched from the first recording size to the second recording size by the switching unit and then further switched from the second recording size to the first recording size. When the sensitivity being set is the second value, the sensitivity is changed to the first value, and when the sensitivity being set is the first value, the sensitivity is changed. The imaging control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the setting unit is controlled so as not to change the setting. A reception unit capable of receiving a user operation for setting the sensitivity;
The imaging control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first value is a value of the sensitivity set by a user operation. The second value, the imaging control device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that an upper limit value of the sensitivity that can be set in the second recording size. The video resolution in the second recording size, the imaging control device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 and greater than the first video resolution of recorded pixels. The upper limit of the sensitivity that can be set in the second recording size, any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein less than the upper limit of the sensitivity can be set in the first recording size The imaging control device according to 1. Processing means for performing a specific process on the image captured by the imaging unit;
When the processing means applies the specific processing to the captured image,
The amount of processing when the specific processing is applied to an image obtained with a predetermined sensitivity at the second recording size is the amount of processing performed on the image obtained with the predetermined sensitivity at the first recording size. imaging control apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that greater than the amount of processing when applying. The imaging control apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the specific process is noise reduction. The control means, when the sensitivity is changed from the first value to the second value in response to switching from the first recording size to the second recording size, Control to record information indicating the value of the value in the recording means,
In response to switching from the second recording size to the first recording size, the sensitivity is changed from the second value to the first value based on information recorded in the recording means. imaging control apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the controller controls the setting means to set. It further has an operation means for switching the recording size,
The control means switches from an icon indicating the current recording size among a plurality of icons juxtaposed on the display unit to a recording size corresponding to an icon arranged in a direction corresponding to the operation direction of the operation means. imaging control apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the controller controls the switching means. An imaging instruction means for receiving an imaging instruction;
Display control for controlling the display unit to display a plurality of icons indicating the recording size including an image obtained by the imaging unit, an icon indicating the first recording size, and an icon indicating the second recording size And further comprising means
The control unit records an image obtained by the imaging unit with a recording size corresponding to a selected icon among the plurality of icons in response to the imaging instruction by the imaging instruction unit. imaging control apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that control. The display control means displays the upper limit value of the sensitivity that can be set in the second recording size to the user when the switching means switches from the first recording size to the second recording size. The imaging control apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein control is performed so as to perform the control. The imaging control apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 12 , wherein the recording size includes one of full high-definition and 4K. A switching step of switching the image recording size to any one of a plurality of recording sizes including at least a first recording size and a second recording size larger than the first recording size;
A setting step for setting the sensitivity related to imaging;
In the switching step, when the first recording size is switched to the second recording size, the first value set as the sensitivity is the sensitivity that can be set in the second recording size. The sensitivity is changed from the first value to a second value that is smaller than the upper limit value .
And a control step of controlling the sensitivity so as not to change from the first value when the first value is equal to or less than the upper limit value . A program for causing a computer to function as each unit of the imaging control apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 13 . A computer-readable recording medium storing a program for causing a computer to function as each unit of the imaging control apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 13 .

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