JP6700753B2 - Imaging control device, control method, and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging control device, a control method, and a program. In particular, the present invention relates to an imaging control technique for controlling imaging of a time-lapse moving image.

  There is known a so-called time-lapse moving image in which still images taken at a predetermined interval are joined together to form a fast-moving moving image. When creating a time-lapse movie, it takes a long time to complete the shooting, so a battery-operated camera may run out of battery during shooting. Since the shooting time is calculated by multiplying the shooting interval and the number of shootings, in order to solve the problem of running out of battery, it is necessary to select a combination that does not exceed the usable time of the battery. On the other hand, there is also known a specification in which the upper limit value of the number of times of photographing is interlocked according to the choice of the photographing interval.

  Regarding the shooting interval, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for determining a range of interval shooting time intervals that can be selected by the user according to the recording operation time.

JP, 2007-43463, A

  However, as described above, if the upper limit of the number of shootings is linked according to the shooting interval, the number of shootings, and thus the playback time of the moving image, is changed in association with the setting of the shooting interval. , There is a possibility that a setting different from the user's intention is made.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object thereof is to set appropriate shooting conditions that meet a user's wishes in shooting a time-lapse moving image.

Therefore, the present invention is an image pickup control device, which is one of a plurality of shooting condition groups in which at least a part of a settable shooting interval range in a time lapse is different and a maximum settable shooting number is different. A selecting means for selecting a group and, when the first group is selected, sets a shooting interval within a range of a first shooting interval that can be set in the first group, and sets a maximum shooting speed in the first group. A second number different from the first image capturing interval range that can be set in the second group when the number of image capturing times is set to be less than or equal to the number of image capturing and a second group different from the first group is selected. Setting means for setting a shooting interval within the shooting interval range of 1 and a shooting number less than or equal to the maximum shooting frequency in the second group, and the longest shooting interval within the first shooting interval range is Shorter than the longest shooting interval in the range of the second shooting interval, the maximum number of shootings of the first group is larger than the maximum number of shootings of the second group, and the range of the first shooting interval maximum shooting at the maximum first time and required to perform the photographing of the photographing times, the second group with the longest shooting distance in the range of the second shooting interval in the first group the longest shooting distance in The second time required to perform the number of times of photography is less than or equal to a predetermined time which is the upper limit of the time that can be photographed as time-lapse photography.

  According to the present invention, in shooting a time-lapse moving image, it is possible to set appropriate shooting conditions that meet the user's wishes.

It is a figure which shows the hardware constitutions of a digital camera. It is an external view of a digital camera. It is a figure which shows an example of a correspondence table. It is a figure which shows the setting value of a time lapse animation, and the definition of a variable. It is a flow chart which shows time lapse animation mode processing. It is a flowchart which shows a time lapse animation setting process. It is a flowchart which shows a time lapse animation setting process. It is a figure which shows the example of a display.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration of a digital camera 100 according to this embodiment. FIG. 2 is an external view of the digital camera 100. The digital camera 100 is an example of an imaging control device. The digital camera 100 has, as an operation mode, a time-lapse moving image mode in which a still image for a time-lapse moving image is captured. The time-lapse moving image is a moving image created by connecting still images taken at predetermined intervals. The digital camera 100 according to the present embodiment captures a still image for a time-lapse moving image and joins the still images to create a time-lapse moving image.

  In FIG. 1, the taking lens 104 is a lens group including a zoom lens and a focus lens. The shutter 105 is a shutter having a diaphragm function. The image pickup unit 106 is an image pickup device including a CCD, a CMOS device, or the like that converts an optical image into an electric signal. The A/D converter 107 converts an analog signal into a digital signal. The A/D converter 107 is used to convert an analog signal output from the imaging unit 106 into a digital signal. The barrier 103 covers the image pickup system including the image pickup lens 104 of the digital camera 100 to prevent the image pickup system including the image pickup lens 104, the shutter 105, and the image pickup unit 106 from being soiled or damaged.

  The image processing unit 102 performs resizing processing such as predetermined pixel interpolation and reduction, and color conversion processing on the data from the A/D converter 107 or the data from the memory control unit 108. Further, in the image processing unit 102, a predetermined calculation process is performed using the captured image data, and the system control unit 101 performs exposure control and distance measurement control based on the obtained calculation result. As a result, TTL (through-the-lens) AF (auto focus) processing, AE (auto exposure) processing, and EF (flash pre-emission) processing are performed. The image processing unit 102 further performs predetermined arithmetic processing using the captured image data, and also performs TTL AWB (auto white balance) processing based on the obtained arithmetic result.

  Output data from the A/D converter 107 is directly written in the memory 109 via the image processing unit 102 and the memory control unit 108, or via the memory control unit 108. The memory 109 stores image data obtained by the image pickup unit 106 and converted into digital data by the A/D converter 107, and image data to be displayed on the display unit 111. The memory 109 has a storage capacity sufficient to store a predetermined number of still images, a moving image and a sound for a predetermined time.

  The memory 109 also serves as a memory for displaying an image (video memory). The D/A converter 110 converts the image display data stored in the memory 109 into an analog signal and supplies the analog signal to the display unit 111. In this way, the image data for display written in the memory 109 is displayed by the display unit 111 via the D/A converter 110. The display unit 111 displays on an indicator such as an LCD according to the analog signal from the D/A converter 110. The digital signal once A/D converted by the A/D converter 107 and stored in the memory 109 is converted into an analog signal in the D/A converter 110, and sequentially transferred to the display unit 111 for display, thereby providing an electronic viewfinder. It functions and can display a through image.

  The non-volatile memory 114 is an electrically erasable/recordable memory, and for example, an EEPROM or the like is used. The non-volatile memory 114 stores constants for operating the system control unit 101, programs, and the like. The program referred to here is a program for executing various flowcharts described later in this embodiment.

  The system control unit 101 has a CPU and the like and controls the entire digital camera 100. By executing the program recorded in the nonvolatile memory 114 described above, each processing of the present embodiment described later is realized. Reference numeral 112 denotes a system memory, which uses a RAM. In the system memory 112, constants and variables for operation of the system control unit 101, programs read from the non-volatile memory 114, and the like are expanded. The system control unit 101 also controls display by controlling the memory 109, the D/A converter 110, the display unit 111, and the like. The system timer 113 is a time measuring unit that measures time used for various controls and time of a built-in clock. The functions and processing of the digital camera 100, which will be described later, are realized by the system control unit 101 reading a program stored in the non-volatile memory 114 or the like and executing the program.

  The shutter button 115, the mode switching dial 118, the power button 119, and the operation unit 120 are operation means for inputting various operation instructions to the system control unit 101. The mode switching dial 118 switches the operation mode of the system control unit 101 to a still image recording mode, a moving image recording mode, a reproduction mode, and a detailed mode included in each operation mode. The time-lapse moving image mode described in this embodiment is included in the detailed modes of the moving image recording mode.

  The first shutter switch 116 is turned on during operation of the shutter button 115 provided in the digital camera 100 by so-called half-pressing (shooting preparation instruction) to generate the first shutter switch signal SW1. The first shutter switch signal SW1 starts operations such as AF (auto focus) processing, AE (automatic exposure) processing, AWB (auto white balance) processing, and EF (flash pre-flash) processing. The second shutter switch 117 is turned on when the operation of the shutter button 115 is completed, that is, when the shutter button 115 is fully pressed (shooting instruction), and the second shutter switch signal SW2 is generated. By the second shutter switch signal SW2, the system control unit 101 starts a series of shooting processing operations from signal reading from the image pickup unit 106 to writing image data on the recording medium 124.

  The power supply control unit 121 includes a battery detection circuit, a DC-DC converter, a switch circuit that switches blocks to be energized, and the like, and detects the state of the power button 119, whether or not the battery is mounted, the type of battery, and the remaining battery level. .. Further, the power supply control unit 121 controls the DC-DC converter based on the detection result and the instruction of the system control unit 101, and supplies a necessary voltage to each unit including the recording medium 124 for a necessary period. The power supply unit 122 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. In this embodiment, a case where a secondary battery is used for a power supply unit (hereinafter referred to as a battery) will be described.

  The recording medium I/F 123 is an interface with the recording medium 124 such as a memory card or a hard disk. The recording medium 124 is a recording medium such as a memory card for recording captured images, and is composed of a semiconductor memory, a magnetic disk, or the like.

  Each operation member of the operation unit 120 is appropriately assigned a function for each scene by selecting and operating various function icons displayed on the display unit 111, and acts as various function buttons. The function buttons include, for example, an end button, a return button, an image advance button, a jump button, a narrowing button, an attribute change button, and the like. For example, when the menu button 201 shown in FIG. 2 is pressed, various settable menu screens are displayed on the display unit 111. The user can intuitively perform various settings by using the menu screen displayed on the display unit 111 and the cross button 202 and the SET button 203 having buttons in four directions of up, down, left, and right.

  The controller wheel 204 and the electronic dial 205 are operation members that can be rotated and are included in the operation unit 120, and are used together with the direction buttons to instruct selection items. When the controller wheel 204 or the electronic dial 205 is rotated, an electric pulse signal is generated according to the operation amount, and the system control unit 101 controls each unit of the digital camera 100 based on this pulse signal. With this pulse signal, it is possible to determine the angle at which the controller wheel 204 and the electronic dial 205 are rotationally operated, the number of rotations, and the like. The controller wheel 204 and the electronic dial 205 may be any operation members as long as they can detect a rotation operation. For example, the dial operation member may be one in which the controller wheel 204 and the electronic dial 205 themselves rotate in response to a user's rotation operation to generate a pulse signal. Alternatively, the controller wheel 204 itself may be a rotation member that detects a rotation operation of a user's finger on the controller wheel 204 (a so-called touch wheel).

  The moving image recording button 206 is a button for instructing to start and stop recording of a moving image. From the bottom surface, the battery 122 and the recording medium 124 can be inserted into the digital camera 100, and the lid can be covered with the openable/closable cover 207.

  As described above, the digital camera 100 according to the present embodiment captures a still image for creating a time-lapse moving image. The user can set the shooting conditions at the time of shooting a still image used for the time-lapse moving image, that is, the shooting interval and the number of times of shooting. However, the values of the shooting interval and the number of shootings that can be set are limited according to the upper limit value of the shooting time when the battery of the digital camera 100 is fully charged. Specifically, the shooting time calculated by “shooting interval×number of shootings” needs to be equal to or less than the upper limit of the shooting time when the battery of the digital camera 100 is fully charged. That is, the combination of the shooting interval and the number of times of shooting is limited to the combination of values such that the value of “shooting interval×number of times of shooting” is equal to or less than the upper limit value of the above-described shooting time. Hereinafter, the upper limit of the time that can be taken when the battery of the digital camera 100 is fully charged will be referred to as the maximum shooting time. In the present embodiment, the maximum shooting time is 2 hours.

  The digital camera 100 according to the present embodiment classifies shooting conditions such as shooting intervals and shooting times that satisfy the maximum shooting time into three condition groups, and accepts user settings under the restrictions of shooting conditions in each condition group. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a correspondence table 300 in which three condition groups are associated with the shooting conditions defined in each condition group. The correspondence table 300 is stored in a storage unit such as the non-volatile memory 114, for example. In q100 of this embodiment, three condition groups (condition groups 1 to 3) are set. Further, in the present embodiment, the three condition groups are associated with scenes 1 to 3, respectively. Here, scenes 1 to 3 are information indicating the type of subject according to the speed of movement of the subject. In the present embodiment, “scene 1” corresponds to a relatively moving subject such as a person, “scene 2” corresponds to a medium moving subject such as cloud movement, and “scene 3” corresponds to , Which corresponds to a subject having less movement.

  In "condition group 1" corresponding to "scene 1", the range of the shooting interval is set to 1 to 4 seconds, and the maximum number of shootings is set to 1800 times. This is a value (4 seconds×1800 times=7200 seconds) that gives the maximum shooting time (2 hours) when the shooting interval has a maximum value of 4 seconds. In “Condition group 2” corresponding to “Scene 2”, the range of the shooting interval is set to 5 to 10 seconds, and the maximum number of shootings is set to 720 times (10 seconds×720 times=7200 seconds). . In “Condition group 3” corresponding to “Scene 3”, the range of the shooting interval is set to 11 seconds to 30 seconds, and the maximum number of shootings is set to 240 times (30 seconds×240 times=7200 seconds). There is.

  In this embodiment, since the moving image file created has a frame rate of 30 frames/second, the moving image reproduction time can be calculated by dividing the number of times of shooting by 30. For example, if the number of shootings is 900, the reproduction time of the created moving image is 30 seconds (900 times/30 FPS=30 seconds).

  In the present embodiment, a range of shooting intervals is set for each condition group so as not to overlap each other. That is, each condition group is different in at least a part of the shooting interval range. The width of the shooting interval range of each condition group is set so that the width of the shooting interval values selectable in the condition group becomes wider as the shooting interval value increases. Since the shooting interval can be selected in units of 1 second, the shooting interval options are 1 to 4 for "condition group 1", 6 for 5 to 10 for "condition group 2", and "condition group 3". The number is 20, and the larger the shooting interval, the more options there are.

  Further, in each condition group, the number of times of photographing can be selected in units of 30 times. That is, in the "condition group 3", eight options of 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180, 210, and 240 times are selected. Contrary to the number of shooting interval options, the larger the shooting interval value, the narrower the range of the number of shooting times that can be selected in the condition group. The condition groups 1 to 3 have a common upper limit of the photographing time of 7200 seconds (2 hours). This is a design value that is determined based on the time when the battery is fully charged.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the definition of the setting values and variables of the time-lapse movie. These pieces of information are recorded in the non-volatile memory 114 in advance and are read out as needed. FIG. 4A is a diagram showing the definition of scene numbers. The variable SCENE_NUM=1 in "scene 1", SCENE_NUM=2 in "scene 2", and SCENE_NUM=3 in "scene 3".

  FIG. 4B is a diagram showing the definition of variables of the shooting interval (INTERVAL_1 to 3) and the set value of the number of shootings (SHOT_1 to 3) in each scene. Since each set value is stored in the non-volatile memory 114, the previously set value can be retained even when the scene is changed or the power of the camera is turned off. The shooting interval and the number of times of shooting are stored for each scene, and when the scene is switched, the shooting interval and the number of times of shooting stored corresponding to the switched scene are set. FIG. 4C is a diagram showing the definition of the range of the shooting interval for each scene. FIG. 4D is a diagram showing the definition of the range of the number of times of photographing for each scene. In the present embodiment, the settable lower limit of the number of times of shooting is set to 30 times.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the time-lapse moving image mode processing by the digital camera 100. This processing is realized by expanding the program stored in the nonvolatile memory 114 into the system memory 112 and executing it by the system control unit 101. The time-lapse moving image mode process is a process started when the time-lapse moving image mode is changed by the user operating the mode dial 118 or the like.

  In step S501, the system control unit 101 displays a shooting standby screen in the time-lapse moving image mode on the display unit 111. FIG. 7A is a diagram showing a display example of the shooting standby screen 700. Next, in S502, the system control unit 101 confirms whether or not a setting instruction regarding the time-lapse moving image has been received. The system control unit 101 receives a setting instruction when the user presses the menu button 701 on the shooting standby screen 700. When the system control unit 101 receives the setting instruction (YES in S502), the process proceeds to S503. When the system control unit 101 does not accept the setting instruction (NO in S502), the process proceeds to S504.

  In step S503, the system control unit 101 performs a time-lapse moving image setting process. The time-lapse moving image setting process is a process of setting shooting conditions at the time of shooting a still image used for the time-lapse moving image. The time lapse setting process will be described later in detail with reference to FIGS. 6A and 6B. After the processing of S503, the system control unit 101 advances the processing to S502. In step S504, the system control unit 101 confirms whether a time-lapse moving image recording start instruction has been received. The system control unit 101 receives a recording start instruction when the user presses the moving image recording button 206. When the system control unit 101 receives the recording start instruction (YES in S504), the process proceeds to S505. When the recording start instruction is not received (NO in S504), the system control unit 101 advances the process to S506.

  In step S505, the system control unit 101 performs time-lapse moving image recording processing. In the time-lapse moving image recording process, the system control unit 101 controls to perform shooting based on the shooting condition associated with the shooting scene (SCENE_NUM) set in the time-lapse moving image setting process. Specifically, the system control unit 101 shoots a moving image of one frame at each shooting interval set as a shooting condition, connects them as a moving image, and sets the shooting in association with the current SCENE_NUM. Repeat one time to generate one moving image file. After the processing of S505, the system control unit 101 advances the processing to S502. In step S506, the system control unit 101 confirms whether the mode has been changed. When the mode is changed (YES in S506), the system control unit 101 ends the process. If the mode has not been changed (NO in S506), the system control unit 101 advances the process to S502.

  6A and 6B are flowcharts showing detailed processing in the time-lapse moving image setting processing (S503). In step S601, the system control unit 101 displays a menu screen. FIG. 7B is a diagram showing a display example of the menu screen 710. Next, in step S602, the system control unit 101 confirms whether or not a display instruction for a shooting scene setting screen has been received. When the user selects the shooting scene field 711 on the menu screen 710, the system control unit 101 receives a display instruction for the shooting scene setting screen. When the system control unit 101 receives the display instruction of the shooting scene setting screen (YES in S602), the process proceeds to S605. When the system control unit 101 does not accept the display instruction of the shooting scene setting screen (NO in S602), the process proceeds to S603.

  In step S603, the system control unit 101 confirms whether a display instruction for the shooting interval/number of times setting screen has been received. When the user selects the shooting interval/number of times column 712 of the menu screen 710, the system control unit 101 receives a display instruction of the shooting interval/number of times setting screen. When the system control unit 101 receives the instruction to display the shooting interval/number of times setting screen (YES in S603), the process proceeds to S609. When the system control unit 101 does not receive the instruction to display the shooting interval/number of times setting screen (NO in S603), the process proceeds to S604. In step S604, the system control unit 101 confirms whether or not the setting completion instruction has been received in response to the pressing of the OK button 713 on the menu screen 710. When receiving the setting completion instruction (YES in S604), the system control unit 101 ends the time-lapse moving image setting process. When the system control unit 101 does not receive the setting completion instruction (NO in S604), the process proceeds to S601. That is, the screen returns to the menu screen 710.

  In step S605, the system control unit 101 displays a shooting scene setting screen. FIG. 7C is a diagram showing a display example of the shooting scene setting screen 720. The shooting scene setting screen 720 also displays guidance regarding the selected shooting scene. In the example of FIG. 7C, since “Scene 1” is selected, the motion of the subject that matches “Scene 1” that is “suitable for shooting a moving subject such as a walking person” is captured. Guidance is displayed. When "Scene 2" is selected, a guidance "suitable for shooting a subject that changes slowly such as cloud movement" is displayed. When "Scene 3" is selected, guidance "suitable for shooting slowly changing landscapes" is displayed.

  The user can select a scene with reference to these guidances. Therefore, even a user who is not familiar with the time-lapse movie can select a condition group of appropriate shooting conditions by selecting a scene according to the subject of the time-lapse movie. Further, as described above, since the range of shooting conditions that can be set is defined for each scene, the user selects a desired scene, and within the range of appropriate shooting conditions in the scene, the user can set the desired shooting conditions. Can be set.

  In step S606, the system control unit 101 confirms whether a scene selection instruction has been accepted (acceptance process). When the user selects a scene 721 to 723 on the shooting scene setting screen 720, a scene selection instruction is accepted. When the system control unit 101 receives the scene selection instruction (YES in S606), the process proceeds to S607. When the system control unit 101 has not received the scene selection instruction (NO in S606), the process proceeds to S608.

  In step S<b>607, the system control unit 101 updates the value of SCENE_NUM stored in the nonvolatile memory 114 to change the scene setting. The system control unit 101 further reads the values of the shooting interval and the shooting frequency of the condition group corresponding to the scene set in SCENE_NUM from the non-volatile memory 114 and sets them. The system control unit 101 also changes the display of guidance according to the scene. The processing of S606 and S607 is an example of selection processing for selecting a condition group.

  Note that, as another example, the user may select a condition group instead of selecting a scene. In this case, the system control unit 101 may accept a condition group selection instruction and select the condition group in accordance with the selection instruction.

  In step S<b>608, the system control unit 101 confirms whether or not the setting completion instruction has been received in response to the user pressing the OK button 724 on the shooting scene setting screen 720. When the system control unit 101 receives the setting completion instruction (YES in S608), the process proceeds to S601. That is, the screen returns to the menu screen 710. When the system control unit 101 does not receive the setting completion instruction (NO in S608), the process proceeds to S606.

  In step S609, the system control unit 101 displays a shooting interval/number of times setting screen. FIG. 7D is a diagram showing a display example of the shooting interval/number of times setting screen 730. Next, in step S610, the system control unit 101 acquires the value of SCENE_NUM, which is the scene set at the time of processing, from the nonvolatile memory 114. Next, in step S611, the system control unit 101 confirms whether or not an instruction to select a shooting interval has been received. When the shooting interval column 731 is selected on the shooting interval/number of times setting screen 730, the system control unit 101 receives a shooting interval selection instruction. When the system control unit 101 receives the instruction to select the shooting interval (YES in S611), the process proceeds to S614. When the system control unit 101 does not accept the instruction to select the shooting interval (NO in S611), the process proceeds to S612.

  In step S612, the system control unit 101 confirms whether or not an instruction to select the number of times of shooting has been received. The system control unit 101 receives an instruction to select the number of times of shooting when the number of times of shooting field 732 is selected on the shooting interval/number of times setting screen 730. When the system control unit 101 receives the instruction to select the number of times of shooting (YES in S612), the process proceeds to S619. When the system control unit 101 does not receive the instruction to select the number of times of photographing (NO in S612), the process proceeds to S613. The shooting interval column 731 and the shooting count column 732 can be selected by operating the up and down keys. FIG. 7D shows a state where the shooting interval column 731 is being selected.

  In step S<b>613, the system control unit 101 confirms whether or not a setting completion instruction has been received in response to the user pressing the OK button 733 on the shooting interval/number of times setting screen 730. When the system control unit 101 receives the setting completion instruction (YES in S613), the process proceeds to S601. That is, the screen returns to the menu screen 710. When the system control unit 101 does not receive the setting completion instruction (NO in S613), the process proceeds to S611.

  In step S<b>614, the system control unit 101 acquires, from the nonvolatile memory 114, the range of the shooting interval setting INTERVAL_N according to the scene value set at the time of processing. Next, in step S615, the system control unit 101 confirms whether an instruction to change the setting of the shooting interval has been received. The user can input a setting change instruction of the shooting interval by a setting change operation (pressing the left and right keys or operating the electronic dial 205). When there is an instruction to change the setting of the shooting interval (YES in S615), the system control unit 101 advances the process to S616. When there is no instruction to change the setting of the shooting interval (NO in S615), the system control unit 101 advances the process to S611.

  In S616, the system control unit 101 updates the value of INTERVAL_N held in the system memory 112 according to the setting change instruction received in S615 within the range of the shooting interval setting INTERVAL_N acquired in S614. The system control unit 101 also records the value of INTERVAL_N held in the system memory 112 also in the nonvolatile memory 114. This changes the setting of the shooting interval.

  Next, in S617, the system control unit 101 recalculates the values of the recording time (shooting time) and the reproduction time (moving image reproduction time) based on the INTERVAL_N changed in S616. Next, in S618, the system control unit 101 updates the required shooting time and the moving image playback time displayed on the shooting interval/number of times setting screen 730 based on the calculation result in S617. The system control unit 101 then advances the process to S615.

  In step S619, the system control unit 101 acquires, from the non-volatile memory 114, the range of the shooting count setting SHOT_N according to the scene value set at the time of processing. Next, in step S620, the system control unit 101 confirms whether an instruction to change the setting of the number of times of shooting has been received. The user can input a setting change instruction of the number of times of photographing by a setting change operation (pressing the left and right keys or operating the electronic dial 205). Note that the number of shootings that can be selected by the user here is the number of shootings that is equal to or less than the maximum number of shootings corresponding to the selected scene. If there is an instruction to change the setting of the number of times of photographing (YES in S620), the system control unit 101 advances the process to S621. When there is no instruction to change the setting of the number of times of photographing (NO in S620), the system control unit 101 advances the process to S611.

  In S621, the system control unit 101 updates the value of the shooting number setting SHOT_N held in the system memory 112 according to the setting change instruction received in S620 within the range of the shooting number setting SHOT_N acquired in S619. The system control unit 101 also records the value of the shooting count setting SHOT_N held in the system memory 112 also in the non-volatile memory 114. As a result, the setting of the number of times of photographing is changed. Next, in S622, the system control unit 101 recalculates the values of the recording time (imaging required time) and the reproduction time (moving image reproduction time) based on the changed SHOT_N. Next, in S623, the system control unit 101 updates the shooting required time and the moving image playback time displayed on the shooting interval/number of times setting screen 730 based on the calculation result in S522. The system control unit 101 then advances the process to S620. The processing of S616 and S621 is an example of the setting processing.

  As described above, in the digital camera 100 according to the present embodiment, three condition groups (scenes) that are an appropriate combination of the shooting interval range and the shooting frequency range are preset. Further, appropriate values are set in the range of the shooting interval and the range of the number of shootings of each condition group as a combination that does not exceed the maximum shooting time. Then, the digital camera 100 does not perform the process of changing the number of times of shooting in conjunction with each other even when the shooting interval according to the scene is set by the user. Similarly, the digital camera 100 does not perform the process of changing the shooting interval in conjunction with each other even when the user sets the number of shootings according to the scene.

  As described above, the digital camera 100 can set only the combination of the number of times of shooting and the shooting interval that does not exceed the maximum shooting time for each condition group, while the number of times of shooting is linked with the setting of the shooting interval. It was decided not to perform processing that would change the settings. As a result, the digital camera 100 can set appropriate shooting conditions that meet the user's wishes when shooting a time-lapse moving image.

  Furthermore, the range of conditions in the plurality of condition groups set in the digital camera 100 according to the present embodiment is set according to the type of subject. Here, the type of subject is a type according to the speed of movement of the subject. Accordingly, even a user who has little knowledge of time-lapse moving images can select an appropriate condition group based on the subject of the time-lapse moving images.

  Note that the control of the system control unit 101 may be performed by one piece of hardware, or a plurality of pieces of hardware may share the processing to control the entire apparatus.

  Further, although the present invention has been described in detail based on its preferred embodiments, the present invention is not limited to these specific embodiments, and various embodiments within the scope not departing from the gist of the present invention are also included in the present invention. included. Furthermore, each of the above-described embodiments is merely an example of the present invention, and each of the embodiments can be appropriately combined.

  Further, although cases have been described with the above embodiment as examples where the present invention is applied to the digital camera 100, the present invention is not limited to this example, and may be information processing apparatuses for setting shooting conditions for time-lapse movies. If applicable. That is, the present invention can be applied to a personal computer, PDA, mobile phone terminal, portable image viewer, printer device having a display, digital photo frame, music player, game machine, electronic book reader, and the like.

(Other embodiments)
The present invention supplies a program that implements one or more functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus via a network or a storage medium, and one or more processors in a computer of the system or apparatus read and execute the program. It can also be realized by the processing. It can also be realized by a circuit (for example, ASIC) that realizes one or more functions.

100 digital camera 101 system control unit 111 display unit

Claims (14)

At least a part of the range of the shooting interval that can be set in the time lapse is different, and a selection unit that selects one group from a plurality of shooting condition groups in which the maximum number of shootings that can be set is different,
When the first group is selected, a shooting interval within the range of the first shooting interval that can be set in the first group is set, and a shooting number less than or equal to the maximum shooting number in the first group is set. However, when a second group different from the first group is selected, shooting within a range of a second shooting interval different from the range of the first shooting interval that can be set in the second group is selected. And a setting means for setting an interval and setting the number of times of photographing less than or equal to the maximum number of times of photographing in the second group,
The longest shooting interval in the range of the first shooting interval is shorter than the longest shooting interval in the range of the second shooting interval,
The maximum number of shots of the first group is larger than the maximum number of shots of the second group,
The longest shooting distance in the range of the first of the first time and required to perform the imaging of the maximum number of shots in the group range longest shooting distance of the first in the shooting interval, the second imaging interval An imaging control apparatus, wherein the second time required to perform the maximum number of times of photography in the second group is equal to or less than a predetermined time which is an upper limit value of the time that can be photographed as time-lapse photography.   The image pickup control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first time is equal to the second time. The setting unit sets a shooting interval within a settable third shooting interval in the third group when a third group is selected from the plurality of shooting condition groups; Set the number of shots less than the maximum number of shots in the third group,
The longest shooting interval in the range of the second shooting interval is shorter than the longest shooting interval in the range of the third shooting interval,
The maximum number of shots of the second group is larger than the maximum number of shots of the third group,
The third time period required to perform the maximum number of times of shooting in the third group at the longest shooting interval within the range of the third shooting interval is less than or equal to a third time. Imaging control device. The imaging control apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the third time is equal to the first time and/or the second time. Further comprising a power supply control means for controlling the supply of electric power from the battery,
The said predetermined time is below the upper limit of the time which can operate|move the said imaging control apparatus and image|photograph, when the said battery is fully charged, The any one of Claim 1 thru|or 4 characterized by the above-mentioned. Imaging control device. The user further has a receiving unit that receives a selection instruction of one scene from the plurality of scenes according to the type of the subject of the time-lapse movie,
The image pickup control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the selection unit selects the group associated with the scene related to the selection instruction. Further comprising a receiving means for receiving a selection instruction of one group from the user,
The image pickup control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the selection unit selects the group according to the selection instruction.   The imaging control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the shooting intervals of the plurality of groups are ranges that do not overlap each other.   The imaging control device according to claim 1, wherein the range of the second shooting interval is wider than the range of the first shooting interval.   The shooting interval and the number of times of shooting are stored for each group, and the setting unit stores the shooting interval and the shooting stored in association with the switched group in response to the switching of the group selected by the selection unit. The imaging control device according to claim 1, wherein the imaging control device is controlled to be set to the number of times.   In a state where the group selected by the selection unit is not changed, the setting unit does not perform the process of changing the number of times of shooting in conjunction with each other even if the shooting interval is changed according to a user operation, and the user operation is performed. 11. The imaging control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing for interlocking the shooting interval is not performed even if the number of times of shooting is changed accordingly. A control method executed by an imaging control device, comprising:
A selection step of selecting one of a plurality of shooting condition groups having different settable shooting intervals in the time lapse and different settable maximum number of shootings;
When the first group is selected, a shooting interval within the range of the first shooting interval that can be set in the first group is set, and a shooting number less than or equal to the maximum shooting number in the first group is set. However, when a second group different from the first group is selected, shooting within a range of a second shooting interval different from the range of the first shooting interval that can be set in the second group is selected. A setting step of setting an interval and setting the number of times of shooting less than or equal to the maximum number of times of shooting in the second group,
The longest shooting interval in the range of the first shooting interval is shorter than the longest shooting interval in the range of the second shooting interval,
The maximum number of shots of the first group is larger than the maximum number of shots of the second group,
The longest shooting distance in the range of the first of the first time and required to perform the imaging of the maximum number of shots in the group range longest shooting distance of the first in the shooting interval, the second imaging interval The second time required to perform the maximum number of times of shooting in the second group is equal to or less than a predetermined time which is an upper limit value of time that can be taken as time-lapse shooting.   A program for causing a computer to function as each unit of the imaging control device according to claim 1.   A computer-readable storage medium that stores a program for causing a computer to function as each unit of the imaging control device according to claim 1.

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