JP7242247B2 - IMAGING DEVICE AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING IMAGING DEVICE - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an imaging device that performs light control and a control method for the imaging device.

For example, there is an imaging apparatus such as a digital camera that performs light control using information on a face area included in captured image data. As a related technology, an imaging device is proposed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-200012. The image pickup apparatus of Patent Document 1 considers the difference between the luminance color information of the face region in the absence of light emission and the luminance color information of the face region in the light emission state, and determines the amount of light emission considering the complexion. calculated and corrected.

JP 2015-75628 A

For example, in a steady state in which the strobe does not emit light, such as when the scene to be imaged by the imaging device is a backlit scene, the face area in the imaged image data may become dark. In that case, it is difficult to specify the face area, and therefore it is difficult to calculate the appropriate amount of light emission for the face area.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an imaging device and a control method for the imaging device that can improve the accuracy of light adjustment suitable for a face area.

To achieve the above object, the imaging apparatus of the present invention comprises light emitting means, detection means for detecting a face area of a subject from image data, and detection of the face area of the subject from image data in which the light emitting means is not illuminated. if not, estimating means for estimating a first area in which the face area of the subject is detected from image data obtained by causing the light emitting means to emit light; setting means for setting a plurality of frames in the estimated first area; light control means for performing light control based on the signal values of the plurality of frames set for the image data in which the light emitting means is not caused to emit light, and the estimation means is configured to cause the light emitting means to emit no light. It is characterized by estimating an area of the image data whose brightness value is equal to or less than a predetermined value as the first area .

According to the present invention, it is possible to improve the accuracy of dimming suitable for the face area.

It is a figure which shows the structural example of the imaging device which concerns on this embodiment. 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing according to the embodiment; 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of imaging processing; 7 is a flowchart showing the flow of face area estimation processing; FIG. 7 is a diagram showing setting examples of various frames set in image data;

Hereinafter, each embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the configurations described in each embodiment below are merely examples, and the scope of the present invention is not limited by the configurations described in each embodiment.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of an imaging device 1 according to this embodiment. Any camera such as a digital camera can be applied as the imaging device 1 . The imaging apparatus 1 includes an imaging unit 10, an exposure control unit 20, a focus control unit 30, a strobe control unit 35, a strobe 36, a system control unit 40, a memory 50, an image processing circuit 60, a display unit 70, a recording unit 80 and an operation unit. has 90. The imaging unit 10 receives light that has passed through a lens group including a focus lens, a shutter, and an aperture, and outputs image data digitized by A/D conversion. The exposure control section 20 controls the shutter and aperture. The focus control unit 30 controls the focus lens. The strobe control unit 35 controls the strobe 36 as light emitting means to emit light. The imaging unit 10 can take in reflected light from the object emitted by the strobe 36 .

The image data output by the imaging unit 10 can be input to the image processing circuit 60 and stored in the memory 50 . The image data stored in memory 50 can be read again. The system control unit 40 can refer to the image data stored in the memory 50 and can input the image data read from the memory 50 to the image processing circuit 60 . Image data subjected to image processing by the image processing circuit 60 can be written back to the memory 50 .

Also, the system control unit 40 can write arbitrary data to the memory 50 . The system control unit 40 has, for example, a CPU, RAM and ROM. In this case, the functions of the system control unit 40 may be implemented by developing a program stored in the ROM into the RAM and causing the CPU to execute the program loaded into the RAM. The system control section 40 may be realized by a predetermined programming circuit. The system control unit 40 corresponds to estimation means, setting means, and light adjustment means.

The image processing circuit 60 includes an integrator that integrates signal values in a predetermined area of image data, a face detection section that detects a face area from image data, and the like. As shown in FIG. 1, image processing circuit 60 has a first integrator 62 and a second integrator 64 . In FIG. 1, the first integrator 62 as the first integrating means is indicated as integrator A. As shown in FIG. A second integrator 64 as a second integrating means is indicated as integrator F. The first integrator 62 (integrator A) is mainly used to obtain the luminance distribution of the entire screen. The second integrator 64 (integrator F) is mainly used to obtain the brightness of the facial region.

Digital image data subjected to image processing by the image processing circuit 60 is stored in the memory 50 . The image data stored in the memory 50 is D/A converted into analog image data. The display unit 70 displays analog image data. The display unit 70 is, for example, a liquid crystal display. The display unit 70 can display not only image data (image) but also arbitrary information alone or together with the image. The display unit 70 can also display exposure information at the time of shooting and a frame around the detected face area. The display unit 70 as display means can display a frame F, a mesh frame A, a mesh frame F, etc., which will be described later, under the control of the system control unit 40, for example. The recording unit 80 stores captured image data in a predetermined recording medium.

The operation unit 90 is, for example, a shutter button provided in the imaging device 1, and includes a first shutter switch 92 and a second shutter switch 94 for instructing shooting. In FIG. 1, the first shutter switch 92 is labeled "SW1" and the second shutter switch 94 is labeled "SW2." The first shutter switch 92 is turned ON while the shutter button is being operated. When the first shutter switch 92 is turned on, shooting preparation operations such as automatic control of exposure and focus are started. The second shutter switch 94 is turned ON when the operation of the shutter button is completed. When the second shutter switch 94 is turned on, a still image photographing instruction is issued. The operation unit 90 also includes a mode switching switch, a parameter selection switch, and the like. The mode switching switch is a switch for switching camera operation modes such as a still image shooting mode, a moving image shooting mode, and a playback mode. A parameter selection switch is a switch that can change camera settings.

Next, the flow of processing in the still image recording mode according to the embodiment will be described. FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing the flow of processing according to the embodiment. The system control unit 40 determines whether the first shutter switch 92 (SW1) is ON (S201). If determined as No in S201, the flow returns to S201. The process of S201 is repeated until the first shutter switch 92 is turned ON. If it is determined as Yes in S201, the system control unit 40 performs photometry processing, calculates the brightness value of the subject, and controls appropriate exposure based on the calculated brightness value (S202). The brightness value of the subject is calculated based on the brightness distribution of the entire screen obtained by inputting the image data output from the imaging unit 10 to the first integrator 62 and the exposure conditions at the time the image data was exposed. be able to.

The system control unit 40 performs distance measurement processing and moves the focus lens to the in-focus position in order to focus on the subject (S203). The system control unit 40 determines whether or not the strobe is set to emit light during photographing (S204). For example, if the user has set the strobe to emit light forcibly, the determination in S204 is Yes. Further, when the imaging device 1 is set to automatically emit light, the system control unit 40 may control the strobe control unit 35 to cause the strobe 36 to emit light according to the analysis result of the image data. In this case as well, the strobe is set to emit light at the time of photographing, and the determination in S204 is Yes. For example, when the scene at the time of photographing is a backlit scene, the system control section 40 controls the strobe control section 35 to cause the strobe 36 to emit light.

The system control unit 40 determines whether or not the second shutter switch 94 (SW2) is ON (S205). If it is determined No in S205, the system control unit 40 determines whether or not the first shutter switch 92 (SW1) is ON (S206). If it is determined Yes in S206, the first shutter switch 92 (SW1) is ON, but the second shutter switch 94 (SW2) is OFF. In this case, the flow moves to S205. If it is determined No in S206, both the first shutter switch 92 (SW1) and the second shutter switch 94 (SW2) are OFF. In this case, the flow moves to S201. If it is determined as Yes in S205, the second shutter switch 94 (SW2) is turned ON, and therefore the shooting process for shooting a still image is performed (S207). After the shooting process ends, the flow returns to S201. For example, the flowchart of FIG. 2 may end when a predetermined operation is performed on the imaging device 1 .

The shooting process of S207 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. As a result of the determination in S204 described above, the system control unit 40 determines whether or not the strobe 36 is set to emit light (S301). If the determination in S301 is No, the strobe 36 is set not to emit light, so the processing of S302 to S319 is not performed, and the flow proceeds to S320. If determined as Yes in S301, the system control unit 40 acquires the latest face detection result (S302). The image processing circuit 60 performs processing (face detection processing) for detecting the face area of the subject from the image data, and the system control unit 40 acquires the result of the face detection processing by the image processing circuit 60 as the face detection result. . Then, the system control unit 40 sets a first mesh frame (hereinafter referred to as mesh frame A) for the first integrator 62 (integrator A) (S303). The mesh frame A is set so as to roughly cover the entire angle of view so that the luminance distribution of the entire screen can be calculated from the integrated value of the first integrator 62 . The area covering the entire angle of view is the area covering the entire image data (second area). The mesh frame A is composed of a plurality of frames. The various frames described below are lattice frames. The system control unit 40 refers to the face detection result acquired in S302 and determines whether or not a face has been detected (S304). If it is determined Yes in S304, that is, if a face is detected from the image data, the system control unit 40 sets the detected face area in the second integrator 64 (S305). At this time, the system control unit 40 sets one frame (hereinafter referred to as one frame F) in the detected face region so that the luminance of the face can be calculated from the integrated value of the second integrator 64 . One frame F is composed of one frame.

The system control unit 40 controls the strobe control unit 35 to cause the strobe 36 to perform pre-emission for dimming (S306). The system control unit 40 performs photographing by pre-emission, and acquires image data (pre-emission image) captured by the imaging unit 10 during pre-emission (S307). In addition, image data (non-emission image) captured by the imaging unit 10 in a state where pre-emission is not performed is acquired (S308). The system control unit 40 sets the pre-emission image and non-emission image in the first integrator 62 (integrator A) and the second integrator 64 (integrator F). Hereinafter, it is assumed that the first integrator 62 (integrator A) and the second integrator 64 (integrator F) integrate the difference between the signal values of the pre-emission image and the non-emission image. The integral value below is a value (evaluation value) obtained by integrating the difference between the signal values of the pre-emission image and the non-emission image.

As described above, the mesh frame A is set in the first integrator 62 so as to cover the entire image data. The first integrator 62 integrates signal values for each of the plurality of frames that make up the mesh frame A. FIG. Thereby, the system control unit 40 can obtain the luminance distribution of the entire image data based on the evaluation value integrated by the first integrator 62 . Also, the second integrator 64 is set with one frame F set in the face region detected in S305. The second integrator 64 integrates the signal values of one frame F to calculate an evaluation value. Thereby, the system control unit 40 can obtain the luminance of the face region (S309). In the embodiment, the brightness of the face region is obtained based on the evaluation value obtained by integrating the difference between the signal values of the pre-emission image and the non-emission image. Note that the luminance of the face region may be obtained based on the integrated value of the signal values of the pre-emission image, or may be obtained based on the integrated value of the signal values of the non-emission image.

As will be described later, the system control unit 40 performs light control processing based on the luminance distribution of the entire image data and the luminance of the face region. If it is determined as Yes in S304, the face is detected from the image data in S302 in a state where pre-emission is not performed. Therefore, the system control unit 40 can perform light control with high accuracy by performing light control processing based on the brightness distribution of the entire image data and the brightness of the detected face region.

Here, if it is determined as Yes in S304, the system control unit 40 can set one frame F for the face region before pre-emission, so that the pre-emission image is read out. At this time, the system control unit 40 can identify the facial region from the image data. This eliminates the need to specify the face area after pre-emission, and the light adjustment process can be started early, thereby shortening the shooting time lag. On the other hand, if the determination in S304 is No, it is not specified in which area of the image data the face is located. Since the brightness of the subject increases due to the pre-emission, it is possible to specify in which area of the image data the face is located after the pre-emission. However, in this case, since it is necessary to specify the area of the face after the pre-emission, the start timing of the light adjustment processing is delayed, and the shooting time lag is lengthened.

Next, the case where the determination in S304 is No, that is, the case where no face is detected from the image data when pre-emission is not performed will be described. In this case, the system control unit 40 performs face estimation processing for estimating an area (first area) in which a face may be detected by preliminary light emission (S310). The system control unit 40 sets a second mesh frame for the area estimated in S310 (S311). It is assumed that the second mesh frame (mesh frame F) is composed of a plurality of other frames, like the first mesh frame (mesh frame A). In the embodiment, it is assumed that the mesh frame A and the mesh frame F are evenly divided. The area of the mesh frame F is smaller than the area of the mesh frame A. Also, the areas of the other frames that make up the mesh frame F are smaller than the areas of the frames that make up the mesh frame A. FIG. The system control unit 40 controls the strobe control unit 35 to cause the strobe 36 to perform pre-emission for dimming (S312).

The system control unit 40 performs photographing by pre-emission, and acquires image data (pre-emission image) captured by the imaging unit 10 during pre-emission (S313). The system control unit 40 controls the image processing circuit 60 to perform face detection processing from the obtained pre-emission image (S314). It is assumed that the brightness of the subject increases due to the pre-emission, and that a face that was not detected in the absence of the pre-emission will be detected in the face detection processing of S314. Next, the system control unit 40 acquires image data (non-emission image) captured by the imaging unit 10 in a state where pre-emission is not performed (S315). The system control unit 40 sets the pre-luminescence image in the first integrator 62 (integrator A) and the second integrator 64 (integrator F) in S314, and converts the non-luminescence image into the first integral image in S315. integrator 62 (integrator A) and second integrator 64 (integrator F).

In S314, the image processing circuit 60 performs face detection processing from the pre-emission image. The system control unit 40 determines whether or not a face has been detected by face detection processing based on the pre-emission image (S316). As described above, in S314, a face that would not have been detected without pre-light emission may be detected from the pre-light emission image. If it is determined as Yes in S316, the first integrator 62 (integrator A) and the second integrator 64 (integrator F) integrate the difference between the signal values of the pre-flash image and the non-flash image. to obtain an evaluation value. In S<b>311 , a mesh frame F is set in the second integrator 64 . The second integrator 64 integrates signal values for each of a plurality of other frames that make up the mesh frame F. FIG. A mesh frame F is an area in which it is estimated that a face may be detected in the image data. Therefore, when the determination in S316 is Yes, the system control unit 40 can obtain the brightness of the face area based on the evaluation value of the mesh frame F (S317).

Here, if it is determined No in S304, it is not specified in which area of the image data the face is located. The system control unit 40 of the embodiment performs face estimation processing before pre-light emission in S312, and estimates areas where there is a possibility that a face area can be detected. Then, the system control unit 40 sets a mesh frame F in an area where a face area may be detected. The areas of the other frames forming the mesh frame F are smaller than the areas of the frames forming the mesh frame A. Therefore, compared to obtaining the luminance of the face region from the integrated value of the frame of the mesh frame A, obtaining the luminance of the face region from the integrated value of the other frames of the mesh frame F has higher accuracy. The brightness of the face region can be determined.

Next, the system control unit 40 performs light control processing based on the brightness of the face area and the brightness distribution of the entire screen obtained from the integrated value of the mesh frame A (S318). If the determination in S304 is Yes, the system control unit 40 performs adjustment based on the brightness of the face region obtained in S309 and the brightness distribution of the entire image data obtained from the integrated value of the mesh frame A. Light processing (light control calculation) is performed. If the determination in S304 is No, the system control unit 40 adjusts the luminance of the face area obtained in S317 (the face area estimated in S310) and the overall screen obtained from the integrated value of the mesh frame A. Light control processing (light control calculation) is performed based on the luminance distribution of .

When determined as No in S316, the system control unit 40 performs light control processing (light control calculation) from the luminance distribution of the entire screen obtained from the integrated value of the mesh frame A (S319). Even if the image processing circuit 60 performs the face detection process in S314, the face area may not be detected. In such a case, it is determined as No in S316. The system control unit 40 calculates the amount of light emitted during the main exposure based on the result of the light control processing in S318 or S319 (S319). As described above, in S<b>318 , the system control unit 40 performs light control calculation based on the brightness of the face area and the brightness distribution of the entire screen obtained from the integrated value of the mesh frame A. As a result, light adjustment calculations are performed taking into consideration not only the brightness of the face region but also the brightness distribution of the entire screen, so that balanced light adjustment with subjects other than the face is possible.

The system control unit 40 performs still image exposure settings based on the amount of light emitted during the main exposure calculated in S319 (S320). In addition, the system control unit 40 also sets the light emission for the main exposure based on the light emission amount obtained in S318 or S319 when photographing with light emission. When the exposure setting is completed, the system control unit 40 performs control to carry out the main exposure (S321). Then, the captured image data is developed (S322). The image data that has undergone development processing is recorded on the medium by the recording unit 80 (S323). With the above, the photographing process ends.

Next, the face estimation processing of S310 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The face estimation process is performed to estimate a region of a face which is dark in the non-light emitting state and is not detected, but which is detected by preliminary light emission. The system control unit 40 identifies a dark area in the image data (S401). For example, when the latest image data obtained from the imaging unit 10 is input to the image processing circuit 60, the system control unit 40 changes the brightness value of the image data according to the image processing result of the image processing circuit 60. A region below a predetermined value is specified as a dark region. Further, the system control unit 40 may specify, as a dark area, an area whose luminance value is equal to or less than a predetermined value based on the luminance distribution of the entire screen obtained from the first integrator 62 during photometry in S202.

Next, the system control unit 40 acquires a distance map (S402). The distance map can be generated, for example, during the distance measurement processing in S203, based on subject distance information for each image area. Based on the identified dark area and subject distance information, the system control unit 40 identifies an area in the image data that is a dark area and whose subject distance indicated by the subject distance information is equal to or less than a predetermined distance (S403). The area specified in S403 is a nearby dark area, and is an area in which it is estimated that a face may be detected in the image data.

For example, in a photographing environment such as a backlit scene, if no light is emitted (non-light emission state), the face in the image data will be dark. Also, the area specified in S403 is an area where the subject distance is equal to or less than a predetermined distance. Here, based on the guide number and the aperture value at the time of light adjustment, it is possible to estimate the area where the pre-light emission reaches. Also, based on the light distribution of the strobe, it is possible to estimate the area where the preliminary light emission is assumed not to reach. The area in which the preliminary light emission is estimated not to reach is an area where the subject distance exceeds a predetermined distance, and is an area excluded from the areas specified in S403. Therefore, the predetermined distance can be determined based on the guide number, the aperture value at the time of dimming, or the light distribution of the strobe. In S403 of the flowchart of FIG. 4, the area in the image data in which it is estimated that a face may be detected is a dark area, and an area where the subject distance indicated by the subject distance information is equal to or less than a predetermined distance (dark area). near area). Here, since there is a high possibility that the dark area is an area in which a face is present, the system control unit 40 estimates the dark area as an area in which a face may be detected regardless of the subject distance information. good too.

Next, the frames set for the first integrator 62 and the second integrator 64 will be described. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing setting examples of various frames set in image data. FIG. 5A shows a setting example of a mesh frame A and a frame F when a face is detected from image data in a state where preliminary light emission is not performed (non-light emission state). In this case, the system control unit 40 sets the mesh frame A for the first integrator 62 in a region covering substantially the entire angle of view. The mesh frame A in FIG. 5A is composed of 10 frames in the horizontal direction and 6 frames in the vertical direction. The number of frames forming the mesh frame A is not limited to the above value. The image processing circuit 60 integrates the signal values of the colors red, green, and blue for each frame of the mesh frame A to calculate an integrated value. The system control unit 40 can obtain the luminance for each frame based on the calculated integrated value.

The system control unit 40 sets one frame (one frame F) on the detected face for the second integrator 64 . Since the mesh frame A covers substantially the entire screen, the brightness of the face area can be obtained from the integrated value of each frame of the mesh frame A, but one frame includes the face area and the background area. In such a case, the integrated value within the frame will include the luminance of the background. For example, some of the frames forming the mesh frame A shown in the example of FIG. 5A include not only part of the face but also the background other than the face. Since the mesh frame A is set for the entire image data, the area of each frame forming the mesh frame A also increases. Therefore, when the luminance of the face region is obtained from the integrated value of each frame of the mesh frame A, the detection accuracy of the luminance of the face region is lowered. If the number of divisions (the number of frames) of the mesh frame A can be increased, the detection accuracy can be improved. Therefore, the system control unit 40 of the embodiment obtains the brightness of the face region from the integrated value of one frame (one frame F) set in the face region. As a result, the brightness of the face area can be obtained with high accuracy, and the light control can be performed with high accuracy.

FIG. 5B shows a setting example of the mesh frame A and the mesh frame F when no pre-light emission is performed (non-light emission state) and no face is detected from the image data. In the example of FIG. 5B, it is assumed that the human area including the face is dark in the image data due to shooting in a backlit scene, and the face is not detected. As in FIG. 5A, the system control unit 40 sets the mesh frame A to substantially the entire angle of view (substantially the entire image data) for the first integrator 62 . On the other hand, for the second integrator 64, a mesh frame F is set in the area specified in S403 (area where a face may be detected). In the example of FIG. 5B, the mesh frame F is composed of 10 frames in the horizontal direction and 6 frames in the vertical direction. The number of frames forming the mesh frame F is not limited to the above value.

In the example of FIG. 5B, a mesh frame F is set in a dark area where the subject distance indicated by the subject distance information is equal to or less than a predetermined distance (near and dark area). If a face is detected in S314, the system control unit 40 obtains the brightness of the face area from the integrated value of the mesh frame F that overlaps the detected face area. As shown in FIG. 5B, the areas of the other frames that make up the mesh frame F are smaller than the areas of the frames that make up the mesh frame A. As shown in FIG. Therefore, even if the other frames constituting the mesh frame F contain not only part of the face but also the background, etc., the percentage of the face part in the other frames increases. Therefore, from the luminance of the face area calculated from the integrated value calculated by the first integrator 62 with the mesh frame A set, it is calculated from the integrated value calculated by the second integrator 64 with the mesh frame F set. Higher precision is required for the luminance of the face region.

FIG. 5(C) shows an example in which a plurality of areas that are dark areas and whose object distance indicated by the object distance information is equal to or less than a predetermined distance are specified in S403. In this case, the system control unit 40 sets the mesh frame F to a rectangular area that includes the specified areas. Thereby, even when a plurality of faces are detected from the image data, highly accurate light control can be performed. In the example of FIG. 5C, it is assumed that the second integrator 64 is an integrator capable of setting one mesh frame F. In this regard, when the second integrator 64 is an integrator that can set a plurality of mesh frames F, the system control unit 40 instructs the second integrator 64 to set mesh frames F in each of the specified regions. may be set.

FIG. 5D shows an example in which the difference in area between the frame forming the mesh frame A and the other frames forming the mesh frame F is small due to a large dark area in the image data. ing. Therefore, when the ratio of the area of the other frames forming the mesh frame F to the area of the frames forming the mesh frame A is equal to or greater than a predetermined value (for example, equal to or greater than half), the system control unit 40 sets the mesh frame A and the mesh frame Reset F. For example, as shown in FIGS. 5(E) and (F), the system control unit 40 divides the image data into half regions, assigns a mesh frame A to one region, and assigns a mesh frame F to the other region. to reconfigure. By the resetting, the area of the mesh frame A and the mesh frame F in FIGS. 5(E) and 5(F) can be made smaller compared to the frame constituting the mesh frame A in FIG. 5(A). . As a result, the brightness of the face area can be obtained with high accuracy.

As described above, even when a face is not detected from the image data in the non-emission state, the system control unit 40 estimates the area where the face is detected by pre-emission, and sets a finer mesh frame than usual. By doing so, it is possible to adjust the light precisely according to the face. In addition, by estimating the face detection area before reading out the pre-emission image, the integrated value of the estimated area can be obtained at the same time as reading out the image for face detection, so that the shooting time lag can be shortened.

Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention. The present invention supplies a program that implements one or more functions of each of the above-described embodiments to a system or device via a network or a storage medium, and one or more processors of the computer of the system or device executes the program. It can also be realized by reading and executing processing. The invention can also be implemented by a circuit (eg, an ASIC) that implements one or more functions.

1 imaging device 35 strobe control unit 36 strobe 40 system control unit 60 image processing circuit 62 first integrator 64 second integrator 70 display unit

Claims (8)

light emitting means;
detection means for detecting a face area of a subject from image data;
estimating means for estimating a first area in which the face area of the subject is detected from the image data with the light emitting means turned on when the face area of the subject is not detected from the image data without the light emitting means;
setting means for setting a plurality of frames in the estimated first area;
a dimming means for performing dimming based on the signal values of the plurality of frames set for the image data in which the light emitting means is not caused to emit light ;
The imaging apparatus, wherein the estimating means estimates, as the first area, an area in which the luminance value is equal to or less than a predetermined value in the image data in which the light emitting means is not caused to emit light. When the face area of the subject is detected from the image data in which the light emitting means is not caused to emit light, the setting means sets one frame around the detected face area of the subject;
2. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said light control means performs light control based on the signal value of said one frame set for image data in which said light emitting means is not caused to emit light. 3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the estimating means specifies, as the first area, an area in which the luminance value is equal to or less than the predetermined value and a distance to the object is equal to or less than the predetermined distance. The imaging device described. 4. The imaging apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein said estimation means determines said predetermined distance based on a guide number of said light emitting means, an aperture value during dimming, or light distribution of said light emitting means. 5. The imaging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein the estimating means estimates the first area before pre-light emission is performed by the light emitting means. a first integrating means for integrating the signal values of the plurality of frames set in the first area;
a second integration means for integrating signal values of a plurality of other frames set for a second region of the entire image data;
6. The imaging according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , wherein the area of the frame integrated by the first integration means is smaller than the area of the other frame integrated by the second integration means. Device. 7. The imaging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6 , further comprising display means for displaying a plurality of frames set in said first area. A control method for an imaging device having light emitting means,
a detecting step of detecting a face area of a subject from image data in which the light emitting means is not caused to emit light;
an estimating step of estimating a first region in which the face region of the subject is detected from image data obtained by causing the light emitting means to emit light when the face region of the subject is not detected in the detecting step;
a setting step of setting a plurality of frames in the first region estimated in the estimation step;
a dimming step of performing dimming based on the signal values of the plurality of frames set in the setting step for image data in which the light emitting means is not caused to emit light ;
In the estimating step, an area having a brightness value equal to or less than a predetermined value in the image data in which the light emitting means is not caused to emit light is estimated as the first area.

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