JPH1032736A - Digital camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a digital camera with which monitor display can be performed approximately to an image to be photographed as much as possible by setting the lower limit value of display updating speed of a monitor corresponding to a stroboscopic mode, shutter limiter seconds or camera shake seconds. SOLUTION: This camera is provided with an image pickup means 103 for picking up the image of an object, display means 122 for displaying the picked-up image, stroboscope 127, and operating means 123 for setting the operating mode of the stroboscope 127 and the shutter limiter seconds or camera shake seconds as the lower limit value of shutter speed and based on the set operating mode of the stroboscope 127 and the set shutter limiter seconds or camera shake seconds, a control means 121 sets the lower limit value of display timing frequency of the display means 122.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a digital camera, and more particularly, to setting a lower limit value of a display update speed of a monitor according to a strobe mode, a shutter limiter second, or a camera shake second, and taking a picture as much as possible. The present invention relates to a digital camera capable of performing monitor display in a state close to a target image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a digital camera provided with a monitor and using the monitor as a finder has been proposed. As one example, there is a "camera" disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-86373. This conventional example is provided with a display memory, and displays the image signal from the display memory on the monitor during the exposure of the CCD, and solves the problem that the monitor display during the exposure disappears when the exposure time is long. It is intended to make effective use of the monitor as a finder.

FIG. 6 is a partial configuration diagram of the camera of the conventional example. Referring to FIG.
1.Mechanical mechanism 602 including auto focus etc., CCD
(Charge-coupled device) 603, CDS (correlated double sampling) circuit 604, A / D converter 606, display memory 61
1, D / A converter 619, signal processing circuit 620, system controller 621, monitor 622, driver 62
5, a CCD drive pulse generator 624 and a synchronizing signal generation circuit 626 are provided.

A system controller 621 receives a signal from a release switch and controls opening and closing of a shutter. The synchronizing signal generation circuit 626 generates a synchronizing signal for synchronizing the operation of various components, and the CCD driving pulse generator 624 generates a horizontal synchronizing signal HD, a vertical synchronizing signal VD, a CCD charge reading pulse XSG, etc. for driving the CCD. Generated and drives the CCD 603 via the driver 625.

Further, the CCD 603 is provided with an electronic shutter function by controlling the CCD charge sweeping pulse XSUB. The CCD charge sweeping pulse XSUB is a pulse for discarding the charge accumulated in the photosensitive section to the overflow drain. The shutter speed of the electronic shutter is controlled by the system controller 621.

That is, when the release switch S1 is turned on, the shutter is always opened, and the electronic shutter is opened and closed at a predetermined shutter speed at regular intervals. When the release switch S2 is turned on, the shutter is closed once, the electric charge of the CCD 603 is swept away once, and then the shutter is opened and closed at the set shutter speed. At this time, C
The CD drive pulse generator 624 prohibits the output of the CCD charge read pulse XSG for transferring charges from the storage unit to the transfer path. When the shutter is closed, the output of the CCD charge reading pulse XSG is permitted, the image is written into the display memory 611 with the first CCD charge reading pulse XSG, and the writing is prohibited with the second CCD charge reading pulse XSG. Is stored.

As a result, the captured image is reproduced and displayed on the monitor 622. However, as shown in FIG. 7, as the shutter speed of the electronic shutter becomes longer, the unit displayed on the monitor 622 increases. The number of frames per time is reduced. The shutter speed changes according to the illuminance of external light.

When the exposure time is shorter than 1/60 second, as shown in FIG. 8, the vertical synchronizing signal VD includes a CCD charge reading pulse XSG and a CCD charge sweeping pulse XSUB.
Exposure is performed in synchronization with. At this time, the display memory 611
Is always writable.

When the exposure time is longer than 1/60 second, as shown in FIG. 9, the CCD charge reading pulse XSG and the CCD charge sweeping pulse XSUB are synchronized at predetermined intervals of the vertical synchronizing signal VD. I do. At this time, writing and prohibition of writing in the display memory 611 are alternately repeated.

[0010]

By the way, in the case of strobe light emission when the external light is dark and the shutter speed is not low, the near view (person) is properly exposed by the strobe light, but the distant view (landscape or the like) is obtained. (Background) does not reach the proper exposure because the strobe light does not reach.

On the other hand, in general, in the monitor display of the NTSC digital camera, the display is updated every 1/60 second, but it is desirable from the viewpoint of photographing to increase the display update speed. Here, the update speed of the monitor display cannot be increased unless the electronic shutter speed is increased. However, when the external light is dark, the monitor cannot be displayed with an appropriate exposure unless the shutter speed is reduced. In other words, increasing the update speed of the monitor display is contradictory to obtaining an appropriate exposure when the external light is dark, and it is difficult to obtain an appropriate exposure by increasing the update speed of the monitor display when the external light is dark. There was a problem.

In flash photography, a method of not reducing the shutter speed below a certain value (a method of setting a shutter limiter second) is generally used to prevent camera shake. It is well known in silver halide cameras that the shutter limiter second is used depending on the flash mode, depending on whether the flash is set (flash mode: auto) or not (flash mode: on). I have. When the shutter limiter time is not set, the shutter speed is reduced to make proper exposure of both the distant view and the near view.

When the lower limit of the shutter speed is set by the setting of the shutter limiter seconds or the camera shake seconds, there is a problem that the monitor display cannot be performed with an appropriate exposure depending on external light or an object. .

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and sets a lower limit of a display update speed of a monitor according to a strobe mode, a shutter limiter second, or a camera shake second. It is an object of the present invention to provide a digital camera capable of performing monitor display as close as possible to a captured image.

[0015]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a digital camera, comprising: an imaging unit for imaging a subject image; a display unit for displaying the captured image; A digital camera provided with operation means capable of setting the operation mode of the strobe, and control means for setting a lower limit value of a display timing frequency of the display means based on the set operation mode of the strobe. Things.

Further, the digital camera according to claim 2 is
Image pickup means for picking up a subject image; display means for displaying the picked-up image; strobe light; and operation means capable of setting an operation mode of the strobe light and a shutter limiter time or a camera shake time as a lower limit value of a shutter speed. And a control means for setting a lower limit value of a display timing frequency of the display means based on the set operation mode of the strobe and the set shutter limiter time or camera shake time. It was done.

A digital camera according to claim 3 is
3. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein the digital camera includes a variable gain amplifier for correcting an output signal level of the imaging unit, and the control unit controls a gain of the variable gain amplifier according to a shutter speed. To control.

Further, a digital camera according to claim 4 is
4. The digital camera according to claim 3, wherein the control means resets the shutter speed to a low speed when the output signal level of the imaging means in the variable gain amplifier is out of a predetermined amplifiable range.

[0019]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an outline of a digital camera of the present invention and an embodiment of the digital camera of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[Outline of Digital Camera of the Present Invention] In the digital camera according to the first aspect of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, an image pickup means 103 for picking up a subject image, a display means 122 for displaying the picked up image, , Strobe 127 and operating means 123 capable of setting the operation mode of strobe 127
And the control means 121 controls the set strobe 12
The lower limit value of the display timing frequency of the display means 122 is set based on the operation mode 7.

Conventionally, when the display update speed of the display means is controlled by either "constant regardless of the shutter speed" or "linked with the shutter speed", when the shutter speed is low, the actual photographing is performed. Although the shutter speed differs from the image to be displayed, the image displayed on the display means has a problem in terms of exposure and blur. However, in the present invention, the shutter used in actual photographing based on the flash mode is used. Since the image is displayed on the display means 122 at the speed, the actual captured image can be confirmed on the monitor. That is, the display of the display unit 122 can be performed in a state as close as possible to an image to be captured, and a digital camera that can quickly update the display of the display unit 122 can be realized.

In the digital camera according to the second aspect, as shown in FIG.
3, a display unit 122 for displaying a captured image, a strobe 127, and an operation unit 123 capable of setting an operation mode of the strobe 127 and a shutter limiter time or a camera shake second time which is a lower limit value of a shutter speed. The control means 121 sets the lower limit of the display timing frequency of the display means 122 based on the set operation mode of the strobe 127 and the set shutter limiter time or camera shake time.

As described above, based on the strobe mode and the shutter limiter time or the camera shake time, the display means 1
Since the lower limit of the display timing frequency of 22 is set,
The photographing environment can be changed due to a focal length factor of a zoom lens or the like, and an image that is actually photographed can be displayed more finely on the display unit 122. That is, the display of the display unit 122 can be performed in a state as close as possible to an image to be captured, and a digital camera that can quickly update the display of the display unit 122 can be realized.

Further, the digital camera according to the third aspect includes the variable gain amplifier 105 for correcting the output signal level of the imaging means 103, and the control means 121 controls the gain of the variable gain amplifier 105 according to the shutter speed. Like that. For example, even if there is no flash emission and the exposure is not proper due to the shutter speed, the variable gain amplifier 10
By increasing the gain of 5, the subject can be confirmed on the display means 122.

Further, in the digital camera according to the fourth aspect, the control means 121 resets the shutter speed to a low value when the output signal level of the image pickup means 103 in the variable gain amplifier 105 falls outside a predetermined amplifiable range. Like that. For example, when there is no flash emission and the exposure is not proper due to the shutter speed, the variable gain amplifier 1
Even when the proper exposure cannot be performed by the gain control in step 05, the subject can be confirmed on the display unit 122 by resetting the shutter speed to a low value.

[Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a digital camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a digital camera according to the present embodiment includes a lens 101, a mechanical mechanism 102 including an autofocus, a CCD 103, a CDS circuit 104, a variable gain amplifier (AGC amplifier) 105, an A / D converter 106,
IPP107, DCT108, coder 109, MCC
110, RAM (internal memory) 111, PC card interface 112, CPU 121 with built-in ROM table 121a, display unit 122, operation unit 123, motor driver 125, SG (control signal generation) unit 126, strobe 127, battery 128, It comprises a DC-DC converter 129. Also, the PC card 1 that can be detached via the PC card interface 112
50 are connected.

The lens unit includes a lens 101, a mechanical mechanism 102 including an autofocus (AF), an aperture, and a filter unit. The mechanical shutter of the mechanical mechanism 102 performs simultaneous exposure of two fields. CCD
The (charge-coupled device) 103 converts an image input via the lens unit into an electric signal (analog image data). The CDS (correlated double sampling) circuit 104
This is a circuit for reducing noise of a CD-type image sensor.

The AGC amplifier 105 corrects the level of the signal correlated double-sampled by the CDS circuit 104. Further, the A / D converter 106 includes the AGC amplifier 10
5 converts the analog image data input from the CCD 103 into digital image data. That is, CCD1
03 is converted to a digital signal at an optimum sampling frequency (for example, an integer multiple of the subcarrier frequency of the NTSC signal) by the A / D converter 105 via the CDS circuit 104 and the AGC amplifier 105. .

The digital signal processor IPP
(Image Pre-Processor) 107, DCT (Discrete C)
osine 108) and a coder (Huffman En
coder / Decoder) 109 converts the color difference (Cb, Cb) of the digital image data input from the A / D converter 406.
r) and luminance (Y) are separately subjected to various processing, correction, and data processing for image compression / decompression. The image compression / decompression unit 107 performs, for example, orthogonal transformation which is a process of JPEG-compliant image compression / decompression, and JPEG-compliant image compression / decompression.
Huffman encoding / decoding, which is one of the processes of decompression, is performed.

Further, an MCC (Memory Card Controller)
The computer 110 temporarily stores the compressed image and records the image on the PC card 150 via the PC card interface 112 or reads the image from the PC card 150.

The CPU 121 controls all operations inside the digital camera in accordance with an instruction from the operation unit 123 or an external operation instruction such as a remote controller (not shown). The camera power supply is a battery 128, for example, NiCd,
From a nickel-metal hydride, lithium battery or the like, it is input to the DC-DC converter 129 and supplied to the inside of the digital camera.

The display unit 122 is implemented by an LCD, an LED, an EL, etc., and displays photographed digital image data and decompressed recorded image data, and a mode display unit displays the status of the digital camera. Is displayed on the screen. The operation unit 123 includes buttons for externally performing function selection, shooting instructions, and other various settings.

Here, the control of the electronic shutter operation is performed by the CP
SG based on the instruction of control signal con1 from U121
The control signal generation is performed by the control signal group c1 supplied from the (control signal generation) unit 126 to the CCD 103. Here, the control signal group c1 includes various signals such as a vertical synchronizing signal VD, a horizontal synchronizing signal HD, a CCD charge readout pulse XSG1, and a CCD charge sweeping pulse XSUB, as in the related art. Is the same as before.

The gain control of the AGC amplifier 105 is as follows.
The AGC amplifier 10 is controlled by an SG (control signal generation) unit 126 based on an instruction of the control signal con1 from the CPU 121 with reference to a ROM table built in the CPU 121.
5 is performed by a control signal c3 supplied to the control signal C5.

Next, based on the flash mode and the shutter limiter seconds or camera shake seconds, the monitor display update interval of the display unit 122 is set, and the AGC amplifier 105 is set.
A specific example of setting the gain will be described.

First, regarding the setting based on the shutter limiter time or camera shake time, the shutter limiter time or camera shake time is set to 1/60 in normal (telephoto) mode.
[Second], and the shutter limiter second or the camera shake second at the time of wide mode is set to 1/30 [second].

Next, the setting based on the strobe mode is set as follows according to the strobe mode in the normal (telephoto) mode. First, when the strobe mode is "auto", the shutter speed from the camera shake second to the settable high-speed second is set, and particularly, an image free of camera shake can be displayed. Further, since the monitor display interval is set to 1/60 [second], which is the fastest, there is no chance of missing a photo opportunity. The following settings are made to be intellectual.

(1) Flash mode: auto Shutter speed = 1/60 to 1/16000 Monitor display update interval = 1/60 fixed AGC = 1/60

When the strobe mode is "on" and "of"
In the case of f ", the shutter speed is set from the settable low speed to the high speed. In particular, since the low shutter speed is used at low luminance, the image state actually shot, that is, You can check how much the image is captured or check the camera shake and the flow of the subject.
The following settings are made respectively.

(2) When the strobe mode is on: Shutter speed = 1/8 to 1/16000 Monitor display update interval = 1/8 to 1/60 AGC = 1/8

(3) Strobe mode: off Shutter speed = 1/8 to 1/16000 Monitor display update interval = 1/8 to 1/60 AGC = 1/8

At the time of wide mode, the following settings are similarly made according to the strobe mode.

(1) Flash mode: auto Shutter speed = 1/30 to 1/16000 Monitor display update interval = 1/30 to 1/60 fixed AGC = 1/60

(2) When the strobe mode is on: Shutter speed = 1/8 to 1/16000 Monitor display update interval = 1/8 to 1/60 AGC = 1/8

(3) Strobe mode: off Shutter speed = 1/8 to 1/16000 Monitor display update interval = 1/8 to 1/60 AGC = 1/8

As described above, the strobe mode is set to "out"
In the case of “o”, the setting at the time of normal (tele) is different from the setting at the time of wide. However, when the strobe mode is “on” or “off”, there is no difference between the setting at the time of normal (tele) and the time of wide. .

In the case of controlling the gain of the AGC amplifier 105, normally, correction can only be performed up to about +2 EV. Here, EV is the exposure value (Exposure Valu
e). For example, when the strobe mode is “auto”, “AGC = 1/60 [second]”
It is up to an appropriate subject in 1/15 [second].
When the +2 EV correction is performed by the AGC, the image state deteriorates due to noise or the like.

Also in this embodiment, basically, the relationship between the monitor frequency and the shutter speed shown in FIG. 7 shown in the prior art exists, and as the shutter speed of the electronic shutter increases, the display on the display unit 122 increases. The number of frames per unit time is reduced. At a shutter speed of 1/60 second or more, the monitor (display update) frequency of the display unit 122 is constant at 60 [Hz].

When the exposure time is shorter than 1/60 second, the vertical synchronizing signal VD as shown in FIG.
Exposure is performed by synchronizing the CCD charge reading pulse XSG and the CCD charge sweeping pulse XSUB. At this time, RAM1
11 is always writable.

When the exposure time is longer than 1/60 second, as shown in FIG.
CCD charge readout pulses XSG and CC at predetermined intervals of D
Exposure is performed by synchronizing the D charge sweeping pulse XSUB. At this time, writing and prohibition of writing in the RAM 111 are alternately repeated.

Next, FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the setting of the gain in the AGC amplifier (variable gain amplifier) 105. That is, the gain of the AGC amplifier 105 set by the CPU (16
Correction amount ΔTV at shutter speed with respect to base number notation)
(Gain).

For example, if the AGC set value is the initial value (20H)
In order to set the shutter speed to 1/60 [second] and obtain an appropriate exposure when the shutter speed is 1/30 [second], use AG
The C set value may be set to 30H.

In this embodiment, it is assumed that a good image is output up to a gain of 2ΔTV (4 times) in terms of ΔTV. This is because the gain cannot be actually increased above 2ΔTV because noise is noticeable.

FIG. 3 shows that the flash mode is "out".
o "is a TV diagram when set to" o ".
The ISO sensitivity of No. 103 is 100, and FNo. Is 2.8
Is fixed (AV3). The TV diagram of FIG.
The PU 121 controls the AGC amplifier 105 according to the shutter speed.
This is for controlling the gain of. Here, AV is an aperture value (Aperture Value) in exposure adjustment, TV is a time value (Time Value), and EV is an exposure value (Exposure Value).

In FIG. 3, in EV7 to EV17, EV
For 9 to EV17, the shutter speed is set to 1/60 to 1/16000 [sec] with the AGC set value as the initial value (20H).
The exposure is corrected by making the range variable. Also E
In V7 to EV9, the shutter speed is fixed to 1/60 [second] (strobe light emission), and ΔTV is set to 2 to 0 (AGC set value from 40H to 20H) by the gain control of the AGC amplifier 105, whereby To prevent camera shake as a proper exposure. Furthermore, EV6 and EV7 are underexposed to light other than the strobe light.

FIG. 4 also shows that the strobe mode is "out".
FIG. 3 is a TV diagram when set to “o”.
Similarly, the ISO sensitivity of the CCD 103 is 100,
FNo. Is fixed at 2.8.

The TV diagram of FIG. 4 shows the AGC amplifier 1
In a case where the output signal level of the imaging means 103 is out of the predetermined amplifiable range in 05, the CPU 121 resets the shutter speed to a low speed and controls the gain of the AGC amplifier 105 according to the shutter speed. . Therefore, unlike FIG. 3, in FIG. 4, even in the case of EV6 to EV7, the proper exposure is obtained except for the strobe light.

FIG. 5 is a TV diagram when the flash mode is set to "on" or "off". Again, as in FIG. 3, the ISO sensitivity of the CCD 103 is 10
0 and FNo. Is fixed at 2.8. In FIG.
In EV6 to EV17, the AGC set value is changed to the initial value (2
0H) and set the shutter speed to 1/8 to 1/16000.
Correction exposure is obtained by making it variable within the range of [seconds].
Therefore, it is possible to confirm which subject is captured to what extent, or camera shake, the flow state of the subject, and the like.

When the strobe mode is "auto", "
Regardless of whether the mode is set to “on” or “off”, the image actually shot can be confirmed on the monitor display. Can be checked.

Lastly, regarding the operation relating to the setting of the shutter speed and the monitor display in the digital camera,
It is explained together. First, the operator sets the flash mode and sets the photographing operation via the operation unit 123. The CPU 121 sets the shutter speed in the IPP 107. Further, the CPU determines the exposure based on the luminance data from the IPP 107 and 121, and controls the CCD charge reading pulse XSG and the CCD charge sweeping pulse XSUB according to the result of the exposure determination. Further, the CPU 121 determines the strobe mode setting, calculates the TV value, and calculates the AG value from the TV value and the strobe mode as shown in FIGS.
An AGC value to be set in the C amplifier 105 is determined, and the AGC amplifier 105 is controlled by the control signal group c3 via the SG unit 126.
Set the gain of

In the above description, the embodiment of the digital camera according to claims 3 and 4 has been described in such a manner that an appropriate exposure is obtained. However, the monitor display on the display unit 122 is a means for confirming the subject to the last. , Display unit 12
If the subject can be confirmed on 2, the exposure does not need to be proper. For example, if the object can be confirmed by one step under on the display unit 122, the gain can be increased by starting with one step under exposure and increasing the gain by one step or more.

[0063]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention,
According to the digital camera of the first aspect, the lower limit value of the display timing frequency of the display means is set by the control means based on the set operation mode of the strobe. Thus, it is possible to provide a digital camera which can display the display means and can quickly update the display of the display means.

According to the digital camera of the second aspect, the control means sets the display timing frequency of the display means on the basis of the set strobe operation mode and the set shutter limiter time or camera shake time. Since the lower limit is set, it is possible to change the shooting environment due to factors such as the focal length of the zoom lens, etc., and it is possible to display images that are actually shot more finely on the display means. As a result, it is possible to provide a digital camera which can display the display means in a state as close as possible to an image to be photographed and can quickly update the display of the display means.

According to the digital camera of the third aspect, the control means controls the gain of the variable gain amplifier in accordance with the shutter speed. Even in the case where the digital camera is not used, it is possible to provide a digital camera capable of confirming the subject on the display means by increasing the gain of the variable gain amplifier and displaying the display means as close as possible to the image to be captured. it can.

Further, according to the digital camera of the present invention, when the output signal level of the imaging means in the variable gain amplifier is out of the predetermined amplifiable range, the control means resets the shutter speed to a low value. Therefore, for example, even in the case where there is no strobe light emission and the exposure is not proper due to the shutter speed, and the proper exposure cannot be performed by the gain control of the variable gain amplifier, the shutter speed is reset and set to a low value. Thus, it is possible to provide a digital camera capable of confirming a subject and displaying the display means in a state as close as possible to an image to be shot.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a digital camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating setting of a gain in an AGC amplifier (variable gain amplifier).

FIG. 3 is a TV diagram (part 1) when a strobe mode is set to “auto”.

FIG. 4 is a TV diagram (part 2) when the strobe mode is set to “auto”.

FIG. 5 is a TV diagram when a strobe mode is set to “on” or “off”.

FIG. 6 is a partial configuration diagram of a conventional camera.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a relationship between a monitor frequency and a shutter speed.

FIG. 8 is a timing chart illustrating an operation when the exposure time is shorter than 1/60 second.

FIG. 9 is a timing chart illustrating an operation when the exposure time is longer than 1/60 second.

[Explanation of symbols]

101, 601 Lens 102, 602 Mechanical mechanism including auto focus 103, 603 CCD (charge coupled device) 104, 604 CDS (correlated double sampling) circuit 105 Variable gain amplifier (AGC amplifier) 106, 606 A / D converter 107 IPP (Image Pre-Processor) 108 DCT (Discrete Cosine Transform) 109 Coder (Huffman Encoder / Decoder) 110 MCC (Memory Card Controller) 111 RAM (internal memory) 112 PC card interface 121, 421 CPU (control means) 121a, 421a ROM table 122 display unit 123 operation unit 125 motor driver 126 SG (control signal generation) unit 127 strobe 128 battery 129 DC-DC converter 150 PC card con1 to con3, con41, co n42 control signal c1 to c4, c41 to c43 control signal group 611 display memory 619 D / A converter 620 signal processing circuit 621 system controller 622 monitor 624 CCD drive pulse generator 625 driver 626 synchronization signal generation circuit VD vertical synchronization signal XSG CCD Charge reading pulse XSUB CCD charge sweeping pulse

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A digital camera comprising: an imaging unit for imaging a subject image; a display unit for displaying the captured image; a strobe; and an operation unit for setting an operation mode of the strobe. A digital camera, comprising: control means for setting a lower limit value of a display timing frequency of the display means based on an operation mode of a strobe. 2. An image pickup means for picking up an image of a subject, a display means for displaying the picked-up image, a strobe, and a shutter limiter second or a camera shake second which is a lower limit of an operation mode and a shutter speed of the strobe. In a digital camera having an operation means that can be set, a lower limit value of a display timing frequency of the display means is set based on the set operation mode of the strobe and the set shutter limiter seconds or camera shake seconds. A digital camera, comprising: 3. The digital camera has a variable gain amplifier for correcting an output signal level of the image pickup means, and the control means controls a gain of the variable gain amplifier in accordance with a shutter speed. The digital camera according to claim 1. 4. The variable gain amplifier according to claim 3, wherein the variable gain amplifier resets the shutter speed to a low speed when the output signal level of the image pickup means is out of a predetermined amplification range. Digital camera.