WO2013145791A1 - Imaging device and method for controlling same - Google Patents

Abstract

This digital camera is provided with: an imaging element that images a subject; a finder device through which a subject image formed by an objective optical system can be observed from an eyepiece window; and a control unit. In an OVF mode whereby the subject image is observed from the eyepiece window, the control unit estimates the position of a high-brightness subject with respect to a subject observation range formed by the objective optical system, and performs control that alters the image visible from the eyepiece window in accordance with the distance between the estimated position of the high-brightness subject and the subject observation range of the objective optical system.

Description

Imaging apparatus and control method thereof

The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus and a control method thereof.

An imaging device such as a digital camera that stores captured image data obtained by digitally processing a captured image signal output from a solid-state image sensor on a recording medium is equipped with an optical viewfinder to visually check the composition of the subject. (See, for example, Patent Document 1).

Patent Document 1 discloses an imaging apparatus capable of setting an OVF mode in which an optical image of a subject can be observed from an eyepiece window and an EVF mode in which an image displayed on a display unit can be observed from the eyepiece window. .

Further, in the imaging apparatus described in Patent Document 1, in the OVF mode, when the luminance of a subject measured by a photometric sensor built in the finder is equal to or higher than a predetermined value, a high-luminance subject is present within the finder field angle. By judging and switching from the OVF mode to the EVF mode, the safety of the user's eyes is ensured.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2011-223469

Since the imaging device described in Patent Document 1 switches from the OVF mode to the EVF mode after determining that the high-luminance subject is within the viewfinder angle of view, the user is required to switch to the EVF mode before switching to the EVF mode. There is a possibility of looking directly at a luminance subject.

Since a high-luminance subject such as the sun may damage the eye if it enters the eye even for a moment, a configuration that can prevent direct viewing of the high-luminance subject is desired.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an imaging apparatus capable of preventing direct viewing of a high-luminance subject as much as possible and a control method thereof.

An image pickup apparatus according to the present invention includes an image pickup element that picks up an image of an object, an optical viewfinder that can observe an object image formed by an optical system from an eyepiece window, and a display unit that displays the image. Display unit provided in the optical viewfinder so that it can be observed from, a high-brightness subject position estimation unit that estimates the position of a high-brightness subject relative to the subject range imaged by the optical system, and a viewfinder mode that observes the subject image from the eyepiece window And a control unit that performs control to change the image seen from the eyepiece window according to the distance between the position of the high-luminance subject and the subject range estimated by the high-luminance subject position estimation unit.

According to this configuration, for example, when a high-brightness subject is approaching the subject observation range of the finder device, the user can view the subject image from the eyepiece window and display the live view image on the display unit. You can concentrate on shooting without being conscious of the subject. Further, by displaying an image indicating a certain direction of the high brightness subject on the display unit, it is possible to prevent the user from looking directly at the high brightness subject. According to this configuration, even when the image seen from the eyepiece window is changed, the subject being photographed can be confirmed without any breaks, so that a photo opportunity is not missed.

An image pickup apparatus control method according to the present invention includes an image pickup device that picks up an image of an object, an optical viewfinder that can observe an object image formed by an optical system from an eyepiece window, and a display unit that displays an image. Is a method for controlling an imaging apparatus having a display unit provided in an optical viewfinder so that a high-brightness subject position can be estimated with respect to a subject range formed by an optical system. In the finder mode for observing the subject image from the step and the eyepiece window, control is performed to change the image seen from the eyepiece window according to the distance between the position of the high-luminance subject estimated in the high-luminance subject position estimation step and the subject range. And a control step.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an imaging apparatus capable of preventing direct viewing of a high-luminance subject as much as possible and a control method thereof.

1 is an external perspective view of a digital camera as an imaging device for explaining a first embodiment of the present invention. 1 is an internal block diagram of the digital camera 10 shown in FIG. FIG. 1 is an internal block diagram of a digital camera 10a which is a modification of the digital camera 10 shown in FIG. The figure for demonstrating the modification of an operation | movement common to the digital camera 10 and the digital camera 10a The figure for demonstrating the modification of an operation | movement common to the digital camera 10 and the digital camera 10a The figure for demonstrating the modification of an operation | movement common to the digital camera 10 and the digital camera 10a The figure for demonstrating the modification of an operation | movement common to the digital camera 10 and the digital camera 10a The figure for demonstrating the modification of an operation | movement common to the digital camera 10 and the digital camera 10a

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a digital camera as an imaging device for explaining a first embodiment of the present invention.

The digital camera 10 includes a rectangular casing 11. A lens barrel 12 is provided at the front center of the housing 11. In the lens barrel 12, a photographic lens (a focus lens for adjusting the focal position, a zoom lens, etc.) 13 is housed.

A shutter release button 14 is provided on one side of the upper end surface of the housing 11. A finder device 15 is provided at a corner of the upper end surface of the housing 11 opposite to the shutter release button 14. The subject-side finder window 16 of the finder device 15 is provided at a corner on the front surface of the housing 11. An eyepiece window 17 of the finder device 15 is provided in a portion on the back side of the housing 11 facing the subject side finder window 16. The buttons such as the shutter release button 14 are not limited to buttons provided individually, and may be configured by various known input units such as touch buttons.

FIG. 2 is an internal block diagram of the digital camera 10 shown in FIG.

In the figure, a digital camera 10 performs analog signal processing on a CCD solid-state imaging device 21a, a photographing optical system placed in front of the solid-state imaging device 21a, and an output signal (captured image signal) of the solid-state imaging device 21a. A CDSAMP 25a, an analog / digital (A / D) converter 26a that converts an output signal of the CDSAMP 25a into a digital signal, and a finder device 15 are provided. The photographing optical system includes a photographing lens 13 (a zoom lens is 13a and a focus lens is 13b) and a diaphragm (iris) 24.

In addition, although the solid-state image sensor 21a is a CCD type in the example of FIG. 2, it may be a solid-state image sensor of another type such as a CMOS type.

The finder device 15 includes a subject-side finder window 16, an eyepiece window 17, an OVF shutter 62, an objective optical system 65, a prism 66 having a half mirror 63 inside, and a display unit 61.

Between the subject-side finder window 16 and the eyepiece window 17, an OVF shutter 62, an objective optical system 65, and a prism 66 are arranged in this order along the incident optical axis L of the finder device 15.

The OVF shutter 62 is detachably provided on the optical path along the optical axis L. The OVF shutter 62 can be in a closed state inserted on the optical path of the finder device 15 and an open state retracted from the optical path of the finder device 15.

In the closed state, the OVF shutter 62 is inserted at a position covering the subject side finder window 16. For this reason, in this closed state, the light incident on the subject-side finder window 16 is blocked by the OVF shutter 62 and the light is prevented from entering the eyepiece window 17.

In the open state, the OVF shutter 62 is retracted to a position that does not cover the subject-side finder window 16. For this reason, in this open state, the light incident on the subject-side finder window 16 passes through the OVF shutter 62 without being blocked, and the OVF optical image formed by the objective optical system 65 enters the eyepiece window 17.

The OVF shutter 62 may be one that mechanically inserts and removes a plate-like member that absorbs or reflects light, or may be an element (for example, a liquid crystal shutter) that can electrically control transmittance. .

The half mirror 63 is installed at an angle of 45 degrees with respect to the optical axis L.

The display unit 61 is configured by a liquid crystal display device, for example, and is disposed adjacent to the half mirror 63 and parallel to the optical axis L. The display unit 61 displays the image by transmitting the backlight light only in the portion where the image is to be displayed on the display screen and not transmitting the backlight light in other portions (black display). I do.

Thus, in a state where the OVF shutter 62 is in the open state and an image is displayed on the display unit 61, incident light (OVF optical image) from the subject that has passed through the half mirror 63 and the half mirror emitted from the display unit 61 are emitted. An image in which the light reflected at 63 (the EVF image displayed on the display unit 61) is superimposed can be confirmed from the eyepiece window 17.

The viewfinder device 15 is used as an optical viewfinder (OVF) by opening the OVF shutter 62 and turning off the display unit 61 (off). Further, the viewfinder device 15 is used as an electronic viewfinder (EVF) by closing the OVF shutter 62 and setting the display unit 61 to the display state (ON).

The digital camera 10 can set an OVF mode for observing an OVF optical image from the eyepiece window 17 of the finder device 15 and an EVF mode for observing an image displayed on the display unit 61 from the eyepiece window 17 of the finder device 15. ing.

In the finder device 15, the prism 66 and the display unit 61 are deleted, and a see-through type display unit is arranged at a position where the prism 66 is located so that the display surface thereof is perpendicular to the optical axis L. There may be.

The digital camera 10 is driven by a motor driver 46 that supplies drive pulses to the drive motor of the zoom lens 13a, a motor driver 47 that supplies drive pulses to the drive motor of the focus lens 13b, and a drive motor that controls the aperture of the diaphragm 24. A motor driver 48 that supplies a signal, a motor driver 53 that supplies a drive signal to a drive motor that controls the position of the OVF shutter 62, and a timing generator (TG) 49 that supplies a drive timing pulse to the solid-state imaging device 21a. Prepare. The motor drivers 46, 47, 48, 53 and TG 49 operate based on a command from the control unit 32. Further, the CDSAMP 25a also operates based on a command from the control unit 32.

The digital camera 10 further includes an image input controller 31 that captures a digital captured image signal output from the A / D converter 26a, a control unit 32 that performs overall control of the entire digital camera 10, and an image input controller 31. An image signal processing circuit 33 that performs image processing on the captured captured image signal to generate captured image data, a memory 36 that includes a RAM used as a work memory, a ROM that stores various data, and the like, and a captured image after image processing A compression processing circuit 39 that compresses data into a JPEG image or an MPEG image, and a captured image or a live view image are displayed on a liquid crystal display device 40 provided on the rear surface of the camera or the like, and a display unit 61 in the finder device 15 A display control unit 41 for displaying the captured image data on the recording medium 42. It comprises a A controller 43, a position detection unit (GPS) 60, a database (DB) 70, an attitude sensor 75, a direction sensor 76, these bus 44 interconnecting the.

The position detector 60 includes a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver, detects the position (latitude, longitude, altitude) of the digital camera 10 on the earth based on a signal received from a GPS satellite, and detects the detected position information. Is transmitted to the control unit 32.

The attitude sensor 75 is for detecting the inclination of the digital camera 10 in the photographing direction (the optical axis direction of the photographing lens 13) with respect to the ground, and for example, a gyro sensor is used. The posture sensor 75 transmits the detected tilt information to the control unit 32.

The direction sensor 76 is for detecting the shooting direction of the digital camera 10 (the direction in which the shooting lens 13 is facing). The direction sensor 76 transmits the detected shooting direction information to the control unit 32.

In the database 70, a table in which positions on the earth (latitude, longitude, altitude), year and month, date and time, and sun positions are associated is recorded in advance.

The control unit 32 is connected to an operation unit 50 including the shutter release button 14 shown in FIG. 1 and a zoom button (not shown). Based on a user instruction input through the operation unit 50, the control unit 32 controls the digital camera 10.

The operation of the digital camera 10 configured as described above in the OVF mode will be described.

When the OVF mode is set, the control unit 32 opens the OVF shutter 62 and controls the display unit 61 to the non-display state. By this control, only the OVF optical image incident from the subject side finder window 16 and formed by the objective optical system 65 can be observed from the eyepiece window 17.

Further, when the OVF mode is set, the control unit 32 activates the position detection unit 60, the posture sensor 75, and the azimuth sensor 76. From the position detection unit 60, the posture sensor 75, and the azimuth sensor 76, the position information, Tilt information and shooting direction information are received.

Then, the control unit 32, based on the position information, the shooting direction information, and the tilt information, forms a subject observation range (that is, from the eyepiece window 17 of the finder device 15) formed by the objective optical system 65 of the finder device 15. Obtain the coordinates of the periphery of the object that can be observed) on the earth.

Further, the control unit 32 uses the current date and time information acquired from the built-in clock, the position information of the digital camera 10 received from the position detection unit 60, and the table recorded in the database 70, Find the position coordinates of the sun. Then, the control unit 32 estimates the position of the sun with respect to the subject observation range from the obtained sun position coordinates and the subject observation range coordinates.

In the OVF mode, the control unit 32 performs control to change the image seen from the eyepiece window 17 according to the distance between the sun position estimated as described above and the object observation range of the finder device 15.

Specifically, in the OVF mode, the control unit 32 continues the OVF mode as it is when the distance between the subject observation range of the finder device 15 and the estimated sun position exceeds a predetermined threshold Th1. When the distance is equal to or less than the threshold value Th1, control is performed to switch from the OVF mode to the EVF mode.

The control unit 32 controls the OVF shutter 62 to the closed state, turns on the power of the display unit 61, and displays the live view image obtained by imaging with the imaging element 21 a on the display unit 61, thereby allowing the OVF mode. To EVF mode.

After switching from the OVF mode to the EVF mode, the control unit 32 performs control to automatically switch from the EVF mode to the OVF mode when the distance exceeds the threshold Th1.

As described above, according to the digital camera 10, in the state where the OVF mode is set, the user is forced to switch from the OVF mode to the EVF mode when the sun is near the subject observation range of the finder device 15, so Even when the digital camera 10 is moved and the sun enters the subject observation range of the finder device 15, the OVF optical image cannot be seen from the eyepiece window 17 at that time, and the user looks directly at the sun. Can be prevented.

In the above description, the live view image is displayed on the display unit 61 built in the viewfinder device 15 in the EVF mode. However, the present invention is not limited to this.

For example, when the display unit 61 and the prism 66 in the finder device 15 are omitted and the OVF mode is switched to the EVF mode, the control unit 32 controls the OVF shutter 62 to be closed and is provided on the back surface of the digital camera 10. You may perform control which displays a live view image on LCD40.

Alternatively, the prism 66 in the finder device 15 may be omitted, and the display unit 61 may be provided on the optical path along the optical axis L so as to be detachable. In this configuration, the control unit 32 controls to open the OVF shutter 62 in the OVF mode and to retract the display unit 61 from the optical path along the optical axis L, and closes the OVF shutter 62 in the EVF mode. At the same time, the display unit 61 is inserted into the optical path, and the display unit 61 is controlled to display the live view image. In this configuration, since the OVF optical image can be blocked by the display unit 61, the OVF shutter 62 can be omitted.

Further, although the digital camera 10 is provided with the objective optical system 65 separately from the photographing lens 13, a configuration in which the photographing lens 13 is also used as the objective optical system 65 may be used.

In this case, the OVF shutter 62 in the finder device 15 is omitted, and the light passing through the photographing lens 13 is reflected by a mirror and guided to the prism 66. In the OVF mode, the control unit 32 inserts a mirror on the optical path of the photographic lens 13 to guide the optical image formed by the photographic lens 13 to the eyepiece window 17, and from the optical path of the photographic lens 13 in the EVF mode. The live view image is displayed on the display unit 61 with the mirror retracted so that the light from the photographing lens 13 does not reach the eyepiece window 17.

As described above, the control of switching from the OVF mode to the EVF mode when the sun position is estimated and the estimated sun position approaches the subject observation range of the finder device 15 is effective when the sun is out. .

Therefore, when the weather at the time of use of the place where the digital camera 10 is used includes “sunny” such as “sunny”, “sunny and cloudy”, or “sunny and sometimes cloudy”. In addition, by operating the position detector 60, the attitude sensor 75, and the azimuth sensor 76 to estimate the position of the sun, low power consumption can be achieved.

For example, a communication interface connectable to a network such as the Internet is added to the digital camera 10, and the control unit 32 acquires weather information at the current position of the digital camera 10 through the communication interface. However, only when the weather at the position includes “sunny”, the position of the sun may be estimated by operating the position detector 60, the attitude sensor 75, and the direction sensor 76. If there is a photographed image close to the use time point, a blue sky (which may be a high-luminance subject area described later) is detected from the photographed image, and “clear” is included when the blue sky can be detected. It may be determined.

Next, a digital camera 10a, which is a modification of the digital camera 10 shown in FIG. 1, will be described. The appearance of the digital camera 10a is the same as that shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an internal block diagram of a digital camera 10a which is a modification of the digital camera 10 shown in FIG. The digital camera 10a has the same configuration as that of the digital camera 10 except that the position detection unit 60, the database 70, and the direction sensor 76 are deleted.

Hereinafter, the operation of the digital camera 10a in the OVF mode will be described.

When the OVF mode is set, the control unit 32 of the digital camera 10a controls the OVF shutter 62 to be in an open state and the display unit 61 to be in a non-display state. With this control, only the OVF optical image incident from the subject-side finder window 16 can be observed from the eyepiece window 17.

Further, when the OVF mode is set, the control unit 32 of the digital camera 10 a acquires a captured image signal captured by the image sensor 21 a and input from the image input controller 31. And the control part 32 detects the area | region (high brightness subject area | region) where the signal is saturated more than predetermined magnitude | size from the acquired captured image signal. Examples of the high brightness subject area include an area where the sun and a high brightness light are reflected.

The control unit 32 activates the attitude sensor 75 when detecting the high-luminance subject area. The control unit 32 then shifts the posture of the digital camera 10 detected by the posture sensor 75, the position of the detected high-luminance subject region in the captured image signal, the angle of view of the photographing lens 13, and the angle of view of the viewfinder device 15. Using the amount information (stored in the memory 36 in advance), the position of the high-luminance subject relative to the subject observation range of the finder device 15 is estimated.

The position of the high brightness subject area is a position within the angle of view of the photographic lens 13. For this reason, the position obtained by shifting the position by the amount of deviation between the angle of view of the photographing lens 13 and the angle of view of the finder device 15 is the position of the high-luminance subject region within the subject observation range of the finder device 15.

When the photographing lens 13 is also used as the objective optical system 65, the position of the high brightness subject area in the captured image signal is the position of the high brightness subject area within the subject observation range of the finder device 15 as it is.

The posture of the digital camera 10 (hereinafter referred to as a reference posture) when the high-luminance subject region is within the subject observation range of the finder device 15 can be detected by the posture sensor 75. For this reason, after the high brightness subject area is detected, the position of the high brightness subject with respect to the subject observation range of the finder device 15 is estimated by the change of the orientation from the reference orientation even when the orientation of the digital camera 10 changes. be able to.

In this way, after once detecting the high-luminance subject area, the control unit 32 continues to estimate the position of the high-luminance subject with respect to the subject observation range of the finder device 15.

The control unit 32 performs control to change the image seen from the eyepiece window 17 according to the distance between the estimated position of the high brightness subject and the subject observation range of the finder device 15. Since this control is the same as that described for the digital camera 10, a description thereof will be omitted.

As described above, according to the digital camera 10a, the same effect as the digital camera 10 can be obtained.

When the control unit 32 of the digital camera 10a first detects a high-luminance subject area from the captured image signal, the control unit 32 performs control to switch from the OVF mode to the EVF mode. The estimation of the position of the luminance subject may be started. In this way, it is possible to further reduce the possibility that the user will look directly at the high brightness subject.

The same modification as described in the digital camera 10 can be applied to the digital camera 10a.

That is, the display unit 61 and the prism 66 in the finder device 15 are omitted, and when the OVF mode is switched to the EVF mode, the control unit 32 controls the OVF shutter 62 to be closed and is provided on the back surface of the digital camera 10. The LCD 40 may be controlled to display a live view image.

Further, the prism 66 is omitted, and the display unit 61 is provided on the optical axis L so as to be detachable. The control unit 32 controls the OVF shutter 62 to be opened in the OVF mode and controls the display unit 61 to be retracted from the optical axis L, and closes the OVF shutter 62 to the display unit in the EVF mode. Control to insert 61 on the optical axis L may be performed.

Alternatively, the photographic lens 13 may also be used as the objective optical system 65.

Next, modified examples of operations common to the digital camera 10 and the digital camera 10a will be described.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a modified example of an operation common to the digital camera 10 and the digital camera 10a. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an image seen from the eyepiece window 17 of the finder device 15.

In this modified example, in the OVF mode, the control unit 32 keeps the OVF shutter 62 open when the estimated distance between the high brightness subject and the subject observation range of the finder device 15 is equal to or less than the threshold Th1. A notification image (in the example of FIG. 4, a white arrow and a character “High Brightness!”) For notifying the subject observation range of the finder device 15 in a certain direction is displayed on the display unit 61.

On the other hand, the control unit 32 stops the display of the notification image on the display unit 61 in a state where the estimated distance between the high brightness subject and the subject observation range of the finder device 15 exceeds the threshold Th1.

As a result, when a high-luminance subject is approaching the subject observation range of the finder device 15, the eyepiece window 17 observes an image in which a white arrow and a character “High Brightness!” Are superimposed on the OVF optical image. From this image, it is possible to know that the high brightness subject is approaching the subject observation range, including the direction in which the high brightness subject exists. Therefore, the user can take care that the high brightness subject does not enter the subject observation range, and can reduce the possibility that the high brightness subject is directly viewed.

Note that, depending on the user's operation, a high-luminance subject may enter the subject observation range. In this case, the control unit 32 controls the OVF shutter 62 to be closed and further displays the display unit 61. It is preferable to perform control to display a live view image.

Further, in this modification, it is preferable to change the display form of the notification image according to the distance between the subject observation range of the finder device 15 and the high brightness subject.

For example, when the distance between the subject observation range of the finder device 15 and the high-luminance subject is equal to or smaller than the threshold Th1, but is equal to or larger than a predetermined threshold Th2, only a white arrow is displayed as a notification image as shown in FIG. When the distance is less than the threshold value Th2, as shown in FIG. 6, a hatched arrow and the characters “High Brightness!” Are displayed as a notification image.

In this way, it is possible to easily recognize the distance to the high-brightness subject by the difference in the display form of the notification image.

7 and 8 are diagrams showing modifications of the display form of the notification image.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, when the distance between the subject observation range of the finder device 15 and the high-luminance subject is not more than the threshold Th1, but is not less than the threshold Th2, as shown in FIG. When an image covering a portion corresponding to the direction in which the high-intensity subject exists at the periphery of the subject observation range is displayed as a notification image and the distance is less than the threshold Th2, as shown in FIG. The image is displayed thickly.

Even in such a modification, the distance to the high-luminance subject can be easily recognized by the difference in the display form of the notification image.

In this specification, a digital camera is taken as an example of the imaging apparatus, but the present invention can be applied to any imaging apparatus equipped with a finder apparatus. For example, the technique of this embodiment can be applied even when a finder device is provided in a smartphone with a camera.

As described above, the following items are disclosed in this specification.

The disclosed imaging device includes an imaging device that images a subject, an optical finder that can observe a subject image formed by an optical system from an eyepiece window, and a display unit that displays the image, and the image is displayed on the eyepiece. A display unit provided in the optical viewfinder so as to be observable from a window; a high-brightness subject position estimation unit for estimating a position of a high-brightness subject with respect to a subject range imaged by the optical system; and the subject image from the eyepiece window A control unit that performs control to change an image seen from the eyepiece window in accordance with a distance between the position of the high-brightness subject estimated by the high-brightness subject position estimation unit and the subject range. , Are provided.

In the finder mode, the control unit of the disclosed imaging apparatus controls the subject image to be blocked from entering the eyepiece window when the distance is equal to or less than a predetermined value. A live view image obtained by imaging with the imaging element is displayed on the display unit.

In the finder mode, the control unit of the disclosed imaging device displays an image indicating a direction in which the high-brightness subject exists with respect to the subject range in a state where the distance is equal to or less than a predetermined value. It is displayed on the display unit.

The control unit of the disclosed imaging apparatus changes the display form of the image displayed on the display unit according to the distance between the position of the high-luminance subject and the subject range.

The high-intensity subject of the disclosed imaging device is the sun, a posture detection unit that detects the posture of the imaging device, a position information acquisition unit that acquires position information of the imaging device, and the imaging based on the position information A solar position information acquisition unit that acquires position information of the sun and sun position information corresponding to the use date and time of the image pickup device, and the high brightness subject position estimation unit includes the position information of the image pickup device and the position information of the image pickup device. The position of the sun relative to the subject range is estimated using the attitude detected by the attitude detection unit and the position information of the sun.

The disclosed imaging device includes a weather information acquisition unit that acquires weather information at a location where the imaging device is used, and the high-luminance subject position estimation unit is configured to display a sunny weather based on the weather information. Only to estimate the position of the sun.

The disclosed image pickup apparatus control method includes an image pickup device that picks up an image of an object, an optical viewfinder that can observe an object image formed by an optical system from an eyepiece window, and a display unit that displays an image. A display unit provided in the optical viewfinder so that the position of the high-brightness subject can be estimated with respect to a subject range imaged by the optical system. In the finder mode in which the subject position estimation step and the subject image are observed from the eyepiece window, the eyepiece window according to the distance between the position of the high brightness subject and the subject range estimated in the high brightness subject position estimation step And a control step for performing control to change an image visible from the image.

The imaging apparatus and the control method thereof according to the present invention can prevent direct viewing of a high-luminance subject as much as possible, and are useful when used for an imaging apparatus such as a digital camera, a smartphone, and the like.
This application is based on a Japanese patent application filed on Mar. 28, 2012 (Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-74313), the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Digital camera 15 Finder apparatus 17 Eyepiece window 21a Image pick-up element 32 Control part 65 Objective optical system

Claims (7)

1. An image sensor for imaging a subject;
   An optical viewfinder capable of observing a subject image formed by an optical system from an eyepiece window;
   A display unit for displaying an image, the display unit being provided in the optical viewfinder so that the image can be observed from the eyepiece window;
   A high-brightness subject position estimation unit that estimates a position of a high-brightness subject relative to a subject range imaged by the optical system;
   In the finder mode for observing the subject image from the eyepiece window, the image seen from the eyepiece window is changed according to the distance between the position of the high brightness subject estimated by the high brightness subject position estimation unit and the subject range. And a control unit that performs control.
2. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1,
   In the finder mode, the control unit controls the state in which the subject image is blocked from being incident on the eyepiece window in a state where the distance is equal to or less than a predetermined value. An imaging device that displays a live view image obtained by imaging with an imaging element.
3. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1,
   In the finder mode, the control unit is configured to display on the display unit an image indicating a direction in which the high-brightness subject exists with respect to the subject range when the distance is equal to or less than a predetermined value. apparatus.
4. The imaging apparatus according to claim 3,
   The said control part is an imaging device which changes the display form of the said image displayed on the said display part according to the distance of the position of the said high-intensity subject, and the said object range.
5. The imaging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein
   The high brightness subject is the sun;
   An attitude detection unit for detecting the attitude of the imaging device;
   A position information acquisition unit for acquiring position information of the imaging device;
   A solar position information acquisition unit that acquires position information of the sun corresponding to the position of the image pickup apparatus based on the position information and the use date and time of the image pickup apparatus;
   The high-luminance subject position estimation unit is an imaging device that estimates the position of the sun with respect to the subject range by using position information of the imaging device, an attitude detected by the attitude detection unit, and the position information of the sun.
6. The imaging apparatus according to claim 5, wherein
   A weather information acquisition unit for acquiring weather information in a state where the imaging device is used;
   The high-luminance subject position estimation unit is an imaging apparatus that estimates the position of the sun only when the weather based on the weather information includes clear weather.
7. An image sensor for imaging a subject, an optical finder capable of observing a subject image formed by an optical system, and a display unit for displaying an image, wherein the image can be observed from the eyepiece window in the optical finder. A control method of an imaging apparatus having a display unit provided,
   A high-luminance subject position estimating step for estimating a position of a high-luminance subject relative to a subject range imaged by the optical system;
   In the finder mode for observing the subject image from the eyepiece window, the image seen from the eyepiece window is changed according to the distance between the position of the high brightness subject estimated in the high brightness subject position estimation step and the subject range. And a control step for performing control.

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