JP2001211457A - Digital camera and automatic white balance control method for the digital camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an automatic white balance control method that can attain excellent white balance control by selecting a correction position more suitable for a scene in the case of selecting the correction position in response to the scene from a plurality of correction positions corresponding to various light sources or the like. SOLUTION: When a scenery mode e.g. is selected from a plurality of photographing modes, in the case of obtaining an evaluation value to decide a correction position on the basis of R, G and B signals obtained at the photographing, a shade - cloud evaluation value is obtained but an evaluation value corresponding to an artificial light source is not obtained (step S34). Whether or not the shade-cloud evaluation value is a prescribed threshold or over is discriminated (step S36), and when the shade - cloud evaluation value is a prescribed threshold or over, the shade - cloud evaluation value is used for the correction position and when the shade - cloud evaluation is less than the prescribed threshold, a daylight value (fine) is use for the correction position and white balance control is applied to the R, G and B signals on the basis of the white balance correction obtained corresponding to each correction position (steps S38, S40).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an automatic white balance control method for a digital camera and a digital camera, and more particularly to an automatic white balance control method and a digital camera for a digital camera having a plurality of photographing modes.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a shooting mode, a full auto mode 1 for normal shooting, a full auto mode 2 suitable for a backlight situation, a full auto mode 3 suitable for an excessively direct light situation, and outdoor sports. The camera has a full auto mode 4 suitable for shooting, and a full auto mode 5 suitable for shooting sunsets and slightly dark landscapes. In auto mode 2, white balance control focusing on high color temperature is performed. In full auto mode 4, white balance control focusing on outdoor is performed.
A video camera that performs white balance control fixed outdoors has been proposed (JP-A-5-68200).

[0003]

However, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-68200 discloses ordinary white balance control, white balance control focusing on high color temperature, white balance control focusing on outdoor, and white balance control fixed on outdoor. However, it does not disclose exactly how this is done. In the above-mentioned mode, there is no description about a white balance control method when photographing a landscape or photographing a person.

Further, there is a description that the white balance is fixed outdoors in order to reproduce a partially sunset or dark landscape, but there is no description of white balance control for a bright landscape.

On the other hand, there is a method of specifying a light source type from a color image signal obtained by imaging a subject and performing white balance control according to the specified light source type.
When white balance control according to 0 ° K) is performed on a color image signal imaged under a fluorescent lamp, it depends on the spectral characteristics of a solid-state image sensor such as a CCD, but it is very similar to when a green leaf is imaged. Color characteristics. When a scene including many leaves of an outdoor tree is imaged by such a CCD, the light source type may be erroneously determined to be a fluorescent lamp, and white balance control corresponding to the fluorescent lamp may be performed. It becomes a withered color.

Further, when a landscape scene having a low color temperature, such as sunset, is imaged, its color characteristics are close to those of an incandescent fluorescent lamp or a light bulb. Cannot be reproduced well.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and when a correction position corresponding to a scene is selected from a plurality of correction positions corresponding to various light sources and the like.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a digital camera auto white balance control method and a digital camera that can select a correction position more suitable for a scene and can prevent erroneous white balance control before it occurs.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 of the present application has a plurality of photographing modes, and performs photographing in a photographing mode appropriately selected from the plurality of photographing modes. A digital camera having a plurality of correction positions for correcting white balance, selecting one correction position from the plurality of correction positions based on a color image signal obtained at the time of shooting, and selecting the selected correction position. In a digital camera auto white balance control method for white balance control of the color image signal based on a white balance correction value obtained in accordance with (1), when selecting one correction position from the plurality of correction positions, Correction position selectable from the plurality of correction positions according to the selected shooting mode It is characterized by limited to.

The plurality of photographing modes include two or more photographing modes among an automatic photographing mode, a landscape mode, a portrait mode, and a night scene mode, as described in claim 2 of the present application. In addition, the plurality of correction positions are correction positions for performing white balance control suitable for each light source type such as shade, cloudy, sunny, fluorescent light, and light bulb as described in claims 3 and 6 of the present application. In the landscape mode, the correction positions corresponding to shade, cloudy, and sunny are selected, all the correction positions are selected in the auto shooting mode and the person mode, and the fine correction position is selected in the night view mode. It is characterized by:

That is, when the photographing mode is the landscape mode, the photographing scene is considered to be outdoors, and correction positions corresponding to shade, cloudy, and sunny are selected, and an artificial light source such as a fluorescent light or a light bulb is used as a light source. No white balance control is performed. Accordingly, white balance control on the low color temperature side is not performed, and for example, a scene such as sunset can be reproduced well. In the night view mode, the position is fixed to a fine correction position, thereby enabling white balance control which is not affected by various artificial light sources existing in the night view scene.

A digital camera according to a fourth aspect of the present invention includes: a photographing mode selecting means for selecting an arbitrary photographing mode from a plurality of photographing modes; and an image of a subject according to the photographing mode selected by the photographing mode selecting means. Imaging means for outputting a color image signal indicating a subject image; and limiting means for limiting a correction position selectable from a plurality of correction positions for correcting white balance based on a shooting mode selected by the shooting mode selection means. And selecting one correction position from the correction positions restricted by the restriction unit based on a color image signal obtained from the imaging unit, and calculating a white balance correction value for obtaining a white balance correction value corresponding to the correction position. Means, and the imaging hand based on the white balance correction value. It is characterized by comprising: a white balance control means for performing white balance control of the color image signal obtained from.

[0012] The photographing mode selecting means may be configured as follows.
As shown in FIG. 1, one of two or more of the auto shooting mode, landscape mode, portrait mode, and night view mode
It is characterized in that one of the shooting modes is selected.

A digital camera according to a seventh aspect of the present invention has a luminance measuring means for measuring the subject luminance by changing the weight of the divided area for measuring the subject luminance according to the photographing mode selected by the photographing mode selecting means. The imaging means controls the exposure based on the subject luminance measured by the luminance measuring means. Further, as set forth in claim 8 of the present application, the brightness measuring means corrects the subject brightness measured according to the shooting mode selected by the shooting mode selecting means.

[0014] The digital camera according to the ninth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the digital camera further comprises recording means for recording a color image signal white-balance controlled by the white balance control means on a recording medium.

[0015]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an automatic white balance control method for a digital camera according to the present invention;

FIG. 1 is a rear view of a digital camera according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a plan view of a mode dial provided on an upper surface of the camera.

As shown in FIG. 2, the mode dial 1 is rotated in such a manner that the icons 1A to 1F on the dial match the mark M, so that a continuous shooting / bracketing mode can be performed.
The photographing mode can be set to one of a manual photographing mode, an automatic photographing mode, a portrait mode, a landscape mode, and a night scene mode. In FIG. 2, the landscape mode is set. In addition, a switch S1 that is turned ON when the mode dial 1 is half-pressed is provided at the center of the mode dial 1.
A shutter button 2 having a switch S2 that is turned ON when fully pressed is provided.

On the back of this digital camera, as shown in FIG. 1, a viewfinder eyepiece 3, a shift key 4, a display key 5, a shooting mode / playback mode switching lever 6, a cancel key 7, an execution key 8, and a multi-function A cross key 9 and a liquid crystal monitor 52 are provided.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the digital camera shown in FIG.

In FIG. 1, a photographing lens 10 and an aperture 1
The subject image formed on the light receiving surface of the solid-state imaging device (CCD) 14 through the sensor 2 is converted by each sensor into signal charges of an amount corresponding to the amount of incident light. The signal charge thus accumulated is read out to the shift register by a read gate pulse applied from the CCD drive circuit 16, and is sequentially read out as a voltage signal corresponding to the signal charge by the register transfer pulse. Note that the CCD 14 has a so-called electronic shutter function that can sweep out the stored signal charges by a shutter gate pulse and thereby control the charge storage time (shutter speed).

The voltage signals sequentially read from the CCD 14 are applied to a correlated double sampling circuit (CDS circuit) 18, where the R, G, and B signals for each pixel are sampled and held, and an A / D converter is provided. Added to 20. A
The / D converter 20 converts the R, G, and B signals sequentially applied from the CDS circuit 18 into 10-bit (0 to 1023) digital R, G, and B signals and outputs the digital R, G, and B signals. The CCD drive circuit 16, CDS circuit 18, and A / D converter 20
It is driven in synchronization with a timing signal applied from the timing generation circuit 22.

R output from the A / D converter 20;
The G and B signals are temporarily stored in the memory 24, and thereafter, the R, G and B signals stored in the memory 24 are applied to a digital signal processing circuit 26. Digital signal processing circuit 26
Are a synchronization circuit 28, a white balance adjustment circuit 30,
It comprises a gamma correction circuit 32, a YC signal creation circuit 34, and a memory 36.

The synchronizing circuit 28 converts the dot-sequential R, G, and B signals read from the memory 24 in a simultaneous manner,
The G and B signals are output to the white balance adjustment circuit 30 at the same time. The white balance adjustment circuit 30 includes R, G, B
Multiplier 30 for respectively increasing and decreasing the digital value of the signal
It comprises R, 30G, and 30B, and the R, G, and B signals are applied to multipliers 30R, 30G, and 30B, respectively. The other inputs of the multipliers 30R, 30G, 30B include:
A white balance correction value (gain value) Rg for white balance control from a central processing unit (CPU) 38;
Gg and Bg are added, and the multipliers 30R, 30G,
30B multiplies each of the two inputs, and outputs the R ′, G ′, and B ′ signals whose white balance has been adjusted by the multiplication to the gamma correction circuit 32. The details of the white balance correction values Rg, Gg, Bg applied from the CPU 38 to the white balance adjustment circuit 30 will be described later.

The gamma correction circuit 32 changes the input / output characteristics so that the white balance adjusted R ', G', and B 'signals have desired gamma characteristics, and converts the 10-bit signal into an 8-bit signal. And outputs the result to the YC signal creation circuit 34. The YC signal generation circuit 34 generates a luminance signal Y and chroma signals Cr and Cb from the gamma-corrected R, G, and B signals. The luminance signal Y and the chroma signals Cr and Cb (YC signals) are stored in the memory 36 in the same memory space as the memory 24.

Here, by reading out the YC signal in the memory 36 and outputting it to the liquid crystal monitor 52, a moving image or a still image can be displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 52. Also,
The YC signal after photographing is compressed into a predetermined format by a compression / expansion circuit 54, and then recorded on a recording medium such as a memory card by a recording unit 56. Further, in the reproduction mode, after the image data recorded on the memory card or the like is expanded by the compression / expansion circuit 54, it is output to the liquid crystal monitor 52 and the reproduced image is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 52. .

The CPU 38 controls all the circuits based on the input from the camera operation unit 40 including the mode dial 1 and the shutter button 2 shown in FIG. 1, and performs auto focus, automatic exposure control, auto white balance, etc. Control. This autofocus control is performed, for example, so that the high-frequency component of the G signal is maximized.
This is a contrast AF for moving the photographing lens 10 to a focusing position via the driving unit 42 so that the high-frequency component of the G signal becomes maximum when the shutter button 2 is half-pressed.

In the automatic exposure control, as shown in FIG. 4, the R, G, and B signals are fetched up to four times at a predetermined exposure or higher and the integrated values of the R, G, and B signals are integrated. To obtain the subject brightness (shooting EV value).

Next, the measurement of the photographing EV value will be described in detail.

As shown in FIG. 5, one screen is divided into a plurality of areas (8 × 8), and the luminance signals obtained from the R, G, B signals are integrated for each divided area, and based on the integrated value. The EV value (EVi) of each divided area is obtained by the following. Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 5, the E of each divided area corresponds to the shooting mode.
The V value is weighted, and the EV 'value of the entire screen is calculated by the following equation.

[0030]

[Number 1] _{EV '= log 2 {Σ (} W i × 2 EVi) / ΣW i} where, i: 0 to 63 (subscript indicating the 8 × 8 divided Eia) W _i: each according to the shooting mode Weighting coefficient for each divided area That is, when the shooting mode is the auto / person mode, the center-weighted metering method is used as shown by the weighting coefficient in FIG. 5A, and when the shooting mode is the landscape mode, FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, the weighting of the divided area located at the outermost circumference is reduced, and in the case of the night view mode, the average metering method is used as shown in FIG.

The EV ′ calculated as described above is further subjected to an exposure correction ΔE according to the photographing mode as shown in the following equation.
V is performed to obtain a shooting EV value.

[0032]

EV = EV′−ΔEV Note that ΔEV is, for example, ΔEV =
0, ΔEV = 0.3 for landscape mode and night view mode
And

The aperture value and the shutter speed at the time of photographing are finally determined based on the photographing EV value obtained as described above.

When the shutter button is fully pressed, the aperture 12 is driven via the aperture drive unit 44 so as to have the determined aperture value, and the electric shutter charge time is set by the electronic shutter so as to reach the determined shutter speed. Control.

Next, an automatic white balance control method will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. When the strobe light is emitted from the strobe light 46, white balance correction values Rg, Gg, and B for performing a good white balance with respect to the strobe light.
g is added to the white balance adjustment circuit 30,
Hereinafter, white balance control when a strobe does not emit light will be described.

FIG. 6 shows an automatic white balance control method when the auto / portrait mode is selected as the photographing mode.

First, the photographing EV value obtained when the shutter button is half-pressed is obtained (step S10).

Subsequently, when the shutter button is fully pressed, A /
The R, G, and B signals for one screen output from the D converter 20 are temporarily stored in the memory 24. This one screen is divided into a plurality of areas (8 × 8) and An average integrated value for each color of the R, G, and B signals is determined, and a ratio R / G between the integrated value of the R signal and the integrated value of the G signal, and a ratio B between the integrated value of the B signal and the integrated value of the G signal. / G (Step S
12).

As for R / G and B / G obtained for each divided area as described above, the divided area falls within any of the detection frames among the detection frames shown on the graph of FIG. Used to determine if The detection frames such as the shade-cloudy detection frame and the daylight color detection frame in FIG. 6 define the range of the color distribution of the light source type and the like.

The average integrated value of the R, G, and B signals for each divided area is calculated by the integrating circuit 48 in FIG.
It is added to the CPU 38. The integrating circuit 48 and C
Multipliers 50R, 50G, and 50B are provided between the PU 38 and the multipliers 50R, 50G, and 50B, and an adjustment gain value for adjusting device variations is added to the multipliers 50R, 50G, and 50B.

Next, the evaluation value of the shade-cloudiness, the evaluation value of the fluorescent lamp (daylight, neutral white-white, warm white) and the evaluation value of the tungsten bulb are expressed by the following equations.

[0042]

[Equation 3] Evaluation value of shade-cloudiness = F (outdoorness) × F
(Shade-cloudiness) x F (blue sky)

[0043]

[Number 4] daylight evaluation value = F ₁ (indoor-ness) × F (daylight fluorescent lamp likeness)

[0044]

(Equation 5) Evaluation value of day white-white = F ₁ (indoorness) × F
(Lunch white-white fluorescent lighting)

[0045]

[Equation 6] Evaluation value of warm white = F ₁ (likeness of indoor) × F (likeness of warm white fluorescent lamp) × F (skin)

[0046]

Calculated based on the evaluation value of the light bulb = F ₂ (indoor likeness) × F (like a light bulb) × F (skin).

In the above equation (3), F (outdoor likelihood) is a value of a membership function representing outdoor likelihood with the EV value as a variable as shown in FIG.
Can be obtained based on the EV value obtained in step (1).

In Equations (4) to (6), F ₁ (indoor likelihood) is a value of a membership function representing the likelihood of indoor (fluorescent light) using the EV value as a variable as shown in FIG. And F ₂ (indoor likelihood) in the equation (7) is a value of a membership function representing an indoor (tungsten bulb) likeness with the EV value (numerical value in parentheses) as a variable as shown in FIG. . Note that the EV value shown in FIGS. 9 and 12 uses a value measured in the center-weighted metering mode in the auto / person mode regardless of the shooting mode.

In the expression (3), F (shade-cloudiness) is a divided area where the EV value Evi of the divided area is 12 or less, and as shown in FIG. 11 is a value of a membership function representing shade-cloudiness, where F is the area where the EV value Evi of the divided area exceeds 12.5. As shown in FIG. It is a value of a membership function representing a blue sky with the number of divided areas falling within the fine detection frame as a variable.

Note that F (blue sky) takes a value that acts to lower the evaluation value of shade-likeness as the number of areas entering the blue sky detection frame increases. Further, the luminance (E
The V value Evi) is given by the following equation:

[0051]

Evi = Ev + log ₂ (Gi / 45) where Ev: photographed EV value Gi: calculated based on the average integrated value of G in each area. 45 in the above equation is an appropriate value among the values after A / D conversion.

Similarly, F (daylight fluorescent lamp-like), F (day white-white fluorescent lamp-like), F (warm white fluorescent lamp-like), and F (light bulb-like lamp) in Equations (4) to (7) are similarly used. ) Are the daylight color detection frame and the daylight white-shown in FIG.
It is a value of a membership function indicating the likelihood of a light bulb / fluorescent lamp shown in FIG. 13 using the number of areas included in the white detection frame, the warm white detection frame, and the tungsten light bulb detection frame as variables.

Further, F (skin) in the equations (6) and (7) is a member representing the skin color shown in FIG. 14 where the number of areas entering the skin color detection frame shown in FIG. 8 is a variable. This is the value of the ship function. Note that F (skin) acts to lower the evaluation value of the likeness of a light bulb as the number of areas in the skin color detection frame increases. This is because, in a scene with a flesh color, if white balance control is strongly applied to the tungsten bulb color, redness is skipped and the skin becomes whitish, and the complexion is deteriorated.

Now, when the evaluation value of the shade-cloudiness, the evaluation value of the daylight color, the evaluation value of the neutral white-white color, the evaluation value of the warm white color, and the evaluation value of the electric bulb are calculated, of these five evaluation values, It is determined whether or not the maximum value is 0.4 or more (step S16 in FIG. 6). If the maximum value is 0.4 or more, white balance control is performed based on a white balance correction value suitable for the light source color of the evaluation value having the maximum value (step S18).

On the other hand, when the maximum value is less than 0.4,
Daylight (fine) is determined, and white balance control is performed based on a white balance correction value suitable for daylight (step S20).

Here, the white balance correction value is
The following formula,

[0057]

## EQU9 ## White balance correction value = (auto setting value−fine) × evaluation value + fine The fineness is 1.0. Further, the automatic setting value is prepared in advance for each light source color. The auto-setting values of shade-cloudy, neutral white-white, and tungsten bulb are selected as follows.

(1) When shade-cloudy is selected The number of divided areas falling within the cloudy detection frame shown in FIG. Use the set value. Alternatively, the auto setting value is calculated by increasing the weight of the area having a large number of the two auto setting values.

(2) Case where day white-white is selected Compare the number of divided areas included in the day white-white detection frame divided into six areas shown in FIG. Adopt the value. Alternatively, the automatic setting values are calculated by increasing the weight of the six automatic setting values in descending order of the number.

(3) When a Tungsten Light Bulb is Selected The number of divided areas that fall within the tungsten detection frame divided into two areas shown in FIG. 8 is compared, and the auto setting value of the larger number is adopted. Or, for two auto set values,
The auto setting value is calculated by increasing the weight for the area having a large number.

The white balance correction values obtained by [Equation 9] are Rg, Gg, Bg, and the signals to be corrected are R, G, B.
If the correction result in the white balance adjustment circuit 30 is R ', G', B ', then R', G ', B'
Is:

[0062]

R ′ = Rg × RG ′ = Gg × GB ′ = Bg × B

FIG. 7 shows an automatic white balance control method when the landscape mode is selected as the photographing mode.
Note that the processes in steps S30 and S32 in FIG. 7 are the same as those in steps S10 and S12 shown in FIG. 6, and a description thereof will be omitted.

The E obtained in steps S30 and S32
From the V value and the R / G and B / G obtained for each divided area, the shade-cloudiness evaluation value shown in the above equation (3) is calculated (step S34). Step S14 in FIG.
Are not calculated for the fluorescent lamps (daylight, neutral white-white, warm white) and the tungsten bulb. This is because, in the case of the landscape mode, since an image is taken outdoors, it is impossible to use an artificial light source such as a fluorescent lamp or a light bulb as a light source.

Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the evaluation value of shade / cloud obtained in step S34 is 0.4 or more (step S36). And when the maximum value is 0.4 or more, based on the auto setting value prepared for shade-cloudiness,
A white balance correction value is obtained (see Expression 9), and white balance control is performed based on the white balance correction value (step S38).

On the other hand, when the maximum value is less than 0.4,
Daylight (fine) is determined, and white balance control based on a white balance correction value suitable for daylight is performed (step S40).

When the night scene mode is selected as the photographing mode, the automatic white balance control is not performed, and the white balance correction value is fixed to a fine white balance. This enables white balance control that is not affected by various artificial light sources existing in the night view scene.

The type of shooting mode is not limited to this embodiment, and the automatic white balance control method selects a correction position according to a scene from a plurality of correction positions, and corresponds to the selected correction position. Any device may be used as long as it performs white balance control.

[0069]

As described above, according to the present invention, when a shooting mode such as a landscape mode or a night view mode is selected,
Of the plurality of correction positions corresponding to various light source types, etc., the correction positions selectable from the plurality of correction positions are limited according to the selected shooting mode, so that a correction position more suitable for the scene is set. Can be selected and good white balance control can be performed. For example, in the case of the landscape mode, an erroneous white balance control can be prevented beforehand by excluding an artificial light source such as a fluorescent lamp or a light bulb from selection items corresponding to the light source type.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a rear view of a digital camera according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a mode dial provided on the upper surface of the digital camera shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the digital camera shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram used for explaining a method of obtaining a shooting EV value.

FIG. 5 is a diagram used to explain a photometry method for each shooting mode.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart used to explain an automatic white balance control method;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart used to explain an automatic white balance control method;

FIG. 8 is a graph showing a detection frame indicating a range of a color distribution such as a light source type.

FIG. 9 is a graph showing a membership function representing outdoorness

FIG. 10 is a graph showing a membership function representing shade-cloudiness.

FIG. 11 is a graph showing a membership function representing a blue sky;

FIG. 12 is a graph showing a membership function representing indoorness;

FIG. 13 is a graph showing a membership function representing the likeness of a light bulb and a fluorescent light.

FIG. 14 is a graph showing a membership function representing a skin color.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Mode dial, 2 ... Shutter button, 10 ... Photographing lens, 12 ... Aperture, 14 ... Solid-state image sensor (CCD),
24, 36: memory, 26: digital signal processing circuit, 3
0: White balance adjustment circuit, 30R, 30G, 30
B: multiplier, 38: central processing unit (CPU), 48: integrating circuit, 52: liquid crystal monitor, 54: compression / expansion circuit, 5
6 Recording unit

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2H002 AB01 CC00 DB14 DB31 5C065 AA03 BB02 BB12 CC01 CC08 DD02 FF02 FF05 GG15 GG18 GG44 GG49 5C066 AA01 BA01 BA13 DA01 EA14 GA01 GA31 KA12 KE19 KM02 KM10 KM13

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A digital camera having a plurality of shooting modes and performing shooting in a shooting mode appropriately selected from the plurality of shooting modes, comprising a plurality of correction positions for correcting white balance, One of the plurality of correction positions is set based on a color image signal obtained at the time of shooting.
An automatic white balance control method for a digital camera that selects one of the correction positions and controls the white balance of the color image signal based on a white balance correction value obtained in accordance with the selected correction position. An automatic white balance control method for a digital camera, wherein when selecting one correction position, a correction position selectable from the plurality of correction positions is limited according to a shooting mode selected at the time of shooting. 2. The photographing mode according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of photographing modes include two or more photographing modes among an automatic photographing mode, a landscape mode, a portrait mode, and a night scene mode.
Automatic white balance control method for digital cameras. 3. The plurality of correction positions are correction positions for performing white balance control suitable for each light source type such as shade, cloudy, sunny, fluorescent light, and light bulb. And selecting a correction position corresponding to fine weather, selecting all correction positions in the auto shooting mode and the person mode, and selecting a fine correction position in the night view mode. 2. An automatic white balance control method for a digital camera. 4. A photographing mode selecting means for selecting an arbitrary photographing mode from a plurality of photographing modes; and photographing a subject according to the photographing mode selected by the photographing mode selecting means, and outputting a color image signal indicating the subject image. An imaging unit for outputting, a limiting unit for limiting a correction position selectable from a plurality of correction positions for correcting a white balance based on a shooting mode selected by the shooting mode selection unit, and a limiting unit obtained from the imaging unit. A white balance correction value calculating unit that selects one correction position from the correction positions restricted by the restriction unit based on a color image signal and obtains a white balance correction value corresponding to the correction position; Of the color image signal obtained from the imaging means based on the Digital camera characterized by comprising a white balance control means for performing site balance control. 5. The photographing mode selecting unit according to claim 4, wherein said photographing mode selecting means selects one photographing mode from two or more photographing modes among an automatic photographing mode, a landscape mode, a portrait mode, and a night scene mode. Digital camera. 6. The plurality of correction positions are correction positions for performing white balance control suitable for each light source type such as shade, cloudy, sunny, fluorescent light, and light bulb, and are selected by the limiting means. Possible correction positions are correction positions corresponding to shade, cloudy, and sunny in the landscape mode, all correction positions in the auto shooting mode and the portrait mode, and fine correction positions in the night view mode. The digital camera according to claim 5. 7. A brightness measuring unit for measuring subject brightness by changing a weight of a divided area for measuring subject brightness in accordance with a shooting mode selected by the shooting mode selecting unit, wherein the imaging unit is configured to perform the brightness measurement. 7. The digital camera according to claim 4, wherein exposure control is performed based on subject brightness measured by the means. 8. The digital camera according to claim 7, wherein said brightness measuring means corrects the subject brightness measured according to the photographing mode selected by said photographing mode selecting means. 9. A recording apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising recording means for recording, on a recording medium, a color image signal subjected to white balance control by said white balance control means.
9. The digital camera according to any one of claims 1 to 8,