JP2002290815A - Digital camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the availability of a digital camera which processes image data to remove deterioration in picture quality during photographing. SOLUTION: The image in which image data deterioration removal processing is performed up to a halfway stage is displayed as a live preview to prevent the live preview from being unnatural. Image data recorded on a recording medium are all or partially processed for deterioration removal. A user is able to specify an area to be processed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a digital camera, and more particularly to a digital camera for performing processing for removing image deterioration caused during photographing on image data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A digital camera captures an image by converting light from an object to be captured into an electric signal by an image sensor, performs predetermined processing on an output signal of the image sensor, and converts image data representing the captured image. Generate. Image data is
It is recorded on a recording medium in accordance with a user's instruction, and is given to a display unit provided in a digital camera and used for displaying an image. Many digital cameras provide a live view by repeatedly capturing an image and generating image data and immediately displaying an image represented by the generated image data.

[0003] In photographing an image, movement of a photographing object,
Image quality may be degraded due to camera shake or the like of the user holding the camera. As one method for preventing or reducing the deterioration of image quality, it has been conventionally performed to detect a camera shake at the time of shooting and to shift the shooting optical system according to the direction and amount of the camera shake. In this method, camera shake can be compensated for by the displacement of the photographing optical system, and deterioration hardly occurs.
The image represented by the obtained image data is of high quality.
However, this method cannot be applied to blur caused by movement of the imaging target.

Accordingly, the present applicant has filed Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-39.
In 41, a digital camera was proposed in which the obtained image data is subjected to a process of removing the deterioration of the image quality that occurred at the time of shooting, and image data representing an image with improved image quality is generated. In this method, deterioration is removed by detecting the direction and amount of blur appearing in a plurality of continuously shot images, and performing inverse processing of the detected blur on the image data. It is possible to remove the degradation by processing the once obtained image data regardless of the cause of the degradation, and it is possible to remove the degradation caused by the camera shake and to move the imaging target. It is useful for both removal of deterioration.

[0005]

The above-mentioned application discloses performing processing for removing deterioration on image data.
It does not mention the display of images. Further, a process for removing deterioration is performed on the entire image data.

In a digital camera, it is desirable that not only images to be recorded but also displayed images have high image quality. It is also desirable to be able to confirm what image quality the image to be recorded has. However, since the process of removing the deterioration of the image quality requires a certain amount of time, if the process of removing the deterioration is performed on the image data of the image to be displayed as the live view, the live view may be awkward. is there.

Further, it is not always necessary to perform processing for removing the deterioration of the entire image data. For example, when photographing with a small F-number of the aperture of the photographing lens, the background is blurred because the depth of field is shallow, so that even if a certain amount of camera shake occurs, the background is not deteriorated and is a main photographing object. The processing only needs to be performed on the part representing the subject. In such a case, performing the process of removing the deterioration of the entire image data results in wasted time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has been made in consideration of a digital camera capable of effectively utilizing a function of removing deterioration, and a digital camera in which time inconvenience associated with processing for removing deterioration has been reduced. The purpose is to provide a camera.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, image data representing a photographed image is subjected to processing for removing deterioration in image quality that has occurred at the time of photographing, and an image having improved image quality is obtained. A digital camera having a function of generating image data to be represented and having a display unit for displaying an image represented by the image data shall display an image represented by the image data having been subjected to the processing. In this digital camera, a high-quality image is displayed even when a deterioration factor occurs during shooting. In addition, an image from which deterioration has been removed can be confirmed.

[0010] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention also provides a method for generating image data representing an image with improved image quality by subjecting image data representing a photographed image to processing for removing deterioration in image quality that has occurred during photographing. A digital camera having a function of performing the processing and displaying the image represented by the image data, the digital camera includes a plurality of steps in which the processing gradually increases the degree of elimination of image quality deterioration, and the processing up to an intermediate step in the processing. It is assumed that an image represented by the image data subjected to the above is displayed. In this digital camera, although a part of the degradation remains in the displayed image, the image can be displayed quickly.

According to the present invention, there is provided a function of generating image data representing an image with improved image quality by performing a process of removing image quality degradation caused at the time of photographing on image data representing a photographed image. It is assumed that the digital camera including the display unit that displays the image represented by the image data displays the image represented by the image data before performing the processing. In this digital camera, if a deterioration factor occurs at the time of shooting, the deterioration of the displayed image appears as it is, but the display can be performed very quickly.

Any of the above digital cameras can display an image when image data is recorded on a recording medium. In the case of displaying the image of the image data after performing the process of removing the deterioration, the image data used for the display may be recorded, and in the case of displaying the image of the image data subjected to the process up to the middle stage, The image data used for display may be further processed and recorded until the final stage. In the case of displaying an image of the image data before the processing, the processing may be performed and recorded.

An image may be displayed other than when the image data is recorded on a recording medium. If an image is displayed each time a picture is taken, a live view will be provided. In the case of displaying the image of the processed image data, a high-quality live view can be provided. For displaying an image of image data that has been processed up to the middle stage,
It is possible to provide a live view with relatively high image quality and without awkwardness. A live view without awkwardness can be provided by displaying an image of image data before processing.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention further performs a predetermined process on image data representing a photographed image to remove image quality degradation that has occurred during photographing, thereby representing an image with improved image quality. A digital camera having a function of generating image data performs the above-described processing only on a portion of the image data representing a range of an image. The processing time is reduced by performing the process of removing the degradation on only a part of the image data. The part to be processed may be fixed or variable.

Here, a display unit for displaying an image represented by the image data is provided, an image represented by the image data before performing the above-described processing is displayed, and a range of the image among the image data is changed according to a given instruction. The above-described processing can be performed on a portion to be represented. In this digital camera, the user determines whether or not to perform processing. The user can determine the necessity of the processing according to the displayed image, so that the usability is good.

In this case, it is preferable that the position or the size of the portion to be processed in the image data is determined according to a given instruction. This makes it easy for the user to reflect the drawing intention on the image, and the usability is further improved.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of a digital camera according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIGS. 1 and 2 schematically show the appearance of a digital camera 1 according to the present embodiment. The digital camera 1 has a photographic lens 1 on the front.
1. A photometric sensor 12 for detecting the brightness of the object to be photographed, a distance measuring sensor 13 for detecting the distance to the object to be photographed, a flash emission unit 14, and an optical finder 15, a release button 16 on the upper surface, and a liquid crystal display on the back. Display 1 consisting of
7 is provided. On the back, a slide-type operation switch 18 and four push-button-type operation switches 19 are also provided.

The image pickup device 2 is provided inside the photographing lens 11 behind.
0 (see FIG. 3). Digital camera 1
Captures an image by forming light from a photographing target on an image sensor 20 by a photographing lens 11 and converting the light into an electric signal by the image sensor 20. The image sensor 20 is a color area sensor in which a number of pixels are two-dimensionally arranged, and performs predetermined processing on a signal output from each pixel of the image sensor 20 to generate image data representing a captured image. You.

Each pixel of the image pickup device 20 is of a CMOS type, and can retain charges accumulated by photoelectric conversion even after outputting a signal. Therefore, the same signal can be output many times, and even if the signal is output during the photoelectric conversion, the electric charge can be accumulated in addition to the accumulated electric charge up to that time.

The digital camera 1 has a photographing mode for photographing an image and a reproduction mode for reproducing and displaying an image represented by recorded image data. In the photographing mode, while photographing an image and generating image data are repeated at a predetermined cycle (for example, 1/30 second), an image for recording is photographed according to a recording instruction given by operating the release button 16 during that time. Then, image data representing the image is generated, and the generated image data is recorded on a removable card-shaped recording medium M.

Image data generated before a recording instruction is given is sequentially given to the display unit 17, and an image represented by each image data is displayed on the display unit 17. This provides a live view. The image data recorded on the recording medium M is also given to the display unit 17, and the image is displayed. This image is displayed for a longer time than other images, and is used for confirming image data to be recorded.

In the reproduction mode, image data recorded on the recording medium M is read out and given to the display unit 17,
The image represented by the image data is displayed. The display mode and the reproduction mode are switched by setting the operation switch 18. 1 and 2 show the recording medium M in the process of being mounted, and the mounted recording medium M fits entirely in the digital camera 1.

FIG. 3 schematically shows the circuit configuration of the digital camera 1.
Shown in The digital camera 1 includes an imaging unit 21, an A / D converter 22, a white balance (WB) adjustment unit 23, an image memory 24, a recording unit 25, and a control unit 26. The imaging unit 21 includes the imaging device 20 and the imaging device 2
0 is applied to the analog signal output from the sampling circuit (C).
DS) and automatic gain control (AGC). A / D
The converter 22 converts the analog signal from the imaging unit 21 into one
It is converted to a 0-bit digital signal.

The WB adjustment unit 23 includes an A / D converter 22
White balance adjustment, color interpolation,
By performing various processes such as γ correction, image data representing an image captured by the image sensor 20 is generated. The image memory 24
The image data generated by the B adjustment unit 23 is stored. The recording unit 25 includes an interface that controls input and output of the recording medium M, and performs recording and reading of image data.
The control unit 26 controls the entire digital camera 1. The control unit 26 includes the release button 16 and the operation switch 1
8 and 19, which are connected to the operation unit 27.
The instruction given by the user via the interface 7 is reflected in the control.

The digital camera 1 has a function of improving the image quality by performing processing for removing the deterioration caused by blurring at the time of photographing on the generated image data. That is, the photographing mode of the digital camera 1 includes an image quality improvement mode in which the generated image data is subjected to deterioration removal processing and the processed image data is used for recording and display, and a normal image mode in which the generated image data is used for recording and display as it is. Mode.
The image quality improvement mode and the normal mode are switched by operating the operation switch 19.

The deterioration removal processing is performed as follows. First, an image when no deterioration occurs is temporarily set (the temporarily set image is referred to as an estimated image). As an initial value of the estimated image, an image similar to an actually shot image (called a shot image) or a shot image itself is used. An image in which the same deterioration as the deterioration that has occurred in the captured image is performed on the estimated image is generated (this image is referred to as an estimated deteriorated image). If the estimated image is correct, the estimated deteriorated image should be the same as the captured image, but there is actually an error. The estimated image is corrected based on the error, and the above processing is repeated.

By repeating this process, the error gradually decreases, and the estimated image converges to a true image when no deterioration occurs. The repetition may end when the error becomes smaller than a predetermined value. The estimated image at that time is an image from which deterioration has been removed.

Deterioration does not occur uniformly in the entire image, but differs for each part. For example, camera shake affects the entire image almost equally, but movement of the shooting target affects only a part of the image. Therefore, instead of obtaining a common deterioration function for the entire image and uniformly removing the deterioration of the entire image, the image is divided into a plurality of regions, a deterioration function is obtained for each region, and the deterioration function is obtained for each region. Is removed.

The deterioration function is obtained by comparing a plurality of image data representing continuously photographed images and detecting the direction and amount of blur. Specifically, for each area,
It is obtained by calculating a two-dimensional correlation between signal intensities of a plurality of image data. The plurality of image data are generated individually by outputting a signal from the image sensor 20 a plurality of times while exposing the image sensor 20 once. Image data generated from the last output signal is a target of the degradation removal processing.

The digital camera 1 is used for the deterioration removal processing.
Is provided with a shake detection unit 28 and a deterioration removal unit 29. The blur detector 28 reads a plurality of image data from the image memory 24, detects blur, and obtains a deterioration function. The deterioration removing unit 29 generates image data of the estimated deteriorated image by applying a deterioration function to the last image data (image data of the initial value of the estimated image) read from the image memory 24, and outputs the last image data read from the image memory 24. An error with the image data (image data of the photographed image) is obtained, and the process of correcting the image data of the estimated image so as to reduce the error is repeated.

In the image quality improving mode, the image data is not always subjected to the degradation removal processing. The control unit 26 determines whether or not the image quality is improved by performing the processing. Perform processing only. This is to efficiently record image data and display images while avoiding wasting time on wasteful processing. The image quality is not improved even if the deterioration removal processing is performed when the deterioration function cannot be obtained properly.For example, when the correlation cannot be obtained only in the region where the blur is largely divided,
This is when the blur is complicated and a clear correlation cannot be obtained.

The flow of processing in the photographing mode in the digital camera 1 will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. FIG. 4 shows a process until a recording instruction is given, and FIG. 5 shows a process when a recording instruction is given.

When the photographing mode is set, first, an image is photographed, image data representing the image is generated, and blur is detected (step S105). Next, it is determined whether or not the image quality can be improved by the deterioration removal processing, that is, whether or not the deterioration function has been properly obtained (S110).
If the image quality cannot be improved, a warning message to that effect is displayed on the display unit 17 (S115), and the captured image is displayed on the display unit 17 (S130).

When the image quality can be improved, it is determined whether or not the image quality improvement mode has been set (S120). When the image quality improvement mode is set, the image data is subjected to the deterioration removal processing (S125), and the image represented by the processed image data is displayed (S130). However, at this time, the number of repetitions is limited even if the error in the repetition processing is larger than a predetermined value. This is to increase the update rate of the live view display image. Therefore, although the removal of the deterioration is incomplete, the time required for the operation is short, and the image can be displayed quickly. Note that the processing may be repeated until the error becomes less than the predetermined value, and an image from which deterioration has been sufficiently removed may be displayed. When the image quality improvement mode is not set, that is, in the normal mode, without performing the deterioration removal processing,
The image represented by the image data generated in step S105 is displayed (S130).

Next, it is determined whether or not a mode switching is instructed by operating the operation switch 19 (S13).
5) When there is an instruction, the mode is switched (S1)
40). Thereby, the user can freely select the image quality improvement mode and the normal mode. Thereafter, it is determined whether or not a recording instruction has been given by operating the release button 16 (S145).
Return to 5. A live view is provided by repeating the processing from steps S105 to S145. Since the processing in step S125 can be performed promptly,
The live view can be provided at regular intervals, and there is no awkwardness. Since the image quality improvement mode and the normal mode can be selected, it is possible to satisfy both requirements of a user who attaches importance to the image quality of the live view and a user who attaches importance to smooth display of the live view.

When a recording instruction is given, the process shifts to a release routine (FIG. 5) for photographing an image for recording and recording the image data. First, an image is captured, image data representing the image is generated, and blur is detected (step S205). Next, it is determined whether or not the image quality improvement mode is set (S210). If the mode is not the image quality improvement mode, the captured image and a menu including two options of “delete” and “record” are displayed on the display unit 17 (S225).

In the image quality improvement mode, it is determined whether or not the image quality can be improved by the deterioration removal processing (S215).
If not possible, a warning message to that effect is displayed on the display unit 17 (S220), and the process proceeds to step S225. On the other hand, when the image quality can be improved, the captured image and a menu including three options of “delete”, “deterioration removal”, and “record” are displayed on the display unit 17 (S23).
0).

By operating the operation switch 19,
It waits for one of the options to be selected (S235).
The menu displayed in step S225 does not include the option of “deterioration removal”, and the menu displayed in step S235
Can be selected only when the image quality improvement mode is set and the image quality can be improved.

When "delete" is selected, the process returns to step S105. In this case, no image data is recorded. When "record" is selected, the image data generated in step S205 is recorded on the recording medium M (S240), and the process returns to step S105.

When "deterioration removal" is selected, the image data generated in step S205 is subjected to degradation removal processing (S245). Here, the processing is repeatedly performed until the error becomes less than the predetermined value, and the deterioration is sufficiently removed. Then
The image represented by the processed image data, and "back" and "enlarge"
And a menu including three options of “record” are displayed on the display unit 17 (S250), and waits until one of the options is selected by operating the operation switch 19 (S2).
55).

When "return" is selected, step S
Return to 230. When "record" is selected, the image data subjected to the deterioration removal processing in step S245 is recorded on the recording medium M (S240), and the process returns to step S105.

When "enlarge" is selected, a part of the displayed image is enlarged and displayed (S260). The enlarged display makes it easy for the user to check the details of the image. Which part of the image is enlarged and displayed is variable and can be freely changed by operating the operation switch 19. The enlarged display is continued until “return” is selected (S
265), if "RETURN" is selected, the process returns to step S250.

In this release routine, the user can specify whether or not to perform the degradation removal processing on the image data to be recorded, and the intention of the user is reflected on the recorded image. Even after the recording instruction is given by operating the release button 16, the recording of the image data that the user does not want to record can be stopped.

A modification of the flow of processing after a recording instruction is given will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. This release routine includes step S14 in FIG.
When the recording instruction is given in step 5, the process proceeds. Step S
The processing from 305 to S340 is performed in step S20 in FIG.
The processing is the same as the processing from S5 to S240, and redundant description is omitted. This release routine includes step 330
The processing when "deterioration removal" is selected differs from the menu displayed by.

When "deterioration removal" is selected, only the portion representing the center of the image in the image data generated in step S305 is subjected to degradation removal processing (S345). The calculation for the deterioration function is also performed only for the central part. Therefore, the time required for the degradation removal processing is reduced.

After the processing, the image represented by the image data, that is, the image in which the deterioration of the central portion has been removed, and the menu including the options of “return” and “record” are displayed (S35).
0), and waits for one of them to be selected (S355).
When "return" is selected, the process returns to step S330. When "record" is selected, the image data subjected to the deterioration removal processing in step S345 is recorded on the recording medium M (S340), and step S105 is performed. Return to

In this release routine, the degradation removal processing is performed only at the center of the image. Usually, the subject, which is the main subject to be photographed, is located at the center of the image, so that the deterioration of the subject is removed. Note that the position of the subject in the entire photographing target may be specified, and the image data corresponding to the position may be subjected to the deterioration removal processing. In step S350, only the portion subjected to the degradation removal processing may be enlarged and displayed.

Another modification of the flow of processing after a recording instruction is given will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. This release routine also shifts from step S145 in FIG. Steps S405 to S42
5 and the processing in step S440 are performed in steps S205 to S225 in FIG.
0 is the same as the process. This release routine differs from the menu displayed in step S430 and the processing in step 435 and subsequent steps.

In step S430, step S405
Along with the image taken in, "delete", "degradation removal",
A menu including five options of “record”, “position”, and “size” is displayed, and a frame is displayed over the image. This frame indicates a range in which the deterioration removal processing is performed, and its size and position are variable.

If "delete" is selected in step S435, the process returns to step S105. If "record" is selected, the image data generated in step S405 is recorded on recording medium M (S440). When “deterioration removal” is selected, a degradation removal process is performed on a portion of the image data representing the image located inside the currently displayed frame (S445). At this time, the calculation for obtaining the deterioration function is also performed only for the range.

After the processing, an image represented by the image data, that is, an image in which the deterioration of the portion in the frame has been removed, and a menu including options of “return” and “record” are displayed (S
450), and waits until one is selected (S45)
5). When "return" is selected, step S430 is performed.
Returning to step S44, if "record" is selected, the process proceeds to step S44.
The image data subjected to the deterioration removal processing in step 5 is recorded on the recording medium M (S440), and the process returns to step S105. In step S450, only the portion subjected to the degradation removal processing may be enlarged and displayed.

When "position" is selected in step S435, the displayed frame is moved upward, downward, left or right in accordance with the operation of the operation switch 19 (S4).
60). When “size” is selected, the displayed frame is enlarged or reduced according to the operation of the operation switch 19 (S465). After moving or enlarging / reducing the frame, the flow returns to step S435 to wait for the next selection.

In this release routine, the degradation removal processing is performed only on the range specified by the user in the image. The user can arbitrarily specify the range in which the degradation removal processing is performed, and it is easy to reflect the drawing intention on the recorded image. Here, the menu includes “position” and “size”, and the frame is changed when either is selected. However, these options are not displayed and the operation switch 19 is directly operated. The position and size of the frame may be changed.

The release routine shown in FIGS. 5 to 7 can be selected, and any one can be selected by operating the operation switch 19 in advance. Therefore, the user can adopt a convenient one according to the shooting environment and the drawing intention.

In the release routine shown in FIGS. 6 and 7,
Degradation removal is performed on a part of the displayed image and the image is recorded.However, at the time of display, the degradation removal is performed on a part of the image and only that part is displayed on the entire display unit. At the time of enlargement display and recording, deterioration removal may be performed on the entire displayed image.

In the digital camera 1 according to the present embodiment, only the dynamic degradation of the image quality caused by the blur is to be removed, but the static quality of the image quality caused by the low-pass filter or the like provided in the imaging unit 21 is eliminated. May be included in the removal target. Further, a conventional method of providing a sensor for detecting camera shake and compensating for camera shake by displacing the photographing lens 11 according to the detected camera shake can be used together.

[0057]

According to the digital camera of the present invention, which displays an image represented by image data after processing for removing image quality deterioration has been performed, a high-quality image can be displayed even when a deterioration factor occurs during shooting. Can be. In addition, an image from which deterioration has been removed can be confirmed.

In the digital camera according to the present invention for displaying the image represented by the image data having undergone the processing up to the middle stage, the process for removing the deterioration of the image quality comprises a plurality of stages. The image can be displayed quickly. Therefore, it is suitable for providing a live view.

The digital camera of the present invention, which displays an image represented by image data before performing processing for removing deterioration of image quality, can perform display very quickly, and is suitable for providing a live view.

In the digital camera according to the present invention, in which the processing for removing the deterioration of the image quality is performed only on a portion of the image data representing a range of the image, the processing time is reduced, and the display of the image and the recording of the image data are performed quickly. be able to.

In particular, when the image represented by the image data before the processing for removing the deterioration is displayed and the processing is performed in accordance with the given instruction, the usability is improved. Further, if the position or size of the portion to be processed is determined according to the given instruction, it is easy to reflect the user's drawing intention, and the usability is further improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a digital camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the digital camera.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the digital camera.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing until a recording instruction of the digital camera is given.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing flow when a recording instruction of the digital camera is given.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing another processing flow when a recording instruction of the digital camera is given.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the flow of still another process when a recording instruction of the digital camera is given.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Digital camera 11 Photographing lens 12 Photometry sensor 13 Distance measurement sensor 14 Flash emission part 15 Optical finder 16 Release button 17 Display part 18, 19 Operation switch 20 Image sensor 21 Image pickup part 22 A / D converter 23 White balance adjustment part 24 Image memory Reference Signs List 25 recording unit 26 control unit 27 operation unit 28 blur detection unit 29 deterioration removal unit

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor: Mutsuhiro Yamanaka 2-3-13 Azuchicho, Chuo-ku, Osaka City Inside Osaka International Building Minolta Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor: Hironori Sumitomo 2-chome, Azuchicho, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi No. 3-13 Osaka International Building Minolta Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 2H054 AA01 BB11 5C022 AB55 AC03 AC32 AC42 AC69

Claims (9)

[Claims] An image data representing an image having an improved image quality is provided by performing a process of removing image quality degradation caused at the time of photographing on image data representing a captured image. A digital camera comprising a display unit for displaying the image, wherein an image represented by the image data subjected to the processing is displayed. 2. An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a function of performing processing for removing image quality degradation caused at the time of photographing on the image data representing the photographed image to generate image data representing an image with improved image quality. In the digital camera provided with a display unit for displaying the image, the processing comprises a plurality of steps for gradually increasing the degree of elimination of image quality deterioration, and displays an image represented by image data that has been processed to an intermediate stage in the processing. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein: 3. A function of generating image data representing an image with improved image quality by performing a process of removing image quality degradation caused at the time of photographing on image data representing a photographed image, and generating an image represented by the image data. A digital camera provided with a display unit for displaying an image, wherein an image represented by image data before the processing is performed is displayed. 4. When recording image data on a recording medium,
The digital camera according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the digital camera displays an image. 5. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein an image is displayed other than when the image data is recorded on a recording medium. 6. A digital camera having a function of generating image data representing an image with improved image quality by performing a process of removing image quality degradation caused at the time of photographing on image data representing a captured image. A digital camera, wherein the processing is performed only on a portion representing a range of an image. 7. A display unit for displaying an image represented by the image data, displaying the image represented by the image data before performing the processing, and representing a range of the image in the image data according to a given instruction. The digital camera according to claim 6, wherein the processing is performed on a portion. 8. The digital camera according to claim 7, wherein a position of a portion to be processed in the image data is determined according to a given instruction. 9. The digital camera according to claim 7, wherein the size of a portion to be processed in the image data is determined according to a given instruction.