JP2005311764A - Digital camera - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a digital camera capable of switching an optical finder and an electronic finder in accordance with a photographing situation. <P>SOLUTION: This digital camera 10a is provided with a CCD 26 for picking up a subject image formed by an interchangeable lens 2, a half mirror 28 for reflecting the subject image made to pass through the interchangeable lens 2 and forming the subject image on a focal board 29 and a finder part 27 for guiding the subject image formed on the focal board 29 to an eyepiece 31. The finder part 27 is provided with an EVF (electronic viewfinder) display part 32 for displaying an image picked up by the CCD 26, and a moving mechanism 35 for moving the EVF display part 32 to a first position for guiding the subject image formed on the focal board 29 to the eyepiece 31 and moving the EVF display part 32 to a second position for guiding a display image displayed by the EVF display part 32 to the eyepiece 31. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a digital camera having a single-lens reflex type optical viewfinder.

  In a digital camera having a conventional single-lens reflex optical finder, a movable reflecting mirror for switching the optical path is provided in the middle of the photographing optical system for forming a subject image on the image sensor, and the reflected light from the reflecting mirror is finder optical. It is configured to be guided to the finder window through the system.

  FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining a conventional digital camera, FIG. 14A is a front perspective view of the conventional digital camera, and FIG. 14B is a side sectional view of the conventional digital camera. It is.

  As shown in FIG. 14, a conventional digital camera 100 includes a single-lens reflex camera that includes a camera body 101 and an interchangeable lens 102 that is detachably attached to the front center of the camera body 101. As shown in FIG. 14B, a color image sensor 103 is disposed at an appropriate position in the camera body 101 on the optical axis L of the lens 102 when the interchangeable lens 102 is attached to the camera body 101. Has been. The color image sensor 103 is disposed on the substrate 103a.

  On the optical axis L, a half mirror 104 is disposed at a position where the subject light is reflected toward the viewfinder optical system 105. The subject light reflected by the half mirror 104 forms an image on the focusing screen 106. The finder optical system 105 includes a pentaprism 107, an eyepiece lens 108, and a finder window 109. The subject image formed by the focusing screen 106 is reflected by the pentaprism 107 and enters the eyepiece lens 108. The eyepiece 108 guides the subject image to the outside of the finder window 109. With such a configuration, the photographer can view the subject by looking through the finder window 109.

  Further, a sub mirror 110 is disposed behind the half mirror 104, and subject light transmitted through the half mirror 104 is reflected by the sub mirror 110, and the reflected subject light enters the focus detection unit 111. The focus detection unit 111 detects the focus information of the subject.

  The half mirror 104 and the sub mirror 110 are so-called quick return mirrors, which jump upwards at the time of exposure, guide the subject image onto the color image sensor 103, and return to their original positions when the exposure is completed.

  A shutter 112 is disposed immediately before the color image sensor 103 and is controlled to open and close during exposure. An external display unit 113 is provided substantially at the center of the back surface of the camera body 101. The external display unit 113 reproduces and displays a captured image recorded on a recording medium such as a memory card.

  At the time of shooting standby by the conventional digital camera 100, the subject image formed on the focusing screen 106 by the half mirror 104 can be observed with the naked eye via the finder optical system 105, as in the film type single-lens reflex camera.

  On the other hand, at the time of photographing with the conventional digital camera 100, the half mirror 104 is retracted from the photographing optical path and photographed by the color image sensor 103, and the photographed image is displayed on the external display unit 113 provided on the back of the main body. In this case, an image display element is not required for the finder, but it is necessary to retract the half mirror 104 from the photographing optical path during exposure. Therefore, the finder is blacked out during exposure, and the shooting range cannot be confirmed.

For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for confirming a shooting range using an electronic viewfinder (EVF) and a rear monitor instead of an optical viewfinder. In the digital camera disclosed in Patent Document 1, since the EVF is used, the finder does not black out.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-6208

  However, since the finder image in the digital camera of Patent Document 1 employs EVF, it depends on electrical processing and the performance of the display element, and it is difficult to obtain a clear and flicker-free finder image.

  On the other hand, since the finder image in the conventional digital camera 100 shown in FIG. 14 employs an optical finder, it is possible to obtain a clear and flicker-free finder image. However, since it is necessary to retract the half mirror 104 from the photographing optical path during exposure, the viewfinder is blacked out. In particular, in a digital camera capable of recording both still images and moving images, when recording a still image, blackout is performed only for the moment of exposure, so there is no problem in shooting, but a moving image is recorded. In this case, since the exposure time is long, the blackout time becomes long, and the shooting range cannot be confirmed by the finder. For this reason, the conventional single-lens reflex digital camera has a specification in which a moving image at the time of moving image shooting is displayed on the external display unit 113 provided on the back surface or a moving image shooting function is not installed. This situation is the same even when the angle of view is confirmed by an external display unit instead of the optical viewfinder (live view function) before shooting.

  A finder blackout during photographing can be avoided by providing an optical finder independent of the photographing optical system. When the photographic optical system is a digital camera with a single focus or low magnification zoom, it is easy to configure an optical viewfinder independently of the photographic optical system, and the size is not increased so much. However, when the photographing optical system is a digital camera with a high magnification zoom, the optical viewfinder becomes large. Further, when an interchangeable lens digital camera is assumed, it is almost impossible to deal with a plurality of system lenses with a separate optical finder.

  Further, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, it is possible to eliminate the reflection mirror (corresponding to the half mirror 104 in FIG. 14) and configure the EVF and the rear monitor (corresponding to the external display unit 113 in FIG. 14). This means that the clear and flicker-free optical viewfinder, which is an advantage of a single-lens reflex camera, is eliminated. Furthermore, the rear monitor has a drawback that it is difficult to confirm an image in a situation where direct sunlight shines outdoors. Furthermore, a dedicated viewfinder that looks into the camera is the best way to focus on the image to determine the composition, or to hold it firmly in the vicinity of the telephoto end of the zoom.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a digital camera that can switch between an optical viewfinder and an electronic viewfinder in accordance with shooting conditions.

  The digital camera according to the present invention includes an imaging unit that captures a subject image formed by an imaging lens, a reflector that reflects the subject image that has passed through the imaging lens, and that forms an image on a focusing plate, and the focusing plate A finder unit for guiding a subject image formed on the eyepiece unit to the eyepiece unit, wherein the finder unit displays on the focusing screen a display unit that displays an image captured by the imaging unit; The display unit is moved to a first position for guiding the formed subject image from the focusing screen to the eyepiece, and a display image displayed by the display unit is moved to a second position for guiding to the eyepiece. A moving mechanism for moving the display unit.

  According to this configuration, the display unit that displays the image captured by the imaging unit is moved to the first position that guides the subject image formed on the focusing screen from the focusing screen to the eyepiece. Since it functions as an optical viewfinder and functions as an electronic viewfinder by moving the display image displayed by the display unit to a second position that leads to the eyepiece, the optical viewfinder and the electronic viewfinder can be used according to the shooting situation. And can be switched.

  Further, in the above digital camera, the finder unit includes a pentamirror that guides a subject image formed on the focusing screen to an eyepiece unit, and the display unit has a reflective surface on the back surface of the display surface. When the display unit is moved to the first position by the moving mechanism, it is preferable that the reflective surface is a final reflective surface of the pentamirror.

  According to this configuration, since the reflective surface is provided on the back surface of the display surface of the display unit and this reflective surface is used as the final reflective surface of the pentamirror, the finder unit can be reduced in size.

  Further, in the above digital camera, the finder unit includes a relay optical system that guides the subject image formed on the focusing screen to the eyepiece unit, and the display unit has a reflective surface on the back surface of the display surface. The moving mechanism reflects the subject image formed on the focusing screen by the reflecting surface and moves the display unit to a first position leading to the relay optical system, and near the focusing screen. Preferably, the display unit is moved to a second position for guiding the display image displayed by the display unit to the relay optical system.

  According to this configuration, the display unit that displays the image captured by the imaging unit has the reflective surface on the back surface of the display surface, and the display unit reflects the subject image formed on the focusing screen as the reflective surface. Is moved to a first position that is reflected by and relayed to the relay optical system, thereby functioning as an optical viewfinder, and a second position that is near the focusing screen and guides the display image displayed by the display unit to the relay optical system. Since the electronic viewfinder functions as an electronic viewfinder, the optical viewfinder and the electronic viewfinder can be switched in accordance with the shooting situation.

  Further, in the above digital camera, an external display unit that is disposed on the back surface of the digital camera body and displays an image captured by the imaging unit, a first display mode in which the image is displayed by the display unit, It is preferable to further include a display mode switching unit for switching to the second display mode displayed by the external display unit.

  According to this structure, it can switch to the 1st display mode which displays the image imaged by the imaging part with the display part, and the 2nd display mode which displays the said image with an external display part. Therefore, the photographer can take a picture while viewing the display image displayed on the display unit of the viewfinder by switching to the first display mode, and by switching to the second display mode, the photographer can It is possible to take a picture while looking at the external display unit arranged on the back surface, and it is possible to select either a picture while looking through the viewfinder or a picture while looking at the external display part.

  The digital camera may further include a shooting mode switching unit that switches between a still image shooting mode for shooting a still image and a moving image shooting mode for shooting a moving image, and the display mode switching unit includes the shooting mode switching unit. When the mode is switched to the moving image shooting mode, it is preferable to switch to the first display mode.

  According to this configuration, the still image shooting mode for shooting a still image and the moving image shooting mode for shooting a moving image are switched. When the mode is switched to the moving image shooting mode, the image captured by the imaging unit is displayed by the display unit. The display mode is switched to the first display mode. Therefore, when the user removes the viewfinder, it can function as an electronic viewfinder even during movie shooting when nothing is displayed on the optical viewfinder (blackout) during the long exposure period. You can shoot while checking the subject.

  In the above digital camera, a shooting mode switching unit that switches between a still image shooting mode for shooting a still image and a moving image shooting mode for shooting a moving image, and a finder usage state detection unit that detects a user's finder usage state The display mode switching unit switches to the first display mode when the shooting mode switching unit switches to the moving image shooting mode and the finder usage state detection unit detects the finder usage state. It is preferable to switch to the second display mode when switching to the moving image shooting mode by the shooting mode switching unit and when the finder usage status detection unit has not detected the finder usage status.

  According to this configuration, the still image shooting mode for shooting a still image and the moving image shooting mode for shooting a moving image are switched, and the finder usage state of the user is detected. Then, when the mode is switched to the moving image shooting mode and the finder use state is detected, the second display mode is switched to the moving image shooting mode and the finder use state is not detected. Switch to display mode.

  Therefore, in the video shooting mode for shooting moving images, if the photographer is using the viewfinder, the electronic viewfinder is used for display. If the photographer is not using the viewfinder, the display is displayed using the external display unit. By doing so, the display can be automatically switched according to the photographing posture of the photographer.

  Further, in the above digital camera, the finder use state detection unit is provided in the vicinity of the finder window, and an eyepiece detection unit that detects an eyepiece state to the finder window, and a holding state that detects a holding state of the grip portion of the camera body It is preferable that the finder use state of the user is detected based on a detection result of at least one of the eyepiece detection unit and the holding state detection unit.

  According to this configuration, at least one of the eyepiece state of the user's finder window and the holding state of the grip portion of the camera body is detected, and based on the detection result of at least one of the user's finder usage state Is detected. Accordingly, by detecting at least one of the user's eyepiece state to the finder window and the holding state of the grip portion of the camera body, the user's finder usage state can be detected, and the user can detect the finder usage state. It is possible to reliably detect whether the user is looking into the camera or looking at the external display unit.

  Further, in the above digital camera, an external display switching unit that switches between a live view mode in which an external display unit is used during standby for still image shooting and a finder mode in which an optical finder is used during standby for still image shooting. A finder usage state detection unit for detecting a finder usage state of the user, wherein the display mode switching unit is switched to a live view mode by the external display switching unit, and a finder usage state is detected by the finder usage state detection unit. If detected, switch to the first display mode, switch to the live view mode by the external display switching unit, and if the finder usage status is not detected by the finder usage status detection unit, Preferably switch to display mode

  According to this configuration, the live view mode in which the external display unit is used during still image shooting standby and the finder mode in which the optical viewfinder is used during still image shooting standby can be switched, and the user's viewfinder use state can be changed. Detected. Then, when the mode is switched to the live view mode and the finder use state is detected, the second display mode is switched to the live view mode, and when the finder use state is not detected, the second view mode is selected. Switch to display mode.

  Therefore, when the photographer is using the viewfinder in the live view mode that uses the external display unit during standby for shooting still images, the electronic viewfinder is used for display, and the photographer is not using the viewfinder. By displaying using the external display unit, the display can be automatically switched according to the photographing posture of the photographer.

  Further, in the above digital camera, the finder use state detection unit is provided in the vicinity of the finder window, and an eyepiece detection unit that detects an eyepiece state to the finder window, and a holding state that detects a holding state of the grip portion of the camera body It is preferable that the finder use state of the user is detected based on a detection result of at least one of the eyepiece detection unit and the holding state detection unit.

  According to this configuration, at least one of the eyepiece state of the user's finder window and the holding state of the grip portion of the camera body is detected, and based on the detection result of at least one of the user's finder usage state Is detected. Accordingly, by detecting at least one of the user's eyepiece state to the finder window and the holding state of the grip portion of the camera body, the user's finder usage state can be detected, and the user can detect the finder usage state. It is possible to reliably detect whether the user is looking into the camera or looking at the external display unit.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the display unit that displays the image captured by the imaging unit is moved to the first position that guides the subject image formed on the focusing screen from the focusing screen to the eyepiece. By doing so, it functions as an optical viewfinder and moves as the electronic viewfinder by moving the display image displayed by the display unit to the second position leading to the eyepiece unit. The viewfinder and the electronic viewfinder can be switched.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the reflective surface is provided on the back surface of the display surface of the display unit and this reflective surface is used as the final reflective surface of the pentamirror, the size of the finder unit can be reduced. it can.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, the display unit that displays the image captured by the imaging unit has the reflective surface on the back surface of the display surface, and the display unit is imaged on the focusing screen. The object image is reflected by the reflecting surface and moved to the first position to be guided to the relay optical system so as to function as an optical finder, and the display image near the focusing screen and displayed by the display unit is guided to the relay optical system. By moving to the second position, it functions as an electronic viewfinder, so that the optical viewfinder and the electronic viewfinder can be switched according to the shooting situation.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the photographer can take a picture while looking at the display unit of the finder unit by switching to the first display mode, and digitally by switching to the second display mode. Shooting can be performed while looking at the external display unit arranged on the back of the camera body, and shooting while looking through the viewfinder and shooting while looking at the external display unit can be selected.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, when the user removes the viewfinder, the electronic view is displayed even during video shooting in which nothing is displayed on the optical viewfinder (blackout) during the long exposure period. It can function as a viewfinder and can always shoot while checking the subject.

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, when the photographer uses a finder in the moving image shooting mode for capturing a moving image, the electronic viewfinder is used for display, and the photographer does not use the finder. In this case, the display can be automatically switched according to the photographing posture of the photographer by displaying using the external display unit.

  According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the user's finder use state is detected by detecting at least one of the eyepiece state of the user's viewfinder window and the holding state of the grip portion of the camera body. It is possible to reliably detect whether the user is looking through the viewfinder or looking at the external display unit.

  According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, when the photographer is using the viewfinder in the live view mode in which the external display unit is used during standby for photographing a still image, the electronic viewfinder is used for display. However, when the viewfinder is not used, the display can be automatically switched according to the photographing posture of the photographer by displaying using the external display unit.

  According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, the user's viewfinder use state is detected by detecting at least one of the eyepiece state to the user's viewfinder window and the holding state of the grip portion of the camera body. It is possible to reliably detect whether the user is looking through the viewfinder or looking at the external display unit.

  Hereinafter, a digital camera according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a digital camera according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1A is a front external view of the digital camera according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1B is a rear external view of the digital camera according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1A, a digital camera 10a according to this embodiment includes a camera body 1 and an interchangeable lens (corresponding to an imaging lens) 2 that is detachably attached to the front center of the camera body 1. It consists of a single-lens reflex digital still camera equipped with.

  Referring to FIG. 1A, a camera body 1 includes a mount portion (not shown) in which an interchangeable lens 2 is mounted substantially in the front center, an attach / detach button 3 for attaching / detaching the interchangeable lens near the mount portion, and a front left end portion. A grip 4 for a user to hold, a control value setting dial 5 for setting a control value in the upper right part of the front, and a mode setting dial for switching the shooting mode in the upper left part of the front (in the shooting mode switching part) 6) and a release button 7 for instructing the start and / or end of exposure on the upper surface of the grip portion 4. Near the mount, there are a plurality of electrical contacts (not shown) for electrical connection with the mounted interchangeable lens 2 and a plurality of couplers (not shown) for mechanical connection. Is provided.

  The electrical contact points from the lens ROM (read only memory) built in the interchangeable lens 2 to the unique control information (information such as the open F value and focal length) of the lens in the overall control unit (see FIG. 4). ), And information on the position of the focus lens and the position of the zoom lens in the interchangeable lens 2 is sent to the overall control unit.

  The coupler is for transmitting the driving force of the focus lens driving motor and the driving force of the zoom lens driving motor provided in the camera body 1 to each lens in the interchangeable lens 2.

  In FIG. 1A, a battery storage chamber and a card storage chamber are provided inside the grip portion 4. For example, four AA batteries are housed in the battery compartment as a power source for the camera, and a memory card for recording image data of the photographed image is detachably housed in the card compartment. It has become.

  The mode setting dial 6 is for setting a plurality of shooting modes including a still image shooting mode for shooting a still image and a moving image shooting mode for shooting a moving image.

  The release button 7 is configured to be able to perform an operation in a “half-pressed state S1” that is pressed halfway and an operation that is further pressed in a “full-pressed state S2”. In the still image shooting mode, when the release button 7 is pressed halfway, a preparatory operation (preparation operation for setting an exposure control value, focus adjustment, etc.) for shooting a still image of the subject is executed, and the release button 7 is fully pressed. When pressed, a photographing operation (a series of operations for exposing a color image sensor described later, performing predetermined image processing on an image signal obtained by the exposure, and recording it on a memory card) is performed. In addition, when the release button 7 is fully pressed in the moving image shooting mode, a series of shooting operations (a color image sensor is exposed, a predetermined image processing is performed on an image signal obtained by the exposure, and the result is recorded on a memory card). When the release button 7 is fully pressed again, the photographing operation is terminated.

  In FIG. 1 (b), a finder window 17 is provided at the upper center of the back surface of the camera body 1. The subject image from the interchangeable lens 2 is guided to the finder window 17. The photographer can visually recognize the subject by removing the viewfinder window 17. An EVF switching button (corresponding to a display mode switching unit) 18 is provided on the right side of the finder window 17. The EVF switching button 18 displays an external display mode in which a moving image is displayed on the external display unit 19 and an EVF display unit 32 of the finder unit 27, and causes the finder unit 27 to function as an electronic view finder (EVF). Switch to viewfinder display mode. When the EVF switching button 18 is pressed, the external display mode is switched to the finder display mode, and when the EVF switching button 18 is pressed again, the finder display mode is switched to the external display mode.

  An external display unit (liquid crystal display unit) 19 is provided in the approximate center of the back surface of the camera body 1. In the present embodiment, the external display unit 19 is composed of a color liquid crystal display element having, for example, 400 (X direction) × 300 (Y direction) = 120,000 pixels. A menu screen for setting the image or the like is displayed, and a captured image recorded on the memory card is reproduced and displayed in the reproduction mode.

  A power switch 20 is provided at the upper left of the external display unit 19. The power switch 20 is a two-point slide switch. When the contact is set to the left “OFF” position, the power is turned off. When the contact is set to the right “ON” position, the power is turned on.

  A direction selection key 21 is provided on the right side of the external display unit 19. The direction selection key 21 has a circular operation button so that four pressing operations in the upper, lower, left, and right directions and four pressing operations in the upper right, upper left, lower right, and lower left can be detected. It has become.

  The direction selection key 21 is multi-functional, for example, functions as an operation switch for changing an item selected on a menu screen for setting a shooting scene displayed on the external display unit 19, and a plurality of thumbnail images are displayed. It functions as an operation switch for changing the frame to be reproduced selected on the index screen displayed in an array. The direction selection key 21 can also function as a zoom switch for changing the focal length of the zoom lens of the interchangeable lens 2.

  A cancel switch 22, a confirmation switch 23, a menu display switch 24, and an external display changeover switch 25 are provided below the external display unit 19 as switches for performing operations related to display and display contents of the external display unit 19. Yes.

  The cancel switch 22 is a switch for canceling the content selected on the menu screen. The confirmation switch 23 is a switch for confirming the content selected on the menu screen. The menu display switch 24 is a switch for displaying a menu screen on the external display unit 19 or switching the contents of the menu screen (for example, a shooting scene setting screen or a mode setting screen related to exposure control). The menu screen changes to. The external display changeover switch 25 is a switch for turning on the display on the external display unit 19 or turning off the display. The display of the external display unit 19 is alternately displayed and hidden every time the external display changeover switch 25 is pressed. To be done. In order to save battery power, the external display unit 19 can be controlled not to be displayed when the camera is activated.

  Next, the internal configuration of the digital camera according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 2 is a side sectional view showing an internal configuration of the digital camera according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2A is a side sectional view showing an internal configuration of the digital camera in a shooting standby state. FIG. 2B is a side sectional view showing the internal configuration of the digital camera in the photographing (exposure) state.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b), there is a color on the optical axis L of the lens 2 when the interchangeable lens 2 is attached to the camera body 1 and in a proper position in the camera body 1. An imaging element (corresponding to an imaging unit) 26 is provided. The color image sensor 26 is disposed on the substrate 26a.

  A color imaging device (hereinafter referred to as “CCD”) 26 has R (red), G (green), and B (blue) on the surface of each CCD of an area sensor in which a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) is two-dimensionally arranged. ) Is a single-plate color area sensor called a Bayer method, which is pasted in a checkered pattern. In this embodiment, for example, 1600 (X direction) × 1200 (Y direction) = 1920,000 Has pixels.

  The color image sensor 26 has several options such as a CCD image sensor, a CMOS image sensor, and a VMIS image sensor. In this embodiment, a case where a CCD image sensor is used will be described.

  On the optical axis L, a half mirror (corresponding to a reflecting plate) 28 is disposed at a position where the subject light is reflected toward the viewfinder 27. The subject light that has passed through the interchangeable lens 2 is reflected by the half mirror 28 and forms an image on the focusing screen 29. Part of the subject light that has passed through the interchangeable lens 2 passes through the half mirror 28.

  The finder unit 27 includes a hollow pentamirror (pentagonal Dach mirror) 30, an eyepiece lens 31, an EVF display unit (corresponding to a display unit) 32, a fixed mirror 34, a moving mechanism 35, and the finder window 17.

  The EVF display unit 32 includes a liquid crystal display device 322 that displays an image captured by the CCD 26 and a movable mirror 323 that functions as a final reflection surface of the pentamirror 30, and is movable on the back surface of the display surface of the liquid crystal display device 322. A mirror 323 is arranged.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the EVF display unit 32, FIG. 3A is a diagram showing the display surface side of the EVF display unit 32, and FIG. 3B is a diagram of the EVF display unit 32. It is a figure which shows the back surface side of a display surface.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, the EVF display unit 32 has a liquid crystal display device 322 incorporated in a frame body 321, and a mirror (movable mirror 323) is bonded to the back surface of the liquid crystal display device 322. In this embodiment, the liquid crystal display device 322 is composed of a color liquid crystal display element having, for example, the number of pixels of 640 (X direction) × 480 (Y direction) = 307200, and a monitor image of a subject photographed by the CCD 26, that is, a moving image photographing mode. When the moving image is selected, an image of the subject that has been captured by the CCD 26 is displayed. The EVF display unit 32 is supported by a rotating shaft 351, and a connector cable 352 for driving protrudes from an opening on the rotating shaft 351 side.

  The moving mechanism 35 moves the EVF to the first position for retracting the display surface of the EVF display unit 32 from the optical path that guides the subject image formed on the focusing screen 29 to the eyepiece 31 (finder window 17) from the focusing screen 29. While moving the display part 32, the EVF display part 32 is moved to the 2nd position which guides the display image displayed by the liquid crystal display part 322 of the EVF display part 32 to the eyepiece lens 31 (finder window 17).

  As described above, the liquid crystal display device 322 and the movable mirror 323 of the EVF display unit 32 are formed integrally with each other, and the movable mirror that is a reflective surface is provided on the back surface of the display surface of the liquid crystal display device 322 constituting the EVF display unit 32. 323 is arranged. At the time of shooting standby, the EVF display unit 32 rotates around the rotation shaft 351 to the first position (position shown in FIG. 2A) that becomes the final reflection surface of the pentamirror 30, and the movable mirror 323. Becomes the final reflecting surface of the pentamirror 30, and guides the subject image to the eyepiece lens 31. At the time of moving image shooting, the EVF display unit 32 rotates and moves around the rotation axis 351 to a second position (position shown in FIG. 2B) in the vicinity of the focusing screen 29. The display image displayed on the liquid crystal display device 322 that is the display surface is reflected by the pentamirror 30 and guided to the eyepiece 31 by the fixed mirror 34 disposed on the final reflection surface of the pentamirror 30.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 2A, the subject image formed by the focusing screen 29 is reflected by the pentamirror 30 during shooting standby. The subject image reflected by the pentamirror 30 is reflected by the movable mirror 323 that is the reflecting surface of the EVF display unit 32 and enters the eyepiece lens 31. The eyepiece 31 guides the subject image to the outside of the finder window 17. With this configuration, the finder unit 27 functions as an optical finder during shooting standby.

  As shown in FIG. 2B, the display image displayed by the liquid crystal display device 322 that is the display surface of the EVF display unit 32 is reflected by the pentamirror 30 during moving image shooting. The display image reflected by the pentamirror 30 is finally reflected by the fixed mirror 34 and enters the eyepiece lens 31. The eyepiece 31 guides a display image displayed by the liquid crystal display device 322 of the EVF display unit 32 to the outside of the finder window 17. With such a configuration, the finder unit 27 functions as an electronic viewfinder at the time of moving image shooting.

  Note that the position of the focusing screen 29 is slightly different from the position of the display surface of the EVF display unit 32 at the second position. Therefore, the eyepiece lens 31 may be moved back and forth to adjust the focus. Further, a part of the eyepiece lens 31 may be automatically adjusted to move the focal position in conjunction with the moving mechanism 35.

  A sub mirror 36 is disposed behind the half mirror 28, and part of the subject light transmitted through the half mirror 28 is reflected by the sub mirror 36, and the reflected subject light enters the focus detection unit 37. The focus detection unit 37 detects the focus information of the subject.

  The half mirror 28 and the sub mirror 36 are so-called quick return mirrors, which jump up upward at the time of exposure and stop below the focusing screen 29, guide the subject image onto the color image sensor 26, and return to the original position when the exposure is completed. Return.

  A shutter 38 is disposed immediately before the color image sensor 26 and is controlled to open and close during exposure. The shutter 38 is, for example, a longitudinal running focal plane shutter.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the digital camera according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same thing as FIGS. 1-3.

  The digital camera 10a includes an interchangeable lens 2, an imaging unit 40, a signal processing unit 50, a lens control unit 60, a display unit 70, an operation unit 80, an overall control unit 90, a half mirror driving unit 120, a finder switching unit 130, and a shutter control unit. 140 and the like.

  The interchangeable lens 2 includes a focus lens, a zoom lens, and a diaphragm for adjusting the amount of transmitted light, and also includes a lens ROM that stores unique information about the lens (information such as an open F value and a focal length). . The lens ROM is connected to the overall control unit 90 through electrical contacts.

  The imaging unit 40 photoelectrically converts a subject light image incident through the interchangeable lens 2 and outputs it as an image signal (electrical image), and includes a CCD 26, a timing generator 41, and a timing control circuit 42.

  The CCD 26 receives a subject light image for a predetermined exposure time based on a drive control signal (accumulation start signal / accumulation end signal) input from the timing generator 41 and converts it into an image signal (charge accumulation signal). Are sent to the signal processing unit 50 in accordance with a read control signal (horizontal synchronization signal, vertical synchronization signal, transfer signal, etc.) input from the timing generator 41. At this time, the image signal is separated into color components R, G, and B and sent to the signal processing unit 50.

  In the following, for the sake of convenience of explanation, in order to distinguish between the light reception signal of each pixel and the image signal that constitutes the captured image by these sets, the light reception signal of each pixel is converted to a pixel signal (analog value) or pixel as necessary It is called data (digital value).

  The timing generator 41 generates a drive control signal based on the imaging control signal input from the timing control circuit 42, generates a read control signal based on the reference clock signal, and sends it to the CCD 26, respectively.

  The timing control circuit 42 controls the shooting operation of the CCD 26 and generates a shooting control signal based on a control signal input from the overall control unit 90. This shooting control signal is a control signal for displaying a moving image of a subject (hereinafter referred to as “live view image”) on the EVF display unit 32 of the finder unit 27 in the moving image shooting mode. It includes a control signal for photographing an image, a reference clock signal, a timing signal (synchronous clock signal) for signal processing of the image signal sent from the CCD 26 by the signal processing unit 50, and the like. This timing signal is input to the analog signal processing circuit 51 and the A / D conversion circuit 52 in the signal processing unit 50.

  The signal processing unit 50 performs predetermined analog signal processing and digital signal processing on the image signal sent from the CCD 26, and the signal processing of the image signal is performed for each pixel signal constituting the image signal. The signal processing unit 50 includes an analog signal processing circuit 51, an A / D conversion circuit 52, a black level correction circuit 53, a white balance (WB) circuit 54, a γ correction circuit 55, and an image memory 56, and black level correction. The circuit 53, the WB circuit 54, and the γ correction circuit 55 constitute a circuit that performs digital signal processing.

  The analog signal processing circuit 51 performs predetermined analog signal processing on an analog image signal output from the CCD 26, a CDS (correlated double sampling) circuit that reduces sampling noise of the image signal, and an image signal And an AGC (auto gain control) circuit for adjusting the level. The AGC circuit compensates for an insufficient level of a captured image when an appropriate exposure cannot be obtained by the aperture value built in the interchangeable lens 2 and the exposure time of the CCD 26 (for example, when photographing a very low-luminance subject). It also has a function to The gain of the AGC circuit is set by the overall control unit 90.

  The A / D conversion circuit 52 converts the image signal output from the analog signal processing circuit 51 into a digital image signal (hereinafter referred to as “image data”), and is a pixel signal obtained by receiving light at each pixel. Is converted into, for example, 12-bit pixel data. The black level correction circuit 53 corrects the black level of each pixel data subjected to A / D conversion to a reference black level.

  The WB circuit 54 adjusts the white balance of the photographed image. The WB circuit 54 converts the level of the pixel data of each color component R, G, B using the level conversion table input from the overall control unit 90, thereby converting the photographed image. Adjust the white balance. Note that the conversion coefficient of each color component in the level conversion table is set for each captured image by the overall control unit 90.

  The γ correction circuit 55 performs gradation correction by correcting the γ characteristic of the pixel data. The γ correction circuit 55 has a plurality of types of γ correction tables having different γ characteristics as a look-up table (LUT), and a set shooting scene. Accordingly, γ correction of pixel data is performed using a predetermined γ correction table. In this γ correction process, 10-bit pixel data is converted into 8-bit (256 gradation) pixel data. The reason why the pixel data before γ correction processing is 10-bit data is to prevent image quality deterioration when γ correction is performed with γ characteristics having strong nonlinearity. The pixel data of each color component R, G, B is subjected to a predetermined level conversion by the WB circuit 54, and each of these pixel data is γ corrected by a γ correction table.

  The image memory 56 is a memory for temporarily storing image data for which signal processing has been completed, and has a capacity capable of storing image data for a plurality of frames. In this embodiment, the storage capacity capable of storing image data for one frame is a capacity capable of storing 1920000 color pixel data because the number of pixels of the CCD 26 is 1600 × 1200 = 1920000, for example.

  The lens control unit 60 includes a focus lens driving motor (hereinafter referred to as “FM”) 61, a zoom lens driving motor (hereinafter referred to as “ZM”) 62, and an aperture control driver 63.

  The aperture control driver 63 controls the aperture value of the aperture built in the interchangeable lens 2, drives the aperture based on the aperture value input from the overall control unit 90, and sets the aperture amount to the aperture value. ing.

  The FM 61 is driven based on an AF control signal (for example, a control value such as the number of drive pulses) input from the overall control unit 90, and moves the focus lens built in the interchangeable lens 2 to the focal position.

  The ZM 62 is driven based on a zoom control signal (operation information of the direction selection key 21) input from the overall control unit 90, and moves the zoom lens built in the interchangeable lens 2. When the operation information of the right switch of the direction selection key 21 is input from the overall control unit 90, the ZM 62 drives in the forward direction to move the zoom lens to the telephoto (tele) side, and operates the left switch of the direction selection key 21. When information is input, the zoom lens is moved to the wide angle side by driving in the reverse direction.

  In the zoom operation of the interchangeable lens 2, the interchangeable lens 2 is continuously moved to the tele side only while the right switch of the direction selection key 21 is pressed, and is exchanged only while the left switch of the direction selection key 21 is pressed. The lens 2 continuously moves to the wide side.

  The display unit 70 includes a liquid crystal display device (EVF in FIG. 4) 322 and an external display unit (LCD in FIG. 4) 19, and VRAMs 71 and 72.

  The VRAM 71 is a buffer memory for storing a display image on the external display unit 19, and has a memory capacity capable of storing 400 × 300 color pixel data corresponding to the number of pixels of the external display unit 19. . The VRAM 72 is a buffer memory for storing a display image on the liquid crystal display device 322, and has a memory capacity capable of storing 640 × 480 color pixel data corresponding to the number of pixels of the liquid crystal display device 322. .

  The operation unit 80 includes a lock switch 81 that is turned on when the release button 7 (FIG. 1A) is half-pressed, and a release switch that is turned on when the release button 7 (FIG. 1A) is fully pressed. 82, the mode setting dial 6 and the EVF switching button 18 shown in FIG. 1B are included, and these pieces of operation information are input to the overall control unit 90.

  The overall control unit 90 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and the like, and includes a ROM (Read Only Memory) 91 and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 92. The ROM 91 stores a control program for controlling the operation of the CPU of the overall control unit 90. The RAM 92 temporarily stores various data in arithmetic processing and control processing.

  The overall control unit 90 controls the operation of each part of the digital camera 10a according to a control program stored in the ROM 91. When the release button 7 is half-pressed and an on signal of the lock switch 81 is detected, the overall control unit 90 When a preparatory operation for photographing a still image (preparation operation such as setting of an exposure control value or focus adjustment) is performed, and the release button 7 is fully pressed and an on signal of the release switch 82 is detected, a photographing operation ( The CCD 26 is exposed and has a function of executing a predetermined image processing on the image signal obtained by the exposure and recording it on the memory card 94).

  The overall control unit 90 is connected to the memory card 94 via the card I / F 93. The card I / F 93 is an interface for writing image data to the memory card 94 and reading image data. The memory card 94 records image data such as still images and moving images.

  The half mirror drive unit 120 drives the half mirror 28, and retracts the half mirror 28 from the optical axis L of the interchangeable lens 2 based on a retraction signal input from the overall control unit 90. That is, the half mirror driving unit 120 moves the half mirror 28 from a position where the subject image from the interchangeable lens 2 is reflected to the focusing screen 29 to a position where the subject image from the interchangeable lens 2 is guided to the CCD 26. The retract signal is generated by the overall control unit 90 when the ON signal of the release switch 82 is input to the overall control unit 90, and is output to the half mirror drive unit 120. The half mirror drive unit 120 retracts the sub mirror 36 from the optical axis L of the interchangeable lens 2 together with the half mirror 28.

  The finder switching unit 130 switches the liquid crystal of the EVF display unit 32 from the first position where the subject image formed on the focusing screen 29 is guided to the eyepiece lens 31 by the movable mirror 323 of the EVF display unit 32 according to the shooting mode. The EVF display unit 32 is moved to a second position for guiding the display image displayed by the display device 322 to the eyepiece 31. The shutter control unit 140 controls opening and closing of the shutter 38.

  Note that both operations of the half mirror driving unit 120 and the finder switching unit 130 can be mechanically linked. That is, by driving only one of the half mirror driving unit 120 and the finder switching unit 130, the other can be driven in conjunction with the other.

  Next, the operation of the digital camera 10a according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the digital camera according to the present invention. When the power is turned on, the EVF display unit 32 is arranged at the first position where the movable mirror 323 is the final reflecting surface of the pentamirror 30 and guides the subject image formed on the focusing screen 29 to the eyepiece 31. Has been. When the power is off, the EVF display unit 32 is in the vicinity of the focusing screen 29 and is in the second position for guiding the display image displayed by the liquid crystal display device 322 of the EVF display unit 32 to the eyepiece 31. After the EVF display unit 32 is moved to the first position, the power is completely turned off. Further, when the EVF display unit 32 is located at the first position, the overall control unit 90 performs control so that no image is displayed on the display surface (liquid crystal display device 322) of the EVF display unit 32.

  First, in step S <b> 1, the overall control unit 90 accepts a shooting mode setting by the mode setting dial 6. The photographer can switch between the still image shooting mode and the moving image shooting mode by operating the mode setting dial 6.

  Next, in step S2, the overall control unit 90 determines whether or not the accepted shooting mode is a still image shooting mode, that is, whether it is a still image shooting mode or a moving image shooting mode. If it is determined that the still image shooting mode is selected (YES in step S2), the process proceeds to step S21. If it is determined that the moving image shooting mode is selected instead of the still image shooting mode (NO in step S2). The process proceeds to step S3.

  If it is determined that it is not the still image shooting mode but the moving image shooting mode, the overall control unit 90 accepts the setting of the display mode by the EVF switching button 18 in step S3. The photographer can switch between an external display mode in which a moving image is displayed by the external display unit 19 and a finder display mode in which the finder unit 27 displays by operating the EVF switching button 18. As described above, the display mode can be switched between the external display mode in which the moving image is displayed by the external display unit 19 and the finder display mode in which the moving image is displayed by the finder unit 27, so that the moving image is displayed on both the external display unit 19 and the liquid crystal display device 322. Even power consumption can be saved.

  Next, in step S4, the overall control unit 90 determines whether or not the accepted display mode is the external display mode, that is, whether the display mode is the external display mode or the finder display mode. If it is determined that the display mode is the external display mode (YES in step S4), the process proceeds to step S6. If it is determined that the display mode is not the external display mode but the finder display mode (NO in step S4), the process proceeds to step S6. The process proceeds to S5.

  When it is determined that the display mode is not the external display mode but the viewfinder display mode, in step S5, the viewfinder switching unit 130 is the final reflection surface of the pentamirror 30, and the subject image formed on the focusing screen 29 is an eyepiece. The EVF display unit 32 is moved from the first position leading to the lens 31 to a second position near the focusing screen 29 and displayed on the eyepiece 31 by the display image displayed by the liquid crystal display device 322 of the EVF display unit 32. .

  Next, in step S <b> 6, the half mirror driving unit 120 drives the half mirror 28 and the sub mirror 36 to retract the half mirror 28 and the sub mirror 36 upward from the optical axis L of the interchangeable lens 2. Further, the shutter control unit 140 controls to open the shutter 38. When the half mirror 28 and the sub mirror 36 are retracted and the shutter 38 is opened, a subject image is formed on the imaging surface of the CCD 26.

  Next, in step S <b> 7, the overall control unit 90 controls the imaging unit 40 and the signal processing unit 50, and captures image data captured by the CCD 26 into the image memory 56.

  When the external display mode is set, in step S8, the overall control unit 90 controls to display the moving image (live view image) on the external display unit 19, and the external display unit 19 displays the moving image. .

  On the other hand, when the viewfinder display mode is set, in step S8, the overall control unit 90 controls the moving image (live view image) to be displayed on the liquid crystal display device 322 of the EVF display unit 32, and the liquid crystal display device 322 is displayed. Displays a moving image.

  Next, in step S9, the overall control unit 90 detects the contrast of the video signal output from the CCD 26, and adjusts the focus by a video AF (contrast) method in which the focus lens of the interchangeable lens 2 is moved in the direction in which the contrast increases. Do.

  Next, in step S10, the overall control unit 90 determines whether or not the release button 7 has been fully pressed, that is, whether or not an ON signal has been input from the release switch 82. If it is determined that the release button 7 is fully pressed (YES in step S10), the process proceeds to step S11. If it is determined that the release button 7 is not fully pressed (NO in step S10), step S11 is performed. Returning to S9, focus adjustment is performed.

  When the release button 7 is fully pressed, in step S11, the overall control unit 90 starts exposure by the CCD 26 and executes moving image shooting. That is, the overall control unit 90 sequentially outputs image data for each frame stored in the image memory 56 to the memory card 94 via the card I / F 93. Next, in step S12, the memory card 94 records moving images by sequentially recording image data for each frame.

  Next, in step S <b> 13, the overall control unit 90 determines whether or not the release button 7 has been fully pressed, that is, whether or not an on signal has been input from the release switch 82. If it is determined that the release button 7 is fully pressed (YES in step S13), the process proceeds to step S14. If it is determined that the release button 7 is not fully pressed (NO in step S13), step S14 is performed. Returning to S11, moving image shooting is continued.

  When the release button 7 is fully pressed, in step S14, the half mirror driving unit 120 drives the half mirror 28 and the sub mirror 36, and moves the half mirror 28 and the sub mirror 36 on the optical axis L of the interchangeable lens 2. In addition, the shutter control unit 140 controls to close the shutter 38.

  Next, in step S <b> 15, the finder switching unit 130 is located near the focusing screen 29, and starts from the second position where the display image displayed by the liquid crystal display device 322 of the EVF display unit 32 is guided to the eyepiece 31. The EVF display unit 32 is moved to a first position that is a final reflection surface and leads a subject image formed on the focusing screen 29 to the eyepiece 31. As described above, moving image shooting by the digital camera 10a is performed.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S2 that the still image shooting mode is set, in step S21, the overall control unit 90 determines whether or not the release button 7 is half-pressed, that is, whether an on signal is input from the lock switch 81. Judge whether or not. If it is determined that the release button 7 is half-pressed (YES in step S21), the process proceeds to step S22. If it is determined that the release button 7 is not half-pressed (NO in step S21), the release button 7 is released. It will be in a standby state until the button 7 is half-pressed.

  If it is determined that the release button 7 has been half-pressed, in step S22, the overall control unit 90 performs photometry, for example, using a TTL (through-the-lens) method to determine an appropriate exposure control value. Next, in step S23, the overall control unit 90 automatically adjusts the focus using, for example, a TTL phase difference detection method.

  Next, in step S24, it is determined whether or not the release button 7 is fully pressed, that is, whether or not an on signal is input from the release switch 82. If it is determined that the release button 7 has been fully pressed (YES in step S24), the process proceeds to step S25. If it is determined that the release button 7 has not been fully pressed (NO in step S24), step S25 is performed. Returning to S21, it is determined whether or not the release button 7 is half-pressed.

  If it is determined that the release button 7 has been fully pressed, in step S25, the half mirror driving unit 120 drives the half mirror 28 and the sub mirror 36, and moves the half mirror 28 and the sub mirror 36 upward from the optical axis L of the interchangeable lens 2. Evacuate. Further, the shutter control unit 140 controls to open the shutter 38. When the half mirror 28 and the sub mirror 36 are retracted and the shutter 38 is opened, a subject image is formed on the imaging surface of the CCD 26.

  Next, in step S26, the overall control unit 90 starts exposure by the CCD 26 and executes still image shooting for a time corresponding to the exposure control value. That is, the overall control unit 90 outputs the image data stored in the image memory 56 to the memory card 94 via the card I / F 93 for a time corresponding to the exposure control value. Next, in step S27, the memory card 94 records a still image by recording image data.

  Next, in step S <b> 28, the half mirror driving unit 120 drives the half mirror 28 and the sub mirror 36 to move the half mirror 28 and the sub mirror 36 on the optical axis L of the interchangeable lens 2. In addition, the shutter control unit 140 controls to close the shutter 38. As described above, still image shooting is performed by the digital camera 10a.

  Here, the usable viewfinders in each photographing mode are summarized as shown in Table 1 below. Table 1 is a table for explaining the relationship between each photographing mode and usable viewfinders. In Table 1, a finder that can be used in each shooting mode is indicated by “◯”. Note that the shooting mode in the present embodiment includes a playback mode for playing back still images and moving images recorded on the memory card 94. As shown in Table 1, in the still image shooting mode, display using an optical viewfinder, an external display unit, and display using an electronic viewfinder (EVF mode) can be used, and in the moving image shooting mode and playback mode, display using an external display unit. And display by an electronic viewfinder can be used.

  The relationship between each photographing mode and the operating state of each mechanism is as shown in Table 2 below. Table 2 is a table for explaining the relationship between each photographing mode and the operating state of each mechanism. Table 2 shows operation states of the optical viewfinder, the external display unit, the half mirror / shutter, the EVF display unit (mirror and display device), and AF (autofocus) in the EVF mode and the reproduction mode, respectively. Note that “* 1” to “* 5” shown in Table 2 correspond to “* 1” to “* 5” shown in Table 1.

  As shown in Table 2, when the optical viewfinder is used in the still image shooting mode (in the case of “* 1”), the operation state of the half mirror / shutter is down / closed, and the operation state of the EVF display unit is the mirror surface. The side is on the optical path of the finder, and AF is performed by a phase difference detection method. When the external display unit is used in the still image shooting mode and when the external display unit is used in the moving image shooting mode (in the case of “* 2”), the operating state of the half mirror / shutter is up / open, and the EVF display unit The operation state includes a case where the mirror surface side is on the optical path of the finder and a case where the display surface side is on the optical path of the finder, and AF is performed by a video AF (contrast) method. When the electronic viewfinder is used in the still image shooting mode and when the electronic viewfinder is used in the moving image shooting mode (in the case of “* 3”), the operating state of the half mirror / shutter is up / open, and the EVF display section In the operation state, the display surface side is on the optical path of the finder, and AF is performed by a video AF (contrast) method. When the external display unit is used in the playback mode (in the case of “* 4”), the operation state of the half mirror / shutter may be up / open or down / close, and the operation state of the EVF display unit is mirror. There are cases where the surface side is on the optical path of the finder and cases where the display surface side is on the optical path of the finder. When the electronic viewfinder is used in the playback mode ("* 5"), the half mirror / shutter operating state may be up / open or down / closed, and the EVF display unit operating state is displayed. The surface side is on the optical path of the viewfinder.

  As described above, the EVF display unit 32 including the liquid crystal display device 322 that displays the image captured by the CCD 26 and the movable mirror 323 that functions as the final reflecting surface of the pentamirror 30 is imaged on the focusing screen 29. The subject image is reflected by the movable mirror 323 of the EVF display unit 32 and moved to a first position where the subject image is guided to the eyepiece lens 31, thereby causing the finder unit 27 to function as an optical finder. Further, the EVF display unit 32 is moved to the second position for guiding the display image displayed by the liquid crystal display device 322 of the EVF display unit 32 to the eyepiece lens 31, thereby causing the finder unit 27 to function as an electronic viewfinder. . Therefore, it is possible to switch between the optical viewfinder and the electronic viewfinder according to the shooting situation.

  In addition, since the reflective surface is provided on the back surface of the display surface of the EVF display unit 32 and this reflective surface is used as the final reflective surface of the pentamirror 30, the finder unit 27 can be reduced in size.

  In addition, the display mode is switched between a first display mode in which an image captured by the CCD 26 is displayed by the liquid crystal display device 322 of the EVF display unit 32 and a second display mode in which the image captured by the CCD 26 is displayed by the external display unit 19. It is done. Therefore, the photographer can take a picture while viewing the display image displayed by the liquid crystal display device 322 included in the EVF display unit 32 of the finder unit 27 by switching to the first display mode. By switching to, it is possible to take a picture while looking at the external display unit 19 arranged on the back of the digital camera body, and to select a picture while looking through the viewfinder part 27 and a picture while looking at the external display part 19. be able to.

  In addition, when the still image shooting mode for shooting a still image and the moving image shooting mode for shooting a moving image are switched and switched to the moving image shooting mode, the image captured by the CCD 26 is displayed on the liquid crystal display device of the EVF display unit 32. The display mode is switched to the first display mode displayed by 322. Therefore, when the user removes the finder, the finder unit 27 is made to function as an electronic view finder even during moving image shooting in which nothing is displayed on the optical finder (blackout) during the long exposure period. You can shoot while always checking the subject.

  Further, at the time of shooting standby and still image shooting, the photographer can view the subject using the optical viewfinder, and can obtain a clear and flicker-free viewfinder image. In addition, since the optical viewfinder is switched to the electronic viewfinder at the time of moving image shooting, the photographer can view the subject from the viewfinder and can obtain a viewfinder image without blackout.

  Furthermore, even in a bright place, the composition of the subject can be confirmed by the electronic viewfinder without using the external display unit 19 provided on the back surface of the camera body 1. Further, the photographer can focus on the image to determine the composition by photographing using the electronic viewfinder, and can hold the camera firmly so as not to cause camera shake near the telephoto end of the zoom.

  In the present embodiment, the overall control unit 90 receives the setting of the shooting mode by the mode setting dial 6, and the liquid crystal display device 322 provided in the EVF display unit 32 of the finder unit 27 when the moving image shooting mode is set. However, the present invention is not particularly limited to this, and the liquid crystal display device 322 may be used for display even when the still image shooting mode is set.

  In the present embodiment, when it is determined that the moving image shooting mode is set, the overall control unit 90 accepts the display mode setting by the EVF switching button 18 and displays the moving image on the external display unit 19. The finder display mode is switched to the finder display mode displayed by the liquid crystal display device 322 included in the EVF display unit 32 of the finder unit 27. However, the present invention is not particularly limited to this, and the external display unit 19 and the liquid crystal display device 322 both. It may be displayed. In this case, the processing of step S3 and step S4 shown in FIG. 5 is not necessary.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the first embodiment, the first mirror 30 is used for the optical system of the finder unit 27, and the object image formed on the focusing screen 29, which is the final reflecting surface of the pentamirror 30, is guided to the eyepiece 31. From the position, the EVF display unit 32 is moved to a second position that is in the vicinity of the focusing screen 29 and guides the image captured by the CCD 26 to the eyepiece 31. On the other hand, in the second embodiment, a relay optical system is used as the optical system of the finder unit 27, and the subject image formed on the focusing screen is reflected on the back surface of the display surface of the EVF display unit 32. The EVF display unit 32 is moved to a first position that is reflected by the surface and guided to the relay optical system, and a display image that is near the focusing screen and displayed on the display surface of the EVF display unit 32 is guided to the relay optical system. The EVF display unit 32 is moved to position 2.

  FIG. 6 is a side sectional view showing the internal configuration of a digital camera according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6A is a side sectional view showing the internal configuration of the digital camera in a shooting standby state. FIG. 6B is a side sectional view showing the internal configuration of the digital camera in the photographing (exposure) state.

  The appearance of the digital camera in the second embodiment is the same as the appearance of the digital camera in the first embodiment shown in FIG. Further, since the digital camera in the second embodiment and the digital camera in the first embodiment have the same configuration except for the configuration of the finder unit 27 ′, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals and described. Is omitted.

  A digital camera 10b according to the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B includes a camera body 1 and an interchangeable lens 2. Inside the camera body 1, a CCD 26, a finder unit 27 ′, a half mirror 28, a focusing screen 29, a sub mirror 36, a focus detection unit 37, and a shutter 38 are provided.

  The finder unit 27 ′ includes a fixed mirror 39 a, a first mirror 39 b, a second mirror 39 c, a relay optical system 39 d, an eyepiece lens 31, an EVF display unit 32, a moving mechanism 35, and the finder window 17.

  As shown in FIG. 6A, the subject light incident from the interchangeable lens 2 is reflected in the direction of the focusing screen 29 by the half mirror 28 and is focused on the focusing screen 29 at the time of shooting standby. On the other hand, the subject light transmitted through the half mirror 28 is reflected by the sub mirror 36 toward the focus detection unit 37. Here, the EVF display unit 32 is disposed at a first position where the subject image formed on the focusing screen 29 is reflected by the movable mirror 323 as a reflecting surface and led to the relay optical system 39d. Therefore, the subject image formed by the focusing screen 29 is reflected by the movable mirror 323 toward the first mirror 39b, and the first mirror 39b reflects the subject image reflected by the movable mirror 323 in the direction of the second mirror 39c. To reflect. The first mirror 39b and the second mirror 39c are arranged so that their end portions are bonded to each other and have a dogleg shape. A relay optical system 39d is disposed between the first mirror 39b and the second mirror 39c. The subject image reflected by the first mirror 39b passes through the relay optical system 39d and enters the second mirror 39c. The subject image that has passed through the relay optical system 39d is reflected in the direction of the eyepiece 31 by the second mirror. The eyepiece 31 guides the subject image reflected by the second mirror to the finder window 17. In this way, at the time of shooting standby, the photographer can see the subject using the optical viewfinder, and can obtain a clear and flicker-free viewfinder image.

  As shown in FIG. 6B, the subject light incident from the interchangeable lens 2 is imaged on the CCD 26 when the moving image is taken because the half mirror 28 is retracted upward. On the other hand, the moving mechanism 35 reflects the object image formed on the focusing screen 29 by the movable mirror 323 that is a reflecting surface, and is in the vicinity of the focusing screen 29 from the first position that leads to the relay optical system 39d. The EVF display unit 32 is moved to a second position for guiding the display image displayed by the liquid crystal display device 322 of the EVF display unit 32 to the relay optical system 39d. The display image displayed by the liquid crystal display device 322 of the EVF display unit 32 is reflected by the fixed mirror 39a in the direction of the first mirror 39b, and the first mirror 39b displays the display image reflected by the fixed mirror 39a as the second mirror. Reflect in the direction of 39c. A relay optical system 39d is disposed between the first mirror 39b and the second mirror 39c, and the display image reflected by the first mirror 39b passes through the relay optical system 39d, and reaches the second mirror 39c. Incident. The display image that has passed through the relay optical system 39d is reflected in the direction of the eyepiece lens 31 by the second mirror. The eyepiece 31 guides the display image reflected by the second mirror to the finder window 17. In this way, even during moving image shooting, the photographer can see the subject from the viewfinder and can obtain a viewfinder image without blackout.

  The electrical configuration of the digital camera 10b in the second embodiment is the same as the electrical configuration of the digital camera 10a in the first embodiment shown in FIG. The operation of the digital camera 10b in the second embodiment is the same as that of the digital camera 10a in the first embodiment shown in FIG.

  It should be noted that the finder unit 27 ′ via the three mirrors in the second embodiment is arranged so as to be folded back in the lateral direction of the camera in addition to being folded back in the camera height direction as shown in FIG. Is also possible.

  Thus, the EVF display unit 32 for displaying an image picked up by the CCD 26 has a reflection surface on the back surface of the display surface, and the EVF display unit 32 is a subject imaged on the focusing screen 29. The image is reflected by the reflecting surface and moved to the first position leading to the relay optical system 39d, thereby causing the finder unit 27 'to function as an optical finder, near the focusing screen 29, and the display surface of the EVF display unit 32. Since the finder unit 27 'functions as an electronic viewfinder by moving the display image displayed in step 2 to the second position for guiding it to the relay optical system 39d, the optical viewfinder and the electronic viewfinder can be used according to the shooting conditions. Can be switched.

(Third embodiment)
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the first and second embodiments, the setting of the display mode is accepted and the mode is switched between the external display mode in which the moving image is displayed by the external display unit 19 and the finder display mode in which the finder unit 27 displays the moving image. In the third embodiment, the mode is switched between the external display mode and the finder display mode by detecting the finder usage state of the user.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a digital camera according to the third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7A is a front external view of the digital camera according to the third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7B is a rear external view of the digital camera according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

  The digital camera 10c in the third embodiment shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B is almost the same as the digital camera 10a in the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B. Since the configuration is the same, only the different configuration will be described in the following description.

  As shown in FIG. 7A, the digital camera 10 c further includes a grip detection unit 151 in the grip unit 4 and an eyepiece detection unit 152 in the vicinity of the finder window 17.

  The grip detection unit 151 detects a holding state of the grip unit 4 of the camera body 1 by the photographer. The grip detection unit 151 in this embodiment is provided with two electrodes arranged side by side on the outer surface of the grip unit 4 that is touched by a hand, and determines whether or not the photographer is gripping the grip unit 4 using the surface conductivity of the hand. Detect. Note that when the photographer wears gloves, the above method cannot be used for detection, so a pressure sensor may be used as the grip detection unit 151.

  The eyepiece detection unit 152 detects an eyepiece state on the finder window by the photographer. The eyepiece detection unit 152 in this embodiment includes, for example, a light emitting unit that emits infrared light and a light receiving unit that receives light reflected by the photographer from the light emitting unit. Detect whether the eye is in contact. Note that the eyepiece detection unit 152 identifies the characteristic of reflected light unique to the photographer's face or continues for a predetermined time or longer in order to eliminate the case where the object close to the finder window 17 is an object other than the photographer. Then, it may be detected that the reflected light is received.

  Note that the digital camera 10c in the third embodiment does not need to include the EVF switching button 18 for switching between an external display mode for displaying a moving image by the external display unit 19 and a finder display mode for displaying the moving image by the finder unit 27. Good.

  FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a digital camera according to the third embodiment of the present invention. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same thing as FIG. The digital camera 10c includes an interchangeable lens 2, an imaging unit 40, a signal processing unit 50, a lens control unit 60, a display unit 70, an operation unit 80, an overall control unit 90, a half mirror driving unit 120, a finder switching unit 130, and a shutter control unit. 140, a finder use state detection unit 150, and the like.

  Note that the digital camera 10c in the third embodiment shown in FIG. 8 has almost the same configuration as the digital camera 10a in the first embodiment shown in FIG.

  The viewfinder usage state detection unit 150 detects a user's viewfinder usage state, and includes a grip detection unit 151 and an eyepiece detection unit 152.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the digital camera 10c according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The processing in steps S31, 32, 37 to 45, 51 to 58 in the flowchart shown in FIG. 9 is the same as the processing in steps S1, 2, 7 to 15, and 21 to 28 in the flowchart shown in FIG. In the following description, only the processing in steps S33 to S36 will be described.

  In step S <b> 33, the overall control unit 90 determines whether the photographer is in contact with the finder window 17. The eyepiece detection unit 152 detects whether or not the photographer is in contact with the finder window 17. When the photographer is in contact with the finder window 17, the eyepiece detection unit 152 outputs an eyepiece detection signal to the overall control unit 90. When the eyepiece detection signal is input, the overall control unit 90 determines that the photographer is in contact with the finder window 17. If it is determined that the photographer is in contact with the viewfinder window 17 (YES in step S33), the process proceeds to step S34. If it is determined that the photographer is not in contact with the viewfinder window 17 (NO in step S33), the process proceeds to step S36.

  When it is determined that the photographer is in contact with the viewfinder window 17, in step S34, the overall control unit 90 determines whether the photographer is holding the grip unit 4 of the camera body 1. The grip detection unit 151 detects whether or not the photographer is holding the grip part 4 of the camera body 1. When the photographer is holding the grip part 4 of the camera body 1, the grip detection signal is totally controlled. Output to the unit 90. When the grip holding signal is input, the overall control unit 90 determines that the photographer is holding the grip unit 4 of the camera body 1. If it is determined that the photographer is holding the grip 4 of the camera body 1 (YES in step S34), the process proceeds to step S35. If it is determined that the photographer does not hold the grip portion 4 of the camera body 1 (NO in step S34), the process proceeds to step S36.

  Thus, the photographer holds the camera by detecting whether or not the photographer is in contact with the finder window 17 and detecting whether or not the photographer is holding the grip portion 4 of the camera body 1. You can detect when you are looking through the viewfinder.

  If it is determined that the photographer is in contact with the viewfinder window 17 and the photographer is holding the grip portion 4 of the camera body 1, in step S <b> 35, the viewfinder switching unit 130 determines whether the photographer is holding the grip portion 4. It is the final reflecting surface of the mirror 30, and is near the focusing screen 29 from the first position for guiding the subject image formed on the focusing screen 29 to the eyepiece 31, and is displayed by the liquid crystal display device 322 of the EVF display unit 32. The EVF display unit 32 is moved to a second position for guiding the displayed image to the eyepiece 31.

  When it is determined that the photographer does not have an eye on the finder window 17, or when it is determined that the photographer does not hold the grip unit 4 of the camera body 1, and the EVF display unit 32 is displayed by the finder switching unit 130. After being moved from the first position to the second position, in step S36, the half mirror driving unit 120 drives the half mirror 28 and the sub mirror 36, and from the optical axis L of the interchangeable lens 2 to the half mirror 28 and the sub mirror 36. Evacuate upward. Further, the shutter control unit 140 controls to open the shutter 38.

  In the present embodiment, the finder usage state detection unit 150 includes a grip detection unit 151 and an eyepiece detection unit 152. However, the present invention is not particularly limited thereto, and the finder usage state detection unit 150 is a grip. You may comprise only the detection part 151. In this case, the process of step S33 shown in FIG. 9 is omitted, and in step S34, it is detected whether or not the photographer is holding the grip portion 4 of the camera body 1, and the photographer holds the grip portion 4 of the camera body 1. If it is detected that it is held, the viewfinder is switched in step S35. Similarly, the finder usage state detection unit 150 may include only the eyepiece detection unit 152. In this case, the process of step S34 shown in FIG. 9 is omitted, and it is detected in step S33 whether or not the photographer is in contact with the finder window 17, and it is detected that the photographer is in contact with the finder window 17. If this is the case, the viewfinder is switched in step S35.

  In this way, the still image shooting mode for shooting a still image and the moving image shooting mode for shooting a moving image are switched, and the user's viewfinder usage state is detected. When the mode is switched to the moving image shooting mode and the finder use state is detected, the mode is switched to the first display mode in which the image captured by the CCD 26 is displayed by the liquid crystal display device 322 of the EVF display unit 32. Further, when the mode is switched to the moving image shooting mode and the finder use state is not detected, the mode is switched to the second display mode in which the image captured by the CCD 26 is displayed by the external display unit 19.

  Therefore, in the moving image shooting mode for shooting a moving image, when the photographer uses the finder, display is performed using the liquid crystal display device 322 of the EVF display unit 32, and when the photographer does not use the finder, By displaying using the display unit 19, the display can be automatically switched according to the photographing posture of the photographer.

  Further, at least one of the eyepiece state of the user on the finder window 17 and the holding state of the grip portion 4 of the camera body 1 is detected, and the user's finder usage state is determined based on the detection result of at least one of them. Detected. Therefore, by detecting at least one of the eyepiece state of the user in the finder window 17 and the holding state of the grip portion 4 of the camera body 1, the user's finder usage state can be detected and used. It is possible to reliably detect whether a person is looking through the finder window 17 or looking at the external display unit 19.

(Fourth embodiment)
Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the first to third embodiments described above, first the setting of the shooting mode is accepted, it is determined whether the accepted shooting mode is the still image shooting mode or the moving image shooting mode, and the still image shooting mode is set. And the process when the moving image shooting mode is set. In the fourth embodiment, it is determined whether it is a live view mode that uses an external display unit during standby for still image shooting or a viewfinder mode that uses an optical viewfinder during standby for shooting still images. A process when the mode is set and a process when the finder mode is set are performed.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a digital camera according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 10A is a front external view of the digital camera according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10B is a rear external view of the digital camera according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

  The digital camera 10d in the fourth embodiment shown in FIGS. 10 (a) and 10 (b) is almost the same as the digital camera 10c in the third embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 (a) and 7 (b). Since the configuration is the same, only the different configuration will be described in the following description.

  An external display switching button 83 is further provided at an appropriate position on the back side of the digital camera 10d. The external display switching button 83 is used to switch between a live view mode in which the external display unit 19 is used during still image shooting standby and a finder mode in which the optical system finder is used during still image shooting standby. When the external display switching button 83 is pressed, the viewfinder mode is switched to the live view mode, and when the external display switching button 83 is pressed again, the live view mode is switched to the viewfinder mode.

  FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a digital camera according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same thing as FIG. The digital camera 10d includes an interchangeable lens 2, an imaging unit 40, a signal processing unit 50, a lens control unit 60, a display unit 70, an operation unit 80, an overall control unit 90, a half mirror driving unit 120, a finder switching unit 130, and a shutter control unit. 140, a finder use state detection unit 150, and the like.

  Since the digital camera 10d in the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 11 has substantially the same configuration as the digital camera 10c in the third embodiment shown in FIG.

  The operation unit 80 further includes an external display switching button 83 in addition to the lock switch 81, the release switch 82, the mode setting dial 6 and the EVF switching button 18, and these operation information is input to the overall control unit 90. Note that the digital camera 10d according to the fourth embodiment may not include the EVF switching button 18 for switching between the external display mode in which the moving image is displayed on the external display unit 19 and the finder display mode in which the finder unit 27 displays the moving image. Good.

  12 and 13 are flowcharts for explaining the operation of the digital camera 10d according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. Note that the processing in steps S91 to S98 in the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 is the same as the processing in steps S21 to S28 in the flowchart shown in FIG. 5, and thus the description thereof is omitted. In the following description, steps S61 to 81 are omitted. Only the process will be described.

  First, in step S <b> 61, the overall control unit 90 accepts a shooting mode setting by the mode setting dial 6. The photographer can switch between the still image shooting mode and the moving image shooting mode by operating the mode setting dial 6.

  Next, in step S <b> 62, the overall control unit 90 accepts an external display mode setting by the external display switching button 83. The external display mode includes a live view mode in which the external display unit 19 is used during standby for shooting still images and a finder mode in which an optical system finder is used during standby for shooting still images. The photographer can switch between the live view mode and the viewfinder mode by operating the external display switching button 83.

  Next, in step S63, the overall control unit 90 determines whether the accepted external display mode is the live view mode, that is, whether it is the live view mode or the finder mode. If it is determined that the mode is the live view mode (YES in step S63), the process proceeds to step S64. If it is determined that the mode is not the live view mode but the finder mode (NO in step S63), step S91 is performed. Migrate to

  If it is determined that the live view mode is selected, in step S64, the finder switching unit 130 is the first reflecting surface of the pentamirror 30 and guides the subject image formed on the focusing screen 29 to the eyepiece 31. From the position, the EVF display unit 32 is moved to a second position that is in the vicinity of the focusing screen 29 and guides the display image displayed by the liquid crystal display device 322 of the EVF display unit 32 to the eyepiece 31.

  Next, in step S <b> 65, the half mirror drive unit 120 drives the half mirror 28 and the sub mirror 36 to retract the half mirror 28 and the sub mirror 36 upward from the optical axis L of the interchangeable lens 2. Further, the shutter control unit 140 controls to open the shutter 38. When the half mirror 28 and the sub mirror 36 are retracted and the shutter 38 is opened, a subject image is formed on the imaging surface of the CCD 26.

  Next, in step S <b> 66, the overall control unit 90 controls the image capturing unit 40 and the signal processing unit 50 to capture image data captured by the CCD 26 into the image memory 56.

  Next, in step S <b> 67, the overall control unit 90 determines whether the photographer is in contact with the finder window 17. The eyepiece detection unit 152 detects whether or not the photographer is in contact with the finder window 17. When the photographer is in contact with the finder window 17, the eyepiece detection unit 152 outputs an eyepiece detection signal to the overall control unit 90. When the eyepiece detection signal is input, the overall control unit 90 determines that the photographer is in contact with the finder window 17. If it is determined that the photographer is in contact with the viewfinder window 17 (YES in step S67), the process proceeds to step S68. If it is determined that the photographer does not have an eye on the finder window 17 (NO in step S67), the process proceeds to step S70.

  When it is determined that the photographer is in contact with the viewfinder window 17, in step S68, the overall control unit 90 determines whether the photographer is holding the grip unit 4 of the camera body 1. The grip detection unit 151 detects whether or not the photographer is holding the grip part 4 of the camera body 1. When the photographer is holding the grip part 4 of the camera body 1, the grip detection signal is totally controlled. Output to the unit 90. When the grip holding signal is input, the overall control unit 90 determines that the photographer is holding the grip unit 4 of the camera body 1. If it is determined that the photographer is holding the grip 4 of the camera body 1 (YES in step S68), the process proceeds to step S69. If it is determined that the photographer does not hold the grip portion 4 of the camera body 1 (NO in step S68), the process proceeds to step S70.

  If it is determined that the photographer is in contact with the viewfinder window 17 and it is determined that the photographer is holding the grip portion 4 of the camera body 1, in step S69, the overall control unit 90 displays the live view image. Is displayed on the liquid crystal display device 322 of the EVF display unit 32, and the liquid crystal display device 322 displays a live view image.

  When it is determined that the photographer does not have an eye on the finder window 17 or when it is determined that the photographer does not hold the grip portion 4 of the camera body 1, in step S <b> 70, the overall control unit 90 performs live Control is performed so that the view image is displayed on the external display unit 19, and the external display unit 19 displays the live view image.

  Next, in step S71, the overall control unit 90 detects the contrast of the video signal output by the CCD 26, and performs focus adjustment by a video AF (contrast) method in which the focus lens of the interchangeable lens 2 is moved in the direction in which the contrast increases. Do.

  Next, in step S72, the overall control unit 90 determines whether or not the release button 7 has been fully pressed, that is, whether or not an on signal has been input from the release switch 82. If it is determined that the release button 7 has been fully pressed (YES in step S72), the process proceeds to step S73. If it is determined that the release button 7 has not been fully pressed (NO in step S72), step S73 is performed. Returning to S71, focus adjustment is performed.

  When the release button 7 is fully pressed, in step S73, the overall control unit 90 determines whether or not the accepted shooting mode is the still image shooting mode, that is, the still image shooting mode or the moving image shooting mode. Determine if there is. If it is determined that the still image shooting mode is selected (YES in step S73), the process proceeds to step S74. If it is determined that the moving image shooting mode is selected instead of the still image shooting mode (NO in step S73). The process proceeds to step S76.

  When it is determined that the still image shooting mode is set, in step S74, the overall control unit 90 starts exposure by the CCD 26 and executes still image shooting for a time corresponding to the exposure control value. That is, the overall control unit 90 outputs the image data stored in the image memory 56 to the memory card 94 via the card I / F 93 for a time corresponding to the exposure control value. Next, in step S75, the memory card 94 records a still image by recording image data.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the mode is not the still image shooting mode but the moving image shooting mode, in step S76, the overall control unit 90 starts exposure by the CCD 26 and executes moving image shooting. That is, the overall control unit 90 sequentially outputs image data for each frame stored in the image memory 56 to the memory card 94 via the card I / F 93. Next, in step S77, the memory card 94 records moving images by sequentially recording image data for each frame.

  Next, in step S78, the overall control unit 90 determines whether or not the release button 7 has been fully pressed, that is, whether or not an ON signal has been input from the release switch 82. If it is determined that the release button 7 has been fully pressed (YES in step S78), the process proceeds to step S79. If it is determined that the release button 7 has not been fully pressed (NO in step S78), step S79 is performed. Returning to S76, moving image shooting is continued.

  Next, in step S79, the overall control unit 90 determines whether or not to end the display of the live view image. That is, the overall control unit 90 determines whether to end or continue to display the live view image by determining whether or not the external display switching button 83 is pressed. If it is determined that the display of the live view image is to be ended (YES in step S79), the live view mode is switched to the finder mode, and the process proceeds to step S80. When it is determined not to end the display of the live view image (NO in step S79), the process returns to step S66, the image data captured by the CCD 26 is taken into the image memory 56, and the live view display is continuously performed.

  If it is determined that the display of the live view image is to be terminated, in step 80, the half mirror drive unit 120 drives the half mirror 28 and the sub mirror 36, and places the half mirror 28 and the sub mirror 36 on the optical axis L of the interchangeable lens 2. Move. In addition, the shutter control unit 140 controls to close the shutter 38.

  Next, in step S <b> 81, the finder switching unit 130 is located near the focusing screen 29, and starts from the second position for guiding the display image displayed by the liquid crystal display device 322 of the EVF display unit 32 to the eyepiece 31. The EVF display unit 32 is moved to a first position that is a final reflection surface and leads a subject image formed on the focusing screen 29 to the eyepiece 31. As described above, moving image shooting by the digital camera 10d is performed.

  In the present embodiment, the setting of the shooting mode is accepted before the setting of the external display mode in step S62. However, the present invention is not particularly limited to this, and may be between step S62 and step S72. Any timing may be used.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the finder usage state detection unit 150 includes the grip detection unit 151 and the eyepiece detection unit 152, but the present invention is not particularly limited thereto, and the finder usage state detection unit 150 is gripped. You may comprise only the detection part 151. In this case, the process of step S67 shown in FIG. 12 is omitted, and whether or not the photographer is holding the grip part 4 of the camera body 1 is detected in step S68. If it is detected that the photographer holds the grip part 4 of the camera body 1, the live view image is displayed by the EVF display part 32 in step S <b> 69, and the photographer holds the grip part 4 of the camera body 1. When it is detected that the image is not held, the live display image is displayed by the external display unit 19 in step S70. Similarly, the finder usage state detection unit 150 may include only the eyepiece detection unit 152. In this case, the process of step S68 shown in FIG. 12 is omitted, and it is detected in step S67 whether or not the photographer is in contact with the finder window 17. If it is detected that the photographer is in contact with the finder window 17, the live view image is displayed by the EVF display unit 32 in step S <b> 69, and it is detected that the photographer is not in contact with the finder window 17. In step S70, the external display unit 19 displays a live view image.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the finder usage state detection unit 150 determines whether to display the live view image on the external display unit 19 or the EVF display unit 32. However, the present invention is particularly limited to this. Alternatively, the display mode setting by the EVF switching button 18 may be received, and it may be determined whether to display the live view image on the external display unit 19 or the EVF display unit 32.

  In this way, the live view mode in which the external display unit 19 is used during standby for still image shooting and the finder mode in which the finder unit functions as an optical system finder during standby for still image shooting can be switched, and the user's finder can be switched. The usage status is detected. Then, when the mode is switched to the live view mode and the finder use state is detected, the mode is switched to the first display mode in which the image captured by the CCD 26 is displayed by the liquid crystal display device 322 of the EVF display unit 32. In addition, when the mode is switched to the live view mode and the finder usage state is not detected, the mode is switched to the second display mode in which the image captured by the CCD 26 is displayed by the external display unit 19.

  Therefore, in the live view mode in which the external display unit 19 is used during standby for shooting a still image, when the photographer is using the finder, the finder uses the liquid crystal display device 322 of the EVF display unit 32 to display the finder. When not being used, the display can be automatically switched according to the photographing posture of the photographer by displaying using the external display unit 19.

  Further, at least one of the eyepiece state of the user on the finder window 17 and the holding state of the grip portion 4 of the camera body 1 is detected, and the user's finder usage state is determined based on the detection result of at least one of them. Detected. Therefore, by detecting at least one of the eyepiece state of the user in the finder window 17 and the holding state of the grip portion 4 of the camera body 1, the user's finder usage state can be detected and used. It is possible to reliably detect whether a person is looking through the finder window 17 or looking at the external display unit 19.

It is a figure for demonstrating the digital camera which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is side surface sectional drawing which shows the internal structure of the digital camera which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating an EVF display part. 1 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a digital camera according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the digital camera according to the present invention. It is side surface sectional drawing which shows the internal structure of the digital camera which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the digital camera which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the electric constitution of the digital camera which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement of the digital camera in the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the digital camera which concerns on the 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the electric constitution of the digital camera which concerns on the 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement of the digital camera in the 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement of the digital camera in the 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the conventional digital camera.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Camera body 2 Interchangeable lens 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d Digital camera 17 Finder window 19 External display part 26 Color imaging device 27 Finder part 28 Half mirror 29 Focus plate 30 Penta mirror 31 Eyepiece 32 EVF display part 34 Fixed mirror 35 Movement Mechanism 36 Sub mirror 37 Focus detection unit 38 Shutter 322 Liquid crystal display device 323 Movable mirror

Claims (9)

An imaging unit that captures a subject image formed by the imaging lens, a reflector that reflects the subject image that has passed through the imaging lens and forms an image on the focusing screen, and an object image that is imaged on the focusing plate A digital camera comprising a finder unit that guides the eyepiece to the eyepiece unit,
The finder part is
A display unit for displaying an image captured by the imaging unit;
The display unit is moved to a first position for guiding the subject image formed on the focusing screen from the focusing screen to the eyepiece, and the display image displayed by the display is guided to the eyepiece. A digital camera comprising: a moving mechanism that moves the display unit to a second position. The finder unit includes a pentamirror that guides a subject image formed on the focusing screen to an eyepiece unit,
The display unit has a reflective surface on the back surface of the display surface,
The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein when the display unit is moved to the first position by the moving mechanism, the reflective surface becomes a final reflective surface of the pentamirror. The finder unit includes a relay optical system that guides a subject image formed on the focusing screen to an eyepiece unit,
The display unit has a reflective surface on the back surface of the display surface,
The moving mechanism reflects the subject image formed on the focusing screen by the reflecting surface, moves the display unit to a first position that leads to the relay optical system, and is in the vicinity of the focusing screen. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein the display unit is moved to a second position for guiding a display image displayed by the display unit to the relay optical system. An external display unit arranged on the back of the digital camera body and displaying an image captured by the imaging unit;
The display mode switching unit for switching between a first display mode in which the image is displayed by the display unit and a second display mode in which the image is displayed by the external display unit is further provided. A digital camera according to any one of the above. A shooting mode switching unit that switches between a still image shooting mode for shooting still images and a moving image shooting mode for shooting moving images;
5. The digital camera according to claim 4, wherein the display mode switching unit switches to the first display mode when the shooting mode switching unit switches to the moving image shooting mode. A shooting mode switching unit for switching between a still image shooting mode for shooting still images and a moving image shooting mode for shooting moving images;
A finder usage state detection unit for detecting a user's finder usage state;
The display mode switching unit switches to the first display mode when the shooting mode switching unit switches to the moving image shooting mode and the finder usage state detection unit detects the finder usage state. 5. The digital camera according to claim 4, wherein when the switching unit is switched to the moving image shooting mode and the finder usage state detection unit has not detected the finder usage state, the digital camera switches to the second display mode.   The finder use state detection unit is provided in the vicinity of the finder window, and is at least one of an eyepiece detection unit that detects an eyepiece state of the finder window and a holding state detection unit that detects a holding state of a grip portion of the camera body. The digital camera according to claim 6, further comprising: detecting a user's viewfinder use state based on a detection result of at least one of the eyepiece detection unit and the holding state detection unit. An external display switching unit that switches between a live view mode that uses an external display unit during standby for still image shooting and a finder mode that uses an optical viewfinder during standby for shooting still images;
A finder usage state detection unit for detecting a user's finder usage state;
The display mode switching unit switches to the first display mode when the external display switching unit is switched to the live view mode and the finder usage state detection unit detects the finder usage state, and the external display 5. The digital camera according to claim 4, wherein when the switching unit is switched to a live view mode and the finder usage state detection unit has not detected the finder usage state, the digital camera switches to the second display mode.   The finder use state detection unit is provided in the vicinity of the finder window, and is at least one of an eyepiece detection unit that detects an eyepiece state of the finder window and a holding state detection unit that detects a holding state of a grip portion of the camera body. The digital camera according to claim 8, further comprising: detecting a user's finder use state based on a detection result of at least one of the eyepiece detection unit and the holding state detection unit.

Images