JP2008209760A - Photographing method and photographing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent an error that a properly exposed image can not be obtained at all. <P>SOLUTION: When a release button is half-depressed, object luminance of one image plane detected for every small area is transmitted to a CPU from an AE/AWB detection part based on an imaging signal of a field image read out from a CCD. The CPU performs exposure arithmetic processing by weighting of each important averaged photometry of a center part, a left lower part, a right lower part, a left upper part and a right upper part, and calculates each proper exposure value. By applying each proper exposure value to a program for a frame image, electronic shutter speed, photographing sensitivity and a diaphragm value are obtained. When the release button is fully depressed, the imaging signal of the frame image is read out from the CCD, and stored in an internal memory through various kinds of processing. Then, photography is successively performed based on the proper exposure value calculated by weighting of each important averaged photometry of the left lower part, the right lower part, the left upper part and the right upper part. Five image data stored in the internal memory are stored in a memory card after they are compressed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a photographing method and a photographing apparatus, and more particularly to a photographing method and a photographing apparatus for continuously photographing a plurality of frames.

  As a photographing apparatus, a digital camera for photographing an image using an image pickup device such as a CCD or a CMOS image sensor, a mobile phone with a camera, and the like are widespread in addition to a silver salt camera using a photographic film. In such a photographing apparatus, it is difficult to obtain an image with proper exposure by normal exposure control. For example, in a photographing environment at the time of backlighting, a plurality of images (generally, changing the exposure stepwise) There is a camera having an auto bracketing (AEB) photographing function for photographing three images.

  In such a photographing apparatus having an AEB photographing function, photographing is performed by changing the metering method for each frame of the film by one release operation, and the first frame is photographed based on the spot metering photometric value. A camera is known that sequentially performs shooting based on a photometric value subjected to center-weighted metering for the top frame, and shooting based on a photometric value averaged for the third frame (for example, Patent Document 1).

  Further, the object scene is divided into a plurality of areas, and the brightness of each area is measured, so that the maximum brightness and the minimum brightness of the photometry results are within the exposure range (including the film latitude) in AEB shooting. A camera that determines the exposure amount during AEB shooting is known (for example, Patent Document 2).

Also, the backlight is judged by comparing the brightness of the area where the main subject exists on the shooting screen with the average brightness of the shooting screen, and the main subject is shot with the correct exposure without being influenced by the composition by performing daytime synchro shooting. A known camera exposure control system is known (for example, Patent Document 3).
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 07-140509 JP 2000-75342 A JP 2004-4449 A

  Although the AEB shooting as described above is very convenient, metering is performed in the center of the shooting screen in both the center-weighted average metering and spot metering. Therefore, in a scene where the main subject is not in the center of the shooting screen, even if AEB shooting is performed, a failure may occur in which no image with proper exposure has been shot.

  Also, during daytime synchro shooting as described above, the flash cannot be charged in time, so continuous shooting is not possible. Therefore, there is a drawback that it is vulnerable to a photo opportunity.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems, and provides a photographing method and a photographing apparatus capable of preventing such a mistake that an image with proper exposure cannot be obtained at a photo opportunity. For the purpose.

  The photographing method of the present invention performs a plurality of times of photometry by sequentially changing the position of a predetermined area as a photometric center of the photographing screen by a single release operation, and a plurality of times based on the results of each photometry. This is characterized in that the shooting is continuously performed.

  The position of the predetermined area is selected based on the position of the main subject detected. The position of the predetermined area is selected from an area where the luminance in the shooting screen is lower or higher than a predetermined threshold.

  The position of the predetermined area is indicated by a predetermined mark displayed on a display screen for displaying the photographing screen. It is characterized in that either one of the photographing can be selected after the completion of all the photometry, or can be performed every time the photometry is performed.

  If it is necessary to move the aperture constituting the photographic optical system as a result of the multiple times of photometry, after taking the image at least once without moving the aperture, after moving the aperture based on the photometric result The plurality of times of photometry are performed again. The metering is characterized by weighted average metering in which the predetermined area is weighted and averaged over the entire area of the photographing screen, or spot metering in which only the predetermined area is metered.

  The photographing apparatus of the present invention is obtained by a photometric means for performing photometry a plurality of times by sequentially changing the position of a predetermined area as the photometric center of the photographing screen in response to one release operation, and the photometric means. And a photographing control means for continuously photographing a plurality of times based on the photometric result.

  Detection means for detecting the position of the main subject in the photographing screen is provided, and the photometry means determines the position of the predetermined area based on the position of the main subject detected by the detection means, and performs photometry. It is characterized by.

  There is provided a specifying means for specifying to select a position of the predetermined area from an area where the luminance in the photographing screen is lower or higher than a predetermined threshold.

  Mark display means for displaying a predetermined mark indicating the position of the predetermined area on a display screen for displaying the photographing screen is provided.

  It is characterized in that there is provided a selection means for selecting either one of all the photometry after completion of each photometry, or one for each photometry.

  If it is necessary to move the aperture constituting the imaging optical system as a result of the multiple times of photometry, the imaging unit performs at least one imaging without moving the aperture, and then the aperture is adjusted based on the result of the photometry. After the movement, the photometric means repeats the photometry a plurality of times.

  The metering by the metering means is weighted average metering in which the predetermined area is weighted to perform average metering over the entire area of the photographing screen, or spot metering in which only the predetermined area is metered.

  According to the photographing method and the photographing apparatus of the present invention, the position of the area to be metered by one release operation is sequentially changed to perform a plurality of times of metering, and a plurality of times of photographing are continuously performed based on the result of each metering. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a mistake that an image with proper exposure cannot be obtained at a photo opportunity.

  Since the main subject is detected and metered at that position, the main subject can be photographed with accurate brightness. Since the position for photometry is selected in an area where the luminance in the shooting screen is lower or higher than a predetermined threshold, it is possible to select whether to shoot mainly in a dark area or in a bright area.

  Since the position for metering is indicated by a predetermined mark displayed on the display screen, the subject to be metered can be known in advance.

  You can choose between taking a photo after completing each photometry or taking a photo every time you perform each photometry, so the time from the release operation to the completion of all the photos You can choose whether to take a short shot or to take a more accurate exposure by reducing the time difference between metering and shooting.

  As a result of photometry, when it is necessary to move the aperture constituting the imaging optical system, after taking an image, the aperture that takes time to drive is moved to perform photometry again, so there is no possibility of missing a photo opportunity.

  The metering is weighted average metering that averages the entire area of the shooting screen with weighting to a predetermined area or spot metering that limits only a predetermined area, so that the shutter can be used without greatly changing the conventional apparatus. It is possible to prevent mistakes such that an image with proper exposure cannot be obtained at all.

  In FIG. 1 showing the digital camera 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, a lens barrel 12 for holding a photographing lens 11 is provided on the front surface of the digital camera 10. On the top surface of the digital camera 10, a release button 13, a power switch 14, and a mode dial 15 are provided. Further, a memory card slot (not shown) in which a memory card 48 (see FIG. 3) is detachably loaded is provided on the side surface, and the lid 16 covers the memory card slot.

  The mode dial 15 is rotated so that a still image shooting mode for taking a still image, a focus area bracketing shooting mode according to the present invention, a moving image shooting mode for moving image shooting, and a captured image on the LCD 17 (FIG. 2). Select one of the playback mode to be displayed and the setting mode for performing various settings.

  In the focus area bracketing shooting mode, the position of the focus area of the weighted average metering on the shooting screen is changed to 5 locations in the center, lower left, lower right, upper left, and upper right in one release operation. After calculating the appropriate exposure value based on the result, photographing is continuously performed based on each appropriate exposure value. As a result, it is possible to prevent such a mistake that an image with proper exposure cannot be obtained at a photo opportunity.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a finder eyepiece window 18 and an operation unit 19 constituting an electronic viewfinder are provided on the back of the digital camera 10 in addition to the LCD 17. The LCD 17 displays a through image and is used as an electronic viewfinder, displays an image in a playback mode, and displays various menu screens.

  The operation unit 19 is used to move the zoom lens 20 of the photographic lens 11 to the wide-angle side and the telephoto side in addition to the mode dial 15, when displaying a menu screen on the LCD 17, or when selecting a selection. It comprises a menu button 21 to be operated, a cross key 22 for moving the cursor in the menu screen, and the like.

  In FIG. 3 showing the electrical configuration of the digital camera 10, the switch unit 13 a includes release switches S <b> 1 and S <b> 2 that are turned on / off in conjunction with the pressing of the release button 13. The release switch S1 is turned on when the release button 13 is half-pressed, and the release switch S2 is turned on when the release button 13 is fully pressed. The on / off signals of the release switches S1, S2 are sent to the CPU 25.

  The CPU 25 controls each unit based on various signals from the switch unit 13 a and the operation unit 19. The CPU 25 is connected to a ROM 25a and a RAM 25b. In the ROM 25a, programs for executing various sequences, programs corresponding to various program diagrams for determining combinations of shutter speeds, aperture values, and photographing sensitivities, and the like are written. To control. The RAM 25b is used as a work memory that temporarily stores data necessary for executing a shooting sequence or the like.

  The photographing lens 11 includes a zoom mechanism 27, a focus mechanism 28, and an aperture device 29. In response to the zoom operation of the operation unit 19, the zoom mechanism 27 performs zooming by moving the variable power lens constituting the photographing lens 11. The focus mechanism 28 moves the focus lens 28a to perform focusing. The diaphragm device 29 adjusts the light intensity of subject light incident on a CCD image sensor (hereinafter simply referred to as a CCD) 30 by adjusting a diaphragm (diaphragm aperture diameter) 29a.

  The zoom mechanism 27, the focus mechanism 28, and the aperture device 29 are controlled by the CPU 25 via corresponding drivers 31 to 33.

  The CCD 30 is disposed behind the photographing lens 11, and subject light transmitted through the photographing lens 11 enters the light receiving surface of the CCD 30. The CCD 30 is provided with a large number of light receiving portions on its light receiving surface, is driven by various drive signals from a timing generator (TG) 35, converts the subject image exposed by each light receiving portion into an analog photographing signal and outputs it. To do. As the image sensor, a CMOS image sensor can be used in addition to the CCD 30.

  The CCD 30 is driven by a drive signal from the TG 35. When a through image is displayed or an appropriate exposure value is calculated, an image signal of a field image (even field or odd field) is read from the CCD 30, and a frame image is read from the CCD 12 at the time of shooting. An imaging signal is read out.

  The CCD 30 has an electronic shutter function that adjusts the charge accumulation time by sweeping out and erasing charges accumulated so far by inputting an electronic shutter pulse from the TG 35, and adjusts the input period of the electronic shutter pulse. Thus, the electronic shutter speed can be adjusted.

  An imaging signal from the CCD 30 is sent to the analog signal processing unit 36. The analog signal processing unit 36 includes a CDS circuit 36a, an AMP circuit 36b, and an A / D converter 36c, and operates in synchronization with the charge reading operation of the CCD 30 by receiving a synchronization pulse from the TG 35. .

  The CDS circuit 36a removes noise from the photographic signal by performing correlated double sampling. The AMP circuit 36b amplifies the photographing signal with a gain corresponding to the photographing sensitivity set by the CPU 25. The A / D converter 36c digitally converts the photographic signal from the AMP circuit 36b and outputs it as image data.

  Image data from the A / D converter 36 c is sent to the image input controller 37. The image input controller 37 controls input of image data to the bus 38. In addition to the CPU 25, an image processing unit 40, compression / decompression processing unit 41, AF detection unit 42, AE / AWB detection unit 43, media controller 44, internal memory 45, and LCD driver 46 are connected to the bus 38. These units are controlled by the CPU 25 via the bus 38 and can exchange data with each other.

  The image processing unit 40 performs image processing such as γ correction and white balance correction on the image data. The compression / decompression processing unit 41 performs data compression on the image data from the image processing unit 40 in, for example, the JPEG format. The compression / decompression processing unit 41 decompresses the compressed image data read from the memory card 48 in the reproduction mode.

  The AF detection unit 42 detects the contrast of the image being captured using the image data output from the image input controller 37 for focusing the photographing lens 11, and sends the contrast information to the CPU 25. The CPU 25 refers to the contrast information and drives the focus mechanism 28 via the driver 32 so that the contrast of the image being shot is maximized.

  Based on the image data from the image input controller 37, the AE / AWB detection unit 43 detects the subject brightness and the type of light source, and sends them to the CPU 25. The CPU 25 sets the white balance parameter of the image processing unit 40 based on the type of light source.

  As will be described later, the AE / AWB detection unit 43 divides the shooting screen into a plurality of small areas, detects subject brightness for each of the small areas, and sends the subject brightness to the CPU 25. The CPU 25 calculates the exposure value using the subject luminance from the AE / AWB detection unit 43.

  The CPU 25 converts the exposure value when displaying the through image into a combination of the aperture value, shutter speed, and shooting sensitivity according to the through image program, and the exposure value when shooting is determined according to the shooting program. Convert to a combination of

  The media controller 44 controls writing and reading of data in the memory card 48. The image data to be recorded is processed by the image processing unit 40 and compression / decompression processing unit 41, sent to the media controller 44, and written in the memory card 48. At the time of reproduction, the image data recorded on the memory card 48 is read out by the media controller 44, sent to the compression / decompression processing unit 41 and decompressed, and then sent to the internal memory 45.

  The internal memory 45 is, for example, an SDRAM capable of high-speed reading and writing. The internal memory 45 is used for temporarily writing image data of a field image (through image) to be displayed on the LCD 43 and image data of a frame image to be recorded on the memory card 48.

  The LCD driver 46 reads the image data from the internal memory 45 in synchronization with the vertical synchronizing signal for reproduction during the through image display and the reproduction mode, and drives the LCD 43 based on the image data. As a result, the through image and the image read from the memory card 48 by the CCD 30 are displayed on the LCD 43.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the AE / AWB detection unit 43 divides the shooting screen 50 into n (in this embodiment, 64) small areas 51 and detects subject luminance for each of the small areas 51. The data is output to the CPU 25 via the bus 38. The numbers written in each small area 51 represent “weight” when calculating the appropriate exposure value.

  The CPU 25 performs exposure calculation processing with weighting the subject luminance for each small region 51, and calculates an appropriate exposure value. The appropriate exposure value is E, the subject brightness for each small area 51 is Di (i = 1, 2,... N), and the weight for each small area 51 is Wi (i = 1, 2,... N). Sometimes, the appropriate exposure value E is calculated by the following mathematical formula (1).

  The weighting shown in FIG. 4 performs so-called center-weighted average metering in which the weighting factor near the center of the shooting screen 50 is increased in consideration of the fact that the main subject often comes near the center of the shooting screen 50. . The center-weighted average metering is used in the normal still image shooting mode and the first metering in the focus area bracketing shooting mode.

  In the focus area bracketing photographing mode, after the center-weighted average metering, the lower left-weighted average metering is performed according to the weighting shown in FIG. 5, the lower-right weighted average metering is performed according to the weighting shown in FIG. Upper right-weighted average metering is sequentially performed by metering and weighting shown in FIG. This order is not limited to this embodiment, and can be set arbitrarily.

  Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG. The power switch 14 is pressed to turn on the power of the digital camera 10 to select the priority area bracketing shooting mode. Immediately after the power of the digital camera 10 is turned on, a through image is displayed on the finder eyepiece window 18 and the LCD 17.

  After observing the through image displayed on the viewfinder eyepiece window 18 or the LCD 17 and performing framing, the release button 13 is pressed halfway (st1). When the ON signal of the release switch S1 is input to the CPU 25, the image signal of the field image read from the CCD 30 is imaged via the CDS circuit 36a, the AMP circuit 36b, and the A / D converter 36c of the analog signal processing unit 36. After being converted to data, it is sent to the image input controller 37. The image input controller 37 sends the image data to the image processing unit 40, the AF detection unit 42, the AE / AWB detection unit 43, and the internal memory 45 via the bus 38.

  Contrast information based on the image data from the AF detection unit 42 is sent to the CPU 25, and the focus mechanism 28 is controlled by the CPU 25 to adjust the focus to the framed subject. This focus adjustment is performed at any time, so even if the shooting distance to the subject changes, the focus is adjusted following the change (continuous auto focus (CAF) function). The AE / AWB detection unit 43 sends the subject brightness for one screen detected for each small area 51 and the type of light source to the CPU 25 (st2).

  Based on the subject luminance for one screen detected for each small area 51, the CPU 25 performs exposure calculation processing with weighting of center-weighted average photometry (see FIG. 4), and calculates an appropriate exposure value (st3). Similarly, each of the lower left weighted average metering (see FIG. 5), the lower right weighted average metering (see FIG. 6), the upper left weighted average metering (see FIG. 7), and the upper right weighted average metering (see FIG. 8). Exposure calculation processing is performed, and appropriate exposure values are calculated (st4 to 7). Then, by applying each appropriate exposure value to the frame image program, an electronic shutter speed, a photographing sensitivity, and an aperture value corresponding to each photometric result are obtained.

  When the release button 13 is fully pressed (st8), an on signal of the release switch S2 is input to the CPU 25. The CPU 25 sets the electronic shutter speed obtained from the appropriate exposure value calculated by the weighting of the center-weighted average metering to the TG 35 and the photographing sensitivity to the AMP circuit 36b, and also via the driver 33 so as to obtain the aperture value. Then, the diaphragm device 29 is controlled. On the other hand, the CPU 25 specifies the type of the light source based on the type of the light source, and sets a white balance parameter corresponding to the light source in the image processing unit 40.

  A frame image pickup signal is read out from the CCD 30, converted into image data by the analog signal processing unit 36, and then sent to the image processing unit 40 by the image input controller 37. Here, the image data subjected to image processing such as γ correction and white balance correction is temporarily stored in the internal memory 45. Note that “shooting” shown in the flowchart refers to a period from when the release button 13 is fully pressed (release operation) until image data is stored in the internal memory 45 or the memory card 48.

  Subsequently, photographing is performed with the electronic shutter speed, the photographing sensitivity, and the aperture value obtained from the appropriate exposure value calculated by the weighting of the lower left weighted average metering (st10). Subsequently, photographing is performed at each of the electronic shutter speed, the photographing sensitivity, and the aperture value obtained from the appropriate exposure values calculated by the weighting of the lower right weighted average metering, the upper left weighted average metering, and the upper right weighted average metering ( st11-13).

  Thereafter, the five pieces of image data stored in the internal memory 45 are respectively sent to the compression / decompression processing unit 41 for compression processing, and then recorded on the memory card 48 by the media controller 44 (st14).

  As described above, according to this embodiment, since the focus area of the weighted average metering on the shooting screen 50 is changed to five in one release operation, continuous shooting is performed. You can definitely get it.

  Next, a second embodiment will be described. In the first embodiment, shooting is performed after all the appropriate exposure values by the five types of weighting are calculated. However, in this embodiment, the shooting is performed every time the appropriate exposure value by one type of weighting is calculated. Hereinafter, a description will be given with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The electrical configuration of each embodiment described below is the same as that of the first embodiment. The description of the same contents as those in the first embodiment is simplified or omitted.

  The release button 13 is pressed halfway (st21), and then the release button 13 is fully pressed (st22). An image signal of the field image read from the CCD 30 is converted into image data by the analog signal processing unit 36 and then input to the image input controller 37. The image input controller 37 sends the image data to the image processing unit 40, the AF detection unit 42, the AE / AWB detection unit 43, and the internal memory 45 via the bus 38.

  The contrast information is sent from the AF detection unit 42 to the CPU 25, and the focus is adjusted. The AE / AWB detection unit 43 sends the subject luminance for one screen detected for each small area 51 and the type of light source to the CPU 25 (st23).

  Based on the subject luminance for one screen detected for each small area 51, the CPU 25 performs exposure calculation processing with weighting of center-weighted average photometry, and calculates an appropriate exposure value (st24). Based on the appropriate exposure value, the electronic shutter speed, the photographing sensitivity, and the aperture value are obtained, and the photographing is performed by this (st25).

  Subsequently, the field image pickup signal is read from the CCD 30, and the subject luminance for one screen detected for each small area 51 is read by the CPU 25 from the AE / AWB detection unit 43 in the same manner as described above (st26). Then, the exposure calculation process is performed with the weighting of the lower left weighted average metering (st27). Based on the obtained proper exposure value, the electronic shutter speed, the photographing sensitivity, and the aperture value are obtained, respectively, and photographing is performed (st28).

  Hereinafter, similarly, exposure calculation processing is performed with weighting of lower right-weighted average metering, upper left-weighted average metering, and upper-right weighted average metering, and shooting is performed based on the obtained appropriate exposure values ( st29-37). Thereafter, the five pieces of image data stored in the internal memory 45 are respectively sent to the compression / decompression processing unit 41 for compression processing and then recorded on the memory card 48 by the media controller 44 (st38).

  In this embodiment, since the light is measured every five shots, it takes more time from the release operation until the shooting is completed than in the first embodiment, but more accurate exposure image data is obtained. be able to. The image data obtained by each photographing is once recorded in the internal memory 45 having a high writing speed, but may be stored in the memory card 48 each time. Further, it is preferable that the priority area bracketing shooting modes of the first and second embodiments be switched at any time by the mode dial 15 or the like with one digital camera 10.

  In the present embodiment, among the five priority areas, only the priority areas whose luminance is lower than a predetermined threshold or only the priority areas whose luminance is higher than a predetermined threshold may be selected and photographed. In this case, the operation unit 19 is operated to specify a threshold value and whether to select a lower area or a higher area. As a result, from the appropriate exposure values calculated for all of the five types of weighting, only the appropriate exposure value that matches the specified condition is selected for shooting.

  In the first and second embodiments, all of the five types of weighting are photographed. However, among the five types, for example, two types of lower left and lower right weighted average metering may be manually selected for photographing. . As shown in FIG. 11, the center of each important area is displayed by, for example, a gray mark 56 on the finder eyepiece window 18 or the finder screen 55 of the LCD 17, and when the user operates the operation unit 19 to select the important area. The corresponding mark 56 is lit red, for example. When shooting is finished, the mark 56 that has been lit red returns to the original gray. Of course, the color of the mark 56 is not limited to gray or red.

  Next, a third embodiment will be described. The present embodiment is a digital camera having a subject-following continuous shooting mode that performs continuous shooting of a plurality of frames while calculating an appropriate exposure value following a main subject. Hereinafter, a description will be given with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  When the release button 13 is half-pressed (st41) and then the release button 13 is fully pressed (st42), the image signal (st43) of the field image read from the CCD 30 is analog signal processed as in the second embodiment. The image data is converted into image data by the unit 36 and then input to the image input controller 37. The image input controller 37 sends the image data to the image processing unit 40, the AF detection unit 42, the AE / AWB detection unit 43, and the internal memory 45 via the bus 38.

  The contrast information is sent from the AF detection unit 42 to the CPU 25, and the focus is adjusted. The CPU 25 regards the subject focused by the continuous auto focus (CAF) function of the AF detection unit 42 as the main subject (st44), and the movement of the main subject 57 on the finder screen 55 as shown in FIG. The mark 58 that follows is displayed (st45). If the main subject 57 is not detected, the mark 58 is not displayed (st49), and the process ends without performing the photographing (st50).

  The AE / AWB detection unit 43 sends the subject luminance for one screen detected for each small area 51 to the CPU 25 (st46). As shown in FIG. 14, the CPU 25 performs exposure calculation processing by assigning a weight of spot metering to the small area 51 of the shooting screen 50 corresponding to the position of the mark 58 on the finder screen 55 to obtain an appropriate exposure value (st47). ). Photographing is performed based on the appropriate exposure value, and the obtained image data is stored in the internal memory 45 (st48).

  The main subject 57 that was in the lower right portion of the finder screen 55 at the beginning of shooting has reached, for example, a position 57a at the lower center of the finder screen 55 when the first shooting is finished. As long as the main subject 57 is in the viewfinder screen 55, photographing is continuously performed, and thus Steps 43 to 48 (st43 to 48) are repeatedly executed (see FIG. 15).

  When the main subject 57 is removed from the viewfinder screen 55 after the last shooting (see FIG. 16) when the main subject 57 is at the lower left position 57b of the finder screen 55, the main subject 57 is not detected by the AF detection unit 42. The mark 58 disappears from the viewfinder screen 55 (st49).

  At the same time, the image data (three in this embodiment) stored in the internal memory 45 are sent to the compression / decompression processing unit 41 and compressed, and then recorded on the memory card 48 by the media controller 44. (St51).

  Next, a fourth embodiment will be described. In the first embodiment, it may be necessary to drive the diaphragm 29 to move the diaphragm 29a. Since it takes time to drive the aperture device 29, it is easy to miss a photo opportunity.

  Therefore, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 17, as a result of calculating the appropriate exposure values by sequentially changing the weighting positions to 5 positions (st3 to 7), it is necessary to drive the diaphragm device 29 (st55). First, for example, the electronic shutter speed and photographing sensitivity corresponding to the photometric result of center-weighted average photometry are set without driving the diaphragm device 29. The electronic shutter speed and shooting sensitivity are values that are accompanied by a decrease in image quality, such as a very low shooting sensitivity, for example, because the diaphragm 29a that should be moved is not moved.

  The image signal of the frame image is read from the CCD 30, and the weighted processing of the center-weighted average metering is performed on the imaged signal, the image data is converted into the analog signal processing unit 36, the various image processings in the image processing unit 40, and the compression / decompression processing unit 41 After the compression process is performed, the data is written in the internal memory 45 having a high writing speed (st56). Thereby, even if the image quality is lowered, an image of the subject can be secured without missing a photo opportunity.

  Thereafter, the diaphragm device 29 is driven to move the diaphragm 29a based on the appropriate exposure value in steps 3 to 7 (st3 to 7) (st57), and then the process returns to step 2 (st2) to perform photometry again. . Hereinafter, since it is the same as that of 1st Embodiment, description is abbreviate | omitted. In this embodiment, the weighting for photographing without moving the stop 29a is the center-weighted average metering. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the lower left-weighted average metering and the lower right-weighted average metering are used. You may perform the weighting which took the average with.

  In the first, second, and fourth embodiments described above, five priority regions are set. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be, for example, three or seven locations. In addition, the calculation order of the appropriate exposure value is the center part → the lower left part → the lower right part → the upper left part → the upper right part, but the present invention is not limited to this, for example, the central part → the upper left part → the upper right part → the lower left part → It may be the lower right.

  Moreover, although the said 1st, 2nd, 4th embodiment employ | adopted the weighted average photometry, you may employ | adopt spot photometry as shown in 3rd Embodiment. Moreover, although the said 1st-4th embodiment was all a digital camera, a mobile telephone with a camera and PDA with a camera may be sufficient, and it is applicable also to a silver salt camera.

It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the digital camera which is 1st Embodiment of this invention from the front side. It is a top view which shows the external appearance of a digital camera from the back side. It is a block diagram which shows the electric constitution of a digital camera. It is explanatory drawing of the imaging | photography screen which shows the weighting of center part weighted average metering. It is explanatory drawing of the imaging | photography screen which shows weighting of a lower left important point average metering. It is explanatory drawing of the imaging | photography screen which shows the weighting of a lower right important point average metering. It is explanatory drawing of the imaging | photography screen which shows the weighting of upper left important point average metering. It is explanatory drawing of the imaging | photography screen which shows the weighting of upper right part weighted average photometry. It is a flowchart which shows the main sequences of 1st Embodiment which performs all photometry first. It is a flowchart which shows the main sequences of 2nd Embodiment which performs photometry every time of imaging | photography. It is explanatory drawing of the finder screen on which the mark which shows the center of each importance area | region was displayed. It is a flowchart which shows the main sequences of 3rd Embodiment which performs photometry and imaging | photography according to the position of a main to-be-photographed object. It is explanatory drawing of the finder screen where the mark which shows the main subject was displayed. It is explanatory drawing of the imaging | photography screen which shows the weighting of spot photometry corresponding to the position (lower right part) of the main subject. It is explanatory drawing of the imaging | photography screen which shows the weighting of spot photometry corresponding to the position (center lower part) of a main to-be-photographed object. It is explanatory drawing of the imaging | photography screen which shows the weighting of spot photometry corresponding to the position (lower left part) of the main subject. It is a flowchart which shows the main sequences of 4th Embodiment with a change of an aperture stop.

Explanation of symbols

10 Digital Camera 11 Shooting Lens 13 Release Button 15 Mode Dial 17 LCD
19 Operation unit 25 CPU
30 CCD
42 AF detector 43 AE / AWB detector 45 Internal memory 48 Memory card 50 Shooting screen 55 Viewfinder screen 56, 58 Mark 57 Main subject

Claims (14)

  With a single release operation, the position of a predetermined area as the photometric center of the shooting screen is sequentially changed to perform photometry a plurality of times, and based on the results of each photometry, a plurality of images are taken continuously. An imaging method characterized by the above.   The photographing method according to claim 1, wherein the position of the predetermined region is selected based on a position of a main subject detected.   The imaging method according to claim 1, wherein the position of the predetermined area is selected from an area where the luminance in the imaging screen is lower or higher than a predetermined threshold.   4. The photographing method according to claim 1, wherein the position of the predetermined area is indicated by a predetermined mark displayed on a display screen that displays the photographing screen.   5. The method according to claim 1, wherein either one of the photographing is performed collectively after completion of all the photometry or each time the photometry is performed. 5. Shooting method.   If it is necessary to move the aperture constituting the photographic optical system as a result of the multiple times of photometry, after taking the image at least once without moving the aperture, after moving the aperture based on the photometric result 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the photometry is repeated a plurality of times.   7. The metering according to claim 1, wherein the metering is weighted average metering for weighting the predetermined region to perform average metering over the entire region of the photographing screen or spot metering for metering only the predetermined region. Or the shooting method described. Photometric means for performing photometry a plurality of times by sequentially changing the position of a predetermined area as the photometric center of the photographing screen in response to one release operation;
An imaging apparatus comprising: an imaging unit that continuously performs multiple imaging based on a photometric result obtained by the photometric unit.   Detection means for detecting the position of the main subject in the photographing screen is provided, and the photometry means determines the position of the predetermined area based on the position of the main subject detected by the detection means, and performs photometry. The imaging device according to claim 8.   9. The photographing apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising designation means for designating to select a position of the predetermined area from an area where the luminance in the imaging screen is lower or higher than a predetermined threshold.   11. The photographing apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising mark display means for displaying a predetermined mark indicating a position of the predetermined area on a display screen for displaying the photographing screen.   9. A selection means is provided for selecting either one of all the photometry after completing each of the photometry, or performing the photo every time the photometry is performed. The photographing apparatus according to any one of 11 to 11.   If it is necessary to move the aperture constituting the imaging optical system as a result of the multiple times of photometry, the imaging unit performs at least one imaging without moving the aperture, and then the aperture is adjusted based on the result of the photometry. 13. The photographing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the photometric means performs a plurality of times of photometry after being moved.   9. The metering by the metering means is weighted average metering for weighting the predetermined region and performing average metering over the entire area of the photographing screen, or spot metering for metering only the predetermined region. 14. The photographing apparatus according to any one of 13 to 13.

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