JP2016111565A - Photographing apparatus, photographing method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make it possible to easily generate a time lapse moving image with less uncomfortable feeling without requiring excessive synthesizing processing or limitations in the number of pixels in any scene.SOLUTION: When a photographing apparatus is activated in a time lapse moving image photographing mode, a setting for photographing a still image corresponding to one frame of the time lapse moving image is made to be the same as a setting for a still image photographing mode. Then the ISO sensitivity range that can be set is set at the same range as in a case of a moving image photographing mode. After the setting for photographing a time lapse moving image is determined, the photographing apparatus is made to be in a state where a time lapse moving image can be photographed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  In particular, the present invention relates to an imaging apparatus, an imaging method, and a program suitable for use in connecting captured still image images to generate a moving image.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known a technique in an imaging apparatus that repeatedly captures still images with a predetermined interval and generates a moving image by joining the captured still image images. Such a technique is a technique generally called an interval moving picture or a time-lapse moving picture. Hereinafter, a moving image generated by such a technique is referred to as a time-lapse moving image. As a general mechanism of moving images, 30, 60, or more images are displayed continuously per second so that the subject is visually recognized as moving.

  By the way, noise is generated in capturing an image due to the characteristics of the image sensor. There are two types of noise, one is random noise that varies in shape and appearance location for each shooting, and the other is fixed pattern noise that has the same shape and appearance location for each shooting. In moving images, the effects of these noises become more prominent than in still image images. In the case of random noise, if this noise occurs in each displayed image, the noise-generated image switches at a high speed, so the effect of noise is more noticeable than when viewed as a single still image. . Also, with regard to fixed pattern noise, while the subject is moving, only the noise always appears in the same shape and in the same place and does not move at all, so the presence of noise increases more than still images. Random noise tends to be more noticeable in dark areas of images such as night scenes and shadows, and in uniform luminance planes without patterns or gradations, and when the change in the design of each frame image that makes up a movie is gradual Tend to stand out.

  As described above, when noise is generated in the still image images to be joined, the influence of noise becomes more conspicuous even in the time-lapse movie that joins the still image images, and a time-lapse movie having a sense of incongruity is generated. Therefore, various techniques for generating a time-lapse moving image with less sense of incongruity have been proposed.

  In Patent Document 1, a first frame and a second frame of a still image captured at a certain interval are combined to generate a frame image of a time-lapse movie, and a second frame image is also a combined image. And a still image captured on the third frame are again synthesized and generated. In this technique, the subsequent frames are similarly generated by repeating the process of combining a still image captured image and a combined image to generate a time-lapse moving image, thereby reducing the noise of the time-lapse moving image.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228688 discloses a technique for capturing a still image captured at a certain interval with a variable recording pixel region used for recording, out of the effective pixel region of the image sensor so that the background position does not change. It is disclosed. According to this technology, a time-lapse moving image with less sense of incongruity is generated by reducing changes other than the subject when played back.

JP2013-62740A JP 2007-129414 A

  However, in the conventional technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 described above, at least two shootings are required to generate one frame image of a time-lapse moving image, and a compositing process is required. When taking a still image at a fixed interval, depending on the setting value of the shooting interval, there is a possibility that the set shooting interval may not be maintained because the time for the synthesis process is exceeded. Further, in the conventional technique disclosed in Patent Document 2 described above, since an area smaller than the effective pixel area is read out and a still image is captured, an image that is narrower than the range that can be originally recorded as a still image is displayed. Only timelapse movies can be created.

  In view of the above-described problems, an object of the present invention is to make it possible to easily generate a time-lapse moving image with less sense of incongruity by eliminating the need for excessive combining processing and the limitation of the number of pixels in any scene.

  An imaging apparatus according to the present invention includes an imaging unit that images a subject, a still image shooting mode that generates a still image via the imaging unit, and a moving image shooting mode that generates a moving image according to a predetermined frame rate via the imaging unit. Or an image generation means for generating a still image or a moving picture in a time-lapse moving image shooting mode in which still images are sequentially generated according to a predetermined interval via the image pickup means, and the generated still images are joined together to generate a time-lapse moving image. , Setting means for setting shooting conditions relating to the still image shooting mode, the moving image shooting mode, and the time-lapse moving image shooting mode, and the setting means performs the shooting when the time-lapse shooting mode is selected. Setting the ISO sensitivity range that can be set in the conditions to the ISO sensitivity range according to the moving image shooting mode. And butterflies.

  According to the present invention, by reducing the influence of noise, it is possible to easily generate a time-lapse movie with less sense of incongruity in any scene, eliminating the need for excessive synthesis processing and the limitation on the number of pixels.

It is a block diagram which shows the internal structural example of the imaging device which concerns on embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the mode transition of the imaging | photography mode in 1st Embodiment. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure for determining a settable ISO sensitivity range in the first embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the mode transition of the imaging | photography mode in 2nd Embodiment. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure for determining a set value of ISO sensitivity in the second embodiment. 14 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure for determining a settable ISO sensitivity range in the third embodiment. 14 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure for determining a settable ISO sensitivity range in the fourth embodiment. In 5th Embodiment, it is a flowchart which shows an example of the process sequence which determines the ISO sensitivity range which can be set.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, when the shooting mode in the imaging apparatus is determined, the ISO sensitivity range that can be set is determined based on the content of the shooting mode. Both random noise and fixed pattern noise are likely to occur when shooting with a high ISO sensitivity. Therefore, the ISO sensitivity range allowed for moving image shooting is limited to be lower than the ISO sensitivity range allowed for still image shooting. In the time-lapse moving image shooting mode, since shooting is generally performed under still image shooting conditions, in this embodiment, the ISO sensitivity range allowed for moving image shooting in a narrower range is set.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration example of the imaging apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment.
In FIG. 1, a power supply 110 supplies power to each circuit in the imaging apparatus 100. The card slot 172 is a slot for inserting a memory card 173 that is a removable recording medium. When the memory card 173 is inserted into the card slot 172, the memory card 173 is electrically connected to the card input / output unit 171. In this embodiment, the memory card 173 is used as a recording medium. However, other recording media such as a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a magnetic disk, and other solid-state memories may be used.

  The imaging lens 101 is a lens for forming an optical image of a subject on the imaging device 103, and the lens driving unit 141 performs control such as zoom control, focus control, and aperture control. The mechanical shutter 102 is a shutter controlled by the shutter control unit 142. The image sensor 103 is a photoelectric conversion unit composed of a CMOS or the like, photoelectrically converts a subject image formed via the imaging lens 101 and the mechanical shutter 102, and outputs an image signal.

  The video signal processing unit 121 performs image signal processing such as correction processing, motion detection processing, addition calculation processing, subject detection processing, high-intensity point light source detection processing, development processing, and analysis processing of an image converted into an image signal by the image sensor 103. Process. The memory 132 temporarily stores image data output from the video signal processing unit 121 and data necessary when the CPU 131 performs various processes. The timing generator 143 provides timing to the image sensor 103 and the video signal processing unit 121.

  The bus 150 is a bus for connecting to each component of the imaging apparatus 100. The CPU 131 controls the reading of the image signal of the image sensor 103 and the operation timing for writing the image data generated via the image sensor 103 into the memory 132. The display control unit 151 drives and controls the TFT 152 formed of a liquid crystal display element, the VIDEO output terminal 153, and the HDMI (registered trademark) terminal 154.

  When the main switch 161 is turned on by the user's operation, the CPU 131 executes a predetermined program, and when the main switch 161 is turned off, the CPU 131 executes the predetermined program and sets the imaging apparatus 100 to the standby mode. The first release switch 162 is turned on by the first stroke (half-pressed state) of the release button, and the second release switch 163 is turned on by the second stroke (full-pressed state) of the release button. When the user presses the up / down / left / right selection button 166 or the setting button 167, the CPU 131 performs control according to the operation state of the imaging apparatus 100, and determines the shooting mode of the imaging apparatus 100 according to the position of the shooting mode setting switch 164. To do.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining mode transition of the photographing mode in the present embodiment. The shooting modes include a still image shooting mode 201, a moving image shooting mode 202, and a time-lapse moving image shooting mode 203, and each mode can be changed to a different mode. Hereinafter, each mode in FIG. 2 will be described in association with each unit shown in FIG.

  In the still image shooting mode 201, when the second release switch 163 is turned on, the image signal output from the image sensor 103 is converted into still image data by the video signal processing unit 121 under the control of the CPU 131. I do. Then, the converted image data is recorded as a still image on the memory card 173 via the card input / output unit 171 and the card slot 172.

  In the moving image shooting mode 202, when the user presses the recording start / end button 168 from a state where the moving image recording process has not started, moving image shooting is started. Then, under the control of the CPU 131, image signals sequentially output from the image sensor 103 at a frame rate specified by the timing generator 143 are converted into frame data by the video signal processing unit 121. Then, the sequentially generated frame data is temporarily stored in the memory 132 or recorded in the memory card 173 via the card input / output unit 171 and the card slot 172. When the recording start / end button 168 is pressed by the user from the state during the moving image recording process, the frame data group accumulated in the memory 132 or the memory card 173 is integrated as one moving image data under the control of the CPU 131. Then, it is recorded on the memory card 173 as a moving image.

  In the time-lapse moving image shooting mode 203, the shooting is performed when the second release switch 163 is turned on from the state where the recording process of the time-lapse moving image is not started by the user operation or when the recording start / end button 168 is pressed. To start. Then, under the control of the CPU 131, the image signals sequentially output from the image sensor 103 at intervals specified by the timing generator 143 are converted into still image data by the video signal processing unit 121. The sequentially generated still image data is temporarily stored in the memory 132 or recorded in the memory card 173 via the card input / output unit 171 and the card slot 172. When the second release switch 163 is turned on again or the recording start / end button 168 is pressed from a state in which a time-lapse moving image recording process is being performed by the user's operation, shooting is ended. Then, under the control of the CPU 131, the still image data group stored in the memory 132 or the memory card 173 is integrated as one time-lapse moving image data, and is recorded on the memory card 173 as a time-lapse moving image.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure for determining a settable ISO sensitivity range when the imaging apparatus 100 is activated in the time-lapse moving image shooting mode 203. Hereinafter, each step will be described in association with each unit shown in FIG.
First, S301 is a shooting setting determination processing step. When the imaging apparatus 100 is activated when the position of the shooting mode setting switch 164 is the time lapse moving image shooting mode 203, the setting (shooting conditions) for shooting a still image corresponding to one frame of the time lapse moving image is the same as the still image shooting mode. Set.

  The next step S302 is an ISO sensitivity range determination processing step. In addition to the setting determined by the process of S301, the settable ISO sensitivity range is set to the same range as in the moving image shooting mode.

  The next step S303 is a time-lapse moving image shooting standby processing step. After the setting for shooting the time-lapse moving image is determined in S301 and S302, the imaging apparatus 100 is set in a state in which the shooting of the time-lapse moving image can be started.

  In this embodiment, when the imaging apparatus 100 is activated when the position of the shooting mode setting switch 164 is the time-lapse moving image shooting mode 203, first, shooting settings other than the ISO sensitivity range are determined in S301. In this process, the CPU 131 rewrites the value of the area related to the setting of the time-lapse moving image shooting to the same setting as the still image shooting mode 201 in the area of the memory 132.

  Next, in S <b> 302, the CPU 131 rewrites the value of the area related to the setting of the ISO sensitivity range that can be set for time-lapse moving image shooting to the same setting as the moving image shooting mode 202 in the area of the memory 132.

  Finally, in S303, the CPU 131 sets each component of the imaging apparatus 100 in a state in which time-lapse moving image shooting can be started, based on the setting for time-lapse moving image shooting rewritten on the memory 132. Note that the processing order of S301 and S302 may be reversed. That is, after the ISO sensitivity range is set to the same range as that for moving image shooting by the processing of S302, other settings may be set to the same settings as those for still image shooting by the processing of S301.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, in the time-lapse movie shooting mode, the settable ISO sensitivity range is set to the same range as that in the movie shooting mode. Can be suppressed. As a result, it is possible to reduce the influence of noise in the time-lapse moving image generated in the time-lapse moving image shooting mode, and it is possible to provide a time-plus moving image with less discomfort.

(Second Embodiment)
Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, a case will be described in which another shooting mode is passed when transitioning from the initial shooting mode to the time-lapse moving image shooting mode 203. The internal configuration of the imaging apparatus according to this embodiment is basically the same as that shown in FIG.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a transition when the still image shooting mode 401 is changed to the moving image shooting mode 402 and the moving image shooting mode 402 is changed to the time-lapse moving image shooting mode 403. Note that the still image shooting mode 401, the moving image shooting mode 402, and the time-lapse moving image shooting mode 403 are the same modes as the still image shooting mode 201, the moving image shooting mode 202, and the time-lapse moving image shooting mode 203 of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing procedure for determining the ISO sensitivity setting value in the time-lapse moving image shooting mode 403 in the shooting mode transition mode shown in FIG. Hereinafter, each step will be described in association with each unit in FIG.
First, S501 is a shooting mode change operation reception step, in which an instruction to change the shooting mode from the still image shooting mode 401 to the moving image shooting mode 402 is received by a user operation.

S502 is a still image shooting setting storage processing step. When the shooting mode transitions from the still image shooting mode 401 to the movie shooting mode 402 in S501, the still image shooting setting immediately before the transition from the still image shooting mode to the movie shooting mode is performed. Save.
S503 is a moving image shooting standby processing step, which sets the imaging apparatus 100 in a state in which moving image shooting can be started.
S <b> 504 is a shooting mode change operation reception step, in which an instruction to change the shooting mode is received from the moving image shooting mode 402 to the time-lapse moving image shooting mode 403 by a user operation.

S505 is a still image shooting setting reading process step. When the moving image shooting mode 402 is changed to the time-lapse moving image shooting mode 403 in S504, the still image shooting setting stored in S502 or the recently recorded still image shooting setting is set as the shooting setting for time-lapse moving image shooting.
S506 is an ISO sensitivity setting value determination processing step. In S505, it is determined whether or not the ISO sensitivity setting value, which is one of the setting still image shooting setting items, is higher than the ISO sensitivity range that can be set in the moving image shooting mode 402. to decide.

S507 is an ISO sensitivity setting value change processing step. If the result of determination in S506 is higher than the ISO sensitivity range that can be set, the ISO sensitivity range that can be set in the moving image shooting mode 402 as the ISO sensitivity setting value for time-lapse shooting. Set the maximum value of.
S508 is a time-lapse moving image shooting standby processing step, and after the settings for time-lapse moving image shooting are determined in steps S505 to S507, the imaging apparatus 100 is set in a state in which time-lapse moving image shooting can be started.

  In this embodiment, when the position of the shooting mode setting switch 164 is changed from the still image shooting mode 401 to the moving image shooting mode 402 by a user operation, first, a shooting mode change operation is accepted in S501. In this process, the CPU 131 inputs the contents of the user's operation and starts the process when a shooting mode change operation is accepted.

  With the start of the process, a still image shooting setting storage process is performed in S502. In this process, the CPU 131 saves in the memory 132 setting values relating to shooting settings of the still image shooting mode 401 immediately before the transition to the moving image shooting mode 402. In step S503, a moving image shooting standby process is performed. In this process, the CPU 131 sets each component of the image capturing apparatus 100 in a state capable of moving image shooting based on the moving image shooting setting written in the memory 132 in advance.

  Subsequently, when the position of the shooting mode setting switch 164 is changed from the moving image shooting mode 402 to the time-lapse moving image shooting mode 403 by a user operation, a shooting mode change operation is accepted in S504. In this process, the CPU 131 inputs the contents of the user's operation and starts the process when a shooting mode change operation is accepted.

  With the start of the process, in S505, the CPU 131 expands the still image shooting setting stored in the memory 132 in S502 to the area related to the time-lapse movie shooting setting in the memory 132, and sets the time-lapse movie shooting setting. Alternatively, the still image shooting setting most recently saved in the memory 132 is developed in the time-lapse moving image shooting setting area of the memory 132 to obtain the time-lapse moving image shooting setting.

  In step S506, ISO sensitivity setting value determination processing is performed. In this process, the CPU 131 compares the ISO sensitivity setting value in the still image shooting setting set in S <b> 505 with the ISO sensitivity range that can be set in the moving image shooting mode 402 stored in the memory 132.

  As a result of the comparison in S506, if the ISO sensitivity setting value is higher than the ISO sensitivity range that can be set in the moving image shooting mode 402 stored in the memory 132, the ISO sensitivity setting value changing process is performed in S507. In this process, the CPU 131 sets the maximum value of the ISO sensitivity range that can be set in the moving image shooting mode 402 stored in the area of the memory 132 as the ISO sensitivity setting value of the time-lapse moving image shooting setting. On the other hand, if the setting value of the ISO sensitivity is not higher than the ISO sensitivity range that can be set in the moving image shooting mode 402 stored in the memory 132 as a result of the comparison in S506, the process proceeds to S508.

  Finally, a time-lapse moving image shooting standby process is performed in S508. In this process, the CPU 131 sets each component of the imaging apparatus 100 in a state in which time-lapse moving image shooting can be started based on the settings for time-lapse moving image shooting rewritten in the memory 132.

  On the other hand, in the case of transition from the moving image shooting mode 202 to the time lapse moving image shooting mode 203 via the still image shooting mode 201, the shooting settings are inherited as they are when the transition is made from the still image shooting mode 201 to the time lapse moving image shooting mode 203. It will be. The ISO sensitivity range that can be set is the same as that in the moving image shooting mode 202. That is, the processing is the same as that described in the first embodiment.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, when a transition is made from the still image shooting mode to the time-lapse movie shooting mode via the movie shooting mode, the maximum ISO sensitivity that can be set is determined as the ISO sensitivity in the movie shooting mode. The maximum value of the range was set. As a result, noise that tends to appear with high sensitivity can be suppressed, and the shooting setting in the still image shooting mode can be taken over to shift to the time-lapse moving image shooting mode. For example, when a user wants to generate a time-lapse movie that joins still images in the middle of still image shooting, the setting is not required again even if the mode is changed to the time-lapse movie shooting mode, and the shooting can be quickly transferred. .

(Third embodiment)
Hereinafter, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the first embodiment, in the time lapse movie shooting mode, the ISO sensitivity range that can be set in any case is set to the same range as the movie shooting mode. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, an analysis image is captured before the shooting mode transitions, and the ratio of the dark area of the analysis image is determined. Then, the settable ISO sensitivity range is switched between the same range as the still image shooting mode and the same range as the moving image shooting mode. The internal configuration of the imaging apparatus according to this embodiment is basically the same as that shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure for determining an ISO sensitivity range that can be set in the time-lapse moving image shooting mode in the present embodiment. Hereinafter, each step will be described in association with each unit in FIG.
First, step S601 is an analysis image photographing processing step, in which an analysis image signal used to determine the ratio of the dark area is generated.

S602 is an image analysis processing step, where the histogram of the entire image is analyzed from the image signal generated in S601 to determine the ratio of the dark area.
S603 is a dark area determination processing step, and it is determined whether or not the ratio of the dark area obtained in S602 is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value.

S604 is an ISO sensitivity range setting processing step for still image shooting. If the ratio of the dark area is equal to or smaller than the threshold value as a result of determination in S603, the ISO sensitivity range that can be set in the time-lapse movie shooting mode 203 is set as the still image shooting mode. The same range as 201 is set.
Step S605 is a moving image shooting ISO sensitivity range setting processing step. As a result of the determination in S603, when the ratio of the dark area exceeds the threshold, the ISO sensitivity range that can be set in the time-lapse moving image shooting mode 203 is set as the moving image shooting mode 202. Set to the same range.

  S606 is a time-lapse moving image shooting standby processing step, where the setting for time-lapse moving image shooting outside the ISO sensitivity range is set to the same setting as in the still image shooting mode 201, and the imaging apparatus 100 is in a state in which time-lapse moving image shooting can be started.

  In the present embodiment, the processing starts when the imaging apparatus 100 is changed from the still image shooting mode 201 or the moving image shooting mode 202 to the time-lapse moving image shooting mode 203, and the analysis image is shot in S601. In this process, the CPU 131 generates an image signal via the image sensor 103.

  Next, an image analysis process is performed in S602. In this process, the video signal processing unit 121 receives the image signal generated in S601 under the control of the CPU 131, generates and analyzes a histogram, and calculates the ratio of the dark area to the entire image. In step S603, dark area determination processing is performed. In this process, the CPU 131 compares the dark area ratio value calculated in step S <b> 602 with the dark area ratio threshold value preset in the memory 132.

  If the ratio of the dark area calculated in S602 is equal to or less than the threshold value as a result of the comparison in S603, an ISO sensitivity range for still image shooting is set in S604. In this process, the CPU 131 expands the ISO sensitivity range that can be set in the still image shooting mode 201 with respect to the area related to the ISO sensitivity range that can be set in the time-lapse moving image shooting mode 203 in the memory 132, and the still image shooting mode 201. Set to the same range as.

  On the other hand, if the ratio of the dark area calculated in S602 is higher than the threshold as a result of the comparison in S603, an ISO sensitivity range for moving image shooting is set in S604. In this process, the CPU 131 expands the ISO sensitivity range that can be set in the moving image shooting mode 202 for the area related to the ISO sensitivity range that can be set in the time-lapse moving image shooting mode 203 in the memory 132, and is the same as the moving image shooting mode 202. Set to range.

  Finally, in S606, time-lapse moving image shooting standby processing is performed. In this process, the CPU 131 develops the setting value for still image shooting in the area related to the setting other than the ISO sensitivity range for time-lapse moving image shooting in the memory 132 and sets the same value as that in the still image shooting mode 201. Then, based on the setting for time-lapse moving image shooting rewritten in the memory 132, each component of the imaging apparatus 100 is brought into a state in which time-lapse moving image shooting can be started.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, in time-lapse movie shooting, when it is estimated that a scene with a dark area larger than a predetermined ratio is shot, the settable ISO sensitivity range is set to the same range as the movie shooting mode. I made it. On the other hand, when it is estimated that a scene where the dark area is equal to or less than a predetermined ratio is shot, the settable ISO sensitivity range is set to the same range as the still image shooting mode.

  Random noise due to high-sensitivity shooting is more conspicuous in the dark part of the image, and the effect of random noise becomes more noticeable when images with many dark parts are stitched together into a moving image. On the other hand, even if an ISO sensitivity is set high for an image with few dark parts and a time-lapse movie is generated, the influence of random noise is not noticeable. That is, in the first embodiment, the ISO sensitivity range that can be set in the time-lapse movie shooting mode is the same range as the movie shooting mode regardless of the ratio of the dark area, but in this embodiment, a wider range of ISO sensitivity setting range. Can increase the number of scenes.

(Fourth embodiment)
Hereinafter, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the first embodiment, in the time-lapse moving image shooting mode, the ISO sensitivity range that can be set in any case is set to the same range as the moving image shooting mode. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the analysis image is taken before the shooting mode transition, and the ratio of the uniform luminance area of the analysis image is determined. Then, the settable ISO sensitivity range is switched between the same range as the still image shooting mode and the same range as the moving image shooting mode. The internal configuration of the imaging apparatus according to this embodiment is basically the same as that shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure for determining an ISO sensitivity range that can be set in the time-lapse moving image shooting mode in the present embodiment. Hereinafter, each step will be described in association with each unit in FIG.
First, step S701 is an analysis image photographing processing step, in which an analysis image signal used for obtaining a ratio of a uniform luminance area is generated.

S702 is an image analysis processing step, where the edge and contrast of the entire image are analyzed from the image signal generated in S701 to obtain a uniform luminance area ratio.
S703 is a uniform luminance area determination processing step, and it is determined whether or not the ratio of the uniform luminance area obtained in S702 is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value.

S704 is an ISO sensitivity range setting processing step for still image shooting. If the ratio of the uniform luminance area is equal to or smaller than the threshold value as a result of the determination in S703, the ISO sensitivity range that can be set in the time-lapse movie shooting mode 203 is set as the still image shooting mode. The same range as 201 is set.
Step S705 is an ISO sensitivity range setting processing step for moving image shooting. As a result of the determination in S703, when the ratio of the uniform luminance area exceeds the threshold, the ISO sensitivity range that can be set in the time-lapse moving image shooting mode 203 is set as the moving image shooting mode 202. Set to the same range as.
S706 is a time-lapse moving image shooting standby processing step, which is the same processing as S606 in FIG.

  In the present embodiment, the processing is started when the imaging apparatus 100 is changed from the still image shooting mode 201 or the moving image shooting mode 202 to the time-lapse moving image shooting mode 203, and the analysis image shooting processing is started in S701. . This process is the same as S601 in FIG.

  Next, an image analysis process is performed in S702. In this process, the video signal processing unit 121 receives the image signal generated in S701 under the control of the CPU 131, generates and analyzes edge information and contrast information, and calculates the ratio of the uniform luminance area to the entire image. In step S703, a uniform luminance area determination process is performed. In this process, the CPU 131 compares the value of the uniform luminance area ratio calculated in S <b> 702 with the threshold value of the uniform luminance area ratio preset in the memory 132.

  If the ratio of the uniform luminance area calculated in S702 is equal to or smaller than the threshold value as a result of the comparison in S703, an ISO sensitivity range for still image shooting is set in S704. This process is the same as the process of S604 in FIG. On the other hand, if the ratio of the predetermined uniform luminance area calculated in S702 is higher than the threshold value as a result of the comparison in S703, an ISO sensitivity range for moving image shooting is set in S704. This process is the same as the process of S605 in FIG.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, in time-lapse movie shooting, when it is estimated that a scene with a uniform luminance area larger than a predetermined ratio is shot, the settable ISO sensitivity range is set to the same range as the movie shooting mode. I did it. On the other hand, when it is estimated that a scene having a uniform luminance area of a predetermined ratio or less is shot, the settable ISO sensitivity range is set to the same range as the still image shooting mode.

  Random noise due to high-sensitivity shooting is more conspicuous on the uniform luminance surface of the image, and the effect of random noise becomes more noticeable when images with many uniform luminance surfaces are connected to form a moving image. On the other hand, even if an ISO sensitivity is set high for an image with a small uniform luminance plane and a time-lapse movie is generated, the influence of random noise is not noticeable. In other words, in the first embodiment, the range of ISO sensitivity that can be set in the time-lapse movie shooting mode is the same as that in the movie shooting mode regardless of the ratio of the uniform luminance area. The number of scenes that can provide a range can be increased.

(Fifth embodiment)
Hereinafter, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the first embodiment, in the time-lapse moving image shooting mode, the ISO sensitivity range that can be set in any case is set to the same range as the moving image shooting mode. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the amount of change between frames is determined, and the settable ISO sensitivity range is switched between the same range as the still image shooting mode and the same range as the moving image shooting mode. The internal configuration of the imaging apparatus according to this embodiment is basically the same as that shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure for determining an ISO sensitivity range that can be set in the time-lapse moving image shooting mode in the present embodiment. Hereinafter, each step will be described in association with each unit in FIG.
S801 is an inter-frame image capturing process step for analysis, and a plurality of image signals are generated at predetermined intervals in order to obtain the amount of change between frames.

S802 is an inter-frame image analysis processing step, in which a motion vector between two adjacent images is analyzed from a plurality of image signals generated at a predetermined interval in S801, and a change amount between each image signal is obtained.
S803 is an inter-frame change amount determination processing step, in which it is determined whether or not the change amount between the image signals obtained in S802 is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value.

Step S804 is an ISO sensitivity range setting processing step for still image shooting. When the amount of change between the image signals is equal to or larger than the threshold value in S803, the ISO sensitivity range that can be set in the time-lapse movie shooting mode 203 is set as the still image shooting mode 201. Set to the same range.
Step S805 is an ISO sensitivity range setting processing step for moving image shooting. When the amount of change between image signals falls below a threshold value in S803, the ISO sensitivity range that can be set in the time-lapse moving image shooting mode 203 is the same as that of the moving image shooting mode 202. Set to range.
S806 is a time-lapse moving image shooting standby processing step, which is the same processing as S606 in FIG.

  In the present embodiment, the processing is started when the imaging apparatus 100 is changed from the moving image shooting mode 202 to the time-lapse moving image shooting mode 203, and the analysis frame shooting processing is started in S801. In this process, a plurality of image signals are generated via the image sensor 103 at a predetermined constant interval under the control of the CPU 131 and temporarily stored in the memory 132.

  Next, an inter-frame image analysis process is performed in S802. In this processing, the video signal processing unit 121 sequentially inputs the image signals stored in the memory 132 in S801 under the control of the CPU 131. Then, the input image signal is compared with the image signal input thereafter, a motion vector between the images is generated and analyzed, and the amount of change between the image signals is calculated. When a plurality of motion vectors are calculated, an average value of change amounts is calculated and used in the subsequent processing. In step S803, an inter-frame change amount determination process is performed. In this process, the value of the amount of change between the image signals calculated by the CPU 131 in S802 is compared with the threshold value of the amount of change set in advance in the memory 132.

  As a result of the comparison in S803, if the amount of change between the image signals calculated in S802 is greater than or equal to the threshold, an ISO sensitivity range for still image shooting is set in S804. This process is the same as the process of S604 in FIG. On the other hand, if the amount of change between the image signals calculated in S802 is lower than the threshold as a result of the comparison in S803, the ISO sensitivity range for moving image shooting is set in S804. This process is the same as the process of S605 in FIG.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, in time-lapse movie shooting, when it is estimated that a scene where the amount of change between frames is larger than a predetermined ratio, the settable ISO sensitivity range is the same as that in the still image shooting mode. It was set as a range. On the other hand, when it is estimated that a scene where the amount of change in the image between frames is smaller than a predetermined ratio is taken, the ISO sensitivity range that can be set is set to the same range as the moving image shooting mode.

  For moving images with a large change in design, the effect of random noise due to high-sensitivity shooting is not noticeable. On the other hand, when a time-lapse movie with a small amount of change between frames is generated by setting the ISO sensitivity high, the influence of random noise is more noticeable. That is, in the first embodiment, the range of ISO sensitivity that can be set in the time-lapse movie shooting mode is the same as that in the movie shooting mode regardless of the amount of change between frames. The number of scenes that can provide the range can be increased.

(Other embodiments)
The present invention supplies a program that realizes one or more functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus via a network or a storage medium, and one or more processors in a computer of the system or apparatus read and execute the program This process can be realized. It can also be realized by a circuit (for example, ASIC) that realizes one or more functions.

103 Image sensor 121 Video signal processor 131 CPU

Claims (13)

Imaging means for imaging a subject;
Still image shooting mode for generating a still image via the imaging means, moving image shooting mode for generating a moving picture according to a predetermined frame rate via the imaging means, or still images sequentially according to a predetermined interval via the imaging means An image generating means for generating a still image or a moving image in a time-lapse moving image shooting mode for generating and generating a time-lapse moving image by joining the generated still images;
Setting means for setting shooting conditions according to the still image shooting mode, the moving image shooting mode, and the time-lapse moving image shooting mode;
The setting means sets the settable ISO sensitivity range in the shooting condition to the ISO sensitivity range related to the moving image shooting mode when the time-lapse moving image shooting mode is selected. apparatus. Storage means for storing shooting conditions when shooting in the still image shooting mode;
When the shooting mode is changed to the time-lapse movie shooting mode, the setting unit sets the shooting condition related to the still image shooting mode stored in the storage unit to the shooting condition related to the time-lapse movie shooting mode. If the ISO sensitivity setting value in the shooting conditions stored in the storage means is higher than the ISO sensitivity range that can be set in the movie shooting mode, the ISO sensitivity setting value in the time-lapse movie shooting mode is set. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the imaging apparatus is set to a maximum value in a range of ISO sensitivity in the moving image shooting mode. Imaging means for imaging a subject;
Still image shooting mode for generating a still image via the imaging means, moving image shooting mode for generating a moving picture according to a predetermined frame rate via the imaging means, or still images sequentially according to a predetermined interval via the imaging means An image generating means for generating a still image or a moving image in a time-lapse moving image shooting mode for generating and generating a time-lapse moving image by joining the generated still images;
Setting means for setting shooting conditions according to the still image shooting mode, the moving image shooting mode, and the time-lapse moving image shooting mode;
The image generation means generates an analysis image through the imaging means when the time-lapse moving image shooting mode is selected,
The setting unit analyzes the analysis image generated by the image generation unit, and when the ratio of the dark area of the analysis image is higher than a threshold, the setting in the shooting condition according to the time-lapse movie shooting mode An imaging apparatus characterized by setting a range of possible ISO sensitivity to a range of ISO sensitivity according to the moving image shooting mode. Imaging means for imaging a subject;
Still image shooting mode for generating a still image via the imaging means, moving image shooting mode for generating a moving picture according to a predetermined frame rate via the imaging means, or still images sequentially according to a predetermined interval via the imaging means An image generating means for generating a still image or a moving image in a time-lapse moving image shooting mode for generating and generating a time-lapse moving image by joining the generated still images;
Setting means for setting shooting conditions according to the still image shooting mode, the moving image shooting mode, and the time-lapse moving image shooting mode;
The image generation means generates an analysis image through the imaging means when the time-lapse moving image shooting mode is selected,
The setting unit analyzes the analysis image generated by the image generation unit, and when the ratio of the uniform luminance area of the analysis image is higher than a threshold, among the shooting conditions according to the time-lapse movie shooting mode An imaging apparatus, wherein a settable ISO sensitivity range is set to an ISO sensitivity range according to the moving image shooting mode. Imaging means for imaging a subject;
Still image shooting mode for generating a still image via the imaging means, moving image shooting mode for generating a moving picture according to a predetermined frame rate via the imaging means, or still images sequentially according to a predetermined interval via the imaging means An image generating means for generating a still image or a moving image in a time-lapse moving image shooting mode for generating and generating a time-lapse moving image by joining the generated still images;
Setting means for setting shooting conditions according to the still image shooting mode, the moving image shooting mode, and the time-lapse moving image shooting mode;
The image generation means generates a plurality of analysis images at regular intervals via the imaging means when the time-lapse moving image shooting mode is selected,
The setting unit analyzes a change amount between a plurality of analysis images generated by the image generation unit, and when the analyzed change amount is lower than a threshold value, a shooting condition according to the time-lapse movie shooting mode An ISO sensitivity range that can be set is set to an ISO sensitivity range according to the moving image shooting mode. Still image shooting mode for generating a still image via the image pickup means, moving image shooting mode for generating a moving image according to a predetermined frame rate via the image pickup means, or generation of still images sequentially according to a predetermined interval via the image pickup means An image generation step of generating a still image or a moving image by a time-lapse moving image shooting mode for generating a time-lapse moving image by connecting the generated still images;
Setting a shooting condition according to the still image shooting mode, the moving image shooting mode, and the time-lapse moving image shooting mode,
In the setting step, when the time-lapse moving image shooting mode is selected, a settable ISO sensitivity range in the shooting conditions is set to an ISO sensitivity range related to the moving image shooting mode. Imaging method. Still image shooting mode for generating a still image via the image pickup means, moving image shooting mode for generating a moving image according to a predetermined frame rate via the image pickup means, or generation of still images sequentially according to a predetermined interval via the image pickup means An image generation step of generating a still image or a moving image by a time-lapse moving image shooting mode for generating a time-lapse moving image by connecting the generated still images;
Setting a shooting condition according to the still image shooting mode, the moving image shooting mode, and the time-lapse moving image shooting mode,
In the image generation step, when the time-lapse moving image shooting mode is selected, an analysis image is generated through the imaging unit,
In the setting step, the analysis image generated in the image generation step is analyzed, and when the ratio of the dark area of the analysis image is higher than a threshold, among the shooting conditions according to the time-lapse movie shooting mode An imaging method, wherein a settable ISO sensitivity range is set to an ISO sensitivity range according to the moving image shooting mode. Still image shooting mode for generating a still image via the image pickup means, moving image shooting mode for generating a moving image according to a predetermined frame rate via the image pickup means, or generation of still images sequentially according to a predetermined interval via the image pickup means An image generation step of generating a still image or a moving image by a time-lapse moving image shooting mode for generating a time-lapse moving image by connecting the generated still images;
Setting a shooting condition according to the still image shooting mode, the moving image shooting mode, and the time-lapse moving image shooting mode,
In the image generation step, when the time-lapse moving image shooting mode is selected, an analysis image is generated through the imaging unit,
In the setting step, the analysis image generated in the image generation step is analyzed, and when the ratio of the uniform luminance area of the analysis image is higher than a threshold, among the shooting conditions according to the time-lapse movie shooting mode An ISO sensitivity range that can be set is set to an ISO sensitivity range according to the moving image shooting mode. Still image shooting mode for generating a still image via the image pickup means, moving image shooting mode for generating a moving image according to a predetermined frame rate via the image pickup means, or generation of still images sequentially according to a predetermined interval via the image pickup means An image generation step of generating a still image or a moving image by a time-lapse moving image shooting mode for generating a time-lapse moving image by connecting the generated still images;
Setting a shooting condition according to the still image shooting mode, the moving image shooting mode, and the time-lapse moving image shooting mode,
In the image generation step, when the time-lapse moving image shooting mode is selected, a plurality of analysis images are generated at regular intervals through the imaging unit,
In the setting step, the amount of change between the plurality of analysis images generated in the image generation step is analyzed, and when the analyzed amount of change is lower than a threshold, shooting according to the time-lapse movie shooting mode An imaging method characterized in that a settable ISO sensitivity range in the conditions is set to an ISO sensitivity range according to the moving image shooting mode. Still image shooting mode for generating a still image via the image pickup means, moving image shooting mode for generating a moving image according to a predetermined frame rate via the image pickup means, or generation of still images sequentially according to a predetermined interval via the image pickup means An image generation step of generating a still image or a moving image by a time-lapse moving image shooting mode for generating a time-lapse moving image by connecting the generated still images;
Causing the computer to execute a setting step of setting shooting conditions according to the still image shooting mode, the moving image shooting mode, and the time-lapse moving image shooting mode;
In the setting step, when the time-lapse moving image shooting mode is selected, a settable ISO sensitivity range in the shooting conditions is set to an ISO sensitivity range related to the moving image shooting mode. program. Still image shooting mode for generating a still image via the image pickup means, moving image shooting mode for generating a moving image according to a predetermined frame rate via the image pickup means, or generation of still images sequentially according to a predetermined interval via the image pickup means An image generation step of generating a still image or a moving image by a time-lapse moving image shooting mode for generating a time-lapse moving image by connecting the generated still images;
Causing the computer to execute a setting step of setting shooting conditions according to the still image shooting mode, the moving image shooting mode, and the time-lapse moving image shooting mode;
In the image generation step, when the time-lapse moving image shooting mode is selected, an analysis image is generated through the imaging unit,
In the setting step, the analysis image generated in the image generation step is analyzed, and when the ratio of the dark area of the analysis image is higher than a threshold, among the shooting conditions according to the time-lapse movie shooting mode A program characterized in that a settable ISO sensitivity range is set to an ISO sensitivity range related to the moving image shooting mode. Still image shooting mode for generating a still image via the image pickup means, moving image shooting mode for generating a moving image according to a predetermined frame rate via the image pickup means, or generation of still images sequentially according to a predetermined interval via the image pickup means An image generation step of generating a still image or a moving image by a time-lapse moving image shooting mode for generating a time-lapse moving image by connecting the generated still images;
Causing the computer to execute a setting step of setting shooting conditions according to the still image shooting mode, the moving image shooting mode, and the time-lapse moving image shooting mode;
In the image generation step, when the time-lapse moving image shooting mode is selected, an analysis image is generated through the imaging unit,
In the setting step, the analysis image generated in the image generation step is analyzed, and when the ratio of the uniform luminance area of the analysis image is higher than a threshold, among the shooting conditions according to the time-lapse movie shooting mode The ISO sensitivity range that can be set is set to the ISO sensitivity range according to the moving image shooting mode. Still image shooting mode for generating a still image via the image pickup means, moving image shooting mode for generating a moving image according to a predetermined frame rate via the image pickup means, or generation of still images sequentially according to a predetermined interval via the image pickup means An image generation step of generating a still image or a moving image by a time-lapse moving image shooting mode for generating a time-lapse moving image by connecting the generated still images;
Causing the computer to execute a setting step of setting shooting conditions according to the still image shooting mode, the moving image shooting mode, and the time-lapse moving image shooting mode;
In the image generation step, when the time-lapse moving image shooting mode is selected, a plurality of analysis images are generated at regular intervals through the imaging unit,
In the setting step, the amount of change between the plurality of analysis images generated in the image generation step is analyzed, and when the analyzed amount of change is lower than a threshold, shooting according to the time-lapse movie shooting mode A program characterized in that a settable ISO sensitivity range in the conditions is set to an ISO sensitivity range related to the moving image shooting mode.

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