JP2002199273A - Composite camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain excellent image information on a monitor by using a video camera function so as to photograph a moving picture or using a silver salt camera function to make strobe photographing. SOLUTION: The composite camera is provided with a field memory that stores a video signal by a video camera section of one preceding field to the operation of a strobe when the strobe is used, a strobe correction memory that stores an object distance and a reflection luminous quantity by the strobe, an image signal correction means that brings an image signal stored in the field memory to a proper level on the basis of data outputted from the strobe correction memory, and an image correction memory that stores an image signal corrected by the image signal correction means.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a compound camera in which a still camera and a movie video camera are integrated.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a conventional silver halide camera, according to the invention described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-185533, a taken image is captured by an image pickup device such as a CCD at the same timing, and the image signal is stored in a memory. A camera with a confirmation function that can output an image when a still image is confirmed and monitors the image has been proposed.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned invention, when a photograph is taken using a flash device, the amount of light is so large that it exceeds the saturation capacity of the accumulated charge of the image pickup device. However, there is a disadvantage that an image to be crushed is destroyed.

In view of the above problems, in the present invention, in a combined camera in which a still camera and a video camera are integrated, even when a still image is shot using a flash device, the image is displayed on a monitor and a finder for checking shooting. Is displayed well, and even when a still image is shot using a flash device while shooting a moving image, the shooting screen of the moving image is not affected by the flash device, and when the flash device is used, It is an object of the present invention to invent a configuration for preventing a red-eye phenomenon in a still image.

[0005]

According to the present invention, in order to solve such a problem, a composite camera in which a video camera unit for capturing a moving image and a still camera unit for capturing a still image are integrally formed. A flash device for capturing a still image, a field memory for storing a signal one field before the flash device operates, a flash correction memory for storing a subject distance and a reflected light amount by the flash device, An image signal correction means for adjusting an image signal stored in the field memory to an appropriate level based on data output from the correction memory, and an image correction memory for storing the image signal corrected by the image signal correction means.

Further, when a still image is captured by the still camera unit and the flash device, an image signal stored in the field memory and a one-field moving image signal captured by the video camera unit during a still image are obtained. Image exchange means for exchange.

Further, it is arranged so as to be housed in the complex camera body, and when used, it is movable in the axial direction perpendicular to the photographing optical axis from the state housed in the housing of the complex camera, and The monitor includes a monitor rotatable about a vertical axis, and a flash device attached to a front end portion on both sides of a member holding the monitor.

[0008]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 108 denotes a system control circuit as a control means for integrally controlling the operation of the composite camera and the execution of various functions, and performs various execution processes according to programs stored in advance.

Reference numeral 102 denotes a video camera unit for photographing a moving image, which is photoelectrically converted by an image pickup device such as a CCD, and then the input signal is amplified. The amplified signal is sent to the signal processing circuit 1
At 05, a predetermined signal processing is performed to generate a luminance signal and a chrominance signal, and various signal processings such as γ correction and AGC are performed to output a signal such as an NTSC signal.

A video camera unit 102 includes a still camera unit 103 for optically recording a still image and a lens unit 101.
Has a common imaging optical system.

The flash device 104 is an auxiliary means for photographing a still image. The flash device 104 can predict the distance to the subject and the amount of reflected light, and can set the amount of light emission and the aperture of the lens in advance. It is also possible to perform pre-emission and calculate correction data by the system control circuit 108 from the light distribution pattern.

Reference numeral 107 denotes a field memory for storing an image signal of one field.
The amplification degree of the output signal of the field memory is determined by the image correction circuit 110 based on the correction data stored in 9.

Reference numeral 111 denotes a memory for storing the corrected image signal. After photographing a still image, when the user wants to view the photographed image, the user can view the photographed image with a signal from a video signal output 112 using a finder or a monitor.

In the above system structure, first, when only a moving image is photographed, the incident light taken in from the lens unit 101 is captured by the image pickup device of the video camera unit 102 in the same manner as in the operation of a normal video camera. After being photoelectrically converted and amplified by the amplifier circuit, the image signal is NT
It is output as a video signal such as an SC signal.

Second, the flash device 104 is used for photographing only a still image.
Is used, preflash is performed by the flash device 104 before photographing, correction data such as subject distance and reflected light amount is calculated by the system control circuit 108 from the light distribution pattern, and the flash amount of the flash device and the aperture of the lens are calculated. Are determined.

The correction data is stored in a flash correction memory 10.
9 is stored. The photographer may predict and set the subject distance and the amount of reflected light in advance. After the correction data is set, first, when the photographer presses a release button for photographing a still image, among the signals photoelectrically converted by the image sensor of the video camera unit, the video camera unit one field before the still image to photograph a still image The image signal is stored in the field memory 107.

At the same time when the shutter of the still camera unit 103 is released, the flash unit 104 emits light and the photographing is completed.
The degree of amplification of the signal stored in the field memory is determined by the image correction circuit 110 based on the data such as the amount of reflected light stored in the flash correction memory, and the corrected one-field signal is stored in the image signal correction memory 111. .

After photographing, by retrieving one field signal from the image signal correction memory, an image having the same sensitivity and brightness of the photographed still image can be confirmed at any time on a monitor or a finder.

Third, when a flash device is used to capture a still image while capturing a moving image, a field signal immediately before capturing the still image stored in the field memory and a field signal during capturing the still image are used. The signals are exchanged by the image exchange circuit.

Also in the confirmation of a still image, an image in the same state as the photographed still image can be confirmed on a monitor or the like by using the image signal correction memory as in the case of photographing only the still image using the flash device.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of still image shooting when the flash device is used. FIG. 5 shows a flow chart of photographing a still image when the flash device is not used. At this time, the image signal during the still image shooting may be stored in the field memory 107, and the signal may be output as it is when the still image is confirmed. Further, even if a moving image is being shot, the image exchange circuit is not operated, of course.

Next, an embodiment of the flash device of the composite camera according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of a flash device of a compound camera provided with a liquid crystal monitor according to the present invention. In FIG. 2, a screen holder 202 holding a liquid crystal monitor 201 is swingable. The screen holder 202 is pulled out in the direction A from the stored state in the optical axis direction, and a connection shaft member 203 between the composite camera housing 205 and the screen holder 202 is provided. Can be rotated in the direction B around the center, so that the user and the subject can shoot a moving image by confirming the shooting of the moving image by pressing a trigger button (not shown) in the video camera unit. ing. Note that the photographer can also perform photographing with the viewfinder 207.

At this time, since the flash device 204 for assisting the still image shooting by the still camera unit is provided on both sides of the end of the screen holder 202, the release button can be used regardless of whether the liquid crystal monitor 201 is directed toward the subject or the photographer. When the user presses the button 206, the flash device emits light and a still image is captured.

If the flash device 204 for assisting in photographing a still image is attached to the end of the screen holder 202 in this manner, the distance between the photographing optical axis and the flash device is increased, so that red-eye of the subject can be prevented. . Further, since the flash device can be housed together with the screen holder as shown in FIG. 3, the size can be reduced.

[0025]

As described above, according to the present invention, even when a still image is shot by the still camera unit using the flash device according to the first aspect, a monitor or the like can be used to check the still image after shooting. The output of the image signal correction memory on the display means prevents the image from being destroyed by light when displayed on a display means such as a monitor.

According to the present invention, even when a still image is shot using a flash device while a moving image is shot by a video camera unit, the still image is exchanged with a field signal stored in a field memory immediately before shooting a still image. In addition, the video signal output by the video camera unit is improved without the light being destroyed by the light emission of the flash device.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, by providing a flash device at the tip of the monitor, red-eye can be prevented when a still image is shot by the still camera unit, and the flash device is housed in a liquid crystal monitor in a camera housing. Thus, the size is reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration block diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a compound camera in a flash device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the compound camera when the screen holder is stored in the imaging apparatus of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 101 lens unit 102 video camera section 103 still camera section 104 flash device 105 signal processing circuit 106 image signal processing circuit 107 field memory 108 system control circuit 109 flash correction memory 110 image correction circuit 111 image signal correction memory 112 video signal output 201 liquid crystal finder Monitor 202 Screen holder 203 Connection shaft member 204 Flash device 205 Composite camera housing 206 Still image release button 207 Small finder

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat II (reference) G03B 15/05 G03B 15/05 19/06 19/06 H04N 5/225 H04N 5/225 Z F-term (reference) 2H018 AA32 BE01 2H053 BA72 BA85 CA45 DA03 DA09 2H054 AA01 BB04 BB07 BB11 CB20 CD03 5C022 AA11 AA13 AB15 AB52 AC03 AC13 AC54 AC69 AC77 AC78 AC80

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A video camera unit for capturing a moving image and a still camera unit for capturing a still image are integrally formed,
In a combined camera having a flash device as a supplementary means for taking a still image of a still camera unit, when the flash device is used as a supplementary means for taking a still image of a still camera unit, the video device one field before the flash device operates. A field memory for storing a video signal from a camera unit; a flash correction memory for storing a subject distance and a reflected light amount by the flash device; and an image signal stored in the field memory based on data output from the flash correction memory. A compound camera comprising: an image signal correction unit for setting a level; an image correction memory for storing an image signal corrected by the image signal correction unit; and the image correction memory. 2. A still image captured by the still camera unit and the flash unit while a video image is being captured by a video camera unit, the image signal stored in the field memory and the video camera being captured during a still image capture. The composite camera according to claim 1, further comprising: an image exchange unit that exchanges a one-field moving image signal captured by the unit. 3. The camera is arranged so as to be stowable, and when used, is movable in an axial direction perpendicular to a photographing optical axis from a state of being housed in the body of the compound camera, and moves in an axis perpendicular to the photographing optical axis. The composite camera according to claim 1, further comprising: a monitor rotatable about a center; and a flash device attached to a front end portion on both sides of a member holding the monitor.