JP2009075398A - Imaging device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an imaging device capable of changing a continuous shooting speed during continuous shooting, and capable of using efficiently a recording medium, without using a zoom switch as a substitution, or without providing a dedicated continuous shooting speed regulating button. <P>SOLUTION: This taking device is provided with an imaging means 3 for imaging a subject via a photographing lens, the recording medium 8 for recording image information acquired from the imaging means 3, imaging condition input means 15, 16 for inputting a plurality of imaging conditions different each other, and a continuous shooting speed setting means 12 for setting the continuous shooting speed of continuous shooting by the imaging means 3 changeably during the continuous shooting, based on the plurality of imaging conditions input from the imaging condition input means 15, 16. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus capable of continuous shooting.

  In recent years, many imaging devices including a digital camera have a continuous shooting function. Here, the continuous shooting function is a function for continuously shooting a plurality of still images by one release operation. In a normal imaging device, a continuous shooting mode for using the continuous shooting function can be selected. When this continuous shooting mode is selected, for example, continuous shooting can be easily performed by pressing the release button. ing.

  On the other hand, when such a continuous shooting function is used, a considerable amount of storage capacity of the storage medium is used by increasing the continuous shooting speed and increasing the definition of the captured image. For example, if 100 frames per second can be captured in the future, a digital camera having a storage medium capable of storing 500 frames of images will have a storage capacity of 5 seconds when captured at this continuous shooting speed. Reach the upper limit. This means that only a relatively short period of continuous shooting can be performed. However, the required continuous shooting speed varies depending on the situation and characteristics of the subject. For example, high-speed continuous shooting is required for shooting sports games, but high-speed continuous shooting is not required for shooting portraits of people. If continuous shooting is performed at a lower speed, the storage medium of the imaging apparatus can be used effectively.

  Considering this, for example, a continuous shooting speed is set in advance according to the scene mode such as portrait, sport, commemorative photography, landscape, night view, etc., and the continuous shooting speed according to the selected scene mode. Are known which perform continuous shooting (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

In addition, an imaging apparatus is known that can invalidate the focal length changing operation function of the focal length changing operation unit during continuous shooting, and can use this operation unit for changing the continuous shooting speed instead. This imaging apparatus is configured to be able to select two shooting modes, a continuous shooting mode and a normal shooting mode, and when the user selects the continuous shooting mode, a focal length changing operation unit such as a zoom is operated during continuous shooting. The switch has no relation to the focal length changing function, and instead, the user can change the continuous shooting speed during continuous shooting by operating this switch. As a result, the imaging apparatus can change the continuous shooting speed according to the change of the subject even during continuous shooting, and can efficiently use the storage medium (see, for example, Patent Document 2). .
JP 2006-229481 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-96984

  However, in the technique described in Patent Document 1 described above, since the continuous shooting speed is set according to the scene mode, the continuous shooting speed cannot be changed during continuous shooting, and shooting at a constant continuous shooting speed can be performed. Become. For this reason, shooting is performed at the fastest continuous shooting speed assumed to be necessary before shooting, and as a result, a recording medium such as a film or an image recording memory is consumed in a short time. there were. Also, since the continuous shooting speed is uniquely determined according to the scene mode, the continuous shooting interval cannot be changed during shooting.

  On the other hand, in the technique described in Patent Document 2, the continuous shooting speed can be changed by operating, for example, a zoom switch during continuous shooting. However, in this case, since the zoom switch is used for changing the continuous shooting speed, there is a problem that the zoom operation cannot be performed during continuous shooting.

  In addition, as a method of changing the continuous shooting speed during continuous shooting, it is conceivable to provide a dedicated continuous shooting speed adjustment button. However, with this configuration, the structure of the imaging device becomes complicated and the user is Therefore, for example, a complicated operation of changing the continuous shooting speed while performing a zoom operation is forced, which is not realistic.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention made in view of such a point is that a continuous shooting speed can be changed during continuous shooting without using a zoom switch or providing a dedicated continuous shooting speed adjustment button, and a recording medium. It is an object of the present invention to provide an imaging device that can efficiently use the above.

The invention of the imaging apparatus according to claim 1, which achieves the above object,
Imaging means for photographing a subject via a photographing lens;
Imaging condition input means for inputting a plurality of different imaging conditions;
Based on a plurality of imaging conditions input by the imaging condition input means, continuous shooting speed setting means capable of changing the continuous shooting speed of continuous shooting by the imaging means during continuous shooting;
It is characterized by providing.

The invention according to claim 2 is the imaging apparatus according to claim 1,
The imaging condition input means includes scene mode setting means for setting one shooting scene from a plurality of shooting scenes having a variable range of continuous shooting speed,
The continuous shooting speed setting means sets the continuous shooting speed from a variable range of the continuous shooting speed of the shooting scene set by the scene mode setting means.

The invention according to claim 3 is the imaging apparatus according to claim 2,
The imaging condition input means further includes a focal length changing means for changing a focal length of the imaging means,
The continuous shooting speed setting means determines the continuous shooting speed from the variable range of the continuous shooting speed of the shooting scene set by the scene mode setting means according to the change of the focal length by the focal length changing means during continuous shooting. It is characterized by setting.

Invention of Claim 4 is an imaging device as described in any one of Claims 1-3,
The continuous shooting speed setting means includes a look-up table for deriving the corresponding continuous shooting speed according to a plurality of different imaging conditions input from the imaging condition input means. .

The invention according to claim 5 is the imaging apparatus according to claim 4,
The photographic lens is configured to be replaceable,
Furthermore, it has a lens identification means for identifying the type of the photographic lens mounted,
The continuous shooting speed setting means has a plurality of look-up tables corresponding to the types of interchangeable photographic lenses as the look-up table, and according to the type of the photographic lens identified by the lens identifying means. A lookup table is selected.

Invention of Claim 6 is an imaging device as described in any one of Claims 1-4,
The imaging condition input means includes a size detection means for detecting the size of a subject image photographed by the imaging means,
The continuous shooting speed setting means sets the continuous shooting speed based on the size of the subject image detected by the size detection means.

The invention according to claim 7 is the imaging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The imaging condition input means includes movement detection means for detecting movement of a subject image photographed by the imaging means,
The continuous shooting speed setting means sets the continuous shooting speed based on the movement of the subject image detected by the movement detecting means.

The invention according to claim 8 is the imaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
The image pickup means includes a solid-state image pickup device that photoelectrically converts a subject image photographed by the photographing lens.

  According to the present invention, since the continuous shooting speed can be changed during continuous shooting based on a plurality of different imaging conditions, a zoom switch can be substituted or a dedicated continuous shooting speed adjustment button can be provided. The recording medium can be used efficiently.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[First embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration of a main part of the imaging apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The imaging apparatus according to the present embodiment is composed of an electronic camera. The zoom lens 1 is a photographing lens for photographing a subject, and the lens for driving the zoom lens 1 to adjust the focal length. An image pickup means 3 for picking up an object image formed by the control means 2 and the zoom lens 1 with a solid-state image pickup device such as a CCD or a MOS sensor and converting it into image data, and an image output by the image pickup means 3 An image processing means 5 for processing data, a buffer 4 for temporarily storing image data in order to process image data by the image processing means 5, and an LCD monitor 6 for display used for determining a composition to be photographed And the viewfinder 7, the camera control means 9 for controlling the entire camera, and the image data processed by the image processing means 5 are controlled by the camera control means 9 and recorded. A recording medium 8 for performing an imaging operation, a drive mode button 11 for selecting a continuous shooting mode, and continuous shooting speed setting means 12 for deriving and setting the continuous shooting speed when performing continuous shooting. With. Furthermore, the imaging apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a mode dial 16 that constitutes a scene mode setting unit that sets a shooting scene, and a focal length changing unit 15 that gives an instruction to change the focal length of the zoom lens 1. . The continuous shooting speed setting means 12 includes a lookup table 13 used for deriving the continuous shooting speed and a speed range setting means 14 for setting a continuous shooting speed range from the setting of the mode dial 16. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the imaging condition input unit is configured including the focal length changing unit 15 and the mode dial 16.

  Next, the operation of the imaging apparatus according to this embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the imaging apparatus according to the present embodiment. First, when the mode dial 16 is operated by the user of the imaging apparatus and a shooting scene is set according to the subject to be shot (step S1), the speed range setting unit 14 detects the setting information and takes a picture. A frame number range corresponding to the scene is derived, and this frame number range information is set in the lookup table 13 (step S2). Here, the number of frames means the number of frames taken per second, that is, the continuous shooting speed, and the frame number range means the continuous shooting speed range.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the relationship between the position of the mode dial 16 set by the speed range setting means 14 and the frame number range. The mark shown in the “mode dial position” column of FIG. 3 is an example of a mark written on the actual mode dial, and the meaning of each mark is shown in the “shooting scene” column. The frame number range shown in the “frame number range” column shows an example of the frame number range corresponding to each shooting scene. For example, when “Sports” is selected with the mode dial, the number of frames can be changed between 10 frames per second and 100 frames per second.

  Next, when the drive mode button 11 is pressed, the camera control means 9 displays a drive mode selection menu on the LCD monitor 6 or the viewfinder 7. Here, it is assumed that the continuous shooting mode is selected from the drive mode selection menu by the user (step S3). Thereafter, the camera control unit 9 determines the composition to be photographed by operating the camera direction and the focal length changing unit 15 while viewing the viewfinder 7 or the LCD monitor 6, and the camera control unit 9 determines the focal length changing unit 15. And the focal length of the zoom lens 1 is changed via the lens control unit 2 based on this state. The continuous shooting speed setting unit 12 detects the state of the focal length changing unit 15 and sets information corresponding to the focal length in the lookup table 13 (step S4).

  Thereafter, the continuous shooting speed setting means 12 derives the continuous shooting speed from the lookup table 13 based on the focal length detected from the focal length changing means 15 (step S5), and outputs it to the camera control means 9. Thereby, the camera control means 9 sets this continuous shooting speed to the imaging means 3 (step S6).

  Subsequently, when the release button 10 is pressed (step S7), the camera control unit 9 controls the imaging unit 3 to start continuous shooting at the above-described continuous shooting speed (step S8).

  Here, a process for deriving the continuous shooting speed from the lookup table 13 by the continuous shooting speed setting means 12 in step S5 will be described. FIG. 4 is an example of a look-up table showing the relationship between the focal length and the continuous shooting speed according to the shooting scene. The example of FIG. 4 shows a case where “Sports” of FIG. 3 is selected as the shooting scene. The zoom lens 1 is a lens that can vary from 70 mm to 200 mm with a focal length converted to a lens for a 35 mm film camera (hereinafter also referred to as “35 mm equivalent focal length”). As shown in FIG. 3, when “Sports” is selected with the mode dial, the continuous shooting speed can be changed between 10 frames per second and 100 frames per second. In the case of the look-up table in FIG. 4, for example, when the focal length is 70 mm or more and less than 75 mm, the continuous shooting speed is 10 frames per second. In this way, the continuous shooting speed setting unit 12 detects the focal length information from the focal length changing unit 15 and refers to the lookup table 13 to derive the corresponding continuous shooting speed from the corresponding focal length. .

  Next, the photographing start process in step S8 in FIG. 2 will be described with reference to the flowcharts in FIGS. First, as shown in FIG. 5, after the start of shooting by operating the release button 10, the first shot is shot (step S21). In this one-shot shooting, as shown in FIG. 6, the image data obtained by the image pickup means 3 is stored in the buffer 4 (step S31), and the image processing means 5 performs image processing (step S32). Recording is performed on the recording medium 8 (step S33). These series of processes are controlled by the camera control means 9.

  In FIG. 5, when the release button 10 is kept pressed after one shot is taken (step S22), one shot is taken continuously. At this time, if the focal length changing means 15 is operated (step S23), the focal length information is detected by the continuous shooting speed setting means 12 and set in the lookup table 13 (step S24). The continuous shooting speed corresponding to the focal length information is derived from the lookup table 13 and set in the image pickup means 3 via the camera control means 9 (step S25), and the image pickup means 3 continues shooting at this continuous shooting speed. .

  If the release button 10 is not pressed in step S22, the remaining data in the buffer 4 is processed by the image processing means 5 and then recorded on the recording medium 8 to finish the continuous shooting process (step S26). ). Actually, in the shooting after the one-shot shooting, the imaging data is stored in the buffer 4 and the subsequent processing is advanced in parallel to increase the processing speed so that the shooting can be continuously advanced.

  FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing the usage status of the recording medium when shooting at a constant continuous shooting speed and when shooting at a variable continuous shooting speed. Here, as an example, a recording medium having a recording capacity capable of photographing 500 frames is used. The bar arrow indicates the continuous shooting speed, and the longer the length, the higher the speed. The number on the bar arrow indicates the number of seconds. FIG. 7A is a diagram in the case of shooting at the maximum continuous shooting speed at which continuous shooting is possible in continuous shooting. If shooting is continued for 5 seconds at 100 frames per second, the recording medium runs out and no further shooting is possible. FIG. 7B is a diagram in a case where continuous shooting is performed from a low speed to a high speed in continuous shooting. That is, the first 4 seconds are taken while gradually increasing the continuous shooting speed at a continuous shooting speed of less than 100 frames per second, and the subsequent 1 second is shot at 100 frames per second. As can be seen from FIG. 7, in the case of FIG. 7B, since there is a remaining amount of the recording medium, it is possible to continue shooting even after 5 seconds.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the continuous shooting speed range is limited according to the shooting scene, and the continuous shooting speed is controlled in conjunction with the focal length changing unit 15, so that the recording medium 8 can be efficiently used. Can be used. Further, since the user controls the continuous shooting speed in conjunction with the change of the focal length of the zoom lens 1 by the focal length changing means 15 without directly adjusting the continuous shooting speed, an appropriate continuous shooting speed can be set. It can be set easily and operability can be improved. Therefore, when the continuous shooting speed is improved and the storage capacity of the recording medium 8 is increased, for example, the continuous shooting time of several tens of seconds to several minutes or more is achieved by high-speed continuous shooting of several tens of frames per second to several hundreds of frames per second. Even when shooting becomes possible, it is possible to respond effectively.

[Second Embodiment]
FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main part of an imaging apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the zoom lens 1 is replaceable in the configuration of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, and the continuous shooting speed is controlled according to the type of the mounted zoom lens 1. It is a thing.

  For this reason, in the present embodiment, a lens identifying means 17 for identifying the lens type of the mounted zoom lens 1 is provided. The continuous shooting speed setting unit 12 prepares a plurality of lookup tables corresponding to lens types as the lookup table 13 and selects a lookup table corresponding to the lens type identified by the lens identification unit 17. Table selection means 18 is provided. Since other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted. Therefore, in this embodiment, the imaging condition input unit is configured including the focal length changing unit 15, the mode dial 16, and the lens identifying unit 17.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the present embodiment will be described based on the flowchart of FIG. First, as in the first embodiment, when the user of the imaging apparatus operates the mode dial 16 to set a shooting scene according to the subject to be shot (step S41), the speed range setting unit 14 The setting information is detected to derive a frame number range corresponding to the shooting scene, and this frame number range information is set in the lookup table 13 (step 42).

  Next, the lens identifying means 17 identifies the lens type of the zoom lens 1 (step S43), and provides this lens type information to the table selecting means 18. The table selection unit 18 selects the lookup table 13 based on the lens type information provided from the lens identification unit 17 (step S44). For example, when “sport” is set by the mode dial 16 as a shooting scene, the frame number range is 10 to 100 (frame number / second) as shown in FIG. Therefore, the lens identification unit 17 selects the lookup table of FIG. 4 when the lens type is a zoom lens having a focal length of 70 mm to 200 mm in terms of 35 mm, and the zoom lens having a focal length of 180 mm to 500 mm in terms of 35 mm. In this case, the lookup table of FIG. 10 is selected.

  Thereafter, when the drive mode button 11 is pressed, the camera control means 9 displays a drive mode selection menu on the LCD monitor 6 or the viewfinder 7. Here, it is assumed that the continuous shooting mode is selected from the drive mode selection menu by the user (step S45). Subsequently, the camera control means 9 determines the focal length changing means in accordance with the direction of the camera and the focal length changing means 15 being operated while the viewfinder 7 or the LCD monitor 6 is viewed by the user. 15 is detected, and based on this, the focal length of the zoom lens 1 is changed via the lens control means 2. The continuous shooting speed setting unit 12 detects the state of the focal length changing unit 15 and sets information corresponding to the focal length in the lookup table 13 (step S46).

  Thereafter, the continuous shooting speed setting means 12 derives the continuous shooting speed from the lookup table 13 based on the focal length detected from the focal length changing means 15 (step S47), and outputs it to the camera control means 9. Thereby, the camera control means 9 sets this continuous shooting speed to the imaging means 3 (step S48).

  Subsequently, when the release button 10 is pressed (step S49), the camera control unit 9 controls the imaging unit 3 to start continuous shooting at the above-described continuous shooting speed (step S50).

The operation after the start of photographing is the same as in the case of the first embodiment described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

  According to the present embodiment, the zoom lens can be replaced, and the continuous shooting speed is automatically controlled from the relationship between the continuous shooting speed range and the focal length according to the lens. There is no need to set the continuous shooting speed every time the lens is replaced, and the operability can be improved.

[Third embodiment]
FIG. 11 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the main part of the imaging apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, in the configuration of the first embodiment, the focal length changing unit 15 recognizes the face of the subject image without controlling the continuous shooting speed, and based on the size and movement, the continuous shooting is performed. The speed is controlled.
For this reason, in the present embodiment, the image processing means 5 includes the face recognition means 19, the movement detection means 20 that detects the movement of the face recognized by the face recognition means 19, and the face recognized by the face recognition means 19. A size detecting unit 21 for detecting the size of the portion is provided, and the size detecting unit 21 sets the continuous shooting speed by the lookup table 13 of the continuous shooting speed setting unit 12. Further, the continuous shooting speed setting means 12 is provided with a continuous shooting speed correction means 22, and the continuous shooting speed correction means 22 determines the continuous shooting speed set in the lookup table 13 as the movement detection means of the image processing means 5. 20 is corrected based on the output of 20 and output to the camera control means 9. Since other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the imaging dial is configured to include the mode dial 16, the movement detection unit 20, and the size detection unit 21.

  Next, the operation of the imaging apparatus according to this embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the operation of the imaging apparatus according to the present embodiment. First, when the mode dial 16 is operated by the user of the imaging apparatus and a shooting scene is set in accordance with the subject to be shot (step S61), the speed range setting means 14 detects the setting information and takes a picture. A frame number range corresponding to the scene is derived, and this frame number range information is set in the lookup table 13 (step S62). FIG. 13 shows an example of a lookup table when “sports” is selected as the shooting scene shown in FIG. Note that the left column of this table is the area ratio of the human face to the imaging region by the imaging means 3 as will be described later.

  Next, when the drive mode button 11 is pressed, the camera control means 9 displays a drive mode selection menu on the LCD monitor 6 or the viewfinder 7. Here, it is assumed that the user has selected the continuous shooting mode by image processing from the drive mode selection menu (step S63). Then, after the user determines the composition for shooting by operating the camera direction and focal length changing means 15 while looking at the viewfinder 7 or the LCD monitor 6, the release button 10 is pressed (step S64). The camera control unit 9 instructs to start the shooting sequence, and the shooting sequence is started (step S65).

  Next, the photographing sequence in step 65 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. In the shooting sequence, first, a subject image is taken into the image processing means 5 through the zoom lens 1 as electronic data. Here, it is assumed that the subject image includes a human face, and the face recognition unit 19 constituting a part of the image processing unit 5 recognizes the face portion in the subject image (step S71).

  Next, based on the face portion, the size detection means 21 calculates the area ratio of the face portion to the imaging area of the imaging means 3. Here, when there are a plurality of faces in the subject image, for example, the face located at the center of the imaging region is targeted. Thereafter, the calculated area ratio of the face portion is input to the continuous shooting speed setting unit 12 by the size detection unit 21, and the continuous shooting speed setting unit 12 reads the continuous shooting from the lookup table 13 based on the area ratio. The speed is derived (step S72).

  In parallel with the calculation of the area ratio of the face portion by the size detection means 21 described above, the movement detection means 20 detects the movement speed of the face portion described above, and this is detected by the continuous shooting speed setting means 12. This is supplied to the speed correction means 22. The continuous shooting speed correction unit 22 first derives a continuous shooting speed correction coefficient based on the moving speed supplied from the movement detection unit 20 (step S73). FIG. 15 is an example of a table showing the correspondence between the moving speed of the subject image, that is, the face portion, and the continuous shooting speed correction coefficient. For example, if the moving speed is less than 0 to 50 pixels / second in the solid-state imaging device constituting the imaging means 3, the continuous shooting speed correction coefficient is 1.0. As shown in FIG. 15, the continuous shooting speed correction coefficient changes according to the moving speed.

  Thereafter, the continuous shooting speed correction means 22 performs a calculation of multiplying the derived continuous shooting speed correction coefficient by the continuous shooting speed derived from the lookup table 13 described above (step S74), and obtained by this calculation. The value is set as a new continuous shooting speed in the imaging means 3 via the camera control means 9 (step S75). Subsequently, the camera control unit 9 controls the lens control unit 2 based on the focal length detected from the focal length changing unit 15 to focus the lens, and instructs the imaging unit 3 to start imaging (step S76). .

  Next, the process of starting continuous shooting in step 76 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  After the start of shooting, the first shot is shot by the imaging means 3 (step S81). This one-shot shooting is performed in the same manner as in the first embodiment described with reference to FIG.

  When the focal length changing means 15 changes the focal length of the zoom lens 1 or the subject moves, and the size detecting means 21 detects a change in the area ratio of the face portion (step S82). ), The output value to the continuous shooting speed setting means 12 changes, and the continuous shooting speed setting means 12 derives a new continuous shooting speed in accordance with the area ratio (step S86).

  When the movement detecting unit 20 detects the movement of the face part due to the movement of the subject (step S87 or step S83), the output value to the continuous shooting speed setting unit 12 changes, and the continuous shooting speed setting unit 12 As described above, a correction calculation based on the moving speed is performed to derive a new continuous shooting speed (step S88 or step S89). The derived new continuous shooting speed is set in the image pickup means 3 via the camera control means 9 (step S90).

  If no change in the size of the face portion is detected by the size detection means 21 in step 82 and no movement of the face portion is detected by the movement detection means 20 in step 83, a certain period of time has passed (step 82). In step S84, the camera control unit 9 ends the continuous shooting by the image pickup unit 3, processes the remaining data in the buffer 4 by the image processing unit 5, records the data in the recording medium 8, and ends the processing (step S85). ).

  In this embodiment, since the face of the subject is recognized and the continuous shooting speed is controlled based on its size and movement, the start and end of the shooting timing of continuous shooting can be operated with the release button. There is no need to instruct the camera or the user has to keep pressing the release button during continuous shooting, and the operability can be improved.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, Many deformation | transformation or a change is possible. For example, two imaging conditions are input to the continuous shooting speed setting means 12 in the first embodiment, and three imaging conditions are input to the continuous shooting speed setting means 12 in the second embodiment and the third embodiment, but the imaging conditions are combinations of four or more inputs. But you can. For example, in addition to the imaging conditions of the above-described embodiment, information such as subject brightness information and remaining battery power can be combined.

  It is also conceivable that the shooting scene is set by operating a menu displayed on the LCD monitor 16 or the viewfinder 7 instead of the mode dial 16. The number of frames corresponding to the shooting scene may indicate a continuous range as shown in FIG. 3, or may indicate some discrete numerical values.

  Furthermore, the look-up table 13 can consider various variations. For example, the lookup table 13 is not limited to a one-dimensional lookup table in which the imaging conditions and the continuous shooting speed correspond one-to-one as shown in FIG. 4, and a plurality of imaging conditions input to the continuous shooting speed setting unit 12. However, if it changes dynamically during continuous shooting, it can be considered to be a two-dimensional or three-dimensional matrix look-up table.

  In any of the embodiments, the continuous shooting speed setting means 12 is configured using the look-up table 13, but instead of the look-up table 13, an arithmetic circuit or a calculation program for deriving the continuous shooting speed is provided. It may be used.

  Further, in the first embodiment and the second embodiment, the continuous shooting is continued while the release button 10 is continuously pressed. However, when the continuous shooting mode is set in the drive mode, the release button is toggled. It is also possible to set the operation setting to start continuous shooting at the first time and end continuous shooting at the second time.

  In addition, the present invention is characterized in that the continuous shooting speed during continuous shooting is controlled based on a plurality of pieces of information regarding the imaging device as the imaging condition. Therefore, it goes without saying that there are a variety of methods for controlling the continuous shooting speed depending on what information of the camera is used and how it is combined.

  Furthermore, although each above-mentioned embodiment of this invention has described the electronic camera, this invention is not limited to an electronic camera. Even when the present invention is applied to a silver salt camera, a similar effect can be expected with the recording medium as a silver salt film.

  Furthermore, the end of shooting is recognized by the user specifying the number of shots and the shooting time from a menu displayed on the LCD monitor 6 and the viewfinder 7 before the start of shooting. There is also a method of ending photographing by means 9.

  Furthermore, in the second and third embodiments, it may be possible to use a single focus lens instead of the zoom lens.

    In the third embodiment, face recognition is taken as an example of processing in the image processing means 5, but the processing content of the image processing means 5 is not limited to this. For example, recognition of an object other than a face is also possible. good. Although the start of the shooting sequence is instructed by the release button, other methods may be used. Furthermore, the size detection means 21 calculates the size of the face portion from the area ratio of the imaging region, but calculates the rate of change of the size of the face portion from the temporally surrounding frame images, thereby determining the continuous shooting speed. There is also a way to decide. The continuous shooting speed is not limited to multiplying the continuous shooting speed by the lookup table and the continuous shooting speed correction coefficient, but can be multiplied by changing the value of the look-up table value or the continuous shooting speed correction coefficient. Instead, the same effect can be obtained by other operations such as addition and division.

1 is a functional block diagram illustrating a main part of an imaging apparatus as a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the imaging device by 1st Embodiment. It is a table which shows the relationship between the mode dial position of 1st Embodiment, and the frame number range. It is a look-up table which shows the relationship between the focal distance of 1st Embodiment, and the continuous shooting speed. It is a flowchart which shows the process of the continuous shooting in 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the process of 1 shot imaging | photography in 1st Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the use condition of a recording medium when it image | photographs by the fixed continuous shooting speed of 1st Embodiment, and the case where it image | photographs by making continuous shooting speed variable. It is a block diagram which shows the function structure of the camera as 2nd Embodiment of the imaging device of this invention. It is a functional block diagram which shows the principal part of the imaging device as 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a look-up table which shows the relationship between the focal distance of 2nd Embodiment, and the continuous shooting speed. It is a functional block diagram which shows the principal part of the imaging device as 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the imaging device in 3rd Embodiment. It is a look-up table which shows the relationship between the size of the face and continuous shooting speed in 3rd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the process of the imaging | photography sequence in 3rd Embodiment. It is a table which shows the relationship between the moving speed of 3rd Embodiment, and a continuous shooting speed correction coefficient. It is a flowchart which shows the process of the continuous shooting in 3rd Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Zoom lens 2 Lens control means 3 Imaging means 4 Buffer 5 Image processing means 6 LCD monitor 7 Viewfinder 8 Recording medium 9 Camera control means 10 Release button 11 Drive mode button 12 Continuous shooting speed setting means 13 Look-up table 14 Speed range Setting means 15 Focal length changing means 16 Mode dial 17 Lens identifying means 18 Table selecting means 19 Face recognizing means 20 Movement detecting means 21 Size detecting means 22 Continuous shooting speed correcting means

Claims (8)

Imaging means for photographing a subject via a photographing lens;
Imaging condition input means for inputting a plurality of different imaging conditions;
Based on a plurality of imaging conditions input by the imaging condition input means, continuous shooting speed setting means capable of changing the continuous shooting speed of continuous shooting by the imaging means during continuous shooting;
An imaging apparatus comprising: The imaging condition input means includes scene mode setting means for setting one shooting scene from a plurality of shooting scenes having a variable range of continuous shooting speed,
The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the continuous shooting speed setting unit sets a continuous shooting speed from a variable range of a continuous shooting speed of the shooting scene set by the scene mode setting unit. The imaging condition input means further includes a focal length changing means for changing a focal length of the imaging means,
The continuous shooting speed setting means determines the continuous shooting speed from the variable range of the continuous shooting speed of the shooting scene set by the scene mode setting means according to the change of the focal length by the focal length changing means during continuous shooting. The imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the imaging apparatus is set.   The said continuous shooting speed setting means has a look-up table for deriving the corresponding continuous shooting speed according to a plurality of different imaging conditions inputted from the imaging condition input means. The imaging device according to any one of 1 to 3. The photographic lens is configured to be replaceable,
Furthermore, it has a lens identification means for identifying the type of the photographic lens mounted,
The continuous shooting speed setting means has a plurality of look-up tables corresponding to the types of interchangeable photographic lenses as the look-up table, and according to the type of the photographic lens identified by the lens identifying means. The imaging apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a lookup table is selected. The imaging condition input means includes a size detection means for detecting the size of a subject image photographed by the imaging means,
5. The continuous shooting speed setting unit sets the continuous shooting speed based on the size of the subject image detected by the size detection unit. 6. Imaging device. The imaging condition input means includes movement detection means for detecting movement of a subject image photographed by the imaging means,
7. The continuous shooting speed setting unit sets the continuous shooting speed based on the movement of the subject image detected by the movement detection unit. 7. Imaging device. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the imaging unit includes a solid-state imaging element that photoelectrically converts a subject image captured by the imaging lens.

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