JP2012182625A - Imaging apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To restrict the generation of a distortion in an image, which is caused by an air fluctuation.SOLUTION: An imaging apparatus includes: imaging means 14 for receiving a light flux from a subject via an image capturing optical system and generating image data; determination means 193 for determining whether a distortion due to an air fluctuation is generated or not in an image corresponding to the image data, based on a predetermined condition; imaging control means 19 for generating multiple kinds of image data corresponding to each one of respective images by continuous image capturing by controlling the imaging means when the determination means 193 determines that the distortion due to the air fluctuation is to be generated; and correction means 191 for synthesizing the multiple kinds of image data generated by continuous image capturing and correcting the distortion due to the air fluctuation.

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a camera is known that suppresses camera shake and noise by synthesizing images acquired by continuous shooting (for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2007-208704 A

  However, since it is necessary for the photographer to determine whether to perform continuous shooting and to switch the setting, there is a problem in that image distortion due to air fluctuation cannot be corrected when shooting is performed without setting the continuous shooting. .

  An image pickup apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention includes an image pickup unit that receives light flux from a subject via a photographing optical system to generate image data, and air fluctuations in an image corresponding to the image data based on a predetermined condition. A determination unit that determines whether or not distortion caused by the image is generated, and if the determination unit determines that distortion due to air fluctuation occurs, the imaging unit is controlled to handle each of a plurality of images by continuous shooting. Imaging control means for generating a plurality of image data, and correction means for correcting distortion caused by air fluctuation by combining a plurality of image data generated by continuous shooting.

  According to the present invention, when the determination unit determines that air fluctuations occur in an image, a plurality of imaging signals generated by continuous shooting can be combined to correct distortion caused by the air fluctuations.

1 is a configuration diagram of a main part of a digital camera according to an embodiment of the present invention. The block diagram which shows the structure of the control system of the digital camera by embodiment Illustration to explain detection of geographical environment Flowchart for explaining processing of digital camera according to embodiment

  A camera according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a main configuration of the digital camera 1. An interchangeable lens 2 including a photographing lens LE1 and a diaphragm 30 is detachably mounted on the body of the digital camera 1. On the body side of the digital camera 1, a quick return mirror 10, a focusing screen 11, a pentaprism 12, an eyepiece lens 13, and an image sensor 14 are provided.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing the control system of the digital camera 1. In FIG. 2, the components shown in FIG. The digital camera 1 includes a photographing lens LE1, an image sensor 14, a focus detection sensor 15, a GPS device 16, an electronic compass 17, a control circuit 19, a RAM 20, a memory 21, a temperature sensor 22, an LCD drive circuit 23, a liquid crystal display 24, an operation. Unit 25, memory card interface 26, and communication unit 27.

  Referring to FIG. 1, the subject light that has passed through the interchangeable lens 2 and entered the digital camera 1 is guided upward by a quick return mirror 10 positioned as shown by a solid line in FIG. 1 before the shutter release. An image is formed on the focusing screen 11. The subject image formed on the focusing screen 11 is guided to the eyepiece 13 by the pentaprism 12. As a result, the subject image is observed by the user. Part of the subject light passes through the semi-transmissive region of the quick return mirror 10, is reflected downward by the sub mirror 10a, and enters a focus detection sensor (not shown). After the release, the quick return mirror 10 is rotated to the position indicated by the broken line in FIG. 1, the subject light is guided to the imaging device 14, and the subject image is formed on the imaging surface.

The control system will be described in detail with reference to FIG.
The imaging element 14 is configured by a photoelectric conversion element such as a CCD or CMOS. The image sensor 14 is driven in accordance with control of a control circuit 19 described later to capture a subject image input through the photographing lens LE1 and outputs an image signal obtained by the imaging to the control circuit 19. The focus detection sensor 15 is a photoelectric conversion element such as a CCD or a CMOS, which is disposed on the planned focal plane (scheduled imaging plane) of the photographic lens LE1, and has a focus detection function of the photographic lens LE1. The focus detection sensor 15 includes a plurality of sets of focus detection units for performing focus detection at a plurality of focus detection positions set on the photographing screen. The focus detection sensor 15 outputs a focus detection signal corresponding to the pair of light images to the control circuit 19 in accordance with the instruction signal output from the control circuit 19.

  The control circuit 19 includes a CPU, ROM, RAM, and the like (not shown), and is an arithmetic circuit that controls each component of the digital camera 1 and executes various data processing. The control circuit 19 functionally includes an image processing unit 191, a compression unit 192, a determination unit 193, and a focus adjustment unit 194.

  The image processing unit 191 converts an analog image signal output from the image sensor 14 into a digital image signal (RAW data), and then performs image processing such as white balance processing, gamma correction processing, color interpolation processing, contour enhancement, and vignette correction. Processing is performed to generate image data. The compression unit 192 performs JPEG compression processing on the image data generated by the image processing performed by the image processing unit 191 and records it in the memory card 29 in a format such as EXIF. The determination unit 193 determines whether or not distortion due to air fluctuation occurs in the captured image when an air fluctuation correction mode described later is set.

  The focus adjustment unit 194 detects the focus adjustment state of the photographing lens LE1, in this case, the defocus amount, based on the focus detection signal corresponding to the pair of optical images output from the focus detection sensor 15. Then, the focus adjustment unit 194 detects the focus position of the focus adjustment lens included in the photographic lens LE1 based on the detected defocus amount. The focus adjustment unit 194 calculates the drive amount of the focus adjustment lens included in the photographic lens LE1 using the detected focus position. Then, the focus adjustment unit 194 outputs a drive instruction signal for the focus adjustment lens to a lens drive unit such as a stepping motor based on the calculated drive amount, and controls the drive of the focus adjustment lens to the in-focus position.

  The memory card interface 26 is an interface to which the memory card 29 can be attached and detached. The memory card interface 26 writes image data to the memory card 29 or reads image data recorded on the memory card 29 based on the control of the control circuit 19. The memory card 29 is a semiconductor memory card such as a compact flash (registered trademark) or an SD card.

  The LCD drive circuit 23 is a circuit that drives the liquid crystal display 24 based on a command from the control circuit 19. The liquid crystal display 24 displays the display data created by the control circuit 19 based on the image data recorded on the memory card 29 in the reproduction mode.

  The operation unit 25 is a switch that receives a user operation. The operation unit 25 includes a power switch, a release switch, other setting menu display changeover switches, a setting menu determination button, and the like. The operation unit 25 can set a single shooting mode or a continuous shooting mode as a shooting mode. Furthermore, in the digital camera 1 of the present embodiment, an air fluctuation correction mode to be described later can be set by the operation unit 25.

  The GPS device 16 receives a radio wave from a GPS satellite in response to an instruction from the control circuit 19 and outputs a received signal to the control circuit 19. The control circuit 19 performs a predetermined calculation based on the received signal from the GPS device 16 and detects the current positioning position (latitude, longitude, altitude) of the digital camera 1. The electronic compass 17 is composed of, for example, a magnetic sensor, and detects the photographing direction of the digital camera 1 (the direction in which the photographing lens LE1 is directed). The electronic compass 17 outputs the detected shooting direction to the control circuit 19 as a direction detection signal.

  The temperature sensor 22 constantly measures the temperature outside the digital camera 1 and outputs the measurement result to the control circuit 19 as a temperature signal. The communication unit 27 is, for example, an electrical contact provided on the lens mount, and the interchangeable lens 2 and the control circuit 19 of the digital camera 1 transmit and receive various types of information via the communication unit 27.

  The RAM 20 is a volatile storage medium used as a buffer memory for temporarily storing data during or after image processing and image compression processing. The memory 21 is a non-volatile memory for recording map information (geographic information) used by the control circuit 19 in an air fluctuation correction mode to be described later. The map information includes geographical environments such as seas, lakes, ponds, rivers, and swamps. In the memory 21, the geographical environment as described above is recorded as so-called polygon data mapped on a map.

  Hereinafter, processing in the air fluctuation correction mode by the digital camera 1 of the present embodiment will be described. When a photographer takes a long distance object using a super-telephoto lens, the geography may generate water vapor such as a lake or sea between the photographer and the subject or in the vicinity of the photographer when the temperature is high. When a dynamic environment exists, the captured image may be distorted due to air fluctuation (so-called “hot flame”). When distortion occurs due to the influence of air fluctuations, a photographed image of a building or the like has a shape in which a subject formed of a straight line, such as a window frame, has a wave. Air fluctuations do not occur with time, so if there are distortions due to air fluctuations in the captured image, shoot multiple images of the same subject and average them. Need to be corrected. In the air fluctuation correction mode, the digital camera 1 determines the presence / absence of distortion due to air fluctuation using a fluctuation determination condition described later, and continuously captures a plurality of images when it is determined that distortion occurs. . Then, the digital camera 1 adds (averages) a plurality of consecutively captured images to generate a captured image in which one distortion is corrected. Details will be described below.

When the air fluctuation correction mode is set according to the operation of the operation unit 25 by the photographer, and the shooting instruction is issued according to the operation of the release button, the control circuit 19 of the digital camera 1 performs the following air fluctuation determination condition (1 ) To (4), it is determined whether or not distortion due to air fluctuations has occurred in the captured image. In the following description, it is assumed that the digital camera 1 is photographed using a tripod or the like in a situation where no vibration is generated.
(1) The distance to the subject (shooting distance) is greater than or equal to a predetermined value.
(2) The interchangeable lens 2 is a super telephoto lens (focal length is a predetermined value or more).
(3) The temperature is equal to or higher than a predetermined value.
(4) There is a geographical environment that generates air fluctuations.

Hereinafter, each air fluctuation determination condition will be described.
(1) The shooting distance is greater than or equal to a predetermined value. The focus adjustment unit 194 has a shooting distance from the photographer (ie, the digital camera 1) to the subject based on the focal length when the focus adjustment lens is driven to the in-focus position. Is calculated. Then, the determination unit 193 compares the calculated shooting distance with the first distance threshold value. The first distance threshold is a value that is acquired by a test or the like as a distance at which distortion due to air fluctuation is likely to occur, and is recorded in advance in the processing recording area.

(2) The photographing lens is a super telephoto lens The determination unit 193 receives the lens information of the interchangeable lens 2 via the communication unit 27 and acquires information on the focal length of the interchangeable lens 2, that is, the angle of view. And the determination part 193 determines whether the focal distance of the interchangeable lens 2 is more than a 2nd distance threshold value based on the received lens information. If it is greater than or equal to the second distance threshold, the determination unit 193 determines that the interchangeable lens is a super telephoto lens. In the present embodiment, the super telephoto lens is a telephoto lens having a focal length of 600 mm or more, for example. That is, in the present embodiment, the second distance threshold is 600 mm.

(3) The air temperature is equal to or higher than a predetermined value The determination unit 193 uses the temperature signal input from the temperature sensor 22, the temperature outside the digital camera 1, the first temperature threshold value, and the second temperature threshold value (first temperature threshold value). > Second temperature threshold). The first temperature threshold is set to a high temperature (for example, 30 degrees) enough to predict the occurrence of air fluctuations even when there is no geographical environment that generates water vapor between the photographer and the subject. ing. The second temperature threshold is set to such a low temperature (eg, 10 degrees) that it is predicted that no air fluctuation will occur even when there is a geographical environment that generates water vapor between the photographer and the subject. Has been. Since the first temperature threshold and the second temperature threshold are set as described above, when the external temperature is equal to or higher than the second temperature threshold and lower than the first temperature threshold, water vapor is generated between the photographer and the subject. Air fluctuations occur when there is such a geographical environment.

(4) There is a geographical environment in which air fluctuations occur. The determination unit 193 determines the positioning position of the digital camera 1 calculated based on the received signal received from the GPS device 16 and the direction detection signal output from the electronic compass 17. And the map information recorded in the memory 21, it is determined whether or not a geographical environment exists in the shooting direction. First, the determination unit 193 reads out map information corresponding to an area in a predetermined range centered on the detected positioning position from the memory 21. Next, the determination unit 193 detects the position of the subject within the area indicated by the read map information. In this case, the determination unit 193 uses the shooting direction detected using the direction detection signal input from the electronic compass 17 (that is, the direction in which the shooting lens LE1 faces) and the shooting calculated by the focus adjustment unit 194 as described above. The position of the subject on the map information, that is, the coordinates are calculated using the distance. In this case, the determination unit 193 converts the above shooting distance into the scale of the map information. When the shooting distance is infinite, the determination unit 193 uses a preset value (for example, 10 km) as the shooting distance.

  When the position of the subject on the map information is calculated, the determination unit 193 determines whether there is a geographical environment such as a sea, a lake, a pond, a river, and a swamp on a straight line connecting the positioning position and the position of the subject. Determine whether or not. As described above, the geographical environment is represented by a plurality of coordinates representing the shape of the boundary as polygon data. Accordingly, when the determination unit 193 has an intersection between the straight line connecting the positioning position and the position of the subject and the shape as indicated by the polygon data, the determination unit 193 displays the sea, the lake, It is determined that there is a geographical environment such as a pond, a river, and a swamp, that is, a geographical environment that generates air fluctuations.

  FIG. 3 shows a positional relationship among the positioning position P1, the subject position P2, and the geographical environment S on the map information. As shown in FIG. 3A, a straight line L1 connecting the positioning position P1 and the subject position P2 intersects the geographical environment S, or the straight line L1 and the geographical environment S are in contact as shown in FIG. In this case, the determination unit 193 determines that there is a geographical environment that generates air fluctuation. In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 3C, when the straight line L1 and the geographical environment S are separated, the determination unit 193 determines that there is no geographical environment that causes air fluctuation.

  Note that the determination unit 193 has an intersection between the predetermined range including the straight line L1 and the geographical environment S instead of determining the presence or absence of the geographical environment based on the presence or absence of the intersection between the straight line L1 and the geographical environment S. In some cases, it may be determined that a geographical environment exists. That is, as shown in FIG. 3D, the determination unit 193 sets a predetermined region R1 including the straight line L1 (a region surrounded by a broken line in FIG. 3D). FIG. 3D shows a case where the determination unit 193 sets a belt-like region having a predetermined width across the straight line L1 as the predetermined region R1. Then, the determination unit 193 determines that a geographical environment exists when the predetermined region R1 and the geographical environment S intersect. In addition, the determination part 193 sets the length which converted actual distance (for example, 300 m) into the scale of map information as said predetermined width.

When the following determination results (a) and (b) are obtained using the above-described determination conditions (1) to (4) by the determination unit 193, it is determined that distortion due to air fluctuation occurs in the captured image.
(A) When the shooting distance is equal to or greater than the first distance threshold, the interchangeable lens 2 is a super telephoto lens, and the external temperature is equal to or greater than the first temperature threshold. (B) The shooting distance is equal to or greater than the first distance threshold. When the lens 2 is a super telephoto lens, the external temperature is not less than the second temperature threshold and less than the first temperature threshold, and a geographical environment exists

  In other words, the result (a) corresponds to the case where the photographer photographs a long-distance subject using the super telephoto lens when the temperature is high. The result (b) shows that the photographer uses a super telephoto lens in a place where there is a geographical environment that generates water vapor such as a lake or the sea between the photographer and the subject or in the vicinity of the photographer, although the temperature is not high. This corresponds to the case where a long-distance subject is used.

  When the determination results (a) and (b) are obtained, the control circuit 19 controls the image sensor 14 to perform continuous shooting. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that, for example, five captured images are continuously captured. It should be noted that the number of images taken continuously may be set to a number desired by the photographer. In this case, the photographer only has to set the desired number of shots by operating the operation unit 25 from the menu screen displayed on the liquid crystal display 24.

  When image signals corresponding to five captured images are output from the image sensor 14 by continuous imaging, the image processing unit 191 performs the following processing to correct distortion due to air fluctuations generated in the captured image. That is, the image processing unit 191 generates RAW data corresponding to one image by adding, that is, synthesizing, RAW data corresponding to the five captured images. Then, the image processing unit 191 performs various kinds of image processing on the added RAW data to generate image data. At this time, the image processing unit 191 performs contour correction processing for enhancing edges on the generated image data. When the image data is generated, the compression unit 192 performs compression processing on the image data, and the control circuit 19 records the compressed image data on the memory card 29. The image processing unit 191 may generate image data from the RAW data, add the respective image data corresponding to the five captured images, and perform contour correction processing on the added image data. . In other words, the addition process and the contour correction process may be performed before the compression unit 192 performs the compression process.

  The processing of the digital camera 1 according to the embodiment will be described using the flowchart shown in FIG. Each process in FIG. 4 is performed by executing a program in the control circuit 19. A program for performing each process of FIG. 4 is stored in a memory (not shown). When the air fluctuation correction mode is set by the user and a signal instructing the start of photographing is output from the operation unit 25, the program is started and executed by the control circuit 19.

  In step S1, the focus adjustment unit 194 calculates the shooting distance from the digital camera 1 to the subject based on the focal length when the focus adjustment lens is driven to the in-focus position, and proceeds to step S2. In step S <b> 2, the determination unit 193 determines whether or not the shooting distance calculated by the focus adjustment unit 194 is greater than or equal to the first distance threshold. If the shooting distance is greater than or equal to the first distance threshold, an affirmative determination is made in step S2 and the process proceeds to step S3. If the shooting distance is less than the first distance threshold, a negative determination is made in step S2 and the process proceeds to step S15 described later.

  In step S3, the control circuit 19 acquires the lens information of the interchangeable lens 2, that is, the focal length of the interchangeable lens 2 via the communication unit 27, and proceeds to step S4. In step S4, the determination unit 193 determines whether or not the focal length of the interchangeable lens 2 is greater than or equal to the second distance threshold. If the focal length is greater than or equal to the second distance threshold, an affirmative determination is made in step S4 and the process proceeds to step S5. If the focal length is less than the second distance threshold, a negative determination is made in step S4 and the process proceeds to step S15 described later.

  In step S5, the control circuit 19 inputs a temperature signal from the temperature sensor 22 and proceeds to step S6. In step S6, the determination unit 193 determines whether or not the external temperature indicated by the input temperature signal is equal to or higher than the first temperature threshold. If the external temperature is equal to or higher than the first temperature threshold, an affirmative determination is made in step S6 and the process proceeds to step S12 described later. If the external temperature is less than the first temperature threshold, a negative determination is made in step S6 and the process proceeds to step S7.

  In step S7, the determination unit 193 calculates the positioning position of the digital camera 1 based on the received signal received from the GPS device 16, and proceeds to step S8. In step S8, the determination unit 193 detects the shooting direction based on the direction detection signal output from the electronic compass 17 and proceeds to step S9. In step S9, the determination unit 193 reads the map information recorded in the memory 21, and proceeds to step S10.

  In step S10, the determination unit 193 determines whether or not a geographical environment exists between the digital camera 1 and the subject. If a geographical environment exists, an affirmative determination is made in step S10 and the process proceeds to step S11. If the geographical environment does not exist, a negative determination is made in step S10 and the process proceeds to step S15 described later.

  In step S11, the determination unit 193 determines whether or not the temperature outside the digital camera 1 acquired in step S5 is equal to or higher than the second temperature threshold. If the external temperature is equal to or higher than the second temperature threshold, an affirmative determination is made in step S11 and the process proceeds to step S12. If the external temperature is less than the second temperature threshold, a negative determination is made in step S11 and the process proceeds to step S15 described later.

  In step S12, the control circuit 19 controls the image sensor 14 to continuously shoot a plurality of captured images, and proceeds to step S13. In step S13, the image processing unit 191 performs RAW data corresponding to image signals corresponding to a plurality of (five) photographed images output from the image sensor 14 by continuous photographing, that is, RWA corresponding to five photographed images. After the data are added, that is, synthesized, image processing is performed to generate image data. Then, the image processing unit 191 performs contour correction processing for enhancing edges on the generated image data, and proceeds to step S14. In step S14, the compression unit 192 performs compression processing on the generated image data, and the control circuit 19 records the compressed image data on the memory card 29 and ends the processing.

  If a negative determination is made in step S2, S4, S10, or S11, the process proceeds to step S15. In step S15, the control circuit 19 controls the image sensor 14 to continuously photograph one photographed image, and proceeds to step S16. In step S16, the image processing unit 191 performs image processing on the image signal corresponding to one photographed image output from the image sensor 14, generates image data, and proceeds to step S14.

According to the digital camera of the embodiment described above, the following operational effects can be obtained.
(1) The imaging device 14 receives a light beam from the subject via the photographing lens LE1 and outputs an image signal, and the image processing unit 191 generates RAW data using the image signal. The determination unit 193 determines whether or not distortion due to the air fluctuation occurs in the captured image based on the air fluctuation determination condition. When the determination unit 193 determines that distortion due to air fluctuation occurs, the control circuit 19 controls the image sensor 14 to output a plurality of image signals corresponding to each of a plurality of images by continuous shooting. did. Then, the image processing unit 191 combines a plurality of RAW data generated by continuous shooting, and corrects distortion caused by air fluctuation. In general, it is necessary for a photographer to determine conditions under which air fluctuations are likely to occur during photographing. For this reason, it has been difficult for an unskilled photographer to determine the occurrence of air fluctuations and to perform optimal photographing in order to suppress distortion occurring in the photographed image. In the digital camera 1 of the present embodiment, the determination unit 193 determines whether or not distortion due to air distortion has occurred, so that even an unskilled photographer does not make a difficult determination and distortion due to air fluctuations. It is possible to acquire a high-quality captured image in which the occurrence of the above is suppressed. Further, when the occurrence of distortion due to air fluctuation is determined, the digital camera 1 performs continuous shooting, and the image processing unit 191 corrects the distortion by adding a plurality of generated RAW data. Therefore, the processing load can be reduced compared with the case where continuous shooting is always performed, and therefore, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of a harmful effect that the time interval for shooting can be long.

(2) The determination unit 193 is caused when the shooting distance to the subject is equal to or greater than the first distance threshold and the focal length of the interchangeable lens 2 is equal to or greater than the second distance threshold. It was determined that distortion would occur. That is, when photographing a far-away subject using the super telephoto interchangeable lens 2, the determination unit 193 determines that distortion due to air fluctuation occurs in the captured image. When distortion due to air fluctuation occurs in the captured image, the shooting conditions in which the deterioration of the image quality of the captured image due to distortion is conspicuous are used as the air fluctuation determination condition, which can contribute to the prevention of distortion due to air fluctuation.

(3) Further, when the determination unit 193 detects that a predetermined geographical environment exists between the subject and the digital camera 1 based on the map information, the captured image is distorted due to air fluctuations. Judged that it occurs. That is, when there is an environment that generates water vapor such as lakes, rivers, and seas, there is a high possibility of distortion due to air fluctuations. Since the determination unit 193 uses the presence / absence of such a geographical environment as an air fluctuation determination condition, it is possible to reduce the influence of distortion caused by the air fluctuation generated in the captured image.

(4) The temperature sensor 22 detects the ambient temperature outside the digital camera 1. The determination unit 193 further determines that distortion due to air fluctuation occurs on the captured image when the external ambient temperature detected by the temperature sensor 22 is equal to or greater than the first temperature threshold, and the external ambient temperature Is less than the second temperature threshold value, it is determined that distortion caused by air fluctuation does not occur on the captured image. When shooting in a high-temperature environment such as in summer, there is a high possibility that air fluctuations will occur regardless of the geographical environment. On the other hand, when shooting in a low-temperature environment such as in winter, it is expected that the possibility of air fluctuations is reduced regardless of the presence or absence of a geographical environment. Since the determination unit 193 uses the temperature outside the digital camera 1 as the air fluctuation determination condition, the determination unit 193 can generate a high-quality captured image in which the occurrence of distortion is suppressed.

(5) Since the air fluctuation does not occur with time, the distortion generated at the edge common to each of the plurality of captured images is not constant. As described above, since the image processing unit 191 adds a plurality of RAW data, the influence of distortion is weakened in the RAW data after the addition, and an original edge appears. Then, the image processing unit 191 can remove the influence of the distortion due to the air fluctuation by performing edge enhancement on the original edge that appears by the addition.

The digital camera of the embodiment described above can be modified as follows.
(1) The determination unit 193 determines that there is a geographical environment that generates air fluctuation when there is a geographical environment in the vicinity of the positioning position, that is, there is a geographical environment that generates water vapor in the vicinity of the photographer. You may judge. In this case, as shown in FIG. 3 (e), the determination unit 193 includes a region R2 defined within a predetermined distance (for example, 100 m) centered on the positioning position P1 (a region surrounded by an alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 3 (e)). ) And the geographical environment S have an intersection, it is determined that the geographical environment exists.

(2) Although the digital camera 1 has been described as being photographed using a tripod or the like in a situation where vibration does not occur, it may be a case where the digital camera 1 is photographed by hand. In this case, the image processing unit 191 detects a representative point common to each of a plurality of image data acquired by continuous shooting, and corrects image blur caused by camera shake by aligning the representative points. An addition process may be performed.

(3) Humidity may be added to one of the determination conditions as an air fluctuation determination condition. In this case, the digital camera 1 includes a humidity sensor that detects external humidity and outputs a detection signal to the control circuit 19. Then, the determination unit 193 may determine that distortion due to air fluctuation occurs when the detected humidity is equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold (for example, 50%).

(4) Instead of recording map information in the memory 21 in advance, the map information may be received from an external device. In this case, the digital camera 1 may include a wireless interface or an external interface, and may receive map information from an external device via the interface.

(5) The determination unit 193 uses only the conditions (1) and (2) instead of using the air fluctuation determination conditions (1) to (4), that is, whether the shooting distance to the subject is equal to or greater than the first distance threshold. It may be determined whether or not the focal length of the interchangeable lens 2 is equal to or greater than a second distance threshold.

  In addition, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as long as the characteristics of the present invention are not impaired, and other forms conceivable within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention are also within the scope of the present invention. included. The embodiments and modifications used in the description may be configured by appropriately combining them.

14 image sensor, 19 control circuit,
16 GPS devices, 17 electronic compass,
22 temperature sensor, 191 image processing unit,
193 judgment part

Claims (6)

Imaging means for receiving a light beam from a subject via an imaging optical system and generating image data;
Determination means for determining whether or not distortion caused by air fluctuation occurs in an image corresponding to the image data based on a predetermined condition;
An imaging control means for controlling the imaging means to generate a plurality of image data corresponding to each of a plurality of images by continuous shooting when the determination means determines that distortion due to the air fluctuation occurs;
An image pickup apparatus comprising: a correction unit that corrects distortion caused by the air fluctuation by combining the plurality of image data generated by the continuous shooting. The imaging device according to claim 1,
An image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit determines that distortion caused by the air fluctuation occurs when a shooting distance to the subject and a focal length of the shooting optical system are equal to or greater than a predetermined value. The imaging device according to claim 2,
The determination unit further determines that distortion due to the air fluctuation occurs when it is detected that a predetermined geographical environment exists between the subject and the imaging device based on geographical information. An imaging apparatus characterized by that. The imaging device according to claim 2,
The determination means further determines that distortion caused by the air fluctuation occurs when it is detected that a predetermined geographical environment exists in the vicinity of the imaging device based on geographical information. An imaging device. In the imaging device according to any one of claims 2 to 4,
Temperature detecting means for detecting the ambient temperature of the imaging device,
The determination unit further determines that distortion due to the air fluctuation occurs when the ambient temperature detected by the temperature detection unit is equal to or higher than a first threshold, and when the ambient temperature is lower than a second threshold. It is determined that distortion caused by the air fluctuation does not occur. In the imaging device according to any one of claims 2 to 5,
An image pickup apparatus comprising: a reading unit that reads out the geographical information from a recording medium on which the geographical information is recorded.

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