JP4798229B2 - Electronic camera - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic camera that images a subject with an imaging device such as a CCD.

  An image pickup device that picks up an image of a subject passing through a photographing lens, an image processing circuit that performs predetermined image processing such as white balance and γ correction on an image signal output from the image pickup device, and image data after image processing There is known an electronic camera including a monitor to be displayed and a compression circuit that compresses data after image processing by a predetermined method such as JPEG and records the compressed data on a recording medium such as a flash memory.

  In such an electronic camera, for example, when setting shooting conditions such as setting adjustment conditions during white balance adjustment processing, setting items for predetermined shooting conditions are displayed and displayed on the monitor of the electronic camera. Some menu display methods are used to select setting contents from among the setting items. In the case of such a menu display method, predetermined setting items are displayed on a monitor in advance before shooting, and a desired item is selected from the displayed setting items for setting. After the shooting conditions are set, shooting is performed in a state where the display on the monitor is switched from the display of the setting item to the display of the through image captured through the shooting lens. The photographer can determine the composition while confirming the through image displayed on the monitor.

  However, in the above-described electronic camera with the menu display method, the display of the predetermined setting item and the display of the through image are performed separately on the monitor, so the setting item for changing the setting content on the monitor Shooting could not be performed while is displayed.

(1) The invention described in claim 1 is applied to an electronic camera that captures a subject image under a set shooting condition and image processing condition and records the image on a recording medium. A setting unit that has a plurality of setting items each having a plurality of sub-items each including a plurality of setting items and a second setting item greater than the first setting item, and that selects and sets the sub-items ; Storage means for storing information on sub-items and second setting items set by the setting item setting means, images after image processing according to image processing conditions, and display means for displaying a plurality of setting items; A first display state in which a sub-item set by the first setting item setting unit is displayed on the display unit based on an operation member to which a manual operation is applied, and a second setting item based on the operation of the operation member Display means A display switching means for switching the second display state, and a control means for allowing the start of the photographing processing in a state that has been switched to the second display state the display switching means, the start of the imaging process is allowed to be displayed The information is stored in the storage means, and the display of the first setting item and the second setting item is temporarily turned off. When the photographing process is completed, the display is performed based on the information stored in the storage means. And display control means for turning it on again .
(2) The invention described in claim 2 is applied to an electronic camera that captures a subject image under a set photographing condition and image processing condition and records it on a recording medium. A setting unit that has a plurality of setting items each having a plurality of sub-items each including a plurality of setting items and a second setting item greater than the first setting item, and that selects and sets the sub-items ; Storage means for storing information on sub-items and second setting items set by setting item setting means, an image after image processing according to image processing conditions, and a display monitor for displaying a plurality of setting items; First display means for displaying the sub-items set by the setting means for the first setting item on the display monitor, a first operating member for turning on / off the first display means, and a second setting item The display moni A second display means for displaying the second display means, a second operation member for turning on / off the second display means regardless of the on / off state of the first display means, and an operation by the second operation member. Control means for allowing the start of the photographing process while the second setting means is being displayed by the second display means, and when the start of the photographing process is permitted, the storage means stores the information. The display of the sub-item and the second setting item set by the setting means of the first setting item is temporarily turned off, and when the photographing process is finished, the display is made based on the information stored in the storage means. And a display control means for turning on again .

According to the present invention, since the display of the original setting item is restored after the photographing process is completed, it is easier to use than when the display is newly turned on.

It is a figure which shows the external appearance at the time of accommodation of the electronic still camera by one Embodiment, and carrying, (a) is the figure seen from the top, (b) is the figure seen from the back. It is a figure which shows the external appearance at the time of normal imaging | photography of the camera of FIG. 1, (a) is the figure seen from the front, (b) is the figure seen from the top, (c) is the figure seen from the back. It is a figure which shows the circuit block of the electronic still camera by one embodiment. It is a figure explaining the mark showing a through image and a focus adjustment area. (a) It is a figure showing the state in which page 1 is selected, (b) It is a figure showing the state in which the item regarding white balance adjustment is selected. (a) A figure explaining a 2nd item display part, (b) It is a figure showing the state where page 2 is selected. It is a figure explaining the icon during imaging processing. It is a flowchart explaining an imaging | photography process. It is a flowchart explaining an image pre-processing. It is a flowchart explaining a menu process.

  Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1A and 1B show the external appearance of an electronic still camera according to an embodiment of the present invention when stored and carried, wherein FIG. 1A is a view from above and FIG. 1B is a view from behind. Fig. 2 shows the appearance of the camera shown in Fig. 1 during normal shooting. (A) is a view from the front, (b) is a view from above, and (c) is a view from behind. is there. The electronic still camera 1 according to this embodiment is divided into a lens unit 1a including a movable lens 2 and a monitor unit 1b including a display LCD 3, and both the units 1a and 1b are connected to be relatively rotatable.

  When stored or carried, the lens unit 1a is rotated so that the lens unit 1a and the monitor unit 1b are flat as shown in FIG. Further, during normal photographing, as shown in FIG. 2, the lens unit 1a is rotated so that the photographing zoom lens 2 faces the subject. At this time, the monitor unit 1b is held so that the display LCD 3 faces the photographer, so that the photographer can take a picture while looking at the display LCD 3.

  In addition to the photographing zoom lens 2, the lens unit 1a includes an electronic flash device 4, a finder window 5, a red-eye reduction / self-timer display lamp 6, a finder eyepiece window 7, and the like. On the other hand, in addition to the display LCD 3, the monitor unit 1b includes a main switch 8, a release button 9, a display panel 10, a shooting distance button 11, a flash mode button 12, an image quality button 13, a monitor button 14, a menu button 15, and a zoom operation switch 16. , A selection dial 17, AF area selection buttons 19a to 19d, and the like.

-Recording mode-
The electronic still camera 1 has two operation modes: a recording mode in which a subject image is captured and image data is recorded, and a reproduction mode in which the recorded image data is read and reproduced. By switching the main switch 8, a recording mode (REC) and a reproduction mode (PLAY) are selected. The main switch 8 is switched to at least three positions: PLAY, OFF, and REC. The recording mode is an operation mode in which the captured subject image is recorded as image data, and the reproduction mode is an operation mode in which the recorded image data is read and displayed on the display LCD 3. The description of this embodiment will be focused on the recording mode.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a circuit of the electronic still camera 1 according to the first embodiment. When the main switch 8 is switched to the recording mode: REC, the electronic still camera 1 is turned on and switched to the recording mode. When the CPU 21 activates a predetermined control program, the subject light incident on the photographing zoom lens 2 (FIG. 2) is imaged on the CCD 26 which is an imaging device, and the image signal passes through the analog processing circuit 27 and the A / D conversion circuit. 28 to be converted into a digital signal. The digitally converted signal is guided to an image processing CPU 29 configured as an ASIC, for example, and image preprocessing such as contour compensation and gamma correction is performed and temporarily stored in the buffer memory 30.

  The image data once stored in the buffer memory 30 is processed into display image data by a display image creation circuit 31 controlled by the image processing CPU 29. The display image creating circuit 31 reads the image data after image preprocessing stored in the buffer memory 30 and creates a display image by performing a thinning process according to the display resolution of the LCD monitor 3. The display image data created by the display image creation circuit 31 is displayed on the display LCD 3 as a photographic monitor image called a through image. The through image is sequentially updated at predetermined intervals based on the subject light incident on the photographing zoom lens 2 by repeating the above operation.

  The CPU 21 receives a half-press signal and a full-press signal from a half-press switch 22 and a full-press switch 23 (hereinafter referred to as the release switch 23) that are linked to the release button 9, respectively. When the half-push switch 22 is operated and a half-push signal is input, the focus detection / adjustment device 36 detects the focus adjustment state of the photographic zoom lens 2 in a focus detection area, which will be described later, according to a command from the CPU 21. Then, the photographic zoom lens 2 is driven to the in-focus position so that the subject light incident on the photographic zoom lens 2 forms an image on the CCD 26 that is the imaging device. The CCD 26 is driven and controlled via the timing generator 24 and the driver 25, and the timing generator 24 controls the operation timing of the analog processing circuit 27 and the A / D conversion circuit 28.

  The electronic still camera 1 is provided with two AF operation modes of “single AF mode” and “continuous AF mode”. When the “single AF mode” is set, the focus detection operation by the focus detection / adjustment device 36 is performed by operating the half-press switch 22 as described above. On the other hand, when the “continuous AF mode” is set, when the main switch 8 is switched to the recording mode position, the focus detection operation by the focus detection / adjustment device 36 is always performed.

  The electronic still camera 1 includes five areas in the object field as areas in which the focus detection / adjustment device 36 detects the focus adjustment state. Of these five focus detection areas, areas where focus detection is performed by the focus detection / adjustment device 36 are set as follows. On the display LCD 3, a mark indicating the focus adjustment area is displayed in an overlay manner on the through image. FIG. 4 shows a through image displayed on the display LCD 3 and a mark representing the focus adjustment area. In FIG. 4, five marks 4V to 4Z represent focus detection areas. The focus detection area is set by operating the AF area selection buttons 19a to 19d (FIG. 2).

  When the switch 19a is operated, the focus detection area 4W currently set in FIG. 4 is changed to the focus detection area 4V located above the focus adjustment area 4W. Subsequently, when the AF area selection button 19b is operated, the focus detection area 4W is changed again. Further, when the AF area selection button 19c is operated, the focus detection area 4Y is changed to the left with respect to the focus detection area 4W. Similarly, by operating the AF area selection button 19d, the focus detection area 4Z can be changed to the right with respect to the set focus detection area 4W. The selected focus detection area is displayed with emphasis as compared with marks in other areas, for example, an area 4Y in FIG. When the photographer selects one of the marks 4V to 4Z on the main subject, the above-described focus position adjustment state is detected in the focus detection area in the photographing screen corresponding to the selected mark.

  When the zoom operation switch 16 is operated, the zoom lens driving device 37 drives the photographing zoom lens 2 according to a command from the CPU 21 to change the focal length. The zoom operation switch 16 is a seesaw type switch, and the focal length is moved to either the telephoto side (T) or the wide angle side (W). The photometry device 38 measures the luminance of the subject, and performs photometry when a half-press signal from the half-press switch 22 linked to the release button 9 is input to the CPU 21.

  When the release switch 23 is turned on after the half-push switch 22 is turned on, the flash device 4 emits light according to the photometry result of the photometry device 38 and the flash mode preset by the flash mode button 12, The subject light from the photographic zoom lens 2 forms an image on the light receiving surface of the CCD 26, whereby signal charges corresponding to the brightness of the subject image are accumulated in the CCD 26. The signal charges accumulated in the CCD 26 are discharged by the driver 25 and input to an analog signal processing circuit 27 including an AGC circuit and a CDS circuit. The analog signal processing circuit 27 performs analog processing such as gain control and noise removal on the analog image signal, and then the digital signal is converted by the A / D conversion circuit 28.

  The digitally converted signal is guided to the above-described image processing CPU 29, where image preprocessing such as contour compensation and gamma correction is performed and temporarily stored in the buffer memory 30. Then, image data is exchanged between the CPU 21 and the buffer memory 30, and a white balance adjustment value is obtained from the stored image data. Based on the obtained white balance adjustment value, the image processing CPU 29 performs white balance adjustment, and the image data after the white balance adjustment is stored in the buffer memory 30 again.

  The image data subjected to the image preprocessing as described above is further subjected to, for example, predetermined format processing (image post-processing) for JPEG compression by the image processing CPU 29 and controlled by the image processing CPU 29. The compression circuit 32 receives data compression at a predetermined ratio of the JPEG method. When the image data is subjected to data compression processing, the occupied area occupied by the compressed image data in the buffer memory 30 is reduced, so that the buffer memory 30 can accept new image data.

  Image data that has been subjected to data compression in the JPEG format is given a predetermined data name by the CPU 21 and is recorded on a recording medium (PC card, CF card, etc.) 34 such as a flash memory together with time information from the real-time clock 35. When the recording process on the recording medium 34 is finished, a series of photographing processes is finished.

  In addition, the display panel driver 33 is connected to the CPU 21, and the display panel 10 displays the flash mode setting by the flash mode button 12, the range setting by the shooting distance button 11, the compression rate setting by the image quality button 13, and the like. Is displayed.

-Playback mode-
When the main switch 8 is switched to the playback mode position, the electronic still camera 1 is switched to the playback mode when the power is turned on. When image data has already been recorded on the recording medium 34, the recorded image data is read into the CPU 21. The data read by the CPU 21 is sent to the buffer memory 30 and then processed into display image data by the display image creating circuit 31 controlled by the image processing CPU 29. Then, the reproduced image is displayed on the display LCD 3. During the playback mode, a playback image is displayed on the display LCD 3, but the screen of the subject image captured through the shooting zoom lens 2: the through screen is not displayed. Further, neither exposure adjustment (AE) based on the photometry result by the photometry device 38 nor detection (AF) of the focus adjustment state by the focus detection / adjustment device 36 is performed.

-Menu settings-
The menu button 15 is used when setting the shooting conditions of the electronic still camera 1 in detail. When the menu button 15 is operated in a state where the main switch 8 is switched to the recording mode: REC, the display of the setting change screen is turned on. Note that the menu button 15 is effective even when the main switch 8 is switched to the playback mode: PLAY. However, in this embodiment, the operation is switched to the recording mode. The state that is being described will be described.

  The setting change screen is displayed in an overlay manner on the through screen displayed on the display LCD 3. Processing for overlay display is performed by the image processing CPU 29 in accordance with a command from the CPU 21. While the setting change screen is displayed as an overlay, the above-described marks 4V to 4Z (FIG. 4) indicating the focus detection area are not displayed as an overlay. 5 and 6 are diagrams for explaining a setting change screen displayed as an overlay on the display LCD 3 of the electronic still camera 1. FIG. 5 (a) is an initial screen displayed as an overlay.

  5A, the setting change screen includes a page number display unit 51, a first item display unit 52, a tag display unit 53, and a first operation explanation display unit 54. For example, in the case where there are 21 setting items such as shooting conditions set for the electronic still camera 1, the setting items are grouped into a predetermined number and displayed in a menu format for each group. One page is composed of a predetermined number of setting items grouped, and a setting change screen is composed of a plurality of pages. In the present embodiment, in consideration of the display resolution of the display LCD 3 and the visibility when displayed on the display LCD 3, the number of setting items that can be displayed on one screen on the display LCD 3 is determined as seven items, and menu items 1 to 7 are set. The 21st setting items are classified into page 1, the 8th to 14th setting items in the menu are stored in page 2, and the 15th to 21st menu items are stored in page 3. Are managed. In addition, when adding a setting item newly, what is necessary is just to add the page 4 or later and to contain a setting item.

  The page number display unit 51 displays the page number. Of these, the page number selected by the cursor is highlighted (white in the figure) in comparison with other page numbers not selected. Since FIG. 5A is the first screen switched to the setting change screen, page 1 is automatically selected. At this time, “shooting menu 1” representing the contents of page 1 is displayed on tag display portion 53. In the first item display section 52, the first to seventh setting items included in page 1 are displayed. In this embodiment, the setting item related to white balance adjustment is “WB”, the setting item related to photometry is “photometry”, the setting item related to continuous shooting is “continuous shooting”, and the setting item related to camera shake reduction processing is “blur”, The setting item regarding the converter lens is displayed as “converter”, the setting item regarding gradation correction as “gradation”, and the setting item regarding edge enhancement as “edge”. Items displayed on the first item display section 52 include setting items relating to shutter speed and aperture value as shooting conditions. The setting items may be displayed with icons representing the setting items instead of characters. Moreover, you may display so that the set state may be understood.

  The first operation explanation display unit 54 displays operation switches necessary for the displayed setting change screen and a description of the operation thereof. In the example of FIG. 5A, the menu button 15 is operated to turn off the display of the setting change screen, and the upward AF area selection button 19a and the downward AF area selection button 19b are operated to perform page selection. It means that.

  The cursor for selecting the page number is moved using the AF area selection buttons 19a to 19d described above. When the setting change screen is displayed on the display LCD 3, the AF area selection buttons 19a to 19d are used to move the cursor position up, down, left and right. For example, when page 1 is selected and “1” in the page number display section 51 is highlighted, when the downward AF area selection button 19b is pressed, the cursor moves down and page 2 is selected. . When page 2 is selected, “2” is highlighted in the page number display section 51 and the eighth to fourteenth setting items included in page 2 are displayed. Similarly, when page 3 is selected, “3” is highlighted in the page number display section 51, and the 15th to 21st setting items included in page 3 can be displayed.

  Next, a setting item setting operation included in each page will be described. For example, when the right AF area selection button 19d is operated in a state where page 1 is selected as shown in FIG. 5A, the first selection item in the first item display section 52 is selected by the cursor. The When the rightward AF area selection button 19d is operated again in this state, white balance adjustment as the first setting item is selected as shown in FIG. 5B. At this time, “WB” is highlighted on the first item display section 52, “white balance” is displayed on the tag display section 53, and a second operation explanation display section 55 is newly displayed. The second operation explanation display unit 55 displays which switch should be operated to set the setting item. In the example of FIG. 5 (b), it is indicated that the right-facing AF area selection button 19d or the selection dial 17 (FIG. 1) may be operated.

  As shown in FIG. 5B, when the rightward AF area selection button 19d is operated with the white balance adjustment setting item selected, the second item display section 56 shown in FIG. Is newly displayed. In the second item display unit 56, selection items related to the setting item selected in the first item display unit 52 are displayed. In the example of FIG. 6 (a), selection items related to white balance adjustment are displayed. Of these, the selection item selected by the cursor is emphasized compared to other selection items that are not selected (white in the drawing). Is displayed. In FIG. 6A, the photographer uses the upward AF area selection button 19a and the downward AF area selection button 19b to select, for example, “auto”, “sunlight”, “light bulb”,. When “bulb” is selected, the above-described image processing CPU 29 performs white balance adjustment according to illumination light from the bulb. That is, as soon as a selection item is selected with the cursor, the internal setting state of the electronic still camera 1 changes.

  When the right AF area selection button 19d is operated in a state where the second item display unit 56 as shown in FIG. 6A is displayed, the page number shown in FIG. 5A is selected. Return to the setting change screen. In this state, another page number can be selected by operating the upward AF area selection button 19a and the downward AF area selection button 19b. When the menu button 15 is operated, the overlay display on the setting change screen is turned off.

  The switching setting to the two AF operation modes of “single AF mode” and “continuous AF mode” described above is also performed using the setting change screen by the menu button 15. By operating the AF area selection buttons 19a to 19d, for example, an item related to the AF operation is selected from the setting items included in the page 2. FIG. 6B shows a state in which page 2 is selected. When the AF area selection button 19d is operated to select “AF”, a selection item (not shown) regarding the AF operation is displayed on the second item display unit 56 described above. Since “continuous AF mode” and “single AF mode” are displayed as selection items, the selection item is selected by operating the upward AF area selection button 19a and the downward AF area selection button 19b, The determination may be made by operating the AF area selection button 19d facing right.

  When the “single AF mode” is set, the focus detection operation by the focus detection / adjustment device 36 is performed every time the half-press switch 22 is operated as described above, and the “continuous AF mode” is set. As long as the main switch 8 is switched to the recording mode position, the focus detection operation by the focus detection / adjustment device 36 is always performed.

  The settings made using the setting change screen by the menu button 15 become effective immediately without pressing the menu button 15 again to turn off the overlay display of the setting change screen. Accordingly, in addition to the above-described white balance adjustment included in the setting items of page 1, for example, gradation correction for adjusting the brightness of the image and exposure correction for adjusting the aperture value during exposure are displayed on the setting change screen. If this is done, the through screen displayed on the display LCD 3 changes based on the contents set on the setting change screen. As a result, the photographer can change the settings while confirming in real time from the through screen displayed on the display LCD 3 together with the setting change screen whether white balance adjustment, gradation correction and exposure correction are correctly performed.

  When the release switch 23 is turned on while the setting change screen by the menu button 15 is displayed as an overlay, the electronic still camera 1 performs shooting based on the content selected by the cursor at that time. That is, when the release switch 23 is operated in a state where any of the selection items displayed on the second item display unit 56 is selected with the cursor, it is not determined by the right AF area selection button 19d. Even the content selected with the cursor is reflected in the shooting process.

  When the shooting process described above is started by the release switch 23, the display of the setting change screen displayed as an overlay on the display LCD 3 is temporarily turned off, and an icon indicating that the shooting process is being performed as shown in FIG. Is done. In FIG. 7, the icon displayed on the right is a processing icon 71 indicating that the photographing process is being performed, the icon displayed in the center is a keep icon 72 for extending the freeze screen display time, and the icon displayed on the left. Is a delete icon 73 for deleting photographed image data. The freeze screen is an image being photographed that is displayed on the display LCD 3 for a predetermined time after the release switch 23 is turned on, unlike the through image that is sequentially updated as the monitor image before photographing as described above.

  The in-process icon 71 is displayed until the series of shooting processes described above is completed. The keep icon 72 is displayed together with the in-process icon 71 for a predetermined time during which the freeze screen is displayed: for example, 3 seconds. When the flash mode button 12 disposed near the display position of the keep icon 72 is operated while the keep icon 72 is being displayed, the display time of the freeze screen is set to another predetermined time: for example, 20 seconds. Extended. The delete icon 73 is displayed while the freeze screen is displayed. If the shooting distance button 11 disposed near the display position of the delete icon 73 is operated while the delete icon 73 is displayed, the shooting process is started by operating the release switch 23, and the flash memory The image data recorded on the recording medium 34 is deleted.

  When the predetermined display time for displaying the freeze screen ends, the display of the freeze image, the in-process icon 71, the keep icon 72, and the delete icon 73 is stopped. Then, a through image newly picked up through the photographing zoom lens 2 and a setting change screen once turned off by the operation of the release switch 23 as described above are overlaid and displayed on the through image. The setting change screen in this case is different from the screen when the menu button 15 with the page 1 selected is first operated as shown in FIG. 5A, and the release switch 23 is operated while the previous setting change screen is displayed. The screen at the point in time is reproduced.

  The photographing process of the electronic still camera 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. In step S201 of FIG. 8, exposure adjustment (AE) based on the photometric result of the photometry device 38 (FIG. 3) is performed, and subsequently focus detection (AF) by the focus detection / adjustment device 36 is performed in step S202. When the AF operation ends, image preprocessing is performed in step S203.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the image preprocessing 250. In step S251, charges corresponding to the brightness of the subject image are accumulated in the CCD 26 (FIG. 3), and the charges accumulated in step S252 are sequentially discharged and input to the analog signal processing circuit 27. In step S253, analog signal processing is performed in the analog signal processing circuit 27, and in the subsequent step S254, the A / D conversion circuit 28 converts the analog signal into a digital signal. The digitized image signal is subjected to contour compensation and gamma correction by the image processing CPU 29 in step S255 and then temporarily stored in the buffer memory 30, and then subjected to image processing such as white balance adjustment and image preprocessing 250. Ends.

  When the image preprocessing described above in step S203 of FIG. 8 is completed, in step S204, the display image creation circuit 31 controlled by the image processing CPU 29 processes the image preprocessed data into display image data. A through image is displayed on the display LCD 3. In step S205, it is determined whether or not the half-push switch 22 has been operated. If it is determined that the switch has been operated (Y in step S205), the process proceeds to step S206, and an AE operation for photographing is performed, and subsequent step S207. On the other hand, when it is determined in step S205 that the half-pressing operation has not been performed (N in step S205), the process returns to step S201 again.

  When the AF operation in step S207 is completed, the results of both the above AE and AF operations are held in the CPU 21, and it is checked in step S208 whether or not the full push switch 23 is operated. When it is determined that the full-press switch 23 is operated (Y in step S208), the AF area display marks 4V to 4Z (FIG. 4) and the through screen display are turned off and the black screen display is displayed in step S210. Do. In step S211, image preprocessing is performed. This image preprocessing is the same processing as the above-described image preprocessing performed in step S203. When the image preprocessing in step S211 is completed, the image data subjected to the image preprocessing is sent to the compression circuit 32 (FIG. 3), and image postprocessing is performed to compress the data to a predetermined ratio by the JPEG method (step S1). S212).

  When the freeze screen is displayed on the display LCD 3 in step S213, the processing icon 71 (FIG. 7) is turned on in the subsequent step S214. In step S215, the CPU 21 assigns a predetermined image data name to the compressed image data, and starts recording the image data on the recording medium 34. The time until the recording of the image data is completed is the display time of the predetermined freeze screen. In step S216 during the recording process to the recording medium 34, it is determined whether or not the freeze screen display is to be extended. If it is determined to extend (Y in step S216), the freeze screen display is extended in step S217. If it is determined not to extend in step S216 (N in step S216), the process proceeds to step S218.

  In step S218, it is determined whether or not the image data recorded on the recording medium 34 is to be erased. When it is determined that the image is to be erased (Y in step S218), the process proceeds to step S219, and the image data that has been recorded and started in step S215 is erased. On the other hand, when it is determined not to delete (N in step S218), the process proceeds to step S221.

  In step S221, it is determined whether or not the recording on the recording medium 34 is completed. If it is determined that the process has not been completed (N in step S221), the process returns to step S216. If it is determined that the process has been completed (Y in step S221), the process proceeds to step S222. In step S222, it is determined whether or not the image data recorded on the recording medium 34 is to be erased. If it is determined to be erased (Y in step S222), the process proceeds to step S223. After the image data that has been recorded and started in step S215 is erased, the process proceeds to step S220. On the other hand, when it is determined not to erase (N in step S222), the process proceeds to step S224. In step S224, it is checked whether the time is up. If it is determined in step S224 that the time is not up (N in step S222), the process returns to step S222. If it is determined that the time is up (Y in step S222), the process proceeds to step S223.

  In step S220, the display of the in-process icon 71 (FIG. 7) is turned off, and it is determined whether or not a menu flag to be described later is set. When it is determined that it is not set (N in step S220), the display of the AF area display marks 4V to 4Z (FIG. 4) is turned on, and the process of FIG. 8 is ended. When it is determined in step S220 that the menu flag is set (Y in step S220), the process jumps to the menu process described below.

  When it is determined in step S208 that the full press switch 23 has not been operated (N in step S208), it is checked in step S209 whether the time is up. If it is determined in step S209 that the time is not up, the CPU 21 holds the results of both the AE and AF operations, returns to step S208, and waits for the full-press switch 23 to be operated. If it is determined in step S209 that the time is up (Y in step S209), the photographing process in FIG. 8 is terminated.

  Menu processing of the electronic still camera 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When the menu button 15 is operated, the menu process of FIG. 10 is performed. In step S301, a menu flag indicating that menu processing is being executed is set in the CPU 21, and display of the AF area display marks 4V to 4Z (FIG. 4) is turned off in step S302. In step S303, the setting change screen display is overlaid on the through screen. In step S304, the setting process for each setting item described above is performed. In step S305, it is determined whether or not the half-press switch 22 is turned on. If a negative determination is made (N in step S305), the process proceeds to step S306. If an affirmative determination is made (Y in step S305), the process proceeds to step S310. .

  In step S306, it is determined whether or not the menu button 15 is turned off by the menu button 15. If it is determined that the operation has been turned off (Y in step S306), the process proceeds to step S307, and the overlay display on the setting change screen is turned off. On the other hand, when it is not determined in step S306 that the operation has been turned off (N in step S306), the process returns to step S304 and the setting process is repeated. In step S308, the display of the AF area display marks 4V to 4Z (FIG. 4) is turned on, and after the menu flag is reset in step S309, the processing in FIG. 10 ends.

  In step S310, the state of the setting change screen, that is, information such as the page number being displayed and the setting item selected by the cursor is stored in the memory in the CPU 21. In subsequent step S311, after the overlay display of the setting change screen is turned off, the process jumps to step S206 in the photographing process of FIG.

  When an affirmative determination is made in step S220 in FIG. 9 (Y in step S220), processing subsequent to step S312 in FIG. 10 is performed. In step S312, the setting change screen state stored in step S310 is read. In step S313, after the setting change screen overlay display is turned on based on the read setting change screen information, the setting process in step S304 is performed.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the following operational effects are obtained.
(1) When the menu button 15 is operated in a state in which the through screen imaged through the photographing zoom lens 2 is displayed on the display LCD 3, the setting change screen is overlaid on the through screen. Therefore, it is possible to make an adjustment while confirming the result of the actual image processing performed through the photographing zoom lens 2 and the image processing. In particular, when white balance adjustment, gradation correction, and exposure correction adjustment are performed, an operability is improved and an electronic camera that is easy to use can be obtained.
(2) In addition to the above (1), when the release button 9 is half-pressed while the setting change screen is displayed on the display LCD 3 (step S305 in FIG. 10), a shooting process routine (FIG. 8) is performed immediately. Jump to), and when it is fully pressed, shooting is performed. Therefore, when a photo opportunity comes in the middle of changing the setting while viewing the through screen, it is possible to immediately take a picture without missing the photo opportunity.
(3) In the case of (2) above, when the shooting process is started, the setting change screen state at that time is memorized and then the setting change screen is turned off to display a predetermined screen during the shooting process. To do. When the shooting process is completed, the stored setting change screen state is read, and the same setting change screen display as when the release button 9 is operated is automatically restored. An electronic camera that is easier to use than when the screen state is not restored can be obtained.
(4) On the setting change screen, setting items are grouped into a predetermined number and displayed in a menu format for each group. One page is configured by a predetermined number of setting items grouped, and a setting change screen is configured by a plurality of pages. Therefore, in consideration of the display resolution of the display LCD 3 and the visibility when displayed on the display LCD 3, the number of setting items that can be displayed on one screen on the display LCD 3 can be set to an ideal number. As a result, even when there are a large number of setting items on the menu, the pages are divided and classified, so that they are easy to manage and easy to use with improved operability.
(5) On the setting change screen, the AF area selection buttons 19a to 19d are also used as pointing members for moving the cursor. Therefore, since the number of buttons can be reduced compared with the case where a new pointing member is added, an effect can be obtained in cost reduction. In addition, since the shooting distance button 11, the flash mode button 12, the image quality button 13, the zoom operation switch 16 and the like are not used as a pointing member for moving the cursor in the setting change screen, the camera settings by the above buttons and switches are set. This can be done while the change screen is displayed.

  In the above description, the case where the photographing process is performed in a state where the setting change screen is displayed on the display LCD 3 so as to be superimposed on the through screen has been described. However, only the setting change screen is displayed on the display LCD 3 or The present invention can also be applied to a case where a setting change screen is displayed instead of the through screen.

  In the above description, the setting change screen is displayed when the menu button 15 is operated. The display of the first item display section 52 on the setting change screen can be turned on / off using the monitor button 14. In this case, every time the monitor button 14 is operated, the through screen display → the setting item of the first item display unit 52 is overlaid on the through screen, the overlay display → the display LCD 3 is turned off → the through screen display →. Thus, the display on the display LCD 3 is cyclically switched. As described above, when an icon representing a setting item is displayed on the first item display unit 52, if the icon representing the set state is displayed, the display of the first item display unit 52 is displayed. By turning on, the photographer can see the setting state of the camera by looking at this display. For example, when “bulb” is set as described above for white balance adjustment, an icon representing “bulb” is displayed instead of “WB”. The photographer can see that the white balance adjustment according to the illumination light by the light bulb is performed by looking at the display of “bulb”. The setting items displayed by the monitor button 14 are the shooting conditions and the image processing conditions set other than the default.

  The above description is merely an example, and is not limited to the configuration of the above embodiment.

1. Electronic still camera 2. Shooting zoom lens 3. Display LCD
4 ... Flash device 4V-4Z ... AF area mark 8 ... Main switch 9 ... Release button 11 ... Shooting distance button 12 ... Flash mode button 15 ... Menu button 16 ... Zoom operation switch 17 ... Selection dial 19a-19d ... AF area selection button 21 ... CPU
22 ... half-press switch 23 ... full-press switch 26 ... CCD
29. Image processing CPU
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 31 ... Display image creation circuit 32 ... Compression circuit 34 ... Recording medium 36 ... Focus detection / adjustment device 37 ... Zoom lens drive device 38 ... Photometry device 51 ... Page number display part 52 ... First item display part 53 ... Tag display part 54 ... 1st operation description display part 55 ... 2nd operation description display part 56 ... 2nd item display part 71 ... In-process icon 72 ... Keep icon 73 ... Delete icon

Claims (3)

In an electronic camera that captures a subject image under a set shooting condition and image processing condition and records it on a recording medium,
The photographing condition and the image processing condition include a plurality of setting items each having a plurality of sub items each including a first setting item and a second setting item greater than the first setting item. Setting means for selecting and setting items,
Storage means for storing information on the sub-item set by the setting means of the first setting item and information on the second setting item;
An image after image processing under the image processing conditions, and display means for displaying the plurality of setting items;
An operation member to which manual operation is applied;
Based on the operation of the operation member, a first display state in which the sub-item set by the setting unit of the first setting item is displayed on the display unit, and the second setting item is displayed on the display unit. Display switching means for switching between the second display state displayed on
Control means for allowing the start of photographing processing in a state where the display switching means is switched to the second display state;
When the start of the photographing process is allowed, the information is stored in the storage unit, and the display of the sub item and the second setting item set by the setting unit of the first setting item is temporarily turned off. An electronic camera comprising: display control means for turning on the display again based on the information stored in the storage means when the photographing process is completed . In an electronic camera that captures a subject image under a set shooting condition and image processing condition and records it on a recording medium,
The photographing condition and the image processing condition include a plurality of setting items each having a plurality of sub items each including a first setting item and a second setting item greater than the first setting item. Setting means for selecting and setting items,
Storage means for storing information on the sub-item set by the setting means of the first setting item and information on the second setting item;
An image after image processing under the image processing conditions, and a display monitor for displaying the plurality of setting items;
First display means for displaying a sub-item set by the setting means of the first setting item on the display monitor;
A first operating member for turning on / off the first display means;
Second display means for displaying the second setting item on the display monitor;
A second operating member for turning on / off the second display means regardless of the on / off state of the first display means;
Control means for permitting the start of the photographing process in a state in which the display of the second setting item by the second display means is performed based on an operation by the second operation member;
When the start of the photographing process is allowed, the information is stored in the storage unit, and the display of the sub item and the second setting item set by the setting unit of the first setting item is temporarily turned off. An electronic camera comprising: display control means for turning on the display again based on the information stored in the storage means when the photographing process is completed . The electronic camera according to claim 1 or 2,
The second setting item includes all image processing items that can be set by an operator using the electronic camera.

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