JP5164366B2 - Imaging device, display device and program thereof - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus and a program thereof, and more particularly, to an imaging apparatus and a program thereof capable of setting a shooting schedule.

  In recent years, in an imaging apparatus, for example, a digital camera, when a user inputs a shooting time (shooting use schedule) to be shot, the image quality at the time of shooting is calculated from the input shooting time and the current remaining recording medium. A camera that automatically sets the camera has been developed (Patent Document 1)

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-142145

  However, according to the above technique, even if the shooting is performed for many days, how many times, the total number of movie shooting times is input for the number of days and how many times, and the total number of the movie shooting times for the input is input. It is only possible to set an appropriate image quality based on the image quality, and when the shooting pace has been exceeded in the middle or the shooting pace has been fast, it has not been possible to respond appropriately. For example, if the shooting period is 4 days, the shooting pace is 1 day, 15 minutes, and if 30 minutes a day is taken and recorded, the shooting pace will exceed, and the planned memory usage will be exceeded. There will be no free memory space before shooting for 4 days. In other words, when the planned use memory capacity is exceeded, future shooting cannot be performed according to the use schedule.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of such a conventional problem, and after setting a shooting schedule, by determining the shooting recording status during shooting, there is no free memory capacity during shooting. An object of the present invention is to provide an imaging apparatus and a program for enabling the situation to be prevented.

In order to achieve the above object, an image pickup apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention includes an image quality setting means for setting image quality, and an image of a subject shot by still image shooting or moving image shooting at the image quality set by the image quality setting means. and recording control means for recording data in the recording means, the number of shots and shooting period in the still image shooting, or an input means for inputting a shooting time and shooting period performed in the video, number of shots and shooting period input by said input means Alternatively, based on the setting means for setting the shooting time and the shooting period as a shooting use schedule, the use schedule set by the setting means, and the free memory capacity of the recording means, the recording control means sets the recording means to the recording means. a first usage amount calculation means for calculating the memory usage of the image data per one or per unit may record the time, the Based on the memory usage calculated by the one usage calculation means, the image quality calculation means for calculating the image quality that can be recorded when shooting according to the usage schedule, and the shooting progress according to the usage schedule set by the setting means A determination unit that determines that shooting cannot be performed to the end in the use schedule when the image data of the subject is recorded with the image quality calculated by the image quality calculation unit at a shooting pace faster than the shooting pace based on the use schedule, When it is determined by the determining means that the image cannot be taken to the end, based on the remaining number of shots or shooting time in the use schedule and the free space, per sheet or per unit time that can be recorded in the recording means a second usage amount calculation means for calculating the memory usage of the image data again, before And a calculation control unit that causes the calculation unit to calculate an image quality that can be recorded when shooting according to the use schedule, based on the memory usage amount calculated again by the second usage amount calculation unit. And

Further, the invention described in 請 Motomeko 2 is an imaging device according to claim 1, and informing means for informing the image quality calculated by the image quality calculation means to a user, by the notification means detection means for detecting a user selection of the broadcast image quality, the selection by the detection means further comprises a first image quality setting control means for controlling so as to set the detected image quality on the image quality setting means, It is characterized by .

Further, according to 請 Motomeko third invention is an imaging apparatus according to claim 1, automatically second controlling so as to set the image quality setting means the calculated image quality by the image quality calculation means and further comprising an image quality setting control means.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the imaging apparatus according to the third aspect, wherein the image is taken from the time of setting the use schedule to the present based on the use schedule set by the setting means. A calculating means for calculating the number of shots or shooting time; and a detecting means for detecting the number of shots or shooting time actually recorded by the recording control means between the time when the use schedule is set by the setting means and the present time. The determination unit compares the number of shots or the shooting time calculated by the calculation unit with the number of shots or the shooting time detected by the detection unit as the shooting pace, and is recorded. If it is determined that the number of shots or the shooting time is longer than the calculated number of shots or shooting time, the image quality calculated by the image quality calculation means is used. There is and determines that it can not be carried out until the end.

Further, the invention according to claim 5 is the imaging apparatus according to claim 3, and based on the use schedule set by the setting means, calculating means for calculating the number of shots or the shooting time to be shot from now on; Detecting means for detecting the number of shots or shooting time that can be recorded based on the current free memory capacity of the recording means and the image quality set by the image quality setting means, and the determination means comprises: As the shooting pace, the number of shots or shooting time calculated by the calculating means is compared with the number of shots or shooting time detected by the detecting means, and the number of shots or shooting time is calculated from the number of shots or shooting time. If it is determined that the image quality is low, it is determined that shooting cannot be performed to the end with the image quality calculated by the image quality calculation means. That.

The invention according to claim 6 is the imaging apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the image quality calculated by the image quality calculating means and the use schedule set by the setting means are The calculation means for calculating the memory capacity used between the time of setting the use schedule and the present time, and the determination means are determined by the recording control means between the time of setting the use schedule by the setting means and the current time. Detecting means for detecting a memory capacity actually used by recording, further comprising, as the shooting pace, comparing the memory capacity calculated by the calculating means with the memory capacity detected by the detecting means, If it is determined that the detected memory capacity is larger than the calculated memory capacity, shooting is performed with the image quality calculated by the image quality calculating means. And judging that it is not possible to perform up later.

The invention according to claim 7 is the imaging apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, and is based on the image quality calculated by the image quality calculating means and the use schedule set by the setting means. A calculation unit that calculates a memory capacity to be used; and a detection unit that detects a current free memory capacity of the recording unit, and the determination unit uses the memory calculated by the calculation unit as the shooting pace. Comparing the capacity with the free memory capacity detected by the detection means, and if it is determined that the free memory capacity is less than the used memory capacity, shooting is performed with the image quality calculated by the image quality calculation means. It is characterized by determining that it cannot be performed to the last.

Further, the invention described in 請 Motomeko 8 is the imaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the input means as the use schedule, along with the photograph number, entering a shooting period It is characterized by.

Further, the invention described in 請 Motomeko 9 is an imaging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the input means as the use schedule, together with the imaging time, entering a number of shots It is characterized by.

Further, the invention described in 請 Motomeko 10 is an imaging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, if the shooting by the pre-Symbol judging means determines that it can not be carried out to the end, in image quality calculated by the image quality calculation means, shooting is to be able to carry out to the end, the control recording means the image quality of image data recorded by changing the controls to increase the free memory capacity The apparatus further includes means .

Further, the invention described in 請 Motomeko 11 is an imaging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the determining means, the timing of the imaging apparatus is set in the cradle, the power is turned on timing, or timing the timing of the power supply is turned off, a predetermined periodic interval arrives, among the timing at which operation execution is instructed by the User chromatography the, at least one or more timing, you are possible to perform imaging of street use Schedule It is characterized by determining whether or not.

In order to achieve the above object, a program according to a twelfth aspect of the present invention provides a program for setting an image quality of an object photographed by still image shooting or moving image shooting at an image quality setting means for setting image quality, and with an image quality set by the image quality setting means. Shooting / recording control means for recording image data on a recording medium, number of shots and shooting period in still image shooting , input means for inputting shooting time and shooting period in moving picture shooting , number of shots input by the input means and Based on the setting means for setting the shooting period or the shooting time and the shooting period as a shooting use schedule, the use schedule set by the setting means, and the free memory capacity of the recording medium, the recording control means Calculate the memory usage of image data per unit or unit time that can be recorded on the recording medium Based on the first usage amount calculating means and the memory usage amount calculated by the first usage amount calculating means, the first image quality calculating means for calculating the image quality that can be recorded when shooting according to the usage schedule. When the image data of the subject is recorded with the image quality calculated by the image quality calculation unit at a shooting pace faster than the shooting pace based on the use schedule during shooting based on the use schedule set by the setting unit, the use schedule In the determination unit, the recording unit determines that the last shooting is not possible. When the determination unit determines that the last shooting is not possible, the recording is performed based on the remaining number of shots or the shooting time in the use schedule and the free space. Recalculate memory usage of image data per unit or unit time that can be recorded on the means That the second amount calculating means, calculates based on said memory usage calculated again by the second usage amount calculation means, to calculate the image quality can be recorded in order to shoot as the usage schedule to said calculation means It functions as a control means.

According to the present invention, even when image data of a subject is recorded at a shooting pace faster than the shooting pace based on the usage schedule , it is possible to perform shooting according to the usage schedule .

Hereinafter, the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings as an example in which the imaging apparatus of the present invention is applied to a digital camera.
[First embodiment]
A. Configuration of Digital Camera FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic electrical configuration of a digital camera 1 that implements the imaging apparatus of the present invention.
The digital camera 1 includes a photographing lens 2, a lens driving block 3, an aperture 4, a CCD 5, a driver 6, a TG (timing generator) 7, a unit circuit 8, an image generation unit 9, a CPU 10, a key input unit 11, a memory 12, a DRAM 13, The flash memory 14, the image display unit 15, and the bus 16 are included.

  The photographing lens 2 includes a focus lens and a zoom lens (not shown), and a lens driving block 3 is connected thereto. The lens driving block 3 includes a focus motor and a zoom motor that drive a focus lens and a zoom lens (not shown) in the optical axis direction, and a focus motor that drives the focus motor and the zoom motor in the optical axis direction according to a control signal from the CPU 10, respectively. It consists of a driver and a zoom motor driver.

The diaphragm 4 includes a drive circuit (not shown), and the drive circuit operates the diaphragm 4 in accordance with a control signal sent from the CPU 10.
The aperture is a mechanism that controls the amount of light that enters from the photographic lens 2.

  The CCD 5 is driven by the driver 6 and photoelectrically converts the intensity of light of each color of the RGB value of the subject image for every fixed period and outputs it to the unit circuit 8 as an imaging signal. The operation timing of the driver 6 and the unit circuit 8 is controlled by the CPU 10 via the TG 7. The CCD 5 has a Bayer color filter and also functions as an electronic shutter. The shutter speed of the electronic shutter is controlled by the CPU 10 via the driver 6 and TG7.

  The unit circuit 8 includes a CDS (Correlated Double Sampling) circuit that holds the imaging signal output from the CCD 5 by correlated double sampling, an AGC (Automatic Gain Control) circuit that performs automatic gain adjustment of the imaging signal after the sampling, The A / D converter converts an analog image pickup signal after automatic gain adjustment into a digital signal. The image pickup signal of the CCD 5 is sent to the image generation unit 9 as a digital signal through the unit circuit 8.

  The image generation unit 9 performs processing such as γ correction processing and white balance processing on the image data sent from the unit circuit 8, generates a luminance color difference signal (YUV data), and generates the generated luminance color difference. The image data of the signal is sent to the CPU 10. That is, the image generation unit 9 performs image processing on the image data output from the CCD 5.

  The CPU 10 has a function of performing compression / decompression (for example, compression / decompression in JPEG format, MPEG format) processing, photographing processing, reproduction processing, and the like of the image data sent from the image generation unit 9, and the digital camera 1. It is a one-chip microcomputer that controls each part. The CPU 10 also includes a clock circuit that keeps time, and the clock circuit also has a function as a clock.

The key input unit 11 includes a plurality of operation keys such as a power On / Off key, a mode switching key, a shutter button, a recording button, a menu key, a cross key, and a SET key, and sends an operation signal according to a user's key operation to the CPU 10. Output to.
The memory 12 stores a program necessary for controlling each part of the digital camera 1 by the CPU 10 and data necessary for controlling each part, and the CPU 10 performs each process according to this program. The memory 12 also has an area for recording data necessary for the present invention.

The DRAM 13 is used as a buffer memory for temporarily storing image data sent to the CPU 10 after being imaged by the CCD 5 and also as a working memory for the CPU 10.
The flash memory 14 is a recording medium that stores image data captured by the CCD 5 and compressed by the CPU 10.

  The image display unit 15 includes a color LCD and its driving circuit, and displays the subject imaged by the CCD 5 as a through image when in a shooting standby state or during moving image shooting, and records it in the flash memory 14 when in an image reproduction state. Displayed image data is displayed. In addition, screens corresponding to various modes are also displayed.

B. Functions of CPU 10 The functions of the CPU 10 will be described with reference to the functional block diagram of FIG.
The CPU 10 includes second control means 21, image quality setting means 22, photographing / recording control means 23, setting means 24, first control means 25, recommended image quality calculation means 26, notification means 27, determination means 28, and operation control means 29. The image quality calculation means 30 is included.

The image quality setting means 22 is for setting the image quality of an image shot and recorded by the shooting and recording control means 23, and the second control means 21 is set to the image quality selected by the user by operating the user's key input unit 11. The image quality setting means 22 is controlled so as to be set.
The photographing / recording control unit 23 photographs the subject with the image quality set by the image quality setting unit 22 and records the obtained image data in the flash memory 14.

The setting unit 24 sets a shooting use schedule input by the user's operation of the key input unit 11. At this time, the user can select and input either “total number of shots and shooting period” or “number of shots and shooting period of each unit period” as the usage schedule. Set.
The recommended image quality calculation means 26 has a relatively high image quality among the image quality that can be photographed according to the set use schedule based on the use schedule set by the setting means and the free memory capacity of the flash memory 14. When the use schedule is set by the setting unit 24, the first control unit 25 controls the recommended image quality calculation unit 26 to calculate the recommended image quality (including the highest image quality). The recommended image quality is calculated based on the free memory capacity of the flash memory 14 when the use schedule is set and the set use schedule.

The notification means 27 is for notifying the user of the recommended image quality calculated by the recommended image quality calculation means 26. This notification is notified by causing the image display unit 15 to display the recommended image quality.
The determining unit 28 determines whether or not the future shooting can be performed to the end according to the set use schedule with the recommended image quality calculated by the recommended image quality calculating unit 26 based on the shooting and recording situation by the shooting and recording control unit 23. To do. That is, it is determined whether or not the flash memory 14 has a free memory capacity necessary for future shooting based on the use schedule.

  This determination means 28 is means for detecting the actually used memory capacity actually used from the time of the previous determination (when the determination is not made once since the use schedule was set) to the present time (when the use schedule is set). Detection means) and based on the set use schedule, it is used from the time of the previous determination (when the determination has never been made since the use schedule was set) to the present time. A means (calculation means) for calculating the estimated used memory capacity that is estimated to be expected, and based on the detected actual used memory capacity and the calculated expected used memory capacity, future image taking is recommended. It is determined whether or not the recommended image quality calculated by the calculation means 26 can be performed to the end according to the set use schedule. When the actual use memory capacity is larger than the planned use memory capacity, it is determined that the future photographing cannot be performed to the end according to the use schedule. The determination means 28 determines whether or not a predetermined timing has arrived, and makes a determination when it has arrived.

If it is determined by the determination means 28 that shooting according to the use schedule cannot be performed to the end, the operation control means 29 controls either the recommended image quality calculation means 26 or the image quality calculation means 30 to notify the user. .
When the recommended image quality calculating means 26 is controlled, the recommended image quality is recalculated again, and the calculated recommended image quality is re-notified. This re-notification may be performed directly by the operation control means 29 or may be notified by controlling the notification means 27. At this time, the operation control means 29 recalculates the recommended image quality from the current free memory capacity of the flash memory 14 and the remaining planned number of shots scheduled to be shot based on the set use schedule. In this way, the recommended image quality calculating means 26 is controlled.

  Further, when controlling the image quality calculation means 30, the reference image quality to be used as a reference is set in the image quality calculation means 30 so that the future shooting can be performed to the end according to the set use schedule with the calculated recommended image quality. The calculation is performed, and the user is notified to change an image having a higher image quality than the calculated reference image quality to the reference image quality. This re-notification may be performed directly by the operation control means 29 or may be notified by controlling the notification means 27. This reference image quality means that if an image with a higher image quality than a certain image quality is reduced to the certain image quality among the images recorded in the flash memory 14, the image is taken to the end according to the set use schedule with the calculated recommended image quality. It means the image quality that can be done. If the image quality is high (if it is good), the amount of memory used is increased accordingly, so the memory capacity used is reduced by lowering the image quality.

C. The operation of the digital camera 1 The operation of the digital camera 1 in the first embodiment will be described mainly by dividing it into use schedule setting and photographing and operation for determining the use situation. Before that, the first embodiment will be described. The mode will be briefly described. When the user sets the use schedule for shooting, the recommended image quality (capable of shooting according to the use schedule can be taken based on the set use schedule and the current free memory capacity of the flash memory 14, and (Best image quality) is calculated and notified, and if the free memory capacity of the flash memory 14 is reduced faster than expected, it is determined that future shooting cannot be performed to the end according to the use schedule. The recommended image quality is calculated and notified, or notification that prompts the user to change the image quality of the recorded image is issued. It is possible to make the shadow run to the end according to the usage schedule.
The case where the decrease in the free memory capacity of the flash memory 14 is faster than expected means that the user has set the image quality higher than the recommended recommended image quality, or is over-paced from the shooting pace (number of shots) based on the use schedule. This is the case when shooting with

C-1. Use Schedule Setting and Shooting Operation First, the use schedule setting and shooting operation will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

  When the power of the digital camera 1 is turned on by the user's operation of the power On / Off key of the key input unit 11, the CPU 10 determines whether or not the currently set mode is the use schedule mode (Step S1). S1). At this time, when the user turns on the power of the digital camera 1, the user can set an arbitrary mode by operating the mode switching key of the key input unit 11.

If it is determined in step S1 that the use schedule mode is set, the CPU 10 displays a screen for inputting the use schedule.
Here, as a usage schedule, a screen for inputting the total number of still images and the shooting period and a screen for inputting the number of shootings and the shooting period for each unit period are displayed. 11 is operated, it is possible to select and input either the total number of shots and the shooting period or the number of shots and the shooting period of each unit period. At this time, when the number of shots and the shooting period for each unit period are selected, a different number of shots can be input for each unit period.

  For example, when selecting and inputting the total number of shots and the shooting period, it is possible to input 100 shots as the total number of shots and 4 days as the shooting period. Also, when inputting the number of shots and the shooting period for each unit period (here, each day), the shooting period is 4 days, 16 days for the first day, 50 sheets for the second day, 20 sheets for the third day, The number of shots for each day can be entered such as 14 on the fourth day.

Next, the CPU 10 determines whether or not a set key operation has been performed (step S3). This determination is made based on whether or not an operation signal corresponding to the operation of the set key is sent from the key input unit 11.
If it is determined in step S3 that the set key has not been operated, the process stays in step S3 until the set key is operated. If it is determined that the set key has been operated, the CPU 10 determines the input use schedule. Set (step S4). That is, the input usage schedule is recorded in the usage schedule recording area of the memory 12. At this time, the set date and time (set date and time) of the use schedule recording area is also recorded.
Here, the user can input the use schedule until the set key is operated, and when it is determined that the input of the use schedule is completed, the user can set the input use schedule by operating the set key. it can.

  When the usage schedule is set, the CPU 10 calculates the memory usage per sheet based on the set usage schedule and the free memory capacity of the flash memory 14 (step S5).

  Specifically, the memory usage per frame is calculated based on the total number of shots based on the set usage schedule and the free memory capacity of the flash memory 14. The total number of shots based on the usage schedule means that if the total number of shots and the shooting period are selected and entered, the total number of shots that have been input will be the total number of shots. When is selected and input, the total number of shots is the total number of shots taken in each unit period. For example, in the above input example, the first day is 16 sheets, the second day is 50 sheets, the third day is 20 sheets, and the fourth day is 14 sheets, so the total number of shots is 100 sheets. And this is the total number of shots

  Further, as an example of calculating the memory usage per frame, for example, when the free memory capacity of the flash memory 14 is 50 MB (megabytes) and the total number of shots based on the set usage schedule is 100, 1 The memory usage per sheet is 0.5 MB. The calculated memory usage per sheet is recorded in the memory usage recording area of the memory 12.

  Next, the CPU 10 calculates a recommended image quality corresponding to the calculated memory usage per sheet (step S6). Here, the image quality refers to the total of the image size (number of pixels) related to the fineness of the image, the cleanliness of the image, the compression rate, and the like. If the image quality improves, the amount of memory used increases accordingly. The calculated recommended image quality is recorded in the recommended image quality recording area of the memory 12.

  Although the recommended image quality corresponding to the memory usage per sheet is calculated, a table recording the recommended image quality corresponding to each memory usage is provided, and the memory usage per sheet is calculated from the table. The corresponding recommended image quality may be read out. Further, only the image size may be referred to as image quality, or only the compression rate may be referred to as image quality.

Next, the CPU 10 notifies the user by displaying the calculated recommended image quality on the image display unit 15 (step S7). The recommended image quality may be notified only once, may be notified regularly, or may be notified continuously.
Thereby, the user can recognize the recommended image quality.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S1 that the currently set mode is not the use schedule mode, the process proceeds to step S8 in FIG. 4 and the CPU 10 determines whether or not the still image shooting mode is set.
If it is determined in step S8 that the mode is not the still image shooting mode, the process proceeds to another mode. If it is determined that the mode is the still image shooting mode, the CPU 10 starts imaging by the CCD 5, sequentially captured by the CCD 5, and The so-called through image display, in which the still image data of the luminance color difference signals sequentially generated is displayed on the image display unit 15 is started (step S9).

Next, the CPU 10 determines whether or not to perform image quality setting (step S10).
At this time, the user can select the image quality setting by operating the menu key of the key input unit 11 during the through image display, and when an operation signal corresponding to the operation is sent from the key input unit 11, the image quality is set. It is determined that the setting is performed.
If it is determined in step S10 that image quality setting is not performed, the process proceeds to step S14 as it is. If it is determined that image quality setting is performed, the CPU 10 displays a screen for allowing the user to select an image quality (step S11).
At this time, the user can select an arbitrary image quality from among a plurality of displayed image quality by operating the cross key of the key input unit 11.

Next, the CPU 10 determines whether or not the set key has been operated (step S12).
If it is determined in step S12 that the set key is not operated, the process stays in step S12 until the set key is operated. If it is determined that the set key is operated, the selected image quality is set ( Step S13) Proceed to step S14.

That is, the user can freely select the image quality until the set key is operated, and if the selected image quality is acceptable, the user can set the image quality by operating the set key.
Thereby, in step S7 in FIG. 3, the user can set the notified recommended image quality, or can set the image quality different from the notified recommended image quality.

In step S14, the CPU 10 determines whether to perform still image shooting. This determination is made based on whether or not an operation signal corresponding to pressing of the shutter button is sent from the key input unit 11.
If it is determined in step S14 that still image shooting is not performed, the process returns to step S10. If it is determined that still image shooting is performed, the still image shooting recording process is performed with the set image quality (step S15), and the process returns to step S8. . That is, the captured still image data is recorded based on the set image size, compression rate, and the like.

C-2. Operation of Usage Status Determination Next, the usage status determination operation will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
The CPU 10 determines whether or not a predetermined timing has arrived (step S31). The predetermined timing includes, for example, the timing when the digital camera 1 is set in the cradle, the timing when a certain period arrives, the timing when the power is turned off, the timing when the power is turned on, and one day There is a timing when the operation is completed (for example, timing when 0: 0 is reached), a timing when the user is instructed to make a use state determination, etc. It may be performed regardless of the off state.

  If it is determined in step S31 that the predetermined timing has arrived, the CPU 10 determines the usage status once since the usage schedule was set when the previous usage status determination was performed (date and time recorded in a determination timing recording area described later). If not used, the flash memory 14 actually used (recorded) from the time when the use schedule is set in step S4 of FIG. 3 (the set date and time recorded in the use schedule recording area) to the present time The actual memory usage m is detected (step S32). In other words, subtract the memory usage at the time when the previous usage status determination process was performed from the current memory usage (when the usage status has not been determined since the usage schedule was set, the usage schedule was set). The actual memory usage m is detected by calculating the increase in the memory usage.

  Next, the CPU 10 performs the previous usage status determination process (when the usage status has not been determined since the setting of the usage schedule, when the usage schedule is set in step S4 in FIG. 3) until the present time. The planned memory usage n estimated to have been used in the meantime is calculated based on the set usage schedule (step S33). The calculation method of the scheduled memory usage amount n is slightly different depending on whether “total number of shots and shooting period” or “number of shots and shooting period of each unit period” is set as the usage schedule.

  If “total number of shots and shooting period” is entered and set, the shooting period of the set usage schedule and the previous usage status determination process (the usage status determination has been performed once since the usage schedule was set) If the schedule is not set, the number of shots from the set schedule to the current date will be calculated based on the ratio between the current schedule and the current period. The planned number of shots planned to be taken is calculated, and the calculated number of shots to be taken and the memory usage per frame recorded in the memory usage amount recording area (per one frame calculated in step S5 in FIG. 3). This is calculated based on the memory usage or the memory usage per sheet calculated in step S38 of FIG. For example, when the total number of shots is set to 100 and the shooting period is set to 4 days as the usage schedule, the period from the previous usage status determination process or the setting of the usage schedule to the present is about 2 days. In this case, the planned number of shots is 50, and the scheduled memory usage n is calculated based on the 50 and the memory usage per frame. That is, when “total number of shots and shooting period” is set, the number of shots in each unit period is equal. For example, if the total number of shots is 100 and the shooting period is 4 days, this means 25 shots per day, which is the shooting pace, and the shooting pace for the unit period is automatically determined.

  On the other hand, when “Number of shots and shooting period for each unit period” is entered and set, when the previous usage status determination process is performed (if the usage status has not been determined yet since the setting of the usage schedule) The number of shots in the period corresponding to the period from when the use schedule is set to the present time is calculated from the number of shots in each unit period. For example, if the shooting period is set to 4 days, 16 for the first day, 50 for the second day, 20 for the third day, 14 for the fourth day, and 14 for the fourth day. If the time when the previous usage status determination process was completed is the time when the first day ends, the period from the previous usage status determination process to the present time is between the second and third days. It will take about 2 days, and the planned number of shots will be 70. If the usage status determination process has not been performed once since the use schedule is set, the period from the setting of the use schedule to the present is the first day, the second day, and the third day. It will be about 3 days, and the planned number of shots will be 86. Then, the planned memory usage n is calculated based on the planned number of shots and the memory usage per frame recorded in the memory usage recording area. In other words, when “Number of shots for each unit period and shooting period” is set, the number of shots for each unit period is not equal, unlike when “Total number of shots and shooting period” is set. The number of shots taken for each unit period is the shooting pace. For example, if the first day is set to 16 shots, this is the shooting pace for the first day, and if the second day is set to 50 shots, this is the second shooting rate for the second day. It will be.

Next, the CPU 10 compares the detected actual memory usage m with the calculated planned memory usage n (step S34), and the actual memory usage m is larger than the planned memory usage n based on the comparison result. Whether or not (step S35). That is, in step S34 and step S35, based on the recording state of the still image data in the flash memory 14 by the still image shooting / recording process in step S15 of FIG. 4, the recommended image quality (recorded in the recommended image quality recording area) previously notified. It is determined whether or not shooting can be performed to the end according to the set use schedule. That is, based on the set use schedule, it is determined whether or not the remaining number of shots that are expected to be shot from the present time can be shot with the recommended image quality.
In other words, when the recommended image quality is set, but shooting is performed at a shooting pace faster than the shooting pace based on the set usage schedule, or when shooting is performed at a shooting pace based on the usage schedule but the set image quality is high, etc. This means that future shots cannot be taken according to the usage schedule.

For example, when shooting with the image quality set higher than the recommended recommended image quality, or when shooting at a faster pace than the set usage schedule, that is, as the usage schedule, the total number of shots is 100, and the shooting period is In the case of 4 days, the number of shots per unit period (here, per day) is 25, whereas when 50 shots are taken on the first day, the shooting pace is fast and more than 100 in 4 days. This is because there is a possibility of shooting, and future shooting cannot be performed to the end according to the use schedule (shooting 100 images, shooting over 4 days) with the recommended recommended image quality. In other words, since the recommended image quality is calculated and notified so that the image can be taken according to the set use schedule and the image quality is maximized, the image can be taken with the set use schedule at the notified recommended image quality. For example, the free memory capacity of the flash memory 14 is almost exhausted, and it is possible to shoot to the end as per the usage schedule. There is a possibility that 14 free memory capacity may be lost, and if shooting was performed at the recommended image quality but at a pace faster than the pace based on the set use schedule, shooting may be performed for 4 days. This is because there is a possibility that it cannot be performed, and it is not possible to shoot until the end according to the use schedule.
If the determination in step S35 is made, the CPU 10 records the date and time when the usage status is determined in the determination time recording area of the memory 12, regardless of the determination result. Thereby, the time when the last use condition determination process was performed is known.

If it is determined in step S35 that the actual memory usage m is not larger than the planned memory usage n, the process returns to step S31. If it is determined that the actual memory usage m is larger than the planned memory usage n, the set usage schedule remains unchanged. Thus, before shooting from the end to the end, it is determined in advance that the free memory capacity of the flash memory 14 will be lost in the middle, and the CPU 10 determines whether or not to re-notify the recommended image quality (step S36). .
Here, if it is determined that the free memory capacity of the flash memory 14 will be exhausted halfway before shooting until the end according to the set use schedule, a new recommended image quality is notified or recorded. Whether to notify the image quality change of the image can be set in advance by the user operating the key input unit 11, and it is determined whether or not the recommended image quality is to be notified again based on the setting. The notification of the change in image quality of the recorded image refers to notification for causing the shooting according to the use schedule by reducing the image quality of the still image already recorded in the flash memory 14 and increasing the free memory capacity. .

  If it is determined in step S36 that the recommended image quality is to be re-notified, the CPU 10 calculates the remaining number of scheduled shots (step S37). Specifically, the remaining number of scheduled shootings is calculated from the set usage schedule recorded in the usage schedule recording area and the current date and time. This remaining scheduled number of shots is calculated by calculating the scheduled number of shots that are expected to have been shot between the setting date and time of the use schedule and the current time by the same operation as in step S33. It may be determined by subtracting from the total number of shots based on the set use schedule, or the remaining number of shots to be shot may be directly calculated.

Next, the CPU 10 calculates the memory usage per frame based on the current free memory capacity of the flash memory 14 and the calculated remaining number of shots to be shot (step S38). The calculated memory usage per sheet is overwritten and recorded in the memory usage recording area of the memory 12.
Next, the CPU 10 calculates a recommended image quality corresponding to the calculated memory usage per sheet (step S39). The calculated recommended image quality is recorded over the recommended image quality recording area of the memory 12.

Next, the CPU 10 notifies the user of the recommended image quality by displaying the calculated recommended image quality on the image display unit 15 (step S40).
As a result, the user can set the re-notified recommended image quality. When the recommended image quality is set, the user can complete the shooting according to the set use schedule.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S36 that the re-notification of the recommended image quality is not performed, that is, the notification of the change in the image quality of the recorded image is performed, the CPU 10 compares the actual memory usage m compared in step S34 with the calculated scheduled memory usage. Based on the amount n, an overuse amount (overuse amount) o is calculated (step S41).

  Next, the CPU 10 lowers the image quality of the still image already recorded in the flash memory 14 and increases the free memory capacity, so that the recommended image quality recorded in the recommended image quality recording area (recommended image quality notified most recently) is obtained. In order to enable shooting from the end to the end according to the use schedule, a reference image quality is calculated so that the calculated amount of over-use o is eliminated (step S41). The reference image quality is a standard that, if the image quality of a still image that is higher than a certain image quality among the still images recorded after the use schedule is set is reduced to the certain image quality, the memory use amount corresponding to the calculated over-use amount o is eliminated. The image quality that becomes.

  As a method for obtaining the reference image quality, for example, the calculated planned memory usage n is divided by the number of shots p actually taken after setting the use schedule, thereby obtaining an ideal usage q per shot actually taken. (Ideal image quality) is calculated. If an image is actually shot with this ideal usage amount q (ideal image quality), the over usage amount is eliminated, that is, zero. In addition, when the number of shots according to the usage schedule set by the user is taken and there is an over-use amount o, the user is shooting at an image quality that is higher than the recommended image quality, and is shooting at the recommended image quality. Since there is no over-use amount o, the ideal image quality is the notified recommended image quality. In addition, when the image is taken more than the usage schedule set by the user and there is an over-use amount o, the ideal image quality is lower than the recommended image quality.

Of the still images shot and recorded after setting the schedule, the number r of still images less than the calculated ideal usage amount q (ideal image quality) and the usage amount of each still image less than the ideal usage amount q. The total use amount s obtained by totaling
Then, the reference memory usage per sheet is obtained by the following equation, and the image quality corresponding to the obtained reference usage is set as the reference image quality.

  Next, the CPU 10 notifies the image display unit 15 of the notification of the image quality change using the calculated reference image quality (step S42). More specifically, among the still images recorded after the use schedule is set, the image display unit 15 displays that a still image with higher image quality than the calculated reference image quality should be changed to the reference image quality.

D. As described above, in the first embodiment, after the recommended image quality is notified, the future shooting is performed with the recommended image quality according to the situation of the free memory capacity of the flash memory 14 due to actual use. Since it is determined whether or not the process can be performed to the end according to the use schedule, it is possible to cope with before the free memory capacity of the flash memory 14 is exhausted.
Also, the used memory capacity that is expected to be used from the time of setting the use schedule to the present is calculated based on the use schedule, and the calculated expected memory usage and the actual use from the setting of the use schedule to the present Based on the actually used memory capacity of the flash memory 14 thus determined, it is determined whether or not future shooting can be performed to the end according to the shooting use schedule with the recommended recommended image quality. Increases accuracy.
In addition, if future shooting cannot be performed to the end according to the usage schedule, the recommended image quality is recalculated and notified again, or the reference image quality is calculated to enable the shooting to be completed to the end. Since the user is informed that an image having a higher image quality than the reference image quality is to be changed to the reference image quality, even when the shooting pace is fast or the pace is over, the image quality setting can be changed according to the notification. When the image quality of the recorded image is changed, the photographing can be performed to the end according to the future use schedule.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment will be described.
In the first embodiment, a still image has been described. In the second embodiment, a case of a moving image will be described. Further, in the first embodiment, the notification of the recommended image quality and the notification of the image quality change have been described. However, in the second embodiment, the image quality is automatically set to the recommended image quality, and the image quality change is automatically performed. It is also to do.

E. Regarding Function of CPU 10 In the second embodiment, the image pickup apparatus of the present invention is realized by using the digital camera 1 having the same configuration as that shown in FIG.
However, the function of the CPU 10 is different from that of FIG. 2, and the function of the CPU 10 of the second embodiment will be described below with reference to the functional block diagram of FIG.
The CPU 10 includes second control means 21, image quality setting means 22, photographing / recording control means 23, setting means 24, first control means 25, recommended image quality calculation means 26, determination means 28, operation control means 29, image quality calculation means. A function different from that of the first embodiment will be described.

The second control unit 21 controls the image quality setting unit 22 to set the image quality to the recommended image quality calculated by the recommended image quality calculation unit 26.
The setting unit 24 sets a shooting use schedule input by the user's operation of the key input unit 11. Here, the user sets “total shooting time and shooting period”, “each unit” as the use schedule. Any one of “shooting time and shooting period”, “total shooting time and number of shots”, and “shooting time and number of shots” can be selected and input, and the input usage schedule is set.
When the determination unit 28 determines that the future shooting cannot be performed to the end according to the use schedule, the operation control unit 29 controls either the recommended image quality calculation unit 26 or the image quality calculation unit 30 to reset the image quality. Or, the image quality of the recorded image is automatically changed.

When the recommended image quality calculating means 26 is controlled, the recommended image quality is recalculated again, and the image quality setting means 22 is controlled so as to obtain the recalculated recommended image quality, thereby resetting the image quality. This resetting of the image quality may be controlled directly by the operation control means 29 or may be controlled by the second control means.
Also, when controlling the image quality calculation means 30, the image quality calculation means 30 calculates the reference image quality so that the image can be taken to the end according to the set use schedule with the calculated recommended image quality, and the flash memory 14 Are automatically changed so that the image quality higher than the calculated reference image quality becomes the reference image quality.

F. Operation of Digital Camera 1 Hereinafter, the operation of the digital camera 1 according to the second embodiment will be described by dividing it into a use schedule setting / shooting operation and a use state determination operation, as in the first embodiment. Before that, the second embodiment will be briefly described. When the user sets a shooting use schedule, the recommended image quality (based on the set use schedule and the free memory capacity of the current flash memory 14 is set. If the amount of free memory capacity of the flash memory 14 is reduced faster than expected, the image quality can be automatically set by calculating the best image quality) according to the usage schedule. When it is determined that shooting cannot be performed according to the usage schedule, a new recommended image quality is calculated and the image quality is automatically set or recorded. The change of the image quality is automatically changed.
The case where the reduction of the free memory capacity of the flash memory 14 is faster than expected is a case where shooting is performed at an over pace than the shooting pace based on the use schedule.

F-1. Usage Schedule Setting and Shooting Operation First, usage schedule setting and shooting operation will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

When the power of the digital camera 1 is turned on by the user operating the power On / Off key of the key input unit 11, the CPU 10 determines whether or not the currently set mode is the use schedule mode (step S51). ).
If it is determined in step S51 that the use schedule mode is set, the CPU 10 displays a screen for inputting the use schedule (step S52).

  Here, as a usage schedule, a screen for inputting the total shooting time and shooting period of the video, a screen for inputting the shooting time and shooting period of each unit period, and further, the total shooting time and the number of shooting times are input. And a screen for inputting the shooting time and the number of times of shooting each time, and the user operates the key input unit 11. Select and input from “All Shooting Times and Shooting Periods”, “Shooting Times and Shooting Periods for Each Unit Period”, “All Shooting Times and Shooting Counts”, and “Every Shooting Time and Shooting Count” Can do.

  When selecting and inputting the total shooting time and the shooting period, for example, the total shooting time can be input as 1 hour and the shooting period as 4 days, and each unit period (here, the unit period is 1 day) can be input. When selecting and inputting the shooting time and the shooting period, for example, the shooting period is 3 days, the first day is 25 minutes, the second day is 20 minutes, and the third day is 15 minutes. You can enter the time. In addition, when selecting and inputting the total shooting time and the number of times of shooting, for example, the total shooting time can be input as 1 hour (60 minutes), and the number of times of shooting can be input as four times. When selected and input, for example, the first time can be input as 30 minutes, the second time as 10 minutes, the third time as 20 minutes, and the number of photographing times as 3 times.

Next, the CPU 10 determines whether or not the set key has been operated (step S53).
If it is determined in step S53 that the set key is not operated, the process stays in step S53 until the set key is operated. If it is determined that the set key is operated, the CPU 10 determines the input use schedule. Set (step S54). At this time, the input usage schedule and set date and time are recorded in the usage schedule recording area.

  When the usage schedule is set, the CPU 10 calculates a memory usage per unit time (for example, per second) based on the set usage schedule and the free memory capacity of the flash memory 14 (step S55). .

  Specifically, the used memory capacity per unit time is calculated based on the total shooting time based on the set use schedule and the free memory capacity of the flash memory 14. The total shooting time based on this usage schedule is the total shooting time when the total shooting time and shooting period and the total shooting time and number of shots are selected and entered. , When “Shooting time and shooting period of each unit period” or “Shooting time and shooting number of each time” is selected, the shooting time of each unit period and the shooting time of each time are totaled The shooting time is the total shooting time. For example, in the input example described above, the shooting time for each unit period is 25 minutes for the first day, 20 minutes for the second day, and 15 minutes for the third day, so the total shooting time is 1 hour. This is the total shooting time. Further, since the first shooting time is 30 minutes, the second shooting time is 10 minutes, and the third shooting time is 20 minutes, the total shooting time is 1 hour, which is the total shooting time.

  As an example of calculating the memory usage per unit time, for example, when the free memory capacity of the flash memory is 180 MB and the total shooting time based on the set usage schedule is 1 hour, the memory usage per second Will be 0.5MB. The calculated memory usage per second is recorded in the memory usage recording area.

Next, the CPU 10 calculates a recommended image quality corresponding to the calculated memory usage per unit time (step S56). Here, the image quality in the case of a moving image includes not only the image size and the compression rate but also the frame rate. The calculated recommended image quality is recorded in the recommended image quality recording area.
Although the recommended image quality corresponding to the memory usage per unit time is calculated, a table recording the recommended image quality corresponding to each memory usage is provided, and the memory usage per unit time is calculated from the table. The corresponding recommended image quality may be read out. Further, only the image size, only the compression rate, and only the frame rate may be referred to as image quality.

  Next, the CPU 10 automatically sets the image quality of the moving image to the calculated recommended image quality (step S57). At this time, the user may be informed by automatically setting the image quality and displaying the image quality on the image display unit 15.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S51 that the currently set mode is not the use schedule mode, the CPU 10 determines whether or not it is the moving image shooting mode (step S58).
If it is determined in step S58 that the mode is not the moving image shooting mode, the process proceeds to another mode. If it is determined that the mode is the moving image shooting mode, the CPU 10 starts image capturing by the CCD 5 at a predetermined frame rate. The so-called through image display, in which the image data of the luminance color difference signal sequentially generated by the unit 9 is displayed on the image display unit 15 is started (step S59).

Next, the CPU 10 determines whether or not to perform moving image shooting (step S60). This determination is made based on whether or not an operation signal corresponding to pressing of the recording button is sent from the key input unit 11.
If it is determined in step S60 that the record button has not been pressed, the process stays in step S60 until the button is pressed. If it is determined that the record button has been pressed, the CPU 10 automatically performs moving image shooting / recording processing with the set image quality ( Step S61). That is, moving image data shot based on the set image size, compression rate, frame rate, and the like is recorded.
When the moving image shooting / recording process is performed, the CPU 10 determines whether or not to end the moving image shooting (step S62).

F-2. Next, the usage status determination operation will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
The CPU 10 determines whether or not a predetermined timing has arrived (step S81). This determination is made based on whether or not the timing as described in the first embodiment has arrived.

  If it is determined in step S81 that the predetermined timing has arrived, the CPU 10 determines the usage status once since the usage schedule was set when the previous usage status determination was performed (date and time recorded in a determination timing recording area described later). If the use schedule is not performed, the flash memory 14 actually used (recorded) from when the use schedule is set in step S54 of FIG. 7 (set date and time recorded in the use schedule recording area) to the present is recorded. Is detected (step S82).

  Next, the CPU 10 performs the previous usage status determination process (when the usage schedule has not been determined since the setting of the usage schedule, the usage schedule has been set in step S54 in FIG. 7) until the present time. The planned memory usage n estimated to have been used in the meantime is calculated (step S83). The calculation of the scheduled memory usage amount n is as follows: “total shooting time and shooting period”, “shooting time and shooting period of each unit period”, “total shooting time and shooting count”, “shooting time and shooting time of each time” The calculation method is slightly different depending on whether any of “number of times” is set.

  When “Total shooting time and shooting period” is entered and set, the shooting period of the set usage schedule and the previous usage status determination process have been performed (the usage status is determined once since the usage schedule was set) If not, it will be taken from the set shooting schedule to the present date, from the total shooting time of the set usage schedule, according to the ratio of the period from the time of setting the usage schedule to the present The scheduled scheduled shooting time is calculated, and the calculated scheduled shooting time and the memory usage per unit period recorded in the memory usage amount recording area (the memory usage per frame calculated in step S55 in FIG. 7). Based on the amount, or the memory usage per sheet calculated in step S88 of FIG. 8 described later). For example, if the total shooting time is set to 1 hour and the shooting period is set to 3 days as the usage schedule, the period from the previous usage status determination process or the setting of the usage schedule to the current time is about 2 days. In this case, the scheduled shooting time is 40 minutes, and the scheduled memory usage n is calculated based on the 40 minutes and the memory usage per unit time. That is, when “total shooting time and shooting period” is set, the shooting time of each unit period is the same. For example, when the total shooting time is 1 hour and the shooting period is 3 days, this means 20 minutes per day, which is the shooting pace, and the shooting pace for the unit period is automatically determined.

  In addition, when “shooting time and shooting period of each unit period” is input and set, when the previous usage status determination process is performed (when the usage status has not been determined yet since the setting of the usage schedule) Shooting time of the period corresponding to the period from the time when the use schedule was set) to the present, and the scheduled shooting that would have been taken from the shooting time of each unit period to the current setting date and time of the use schedule Time is calculated and calculated based on the calculated scheduled shooting time and the memory usage per unit time recorded in the memory usage recording area. For example, the shooting period is 3 days, the first day is set to 25 minutes, the second day is set to 20 minutes, the third day is set to 15 minutes, and the current time is set to the time when the second day expires. If the usage status determination process is at the end of the first day, the period from the previous usage status determination process to the present time is about one day on the second day, and the planned shooting time is 20 minutes. It becomes. If the usage status determination process has not been performed once since the use schedule was set, the period from the use schedule setting date to the present time is about two days, the first day and the second day, The planned shooting time is 45 minutes. The planned memory usage n is calculated based on the planned shooting time and the memory usage per unit time recorded in the memory usage recording area. In other words, when “shooting time and shooting period of each unit period” is set, unlike when “all shooting time and shooting period” is set, the shooting time of each unit period is not set equal. The shooting time for each unit period is directly the shooting pace. For example, if the first day is set to 25 minutes, this is the first day shooting pace, and if the second day is set to 20 minutes, this is the second day shooting pace. It will be.

  In addition, when “total shooting time and number of shots” are entered and set, the number of shots for the set usage schedule and the previous usage status determination process (the usage schedule has been used once since the usage schedule was set) Depending on the ratio of the number of shots taken from when the usage schedule was set to the current time (when the usage schedule has not been determined), from the total shooting time of the set usage schedule to the current setting date and time of the usage schedule Is calculated based on the calculated scheduled shooting time and the memory usage per unit time recorded in the memory usage recording area. . For example, if the total shooting time is set as 1 hour and the number of times of shooting is set as 4 times as the use schedule, the number of times of shooting from the time of the previous use state determination process or from the setting of the use schedule to the present time is 2 times. In this case, the scheduled shooting time is 30 minutes, and the scheduled memory usage n is calculated based on the 30 minutes and the memory usage per unit time. That is, when “total photographing time and number of photographing” is set, the photographing time of each time is equal. For example, when the total shooting time is 1 hour and the number of shootings is 4, the shooting time is 15 minutes, which is the shooting pace, and the shooting pace is automatically determined.

  In addition, when “Shooting time and number of times of each shooting” is entered and set, when the previous usage status determination process is performed (the usage schedule has not been determined yet since the usage schedule was set) From the number of shots taken from the current time to the present and the shooting time of each time, the scheduled shooting time that is expected to have been taken from the set date and time of the use schedule to the present is calculated. The calculation is based on the calculated scheduled shooting time and the memory usage per unit period recorded in the memory usage recording area. For example, when the number of times of photographing is set to 3 times, the first time is set to 30 minutes, the second time is set to 10 minutes, and the third time is set to 20 minutes. If the second shooting is one time, the scheduled shooting time is 10 minutes. In addition, when the usage status determination process has not been performed once since the use schedule was set, and when the number of shootings from the use schedule setting to the present time is two times, the first and second shootings, The scheduled shooting time is 40 minutes, and the scheduled memory usage n is calculated based on the 40 minutes and the memory usage per unit time. In other words, when “Every shooting time and number of shots” is set, unlike when “All shooting time and number of shots” is set, the number of shots for each time is not equal. Time is the shooting pace. For example, if the first day is set to 30 minutes, this is the first day's shooting pace, and if the second day is set to 10 minutes, this is the second day's shooting pace. It will be.

  When the “total shooting time and number of times of shooting” and “each time of shooting and number of times of shooting” are set as the use schedule, the CPU 10 counts the number of times of moving image shooting each time a moving image is shot.

When the planned memory usage n is calculated, the CPU 10 compares the detected actual memory usage m with the detected planned memory usage n (step S84), and the actual memory usage m is determined based on the comparison result. It is determined whether it is larger than the planned memory usage n (step S85). That is, in step S84 and step S85, based on the recording state of the moving image data in the flash memory 14 by the moving image shooting / recording process in step S61 of FIG. 7, the set use with the recommended image quality set in step S57 of FIG. It is determined whether or not shooting can be performed to the end as scheduled. That is, based on the set use schedule, it is determined whether or not shooting for the remaining shooting time expected to be shot from the present time can be performed with the recommended image quality.
In other words, when the recommended image quality is set but the shooting pace is over the set usage schedule, or when the shooting speed is set based on the use schedule but the set image quality is high, This means that future shooting cannot be performed according to the usage schedule.

For example, when shooting was performed at a pace exceeding the usage schedule, that is, when the shooting schedule was set to 1 hour for the total shooting time, 4 days for the shooting period, or 1 hour for the total shooting time 1 When set to 4 times, the shooting time per unit period (here, per day) is 15 minutes, whereas when shooting for 30 minutes on the first day and 30 minutes on the first time, This is because the shooting pace is over, and there is a possibility of shooting for more than one hour in four times for four days, and it is impossible to shoot at the set recommended image quality according to the use schedule until the end. In other words, because the recommended image quality is calculated and set so that the image can be taken with the set usage schedule and the image quality is maximized, the free memory capacity of the flash memory 14 will be completely eliminated if the image is taken according to the schedule. In addition, although it is possible to shoot to the end according to the usage schedule, if the photographic pace is exceeded based on the usage schedule, it may not be possible to shoot 4 times for 4 days. This is because it is impossible to shoot until the end according to the use schedule.
Note that when the determination in step S85 is performed, the CPU 10 records the date and time when the usage status is determined in the determination time recording area of the memory 12, regardless of the determination result. Thereby, the time when the last use condition determination process was performed is known.

If it is determined in step S85 that the actual memory usage m is not larger than the planned memory usage n, the process returns to step S81. If it is determined that the actual memory usage m is larger than the planned memory usage n, the current shooting is not performed. Before performing to the end according to the set use schedule, it is determined in advance that the free memory capacity of the flash memory 14 will be exhausted, and the CPU 10 determines whether or not to reset the recommended image quality (step S86). ).
Here, after setting the use schedule and before the next shooting is performed to the end according to the use schedule, when it is determined that the free memory capacity of the flash memory 14 will be exhausted, a new recommended image quality is set. The user can set whether to reset the image quality or change the image quality of the recorded image by operating the key input unit 11 in advance, and whether to reset the recommended image quality based on the setting. Judging.

  If it is determined in step S86 that the recommended image quality is to be reset, the CPU 10 calculates the remaining scheduled shooting time (step S87). Specifically, the remaining scheduled shooting time is calculated from the set usage schedule and the current date and time, and the unit time based on the calculated remaining scheduled shooting time and the current free memory capacity of the flash memory 14 Calculate the memory usage per unit. The calculated memory usage per unit time is overwritten and recorded in the memory usage recording area of the memory 12.

  The remaining scheduled shooting time is the same as the operation in step S83, and the scheduled shooting time that is expected to have been shot between the setting date and time of the use schedule and the present time is set, and the calculated scheduled shooting time is set as the set shooting time. You may make it obtain | require by subtracting from all the imaging | photography time based on the made use schedule, and you may make it calculate the remaining imaging | photography scheduled time directly.

Next, the CPU 10 calculates a recommended image quality corresponding to the calculated memory usage per unit time (step S89). The calculated recommended image quality is recorded over the recommended image quality recording area.
Next, the CPU 10 automatically sets the image quality of the moving image to the calculated recommended image quality (step S90). As a result, it is possible to shoot from the end to the end according to the set use schedule. At this time, the user may be informed by automatically setting the image quality and displaying the image quality on the image display unit 15.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S86 that the recommended image quality is not reset, that is, the image quality of the recorded image is changed, the CPU 10 is based on the actual memory usage m and the scheduled memory usage n compared in step S84. Then, the usage amount (over usage amount) o for the excess is calculated (step S91).

  Next, the CPU 10 lowers the image quality of the image recorded in the flash memory 14 to increase the free memory capacity, thereby enabling the shooting from the next to the last according to the use schedule with the set recommended image quality. Then, the reference image quality is calculated so that the capacity corresponding to the calculated over-use amount o is eliminated (step S92). This reference image quality is a reference image quality that, if the image quality higher than a certain image quality among images recorded after setting the use schedule is reduced to the certain image quality, the memory use amount corresponding to the calculated over-use amount o is eliminated. I mean.

  The reference image quality can be obtained, for example, by dividing the calculated scheduled memory usage n by the shooting time t actually shot after setting the use schedule, thereby obtaining the ideal usage amount per unit time actually shot. u (ideal image quality) is calculated. If an image is actually taken with this ideal usage amount u (ideal image quality), the over usage amount o is eliminated, that is, zero. Note that when shooting is performed according to the use schedule set by the user, the ideal image quality is the recommended image quality set, and there is no over-use amount o from the beginning.

Then, among the moving images shot and recorded after the schedule setting, the total shooting time v that is the sum of the shooting times of the moving images that are equal to or lower than the ideal image quality corresponding to the calculated ideal usage amount u, and the ideal usage amount u or less. The total use amount w is obtained by summing up the memory use amounts of the respective moving images.
Then, the reference memory usage per unit time is obtained by the following equation, and the image quality corresponding to the stopped reference usage is set as the reference image quality.

  Next, the CPU 10 changes the moving image data having an image quality higher than the calculated reference image quality to the reference image quality among all the moving image data recorded in the flash memory 14 (step S93).

G. As described above, in the second embodiment, after the recommended image quality is set, depending on the situation of the free memory capacity of the flash memory 14 due to actual use, future shooting is performed with the recommended image quality notified. Since it is determined whether or not the process can be performed to the end according to the use schedule, it is possible to cope with before the free memory capacity of the flash memory 14 is exhausted.
If future shooting cannot be performed to the end according to the usage schedule, the recommended image quality can be recalculated and set again, or the reference image quality can be set so that future shooting can be performed to the end according to the usage schedule. Since an image having a higher image quality than the reference image quality is automatically changed to the reference image quality, even if the shooting pace is fast or the pace is over, the future shooting is scheduled for use. You can do it all the way to the street. Further, since the resetting and the image quality change are automatically performed, the user's trouble can be saved.

[Modification]
H. Each of the above embodiments can be modified as follows.
(1) In the first embodiment, the notification is made when the ideal image quality is calculated. However, as in the second embodiment, when the ideal image quality is calculated, the image quality of the still image is automatically set. You may make it set to image quality.
In addition, the recorded image quality change is notified, but the recorded image quality may be automatically changed.

(2) In the second embodiment, when the ideal image quality is calculated, the image quality of the moving image is automatically set to the ideal image quality. However, as in the first embodiment, the ideal image quality is set to the ideal image quality. Once calculated, the ideal image quality may be notified.
Further, the recorded image quality change is automatically performed, but the recorded image quality change may be notified.

(3) In each of the above-described embodiments, in the steps S34 and S35 in FIG. 5 and the steps S84 and S85 in FIG. 8, the future shooting is completed according to the use schedule set with the calculated ideal image quality. If it is determined that it cannot be performed, it is determined in step S36 in FIG. 5 whether re-notification of recommended image quality or notification of image quality change is performed, or in step S86 in FIG. Although it is determined, it may not be determined.
In this case, image quality re-notification and resetting may be automatically performed, or image quality change notification and image quality change may be performed. In addition, image quality re-notification and image quality change notification may be automatically performed, and image quality resetting and image quality change may be automatically performed simultaneously.

  When resetting the recommended image quality and changing the image quality at the same time, first calculate the reference image quality that eliminates all the memory usage for the over-usage amount o and do not eliminate the over-use amount o. By calculating a reference image quality that eliminates the memory usage corresponding to half or two-thirds of the amount o, the free memory capacity of the flash memory 14 is increased to some extent, and the flash memory 14 after the free memory capacity is increased Calculate and set the recommended image quality based on the available memory capacity. As a result, compared to the case where either the recommended image quality is reset or the image quality is changed, the image quality of the recommended image quality to be set is improved, and the image quality changed by the image quality change is also improved.

  Also, when the re-notification of the recommended image quality and the notification of the image quality change are performed at the same time, the reference image quality is calculated and the image quality change is notified by the same operation as described above, and if the recorded image is changed to the reference image quality, the free memory is used. The recommended image quality is calculated and notified in consideration of the free memory capacity that is expected to increase in capacity.

  (4) In each of the above embodiments, when it is determined in steps S35 and S85 that the actual memory usage m is not larger than the scheduled memory usage n, the process returns to step S31 and step S81. In this case, the usage amount of the flash memory 14 used for the implementation is smaller than the planned memory usage amount, so it is recommended based on the current free space in the flash memory 14, the remaining number of shots to be shot, and the remaining scheduled shooting time. The image quality may be calculated, re-notified, and reset. In this case, the recommended image quality better than the set recommended image quality that has been notified is re-notified and reset.

(5) Also, in the first embodiment, the case of still image shooting has been described, and in the second embodiment, the case of moving image shooting has been described. However, still image shooting and moving image shooting are mixed. It may be. In this case, a usage schedule for still image shooting and moving image shooting may be input and set as the usage schedule.
Further, the number of shootable images and the shootable time may be displayed based on the current free memory capacity of the flash memory 14. In this case, every time a still image is shot, the number of storable pictures decreases, and the linked shooting time also decreases. When movie shooting is performed, the shootable time decreases and the number of shots that can be shot is also linked. Less. That is, the number of shootable images is calculated based on the current total free memory capacity of the flash memory 14 and the time available for shooting is also calculated based on the current total free memory capacity of the flash memory 14.
Thereby, it is possible to grasp how the number of shootable images and the shootable time are affected every time a still image shooting and a moving image shooting are performed.

  (6) In each of the above embodiments, the step S35, the step S34 in FIG. 5 and the step S84 in FIG. In S85, it is determined whether or not photographing can be performed according to the use schedule with the calculated recommended image quality. However, the current free memory capacity of the flash memory 14 is detected, and the detected free space of the flash memory 14 is detected. Based on the memory capacity and the set use schedule, the remaining planned use memory capacity (scheduled remaining use memory capacity) that is scheduled to be used from now is calculated, and the detected free memory capacity and planned remaining use memory capacity are calculated. And may be compared. In this case, if it is determined that the planned remaining use memory capacity is larger than the free memory capacity, it is determined in step S35 and step S85 that shooting cannot be performed according to the use schedule with the calculated recommended image quality. That is, it branches to Y. The planned remaining used memory capacity is a capacity obtained by subtracting the planned memory usage n from the free memory capacity of the flash memory 14 when the usage schedule is set.

In the case of automatically setting the calculated recommended image quality, the operations in steps S32 to S35 in FIG. 5 and steps S82 to S85 in FIG. 8 may be performed by the following method.
As a first method, in step S32 in FIG. 5 and step S82 in FIG. 8, the actual number of images taken or the actual shooting time from the setting of the use schedule to the present time is detected, and step S33 is executed. In step S83, based on the set use schedule, a planned number of shots or a planned shooting time that is expected to have been shot between the use schedule setting and the present time is calculated. In steps S34 and S84, The detected actual number of photographs or actual photographing time is compared with the detected planned number of photographs or planned photographing time, and in steps S35 and S85, the actual number of photographed pictures or actual photographing time is larger than the planned number of photographed pictures or scheduled photographing time. If it is determined, step S36 may be performed. This is because, in this case, future shooting cannot be performed to the end according to the use schedule with the calculated recommended image quality.

  The second method is the reverse of the first method. In step S32 of FIG. 5 and step S82 of FIG. 8, the current free memory capacity of the flash memory 14 and the recommended recommended image quality set. In step S33 and step S83, the remaining number of shots that can still be recorded can be detected on the basis of the use schedule, and in step S33 and step S83, the scheduled remaining shooting that is scheduled to be taken from now is detected. If the number of images or the scheduled remaining shooting time is calculated and it is determined in steps S34 and S84 that the detected number of shootable images or the number of shootable images is less than the calculated scheduled remaining shooting number or scheduled remaining shooting time, step S36 is performed. You may make it progress to. This is because, in this case, future shooting cannot be performed to the end according to the use schedule with the calculated recommended image quality. The number of scheduled shots + the number of remaining scheduled shots = the total number of shots based on the usage schedule, and the planned shooting time + the planned shooting time = the total shooting time based on the usage schedule. The planned remaining shooting number is the same as the remaining scheduled shooting number calculated in step S37 of FIG. 5, and the scheduled remaining shooting time is the same as the remaining shooting scheduled time calculated in step S87 of FIG. is there.

(7) In each of the above embodiments, the notification of the change in the image quality of the recording image and the change in the image quality of the recording image are performed. However, the deletion notification of the recording image and the automatic deletion of the recording image may be performed. Good.
When this recorded image is automatically deleted, if there is an image recorded by the user in advance as a priority deletion image among the images recorded in the flash memory 14, it is deleted preferentially from the image. Like that.

(8) In the above embodiments, when the image quality is changed or when the image quality change is notified, the reference image quality is calculated, but the image quality change is performed based on a predetermined reference image quality. Or notification of image quality change. In this case, although there is a possibility that future shooting cannot be performed to the end according to the use schedule, it is possible to prevent the image quality from becoming too low.
Further, the reference image quality is calculated, and when the reference image quality is lower than the predetermined image quality, the image quality change may be performed based on the predetermined image quality, or the image quality change notification may be performed.

  (9) In each of the above embodiments, if it is determined that the future shooting cannot be performed to the end according to the use schedule with the recommended image quality that is notified or set, the future shooting can be performed to the end according to the use schedule. As shown, the recommended image quality is calculated and notified or set, the image quality change of the recorded image is notified or the image quality is automatically changed. It is expected that shooting will be performed at a pace exceeding the scheduled use schedule, and the recommended image quality and reference image quality will be calculated and notified so that future shooting can be performed to the end according to the predicted use schedule. The image quality may be changed, or the image quality of the recorded image may be changed.

First, the modified example in the case of the first embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
If it is determined in step S35 in FIG. 5 that the actual memory usage m is larger than the scheduled memory usage n, the process proceeds to step S101 in FIG. 9 and the previous usage status determination process is performed (once from the usage schedule setting time). If the use status determination is not performed, the actual number of shots actually taken is detected from the time when the use schedule is set in step S4 in FIG.

Next, the CPU 10 performs the previous usage status determination process (when the usage status has not been determined since the setting of the usage schedule, when the usage schedule is set in step S4 in FIG. 3) until the present time. In the meantime, the planned number of shots that are expected to be taken is calculated based on the set use schedule (step S102).
Next, the CPU 10 determines whether or not the detected actual number of shots is larger than the calculated scheduled number of shots (step S103).
If it is determined in step S103 that the actual number of shots is not greater than the planned number of shots, the process proceeds to step S36. In this case, since the actually set image quality is higher than the recommended image quality, the actual memory usage m is larger than the scheduled memory usage n.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S103 that the actual number of shots is larger than the planned number of shots, the actual shooting pace exceeds the shooting pace based on the set use schedule, so that future shooting will also be performed. Since it is estimated that the shooting is performed at a pace exceeding the shooting pace based on the set use schedule, the CPU 10 performs the following operation in consideration of these.
If it is determined in step S103 that the actual number of shots is greater than the planned number of shots, the CPU 10 determines whether to notify or set the recommended image quality (step S104).

If it is determined in step S104 that notification or setting of the recommended image quality is to be performed, the remaining number of scheduled shootings is calculated based on the usage schedule (step S105). Specifically, the remaining number of scheduled shootings is calculated from the set usage schedule recorded in the usage schedule recording area and the current date and time. The total number of shots based on the set use schedule is obtained by adding the planned number of shots calculated in step S102 and the remaining number of shots to be shot.
Next, the CPU 10 amplifies the calculated number of remaining shots to be taken in accordance with the ratio between the actual number of shots detected in step S101 and the scheduled number of shots calculated in step S102 (step S106).
For example, when the actual number of shots is detected as 70, the planned number of shots is calculated as 50, and the remaining number of planned shots is calculated as 50, the remaining planned number of shots after amplification is 70. Become. In other words, since there are actually 70 shots taken at the scheduled number of shots 50, it is predicted that future shots will be taken at an excessive pace, so depending on the ratio between the actual number of shots and the number of scheduled shots In this way, the number of remaining shots is increased.

Next, the CPU 10 calculates the memory usage per frame based on the current free memory capacity of the flash memory 14 and the amplified remaining scheduled number of shots (step S107), and calculates the calculated per-frame size. The recommended image quality corresponding to the memory usage is calculated (step S108).
Next, the CPU 10 notifies the calculated recommended image quality or automatically sets the calculated recommended image quality (step S109).

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S104 that the image quality is changed (notified) instead of the recommended image quality notification (setting), the CPU 10 determines based on the actual memory usage m and the calculated scheduled memory usage n. A usage amount (over usage amount) o corresponding to the excess is calculated (step S110).

  Next, the CPU 10 amplifies the over-use amount o according to the ratio of the actual number of shots detected in step S101 and the planned number of shots detected in step S102. In other words, since it is considered that the shooting pace will exceed even in future shooting, the amount of usage that will be exceeded in the future shooting is also considered. For example, if the actual number of shots is detected as 70, the planned number of shots is calculated as 50, and the remaining number of planned shots is calculated as 50, the current over-use amount can be obtained if shooting is performed as it is. This is because it is considered that the usage amount twice as much as o is exceeded.

Next, the CPU 10 calculates a reference image quality based on the over-use amount o after amplification (step S112). The reference image quality refers to an image quality in which the used amount corresponding to the over-used amount o after amplification is eliminated if an image having a reference image quality or higher among the recorded images is changed to the reference image quality.
Next, the CPU 10 notifies that the image quality is to be changed using the calculated reference image quality, or automatically changes the image quality of the image recorded in the flash memory 14 based on the calculated reference image quality (step). S113).

It should be noted that the use schedule set according to the overshoot of the shooting pace may be automatically changed after the operations of Step S109 and Step S113 are completed. If the shooting pace is over, it is estimated that the future shooting will be over the shooting pace based on the set use schedule, so the use schedule is automatically changed according to the over pace.
For example, if shooting is scheduled at a pace of 10 images per day but shooting is performed at a pace of 20 images per day, the use schedule is changed so that the shooting rate will be 20 images per day.

  Further, the modification in the second embodiment is also realized by performing substantially the same operation as the flowchart of FIG. 9, and when branching to Y in step S85 of FIG. 8, the process proceeds to step S101 of FIG. However, in the flowchart of FIG. 9, the number of sheets is read as time, and the memory usage capacity per page is read as memory usage per unit time.

  (10) Moreover, the aspect which combined the said modification (1) thru | or (9) arbitrarily may be sufficient.

  (11) Finally, in each of the above-described embodiments, the case where the imaging apparatus of the present invention is applied to a digital camera has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. The present invention may be applied to an attached PDA, a camera-equipped personal computer, a digital video camera, or the like. In short, any device having a function of capturing and recording a subject may be used.

1 is a block diagram of a digital camera according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a functional block diagram of CPU10 of 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the digital camera 1 of 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the digital camera 1 of 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the digital camera 1 of 1st Embodiment. It is a functional block diagram of CPU10 of 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the digital camera 1 of 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the digital camera 1 of 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the digital camera 1 of a modification.

Explanation of symbols

1 Digital Camera 2 Shooting Lens 3 Lens Drive Block 4 Aperture 5 CCD
6 Driver 7 TG
8 Unit circuit 9 Image generator 10 CPU
11 Key input section 12 Memory 13 DRAM
14 Flash memory 15 Image display unit 16 Bus

Claims (12)

Image quality setting means for setting image quality;
Recording control means for recording image data of a subject photographed by still image shooting or moving image shooting at the image quality set by the image quality setting means;
Input means for inputting the number of shots and shooting period in still image shooting, or the shooting time and shooting period in moving image shooting;
Setting means for setting the number of shots and shooting period or shooting time and shooting period input by the input means as a shooting use schedule;
Based on the use schedule set by the setting means and the free memory capacity of the recording means, the memory usage of image data per sheet or unit time that the recording control means can record in the recording means is determined. First usage amount calculating means for calculating;
Based on the memory usage calculated by the first usage calculation means, image quality calculation means for calculating an image quality that can be recorded when shooting according to the usage schedule;
When the image data of the subject is recorded with the image quality calculated by the image quality calculation unit at a shooting pace faster than the shooting pace based on the use schedule during shooting based on the use schedule set by the setting unit, A determination means for determining that photography cannot be performed until the end,
When it is determined by the determining means that the image cannot be taken to the end, based on the remaining number of shots or shooting time in the use schedule and the free space, per sheet or per unit time that can be recorded in the recording means Second usage amount calculation means for calculating again the memory usage amount of the image data;
Based on the memory usage calculated again by the second usage calculation means, a calculation control means for causing the calculation means to calculate an image quality that can be recorded when shooting according to the usage schedule;
An imaging apparatus comprising: Informing means for informing the user of the image quality calculated by the image quality calculating means;
Detection means for detecting selection by the user of the image quality notified by the notification means;
First image quality setting control means for controlling the image quality setting means to set the image quality whose selection is detected by the detection means;
The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a second image quality setting control unit that controls the image quality setting unit to automatically set the image quality calculated by the image quality calculating unit. Based on the use schedule set by the setting means, calculation means for calculating the number of shots or the shooting time taken from the time of setting the use schedule to the present time;
Detecting means for detecting the number of shots or shooting time actually recorded by the recording control means between the time of setting the use schedule by the setting means and the present time;
The determination means includes
As the shooting pace, the number of shots or shooting time calculated by the calculating unit and the number of shots or shooting time detected by the detection unit are compared, and the recorded number of shots or shooting time is calculated. 4. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 3, wherein if it is determined that the number of shots is greater than the number of shots or the shooting time, it is determined that shooting cannot be performed to the end with the image quality calculated by the image quality calculation unit. Based on the use schedule set by the setting means, calculating means for calculating the number of images to be taken or the shooting time;
Detection means for detecting the number of shots or shooting time that can be recorded based on the current free memory capacity of the recording means and the image quality set by the image quality setting means,
The determination means includes
As the shooting pace, the number of shots or shooting time calculated by the calculating means is compared with the number of shots or shooting time detected by the detecting means, and the number of shots or shooting time is calculated from the number of shots or shooting time. 4. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 3, wherein when it is determined that the number of images is small, it is determined that shooting cannot be performed to the end with the image quality calculated by the image quality calculation means. Based on the image quality calculated by the image quality calculation means and the use schedule set by the setting means, calculation means for calculating the memory capacity used from the time of setting the use schedule to the present time;
The determination means includes
Detecting means for detecting the memory capacity actually used by recording by the recording control means between the time of setting the use schedule by the setting means and the present time; and
When the memory pace calculated by the calculating means is compared with the memory capacity detected by the detecting means as the shooting pace, and the detected memory capacity is determined to be larger than the calculated memory capacity 4. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 2, wherein it is determined that shooting cannot be performed to the end with the image quality calculated by the image quality calculation means. Calculation means for calculating a memory capacity to be used from now on, based on the image quality calculated by the image quality calculation means and the use schedule set by the setting means;
Detecting means for detecting a free memory capacity of the current recording means; and
The determination means compares the memory capacity calculated by the calculation means with the free memory capacity detected by the detection means as the shooting pace, and the free memory capacity is less than the used memory capacity. 4. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 2, wherein if it is determined, it is determined that shooting cannot be performed to the end with the image quality calculated by the image quality calculation means. The input means includes
The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a shooting period is input as the use schedule together with the number of shots. The input means includes
The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the number of times of photographing is input together with the photographing time as the use schedule.   When it is determined by the determination means that the shooting cannot be performed to the end, the image recorded in the recording means is set so that the shooting can be performed to the end with the image quality calculated by the image quality calculation means. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a control unit that controls to change the image quality of data to increase a free memory capacity. The determination means includes
At least one or more of the timing when the imaging device is set in the cradle, the timing when the power is turned on, the timing when the power is turned off, the timing when the predetermined period interval comes, and the timing when the operation is instructed by the user The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein it is determined whether or not photographing according to a use schedule can be performed at a timing. Computer
Image quality setting means for setting the image quality,
Shooting / recording control means for recording image data of a subject photographed by still image shooting or moving image shooting at the image quality set by the image quality setting means, on a recording medium;
Input means for inputting the number of shots and shooting period in the still image shooting , or the shooting time and shooting period in the moving image shooting ,
Setting means for setting the number of shots and the shooting period input by the input means , or the shooting time and the shooting period as a shooting use schedule;
Based on the usage schedule set by the setting means and the free memory capacity of the recording medium, the memory usage amount of image data per sheet or unit time that the recording control means can record on the recording medium is determined. First usage amount calculating means for calculating;
First image quality calculating means for calculating an image quality that can be recorded when shooting according to the use schedule, based on the memory usage calculated by the first usage calculating means;
When the image data of the subject is recorded with the image quality calculated by the image quality calculating means at a shooting pace faster than the shooting pace based on the use schedule during shooting in accordance with the use schedule set by the setting means, Judgment means for judging that photography is not possible until the end,
When it is determined by the determining means that the image cannot be taken to the end, based on the remaining number of shots or shooting time in the use schedule and the free space, per sheet or per unit time that can be recorded in the recording means Second usage calculation means for calculating again the memory usage of the image data of
Calculation control means for causing the calculation means to calculate an image quality that can be recorded when shooting according to the use schedule based on the memory usage amount recalculated by the second usage amount calculation means;
A program characterized by functioning as

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