Abstract: An image-capturing apparatus includes an image-capturing unit configured to sequentially output image data in a RAW format related to each of captured images as a result of a continuous series of image capturing operations; a signal processor configured to perform a predetermined process on the image data in a RAW format and output processed image data; image processing circuits configured to perform a luminance/color-difference conversion process and a data compression process on the processed image data and output compressed image data; and a recording controller configured to cause compressed image data output from the image processing circuits to be recorded in a predetermined recorder. The signal processor includes a selection output unit configured to selectively output the processed image data related to each of the captured images to the image processing circuits and cause the image processing related to each captured image to be shared by the image processing circuits.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes: a sub image sensor for obtaining a shot image with respect to a subject image; a subject detecting section for detecting a face region relevant to a subject; a shooting distance calculating section for calculating a shooting distance to the subject; a phase difference AF module for obtaining focus information according to a focusing condition obtained by use of a focusing lens; a phase difference AF control section which, when it is difficult to obtain the focus information, effects a determining operation for moving the focusing lens and determining a lens position at which the focus information can be obtained; and a control information obtaining section deciding the moving direction for the focusing lens in the determining operation, based on the shooting distance.

Abstract: An image-capturing apparatus includes an image-capturing unit configured to sequentially output image data in a RAW format related to each of captured images as a result of a continuous series of image capturing operations; a signal processor configured to perform a predetermined process on the image data in a RAW format and output processed image data; image processing circuits configured to perform a luminance/color-difference conversion process and a data compression process on the processed image data and output compressed image data; and a recording controller configured to cause compressed image data output from the image processing circuits to be recorded in a predetermined recorder. The signal processor includes a selection output unit configured to selectively output the processed image data related to each of the captured images to the image processing circuits and cause the image processing related to each captured image to be shared by the image processing circuits.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus which may for example be a digital camera is capable of reading respective pieces of information stored in IC tags. These pieces of information stored in the IC tags are each given additional information in advance that indicates the degree of priority of the stored information. Thus even when mutually incompatible shooting conditions are requested in the respective pieces of information stored in these IC tags, stored information given high priority can be selected based on the degree of priority indicated by the foregoing additional information. As a result, the image capturing apparatus is allowed to operate in a suitable manner even when mutually incompatible pieces of information are received from a plurality of IC tags.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus having an image capturing portion that captures an image of an object, a memory that has an area for storing reference gain information representative of a reference gain value for each of R, G and B at a predetermined pixel point in each block when an assumed image area corresponding to the captured image is divided into a plurality of blocks, an interpolator that calculates the gain value for each color for each pixel in each block by an interpolation calculation based on the reference gain information stored in the memory, and a shading corrector that receives interpolation gain information representative of the gain value calculated by the interpolator and the reference gain information, and performs color shading correction on the captured image based on the received interpolation gain information and reference gain information.

Abstract: The present invention provides a digital camera capable of reducing its power consumption. A digital camera includes a microprocessor (central processing unit), peripheral processing circuits for executing a data process on image data so as to share with the microprocessor, and a clock supplying circuit for supplying clocks to the microprocessor. In the digital camera, when the microprocessor requests the peripheral processing circuits to perform at least a part of the data process, thereby satisfying a condition such that a process to be shared and executed by the microprocessor does not exist, the clock supplying circuit stops supplying clocks to the microprocessor.

Abstract: A camera system includes a camera main body having a photographic device for photographing an image of object to produce image signal and a monitor device separatable from the camera main body. The monitor device is provided with a control portion for controlling the exposure of photographic device in addition to a display portion. The operator can check a photographed image before or after the image is recorded on a film. Also, the monitor device selectively provides a singular display of monitor image for usual shooting and a continuous display of monitor images for serial shooting.

Abstract: An image sensing apparatus invention has an image sensing device for sensing a subject image from a range which is wider than a photographic range, a processor for calculating position information of a subject with respect to the photographic range based on an output from the image sensing device, a discriminator for determining whether photographing is appropriately performed or not, based on information calculated by the processor, and a notifier for notifying a result of determination by the discriminator before photographing. In this structure, appropriate photographing can be performed by referring to the notifying contents of the notifier.

Abstract: A camera has a distance-measuring device, which has an area sensor for sensing the light from an object to convert it into an electrical signal, a posture detector for detecting the posture of the camera, a setter for setting the positions and sizes of a plurality of calculation regions demarcated on the light-sensing surface of the area sensor in accordance with an output from the posture detector, and a calculator for calculating the distance to the object based on an output from the area sensor that corresponds to the calculation regions set by the setter. The setter can be so controlled as to set the sizes of the calculation regions for distance calculation according to the size of the object that is likely to be detected in those calculation regions. This reduces possibility of low contrast and foreground/background interference, and thereby enhances distance measurement accuracy.