Abstract: A photographing apparatus and method that can combine a plurality of images photographed by time division exposure. The photographing apparatus and method employ a photographing device having an entire reset mode in which entire pixels are exposed simultaneously right after a flash is shot, and a sequential exposure mode in which exposure time is different according to a state where a flash is not shot, and an image combining unit that combines images photographed by the photographing device, such that the photographing device performs photographing in combination of the entire reset mode and the sequential exposure mode in sequential photographing operations.

Abstract: A photographing apparatus and method prevent a resolution of a peripheral portion of an image from being degraded with a simple structure. These employ an in-focus state detector for detecting evaluation values for auto in-focus operation representing an in-focus state of an image from a first in-focus state detection region disposed on a center portion of the image, and at least one second in-focus state detection region disposed on a peripheral portion of the image, a flat subject determiner that determines whether a subject is flat based on the detection result of the evaluation values for auto in-focus operation, a flat subject focusing position calculator that calculates a final focusing position based on the evaluation values when the subject is determined as being flat, and a three-dimensional subject focusing position calculator that calculates a final focusing position based on the evaluation value when the subject is not flat.

Abstract: A photographing apparatus and method employ an imaging device arranged including a matrix of pixels each which accumulates accumulation charges according to an amount of light incident thereon, an accumulation charge read device for reading the accumulation charges at a time difference based on the position of each row or column of the pixels, and a reset device resetting an entirety of the accumulation charges of the imaging device before a main exposure. The photographing apparatus and method each further employ a reset timing change device capable of changing a reset timing for resetting the accumulation charges with respect to a synchronization pulse corresponding to a time for reading the accumulation charges.

Abstract: Provided are a focusing position determining apparatus, an imaging apparatus, and a focusing position determining method, the method including setting an aperture to a first aperture value; driving a focus lens through a first range of positions as a first drive; during the first drive, obtaining images periodically, and calculating a first sampling of contrast values from the obtained images; calculating a first focus position from the first sampling of contrast values; setting the aperture to a second aperture value; driving a focus lens through a second range of positions as a second drive, the second range of positions being based on the first focus position; during the second drive, obtaining images periodically, and calculating a second sampling of contrast values from the obtained images; calculating a focusing position from the second sampling of contrast values; and driving the focus lens to the calculated focusing position.

Abstract: A camera system includes a lens unit and a camera body to which the lens unit is detachably attached. The lens unit has a photographing lens, an imaging device which receives light transmitted through the photographing lens, and a lens-side connecting terminal for electric connection. The camera body has a camera-side connecting terminal which is connectable to the lens-side connecting terminal, and a movable member which is movable between a first position that is close to the camera-side connecting terminal and a second position that is far from the camera-side connecting terminal. The camera-side connecting terminal is shut in the camera body when the movable member is in the first position, and the lens unit can be attached when the movable member is in the second position.

Abstract: Provided are a photographing apparatus and method which can obtain the same effect as in a weighted summation method by capturing a plurality of images of a subject while appropriately controlling exposure time for each of the images and adding up the images and can correct distortions in the images obtained using a typical exposure time division method. The photographing apparatus includes: an exposure compensation value calculation unit which calculates a plurality of exposure compensation values for a plurality of exposure operations respectively corresponding to a plurality of diaphragm values based on a predefined parameter; an exposure unit which respectively performs the exposure operations for exposure times determined based on the exposure compensation values; and an image synthesis unit which synthesizes a plurality of images respectively obtained by the exposure operations.

Abstract: A digital camera has an image-capturing device, an image processor, and a display. The image-capturing device creates a cleaning image which is used for pinpointing dust particles attached to an image sensor. The image processor creates an inverted cleaning image so that the top and bottom of a subject image provided on the image sensor match the top and bottom of a subject image included in the cleaning image. The display displays the inverted cleaning image.

Abstract: A camera has an operation member and a display processor. The operation member is operated to select specific camera information from a series of camera information associated with a photograph. The display processor displays the plurality of setting items with a captured image on a display. The operation member has a first selecting member and a second selecting member. The firs t selecting member is operated to designate a setting item along a first direction in order, and in accordance with the arrangement of the plurality of setting items. The second selecting member is opposite to the first selecting member, and is operated to designate a setting item in order along a second direction, which is opposite to the first direction. The display processor performs a selection-display process to express a setting item selected by an operation of the first selecting member or second selecting member.

Abstract: A photographing apparatus including an in-focus position detector for detecting an in-focus position of a focusing lens to focus an image of a subject on an image pickup surface, a driving controller for controlling the driving of the focusing lens, a reflective member that opens and closes on a path of a light that is irradiated onto the image pickup surface, and an optical measuring unit measuring a brightness of the subject image that is reflected by the reflective member in a closed state when a preliminary light emission operation is performed with respect to the subject before performing a main exposure operation. In the preliminary light emission, the driving controller drives the focusing lens to a position nearer the subject or a position nearer the image pickup surface, rather than to the in-focus position of the focusing lens detected by the in-focus position detector.

Abstract: A photographing apparatus and method that can prevent a resolution of a peripheral portion of an image from being degraded with a simple structure.

Abstract: A photographing apparatus comprises an imaging sensor and a display unit. The imaging sensor obtains image data. The display unit indicates a first white balance setting picture that is used for setting a white balance gain in a white balance adjustment of the image data and a second white balance setting picture that is used for setting a fine adjustment of the white balance gain. The second white balance setting picture has an adjustment state indication area that illustrates a state where the fine adjustment is tuned and an adjustment quantity indication area which has a cursor illustrating a quantity of the fine adjustment and a two-dimensional coordinate plane illustrating a range of movement of the cursor. Only the second white balance setting picture has the adjustment state indication area.

Abstract: A photographing apparatus comprises an imaging sensor, a controller, and an exposure-mode-selecting device. The controller performs a photometric operation on a photographing subject and obtains a luminance value of the photographing subject based on the photometric operation. The exposure-mode-selecting device is used for selecting an exposure mode of the photographing apparatus that has a sensitivity priority AE mode. The photographing operation is performed with a sensitivity of the imaging sensor that is set by a user and a shutter speed and an aperture value that are calculated based on the luminance value and the sensitivity, while the photographing apparatus is in the sensitivity priority AE mode.

Abstract: A photographing apparatus comprises an operation unit, a controller, and a display unit. The operation unit has a range setting unit that is used for setting an upper limited value of a range of a sensitivity of an imaging sensor and a lower limited value of the range in a first sensitivity setting state where the sensitivity is calculated on the basis of a luminance value obtained in a photometric operation. The controller sets the upper limited value and the lower limited value corresponding to an operation of the range setting unit. The display unit displays an illustration of the upper limited value and the lower limited value that are set by the controller.

Abstract: A photographing apparatus comprises an imaging sensor, a memory, and a display unit. The imaging sensor obtains image data. The memory stores the image data. The display unit indicates a still picture based on the image data and a white balance setting picture on the still picture. The white balance setting picture is used for setting a white balance gain in a white balance adjustment.

Abstract: A metallic sliding cover that covers an image taking lens system when an image taking apparatus is not in use is attached at the front side of the image taking apparatus, and an IC tag of a type that has an internal power supply and an IC tag of a type that has not an internal power supply are stuck to the front side of the image taking apparatus. A plural number of IC tags are alternatively covered with the sliding cover by movement of the cover. Thereby, communication only by one IC tag becomes possible when the image taking apparatus is in use; meanwhile, communication only by the other IC tag becomes possible when the image taking apparatus is not in use. As a result, interference between a plurality of IC tags having mutually different characteristics can be prevented.

Abstract: A photographing apparatus and method employ an imaging device arranged including a matrix of pixels each which accumulates accumulation charges according to an amount of light incident thereon, an accumulation charge read device for reading the accumulation charges at a time difference based on the position of each row or column of the pixels, and a reset device resetting an entirety of the accumulation charges of the imaging device before a main exposure. The photographing apparatus and method each further employ a reset timing change device capable of changing a reset timing for resetting the accumulation charges with respect to a synchronization pulse corresponding to a time for reading the accumulation charges.

Abstract: An apparatus and method that can maintain the number of photographed images obtained per second (frame rate) while ensuring sufficient exposure of a subject. The photographing apparatus and method can include an exposure portion for repeatedly performing an exposure at intervals of a predetermined unit exposure time, an image data storing portion temporarily storing unit image data generated by the exposure of the exposure portion, and an image combiner reading and combining a group of unit image data corresponding to a predetermined exposure time from the image data storing portion in synchronization with a photographing start timing of a continuous photographing period that is set in advance, to generate a combined image.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for image pickup capable of reducing noise in the images to reduce the effect of shaking due to, for example, hand movement. The image pickup apparatus and method can employ an exposure photographing unit for photographing at least one exposure image at predetermined time intervals using time-division exposure in a light exposure state, a dark frame photographing unit for photographing at least one dark frame at predetermined time intervals using time-division exposure in a dark state, a subtracting processor for subtracting the dark frames from the exposure images to reduce noise in the exposure images, and an image combiner for combining the plurality of reduced noise exposure images.