Abstract: Image data photographed by a video camera 20 are compressed by a compression and decompression circuit 5, the compressed image data are recorded in an incorporated type semiconductor memory 6 or disk-type memory 13 fixed in the video camera 20 and the recorded image data are transferred to an external recording device 23. Further, the external recording device 23 records the transferred image data in a data storage while they are being compressed. The video camera 20 receives, decompresses and converts into a television signal the compressed image data read by the external recording device 23 in reproducing them. A video camera system capable of recording and reproducing long hours of image data by using a video camera having an ultra small size comparable to that of an 8 mm video cassette can be realized by using such a construction.

Abstract: Image data photographed by a video camera 20 is compressed by a compression and decompression circuit 5, the compressed image data is recorded in an incorporated type semiconductor memory 6 or disk-type memory 13 fixed in the video camera 20 and the recorded image data is transferred to an external recording device 23. Further, the external recording device 23 records the transferred image data in a data storage while it is being compressed. The video camera 20 receives, decompresses and converts into a television signal the compressed image data read by the external recording device 23 in a reproducing operation. A video camera system capable of recording and reproducing long hours of image data by using a video camera having an ultra small size comparable to that of an 8 mm video cassette can be realized by using such a construction.

Abstract: Output signals of a solid state image sensor 1 are processed in a signal processing circuit 3 and then supplied as brightness signals to a variable gain circuit 4, and gain of the circuit is varied for each color separation filter provided in the solid state image sensor 1, and in the case of achromatic objects, signal amounts for each color separation filter are made equal and moire is suppressed. In such a video camera, a noise reducer circuit 5 is provided and output signals of the variable gain circuit 4 are supplied to the noise reducer circuit 5 and adding processing is carried out during a plurality of horizontal scanning periods neighboring vertically thereby level variation (line pair) of the brightness signals for each horizontal scanning period is suppressed. A vertical resolution correction circuit 6 generates a vertical resolution correction signal from output signals of the signal processing circuit 3 there by degradation of the vertical resolution of the brightness signals is corrected.

Abstract: A video camera for enabling improvement in automatic functions such as automatic white balancing and automatic focusing while controlling picture quality of a video image including a specific object of the video image and/or background thereof. The video camera includes an image pickup device and a signal processing circuit responsive thereto for processing the image picked up by the image pickup device and providing a video signal as an output. An extraction unit is provided for extracting a signal representative of a specific portion of the video signal of the signal processing circuit, and a control unit responsive to the signal extracted by the extraction unit effects control of at least one of the signal processing circuit and at least one input control parameter of the video camera in accordance therewith, thereby providing improvement in the picture quality.

Abstract: The present invention provides for designation of a prescribed area within an image as an initial extracting area, extraction of an area which fulfills the conditions determined according to the characteristics of the specific image from an image signal of an image, generation of comparative area signal presenting an area slightly larger than the extracted area which is necessary for fulfilling the conditions from the area extracting signal of the designated initial extracting area, comparison of the comparative area signal that has been generated with the candidate area signal through which the initial extracting signal of the initial extracting area is converted into an area extracting signal, and extraction of an image signal within the area determined by the new area extracting signal.