Abstract: There is provided a driving apparatus which includes an acquisition section which acquires a parameter for driving an imaging element, which receives an optical image from a subject and outputs an imaging image as an electric signal, in an action mode which is desired by a user; a timing generation section which generates respective timings of the starting of each of a plurality of horizontal synchronization periods, where horizontal synchronization periods which are only different in terms of the number of clocks determined in advance are acquired in a mixed state, based on the parameter; and a driving control section which receives the optical image from the subject for each line which configures the imaging element by synchronizing the respective timings which are generated using the timing generation section.

Abstract: There is provided a driving apparatus which includes an acquisition section which acquires a parameter for driving an imaging element, which receives an optical image from a subject and outputs an imaging image as an electric signal, in an action mode which is desired by a user; a timing generation section which generates respective timings of the starting of each of a plurality of horizontal synchronization periods, where horizontal synchronization periods which are only different in terms of the number of clocks determined in advance are acquired in a mixed state, based on the parameter; and a driving control section which receives the optical image from the subject for each line which configures the imaging element by synchronizing the respective timings which are generated using the timing generation section.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes an image pickup device including plural imaging planes each having different dark current characteristics, each of the imaging planes having an effective image area and an corresponding optical black (OPB) area. The image pickup apparatus also includes a memory that stores a dark current data table including difference data between dark current values pre-measured at upper and lower areas of the effective image area of each of the imaging planes and dark current values pre-measured at corresponding upper and lower areas of the OPB area. The image pickup apparatus further includes an image processing unit to calculate estimate dark current values for the effective image area based on the dark current data table and actual dark current values measured in the OPB area for each of the imaging planes, and eliminates the dark current components for the effective imaging areas.

Abstract: A solid-state image-pickup device includes a pixel array unit including pixels that include photoelectric transducer two-dimensionally arranged in a matrix and a driving unit for reading out pixel information corresponding to a number of pixels less than the number of pixels included in the pixel array unit as monitoring image information and reading out pixel information corresponding to a predetermined region in the pixel array unit at a cycle shorter than the display cycle of the monitoring image as autofocus image information.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus having a flash unit locating at a storing position or a projecting position, in which either an automatic mode to automatically move the flash unit from the storing position to the projecting position or a manual mode to manually execute the operation can be set. The apparatus includes a first operating unit which selects either the automatic mode or the manual mode and a second operating unit which moves the flash unit from the storing position to the projecting position when the manual mode is selected by the first operating unit. The first and second operating units are provided in close positions.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes an image pickup device including a plurality of imaging planes each having different dark current characteristics, and an image processing unit for receiving a signal from the image pickup device and performing an image generating process. The image processing unit calculates a dark current estimated to be generated in each of the plurality of imaging planes, independently for each imaging plane, and performs a dark current eliminating process on the basis of a dark current value calculated for each imaging plane.

Abstract: The present invention is intended to let users easily and properly select desired imaging modes. A control section controls an image processing section to display icons indicative of imaging modes onto a monitor. When an icon is specified, the control section reads setting values corresponding to the imaging mode corresponding to the specified icon from a setting value storage section. The control section controls the image processing section to generate a reference image based on the read setting values and displays the generated reference image on the monitor. Namely, specifying an icon allows the user to look up a reference image which would have been obtained if a scene appearing on a stored image already taken were imaged in a specified imaging mode. This novel configuration allows the user to easily and properly confirm the effects of a selected imaging mode.

Abstract: A solid-state image-pickup device includes a pixel array unit including pixels that include photoelectric transducer two-dimensionally arranged in a matrix and a driving unit for reading out pixel information corresponding to a number of pixels less than the number of pixels included in the pixel array unit as monitoring image information and reading out pixel information corresponding to a predetermined region in the pixel array unit at a cycle shorter than the display cycle of the monitoring image as autofocus image information.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus having a flash unit locating at a storing position or a projecting position, in which either an automatic mode to automatically move the flash unit from the storing position to the projecting position or a manual mode to manually execute the operation can be set. The apparatus includes a first operating unit which selects either the automatic mode or the manual mode and a second operating unit which moves the flash unit from the storing position to the projecting position when the manual mode is selected by the first operating unit. The first and second operating units are provided in close positions.

Abstract: The present invention is intended to let users easily and properly select desired imaging modes. A control section controls an image processing section to display icons indicative of imaging modes onto a monitor. When an icon is specified, the control section reads setting values corresponding to the imaging mode corresponding to the specified icon from a setting value storage section. The control section controls the image processing section to generate a reference image based on the read setting values and displays the generated reference image on the monitor. Namely, specifying an icon allows the user to look up a reference image which would have been obtained if a scene appearing on a stored image already taken were imaged in a specified imaging mode. This novel configuration allows the user to easily and properly confirm the effects of a selected imaging mode.